Editorial: Three Is the Most Incomplete Number

Numbers, oh boy, do people like numbers. Whether they be the number of delegates a lame presidential candidate has or the number of STDS that one person can contract within a 24 hour period, numbers are just really cool. Video games are no stranger to numbers, as many cool games have numbers in their title like Team Fortress 2. However, there are so many games that have yet to see a third entry in their main franchise no matter how close they might get like Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue which might possibly have the most bullshit name for a video game of all time. So, in order to honor the fallen warriors that only reached two, this editorial will look at three games that were unfortunately never able to get a third entry no matter how good or bad they might have been.

First up, Mega Man Legends 2 that was originally released all the way back in April of 2000 for the Sony PlayStation and was later ported and re-released for Windows and the PlayStation Network. As some might recall, those in the “Mega Man Legends” series were three-dimensional action-adventure games starring Mega Man that were generally well-recieved. Of course, unlike the two-dimensional “Mega Man” games, Mega Man Legends 2 had a much larger focus on story involving the search for a legendary treasure known as the Mother Lode. Unfortunately, Mega Man Legends 2 does not conclude this search, instead ending with Roll and friends trying to save Mega Man from the planet Elysium where he is currently stranded as of the end of Mega Man Legends 2. To make matters worse, while a Mega Man Legends 3 was announced for the Nintendo 3DS, it was sadly cancelled about a year after its announcement, and the chances of it ever coming out look slim to none.

Next, is the ever-famous Half-Life 2:Episode Two which was released what feels like decades ago back in October of 2007 which has been the subject of a numerous amount of memes based on Valve apparently not being able to count to three when it comes to any of their franchises. Jokes aside, Half-Life 2:Episode Two does end on a pretty serious cliff-hanger that sets up a lot for either a third episode or main entry and considering the fact that since literally millions have players have played up until that point, it is understandable my some are miffed at Valve’s lack of updating or communication. Matching unique and dynamic gameplay with some really impressive visuals for the time that still hold up and a kick-ass story, the lack of progress in the “Half-Life” universe is kind of a dick move on Valve’s part. Though, this does not mean that gamers have to act like children on their part and continuously bombard developers or forums with questions when it is obvious Valve has nothing more at this time is their failure Steam Machines and mediocre controllers.

Last, but certainly not least, is the video gaming masterpiece and all around out of body experience, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two which left on one of the greatest cliffhangers of all time. While Epic Mickey was much more concise with its story involving the Phantom Blot and the Mad Doctor, the second entry in the series decides to take players for the loop of a century. Through the game’s universe, there are multiple versions of Pete, ranging from Small Pete to Big Bad Pete, and at the end of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Big Bad Pete appears with the other Petes and enters a projector screen that teleports them to Ventureland, and chortling a maniacal chortle. Of course, it would be irresponsible to leave his final words untyped, for Big Bad Pete proclaims, “Look at ’em all, so happy. They ain’t ever gonna know what hit ’em!” So it is written, so it shall never be because Junction Point was shut down after the release of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two because it was a crap game that somehow found a way to take the handful of redeeming qualities from the first entry and ruin all of them. Great job, guys!

So there it is, three games that are unlikely to get a third entry in their franchise. What a shame that such brilliance goes unrewarded and instead players and punished by not receiving closure, just like when Adeki’s parents got divorced and still have not told him why seventeen years later. What did you think of this editorial? Did reading it immediately get you to start making a petition to achieve justice? Hopefully not, but whatever your reaction may be, make sure to leave a comment below!