Sparked by wildly polarized views of Twilight Princess last fall, there is more focus on what s sequel does to "rejuvinate" or "reinvent" the series than ever. Rehash is the buzzword and longstanding series are the target. This isn't going to be a blog about whether a game qualifies as "rehash" but rather a question about the expectation of a change in a series.

What should a sequel be? Calling for a drastic change in a series is to suggest, in fact, that the franchise not exist at all. Telling Nintendo to make The Legend of Zelda an Elder Scrolls clone is to suggest that the Zelda series end entirely. If you don't want to play the "same thing" then play something that isn't a sequel.

I wouldn't suggest that a developer just slap together some new levels and you're all set, but there are natural extensions to a game that don't mean to entirely change what the game was previously. Being most familiar with Zelda, I can use that as an example. There are many ways to update the series without changing the franchise. Level structure, expanding combat mechanics, even drastically changing the setting -- these things wouldn't change it from being a puzzle-solving, adventurous dungeon-crawler. If you want it to turn into an RPG, or anything else, then buy an original RPG, not a franchise face slapped onto something else.

Drastic changes can be very successful both critically and in the market. Super Mario 64 is a 3D platformer with a Mario faceplate -- it wasn't a Super Mario Bros. game, but did very well in both areas. The same can be said, to a lesser degree, of Resident Evil 4. The fact, however, that these games need a franchise to sell them says that the games didn't need to change at all and that the only people who really care are gamers who are too attached to franchises to let it go, but don't want to play another.

If you feel a series is stagnant, it's time to move on, not complain that the series should be different. You may not like it, but if the series is running, then there are those who do. There's no pleasing everyone.

BONUS RANT: Game threads are now not allowed in the General Games Discussion? If it's not allowed in GGD because it "disrupts actual discussion", not allowed in Off-topic because it's game-related, and not allowed in specific boards because of other systems, what's left? System Wars? What are they doing to the boards? ONLY DISCUSS SERIOUS MATTERS. GAMING IS SERIOUS. FUN IS NOT PERMITTED. GAMES ARE ABOUT DISCUSSION, NOT ENTERTAINMENT. THAT IS ALL.