Remaster of None
Level 3. Remasters are a great way to preserve games and introduce them to a new generation of gamers...until they aren't.
Nostalgia sells: It fills seats in movie theaters as series hit their double digit installments. Entire television or streaming networks have been buttressed from the return of familiar series or faces, even if the revivals never quite hit the way they used to - actors age, and the newer series struggle to hit the creative highs of their forebears. For those reasons, video games are uniquely situated to cater to both audiences and creators. It might just be easier to get the gang back together for a remake or remaster; and if it isn't, it is easier to build up a new one (so long as we recognize the efforts of the original creative team).
Even more, developers and publishers have recognized that the gaming community at large will step in to bridge the gap. If a publisher is not keen on releasing or porting their old titles, then the homebrew and emulation scene will take care of it, cutting the owner of the intellectual property out of money that is otherwise being left at the table. Nintendo Switch Online membership provides access to emulated versions of classics from the 8 through 64-bit eras of video gaming, and now includes handheld games. There are emulators readily available for mobile platforms, allowing gamers near constant access to hundreds or thousands of games from the early years of Sega, Nintendo, and others.
Emulation has been a way to preserve games that would otherwise be out of print or entirely inaccessible. But over the last few generations, publishers and developers have leaned into their back catalog and re-purposed many of these games for audiences new and old alike, incorporating quality of life upgrades or other changes to modernize the games or make them more appealing to a new generation of gamers. In a sense, everyone wins from this approach: a remastered release on modern consoles engages in games preservation while also allowing the publisher some financial reward, and potential audiences do not have to worry about procuring hard to find copies of games for outdated consoles or contemplate the legality of emulating a copy of Cool Spot. More recently, prices of retro video games have skyrocketed, further reducing access to troves of games.
If people don't play Unlimited SaGa, it should be because they are afraid of it -- not because they can't find a physical copy of the game. To that end, there's something noble and admirable in these titles finding their way to modern consoles. I always wanted to play Final Fantasy Type-0 on the PSP after it was released in Japan in 2011, but it was never released in the United States until March 2015, when it was ported to the PlayStation 4 and given an upscale. This is an example of a successful remaster, as it improved on the visual presentation and further refined gameplay mechanics. People are going to point to Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion as a stellar remaster, but it really straddles the line between remake and remaster (remakster?) and really leans into the existing engine and assets used for the original game and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Truth is, when a remaster sticks the landing, consumers and publishers alike reap the benefit. Unfortunately, for every stellar remaster or remake, gamers are also treated to a rushed port with no improvements, or worse. We also have some games that are difficult to classify as they are more than a remaster but less than a formal remake of the game. What really got me writing this post, gentle reader? The remasters that somehow only serve to diminish the base game. These are cynical, lazy, and almost always have performance issues that were not present for the initial release, which should be punishable by law.
Here are a few remasters that pass the smell test, as well as a few that get a failing grade. (I will try to avoid discussing most Square Enix releases, as most of them are well done. The PlayStation-era Final Fantasy titles all have a host of changes that make the game easier and quicker to play than ever.)
SaGa Frontier Remastered
An example of a great remaster. Upscaled graphics and character models which still retain the identity of the original. New Game + mode added, a long-lost scenario of sorts added, and high-speed options make this is a definitive version of the game. Can we get the sequel please? Fans of this game should consider checking out the Romancing SaGa ports and the recent remaster of Romancing SaGa: Ministrel's Song.
Star Ocean: First Departure
This is a remastered port of what was essentially a remake of the SNES game retro-fitted to appear closer to the popular sequel. Nearly every aspect of this game is improved upon. Combat is more involved, the graphics are sharper, and the quality of life changes make the game significantly more sophisticated than the original.
Xenoblade Chronicles
Now for the efforts - or lack thereof - worth mentioning:
Tales of Symphonia Remastered
I reviewed this game this week for RPGamer. This is one of my favorite JRPGs, and my least favorite version of it.
Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered
The title is a mouthful, and this release - a port of a port of a port - was one of two games released as Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1. I didn't get to Volumes 2 or 3 because I did not enjoy Volume 1. Phantom Brave was buggy and featured no quality of life improvements.
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster
This, like Symphonia, is a damn pity. A wonderful game marred by a bare bones port. Battles are slow and the soundtrack sounds terrible, which seems only more insulting when the asking price is so high.
Grandia HD Collection
The tweaks to these games are mostly in graphical tweaks, but a collection of the PlayStation and Dreamcast games makes this appealing to anyone who has wanted to play the games but never had a Dreamcast on hand. It’s not a terrible remaster, but there aren’t enough improvements.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming remaster of Suikoden 1 and 2. What are some of the remasters you’ve enjoyed or felt were a disservice to the original release?
I'm pretty forgiving about remasters than most people, but sometimes I wish I had the option to play the original version as it was, and the cleaned up version. Like with the FF Pixel Remasters, it would have been cool to allow you to play the OG NES and SNES versions along with the pixel remasters. Wonder Boy III probably did that best letting you switch between SMS version and the updated version.
I hope they don't mess up Chrono Trigger and Xenogears if they ever come up for a remaster.