Ah, 2007. We, of course, primarily remember it as the International Heliophysical Year, but there were plenty of other things happening, too. We all walked out of our Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End screenings thinking, “Sure, that was fine,” and jammed out to the High School Musical 2 soundtrack on our drives home. And once we got home, we played some good video games.
Or at least, the people in charge of greenlighting video games seem to think so, because many of the games that were announced or detailed during Summer Game Fest are follow-ups or sequels to the fourth International Polar Year, or as it is known colloquially… 2007.
These are our favorites.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a sequel to Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
Ace Combat 8: Wingsof Theve | Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
This one is pretty straightforward. In 2007, there was an Ace Combat game. Then, 12 years later (and a few spin-offs in between), there was another numbered one, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. And now, seven years later, we’re getting Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
19 years after the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, we are getting a new fourth Call of Duty: Modern Warfare titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. But this is not a remake of that 2007 game. No, this is a sequel to the reboot from 2019, which was simply called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. I don’t know why you’re confused. The numerical ‘4’ is in a different spot in the title.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a new version of Tomb Raider Anniversary
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis | Tomb Raider Anniversary
Tomb Raider was originally released in 1996, but in 2007, Crystal Dynamics released Tomb Raider Anniversary, which reimagined Lara’s original adventure and her search for Atlantis. Now, later this year, Crystal Dynamics is releasing Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, which reimagines Lara’s original adventure and her search for Atlantis.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a sequel to Halo 3
Halo: Campaign Evolved | Halo 3
This may be a little confusing, but stick with me. The second remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, now titled Campaign Evolved, is a follow-up to Halo 3, even though Halo 3 takes after Combat Evolved, of which Campaign Evolved is a remake. Also, the best place to play Campaign Evolved when it releases will be the PlayStation 5 Pro. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.
God of War Laufey is a sequel to Loki
God of War Laufey | Loki
In 2007, many of us were playing what is arguably the PlayStation 2’s swan song, God of War II. It was directed by Cory Barlog, who is now the man in charge of God of War and the driving force behind its 2018 reboot. And sure, God of War II is canon in the world of Laufey, but have you heard of Loki? The game, from developer Cyanide and publishers Focus Home Interactive and DreamCatcher Interactive, was released in 2007 and, I believe, stars Loki (I haven’t actually played the game) and apparently combines Aztec, Egyptian, Greek, and Norse mythology. Sound familiar?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is a sequel to TMNT
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin | TMNT
Remember TMNT? The 2007 animated film that was written and directed by Kevin Munroe and was kind of a sequel to the live-action films from the 90s? Chris Evans played Casey Jones? Sir Patrick Stewart was there? Anyway, Ubisoft made a video game adaption of that movie, and Game Informer gave it 6.25. Technically, especially considering The Last Ronin jumps into the future of the Ninja Turtles canon, this is a sequel to that 2007 game. Kind of.
Silent Hill: Townfall is a prequel to Silent Hill: Origins
Silent Hill: Townfall | Silent Hill: Origins
Silent Hill: Origins, the PSP game (the PS2 version released in 2008), takes place in 1999 and is a prequel to the original Silent Hill. Silent Hill: Townfall takes place in 1996, making it a prequel to that game. And if there are not direct, overt references to Origins in Townfall, we’re going to be livid.
Stuntman: Hollywood is a sequel to Stuntman: Ignition
Stuntman: Hollywood | Stuntman: Ignition
Remember Stuntman? The game about being… a stuntman? Well, the second game, Ignition, came out in 2007. And now, nearly two decades later, we’re getting another one. This one has the car from Back to the Future. If I had that car, I’d use it to go back in time to 2007 and tell everyone to get ready for Half-Life: Alyx and to give up on Half-Life 3. Your kids it are gonna to love it*.
*Roblox
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a sequel to Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave | Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Radiant Dawn dropped in 2007 during a time when Fire Emblem was not yet cool. It was still that one series that everyone knew from the characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The sword guys with the colorful hair, right? Now, however, Fire Emblem is cool! And this new one has four playable protagonists.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond is a sequel to The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
Spyro: A Realm Beyond | The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
The Eternal Night is part two of 2006’s The Legend of Spyro reboot trilogy, which featured Elijah Wood as Spyro and Gary Oldman as Ignitus well before it was cool to be an actor in a video game. They did this game after doing Lord of the Rings and Batman Begins. They were ahead of the curve. We’re doubtful A Realm Beyond will follow up on the events of the middle chapter of The Legend of Spyro trilogy, but Spyro is in both games. That we know for sure.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour is a sequel to Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Crazy Taxi: World Tour | Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Fare Wars was the last sort of proper new Crazy Taxi game (though there was an iOS game in 2014). It combined Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2 into one game exclusively for PSP. World Tour will finally answer the lingering narrative questions that were left hanging in Fare Wars, like, “Does that guy with the green hair have a passport? And is it up to date? And is a new Crazy Taxi only possible with the use of generative AI?” We will finally learn those answers.
Star Trek: Shadow Frontier is a sequel Star Trek: Conquest
Star Trek: Shadow Frontier | Star Trek: Conquest
Star Trek: Conquest will forever go down in history as the Star Trek video game that happened to release in 2007 when we looked up if any Star Trek video games happened to release in 2007. Somewhat relevant, however, is that the game does take place around the Star Trek: The Next Generation timeline, which is where Shadow Frontier protagonist, Ro Laren, was introduced. She doesn’t appear to be in Conquest, though. Did you know Star Trek: Conquest was published by Bethesda, the Skyrim guys? That’s kind of interesting, I guess.
Is Xenoblade Genesis a sequel to Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade?
Xenoblade Genesis | Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade
To be honest, I’m fairly certain it is not. Genesis is a new Xenoblade RPG. Genesis Rising: The Universal Crusade (which did release in 2007) is a real-time strategy game that takes place in space. But you know what exists in space? Planets. And you know where Xenoblade Genesis is probably going to take place? On a planet. Maybe. With the knowledge of the series’ history, even that is questionable.
What’s your favorite 2007 game that you’re looking forward to playing soon? Also, did you notice that At World’s End released in May and High School Musical 2 released in August so its soundtrack actually wouldn’t have been available to listen to on the way home from seeing Pirates of the Caribbean? Associate editor Charles Harte did when he edited this piece for me!
