My Thoughts on Remakes
This is going to be ironic coming from me considering the first game I’d ever got (other than Super Mario World) was in fact, Super Mario All Stars on the Super Nintendo, a collection/remake of the NES Super Mario Bros Games that were redone in SNES graphics, SNES physics, SNES Music, A save feature, and The Lost Levels as a bonus game that was never released in the west. I never owned an original NES or Famicom though I’ve used sketchy Famiclones that I’d find at flea markets which have come and gone. It wouldn’t be until I learned about emulation and even through games like Animal Crossing on Gamecube that had NES games as a bonus that I dipped my toes into some the original NES library including the original Super Mario Bros. But before all that, All Stars was my only exposure to the Super Mario Bros Trilogy. I suppose it was a decent value proposition for the time, I wasn’t old enough to buy games so I played what I got and it led me to where I am now for better or worse. If you ask me now, I’d prefer to play the NES originals over All Stars though I’m still nostalgic for the SNES one on a sentimental value. The 90s also had their fair share of “remakes” specifically those like Frogger, Q-Bert, Pong, etc where they took the original games and made something new out of them while keeping some aspects of the arcade games. I’m not sure if I would count those as remakes but more as re-imagining or even spin-off games because they aren’t anything like the originals (Frogger has all these new levels and gameplay mechanics, Same with Qbert and all the other ones). With those games, they didn’t just take the old game and slapped on a cinematic overlay with quirky Gen-X dialogue about how Frogs are rapist racists rancid chuds to flies or have a 3 hour cutscenes where Frogger is hopping across the rode with nothing going on other than his monologue about how what Miss Frogger’s past is none of his business.
With that said, I think remakes are highly unnecessary. Especially if the game is already well known and popular to begin with. Take the recently released Halo Combat Evolved Remake from 2026 (That I will affectionately call Halo Combat De-Evolved). Halo DE is the latest in a trend of gaming companies trying to cater to oldfarts like myself and enticing younger gamers who weren’t even conceived when the originals were released but would probably know of the game from YouTuber singing it’s praises. And since Game devs these days are overly bloated, lazy, and uncreative thanks to a tight choke hold by investors (both stupid and/or malicious) who don’t even play vidya to begin with, they are desperate enough to release a 10-20 year old game but in a new shitty engine made by a new shitty developer team that had nothing to do with the original as a desperate cash grab. The sad thing is, gamers, and especially Xbox gamers (we really don’t give Xbox the criticism they deserve imo) are a herd of cattle that will slurp up the slop right out of the feeding box just because it’s a game they could have already played through emulation or through the Master Chief Collection (the game was already remade as it is), or through original hardware. I mean shit, I’m pretty sure even the most recent xbone can play the original Halo disc if I’m not mistaken.
Or what about the new Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64 Remake? I have yet to see much from OOT but if the Star Fox 64 remake was any indication, I’m not expecting anything good. Of course, I’m not here to speculate but to criticize and that Star Fox 64 remake is the definition of draining the soul and passion behind the original game (which was a remake in of itself of Star Fox on the SNES though to be fair it was kind of a tech demo / proof of concept for the SNES more than a real game if I have to be blunt). Both of these games already have remakes on the 3DS though I give those a little bit of slack because they are essentially ports on a portable console where playing a game like OOT or Star Fox 64 is a novelty and less so of a replacement for the originals. The changes made to those games are just things to show off the capabilities of the 3DS or perhaps to work within the limitations of the hardware. Nobody ever claimed those versions are better than the originals. They are novelties, proof of hardware capabilities where you can brag and say “My 3DS can play Ocarina of Time and Star Fox), can your DS do that?” The Switch/Switch 2 do not have that going for them. They are mostly home consoles with portable capabilities. They are the next step in the console generation after the WiiU, not a successor to the 3DS so they are the next gen console and thus should present new experiences from the previous gen. Fun fact, they really didn’t.
I don’t know about you but I don’t buy next gen hardware to play games that I could had experienced in the last gen. If I have to be upfront about my feelings on how I see modern gaming these days, I’m not impressed anymore. Graphically, they are hardly better than anything I’ve seen in the 7th gen. It’s still the same shitty franchises from that generation if not earlier. You can argue the multiplayer games are improved (really?) but they are closed off behind a paywall on console at least so I’m not going to bother. Soon enough, you won’t even be able to buy the physical games anymore so they are basically gimped PCs which you’re better off saving your money for at this point. And what for? It’s certainly not the graphics nor the gameplay? Seriously? You think buying a new console for the sole reason to play a game you could already play is a valid excuse for getting one?
Yes, I already know the typical apologist comments in regards to why remakes should exist. “But muh accessibility to new audiences!” Bullshit. The original games are popular enough as it is. I doubt it would be hard to find a way to play Ocarina of Time.
“But muh old expensive hardware! I need muh hdmi, muh expensive catrdiges” If you have a computer, you can emulate the game for free. You don’t have to pay a scalper to play any old game. It doesn’t take a computer scientist mind to learn how to emulate.
“But it’s still too haaaaaaaaaard maaaaaaaang. Also muh piracy is eviiiiiiiiiiiiiiil o algo.” Nintendo themselves have that subscription thing with Nintendo Online where you can play Ocarina of Time PLUS a bunch of other kosher approved games on your modern HDMI compatible Nintendo Switch if you’re going to be a pussy about piracy. I mean it’s not like these games are in print anymore. I’m pretty sure most of the original team with the exception of a very few developers and producers involved with the original game are still getting any money from this industry these days so you aren’t exactly harming their means of obtaining food for their families. Most of them are already grown up and/or in retirement in Hawaii living comfy off the success of Ocarina of Time on the N64.
Like I said before, these games are already well known even by the youngest gamers. They’ll hear about from some YouTuber or whatever. It’s inevitable. It’s not like OOT is a hidden gem forgotten by time. It’s constantly on everyone’s Top Ten GREATEST VIDYA OF ALL TIME lists.
Even obscure games are not excused for the remake treatment. Again, you an emulate, you can probably find a digital copy for sale on some online storefront if you want to be a moralist about it, or you can pay up if you really want a physical copy though at that point, you’re not in the demographic that’s crying and shitting their pants about games that “should” be remade.
Now re-releases and ports are not subjected to my criticism assuming they are priced fairly. Say if Nintendo were to rerelease uh….something like Mario Kart Double Dash but on the Switch/Switch 2 with no changes to gameplay other than adapting the Gamecube Controls to the Switch hardware or something recent like the Arma Cold War Assault “Remake” which is actually just the original game that has been open sourced, tweaked, and added features to get the game running better on current hardware without breaking the original game too much. I’m perfectly fine with stuff like that. I know from experience a game like Rayman 2 has been ported to so many platforms it’s not even funny. I have the game on PC and on the DS. Apparantly it’s on the 3DS too! Same game (for the most part) across the board. I suppose I’m fine with enhanced edition of games too (again, assuming they are priced fairly) something like Sleeping Dogs on current gen hardware but with all the DLC, extra content, and better performance for a lower price. I suppose you can call them ports. Skyrim and GTA V in particular are bad examples where they take it too far because they are the same game no matter if you played it on PS3, PS4, or PS5 all extra stuff added aside. I’ve been critical of the Switch of being a ports machine but in a way, I suppose that has some legitimate appeal if you intend play games portably (though the Switch and even the Switch Lite are far from what I could consider viable portable consoles because they are bulky).
One thing that’s never discussed is the idea of remakes but for bad games. You see all of these remakes but it’s for games that honestly never really needed them. You might have a few assholes whining about gaming mechanics (or social standards) in these games as being dated. Those people who cry about that stuff, they don’t matter. Art, Movies, Literature, and Games are designed within the frame of their time period and should remain as products of their era. You shouldn’t have to take a game and rewrite it for modern audiences. That would be like taking the Bible and rewriting it to suit modern sensibilities and interpretations….wait...what...they do that too? If you are filtered by outdated graphics and controls, then you should consider looking into modding rather than remakes rather than pressuring gaming companies to rewrite history for your sake.
The point is, if you’re going to remake any old game, remake a game that failed to deliver on it’s potential in the past. You know, a game with good ideas but bad execution. Think about a remake of Bubsy 3D but with better visual styles, less annoying dialogue, good controls, and so forth (lmao it would still be a terrible game) but it would make for a compelling experience. If the devs had balls, they could probably throw in the original bad game too so you can see the improvements and changes for yourself. It would give them a lot of respectability if game developers can own up to their mistakes and try again. I find that more appealing than taking a game that is already well liked and fucking it up like they did with Halo Combat De-Evolved.
On the other hand, I like the idea of Demakes more (Think Halo for the Atari 2600). But of course, that would require more effort from the developers.
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