This generation’s been one filled with remastered and remakes, and while some of them have been outstanding (yes, I’m talking about you, Resident Evil 2 ), other have barely been given a facelift. Given what we know about the next-generation of consoles, we should see fewer remakes and remasters from companies keen to exploit their existing libraries for quick cash.
One mega publisher that’s largely resisted remasters is EA. Despite showing a penchant for nickelling and diming, they’ve kept their back catalogue in the past. Save for the impending Command & Conquer remaster, there’s nothing that comes to mind of EA remastering their older games.
Back when he was in charge of EA, Peter Moore said the following about remakes:
“Remakes, because of who we are, and this broad portfolio of intellectual property…you add all that together, I don’t know where we find the time to do remakes, […] We’re a company that just likes to push forward.
For a lot of companies, remakes are a way to drive revenue. It’s sub-cost, it’s an IP that’s there, you can remaster, and that’s great. We don’t do that here. I don’t think that’s ever been in our culture.”
That’s changing. On top of Command & Conquer, EA’s revealed in its earnings report that it’ll deliver “exciting remakes of fan favourites” launching in fiscal 2021.
The obvious one here is obviously Mass Effect. A remaster of the original trilogy with some new-gen shine would be more than appreciated. While I still think the first game is the best RPG in the series (The second is the better game overall, but it’s not as good at the role playing bits), it’s terribly dated to the point where I’d rather not play it in its current state. Give it a UI and playability overhaul though, and it could end up being my favourite remaster on the Citadel.
The other old EA game I’d love a remaster for? The first Dead Space, which still stands as one of the finest gaming horror experiences ever made.
Last Updated: October 30, 2019
Kromas
October 30, 2019 at 09:17
If they remake Mass Effect I am soo screwed.
Dresden
October 30, 2019 at 09:49
You and me both. I would love it if they can completely overhaul the Mako.
Basically my only and biggest gripe with the first game.
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 09:28
Hey, someone else who prefers the first game over the 2nd overall. Neat!
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 09:28
Also, reMAKE, or reMASTER? It’s a big difference. Hopefully the former, because a remaster is a total *pass* from me. It’d be nice to modernise a lot of the older stuff, while keeping the story and such intact.
G8crasha
October 30, 2019 at 09:38
I am just not overly excited about remakes or remasters of games that came out in the last few years. I’m all for remasters (or is it a remake?) of the C&C games. They are definitely long in the tooth, but ME is a relatively recent trilogy in comparison! I know there are many other EA games that should receive attention, but few hold a place as close to my heart as the C&C games!
HairyEwok
October 30, 2019 at 10:22
Like they did with Medieval, Abe, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. Core stories are exactly the same with updated graphics.
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 09:38
I use to be a Mass Effect fan until i took an ending to the knee…
If they can find a way to give the third game a better ending this might open the doors for the next projects…assuming Bioware’s still around.
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 09:49
They released DLC not too long after that changed the ending apparently…
Hammersteyn
October 30, 2019 at 09:50
Still remember them tooting that all our choices matter and that it will affect the ending.
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 10:01
Did not change much…was basically still the same Green, Blue and Red ending with just a little closure to what happened to the crew and a few characters….all just static pictures shown like some concept art.
Hammersteyn
October 30, 2019 at 10:01
The choices sounded like a Colgate advert.
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 10:11
XD…funny though…how perspective works…People who feel dissapointed in the final season of Game Of Thrones will exactly know how Mass Effect fans feel…Except Mass Effect fans had a little closure with the DLC where GOT fans have nothing…Yet
Dresden
October 30, 2019 at 10:12
Does the new House of Dragon spin-off count as DLC?
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 10:33
XD…Don’t think so….its a prequel so no resolution to what happend in Season 8. Like getting a Mass Effect game about the 1st Contact War…Everybody knows how that played out….Some will want to expereince that others might not knowing how it ended.
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 10:12
I personally loved the ending. It made you feel small in the scope of the universe. Which, we are. It’s poetry in action. Your choices mattered until you realised that they really didn’t. Nothing matters. The universe will carry on, with or without you. No matter how great your deeds.
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 10:33
Thats good…my grype was that the game was a RPG…where you play the game and decide…that sort of ending fits perfectly with a FPS type game or type game where you dont make any decisions…like i did not feel that any of my choices had weight to them…that’s not how i like my RPG games to play out and feel the need to avoid those type of games.
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 11:14
All of your decisions DID have weight though. Did you suffer through watching Tali fall off a cliff, like Darryn? Did you shout “NOOOOOOOO” when Mordin had his “accident”? If any of the decisions you made while playing evoked emotions, then they mattered. Right up until the end, when the final kick in the emotional teeth, rather poetically, is that it said “yeah, you’re a spec in the universe, you don’t matter, your decisions didn’t matter in the end”.
But that ending does not, nor will it ever, remove the emotional and story value that you experienced across the three games. Those experiences, those decisions, mattered. Not to the ending, but to the story. A story isn’t just a conclusion chapter – it’s the journey of how you arrived there.
Llama In The Rift
October 30, 2019 at 11:26
You…you gonna make me cry dammit….i get where you coming from….i just have issues with closure i guess.
Dresden
October 30, 2019 at 09:38
EA is giving Darryn another go at killing Tali. Great.
Hammersteyn
October 30, 2019 at 09:50
But in 4K detail.
Admiral Chief
October 30, 2019 at 11:15
Savage, absolutely savage. I wish I could upvote this 50 times
Hammersteyn
October 30, 2019 at 09:50
How’s about they remake Anthem XD
Pariah
October 30, 2019 at 10:22
They first have to finish making Anthem to begin with. 😛
BradeLunner
October 30, 2019 at 10:12
2021? I’ll have even more adulting and less time by then.
HairyEwok
October 30, 2019 at 10:22
Watch, all the remake games will be exclusive to EA Origin Premium Access XD
Pitt90
October 30, 2019 at 19:13
Agreed on both accounts (ME and DS!)
I’d throw my money at them if they remastered them.