Summary
- Video game remakes often strike a balance between authenticity and modernization.
- Fans appreciate remakes that stay true to the original while enhancing the overall experience.
- Remakes like The Last of Us Part 1 showcase noticeable upgrades while preserving the essence of the game.
Video game remakes walk a tight line, with fans expecting a ton from these titles. For the most part, modern remakes of classic video games are usually great, especially if they add extra content of their own to expand upon the already beloved experience of the original.
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These games offer little to no hand-holding, trusting players to figure things out for themselves, making progress all the more rewarding.
However, there are some video game remakes that fans love for being authentic to the original game. This means that very few changes are made to significantly alter the experience, with the core gameplay being largely faithful to what fans experienced back in the day.
Final Fantasy 4
The 3D Remake Is Excellent And Does Justice To The SNES Original
Final Fantasy 4 (3D Remake)
- Released
- July 22, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
The DS remake of Final Fantasy 4 gives players a great reason to check out this important title in the series. Cecil's journey from a Dark Knight into a righteous Paladin is great, with various other legendary Final Fantasy tropes being respected in this game.
The 3D remake looks and feels great to play, with the story beats being a 1:1 adaptation of the SNES game. Combat may not be as faithfully recreated, but the heightened difficulty will be a great challenge to overcome as players level up their party and implement the strategies needed to succeed.
System Shock
A Remake That Modernizes The Combat While Trying To Be As Authentic As Possible
System Shock (2023)
- Released
- May 30, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Sci-Fi, FPS
The original System Shock may be a landmark title in the immersive sim genre, but it's not one that has aged well. It can be downright brutal for modern players to try and get this clunky game running on modern platforms, which is why the remake was such a godsend.
Players loved how this title modernized the game without losing the magic of the original. The difficulty settings are still creative, the maze-like layouts of the maps are retained, and the design of the enemies tries to stick as closely to the original game as possible.
Live A Live
An HD-2D Remake That Finally Lets Players All Over The World Enjoy This Unique SNES JRPG
Live A Live
- Released
- April 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Live a Live is a JRPG that wasn't localized for the West. As a result, playres had to rely on fan translations until Square Enix announced an HD-2D remake of this title that would enjoy a worldwide release.
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This finally helped Live a Live break into the mainstream, with the game's art style being one of its strongest points. Meanwhile, the rest of the title remains faithful to the SNES original, which shows just how groundbreaking and revered the game would've been if it had always been deemed worthy of an English localization.
Demon's Souls
A Beautiful And Authentic Remake Courtesy Of Bluepoint Games
Demon's Souls
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
With FromSoftware becoming a household name, many fans rued the fact that they missed out on Demon's Souls back on the PS3. However, this issue became a thing of the past when Sony announced a Demon's Souls remake as a launch title for the PS5.
The visuals were in a class of their own, but what made this remake so great was how it strove to be an authentic remake instead of trying different things. This makes the PS5 version of Demon's Souls the definitive version of this game that fans will love.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Another Authentic PlayStation Remake From Bluepoint Games
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus was a beautiful game when it came out on the PS2, but the visuals of the original game haven't aged all that well. This made it the prime candidate for a remaster that would help enhance the beauty of this title.
Bluepoint's remake made Shadow of the Colossus more than playable in modern times, and it helped that the core puzzle-combat loop was so strong that fans would have a great time with this title in any console era. The remake did a great job of attracting new fans who would get to enjoy a legendary video game with a fresh coat of paint.
Dead Space
Expands On The Original Without Losing What Made The First Game So Special
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Many fans wondered if a Dead Space remake was necessary, especially since the original had aged like fine wine. However, 2023's Dead Space did just enough to warrant this improvement while letting fans enjoy a largely authentic experience, barring a few changes.
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Isaac can speak this time around, and some of the sections in the USG Ishimura are expanded upon. Apart from this, the rest of the package is true to the original game and does a great job of upholding its legacy.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
An Authentic Remake Of The First Three Crash Bandicoot Games
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
- Released
- June 30, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
After being on the back burner for a while, a hot E3 showcase saw players being treated to a wealth of amazing games, including the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Nostalgic fans could finally enjoy their beloved platformer games with a fresh coat of paint.
While the rounded platforms may lead to frustrating slips, this is the only notable change in what is otherwise an authentic remake of the three Crash Bandicoot titles. Both old and new fans will love to test their skills in these tough platforming games that take no prisoners.
The Last Of Us Part 1
A Remake So Authentic Fans Questioned Whether It Was Even Necessary
The Last of Us Part I
- Released
- September 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
The Last of Us Part 1 is a remake so authentic that some people decry it for being a visual upgrade and nothing else. That being said, there are some notable changes that fans have noticed in this title.
The revamped weapon upgrade animations are integrated in this game, facial animations feel more expressive, lighting looks more advanced, and the game's additional content ensures that players will have a blast playing the definitive version of The Last of Us.
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