Now, just hear me out. I don't want any flame wars, this is just a simple discussion. I will try my best to not make this tl;dr.

I noticed in some of the Fallout/TES sections that people want remakes of some of the old games (original Fallouts, Morrowind, etc.).

Now, the number one reason why is becuase some of the people want it just to be more 3D and awesome graphics while some just want a remake period. I have seen some yays and nays about this.

BUT, I have seen praise for remakes of old video games. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for example. Obviously, the N64 original was highly praised even to this day, and the remake for the 3DS has good reviews.

BUT, I have seen remakes of other video games as well that pretty much went down the toilet (Yoshi's Island, for example).

So, are remakes of video games needed? Why or why not? Do you think that companies should just leave the originals alone?

Thoughts?

Remakes should only be made when it cannot be played on current systems. It's not so much remakes then as it is republishings. See the various republishings that were made for the GBA of old NES games and whatnot.

Don't change anything about the game mechanics, just a republish.

Ah, so Yoshi's Island remake for the GBA is more of a republishing than a remake? I think the only thing they changed were the sound effects (For example, the sounds Yoshi makes when jumping and throwing eggs that were not present in the original SNES).

2D game --> 3D remake = bad

A graphical update with minimal changes is the ideal remake. Increase the resolution (either with high res sprites in a 2D game, or better textures/models in a 3D game), polish the game script without altering the original meaning, and make the controls more intuitive... that's all you need for a good remake.

I don't mind if old games are remade, exsamples of some good ones are: Ys, Lunar Silver Star Story, Excitiebike 3D on the 3DS and Super Mario All Stars (snes).

Didn't the New Super Mario Bros. DS/WII cover that as a remake?

Basically this. Hold true to the original game, but improve what can be improved without affecting the original "spirit" of the game. Stuff like visuals, maybe polish up the audio (not music (unless it was originally MIDI or very low quality), just sfx and all) and some bugfixes.

Of actual remakes (where there are significant changes to the game) I think Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are one of the few I enjoyed.

Ah, I forgot about music. Updated music seems to be the most subjective "improvement" in a remake, you'll always have people who prefer the original as well as people who prefer the updated version. It's nice when they give you a choice between both, like the Monkey Island and Cave Story remakes.

Huh, I forgot about those and FireRed/LeafGreen.

Those were fun, too.

I like remakes if they make the game more polished, but when they change the way the game plays, that is when I complain.

A port?

I don't know, but I sure liked Halo Anniversary.

The day I buy a 360 I'm buying that. I miss Halo so much.

The one big thing they could have done to make that good -- Halo 1 online multiplayer (not Halo: Reach online multiplayer with Halo 1 maps), they didn't do. Last I checked Halo 1 worked flawlessly on the 360. IMO, that was the biggest money grab I've ever seen.

Halo: Anniversary did that very well in my opinion. Take http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3db17gQ8XTs from the Halo OST as an example. The new version, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4lOvhM4yRg&list=FLIlBvik0P60u0dIzudwKWYw&index=55&feature=plpp_video, sounds much better to me.

I agree.

Having said that, I really enjoyed Halo: Anniversary. Whilst it was just an HD remake (with the Multiplayer running in Halo Reach's engine), I liked the fact that you could press the back button and it'd pretty much instantaneously switch to the original graphics. I don't normally like HD remakes, as graphics don't really bother me in games...but 343 did a great job on that one, and deserve kudos for it.





I'll try to dig it out for you, but I remember reading a quote from Frank O Connor (used to work for Bungie, now heads up 343 Industries) stating that Halo 1's netcode just didn't sit well with Xbox Live at all. They tried different avenues but, in the end, decided to just chuck it into the Reach engine. I agree that it would've been epic, but Xbox Live was just a pipe dream when Halo came out. Perhaps if Bungie were doing it, they might've put in the extra work, but 343 are working on Halo 4 aswell.

A remade game could have the benefit of better graphics, run smoother, less bugs, additional content. Would I buy a morrowind remade version that had these things? No, because it's combat is so terrible. If they'd also update the combat, then I couldn't resist.

This. I like the 3DS version of LoZ: OoT because, while the graphics were updated a bit, the mechanics remained the same.

However, I would like to see updated versions of the original LoZ as well as LoZ: ALttP. By "updated version" I mean make them 3d games like LoZ: OoT with updated graphics and sounds instead of the top-down games the originals are. I think this could be done well.

The only time I'll ask for a remake/enhanced port is when it's for titles that certain regions never got (i.e. Final Fantasy II, III and V, Dragon Quest V and VI, etc.) or games released on an old, obscure platform. A game like Final Fantasy VII, that's playable on literally hundreds of millions of PlayStation consoles and PCs, does not need a remake.

I'm also a svcker though, so if a remake of a game I like does happen (whether I think it should or not), I'll stil probably buy it. I'm looking at you, Persona 4 and Final Fantasy X.

I'd much rather see developers focus on new games than make our childhoods HD every time more powerful hardware becomes available. I mean, for a community that gets their panties in a twist about developers "rehashing" their games, people sure are eager to replay the same exact games with a facelift.

Another good remake would be the old PC game Wizards & Warriors. This game had a lot to go for but Activision just felt the need to chuck this on the open market before testing all the bugs out of it.

Truest thing said today.

Yeah its good as long as it doesn't make itself a million miles away from the original, upgrades like Pokemon Red to FireRed are good because it's still the basic game with a polished look that still captures the essence of the original, not to mention the overhaul of bug fixes from the original. So it can be good.

I'm not so wrapped up in nostalgia I can't appreciate textural changes. The problem is though, they don't just make an old 2D game into 3D, they suddenly had the thought in development, 'Hey, know what'd be cool? Cutting X from the story, s/he svcked anyway.' Despite the character being essential to the story. In other words, remakes 9 times out of 10 like to change the entire formula of the game.

I enjoyed the remake of FF1/2 for the GBA (or was it the DS?) because they updated the graphics, added dialogue, and polished the final product. They didn't really change much (I think they tweaked the FF2 leveling system so that attacking your own party didn't give you a skill benefit, but that was more of a bug fix than a change), but what they did change made the game more enjoyable without losing the original feel of the game.

I also like the FF3 remake on the DS. Adding the 3D combat is purely a visual effect, but it is one that makes the game more fun.

It depends on the game. Halo Anniversary was good because it's gameplay can hold its own even these days and the upgrades are a nice way to re-experience it. But there's some games where it just doesn't cut it to improve textures, like the Perfect Dark remake on XBLA, the gameplay is so dated and just doesn't compare to to other more modern offerings its not worth playing even if I did love it when it was new.

No way, I wouldn't want halo 1 multiplayer over reach multiplayer. Why? It was good back then but there's so many improved things about it nowawdaysi
I take that back now, it was kind of stupid, it is a halo 1 remake after all.