No matter how old you are, there is always going to be at least one game that you’ll want to revisit and play all over again. Maybe even more than once. Yet whether it is due to factors such as great gameplay, great story, or even a great soundtrack there is something about a game that keeps it in our mind. But there is also one other factor that helps to make a game memorable and it is the graphics.
Sadly, as time marches on, the majority of games just can’t hold its own against the ever-increasing advancements in graphics technology. What caught our eye yesterday would no longer catch our eye today. So when we go back and play some of those games we can’t help but wince at how they look; hoping that they could be played with today’s graphics.
Thankfully, there seems to be a bit of an HD renaissance happening for PC games these days. The recent announcement that Grim Fandango is being remastered is certainly a reason to celebrate. But this is just the latest classic game to be revisited. Other games, such as Age of Empires II, have been touched by the hand of HD while The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition was fully re-imagined with a remastered musical score, full voiceover, and new art style.
So we decided to come up with a list of games, in chronological order by release date, that we would like to see remastered. Obviously, we are going to exclude a lot of games. As a result of this, we would like to hear what game you think should be remastered and why. So sound off in the comments sections!
(Author’s Note: This list was written for Maximum PC August 2014)
Descent
Release Date: February 28, 1995
We can’t tell you how many times we found ourselves flying around upside down in this 3D first-person game. Mesmerized by Descent’s degree of movement and on-the-spot maneuverability, it is a game that everyone should play. Who knows? There might be a remastered version on the horizon since Interplay renewed the trademark registration for Descent in 2008.
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
Release Date: December 9, 1995
We still love the original Warcraft RTS game, but Warcraft II offers more with its upgraded AI and continuation of the franchise’s story. There are also more unit variety and the game features a brighter color scheme. If Activision-Blizzard can take time to update character models in World of Warcraft, then it should revisit Warcraft II and, at the very least, bring it up to snuff with Warcraft III.
Quake
Release Date: June 22, 1996
What can we say about id Software’s FPS title? While there is Quake 4, which was released in 2005, we want to go back to the root of the franchise and step into the shoes of Ranger. It is about time to revisit the original Quake and collect those four magic runes all over again.
Fallout
Release Date: September 30, 1997
We love post-apocalyptic settings which is one reason we love the original Fallout. Trying to save the inhabitants of Vault 13 is pretty stressful, especially when there is a time limit. However, while we would love to see it with cutting-edge graphics, we would have to insist on keeping the turn-based combat unlike Fallout 3’s evolution into a shooter.
Myth: The Fallen Lords
Release Date: November 25, 1997
While many are salivating over Destiny, many might not be aware that Bungie developed this real-time tactics game for PC and Mac. Unlike RTS games, such as the aforementioned Warcraft II, Myth doesn’t have any resource micromanagement. All we do is control our small forces and achieve our goals. It’s a shame that this genre didn’t really take off. Perhaps Bungie can use some of that Destiny money to remaster this game?
Thief: The Dark Project
Release Date: November 30, 1998
The new Thief game received some fairly decent reviews but we feel it can’t hold up to the classic game. So why not just revisit the original Thief and update it with the modified Unreal Engine 3, that the 2014 game used, and show everyone again why this game is a classic? After all, it did receive some criticism for its graphics when it first came out, so Eidos Montreal should give it another go.
System Shock 2
Release Date: August 11, 1999
Sadly, Irrational Games is no more. So who knows what will happen with this game that meshed the first-person shooter genre with RPG elements and survival horror. The impact this game has on players is unforgettable, especially when they experience the game’s twist. We still hold out hope that maybe Ken Levine, or someone else, will give us an updated version of this classic title.
Planescape: Torment
Release Date: December 12, 1999
While JRPGs ruled the consoles, it was Western RPGs that reigned supreme on the PC. While
the console platforms finally embraced WRPGs, there are many classics such as Planescape: Torment that they will never experience and vice-versa. However, there might be an enhanced edition in its future since Black Isle Studios released an enhanced edition of Baldur’s Gate II.
Deus Ex
Release Date: June 26, 2000
Not many games offer us the chance to choose between a nonlethal and lethal style of gameplay. So imagine how Deus Ex would look with Human Revolution’s graphics. While the original was praised for its meshing of genres, expansive environments, and layered story the graphics weren’t a high point for it. Perhaps JC Denton should be given another chance to shine in the spotlight.
Diablo II
Release Date: June 29, 2000
Diablo III had a horrible launch but is still a commercial success for Blizzard. However, will it maintain a player base for as long as its predecessor has been able to do? People are still playing Diablo II, which is a testament to how fun and addicting the dungeon crawler can still be. Of course, if it were to be re-mastered with Diablo III’s graphics, people might abandon D3 altogether since D2 doesn’t require an internet connection to play.
Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force
Release Date: September 20, 2000
Developed by Raven Software, this FPS game is considered one of the best Star Trek games with its storyline, level design, and its graphics developed on id Tech 3. Sadly, the graphics do not hold up all that well but Elite Force would look amazing with today’s technology. We would like to step into the shoes of Alex Munro again and lead the Hazard Team against all known and unknown threats that face the USS Voyager on its journey home.
The Longest Journey
Release Date: November 16, 2000
This point-and-click adventure game is highly deserving of a remake. Funcom did a wonderful job with this game’s story and its female protagonist April while featuring some visually stunning scenery for its time. Being able to travel between different universes where one is dominated by magic and another by technology helped to create some great contrasts.
Black & White
Release Date: March 25, 2001
Every now and then a god game will pop up. But none have been able to recapture the fun we had while playing B&W. From laughing at all the little people to training our Creature, the joys we experience while trying to get people to believe in us is an experience everyone should enjoy. With updated graphics.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Outcast
Release Date: March 26, 2002
Almost everyone loves the Star Wars movies and its characters, but Kyle Katarn and the Jedi Knight franchise is, in our opinion, just as good. Maybe even better, considering that Jedi Knight II features a well-implemented combat system for lightsabers. Trust us, nothing is more satisfying than defeating your opponent with a lightsaber after finishing a cool move. Imagine how much more satisfying it would be if this was in HD?
Battlefield 1942
Release Date: September 10, 2002
We’ve been waiting a long time for developers to revisit the World War II catalog of FPS games. Imagine what Battlefield 1942’s vehicles and levels would look like with Battlefield 4’s Frostbite 3 engine? That is, if EA would be able to release a remastered version in a complete state.
Call of Duty
Release Date: October 29, 2003
While we are on the subject of World War II FPS games, we can’t leave out the original Call of Duty. There are so many epic moments in that game that we would love to see again, such as charging across Red Square, with today’s graphics. And we would like to go back to old-school FPS games where there is none of this sissy regenerative health malarkey.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Release Date: November 16, 2004
We can’t get enough of Bloodlines. We know that the original developer, Troika Games, no longer exists but maybe Activision can shell out some money for an updated version of this wonderfully complex RPG that was developed with Valve’s Source Engine. Perhaps even develop it using Source 2 when Valve finally releases it?
Sid Meier’s Pirates! – (remake of the 1987 classic)
Release Date: November 22, 2004
We know there is already a remastered version of the 1987 classic. But we still want to see it remastered again. It is that good of a game! So imagine how good it would look if even half the resources that went into Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is put into it?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Release Date: March 20, 2006
It was tough choosing between Morrowind and Oblivion because we love both of them. Both games are deserving of being remastered. But we decided that it had to be Oblivion. We love the setting of Cyrodil because it is lush and it feels more alive than Morrowind. So Oblivion would greatly benefit from the Creation Engine used to develop The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
BioShock
Release Date: August 21, 2007
It’s hard to believe that BioShock is already seven years old. And while that may not be a long enough time, we still would like to see this game remastered with today’s graphics. Just imagine staring out into the Atlantic Ocean and all that water all that water underneath Rapture’s glass dome with improved graphics! That alone, would be a site worth seeing for this FPS title.
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