To remake a beloved classic is no simple endeavor, and can possibly run the risk of tainting the original vision or seeming outright pointless. For the most part, however, recent video game remakes have done an admirable job of updating older classics with updated visuals and improvements to gameplay mechanics. The once clunky tank controls of Resident Evil 2 have been replaced with smooth third-person shooting. Final Fantasy 7's once blocky character models now have cutting-edge replacements in the 2020 remake. Positive changes like this, that retain the original's charm while bringing up to modern standards are sure to continue for years to come.
On the flip side, there is the notion that some older titles haven't aged a day and still play just as well now as they did upon release. Anytime speculation begins to mount regarding a remake for Resident Evil 4, there is a pocket of players with the opinion that it is completely unnecessary. Even more so, recent rumors regarding early development of a remake for 2013's The Last of Us were met with some raised eyebrows as the title is a little over 8 years old, and still looks and plays great. Furthermore, there's a remastered version of it that was released the following year. It brings into question, when and why is it appropriate to revisit an older game and deem it worthy of the remake treatment.
A Matter of Time
For almost four decades, a string of revolutionary and iconic video game franchises have been launched by a variety of companies. Nintendo created iconic franchises such as Super Mario Bros, Sony made gaming more mainstream with the PlayStation and Microsoft ushered in a new era of online gaming with Xbox and a little game called Halo: Combat Evolved. Showing just how quickly that time flies, Halo: Combat Evolved is turning 20 years old in just a matter of days. What was once the hot new game on the market is now considered a nostalgic classic.
As beloved as some of these older games can be, even the most die-hard of enthusiasts are willing to admit that these titles can show their age. Final Fantasy 7 was a landmark RPG in 1997, but by today's standards, the blocky character models are goofy looking and somewhat at odds with the mature storyline it is attempting to convey. But, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake from last year was a huge shift in graphics and gameplay, bringing the game into the modern era. The original still has its place, but enough time had passed (24 years and four console generations to be exact) in order to warrant enough of a substantial difference to show how far things have come.
If It Ain't Broke...
However, just because enough time has passed and technology has improved, doesn't necessarily mean that a remake will immediately be "better" in every way across the board. Some aspects of the original may be lost in translation, proving that it was released at the right time, and belonged to a particular era of gaming. Look no further than the Xbox remake of Conker's Bad Fur Day, which was referred to as Conker Live and Reloaded. While it boasted amazing graphics for its time, many didn't care for the censoring of the crude jokes and violence in the N64 original. In short, what was thought of as attempts to make the game more accessible actually harmed the original idea of the game.
Another example is the 3DS remake of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask which was released in 2015. Many praised the quality-of-life improvements to the time mechanics and interaction with the world but once again, there was some pushback to the graphical overhaul. While an impressive-looking game for the 3DS and technically superior, some argued that the muddy, inferior visuals of the N64 actually helped elevate and support the game's darker, disturbing themes. It's not that either side is necessarily wrong, it's just that it's worth considering if some games are like lightning in a bottle: better left untouched.
Reasons for Justifying a Remake
There remain a solid number of reasons why a studio would consider remaking a game. One would be that the original is severely outdated by the technology it was made with, and that this can be improved. Second, it is no longer as easily accessible to modern audiences who are interested in legacy content. Lastly is whether or not the remake can add or change enough about the original in a positive way to justify its existence. A summary of all of these points can be seen in 2017's Metroid: Samus Returns, a remake of the 1991 title Metroid 2: Return of Samus.
Metroid 2: Return of Samus was a sequel to the NES original, but made exclusively for the original Game Boy. The handheld console has its place in history as the first proper handheld gaming system, but compared to what came afterwards, it was very primitive. For this reason, creating something as big as a proper Metroid adventure may be too much for the technology at hand. The limited graphics could make it difficult to see where to go or what to do. The 3DS remake made leaps and bounds by wonderfully reimagining the environments and making great use of the second screen as a map, ensuring players would never be lost.
Taking Advantage of Modern Hardware
When it all comes down to it, the biggest advantage a remake can offer is bringing an older game onto newer technology. What was once impossible or difficult, can now be realized in full form, as developers are only limited by their imaginations. The recent Mafia: Definitive Edition, when compared to the 2002 original, is like a night and day comparison. The city looks incredibly realistic, the gunplay much more responsive and the cars handle more realistically than ever before.
Seeing this dramatic upgrade is what makes a video game remake so impressive and worthwhile for players. Metroid: Samus Returns, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake all waited several years (even decades) before revisiting the game, resulting in a clear gap between the technologies on display. It is also for this reason that a proposed The Last of Us remake may scratch some heads, as it hasn't been even a decade since its release.
The PlayStation 5 is definitely a large jump over the PlayStation 3, but that doesn't exactly mean that PS3 games look bad by any sense of the word. So perhaps when it all comes down to it, the number of years separating an original and a remake should be predicated on whether or not the end result will be a significant enough jump.