Starting in the late 2000s, video game publishers started going all-in on the concept of remakes and remasters.
In some cases, it is certainly nice to get touched-up versions of thegames we loved from years past.
10 JRPGS That Need 2D-HD Remakes
The JRPG is in the midst of making its big come back to the front of the mainstream and a big reason why is the appearance of the HD/2D remakes.
However, in this exuberance to revive and reinvigorate older games, there have been more than a few remakes that have been… somewhat questionable in their necessity and efficacy, let’s say.
Some of these remakes are functionally identical to games that were already fine the first time around, some try to add unnecessary features and tweaks, and others take good classic games and make them objectively worse.
10The Last Of Us Part 1
A Port By Any Other Name
The Last of Us Part 1
The original release ofThe Last of Usin 2013 was one of the biggest successes Sony andNaughty Dog ever experienced.
It makes sense that they would want to keep the game in the public consciousness, which is probably why it was ported to the PS4 in the following year.
Apparently, though, Sony and Naughty Dog arereallycommitted to that game plan, which is why they rebuilt the entire thing for a PS5 release in 2022.
The remake is functionally the same as the original save for some graphical touch-ups, something that could’ve been easily handled with a simpler port job.
9Diddy Kong Racing DS
Same Game, Less Rare Characters
Diddy Kong Racing
As the name probably tipped you off, Diddy Kong Racing DS is a remake of the N64 game Diddy Kong Racing released for the Nintendo DS in 2007.
It was effectively the same game, with the only notable changes being swapping out Rare characters Banjo and Conker for Tiny Kong and Dixie Kong.
The game also axed local multiplayer in favor of Nintendo’s somewhat spotty Wi-Fi Connection online multiplayer.
On the bright side, the game did let you unlock Wizpig as a playable character, something kids wereclaiming you could doas far back as the N64 version.
8TMNT: Turtles In Time Re-Shelled
None Of That Arcade Magic
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is one of thedefinitive sidescrolling beat ‘em up games.
Both the home version and the arcade version were big hits of the 16-bit era, and are still a lot of fun to this day.
In 2009, a remake was released for the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, which were going through something of an arcade remake boom at the time.
Unfortunately, this remake, Re-Shelled, lacked a lot of the charm of the original game.
Those classic pixel graphics were replaced with ugly, washed-out character models, and the difficulty wasn’t properly tuned for home console players.
7Resident Evil 4 (2023)
A Great Remake Of A Perfect Game
Resident Evil 4
To quickly clarify before anyone gets mad, the 2023 remake ofResident Evil 4is an excellent game in a vacuum.
It’s got cool setpieces, great combat, and a high production value.
At the same time, though, the original 2005 Resident Evil 4 was basically a perfect game, and really didn’t need a touch-up.
Yeah, it was kind of weird and cheesy, but that cheesiness made it one of the most universally beloved games of its generation.
Even if you were to argue about accessibility, the 2005 release is still available to play on modern platforms like Steam, so the remake doesn’t really bring anything new to the table.
6Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Nobody Was Curious About Bowser’s Mooks
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
In the twilight years ofdefunct Mario & Luigi developer AlphaDream, they began releasing remakes of their original RPGs for modern Nintendo platforms.
The first of these remakes was 2017’s Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions for the 3DS.
The main game is mostly unchanged from the original, barring graphical updates and some minor tweaks.
A secondary game called Minion Quest is tacked on, which follows the less-than-compelling tale of Bowser’s thugs in the Beanbean Kingdom.
As good as the original game was, this remake didn’t do much to prolong AlphaDream’s life, especially since, in 2017, the Switch was already out and the 3DS was losing steam.
5Star Fox 64 3D
How About A New Star Fox Instead?
Star Fox 64 3D
Star Foxhas always been one of Nintendo’s “we don’t know what to do with it” franchises, regularly appearing in crossover games, but rarely getting games of its own.
In the ten-year gap between Star Fox Command and Star Fox Zero, the only game fans of the franchise received was Star Fox 64 3D for the 3DS.
Like several other games for the handheld, it was a shot-for-shot remake of the Nintendo 64 Star Fox game.
It certainly looked pretty compared to the original, but it had virtually no new content and, more frustratingly, no online multiplayer.
4Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl
Less Substantial Than Other Pokémon Remakes
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The various remakes of the mainlinePokémonseries are usually pretty substantial games.
They incorporate the settings, stories, and mechanics of the original while overhauling them with modern design sensibilities and additional Pokémon.
Every Mainline Pokemon Remake, Ranked
Pokemon has released several mainline remakes over the years, but which ones stand tall above the rest? Check out this list ranking them all.
2021’s Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, unfortunately, were not one of those substantial remakes.
The lack of major graphical improvements and gameplay changes were rather egregious, especially considering this was a proper console game rather than a handheld.
They’re still fun Pokémon games, but more because Diamond and Pearl were already good rather than anything they did themselves.
3Until Dawn (2024)
We Needed A Port, Not A Remake
Until Dawn
2015’sUntil Dawnwas another narrative slam dunk for Sony, as well as the game that gave rise to Supermassive Games’ prominence in the interactive media scene.
Unfortunately, the game remained stuck on the PlayStation 4 after its release, even after everyone started to move on to the PS5.
A simple port job would’ve worked fine to bring the game over to the newer console, as well as other platforms like PC.
Instead, the decision was made for Ballistic Moon to oversee acomplete remake with graphical improvementsand some minor story additions, all for a full $60 price tag despite being nearly identical to a nine-year-old game.
2Ratchet & Clank (2016)
Gotta Cash In On The Movie
Ratchet & Clank
In 2016, theRatchet & Clankseries received a theatrical movie based on the plot of the original 2002 game.
Apparently in an effort to tie into this theatrical release, Insomniac and Sony decided to also create a full remake of the 2002 game.
The game did fine for itself, actually being received better than the movie on which it was based.
That said, efforts to modernize it caused the entire experience to feel rather bloated compared to its inspiration, and there wasn’t much on the table that longtime fans hadn’t already seen.
1Double Dragon 2: Wander Of Dragons
Worse In Every Conceivable Way
In 2012, a reboot of theDouble Dragonseries, Double Dragon Neon, was released to modest success on the Xbox Live Arcade.
The following year, another Double Dragon game was released on Xbox Live, this one a remake of 1988’s Double Dragon 2: The Revenge.
Unlike with Neon, however, reception to this remake, Double Dragon 2: Wander of Dragons, was overwhelmingly negative.
The graphics were muddy and unpleasant and the gameplay was stiff and sloppy.
Compared to the bright and wacky fun of Neon, Wander of Dragons was a dismal experience and one of the worst-performing games in the franchise.
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