Didn't Halo kinda do this with 4? 3 was supposed to be the end with other games after being prequels with new characters.

@DeltaWDunn lol yep, good call

Does Donkey Kong 3 count? They went back to Mario after Donkey Kong Jr was the main character of the previous game.

Very fun list! I have two more this could apply towards in Street Fighter IV (many SF games could fit here, but given how heavily Alex was pushed as the new protag in SFIII, I think IV is the best example) and Punch Out Wii, though this depends whether you consider the dude from Super Punch Out to be Little Mac or not (there's a ton of conflicting sources but I'm pretty sure he's a different guy).

@DeltaWDunn isn't the player character in DK3 Stanley the Bugman?

@Fizza not sure about Punch Out ... does that blonde guy even have a name? SF4 for sure though.

Dang, you're right.

I was unaware that kiryu is showing up in yakuza 8. Whyyyyy? Imagine how awkward it'd be if he was just buying some groceries with the guys from yakuza 7 and haruka or someone was there and recognized him. I thought we were done with him what the hell

@DJSCheddar Ah, I see your point with Punch Out, fair enough :D

also it really says a lot about Capcom during the late 2000's/early 2010's when they take up nearly half of this list huh 😭

I actually didn't know Kiryu was coming back in 8 in too, he's already getting his own spinoff game, lmao. Should've known a Nagoshi-less Yakuza was destined to fall apart.

@Vee yep, fully playable co-main character, pulling an exact Dual Destinies. Pretty shameful tbh

Cool list! You got all the ones I could think of, but it's cool seeing what other series it affected ^_^