It may seem hard to believe now, but there was once a time when remakes were almost universally criticized upon announcement, with many players feeling that the games were just cash-grabs. That’s all changed now, however, as games likeResident Evil 2,Demon’s Souls, andYakuza Kiwamihave shown just how great a meticulously designed remake can be.
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Moreover, remakes not only give players the chance to revisit aclassic adventure with modern graphics and gameplay mechanics, but it also gives hope for a revitalization of the series. A good example of this would be theCrash Bandicootfranchise, which had its classic PlayStation 1 trilogy remade in the critically-acclaimed and commercially successfulCrash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy;this led to a remake ofCrash Team Racing, a mobile game, and even a brand newCrash Bandicootadventure titledCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.
Suffice to say, when fans of a forgotten franchise hear that a remake is on its way, they have reason to be hopeful that the IP will be getting a new lease of life beyond the remade game. 2022 is bound to see some more classic games being given a fresh coat of paint, so we’ve listed a few games that we’d love to see get the remake treatment.
5The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Simpsons: Hit & Runwas first released in September 2003, and fans have been asking, hoping, and pleading for a sequel or remake ever since. As the title suggests, the game predominantly putsSimpsonscharacters behind the wheel as they attempt to complete races and time challenges. The game is fondly remembered for implementing many ofthe TV shows' iconic locationsand letting players freely explore them by car or on foot, with numerous collectibles to find in each level.
Licensing issues are often an issue when it comes to remaking an old game, and one would think that a few hoops would need to be jumped through to remake theSimpsonsgame. Still, crazier things have happened, and although the show has fallen in prominence since the early 2000s, a remake ofThe Simpsons: Hit & Runwould surely be a commercial success.
4King’s Field
King’s Fieldis by far the least universally recognizable entry on this list. The game was released exclusively in Japan back in 1994 and initially flew under the radar before positive word of mouth helped the game find success many months later. The reasonKing’sFieldis such a highly requested remake, despite so few people playing it, is because the RPG is the first-ever game from From Software.
Japanese studio From Software have had a sharp rise in prominence over the last decade, predominantly thanks to their esteemedDark Soulsseries, along withBloodborneand game of the year winnerSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.Earlysigns of the so-called “Souls-like” designcan be seen inKing’sField,and the game was also one of the first-ever 3D RPGs on console, making it an interesting candidate for a remake.
3Final Fantasy 6
The debate as to whichFinal Fantasygame is the best has raged on for many years, with many people ranking the games in vastly different orders. However, one consistent feature of these ranking lists is thatFinal Fantasy 6will be in or close to the top spot. Consequently, it’s surprising that the game has not been remade yet, especially considering that many otherFinal Fantasytitles have been remade or remastered.
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There is some reason to be hopeful, though, as a remake ofFinal Fantasy 7was released in 2020, so its predecessor could be getting the same treatment in the near future.
2Bully
Bullywas first released in October 2006, and, likeThe Simpsons: Hit & Run,fans of the game have been asking for a sequel or remake ever since. The game was initially branded as “Grand Theft Autoin school,” and although the games do have some similarities, Rockstar did a great job of making the game feel like its own entity.
With a vibrant cast of colorful characters, a surprisingly memorable story, and tons of hilarious side quests,Bullywas able to silence those who dismissed it as aGTAspin-offand become one of the most beloved titles from the seventh generation of home consoles. Consequently, many people are disappointed that a remake or sequel hasn’t come along yet. There is some reason to be hopeful, though, as gaming industry insiderTom Henderson recently stated that a newBullygame was previously planned to be announced at The Game Awards.
1Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooiewas first released in 1998 on the Nintendo 64 and is regarded as one of, if not the best platformer on the system, which is impressiveconsidering just how many fantastic 3D platforming titles the N64 had. The iconic collectathon received a critically-acclaimed sequel a couple of years later, though it wasn’t until 2008 that the next console game hit stores. Unfortunately,Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Boltsfailed to impress, and the series has been quiet ever since.
A remake of the classic first game could breathe new life into the franchise, and with Microsoft still owning the IP, it could be a great Game Pass subscription seller.
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