In the grand scheme of things, it almost doesn’t feel right that you can apply the word “classic” to video games. They’re just so new in comparison to most things, but if you look at a big-budget game made even five years ago, it’s probably going to feel like it comes from a completely different world from today’s AAA games.
What’s been happening in the gaming space lately is best defined by the well-known saying, “what’s old is new again.” Old games, and old-style games, are coming back with a vengeance. This leads to questions like: why are so many game developers and publishers leaning into classic games in various forms? Why are gamers buying them (again)? How does this affect the game industry now and in the future?
Mind you, these questions are pretty broad, so let’s break everything down to make sure we get it right. We’re not covering reboots here – the “classic” games I’m talking about come in four main varieties:
- Re-releases and remasters
- Full remakes
- Sequels to franchises long thought dead
- Brand new games heavily based on the aesthetics and/or mechanics of classic games
Now, to see where we’re going, we need to know how we got here.
The History of Classic Games and Remakes… Such as It Is
Figuring out which games were re-released first is easy. Picture the first commercially available games ever made, and all the systems they ended up on. Games like Pong and Pac-Man were all re-released on various platforms throughout the early 1980s, sometimes with graphical enhancements or the occasional bug fix.
Pinning down the first remake is a lot harder. At the beginning of the games industry, remakes as we know them today weren’t really a thing. Wikipedia’s list of video game remakes says that the earliest remake might have been when Super Mario Bros. was remade for the NES, ported from the original arcade game in the mid-to-late ‘80s.
However, my own research has led me to believe that the first remake might have happened a lot earlier. In this contest, Nintendo brought a Fire Flower to a Gun Fight – literally.
The fact Gun Fight is a fully reprogrammed version of Western Gun is, I think, what takes it from the level of re-release to remake, and it might well be the first. Both versions were released in 1975, but Western Gun only came out in Japan and Europe, while Gun Fight was adapted for American audiences.
It wasn’t just a simple port, though. The US version had plenty of changes, including improved graphics, and was also the first video game to use a microprocessor instead of TTL. Western Gun, for its part, was based on a 1969 Sega arcade game called Gun Fight – which means it also belongs on this list.
From then on, for the next few decades, re-releases on new platforms became more common for just about every game. Why sell a game only once when you could potentially sell it to the same customer two or three times, right? So it went, until at long last, digital distribution came around, and graphical technology improved in huge ways.
By 2005, the capabilities of consoles and PCs dwarfed those of early consoles, even the 3D-capable machines. Running a PS2-era game on a PS3 would feel like going back in time, and the comparisons weren’t always favorable.
As the industry developed in the 2010s, porting classic games became a more serious proposition. Re-releases had to be updated to take advantage of new technologies and widescreen resolutions. Full remakes weren’t just re-coded – they needed all-new assets across the board, creating opportunities to expand on the content that was already available.
Classic games started becoming a genre in their own right as former child gamers grew up and began to play games with children of their own. Pretty soon, it wasn’t enough to bring the old games back, and people decided to start reviving whole franchises. Did you know there’s a Shenmue 3?
Yeah, I know it came out a while ago, but somewhere, someone reading this article just had their mind completely blown.
Today, people are even creating whole new games based on their most cherished childhood memories, pixelated graphics and all. From this trend, we have created a whole new genre of FPS: the boomer shooter. (At this point, the name probably makes more sense than doom clone, which is what FPS games used to be known as.)
It’s now a brave new world full of all the old things we love. Maybe you’re intentionally subjecting yourself to the Ghosts ‘n Goblins difficulty curve, or slaying your friends in Doom Eternal’s multiplayer (while protecting your connection from doxxing griefers with a VPN for PS5 – some Slayers seem to have become worse at times than the demons they’re hunting). Whatever the case, we’re all really just living in a classic games world.
Let’s break down what this means.
Re-releases and Remasters
Definition: Games that are re-released on newer platforms (and sometimes the same platforms) with updates to the code to make them work better. Sometimes the assets have been upscaled or even remade, and sometimes they haven’t. The code base is largely the same.
What Makes a Successful Re-release or Remaster?
Essentially, the only things that games in this category need to succeed are general public interest and to function correctly (which, to be fair, is the same for any game). If you can get a re-released game to work well on new or different platforms, you’ve won the day. You can go home knowing you’ve done good work and that people will be generally happy. (Well, some might complain that you didn’t spend your time and money making a new, different game, but you can’t please everyone.)
Successful games in this category include the remasters of the original Resident Evil 2 and 3, Red Faction Guerilla Re-Mars-tered, Dark Souls: Remastered, and almost every re-release of Super Mario Bros.
Re-releases and remakes that fell apart include The GTA Trilogy, Saints Row the Third: Remastered, and STAR WARS™: Battlefront Classic Collection. The first two had the usual problems: players reported plenty of bugs and, by all accounts, these games actually looked worse than the originals in some respects.
The Battlefront Classic Collection also came with its share of bug reports alongside other issues. It mostly works, but the game’s upgrades include AI-upscaled textures that don’t always look better. At the same time, those textures took the collection from about 9 GB to almost 60 GB (give or take a few bytes depending on the platform) which is a hard sell if the content doesn’t seem improved. It also launched without enough servers for people to play on, angering many players who bought the game but couldn’t actually play it.
Remakes
Definition: Games that are remade from scratch, or close to it. At the very least, the underlying code is rewritten. The graphical assets are usually, but not always, also redesigned and remade to make the game look better. Optionally, features may be added to or removed from the game as necessary, content may be added or tweaked, and so on.
What Makes a Successful Remake?
This is a lot trickier than a re-release. Sure, you could play it safe and essentially make a nearly one-to-one remake of the original game with support for newer graphics features and maybe some small tweaks to the level design, story, and a few mechanics. This is actually a bit of a hard draw in terms of potential success, though.
Fans of the original game will likely be fine with this approach, all things considered, but the game might struggle to appeal to new audiences. What’s more, when you don’t alter very much, small changes are more glaring and might really annoy people.
Successful nearly one-to-one remakes include Demon’s Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, Last of Us Part 1, the Yakuza Kiwami remakes (arguably), the Resident Evil 4 remake, and Mafia: Definitive Edition. The Dead Space remake might fit here as well.
The System Shock remake sort of fits here, too. It changed a fair few things, but stuck very close to the original gameplay formula and story. This looks to be working for fans of the original, but seems to be a struggle for new players who don’t enjoy the way you have to figure everything out for yourself in terms of navigation and endless puzzles.
Likewise, Pokémon’s Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl games are faithful remakes – to the point of ignoring modern quality of life features that newer Pokémon titles have and fans would likely have appreciated having.
Then again, sometimes developers go and drastically change almost everything except the core themes and story of the game, and that’s how you get the Resident Evil 1–3 remakes, and the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy (currently two thirds done). These games are loved by audiences and critics alike because they’ve kept the soul of what everyone loved about the originals, while going in wildly different directions in so many ways.
Notably, in all the examples above, the mechanics behind exploration and combat were modernized quite a bit. The way characters move, their voices, and so much more was updated, but they still feel like Resident Evil and Final Fantasy games, respectively.
Lastly, you have situations like Warcraft 3: Reforged. The remake came with bugs galore and promised new features never made it into the game, while beloved old features were removed. The issues people highlighted with this game may have provoked less anger if it was an optional switch, but Blizzard Entertainment automatically replaced the original Warcraft 3 with the newer version for all players.
Unfortunately, this change also seems to have fostered increasingly toxic habits among the WC3 community. Complaints about bullying, harassment, stalking, and even DDoS attacks are at an all-time high. If you’re a big WoW fan, it might be time to consider leveling up your cybersecurity stats – whether you’re playing on PS5, Xbox, or PC – to prevent this kind of harassment from following you home. Using different gamer tags and passwords across platforms is a good start, but also look at ways to improve your security with password managers, anti-malware software, and VPNs.
Sequels to Franchises Long Thought Dead
Definition: This one probably doesn’t need a full explanation. If it’s been 10 years or more since the last game, it probably belongs on this list (the Elder Scrolls franchise doesn’t count; Bethesda Game Studios is just like that). Take a look at the current record holders for “longest wait for a sequel”:
What Makes a Successful Sequel?
The principles at play here are actually similar to those of remakes. Adhering too closely to the original formula can alienate newer players and even push away old fans.
Shenmue 3 fell into this tricky position, unfortunately. People played the Shenmue games for the story, the action, and the mini-games. Unfortunately, the mini-games are still grindy, managing your stamina is still a chore, and there’s still a whole lot more micromanaging than you necessarily want out of a martial arts game. The story also retreads a lot of ground from the last game, disappointing those looking for a fresh experience.
That word “still” has been the death of many a remake and sequel alike. Sequels need to find ways to modernize the game without compromising the core of what people love. Ironically, trying too hard to imitate older games can lead to changing them in unexpected and unfortunate ways.
For example: Duke Nukem Forever. After reportedly being in development hell for quite some time, DNF was released long after its announcement and the resulting hype had been replaced by the churning newsmill. This meant most gamers hardly noticed its arrival, so mainly die-hard fans of the franchise paid enough attention to pick up the game. Despite the developers trying hard to make DNF feel like the original Duke Nukem games, it seems the changes they made to its character and mechanics simply fell flat with existing fans.
Meanwhile, successful long-term sequels abound. Psychonauts 2 is very much like its predecessor, but the original formula holds up so well that it just doesn’t matter. It looks and plays like a 3D platformer that was made recently but still has that quirky Psychonauts charm, and you can’t ask for more.
Then there’s Doom (2016). This game is what’s called a “soft reboot” where it’s technically connected to the continuity of the original games but feels like a wholly fresh experience. It kept the fast combat, the smooth gunplay, the demons, the ripping and tearing… and turned it all up to 11. It’s simultaneously a far cry from the original, yet inarguably cut from the same cloth.
You also get the sequels that change almost everything, and still succeed. Fallout 3 released 10 years after Fallout 2 and completely changed the game from an isometric-perspective RPG to a first person shooter. Yes, some fans really didn’t like that, and still don’t, but you can’t argue with the results: Fallout 3 brought the franchise to the mainstream. For all of its reported faults, the lore and feel of the world kept people coming back.
Lastly, there’s Baldur’s Gate 3. It changed nearly everything about the moment-to-moment gameplay of the franchise, as the earlier titles weren’t turn-based. It kept the in-depth role-playing and the compelling characters, and gave people an unprecedented amount of control over their own story. Looking at the reviews, it’s easy to see why BG3 has more than earned its 30+ awards.
Brand New Games Based on Older Titles
Definition: It’s pretty much all in the name, no? These games typically aim to emulate the feel of old-school gameplay, and often go so far as to recreate the graphics of classic games as well – think pixel art for 2D games, and low-resolution models and textures in 3D games. That doesn’t stop them from looking fantastic, as the true power of art direction shines in a way that ten quintillion polygons couldn’t replicate on their own.
What Makes a Successful Classic-Inspired Game?
The benefit of making a brand new game inspired by the classics is that you get bonus goodwill from nostalgia, but really have to nail the gameplay (and the story if it’s a story-heavy game). There’s no real worry about how it compares to an original or prequel because they don’t exist. It just has to be good on its own.
I will say, however, that these games absolutely need their own hook. You might find some success by creating a game that mimics a classic game down to everything except the intellectual property, but that success will be limited. After all, people have already played those games.
The best classic-inspired games do their own thing. Hyper Light Drifter took the fun, colorful aesthetic of a classic platformer/fighting game and added hyper-tough combat. A Hat in Time took the feel of the Mario 64 platformer and gave it a bunch of cool hat-based character ability tweaks – much like Super Mario Odyssey, which actually released in the same month. Gloomwood took the stealth gameplay of Thief and added, well, guns.
Meanwhile, Ultrakill took the Quake formula and… I need you to see this for yourself. Content warning for very pixelated robot blood.
Another fantastic example in this category is Fashion Police Squad. It’s in the name: you are literally the fashion police. You go around shooting people with dye guns, water guns, and a sort of sewing machine to fix their fashion mistakes.
This game consists of more than a gimmicky theme, though – it also has some of the best platforming and swinging action I’ve seen in a first-person shooter. That kind of innovation is what you need to compete in the classic-inspired new game market.
Why Companies Are Investing in Classic and Classic-Inspired Games
It’s pretty simple: money. Nostalgia bait is a powerful thing, and companies know this. It’s why the word “classic” gets added onto brand names all the time, and why we get remakes and reboots of old movies and TV shows, reboots of fashion trends, and everything else you can think of.
It’s also easier than starting over. Upgrading old assets and doing a little maintenance work is cost effective in comparison to building brand new games – and much less of a financial risk in case of failure. If doing that also gives developers an opportunity to bring old games to new platforms, so much the better! Building new games based on well established formulae is a little easier, even if you do have to build new assets or use a new game engine.
Why Gamers Are Buying Them
Games have evolved very quickly in a short amount of time, but older games were still pretty amazing in their own right. Additionally:
- Sometimes older games, with a few updates, really are just better than many new ones in the same genre
- These games are generally easier on your hardware, making them budget-friendly
- Younger players get them to experience games they weren’t able to play before
- A lot of these games are cheaper than the latest AAA game from a major publisher
Despite these major draw factors, remakes, remasters, and classic-inspired games also suffer from classic problems – specifically those with online features like in-game messaging. While you typically have to rely on a game’s developers to provide you with tools that help minimize in-game harassment, they can’t do much about what happens outside of it.
Unfortunately, sometimes people aren’t satisfied with just ruining your experience in-game. They want to ruin your day too. Intimidation tactics can escalate to include DDoS attacks and doxxing, and even swatting.
The best way to keep yourself safe is by following good digital security habits (like the ones I mentioned earlier) and by prioritizing your privacy. That means:
- Avoid sharing any personal information that could be used to identify you on in-game chats with strangers
- Don’t link your different accounts across game platforms or devices together
- Take threats to your safety seriously and report players via the correct channels
- Never click on links shared on in-game chats or sent in personal chats unless you know exactly where they lead
How This Affects the Games Industry & Where We Go from Here
The industry has been remaking and re-releasing games pretty much since the beginning. Now there are even more big titles and franchises to remake and re-release, so this practice won’t disappear any time soon. It seems to be great for both us, as players, and for the companies creating these games. Case in point, here are some rough unit sales figures for some of the biggest video game remakes:
Sales aside, one of the more fascinating developments in this area has been the creation of studios like New Blood Interactive, the people behind Ultrakill, Dusk, Gloomwood, Amid Evil, and other original boomer shooter-type games. They represent a growing trend of entire studios and publishers being dedicated to creating games that are firmly and intentionally rooted in the past. While some studios might be pushing your hardware to work overtime with the latest and greatest lighting techniques, other developers are saying, “Why would anyone want a video game to look realistic? They’ll have to pry these pixels, all ten of them, from my cold, dead hands.”
They’re creating experiences that feel amazing to play. Maybe in time, some of the bigger publishers will see the value in supporting smaller games again. The recent surge in popularity among the indie and classic-inspired genres give me some hope that it could happen.
The Best New(ly Released) Classic and Classic-Inspired Games
Lots of these games have been released in the past 10 years, including some award winners, so I’ve compiled a list of the best ones released somewhere in the last decade. This is based on my experience playing, the opinions of critics, and feedback from other players.
I have specifically refrained from filling up this whole list with all of the utterly fantastic boomer shooters I’ve tried. You’re welcome. If your favorite isn’t here, it’s probably still really good, but I can’t make this list as long as I’d actually like to.
My Personal Favorite: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Category: Classic-inspired games
I know I extolled the virtues of Fashion Police Squad, and it’s great, but the feel of WH40K: Boltgun is something else entirely. It’s the combination of boomer-shooter smoothness, the “clonk clonk” of your footsteps, and the half-mechanical voice screaming “For the Emperor!” that gets me every time.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade / Rebirth
Category: Remakes & remasters
Final Fantasy VII is being stretched within an inch of its life to cover three games, and everyone loves it. Oh, everyone has their complaints too, but so far it’s been wonderful to see this classic story revisited in such detail, and even taken in new directions.
Octopath Traveller 1 & 2
Category: Classic-inspired games
For those who want the truly classic, turn-based RPG experience with graphics reminiscent of the oldest Final Fantasy games, the Octopath Traveller series has plenty to offer. Each game gives you eight characters to play and eight stories to experience.
The Resident Evil Remakes
Category: Remakes & remasters
While their reception has varied, it’s generally considered that the Resident Evil 2–4 remakes are excellent examples of remakes done right. They managed to keep a good balance between drastically changing the way the game is played altogether while retaining the spirit of the franchise.
Hyper Light Drifter
Category: Classic-inspired games
Hyper Light Drifter is a side-scrolling action-combat game that has often been compared to the Dark Souls games. This is not strictly accurate, but the combat is intense, requires precision, and is difficult-but-fair in the best of ways.
Celeste
Category: Classic-inspired games
Celeste harkens back to those early pixel-graphics platformers where the challenge is getting through the environment itself. But don’t expect a Mario clone: the platforming challenges require precision, and the game features a deep and emotional story of self-discovery and loss.
Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 / All the remasters
Category: Remakes & Remasters
Oh, how to explain the Yakuza games. You know what? I’m better off not trying. You just go ahead and play Yakuza 0, then enjoy the fantastic Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 for the intense, joyful, and somewhat grindy versions of the original games that they are. As a bonus, Yakuza 3–5 are all excellent examples of remasters done right.
Black Mesa
Category: Remakes & remasters (fan-made)
Black Mesa carries the unique distinction (on this list anyway) of being a fan-made remake of the first Half-Life game. Every level, weapon, and character was lovingly remade in this Valve-approved adaptation, and the final level was even extended considerably.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Category: Remakes & remasters
Mafia: Definitive Edition arguably brought the franchise back into the spotlight after the tepid response to Mafia 3. While it launched with some bugs, these have mostly been ironed out, and it’s pretty much the, well, definitive Mafia experience. At least for now.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Category: Remakes & remasters
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is the very best example of a one-to-one remake. Sometimes, you just need a game that brings back your childhood memories and makes them look as good as you remember. This is that game. Just glide on in like you never left and go ram head first into some things!
Conclusion
The market for classic games and the titles they inspire will probably never go away. To older gamers, these games are nostalgic links to their past. To new gamers, they’re brand new experiences; worlds yet untouched. By the time the current crop of classic games, remakes, and classic-inspired games is past its sell-by date, there’ll be a whole new bunch of games that will be ready for an upgrade.
I’m completely okay with this. In an age where the preservation of video games is becoming increasingly difficult and titles are disappearing left and right, it’s good to see at least some of them sticking around in one form or another.
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