This past generation has been an amazing one. We finally got our hands on some proper VR tech, computer components got so good they made games look realer than ever, and some of the titles that came out are forever burned into our minds. Among those fantastic games, we encountered some remakes that quickly earned a spot on our favorite's list.
We have also seen some remasters whose graphics greatly benefitted from a PS4 or Xbox One treatment, though the games themselves remained relatively unchanged from their predecessors. That is why having the chance to experience a true remake of an older game is something special, especially for those who played the original titles on previous-gen consoles.
10 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
This beloved 3-D platformer, whose career launched on the first PlayStation in 1996, was overhauled for the PS4 in June 2017, and in 2018 it was fully ported to PC, Xbox One, and Switch. The N. Sane Trilogy includes the first three Crash Bandicoot games, virtually overhauled under every aspect: sound, dialogues, cutscenes, and graphics were completely reworked and improved — even gameplay received some tweaks. You can play as Coco, Crash's sister, enjoy better saving and checkpoint systems, and test your skills with time trials found in all three games.
This remake received good reviews all around the board, from critics and users alike, who praised the revamped return of the first three titles in the series. Over 10 million copies were sold during the year following the game's release. The PS4 version of the game scored 80 on Metacritic followed by the Xbox One score at 79, while the Switch version sits at 78 and PC is lowest at 76.
9 Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Breathing fire from our beloved purple and gold dragon has never felt so good. Toys for Bob worked on redeveloping the first three Spyro platformers rolled out by Insomniac Games from 1998 until 2000, released for the original PlayStation. This remake focuses on quality-of-life improvements, giving the games remarkable visual flare. The PS4 Metascore of the game is 82 close to the Xbox One's at 83, while the Switch's is a little lower at 79, followed by the PC's at 75.
The soundtrack was re-recorded and Tom Kenny returned to the series to interpret Spyro's lines once again. NPCs received more distinguished looks and personalities, and there is even an option to change the music's tempo according to Spyro's movements. The level design and gameplay remain as faithful as possible to the originals, with some changes to Spyro's abilities, especially in the first game of the trilogy.
8 Resident Evil 3
Capcom's icon survival horror series received a reboot over the course of the last generation thanks to the success of Resident Evil 7, which lived up and surpassed the expectation created by its iconic First Hour Demo. Resident Evil 3 came out in April of this year and sold over 3 million copies since then. The PS4 version of the game received a Metascore of 79, the Xbox One version sits higher at 84, and the PC version is a little lower at 77.
This title is a rebuild from the ground-up of the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis from 1999, and it retells Jill Valentine's and Carlos Oliveira's story as they survive through the zombie outbreak in Racoon City. The game was praised by critics for its technical and graphical achievements. However, players generally felt the amount of content cut from the original was too much, especially since Resident Evil 2's remake consistently stuck to its source material.
7 Yakuza Kiwami 2
This remake of the original Yakuza 2 was developed and published by Sega in 2017, releasing first in Japan, and hitting worldwide stores in 2018 for PS4. The game was subsequently released for PC and Xbox One in the last two years, so it took a while for gamers on all platforms to get their hands on this.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 uses the Dragon game engine from Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life, which brought graphical and gameplay improvements, allowing players to use completely new combat movesets compared to the original game. The clan creator was also added in this remake, as well as the ability to play as Goro Mijima, one of the recurring characters in the Yakuza series. The PS4 version of the game received a Metascore of 85, while the Xbox One version sits higher up at 88 (though only six critics reviewed it for Xbox One), and the PC version received a lower 82 rating.
6 Ratchet And Clank
One of PlayStation's most famous dynamic duos received a remake in 2016 for the PS4. This game released alongside a film by the same name, and it was well received by the PlayStation community and critics alike, who gave the game an 8.5 and an 85 respectively on Metacritic.
The graphics were enhanced exploiting the PS4's abilities to the max, and the PS4 Pro enjoys even better graphics thanks to the console's capabilities that allow for 4K Dynamic gameplay. Other than graphics, the story has been changed from the original to better explore Ratchet and Clank's origins. Weapons from previous games became available with upgrades, and new planets along with new-boss fights have also been added.
5 The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Available only on Nintendo Switch, the colorfully cute remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening brought players the new version of the first portable Zelda game that came out on the first Game Boy in 1993. This game sold over 4 million copies and boasts the reputation of one of the best remade Nintendo games.
RELATED: Legend Of Zelda: Every Canon Story In Chronological Order
Though graphics and sounds received an extensive overhaul, the level design and gameplay remain fairly faithful to the original. Notably, Link's sword and shield do not require to be assigned to an action button, allowing players to equip more items compared to the original. Another awesome feature available in this remake is the ability to create your own dungeon, or play someone else's.
4 Final Fantasy VII
The 1997 original Final Fantasy VII is one of gaming's most treasured titles, which gained a huge following over time. The reception surrounding this remake is filled with nostalgia, but the new and improved version of the game did not fail to draw in players who neither experienced the original nor other titles in the Final Fantasy series.
The most significant departure from the original game lies in the real-time combat system employed in this remake, which is similar to Final Fantasy XV's. Combat feels more impactful as threats feel more imminent, but strategy still plays a vital role as you explore Midgar. Players are required to think about which character to use in certain situations, and how to juggle their items and magic to win a fight. Overall, this remake covers about a third of the original's storyline, so character development is better fleshed out.
3 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
This is the most iconic skateboarding game out there. Even the originals enjoyed having such a reputation, and now they are back better than ever in full HD. This remake covers the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games from 1999 and 2000. The aesthetics of this title received a full overhaul, from graphics to sound, while staying faithful to the modality of presentation introduced by its predecessors.
The camera angle is still fixed in a third-person view, like in older-gen titles. Some tricks from later games in the franchise have also been added to this remake. You can also create your own skater and even your own skate park. Gameplay stays the same: perform awesome tricks and unlock more levels. The Xbox and PC versions of the game received an 88 on Metacritic, while the PS4 version is only slightly higher at 89.
2 Shadow Of The Colossus
Shadow Of The Colossus is the rare kind of game that just keeps on popping up on every PlayStation console. It originally released in 2005 for the PS2, received an HD remake for the PS3 in 2011, and was eventually optimized for the PS4 in 2018. This title is one of the earliest examples of videogames as an expressive art form, generating a critical success that keeps getting praised over time. The gameplay of this remake is almost identical to the original, except for some control remapping. The premise also remains the same: find giant colossi around a vast explorable area, and beat each one.
1 Resident Evil 2
This is the remake of remakes. Resident Evil 2 received a 93 on Xbox One, a 91 on PS4, and an 89 on PC, selling well over 7 million copies. Graphics, sound, music, dialogue, and gameplay were updated, but pacing and narrative remain incredibly faithful to the original, unlike the Resident Evil 3 remake.
Saving in this game is easier compared to the original, eliminating the need to use ink ribbons at typewriters to record progress (though this feature is present if playing on the harder difficulty). Fighting is from a third-person, over-the-shoulder view, unlike the original fixed tank-controls. Surviving through the zombie apocalypse in Racoon City will require all the invention you can muster, along with clever management of your inventory and weapons.