Video Game Remakes Nobody Asked For

Video game fans often hope for remakes of their favorite titles. After over ten years of hints, the remake of Final Fantasy 7 started in 2020 with Final Fantasy 7 Remake, continued with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and has one more installment planned. There’s also a lot of talk about a remake of Final Fantasy 9 potentially being the next project.

Remasters and remakes are common in gaming, not just with Final Fantasy. Sometimes, the decisions publishers make about these updated versions are strange. While not necessarily bad, some remasters and remakes are simply puzzling – for every high-quality release like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, there’s one that feels a bit off.

Until Dawn (2024)

Barely Noticeable

Originally launched in 2015 as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, Until Dawn is a scary and exciting adventure game. The game lets you control multiple characters, and the choices you make can change the story – and even decide who lives or dies.

Despite being a bit over-the-top, horror fans loved the original game, leading to a new version for PlayStation 5 and PC in 2024. While the updated version looks slightly better, it feels more like a visual upgrade than a complete overhaul. Because the original game was already playable on PS5 through backwards compatibility, the remake wasn’t really necessary, and it unfortunately launched with some technical issues.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions

A Degrade In Art

I still remember when Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga first came out on the Game Boy Advance in 2003! It was so cool seeing Mario and Luigi team up in a completely new RPG, and it was really clever how they used the A and B buttons to control each brother separately – it felt like you were really directing them! Then, in 2017, they released Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions on the 3DS. It wasn’t just a simple re-release, though. They updated the graphics, made a few changes to the story, added some new gameplay stuff, and even included a whole other game you could play alongside the main adventure!

Honestly, the new game mode isn’t really hitting the mark for me. And while the 3DS version is solid, the graphics just don’t have that same crisp, classic look as the original GBA game. It feels a little weird releasing it on the 3DS when they could’ve waited and put it on the Switch – both are handhelds, so it doesn’t feel like a huge upgrade.

MediEvil (2019)

Remade Twice, Cared About Once

Released in 1998, MediEvil was a quirky action game for the PlayStation featuring a resurrected skeleton warrior. It was followed by a sequel on the PS1, and then a remake called MediEvil: Resurrection appeared on the PSP in 2005. The game returned again in 2019 as MediEvil for the PlayStation 4.

These games aren’t bad, but they’re fairly typical action titles that most PlayStation fans have forgotten. It’s strange to see them remade twice when other, more popular PS1 games like Syphon Filter, Twisted Metal, or the Jet Moto series haven’t received any updates.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time Re-Shelled

An Arcade Port Would Have Been Preferred

Released in arcades in 1991, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time quickly became a staple of the mall scene, with the phrase “Cowabunga!” echoing from the game and excited players. The 1992 Super Nintendo version is a remarkably well-done port, and both the arcade and SNES versions feature fantastic graphics, music, and classic beat ‘em up action.

With digital downloads and older games becoming popular, it would have been easy for Ubisoft to release the original arcade version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2009. However, they chose to remake it as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, and unfortunately, the remake doesn’t look, sound, or play as well as the original. To make matters worse, it was removed from digital stores in 2011, making it hard to find today.

Adventures Of Mana

Honor Over Chances

Originally released in 1991, Final Fantasy Adventure was the first installment in what would become the Mana series. However, many players in Western countries initially believed it was a Final Fantasy spin-off for the Game Boy. The game offered a top-down adventure experience similar to Zelda, but with the added feature of character leveling. A remake for the Game Boy Advance later clarified its place as part of the Mana franchise.

The game, originally known as Sword of Mana, let players choose to play as either a male or female character, who would occasionally be joined by a partner. It was then remade in 2016 as Adventures of Mana for mobile and PS Vita, sticking closer to the original Game Boy version. Similar to MediEvil, it’s surprising that this game has been remade twice, each time with a top-down perspective.

ActRaiser: Renaissance

God-Based Action

Released in North America in 1991, ActRaiser was a unique SNES game published by Enix – before it became Square Enix. Players took on the role of a god, overseeing and guiding humanity. It combined city-building and life-simulation elements, similar to Civilization but on a smaller scale. When monsters appeared, players switched to action-packed 2D levels to defeat them and protect their people.

Okay, so this game was a really weird mix of different styles, but if you played it back on the SNES, you totally loved all its little quirks – and the sequel was great too. Honestly, nobody thought they’d ever remake the first one! Then, out of nowhere, ActRaiser: Renaissance dropped in 2021 on PC, mobile, PlayStation 4, and Switch. It’s pretty much a perfect copy of the original, but with updated graphics, a much cleaner menu, and way better controls for the action parts. People who played it really liked the improvements, but it didn’t become a massive hit – it kind of slipped under the radar as a digital download.

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth

The Forgotten Belmont

Released for the Game Boy in 1989, Castlevania: The Adventure featured a new hero, Christopher Belmont. While Kid Dracula was a charming and enjoyable platformer, the other main Castlevania games on the Game Boy were known for their poor quality, particularly stiff animations. So, while it made sense to revisit the original with the 2009 remake, Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, it still came as a surprise.

The game featured improved graphics and controls. It was released as part of Konami’s effort to update classic games for WiiWare, alongside titles like Contra ReBirth and Gradius ReBirth. Although no one specifically requested Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, it successfully made a previously obscure Castlevania game much more enjoyable to play.

Warcraft 3: Reforged

Not Like This!

Released for computers in 2002, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos was the last traditional real-time strategy game in the Warcraft series and was highly anticipated for a remake. That remake, Warcraft 3: Reforged, arrived in 2020, but disappointed many fans. Despite this, the game still offered a strong core experience, featuring detailed story campaigns, multiplayer battles, and challenging real-time strategy gameplay that could lead to both exciting victories and frustrating defeats.

Despite being billed as a remake, Warcraft 3: Reforged didn’t feel like a significant upgrade. While the character models were improved, they were set in a blurry, overly colorful world. The game also launched with missing features and numerous bugs. It’s improved since then, but the initial release definitely fell short of what players hoped for.

XIII (2020)

A Cel-Shaded Classic Returns

Released in 2002 for PCs, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, XIII offered a unique experience despite not reaching the heights of Halo: Combat Evolved. Featuring David Duchovny (known from The X-Files) as the voice of the protagonist, the game stood out with its comic book-style presentation, vibrant sound effects, and cel-shaded graphics – a distinctive look for shooters in the early 2000s.

Okay, so XIII was this really beloved, but kinda obscure, game from way back. Honestly, nobody thought it would ever get a remake… until 2020 when PlayMagic tried to bring it back on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. But man, it was a disaster. We’re talking terrible animations, so many bugs it was often unplayable, clunky shooting, and it just didn’t look right – it lost all the bright, cartoonish style of the original. Ubisoft then handed it over to Tower Five to try and fix things, and they released an update in 2022. It is improved, but it’s still not the amazing remake we were hoping for.

2026-01-30 06:10