Within the last decade, entertainment companies around the world have raced to re-master and update their products. DVDs are being converted to Blu-Ray , while theaters are transitioning from film projections to digital and 3D. However, less is known on how video games have been adapting to the high definition age.
Recently, video game companies have been looking to update classic titles to a better gaming experience altogether. Classics such as Nintendo’s Star Fox 64 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, are undergoing intensive makeovers to increase their appeal to modern players.
Not only are these two Nintendo titles being re-mastered graphically, but the company is also releasing them in 3D format for their new Nintendo 3DS console. Games such as these are being added to the 3D bandwagon. This is in order to get consumers to buy the same video games over again to experience one or two new features. Most fans of the games will have no problem buying the updates, but average gamers might feel apprehensive about the investment.
Other popular series that are getting the re-master treatment include Halo and God of War. Some games (like Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary) are getting additions to actual gameplay while other titles (Star Fox 64 3D and God of War Collection) are only being visually re-mastered.
If critics have anything to say about it, then hesitant gamers will most likely purchase the updates upon release. Critically, the majority of re-mastered games have received consistently high review scores. Results like these can mean two things: companies will most likely keep releasing re-mastered titles, and the fans will continue to keep buying them.
“Re-mastered graphics are really nice additions,” says Todd Moore, a freshman majoring in paper science and chemical engineering. “The new control schemes create a new way to experience the original games themselves.”
Moore supports the decision to re-master titles, as it produces a new way to play the game. One of Nintendo 64’s all-time best-selling games, GoldenEye 007, is one game that has been remade solely for the purpose of a new approach to gameplay.
A GoldenEye 007 video game was created in 2010, but for the Nintendo Wii. The Wii title was a remake of the classic, with the biggest change being the addition of Daniel Craig’s James Bond over Pierce Brosnan’s as the main character. To profit even more on the Wii exclusive remake, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are receiving their own edition of the game.
This time, the 2010 version is getting updated for release just one year later. However, the updated version is titled Goldeneye 007: Reloaded and will contain even more new content than the previous iteration.
Such market moves are obvious ploys to get consumers to buy these re-mastered video games over and over again for maximum profit. As long as the new editions make money (all of the re-mastered games released so far have made considerable profit), then they will continue to be released.
In some cases, companies are bundling several HD remakes together to increase their appeal to fans. So far, the PlayStation 3 has seen the greatest amount of support for this method. Last year’s The Sly Collection contained HD remakes of the entire Sly Cooper trilogy, while this October’s Silent Hill HD Collection will collect revamped versions of both Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3.
Fans seem to enjoy remakes, re-masters, and updates of all their favorite video games, but nothing can top the originals in some gamers’ eyes.
“There’s nothing better than the original game,” Moore said. “Re-masters are great, but you just can’t beat all those classic great games.”
No matter what views fans may have on the subject, gaming companies will continue to release new versions of older games for the enhancement of gameplay. Even more remakes are scheduled to be released in the months to come. Fortunately, should the proper amount of care and attention to detail continue to be given to these projects, there will be plenty to provide enjoyment to consumers everywhere.
