Play first one?

[Hypna]

Should I play the first one first? Or can I jump into this game with out knowing any story context?

[Swonker]

Mechanically, this game is way better than the first one. You probably won't be able to enjoy that if you play this first. You could just play this and look up the first game's lore, or buy both games and play the first one before. I think it's worth the money to get and play both. Don't forget you're giving more money to the solo dev this way. The only downside is you won't really replay the first one after beating the second.

That said, you don't need to know ANY lore to play this. You could just run through it and shoot stuff without a care.

[Hypna]

Originally posted by Swonker:

Mechanically, this game is way better than the first one. You probably won't be able to enjoy that if you play this first. You could just play this and look up the first game's lore, or buy both games and play the first one before. I think it's worth the money to get and play both. Don't forget you're giving more money to the solo dev this way. The only downside is you won't really replay the first one after beating the second.

That said, you don't need to know ANY lore to play this. You could just run through it and shoot stuff without a care.

Thank you for that! I reckon I'll just pick up the 2nd then.

[Odzianna]

I actually had the same problem like you: Started with the demo for the second game, loved it, and considered then: Should I play the first one? I bought the bundle for both games, and while playing the first game definitely helps to get into the grove of things, the second game does feel overall better and more polished.

In terms of story? No need to worry there. The characters in the second game have nothing to do with the first game, and the only real constant here is that you are the main character who already did things in the first game.

[Byrdn]

Originally posted by Odzianna:

In terms of story? No need to worry there. The characters in the second game have nothing to do with the first game, and the only real constant here is that you are the main character who already did things in the first game.

Not entirely true. There's some connection between some of them, but missing it won't really hurt your experience.

[Odzianna]

I dare say it doesn't matter at all since this is definitely not a story game. Not like the first game had many characters to begin with, and most you do meet end up as a steaming pile of bits and pieces anyway

[Byrdn]

I enjoyed the characters and what story there was, so there's a non-zero chance it'll matter to someone - that's all I'm saying.

[Young Erusean Officer]

Like I mentioned in a similar thread before, Citadel 1 is still its own unique experience. It does a few things better than 2. Its very much worth playing even if Citadel 2 is a better game.

If you like story at all in games, there's some big moments that will fly right over your head and you'll miss the big picture.

Its like saying you shouldn't play Sonic 2 if you got Sonic 3 for the Genesis. Or FFV vs FFVI and so on. Even if I do happen to like Sonic 2 more than 3.

[Postmodern]

I played the first very shortly before the second, and I enjoyed the first, but I know now it's mostly because I played it first. The second improves on it in every way, and it would be really hard to go back. There's a couple things that you would look at in the second and see the nod to the first, but the most part, it's absolutely not necessary. There's actually a level in the second that is a complete remake, and it's fun because it's the best level of the first game.

If you haven't played the first and the second, start with the first, but only if you know you love these types of games. If you're on the fence, it's completely skippable and the thread bare story will be told to you through the game

[TheFeralSnezzy]

Originally posted by Hypna:

Or can I jump into this game with out knowing any story context?

I didn't even know the first game existed until I started playing the demo back in February, so yes, you can. I already had a basic idea on what's going on from the lore that Beyond Citadel provided alone.

[Hypna]

Man I love this game, don't regret skipping the first at all.

[Izzy]

most certainly posting too late to matter to the OP's circumstances, but for anyone else:

the second game puts a lot more effort into storytelling than the first, and thus recaps the player on the story of the first through dialogue and loading screen blurbs.
but there are definitely some details that only land or have any meaning if you played the first game. but if you just want the highlights, the only story relevant moments of the first game are the boss fights and intermissions (and act 7, which is just a single boss level and a finale scene)

[Zexy_Observer]

Its sort of like DOOM Eternal compared to DOOM 2016. 2016 isn't quite as good, but it's still pretty good.

[Gnasty Gnome]

Originally posted by Young Erusean Officer:

Like I mentioned in a similar thread before, Citadel 1 is still its own unique experience. It does a few things better than 2. Its very much worth playing even if Citadel 2 is a better game.

If you like story at all in games, there's some big moments that will fly right over your head and you'll miss the big picture.

Its like saying you shouldn't play Sonic 2 if you got Sonic 3 for the Genesis. Or FFV vs FFVI and so on. Even if I do happen to like Sonic 2 more than 3.

What does citadel 1 do better

[Byrdn]

The bosses being anime girls/boys.
But really: I know some people prefer its OST, or things like the O2 overdose bullet time.

Personally, I don't think The Citadel needs to be better to want to play it. It's a great game on its own, and it's (obviously) the closest you're going to get to Beyond Citadel, if you're craving more of it.

[bottlefield393]

Both. Both is good.