Never ever underestimate the power of nostalgia. By the sound of things, Final Fantasy VII Remake is selling gangbusters right now, joining a growing collection of high-profile games which are taking the best of the past and remixing them for a new generation. Remasters may have (and probably will continue) dominated the 2010s by taking the base game from the last generation of consoles and updating them for current gaming technology, but proper remakes are a ballsier method for introducing a cult classic to a new crop of potential converts.
It’s not enough to just redo the original game with a new graphical engine. There need to be some cha-cha-changes along the way, quality of life improvements and alterations that suit a younger audience. You can’t remake an omelette without breaking a few holy eggs along the way! In that context, I think Final Fantasy VII Remake has established itself as the de facto template for what a fresh stab at a beloved game should be.
It’s both nostalgic and new, it mixes classic gameplay with more action-orientated ideas built on the decades of Final Fantasy that came after it. So which game would you like to see given that treatment? Which beloved property would you be chomping at the bit for if it was rebuilt completely from the ground up and wasn’t afraid to change its story as well? Capcom fans are begging for a new Dino Crisis ala the recent Resident Evil remakes, I’d commit war crimes to see Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast reimagined and Kervyn reckons that we’re well overdue for an MDK remake.
There’s so much out there, so many treasured games that could benefit from a revival. So sound off below. Tell us which icon of the past you’d fling your credit card at if it looked shinier, played better and you weren’t afraid of the story deviating from what you originally experienced. And yes, the right answer is indeed Final Fantasy 8 Remake.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.
Last Updated: April 17, 2020
konfab
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
Mass Effect trilogy remastered.
All games get the combat, inventory and abilities from ME3.
And they are woven into a single uninterrupted experience.
MechMachine
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
MDK was a cool game.
Lu
April 17, 2020 at 11:28
Agree with you. FF VIII deserved a remake before VII.
The D
April 17, 2020 at 11:34
Honestly, I’d be happy if Square Enix takes a Capcom approach and has multiple teams working on multiple FF remakes. Could easily see a younger team using the FF7 Remake assets to build a new version of 8.
Lu
April 17, 2020 at 12:58
Yeah I don’t see why not. It’s basically free money.
kiekers
April 17, 2020 at 12:15
Soul Reaver: Legacy of Cain , or Sanity: Aiken’s Artifact
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:15
I was ABOUT to mention Legacy of Kain!
Kervyn Cloete
April 17, 2020 at 15:19
As much as I love Soul Reaver (my gaming nick has been Reaver for years because of this game) I would kill for the original Legacy of Kain to get a proper remake. It’s story is utterly incredible and it deserves to be experienced in with a fully realized gaming world.
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:25
Apart from all the games that have already been mentioned:
Desert Strike
Ghosts n Goblins (or Ghouls n Ghosts, whatever you wanna call it)
Shining Force!!
The D
April 17, 2020 at 12:35
HHRRNNGGGHHH
Now I’m imagining a proper remake of the entire Strike series.
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:35
They just gotta fix the controls. Cause ooooof, they were bad
OddSockZA
April 17, 2020 at 12:45
Ghosts n Goblins (makaimura) and Ghouls n Ghosts (Daimakaimura, if you want to be a game snob pedant about it) are different games.
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 13:48
I’m glad you referred to yourself as a game snob already, cause after finding out that you love me, it just doesn’t feel right talking bad to you.
R1ker
April 17, 2020 at 12:35
I am going to come in from the left field here say that i would love to see Giants: Citizen Kabuto
remastered.
Kervyn Cloete
April 17, 2020 at 15:19
Darryn actually mentioned the same thing in our chats
Daniel Hallinan
April 17, 2020 at 10:50
It’s a tough question!
I never got to play VI, which is considered to be the best FF, and a remake of that on the level of VII would be an absolutely amazing way to finally play it.
VIII has scenes and characters that would be astounding to see in the remake. Everything with Ultimecia. The Garden battles (yaaay child soldiers). The SPECTACLE.
BUT… IX is my favorite. Its art style doesn’t quite match the uber realism that FF7R went with – but that’s all in execution and, if the trend of remakes is going to continue (and I hope it is!), I’m actually happy to wait a bit for IX to be remade so that the devs are a bit more seasoned and confident.
So, I think my preference would be IX > VI > XIII
Edit: Oh. You mean games in GENERAL? Not just other FF games? *Well then*
…I mean, those FF games still count. Actually, most of the stuff I’m thinking of are JRPG’s, due to the limited pixel pallete. So I’d love to see this done with Chrono Trigger, or Breath of Fire 4!
MechMachine
April 17, 2020 at 10:50
It is a tough question.
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:15
Chrono Trigger! Oh hells yeah.
The D
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
Dude, imagine the Battle of the Gardens. IMAGINE THE BIKES MAN
konfab
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
Mass Effect trilogy remastered.
All games get the combat, inventory and abilities from ME3.
And they are woven into a single uninterrupted experience.
BradeLunner
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
The Fable games would be fun
MechMachine
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
I can’t think of anything. In this day and age, we have seen so much. Let’s try something different. California Games maybe.
Seeker
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
C12: Final Resistance. Brilliant game that unfortunately went unnoticed by most because it launched on PS1 right after PS2 came out.
The D
April 17, 2020 at 11:09
I remember that! I rented it one afternoon from my local video shop, had a weekend blast with it.
SagatatiaRZA
April 17, 2020 at 11:04
This might be a controversial one and DEFINITELY unlikely to get high-budget mega remake, but Sanitarium. It just was oozing atmosphere. If not that, I would love a Doom 2016 situation for Hexen.
OddSockZA
April 17, 2020 at 11:34
I loved Heretic and Hexen. Of the major Doomclones of the era, they were my favourites,
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:15
I KNEW you loved me!
Pariah
April 17, 2020 at 12:25
Original Doomclone? Is… Is that you?
Original Heretic
April 17, 2020 at 12:35
Hey. Salute me. It’s actually Major Doomclone. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/06803e6e51c4923658bbffafc58a35cf23d86daf898eab44e8ad3ba9c69e5357.jpg
The D
April 17, 2020 at 11:09
I think I vaguely remember that from a NAG magazine! That and its box art was AMAZING.
OddSockZA
April 17, 2020 at 11:09
Chrono Trigger, Golden Sun. Please and thank you.
Yeah, I wouldnt mind Mass effect remastered, especially the first one. Best actual RPG of the lot, but so, so dated now.
Caveshen Rajman
April 17, 2020 at 12:45
Freelancer
OddSockZA
April 17, 2020 at 14:59
Star Citizen? 😛
Mark Treloar
April 17, 2020 at 15:56
We actually want to play the game though.
Caveshen Rajman
April 17, 2020 at 21:57
That game is its own remake.
Mark Treloar
April 17, 2020 at 13:42
Blade of Darkness
Jbumi
April 17, 2020 at 16:54
I think VII R’s battle system would be perfect (only one character rather than a party) for Vagrant Story. I feel that game is more in need of a remake than VII ever was.
Nintendians
April 18, 2020 at 05:16
ff8, dino crisis 1 and 2, marvel vs capcom 2 (ps2 version) and ultra street fighter 2 – all in ultra high 3d polygon with rtx on, also in true stereoscopic 3d half side by side or half top and bottom, not some crysis 2 or 3 fake a$$ shit 3d – crytek trying to pull off.