While remakes and remasters can be a way for fans to play a new version of a classic game, it can also be a way for developers to take advantage of people. Developers will often make remasters with small improvements to take advantage of unsuspecting players. It can be challenging to see the difference, but when a remaster is good, you'll know when you see it.
A quality remaster has upgraded visuals, sound, added content, and runs at a higher frame rate. A remaster or remake goes above and beyond by including all of these qualities. Time and time again, we are bombarded by remakes and remastered which let down its fanbase and diminish the enjoyability of the original game that people fell in love with in the first place. These are 5 video games remakes that worked (and 5 that didn't).
10 Worked: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Without a doubt, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered surpassed expectations, bringing back the same game with updated sounds and graphics. The game was virtually rebuilt from the ground up instead of being a simple resolution increase.
You may as well call it a remake. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is packed full of more intense explosions, kill streaks, and noob tubes than ever before. Rightly so, they improved the game's quality without changing it too much. This is one remaster we'll be playing for a while.
9 Didn't: Voodoo Vince Remastered
Throughout Voodoo Vince Remastered, players are tasked with locating Madam Charmaine in the wild part of a Louisiana bayou. Few people asked for it, so why did Microsoft decide to bring back one of our least favorite characters when they could have made better choices.
Microsoft Game Studios appears bent on remastering most of their games for the Xbox One. Voodoo Vince Remastered, however, is not the remaster were looking for, and it's not surprising why the game received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics.
8 Worked: Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is every bit as fun as the originals and it has been remade in 1080p at 60 fps (frames per second). Taking a look at Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, it doesn't feel quite as groundbreaking compared to when it first released.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was a significant step up in graphics and gameplay compared to its predecessor. By today's standards, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection remains relevant, but its gameplay mechanics don't seem as impressive.
7 Didn't: Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition is not the remaster we want or asked for. You may want to pass on getting the next-gen upgrades since the game hasn't changed much since the original. In a video comparison, one can see why Sleeping Dogs is hated by so many fans.
It may as well have not been brought to next-gen consoles seeing as how there are only a few minor differences. If you don't care about graphics and just want to play the game on a next-gen console, then buying Sleeping Dogs. It's worth it for an enjoyable Asian action-adventure game that is comparable to Grand Theft Auto.
6 Worked: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Much like the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX remaster that released on PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD contains a graphical upgrade with environment texture changes, which make the game look gorgeous in high-definition.
Gameplay was also revamped with the addition of new abilities, new areas, and optional boss battles. It's too bad that Square Enix didn't decide to add 60fps, but it's understandable since the game released more than a decade ago.
5 Didn't: Batman: Return to Arkham
The Batman Arkham series' combat system has been the inspiration for numerous other games such as Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor and Spider-Man for PlayStation 4. Batman: Return to Arkham does not serve the series justice because it doesn’t improve the game graphically, nor the sound.
What could have been a beautiful remaster looks like a rushed job. It is doubtful if Arkham Asylum and Arkham City will receive another remake, but it’s not unheard of for a title to receive more than one remaster.
4 Worked: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
A graphical update with new shaders, revamped artwork, and volumetric god rays make The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition a joy to play. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is every bit as enjoyable as the original, and more so for individuals who haven't played the game before.
Bethesda Game Studios would later release The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, which is also a win for Elder Scrolls. It would have been nice if The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition added new content, or integrated some of the most popular mods into the base game, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition delivers on what it promises.
3 Didn't: Silent Hill HD Collection
While some remasters do little to improve the game (leading to negative reviews), some make the game worse, making the original a better choice. One of the most common complaints about Silent HD Collection is that a grain filter severely damaged the atmosphere.
High definition visuals made the game lose its fog, which is easily noticeable if you've seen the Silent Hill movie or played the original games. Also, very little was done to improve textures in the game, which is why this can be considered one of the worst remasters.
2 Worked: Resident Evil 2
Capcom didn't hold back when they remade arguably the best Resident Evil game in the series. Resident Evil 2 takes players to Raccoon City where they are tasked with escaping the city.
Capcom was considering releasing a Resident Evil 2 game back in 2002, but it seems like 2019 was more suitable since developers made the game able to run at 4K and close to 60fps on the Xbox One X, and 4K at 30fps on the PS4 Pro. It's easy to say that the Resident Evil 2 remake worked.
1 Didn't: Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection
Many of the changes found in Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection make the game seem even worse. Publisher Ubisoft took one of the most beloved franchises in video game history and made the worst remaster possible.
Assassin's Creed 2 is possibly the best entry in the franchise. It's Villa Auditore home allows players to collect income, change outfits, and make upgrades to their character. Also, with phenomenal horse riding in an action-packed open-world adventure game, Assassin's Creed 2 stands out. Unfortunately, what we received instead of a remaster that would live up to the standard Assassin Creed 2 set is a game with poor performance, numerous bugs and glitches, and faces that look like this. Yuck!