A remaster can give an old game a new lease on life by enhancing graphics and fine-tuning mechanics. By revitalizing a beloved title, it extends its relevance for several additional years, making it a worthwhile experience to revisit.
Regrettably, some entities leave one questioning their purpose, ranging from full-priced games that offer no improvements over the originals to remakes that inexplicably worsen the gaming experience.
This rundown features several seemingly unnecessary game updates, leaving me and other gamers puzzled.
8. Dark Souls Remastered (Console Versions)
No Change Remaster
To put it frankly, playing Dark Souls on PC prior to its remaster was just as difficult as the actual game itself. However, the remaster introduced numerous enhancements for convenience and offered enhanced visuals.
Nevertheless, console gamers were somewhat disadvantaged, leaving me puzzled. The remastered version didn’t seem like much of an improvement from what was previously offered.
You can certainly enjoy a smooth gameplay at 60 frames per second, though the visual enhancements were rather minimal and barely noticeable in the grand scheme of things.
Essentially, what this means is that you’re spending top dollar for a version that looks very similar to the ones available on the last generation of consoles.
It’s pleasant to have the choice without needing to use an old gaming system, yet the high cost was difficult to accept.
7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
And For What Reason?
Before I delve into the topic, let me clarify that Skyrim is among my most cherished video games, considering I’ve likely spent over a thousand hours engrossed in it.
To put it frankly, one might wonder, “What exactly was the purpose behind the Anniversary Edition?” And perhaps even more crucial, “Why was this edition sold at its original price by Bethesda?
The developers included fishing in the game, although modders had previously implemented this feature. Essentially, not much more has been added to the game other than incorporating some paid modifications.
In relation to modifications (mods), all of a sudden, thousands of them required updates. As a result, players found themselves in a situation where they had to re-download and reinstall Skyrim Special Edition once more.
Keep in mind, this game has been kept alive by mods – so I ask again, what was the point, Bethesda?
6. The Last of Us Part 1 (PS5)
A Remaster Of A Remaster
Once more, The Last of Us Part 1 remains among my top-favorite video games. However, one may wonder, isn’t it unusual for Sony to resell the same game or make questionable assertions?
Instead of laying down an olive branch, which might be confusing in this context, let me clarify: I’m suggesting a common ground for various console generations. However, this point may seem irrelevant because the original remaster is actually playable directly on the PlayStation 5.
So, what changed? In all honesty, pretty much only the graphics.
In simpler terms, Sony’s so-called “remake” of the original version made minor enhancements to user experience, but the main focus was on making an already stunning game even more visually appealing.
As a fellow enthusiast who values stunning visuals, I’d recommend considering both the Remastered Remaster (2022 edition) and the original 2014 remaster. While the 2022 version is indeed impressive, the 2014 remaster continues to impress even by today’s standards. Rest assured, you won’t be missing out on much by opting for the latter.
5. Crysis Remastered
Worse Performance Than Original
Back in 2007, upon its initial release, Crysis became a standard by which contemporary PC gaming performance was measured. If your system failed to run Crysis smoothly, it simply didn’t meet the mark of what was considered adequate for modern gaming.
Despite the remaster, Crytek surprisingly achieved a performance that was even less optimal, with minimal visual enhancements.
In contrast to expectations, Crytek’s efforts on the remaster actually resulted in poorer performance, with only minor graphic upgrades.
As an enthusiast, I found the ray-traced lighting effects in the game to appear quite unusual. If the game’s performance had been smooth and consistent, I might have found a way to justify this peculiar look. However, the inconsistency in performance made it challenging to fully immerse myself in the gaming experience.
Instead, I was quite taken aback to discover that certain complex physics aspects that originally set it apart had been eliminated from it.
Despite its visually appealing design, the gameplay didn’t seem to have been enhanced. It retained the feel of an older First-Person Shooter (FPS), which made the gaming experience somewhat discordant or surprising for me.
Rather than dedicating resources to reworking all their games, it would have been more strategic for Crytek to concentrate on creating Crysis 4, given that Crysis 3 was launched back in 2013.
Instead, I’d suggest giving the original game a try with some modifications and ReShade, or you might want to explore one of their other remastered versions. Generally, these alternatives tend to be improved compared to the original.
4. Red Dead Redemption (2023)
A Full-Priced Port
A concise way to describe the Red Dead Redemption remaster could be – an updated version of a 2010 game, now priced as a contemporary release.
To be clear, the original version of the game was fantastic given when it was released. However, the remastered edition didn’t seem to offer many visual upgrades, and the gameplay remains largely unchanged.
Instead of saying that, you could rephrase as follows: They merely tweaked a few figures in the configuration file and tagged an upgrade in cost. Amazingly, they needed a patch to stealthily boost console performance to 60 frames per second.
Initially, I found the original version of the game quite captivating upon its debut, and I believe those who haven’t experienced it yet have an opportunity to do so now. However, please be aware that the “remastered” edition for PC may not meet current gaming standards.
As a dedicated fan, I must admit, it’s quite a bummer to see that the price of Red Dead Redemption 2 has gone up, especially since the game first came out back in 2018.
In my opinion, it seems unnecessary for this particular game to undergo a “remaster” since emulators had been successfully running the game prior to its release for quite some time.
3. Silent Hill HD Collection
A Definitive Disaster
What about the original Silent Hill games captured everyone’s attention so well? It was primarily the ambiance it established through its dense fog, stunning graphics, and top-notch voice performances.
Well, it’s too bad that you can’t experience the originals because the “HD” remaster replaced them.
Not only were Silent Hill 2 and 3 considered among the most atmospherically terrifying games, but Konami opted to distribute remastered versions that included incomplete beta game code.
What I encountered were some strange bugs, a lack of atmospheric mist, terrible voice performances, and generally subpar graphics.
If you haven’t played the original games or haven’t reached their conclusions, chances are you won’t have a terribly difficult time enjoying them.
Similarly to me and numerous other enthusiasts, the remaster felt hugely disappointing and unnecessary from the start.
2. Warcraft III: Reforged
A Brutal Betrayal
Warcraft 3: Reforged is one of the best examples of a remaster gone wrong. In almost all aspects.
The original version of the game was incredibly popular not just for being an excellent game, but also due to its emotional significance. Surprisingly, the remastered edition overtook the original one, which means we can no longer enjoy it as before.
It’s alright only if the remastered version isn’t a disaster, but unfortunately, it is. I’m struggling to find words to express why it’s such a mess.
Initially, the high-definition graphics fell short of expectations. The unique art style that made the game appealing was missing, replaced by a common design instead. Additionally, the movements appeared less fluid and more awkward compared to before.
In simpler terms, the multiplayer experience for many users, including myself, was largely problematic due to significant issues arising from the newly implemented Battle.net integration, making it difficult for us to participate in matches.
Furthermore, it appears that certain elements are absent. We had been led to expect novel functionalities, enhanced visual storytelling, and a choice between the latest graphics and the original ones.
It appears that what was expected wasn’t provided, and moreover, parts of the original content were omitted. This suggests that Blizzard may have oversold their delivery and underperformed, ultimately releasing a product that falls short of the original version in quality.
1. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition
The Worst Remaster
People who have experienced the original Grand Theft Auto series would recognize them as quite extraordinary. Their structure paved the way for the open-world games that are popular and cherished nowadays.
At my friends’ places, we used to have sleepovers where we’d forgo sleep, instead opting to play late into the night with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Those memories were thoroughly ruined by the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition, unfortunately.
Additionally, besides oddly designed AI-character models that gave them a peculiar and misshapen appearance, there were far too numerous gameplay-disrupting glitches to keep track of.
The controls seemed more difficult to handle than previously, leading to a rather exasperating gaming session. By the way, let me mention another source of annoyance: the heavy rain effects that completely obscured the screen, making the games nearly impossible to play.
As a gamer, I found myself in quite a pickle when Rockstar took down the original games from the shelves, leaving me no choice but to dive into this less-than-perfect experience.
The positive aspect is that following numerous revisions, the games appear to be more enjoyable now. However, personally, I might not opt to purchase them based on principles.
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2025-03-01 17:10