The number of recently released new versions of older titles is exceptionally high. At the State of Play event, we learned that the list of games that will undergo a beauty treatment will extend soon. It’s a good reason to talk about video game remasters. What are they, and do we need them?
What is a video game remaster?
A video game remaster is an updated version of an existing game, typically with improved graphics, audio, and sometimes gameplay enhancements. The core content and storyline remain the same, but the remaster aims to take advantage of newer technology to provide a better experience on modern platforms. This can include textures of higher resolution, improved lighting effects, and enhanced sound quality. Remasters are often released to introduce classic games to new audiences or to provide a nostalgic experience for fans of the original.
Even though remasters usually stay faithful to the source material, they sometimes include improvements and features corresponding to the preferences of contemporary players. Such enhancements often affect cameras, control, and saving progress that seem archaic in many classic games, thus not reasoning well with the younger audience.
Remaster vs. remake
Remastering is not the only way of giving an older release a second life. Sometimes, developers take a step further, creating a remake. Whereas the remasters update an existing game without changing the core content, remakes overhaul the original extensively. They often involve rebuilding the game from the ground up. It can include redesigning graphics, re-recording audio, and sometimes altering gameplay mechanics and the plot. For instance, Tomb Raider Anniversary, the remake of Lara Croft’s first adventure, offers modernized gameplay and story changes to fit the trilogy that began with Tomb Raider: Legend.
The difference between a remake and a remaster can be blurry. For instance, some games are ported to a newer engine; hence, the change is essential. However, for games, the only difference is improved graphics. An adequate example of such a situation is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter Redux, the Unreal Engine 4 version of the famous adventure game by The Astronauts.
Why do remasters keep coming out?
During the recent State of Play event, three new remasters were announced:
- Lunar Remastered Collection
- Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
And it was just a minor, midweek event. It shows how popular video game remasters today are. There are a few key reasons why publishers and developers prefer to revive oldies instead of creating something from scratch.
Developing a remaster doesn’t require a time-consuming preproduction process. The plot is already there, as is the core gameplay, which you know works well. Moreover, you don’t have to create everything from scratch. Time is money; therefore, saving time on development lets studios spend less. Moreover, remastering a game requires a smaller team, which also means a need for a significantly smaller budget. New titles have to fight for gamers’ attention. With the number of new releases, this competition is extremely intense. Just ask the guys from Firewalk Studios. Their hero shooter, Concorde, attracted so few players that servers were shut down almost immediately after the premiere. Remasters don’t have this problem. Even if new gamers ignore its release, there are old fans who buy the remaster out of curiosity and nostalgia. Hence, the risk of a spectacular financial disaster is next to zero.
Are video game remasters pointless?
Some players believe that remasters are lazy and unwelcome, but I think that remastering is a great way to bring classic titles to life. However, I agree that the decision to release some titles with slightly improved graphics is particularly odd. It’s very subjective, I know, but I don’t see any reason to remaster games that are relatively new, work perfectly on modern gaming platforms, and still are among the best-looking releases. The prime example is Horizon Zero Dawn. There hasn’t been any technological breakthrough since its original premiere in 2017. Moreover, its PC port came out in 2020 and still looks astonishing. As a result, I can’t find any reasons for players who have completed Aloy’s journey on PC or PS4 to play the remaster on PS5.
Which games do need a remaster
So, which games should be remastered? First of all, games that don’t run on modern platforms. Many titles from the DOS era, but also newer ones, don’t work on today’s Windows or consoles. PC players often have some tricks to make them work, but you don’t want to become Hackerman to play your game.
There are also games with outdated graphics and resolutions so low that they are hardly playable on modern screens. Sometimes, it’s enough to change the resolution and textures to make the game fun again. For instance, StarCraft Remastered didn’t need anything but slight visual and audio enhancements to draw old fans and newcomers.
Another group of games that deserves polishing are those using mechanics that today have us asking ourselves how we could enjoy them back in the day. For instance, fixed camera angles were an integral part of action-adventure games of the 90s and early 00s. It was used in Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Soul Reaver, and many other great titles. Today, the tank controls system seems unintuitive as we got used to the modern over-the-shoulder camera. It’s the remakes’ job to replace it completely. Nonetheless, remasters can improve it a little to make gameplay more suitable. Inconvenient save systems, which are usually the aftermath of old consoles’ limitations, are another example of mechanics that can be fixed upon remastering.
The list of games demonstrating how a good remaster can rekindle a little rusty classic is extensive. My favorite one is Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. It was released in 2019 and literally revived this legendary RTS, adjusting it to modern platforms and fixing some annoying issues. Since its release, it has been regularly enhanced with new DLC. As you can see, although the number of remasters may seem too high, the fact that old titles return in new clothes is undeniably good because it won’t let our favorite stories and heroes fade out.
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