Nowadays, it’s quite trendy to see video games getting rebooted. Instead of risking an uncertain return on investment with a new intellectual property, why not revive a cherished series and update it for today’s era instead?
In theory, it seems straightforward: take the essence of what made an iconic game successful, infuse it with contemporary enhancements and user-friendly upgrades, and consider the task complete.
To my delight, it’s truly astonishing how frequently video game reboots miss the mark. It seems that incorporating contemporary mechanics doesn’t always align with classic franchises. For instance, Sonic the Hedgehog thrives in its 2D side-scrolling format rather than in a 3D environment. Just take a look at Sonic Mania to see this in action!
At other instances, the games can become irreparably damaged when they overemphasize trendy design concepts, which may have been fashionable then but were not suitable for their specific titles.
These video game remakes, unfortunately, didn’t live up to expectations. Let’s take a moment to remember the once-great series they were based on.
10. Medal of Honor (2010)
Didn’t Answer The Call Of Duty
It’s surprising to think back, but at one point, the Medal of Honor series held the top spot among World War II shooter games, even before Call of Duty made its grand entrance. However, everything changed in 2000 with the debut of the first Call of Duty game, and Medal of Honor never quite regained its former glory after that.
Given that the series was lagging behind the leading first-person shooter game franchise, it seemed logical to restart anew, as striving for excellence often requires a clean slate in the competitive gaming industry.
2010’s Medal of Honor was superior to any other item on our discussion list, yet in the end, it proved to be easily forgotten.
This game was primarily designed with the aim to outshine Call of Duty, a goal that it ultimately didn’t achieve. Although the game wasn’t poor, it fell short when compared to its peers and struggled to establish its relevance in today’s gaming landscape.
Initially, the multiplayer feature allowed players to assume the role of the Taliban, which raised concerns for many due to its association with recent events in U.S. history during the 2000s and 2010s.
9. SimCity (2013)
Moving Out
2003’s SimCity 4 stands out as a remarkable city-building game, often regarded as the pinnacle of the series by many fans. It seems challenging for future versions to surpass its success without making significant improvements or innovations.
The team at Maxis thought that too, as 2013’s SimCity reboot indeed made some major changes.
Instead of centering on a vast, extended metropolis, the game concentrates on constructing multiple smaller cities that collectively form a region.
You can collaborate with friends in online multiplayer, which sounds fantastic initially, but unfortunately, the game’s servers failed to function properly when it first launched. Consequently, multiplayer wasn’t playable, and the single-player mode was also affected as it needed an internet connection to operate.
1. Modifiers might discover methods to bypass the constant online demand, yet players would also observe that the advertised features for the city’s inhabitants were not functioning correctly. Consequently, the game failed to regain its momentum.
Here is another option:
2. Modders could figure out ways to get around the necessity of being online all the time, but users would notice that the claimed attributes of the city’s residents weren’t performing as promised. Unfortunately, the game was unable to rebound from this issue.
If you’re looking for a modern city-builder, check out the Cities: Skylines games instead.
8. Saints Row (2022)
Didn’t Come Marching In
Some reboots don’t have a need for existing. 2022’s Saints Row is one of them.
If you haven’t played the Saints Row series yet, here’s a brief overview: These games offer an exhilarating, excessively entertaining open-world experience that initially started as a spin-off from Grand Theft Auto, but eventually developed its unique identity.
After the release of Saints Row IV in 2013, the series took a hiatus and made a comeback in 2022. Unfortunately, the new edition fell short across the board.
In their efforts to elevate the game’s intensity and sophistication, developer Volition seemed to overlook the very aspects that made these games so popular in the first place. There was a rationale behind its decision to abandon the serious tone and fully embrace the absurdity: it thrived as an open-world playground when it was less serious.
2022’s Saints Row just didn’t feel fresh to me, especially when it came to the narrative, dialogue, and most disappointingly, the gameplay experience.
7. Perfect Dark Zero
Failure To Launch
While it seems unusual to categorize Perfect Dark Zero as a reboot given it’s actually a prequel to a game that came out five years earlier, that’s indeed what we’re dealing with in this instance.
Instead of creating a follow-up to the Nintendo 64 hit Perfect Dark, Rare delved into the backstory of character Joanna Dark by producing a prequel, and at the same time, they made significant alterations to the fundamental gameplay.
Instead of Perfect Dark being strictly a first-person shooter, Perfect Dark Zero offers a blend of FPS and third-person perspectives with a roll-and-cover system. Regrettably, the design choices in Perfect Dark Zero don’t seem to be as successful, as they were eventually surpassed by the release of Gears of War just a year later, which outshone it in several aspects.
What’s missing in Perfect Dark Zero is the enchantment that made the original game a fan favorite. It seems devoid of emotion, the gameplay feels dull, and the enemy artificial intelligence is noticeably weak.
Originally, this unveiling aimed to highlight the latest Xbox 360 hardware, yet at its debut, it seemed outdated compared to other available options.
6. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
A Blue Blur
You knew this was coming after I brought up Sonic Mania in the introduction.
2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog could be seen as a prime illustration of “if it’s not broken, why change it?” Although Sonic Adventure games demonstrated that Sonic could thrive in 3D settings, I’m curious about the thought process behind this particular version.
Over the past few years, the Sonic series has struggled to keep up, with this latest installment being particularly disappointing due to its mediocrity across all aspects. Visually, it’s rather unimpressive, the narrative falls flat, and the gameplay is far from enjoyable.
Sega persists in attempting to create 3D Sonic games, yet it might be more beneficial for them to adhere to the 2D design, considering the resurgence of retro sprite-based games.
5. Alone In The Dark
Lights Out
Veteran players recall that the survival horror genre might trace its roots back to the Alone in the Dark series. These titles were groundbreaking for their era, offering detailed settings within a chilling ambiance that truly made our hair stand on end.
As time went by, the Resident Evil series established itself as a leading name in survival horror gaming, leaving Alone in the Dark struggling to keep up.
When a once-popular franchise loses its appeal, one common approach is to give it a fresh start by remaking it. However, this strategy frequently results in less than satisfactory outcomes. This seems to have been the case with the 2008 Alone in the Dark reboot.
The game seemed to have strayed from what originally made it exceptional, opting instead for a more contemporary feel. Consequently, it turned out to be a rather awkward and dysfunctional game that failed to capitalize on its potential. At least it didn’t overreach in attempting to be trendy, correct?
4. Turok
Fun Gone Extinct
I have a strong fondness for the classic Turok video games. Their narratives brim with intriguing mythology, their gameplay was intuitive for a first-person shooter on 90s consoles, and the level designs were groundbreaking for their era.
As a gamer, I can’t help but be blown away by the weapon designs in this game. Among all the arsenals I’ve encountered, the Cerebral Bore remains one of the most captivating and memorable weapons I’ve ever come across in a video game.
I was thrilled when the franchise was revived in 2008, but unfortunately, the remake falls short in capturing the essence of the original games due to typical issues seen in 2000s reboots.
The level design is unfortunate, the gameplay is clunky, and the camera is frustrating.
Most disappointingly, the narrative appears quite disorganized, as if it belonged in a blockbuster film that didn’t recoup its production costs at the cinema.
At least we have a new entry in the series to look forward to.
3. Bionic Commando
A Bionic Disappointment
It seems unclear as to whom the request for a remake of Bionic Commando was made, yet, here we are with one in existence, given that the latter part of the 2000s had a strong trend towards remakes and reboots.
On the downside, it came out a year subsequent to a remake of the initial game, which, in itself, wasn’t poor quality. However, unfortunately, the genuine reboot turned out to be disastrous.
Often, creators strive to make the conclusion spectacularly surprising, believing it will captivate viewers, yet such twists often leave audiences frustrated instead.
Despite being a game that emphasized remarkable control mechanics, the main issue with Bionic Commando’s reboot was its technical glitches. It serves as an illustration of a game with promising concepts but poor implementation. The game consistently falls short of its potential and offers a frustrating experience from start to finish.
2. Space Raiders
A Game With No Target Audience
Referring to games that came unexpectedly, I had quite a surprise when I spotted an old-school Space Raiders game outside my usual scope while working at GameStop. I was curious as to how Space Invaders could be updated for today’s players. However, it seems they didn’t make any changes – it’s essentially the same classic game!
During the pitch for Space Raiders, they mentioned their aim was to create a “fresh, cool, grown-up” version of the classic arcade game, or else the project’s concept wasn’t working until they linked it to one of the most cherished games in history.
Space Raiders seems to emulate a significantly inferior version of the 1978 arcade game, featuring an overwhelming excess of subpar acting, awkwardly written cutscenes, and embarrassingly designed settings. These elements are so lackluster that they might even make Metroid: Other M feel classy by comparison.
1. Bomberman: Act Zero
Zero Reasons To Play
It’s hard for me to decide which is more surprising: the attempt to transform Bomberman into a gritty, futuristic game, or the effort made in this direction after the disappointing outcome of Space Raiders.
In 2006, Hudson Soft chose to revive the Bomberman series with the release of Bomberman: Act Zero. While the gameplay remains familiar to fans, some might argue that it’s overly reminiscent. There are no fresh ideas or enhancements in terms of gameplay; instead, it’s essentially the classic Bomberman, transplanted into a chaotic, contemporary gaming environment.
Let’s discuss the issues first. The game struggled with accurate collisions, had lengthy loading times, repeated textures, and a sudden change in tone compared to previous Bomberman games that felt quite jarring, much like what you’d expect from a subpar Xbox 360-era title.
Friends don’t let friends play bad games, so from me to you, steer clear of this mess.
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2025-03-10 16:12