Key things
- Remakes in the video game industry offer updated visuals and mechanics without losing the essence of the originals.
- Titles like Dead Space, X-COM: Enemy Unknown and Demon's Souls have seen significant improvements in quality and gameplay.
- Developers skillfully improve the visuals, smooth the gameplay, and maintain the core experiences in remakes like Resident Evil 2.
Remakes have become commonplace in the video game industry, with several being released every year. And unlike the movies, it's not that bad because some of the remakes are actually good.
Related
The 7 Best Capcom Remakes
Let's go back and explore all the remakes Capcom has released over the years. Most of them turn out to be really great additions to your library.
More importantly, they're sometimes needed because a lot of older games are hard to play if you're used to modern titles. Additionally, some can be difficult to obtain, as can the systems you play them on. A good remake updates the visuals and mechanics of the original game without taking away the things that made it great. The following PlayStation titles certainly fit that description.
The remakes on this list were chosen based on their overall quality and how much they improve upon the originals they're based on.
8 Dead universe
Dead Space is one of those games that doesn't seem to need a remake. The original game was released in 2008 and it really doesn't look outdated. So when the 2023 version came out, you could be forgiven for not expecting much. However, the developers have made a lot of changes and improvements.
The visual side is naturally better, but it doesn't just make it look nicer. The improved lighting and more detailed monsters probably make the game scarier, which is exactly what you want from a horror title. Also, the main character, Issac Clarke, now actually speaks, which gives him personality and helps with the title's narrative. There have also been various quality of life improvements that make the game more enjoyable to play.
It's easy to forget that turn-based strategy title XCOM: Enemy Within is a remake. This is because the original game, X-COM: UFO Defense, was released back in 1994. Since they were released 18 years apart, there is quite a difference between the two games.
The visual side is of course significantly improved. While you wouldn't say The Enemy Within has the most realistic graphics ever, it still looks a lot more realistic than the 1994 title. Plus, the turn-based combat is much smoother and plays better. Still, many of the game's best ideas come from that original title, so it's not a complete departure.
6 Soul of Demons
The original Demon's Souls turned out to be a very important game as it helped create the Souls-like genre. However, once the genre reached its peak, Demon's Souls began to feel a bit dated compared to contemporary Souls-like titles.
Fortunately, 2020 saw the release of Demon's Souls Remake, which includes a lot of quality-of-life changes that make it much more enjoyable to play while still maintaining the extremely hard difficulty that the game is known for. The visuals have also been updated, resulting in some stunning environments and character models. It really is the best version of the game.
5 Yakuza Kiwami 2
Most of the Yakuza games are exceptional, but it's fair to say that the first few are a bit rough. So it's nice that the world has seen several remakes, including Kiwami 2, which is a remake of the second game in the series.
It's better than the original Yakuza 2 in pretty much every way. This is because most of the changes are technical upgrades. The gameplay is much smoother and the visuals are much more impressive. But the developers didn't tinker too much with the story, which is a good thing since the storytelling was already stellar. Overall, this is an excellent action adventure brawler.
4 Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Sometimes a remake doesn't have to change much to be considered great. This is the case with Spyro Reignited Trilogy, as the gameplay of the original three games doesn't change much. You're still flying around like a little purple dragon collecting things.
However, both the dragon and the area it roams look significantly better. Not only are the colors brighter and the edges smoother, but there's also a lot more detail. For example, grass is no longer just a flat surface; there are a few pieces of grass sticking out and more flowers around. Another positive of the remake is that it contains three games in one, which makes it good value for money.
3 Shadow Of The Colossus
2005's Shadow of the Colossus is one of the most incredible PlayStation exclusives. The same can be said for the 2018 remake of the game. It straddles the line between remake and remaster as it doesn't change much from the original title. This means that it brings some important changes.
One of the best parts of the original game is driving around the title's vast open areas. This is even more enjoyable in the 2018 version thanks to improved visuals that make every area look that much more amazing. The same can be said for all the animals you kill during your adventure. They looked decent in the original, but in the remake they are much more beautiful and detailed. In addition to the improved visuals, climbing the magnificent beast is much better thanks to the improved performance and controls.
2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Technically, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is only a remake of part of the original Final Fantasy 7, as it was split into multiple games. Still, the developers skillfully managed to make it seem like a full adventure instead of just a “part”. They managed to do this by mixing up the narrative a bit and adding extra scenes.
While the original title already had a good story, the remake is more cinematic thanks to the inclusion of longer cutscenes and dubbing. The vastly improved visuals also help. Combat has also been reworked, switching from a turn-based system to real-time action. It all adds up to a game that doesn't feel dated at all and is one of the best RPGs in recent memory.
1 Resident Evil 2
The Resident Evil series is becoming known for delivering excellent video game remakes. However, the best of them is Resident Evil 2. The original title was released back in 1998, while the remake was released in 2019. Therefore, Capcom had to significantly update the game, both visually and mechanically.
The developers managed to do this without ruining the core experience. In fact, the result is one of the best RE games in recent history, as it manages to juggle horror and action better than most recent entries in the series. Plus, the inclusion of the towering Mr. X in all the games – something that didn't happen in the original – was brilliant as it added more tension and terror to the experience.
