Games often launch to a poor reception. If the game doesn't belong to any existing franchise, the franchise is often dead with its very first game. However, sometimes the franchise is revitalised despite poor initial reception, and that's what this thread is about. What franchises do you feel like made the greatest comeback after poor initial reception?

Rules:

• multi-game franchises only (e.g. no No Man's Sky here unless it gets a sequel)
• no franchises that started out strong but not as good as later releases in the franchise (e.g. no Uncharted here)

Street Fighter. 

First game is notoriously bad. It was bad then. II comes out and changed not only the franchise but the entire genre. Not to mention became a cultural event. Without SFII we don't get Fatal Fury,King of Fighters,Mortal Kombat and more. Street Fighter is still going strong as a series today. 

Killzone.

First game was trash, second and third were brilliant thanks to much improved gameplay, strong atmosphere, and a framerate that wasn't a slideshow.

Came here to say this. I can't think of a bigger gap. The first Street Fighter is a clunky mess of a game. Street Fighter II is not only a gem but sent a shock wave through the industry.

Thirded.  Nothing else compares here with the Street Fighter franchise.

I'm sorry but does Street Fighter actually pertain to this thread? I don't recall the reception of the first game being poor by any means.

The Killzone example seems more apt imho.

Yes SF was seen as awful back then. It was broken. It had mixed feedback esp over the machines with the pads. Killzone got decent reviews. It was reviewed as a 7/10. 

Red dead.
From Red dead revolver to Red dead redemption. Pretty self explanatory.

Red Steel.

First game was famously awful, second game was a terrific action title with style to spare and immensely satisfying controls.

Revolver has a 74 meta. Hardly poor