ARE HD REMAKES AND REMAKES IN GENERAL NECESSARY?
JUL 4
There is a huge trend that is sweeping the gaming industry at the moment, something that is sparking a debate amongst console fans. I’m talking of course about the influx of HD remakes.
Back when the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii were released back in 2005/2006 remaking games was a rare occurrence. Yet nowadays HD remakes are coming thick and fast. At E3 2014 HD remakes or “remasters” seemed to be all the rage with Halo Master Chief Collection, GTA V and Grim Fandango are due be released on the next gen consoles with a new lick of paint. Since then we have heard that Sleeping Dogs will be getting a next gen release with HD slapped on at the end of the title, I’m sorry wasn’t it HD in the first place?
Remakes aren’t a new thing of course, they’ve been around since the late eighties. Let me break down the different types of remake we’ve seen over the years.
COMPLETE REMAKES
Hunters were bloody scary enough before the remake!
An example of a good remake is Resident Evil for the Gamecube. It kept all the core elements of the first game and refined them; the graphics were upgraded and were some of the prettiest we had seen on the 6th gen consoles. Capcom also added a big chunk of extra story which added to the lore of the Resident Evil story. It was expertly done and was a jewel in the crown of the Gamecube.
The multiplayer was one of the most horrible experiences I’ve ever played.
Even Daniel Craig holds his hands up to fact this game is shocking!
A bad example is Goldeneye007 for the Wii/Xbox360/PS3. Nintendo and Activision had blocked Rare from giving us Goldeneye64 HD (which led to Perfect Dark HD) and decided to cash in on the hype of a potential remake by making their own remake. The game was complete tripe! They reworked the story which then made it totally unrecognisable against not only the original game but the film on which it was based. They added the current Bond Daniel Craig (nothing against Craig but as a Bond fan you shouldn’t get another Bond into do another Bond’s movie based game). The game played horribly and it got even worse when it came to the Xbox 360 and the PS3. The multiplayer was one of the most horrible experiences I’ve ever played.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Sometimes they are; simply giving the original Resident Evil a slight sheen would simply have not been enough. The total overhaul of Resident Evil made the game seem fresh again, especially with the added story. It has happened with other games too and it has worked brilliantly for them. If you are going to commission a remake of a beloved franchise make sure you have got the right team in place or it’ll become an unequivocal disaster.
NEW CONTROL RELEASES
There’s nothing that builds tension more then waving the Wiimote around like a madman!
Now I’m only focusing my attention on the Wii’s “New Play Control” series, which included the likes of Pikmin, Resident Evil and Mario Tennis. These were Gamecube games that were re- released onto the Wii with the only difference being that you could now use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to play through the game. No graphical update or content was added, just the same game on a bigger disc.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
I’ve got a few problems with these games. First apart from the controls there is no difference in the game, no graphical upgrade or extra content, it’s literally the same game. Secondly what’s the point of re-releasing a game with new Wii motion controls if you’re going to allow the use of normal controllers, including the Gamecube controller? Lastly the Wii can play Gamecube games already so why release the same games? I’ll admit Mario Tennis warrants the motion controls and the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 is the best version to play thanks to the controls but all the other games don’t benefit from their new control methods. I suppose the only way these can now be deemed necessary is the fact the Wii U can’t play Gamecube games.
3D REMAKES
Undoubtedly the second screen on the 3DS came in handy.
Fair enough these are solely Nintendo 3DS games but none the less they are remakes. There haven’t been too many of these though with only The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Starfox64 getting the 3DS makeover.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Because there haven’t been many of these I don’t have an issue with them other than the fact that I would imagine fans of the games would have probably preferred an HD remake for the Wii U? Hint hint Nintendo!
HD COLLECTIONS
Just one of the HD collections Ubisoft released on the PS3.
HD collections are an idea which came about with the release of the 7thgen consoles. They are mostly a Playstation 3 product thanks to the consoles use of Blu-Ray discs which allows multiple games to be placed on one disc. Whereas on Xbox 360 several discs would have to be used, increasing production costs. Ubisoft have released a few collections for the PS3, as did Sony themselves. Konami didn’t mind taking the hit on production costs and released both a Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid Collection and Capcom released the Devil May Cry HD collection.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Yes I believe they are. As time goes on it becomes increasingly hard to find certain versions of old games and when you do the price is usually sky high (just look at the ridiculous prices Microsoft are still charging for the original Xbox games on Xbox Live, nearly nine years and still £10). It also rids gamers of the need to keep their old consoles (at least out on show). Though if you’re gonna do a collection you could at least add every game in the series and not just a selection of them. Looking at you Konami!
HD REMAKES
The Monkey Island remasters allow you to switch between the new and original visuals with the press of a button.
A very popular cash cow at the moment with games publishers but not so much with certain gamers is the HD remake. To name but a few games that have received the HD treatment, The Secret of Monkey Island, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Resident Evil Code Veronica/4 and Perfect Dark. There are loads more of these and you damn well put money on more in the future.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
It’s a mixed bag really. There are a lot of HD remakes that put a genuine effort in and you can see a major difference between the original and the remake i.e. The Secret of Monkey Island 1&2. In other cases there is only the minimal effort put in where very little difference can be seen i.e. Resident Evil Code Veronica. Though saying this I do believe they are necessary; it’s great to be able to play old games that may be too hard to get hold these days without paying extortionate prices, with a brand new sheen on them to boot.
ANNIVERSARY REMAKES
The Halo Master Chief Collection is a superb piece of fan service!
So far there isn’t a great deal of these. They are mostly a Microsoft thing with Halo Combat Evolved and Fable Anniversary released so far but Halo 2 Anniversary will be part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The “Anniversary” title is not just reserved for Microsoft games though; both Tomb Raider and Another World have had anniversary editions released over the years. In fact Another World 20thAnniversary Edition has recently been released on Xbox One and PS4, 3 years after the actual anniversary. Better late than never I suppose.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Like I said before, the anniversary tagline is barely used which means these games get less scrutiny. Anniversary remakes at least have the benefit of a substantial amount of time between the original and its remake, giving fans enough time to forget enough of the original to give the remake validity.
DEFINITIVE EDITIONS/REMASTERED EDITIONS
This image doesn’t do the upcoming remaster the justice it deserves. The game is truly stunning!
These are becoming more popular as we cross over from the last gen consoles to the current gen. So far we’ve only had Tomb Raider but there are more on the horizon. GTA V, Metro Redux, Sleeping Dogs, The Last of Us and Grim Fandango are all due to be released this year. Basically these editions are mostly comprised of games that came at the latter end of the 7th gen console cycle where the tech limitations forced developers to put out downgraded versions of their games. Now with the 8thgen consoles being far superior those developers can re-release their games the way they were intended, something that greatly benefits PC users who have had to put up with below par versions.
JUL 4
There is a huge trend that is sweeping the gaming industry at the moment, something that is sparking a debate amongst console fans. I’m talking of course about the influx of HD remakes.
Back when the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii were released back in 2005/2006 remaking games was a rare occurrence. Yet nowadays HD remakes are coming thick and fast. At E3 2014 HD remakes or “remasters” seemed to be all the rage with Halo Master Chief Collection, GTA V and Grim Fandango are due be released on the next gen consoles with a new lick of paint. Since then we have heard that Sleeping Dogs will be getting a next gen release with HD slapped on at the end of the title, I’m sorry wasn’t it HD in the first place?
Remakes aren’t a new thing of course, they’ve been around since the late eighties. Let me break down the different types of remake we’ve seen over the years.
COMPLETE REMAKES
Hunters were bloody scary enough before the remake!
An example of a good remake is Resident Evil for the Gamecube. It kept all the core elements of the first game and refined them; the graphics were upgraded and were some of the prettiest we had seen on the 6th gen consoles. Capcom also added a big chunk of extra story which added to the lore of the Resident Evil story. It was expertly done and was a jewel in the crown of the Gamecube.
The multiplayer was one of the most horrible experiences I’ve ever played.
Even Daniel Craig holds his hands up to fact this game is shocking!
A bad example is Goldeneye007 for the Wii/Xbox360/PS3. Nintendo and Activision had blocked Rare from giving us Goldeneye64 HD (which led to Perfect Dark HD) and decided to cash in on the hype of a potential remake by making their own remake. The game was complete tripe! They reworked the story which then made it totally unrecognisable against not only the original game but the film on which it was based. They added the current Bond Daniel Craig (nothing against Craig but as a Bond fan you shouldn’t get another Bond into do another Bond’s movie based game). The game played horribly and it got even worse when it came to the Xbox 360 and the PS3. The multiplayer was one of the most horrible experiences I’ve ever played.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Sometimes they are; simply giving the original Resident Evil a slight sheen would simply have not been enough. The total overhaul of Resident Evil made the game seem fresh again, especially with the added story. It has happened with other games too and it has worked brilliantly for them. If you are going to commission a remake of a beloved franchise make sure you have got the right team in place or it’ll become an unequivocal disaster.
NEW CONTROL RELEASES
There’s nothing that builds tension more then waving the Wiimote around like a madman!
Now I’m only focusing my attention on the Wii’s “New Play Control” series, which included the likes of Pikmin, Resident Evil and Mario Tennis. These were Gamecube games that were re- released onto the Wii with the only difference being that you could now use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck to play through the game. No graphical update or content was added, just the same game on a bigger disc.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
I’ve got a few problems with these games. First apart from the controls there is no difference in the game, no graphical upgrade or extra content, it’s literally the same game. Secondly what’s the point of re-releasing a game with new Wii motion controls if you’re going to allow the use of normal controllers, including the Gamecube controller? Lastly the Wii can play Gamecube games already so why release the same games? I’ll admit Mario Tennis warrants the motion controls and the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 is the best version to play thanks to the controls but all the other games don’t benefit from their new control methods. I suppose the only way these can now be deemed necessary is the fact the Wii U can’t play Gamecube games.
3D REMAKES
Undoubtedly the second screen on the 3DS came in handy.
Fair enough these are solely Nintendo 3DS games but none the less they are remakes. There haven’t been too many of these though with only The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Starfox64 getting the 3DS makeover.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Because there haven’t been many of these I don’t have an issue with them other than the fact that I would imagine fans of the games would have probably preferred an HD remake for the Wii U? Hint hint Nintendo!
HD COLLECTIONS
Just one of the HD collections Ubisoft released on the PS3.
HD collections are an idea which came about with the release of the 7thgen consoles. They are mostly a Playstation 3 product thanks to the consoles use of Blu-Ray discs which allows multiple games to be placed on one disc. Whereas on Xbox 360 several discs would have to be used, increasing production costs. Ubisoft have released a few collections for the PS3, as did Sony themselves. Konami didn’t mind taking the hit on production costs and released both a Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid Collection and Capcom released the Devil May Cry HD collection.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Yes I believe they are. As time goes on it becomes increasingly hard to find certain versions of old games and when you do the price is usually sky high (just look at the ridiculous prices Microsoft are still charging for the original Xbox games on Xbox Live, nearly nine years and still £10). It also rids gamers of the need to keep their old consoles (at least out on show). Though if you’re gonna do a collection you could at least add every game in the series and not just a selection of them. Looking at you Konami!
HD REMAKES
The Monkey Island remasters allow you to switch between the new and original visuals with the press of a button.
A very popular cash cow at the moment with games publishers but not so much with certain gamers is the HD remake. To name but a few games that have received the HD treatment, The Secret of Monkey Island, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Resident Evil Code Veronica/4 and Perfect Dark. There are loads more of these and you damn well put money on more in the future.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
It’s a mixed bag really. There are a lot of HD remakes that put a genuine effort in and you can see a major difference between the original and the remake i.e. The Secret of Monkey Island 1&2. In other cases there is only the minimal effort put in where very little difference can be seen i.e. Resident Evil Code Veronica. Though saying this I do believe they are necessary; it’s great to be able to play old games that may be too hard to get hold these days without paying extortionate prices, with a brand new sheen on them to boot.
ANNIVERSARY REMAKES
The Halo Master Chief Collection is a superb piece of fan service!
So far there isn’t a great deal of these. They are mostly a Microsoft thing with Halo Combat Evolved and Fable Anniversary released so far but Halo 2 Anniversary will be part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The “Anniversary” title is not just reserved for Microsoft games though; both Tomb Raider and Another World have had anniversary editions released over the years. In fact Another World 20thAnniversary Edition has recently been released on Xbox One and PS4, 3 years after the actual anniversary. Better late than never I suppose.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Like I said before, the anniversary tagline is barely used which means these games get less scrutiny. Anniversary remakes at least have the benefit of a substantial amount of time between the original and its remake, giving fans enough time to forget enough of the original to give the remake validity.
DEFINITIVE EDITIONS/REMASTERED EDITIONS
This image doesn’t do the upcoming remaster the justice it deserves. The game is truly stunning!
These are becoming more popular as we cross over from the last gen consoles to the current gen. So far we’ve only had Tomb Raider but there are more on the horizon. GTA V, Metro Redux, Sleeping Dogs, The Last of Us and Grim Fandango are all due to be released this year. Basically these editions are mostly comprised of games that came at the latter end of the 7th gen console cycle where the tech limitations forced developers to put out downgraded versions of their games. Now with the 8thgen consoles being far superior those developers can re-release their games the way they were intended, something that greatly benefits PC users who have had to put up with below par versions.
there is a simple solution, just don’t buy them.
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
It’s a bit iffy these ones, on one hand its nice to have better versions of the games we know and love even if it is only graphically. On the other hand though, apart from Grim Fandango all the other games have only been released in the last year or so, begging the question do we need them? Personally I would say they yes. Definitive/re-mastered editions are a good way for gamers to play games they may have missed on the previous generation, it also gives the developers the chance to release the game in the form they originally intended it to be but was limited by the technology.
CONCLUSION
People recently have been pissing and moaning about companies releasing rehashed versions of their old games and in some cases they maybe right. I can understand that these gamers don’t have a nostalgic bone in their body and feel that they don’t need to keep revisiting old titles and constantly want new IP’s. The problem is of course that once this new IP is released and a sequel is announced these same gamers will moan that the companies have again run out of ideas.
If you’re one of these guys that consistently moan when a remake or HD version is announced (the ones that say “why are you making this shyt when you could be making a new IP”) then there is a simple solution; just don’t buy them. You’re missing the point with most of these remakes/HD editions. A good chunk of them are to seek out interest in a new addition to the series. Other times it’s to promote a new addition to the series and allow gamers to play the games that preceded it.
For me I don’t have a problem with HD remakes or really any of the above (aside from new play controls). They not only give us the chance to experience the games we love in a new pristine guise but it also allows gamers that never got to experience to play these gems when they were first released an opportunity to enjoy the games that made many of us fall in love with gaming.
If I had to be picky I would like certain companies to make more of an effort with the games they decide to re-release. Don’t just throw a bunch of games from a collection together, add the new control scheme and hope that is enough. Completely overhaul the visuals, add new sections and extra story.
What about you guys? Do you think that HD editions and remakes are a blight on gaming or do you feel they are as important as new IP’s?
ARE THEY NECESSARY?
It’s a bit iffy these ones, on one hand its nice to have better versions of the games we know and love even if it is only graphically. On the other hand though, apart from Grim Fandango all the other games have only been released in the last year or so, begging the question do we need them? Personally I would say they yes. Definitive/re-mastered editions are a good way for gamers to play games they may have missed on the previous generation, it also gives the developers the chance to release the game in the form they originally intended it to be but was limited by the technology.
CONCLUSION
People recently have been pissing and moaning about companies releasing rehashed versions of their old games and in some cases they maybe right. I can understand that these gamers don’t have a nostalgic bone in their body and feel that they don’t need to keep revisiting old titles and constantly want new IP’s. The problem is of course that once this new IP is released and a sequel is announced these same gamers will moan that the companies have again run out of ideas.
If you’re one of these guys that consistently moan when a remake or HD version is announced (the ones that say “why are you making this shyt when you could be making a new IP”) then there is a simple solution; just don’t buy them. You’re missing the point with most of these remakes/HD editions. A good chunk of them are to seek out interest in a new addition to the series. Other times it’s to promote a new addition to the series and allow gamers to play the games that preceded it.
For me I don’t have a problem with HD remakes or really any of the above (aside from new play controls). They not only give us the chance to experience the games we love in a new pristine guise but it also allows gamers that never got to experience to play these gems when they were first released an opportunity to enjoy the games that made many of us fall in love with gaming.
If I had to be picky I would like certain companies to make more of an effort with the games they decide to re-release. Don’t just throw a bunch of games from a collection together, add the new control scheme and hope that is enough. Completely overhaul the visuals, add new sections and extra story.
What about you guys? Do you think that HD editions and remakes are a blight on gaming or do you feel they are as important as new IP’s?
