Sometimes, the old games really are better. That’s not always the case, but it would certainly go some way to explain why there’s been such a deluge of remakes and reboots over the past few years.
Just as we’ve seen scores of TV and movie properties getting the remake treatment in the past decade, games seem to be following a similar path. But, what’s the difference between a reboot and a remaster? Why are they so common in the modern era?
On top of this, it’s sometimes easy to assume that a remake is naturally going to be better than the original concept. As you may well know by now – that’s not always the case! Just as you’d rely on fantastic brands such as Resorts Casino for online gambling NJ and beyond, some games developers are widely trusted. Dig a little deeper – it’s surprising to see just how many of these rely on old titles they cut their teeth on!
Reboot, remaster, or remake?
Before we consider why reboots et al. are so popular nowadays, let’s break down a little bit of definition. A reboot is a game that completely rewrites lore, gameplay, and presentation. Effectively, it’s a new title – Tomb Raider has experienced this a few times already, and the Zelda series actually trades off it (unless you buy into the extensive Hyrule lore).
A remaster, meanwhile, is a game that’s upgraded for a new platform. For example, PS4 games revamped for PS5, or Wii U games given a new audience for the Switch. These are effectively the same games – just tidied up.
Remakes, meanwhile, are completely rebuilt from scratch. Games as diverse as Halo, Mega Man, and Flashback have all received this treatment. This falls somewhere between the reboot and the remaster – it’s a new game, except… it’s not.
Why are these games so popular?
The number one reason is that nostalgia sells. We’re still playing games in a period that harks back massively to the platformers and FPSes we loved from the 90s and 00s. Even further back, in fact, in some cases. People want to be able to enjoy older games on current consoles – it’s a market that never closes.
What’s more, developers and studios still want to trade off on their greatest hits! It’s why ‘collections’ such as Rare Replay come along every so often – and why there seems to be a brand-new Sonic collection every few years. These are games that studios are proud of, and for good reason. Why wouldn’t they want to bring them to new audiences?
Gaming is always going to evolve. We’re heading deeper into the VR revolution, but still we’re looking back at the titles we’ve loved from years gone by. As technology evolves, it makes sense to keep bringing the old games back!
Reboots, remakes, and remasters may be seen by many to be ‘lazy’ or ‘greedy’ – but they offer players a chance to re-experience some great games on modern devices. What’s more, these are often games that are worth celebrating! In our collective opinion, there’s no harm in that.
