Video game remakes have an unenviable task to accomplish. They need to recapture the thrill of playing the original game, while still modernizing gameplay and graphics enough to make it feel like a new game. It’s a fine line to walk and makes the creation of a remake just as challenging as creating an entirely new game.
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What makes a game worthy of a remake? Well, it has to bring something new to the table. Remasters are all well and good, but they rarely refine the gameplay that has become outdated over the years. A remake allows developers to reimagine certain ideas, refine gameplay, and modernize the game’s graphics. Remakes also have the benefit of bringing in players both old and new. Fans of the original will be eager to revisit an old favorite, while new players will be attracted to the game’s fresh coat of graphics and updated gameplay. When done well, a remake can even be a Game of the Year contender.
The Perfect Blend Of Science Fiction And Horror
The remake ofDead Spacein 2023 was a standout success. In fact, it was one of the best games of that year. Creeping around hallways, moving through the dark with a limited light source, and the impending dread that comes from every vent makes for one of theultimate horror experiences. Stomping Necromorphs has never felt better.Dead Space 2was a thrilling sequel with intense gunplay. Though it may have leaned more on the thriller genre instead of horror, it’s a fan favorite of the Dead Space trilogy.
EA knew how to use the first game as a blueprint for remaking the series, and Dead Space 2 could benefit from the same treatment.
After seeing what EA was able to do with Dead Space, Dead Space 2 seems like an opportunity too good to pass up. The developers worked hard to refine the shooting mechanics of the original, while also revisiting some of the game’s most frustrating points to make them fun for modern audiences. EA knew how to use the first game as a blueprint for remaking the series, and Dead Space 2 could benefit from the same treatment. With Dead Space 2’s wide array of new weapons.
Dead Space 2
An Outlaw Forced To Face His Past
John Marston is one of gaming’s best protagonists, and his story inRed Dead Redemptionis a tragic one. Forced to hunt down the members of his old gang, John sets out on the road to revisit his past as an outlaw. He meets plenty of strange characters along the way, and the open world of the old west makes for one of the best western experiences you could ever ask for. The problem is thatRed Dead Redemption 2dialed everything up to 10, while also making John’s journey a more emotional one by adding context to everyone he’s forced to hunt.
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A remake of Red Dead Redemption, ideally, would bring it up to the standards of the sequel. The open world could truly shine with updated gathering and hunting mechanics. Red Dead Redemption 2 also refined the first game’s shooting mechanics, including deadeye, making combat smoother than ever. Given that we now know more about the members of Dutch’s gang, it wouldn’t be out of place to give them an even bigger role in the first game.
Red Dead Redemption
An Electrifying Superhero Adventure
Originally a PlayStation 3 exclusive,InFamouswas one of the best games with an original take on the superhero genre. Infamous allowed you to choose between becoming a hero or a total villain, and both sides presented a great story with wonderfully different powers. It’s a game you would want to replay to see both sides of the coin, and revisiting it is a joy due to how fun the gameplay is. While the series has struggled to find success on more modern consoles like PlayStation 4’sInfamous: Second Son, bringing back the magic of the original could be the trick to reviving the series.
Since the release of Infamous, we’ve seen games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Arkham series refine movement and combat to an art form.
Since the release of Infamous, we’ve seen games like Marvel’sSpider-Manand the Arkham series refine movement and combat to an art form. In addition to updating the incredible visuals of the protagonist’s electric powers (which would look absolutely stunning), a remake of Infamous could heighten the traversal and overall speed of combat. If the developers were to go all out, they could add even more imaginative electric powers to the player’s arsenal of already-powerful abilities.
7Persona 4 Golden
A Strange Trip Into The Midnight Channel
Originally released for the PSP,Persona 4 Goldenis hailed as quite possibly the best entry in the Persona series. Since the successes ofPersona 5 RoyalandPersona 3 Reload, it’s hard to imagine that the developers wouldn’t pursue a full remake of Persona 4 Golden. The story is a strange one, with a group of teenagers investigating the Midnight Channel, an occurrence where they are able to enter the television and are transported to a new world.
Golden could benefit from a graphics overhaul, more ways to improve social links, new combat abilities and animations, and sharper models to really bring everything to life.
The most obvious improvement to the game would be to fully voice all the dialogue, though that may be a bit of a tall ask. Much like Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden could benefit from a graphics overhaul, more ways to improve social links, new combat abilities and animations, and sharper models to really bring everything to life. Doing so would appease longtime fans of the series while bringing in a new set of fans only familiar with more modern entries like Royal and Reload. They could also use this opportunity to expand upon the stories of side characters and build up the original elements that made this game such a hit in the first place.
Persona 4 Golden
6Fallout: New Vegas
A Fan-Favorite Of The Fallout Series
Originally released for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3,Fallout: New Vegasset a new bar for the series. To this day, all Fallout games are compared to the incredibly well-received Fallout: New Vegas. In New Vegas, you play as a courier set to deliver a platinum chip to a client in New Vegas. When the courier is shot and left for dead, they are put on the path of recovering their life and the chip from the gangster who tried to kill them. However, the true magic of New Vegas lies in the game’s many side quests that tell incredible stories.
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Much like Fallout: New Vegas took inspiration from the game mechanics ofFallout 3, a remake could incorporate many of the successful elements of Fallout 4. For instance, the ability to make a settlement inFallout 4was incredible, and doing the same in New Vegas could be a rewarding experience. In addition to that, we would see increased frame rate and gorgeous 4k graphics. There’s no doubt that a remake of Fallout: New Vegas would be a massive hit among fans old and new. Plus, it might keep players busy until the inevitable release of Fallout 5.
Fallout: New Vegas
5The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
A Strange And Beautiful Fantasy World
Originally released for the PC and Xbox,The Edler Scrolls III: Morrowindtells the tale of three god-like beings ruling over Morrowind while struggling against a demigod looking to upset the balance. Your part in all of this may start small, but you’ll quickly find yourself on an epic adventure. While the game’s main story is certainly good and worth playing, the magic of Morrowind (like so many of thebest Bethesda games) lies in the side adventures and stories you’ll encounter along the way. This allows you to create your own story, one that you have brought to life as you play through the game.
The world of Morrowind is strange and beautiful. It takes fantasy to the next level and favors a unique setting over the common medieval European backdrop we see so often.
Morrowind would certainly benefit from modern art design and improved graphics. The world of Morrowind is strange and beautiful. It takes fantasy to the next level and favors a unique setting over the common medieval European backdrop we see so often. Bringing this to life with modern graphics would be incredible. In addition to that, revisiting the game’s skills and mechanics would be quite a boon. Bethesda has learned quite a bit about open-world RPGS since Morrowind was released, and it would be wonderful to see them build this game from the ground up with all of their current knowledge from makingOblivionandSkyrim.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
4Dragon Age: Origins
The Pinnacle Of Epic Fantasy Games
BioWare originally released this gem of a game for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.Dragon Age: Originsis an incredible game with so many different options for the player to choose from. The game features many different origins. Where you start can be drastically different each playthrough, but you’ll eventually be recruited by the Grey Wardens to act as a warrior against the Darkspawn. I won’t go any further for the sake of spoilers.
A remake would also allow the developers to expand on the world’s open zones, making exploration a major feature of the game.
A remake of this fantasy epic would allow for full voice acting throughout. While the game already does have a fair amount of voice acting, it would be fantastic to have the main character voiced as well. A remake would also allow the developers to expand on the world’s open zones, making exploration a major feature of the game. While the writing certainly holds up, it might be a great opportunity to expand on certain characters and make romances more nuanced. Of course, combat animations and abilities could also be touched up to make combat a more seamless experience.
Dragon Age: Origins
3Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
The Ultimate Adventure In A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Originally released for the Xbox,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republichas stood the test of time as one of the best stories in gaming. This game was made from the old BioWare magic audiences came to love. Dialogue was sharply written, choices made a difference, and all the companions provided a unique and compelling perspective. While it’s rare for a licensed game to be held in such high regard, Knights of the Old Republic stands as one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
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In addition to updating the graphics, Knights of the Old Republic could certainly use an overhaul of its mechanics. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine this game getting a similar treatment toFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandRebirth. Bringing more of the game’s action to life while still giving the players the ability to pause combat would feel like the perfect blend of the old and the new. This would also be a great time to update the much-criticized space combat mini-game into something more robust. This would also be a fantastic opportunity to make the game fully-voiced.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2Chrono Trigger
An Unforgettable Trip Through Time
Originally released for the SNES,Chrono Triggeris a story of classic heroes mixed with time travel. It’s a story that was ahead of its time, and the game is revered to this day. The art in Chrono Trigger is amazing, featuring characters designed by the late great Akira Toriyama. This JRPG has stood the test of time, but it could certainly use a coat of fresh paint.
The HD-2D format brings games to life in a way that honors the classic art style while sharpening the graphics for modern hardware.
HD-2D is all the rage right now, and Chrono Trigger could definitely benefit from this kind of treatment. The HD-2D format brings games to life in a way that honors the classic art style while sharpening the graphics for modern hardware. It’s an absolute pleasure to look at, and even if they did nothing else, updating the game in this way would be incredible. In addition to making the game look better, this would be an opportunity for the developers to release a definitive translation. There have been several versions of Chrono Trigger over the years with varied cutscenes and translations. This is an opportunity for Square to set the record straight.
Chrono Trigger
1Bloodborne
A FromSofware Masterpiece For Gothic Horror Fans
While many games have attempted to duplicate the success of FromSoftware, few have managed to recapture the magic ofDark SoulsandBloodborne. The atmosphere of Bloodborne (originally released for the PS4) is unparalleled. Friendly NPCs are often indistinguishable from the horror-inspired monsters that populate the world. The music is absolutely epic, especially when it kicks up for a tremendous boss fight. Likewise, the sound designs is incredible. You’ll often enter new areas where you hear enemies before you ever see them.
Bloodborne’s 30 FPS cap has always been a point of contention with fans, something a remake would be able to address…
Since the incredibly successful Demon’s Souls remake, fans have been clamoring for Bloodborne to receive the same treatment. Fans have been so eager for a remake that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game’s director, addressed the numerous calls for a remakein a recent interview with Eurogamer. While he wasn’t at liberty to speak on Bloodborne directly (as FromSoftware does not own the IP), he did convey his love for the title. A remake, particularly from Bluepoint, would allow the game to benefit from modern hardware. Bloodborne’s 30 FPS cap has always been a point of contention with fans, something a remake would be able to address, in addition to bringing the graphics up to modern standards.
