Prudent idea buying a sequel title...

without having played the original titles?

Example, I just saw Resident Evil 4 for 30 bucks, heard great things about it, but have never played 1,2, or 3. Will I be lost playing it?

Nearly the same scenario with Metroid Prime 3. Really excited to play this game when it comes out. However, have yet to finish beating the first one and haven't touched the second one yet. Should I haul *** to beat them both before the third comes out? Is it really necessary to know the story line for the 3rd?

It isn't necessary for either game, but both the RE and Prime series have great storylines which adds an extra level of enjoyment if you really get into the game IMO.

If you haven't played any of the previous RE's it doesn't matter as RE4 is a brand new off the cuff story, although having played RE2 would have familiarised yourself with 3 characters two of which are "special" but I'll not spoil it ;) But nevertheless you should buy this game as it's fantasic!

The same applies to Metriod, storyline wise it's fresh everytime but getting to know Samus and how she controls is also a fun part of the game, but get this on release as well it looks really good.

EDIT: There is no "hauling ass" at Metriod these games are tough.

I fail to see how it wouldbe in a developer's or publisher's best interest to put out games that only make sense if you've played the previous version. It would bea real hard sell for them to say, "buy our newest game, but you won't like it unless you buy this old game."

I hadn't played any of the RE titles before I played RE4 and didn't find myself lost because of it once. There might be a *couple* of things that you'd have a deeper understanding of, because I've played the others recently. But, for the most part, it's a completely new story that as of yet, doesn't continue the story. If you really want to know the story, there is a rather lengthy, plot summary of RE on GameFaqs. The biggest in size. It cuts off right when RE4 starts, and excludes one game that might add a bit to the plot. But that will save you money.

MP3 will probably be fairly fresh. You don't really need to see the ending to know what's going on in the third one, or at least I'm assuming. I would play them, because they are excellent games, and I'm going to run through both right before they come out. But, I've played through them each quite a few, and I can get through both in under 20 hrs, both 100%. So about 10 hrs per game, and I'll be done. Okay...I've played them too much. But, nonetheless, I wouldn't play MP1 and MP2 to "understand" the third one, I would play it to have a good time with 2 great games.

-Ziggy

no need for hauling ***

no point either, prime games are a sit back and enjoy them sort of game

whereas for the RE series, avoid the third like the plague, especially on GC (it's a direct DC port)
and the 1st and 2nd are good, personally I liked zero a lot too

where story is concerned, the only link th RE4 is the main character, which even then it's his name, lookand job are the only links. For Prime it's just samus, and the general galaxy but nothing that would make any more sense if you played the previous games