Video games are constantly evolving, both in terms of technology and creativity. Sometimes, a game that was once groundbreaking and beloved becomes outdated or forgotten over time. That’s why some developers decide to remake their classic titles, giving them a new life and a new audience. But not all remakes are created equal. Some simply update the graphics and sound, while others add new features, mechanics, and content. Some even change the entire gameplay and story, creating a completely different experience.
In this article, we will look at some of the best video game remakes of all time, based on various criteria such as fidelity, innovation, quality, and impact. These are the games that not only honor the original, but also improve upon it in meaningful ways. Whether you are a fan of the old or the new, these are the remakes that you should definitely check out.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1998 | Release date: 2019 |
| Platform: PlayStation | Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC |
| Genre: Survival horror | Genre: Survival horror |
| Developer: Capcom | Developer: Capcom |
The original Resident Evil 2 was a survival horror masterpiece. It featured two playable characters, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who had to escape from a zombie-infested Raccoon City. The game had multiple scenarios, branching paths, puzzles, and secrets, making it highly replayable and immersive.
The remake took everything that made the original great and enhanced it with modern technology and design. The game used a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, similar to Resident Evil 4, and had stunning graphics, realistic physics, and dynamic lighting and shadows. The game also had more detailed environments, characters, and story, as well as new gameplay elements such as adaptive difficulty, destructible zombies, and a hardcore mode. The remake was a critical and commercial success, selling over 10 million copies and winning multiple awards.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1997 | Release date: 2024 |
| Platform: PlayStation | Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X |
| Genre: RPG | Genre: Action RPG |
| Developer: Square | Developer: Square Enix |
Final Fantasy VII is one of the most influential and popular video games of all time. It was the first Final Fantasy game to use 3D graphics, pre-rendered backgrounds, and full-motion videos, creating a cinematic and epic adventure. The game followed the story of Cloud Strife, a former soldier who joined a rebel group called AVALANCHE, fighting against the evil Shinra corporation and a mysterious villain named Sephiroth.
The remake, which is expected to release in 2024, is a massive undertaking that spans multiple games. The first game covered only the first part of the original, focusing on the events in Midgar. The game used a hybrid combat system that combined real-time action and turn-based strategy, as well as a revamped character progression and customization system. The game also expanded the story, characters, and world, adding new scenes, dialogue, and side quests. The remake was praised for its faithful and creative adaptation of the original, as well as its stunning visuals, music, and voice acting.
Demon’s Souls
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 2009 | Release date: 2020 |
| Platform: PlayStation 3 | Platform: PlayStation 5 |
| Genre: Action RPG | Genre: Action RPG |
| Developer: FromSoftware | Developer: Bluepoint Games |
Demon’s Souls was the game that started the Soulsborne genre. It was a dark fantasy action RPG that challenged players with its brutal difficulty, unforgiving death penalty, and cryptic lore. The game had a unique online feature that allowed players to leave messages, see other players’ deaths, and invade or cooperate with each other. The game was a cult hit, but also suffered from technical issues, such as long loading times, frame rate drops, and graphical glitches.
The remake was a faithful and impressive recreation of the original, using the power of the new console. The game had stunning graphics, smooth performance, and fast loading times, making it a joy to play. The game also had some quality of life improvements, such as a photo mode, a character creator, and an option to switch between performance and fidelity modes. The remake was hailed as one of the best launch titles for the PlayStation 5, and a showcase of its capabilities.
Metroid: Zero Mission
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1986 | Release date: 2004 |
| Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System | Platform: Game Boy Advance |
| Genre: Action-adventure | Genre: Action-adventure |
| Developer: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo |
Metroid was the game that introduced the iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran. It was a sci-fi action-adventure game that featured a nonlinear and open-ended exploration of an alien planet, Zebes. The game had a minimalist and atmospheric design, as well as a surprising twist at the end, revealing that Samus was a woman.
The remake was a complete overhaul of the original, adding new graphics, music, gameplay, and story. The game used the same engine and style as Metroid Fusion, and had more fluid and responsive controls, as well as new abilities, items, and enemies. The game also had a new map system, a hint system, and a save system, making it more accessible and user-friendly. The game also had a new epilogue section, where Samus had to escape from a space station without her suit, adding more tension and challenge.
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1999 | Release date: 2009 |
| Platform: Game Boy Color | Platform: Nintendo DS |
| Genre: RPG | Genre: RPG |
| Developer: Game Freak | Developer: Game Freak |
Pokemon Gold and Silver were the second generation of the Pokemon RPG series. They featured two regions to explore, Johto and Kanto, and 100 new Pokemon to catch, trade, and battle. The games also introduced new features, such as a day and night cycle, a real-time clock, breeding, and held items. The games were widely acclaimed and sold over 23 million copies worldwide.
The remakes were faithful and enhanced versions of the originals, using the same engine and style as Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum. The games had improved graphics, sound, and gameplay, as well as new content, such as the Pokeathlon, the Battle Frontier, and the Safari Zone. The games also had a new feature that allowed players to have their first Pokemon follow them around, similar to Pokemon Yellow. The games were compatible with the previous and future generations of Pokemon games, and came with a special device called the Pokewalker, which let players transfer their Pokemon and walk with them in real life. The games were praised for their nostalgia and innovation, and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1993 | Release date: 2019 |
| Platform: Game Boy | Platform: Nintendo Switch |
| Genre: Action-adventure | Genre: Action-adventure |
| Developer: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo |
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was the first handheld Zelda game. It was a charming and quirky adventure that followed Link as he tried to escape from a mysterious island, Koholint. The game had a unique and surreal story, as well as a variety of items, dungeons, and secrets.
The remake was a faithful and adorable recreation of the original, using a toy-like art style and a diorama-like perspective. The game had smooth and colorful graphics, as well as a remastered soundtrack and sound effects. The game also had some new features, such as a chamber dungeon mode, where players could create and share their own dungeons, and amiibo support, which unlocked special figurines and bonuses. The game was praised for its nostalgia and charm, and sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Shadow of the Colossus
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 2005 | Release date: 2018 |
| Platform: PlayStation 2 | Platform: PlayStation 4 |
| Genre: Action-adventure | Genre: Action-adventure |
| Developer: Team Ico | Developer: Bluepoint Games |
Shadow of the Colossus was a masterpiece of minimalist design. It was an action-adventure game that featured only 16 enemies, the colossi, which were massive and majestic creatures that roamed a vast and lonely land. The game had a simple and emotional story, as well as a stunning and atmospheric soundtrack. The game was a critical and artistic success, and influenced many other games and media.
The remake was a stunning and faithful recreation of the original, using the power of the new console. The game had breathtaking graphics, realistic physics, and enhanced animations, making the colossi and the world more alive and immersive. The game also had some new features, such as a photo mode, a mirror mode, and some hidden easter eggs. The game was hailed as one of the best remakes ever made, and won multiple awards.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 2001 | Release date: 2011 |
| Platform: Xbox, PC | Platform: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC |
| Genre: First-person shooter | Genre: First-person shooter |
| Developer: Bungie | Developer: 343 Industries, Bungie, Saber Interactive |
Halo: Combat Evolved was the game that defined the Xbox. It was a sci-fi first-person shooter that featured an epic and cinematic campaign, as well as a groundbreaking and addictive multiplayer mode. The game had a memorable and iconic protagonist, Master Chief, as well as a rich and immersive lore, and a catchy and orchestral soundtrack. The game was a huge hit, and spawned a successful and influential franchise.
The remake was a faithful and enhanced version of the original, using the same engine and gameplay. The game had improved graphics, sound, and online features, as well as a new feature that allowed players to switch between the original and the remastered graphics at any time. The game also had some new content, such as achievements, skulls, terminals, and a firefight mode. The game was a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the original, and a tribute to its legacy.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1996 | Release date: 2017 |
| Platform: PlayStation | Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC |
| Genre: 3D platformer | Genre: 3D platformer |
| Developer: Naughty Dog | Developer: Vicarious Visions |
Crash Bandicoot was the mascot of the PlayStation. It was a 3D platformer that featured a wacky and lovable marsupial, Crash, who had to stop the evil Dr. Neo Cortex and his minions. The game had colorful and varied levels, challenging and fun gameplay, and a catchy and upbeat soundtrack. The game was followed by two sequels, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, which improved and expanded the formula.
The remake was a faithful and gorgeous recreation of the original trilogy, using the same engine and style as Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The game had updated graphics, sound, and controls, as well as some new features, such as a unified menu, a time trial mode, and a playable Coco Bandicoot. The game was a nostalgic and fun trip down memory lane, and sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
| Original | Remake |
|---|---|
| Release date: 1999 | Release date: 2020 |
| Platform: PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC | Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC |
| Genre: Sports | Genre: Sports |
| Developer: Neversoft | Developer: Vicarious Visions |
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the game that popularized the skateboarding genre. It was a sports game that featured legendary skaters, iconic locations, and awesome tricks, as well as a rocking and diverse soundtrack. The game had a simple and addictive gameplay, as well as a creative and customizable park editor. The game was followed by a sequel, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, which added more skaters, levels, tricks, and modes.
The remake was a faithful and awesome recreation of the original games, using the same engine and style as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5. The game had improved graphics, sound, and gameplay, as well as some new features, such as online multiplayer, a shared park editor, and a revamped career mode. The game also had most of the original soundtrack, as well as some new songs from various genres. The game was a blast from the past, and won multiple awards.
Conclusion
These are some of the best video game remakes of all time, but there are many more that deserve recognition and appreciation. Remakes are not just cash grabs or lazy attempts to capitalize on nostalgia, but rather a way to celebrate and honor the classics, as well as to introduce them to a new generation of gamers. Remakes can also be a way to experiment and innovate, creating new experiences and perspectives. Whether you prefer the old or the new, remakes are a testament to the power and potential of video games as a medium of art and entertainment.
