With the recent release of the new Ratchet and Clank remaster, Game Rant takes a look at some of the best video game remasters and remakes that have come out in recent years.
As good as some games were in their original incarnations, there is always room for improvement. Beyond updating classic games with aesthetically-pleasing graphics, remasters and remakes generally fix any outstanding flaws, and occasionally add some new content for good measure. The new Ratchet and Clank remaster was recently released to critical-acclaim, but that’s just the latest in a list of great remakes and remasters.
From old PC classics and Game Boy games, through to contemporary gems and Nintendo favourites, here are what we consider to be some of the best video game remasters and remakes that have been released over the last few years.
The Last of Us
Grim Fandango
Often considered to be LucasArts’ best game that doesn’t have Star Wars in the title, Grim Fandango was a hit with the critics upon its release, but a flop with literally everyone else. It was a slightly different story when the brilliant Grim Fandango remaster was released last year, and a new legion of fans were introduced to the Land of the Dead. As a testament to the game’s timeless qualities, the new remaster keeps Grim Fandango’s great gameplay and art style intact, bar for some visual upgrades. For the audiophiles out there, the game’s brilliant jazzy soundtrack also returns, albeit in a new re-orchestrated format.
What really elevates this remaster above the original, though, is the addition of insightful developer audio diaries and a director’s commentary, with both of which providing a unique perspective of the game for newer and older fans.
Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
Grand Theft Auto 5
The Secret of Monkey Island
Final Fantasy 4
Resident Evil
Banjo Kazooie
Super Mario 64 DS
Whereas the original game was a Mario-only affair, the remake throws Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario into the mix. Couple that with an extra 30 stars, new power-ups, and new mini-games, Mario 64 DS offers up a refreshing take on an old classic. Plus, gamers can easily take the game wherever they go, which trumps dragging a Nintendo 64 console around any day.
