With the next generation of video game consoles already here, there’s so many new games to look forward to. However with every new generation comes the perfect time to revisit classic games of old, as a special few usually receive that glorious remake treatment. While we don’t yet know whether any of the below games will ever get a remake or even a remaster, here are the top video games that I’d love to see be return as remakes on next-gen consoles (or new-gen, if you want to be picky!).
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The closest we’ve got to a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake is the mobile port of the original game that released in 2014, later followed by its sequel out in December of 2020. Sure people could argue that we’ve had the Old Republic MMORPG that has been released for PC, but considering that it’s never released on console, loyal fans of the series have felt short changed.
As The Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (which features the first three games of the series remastered) is set to release early(ish) 2021, and with a fifth mainline instalment of the Mass Effect series already in development, not to mention Dragon Age 4, developer BioWare already has its hands full. However it’s about time this series got some new console love, when BioWare gets some spare time, whether it’s a reboot or a Knights of the Old Republic 3. Give us the next-gen remakes we deserve please, BioWare!
Resident Evil: Outbreak
Speaking of needing some love, perhaps no game in the Resident Evil series needs some tender loving care more than Resident Evil: Outbreak. At Capcom all the talk is about Resident Evil: Village, the Resident Evil 4 remake and the rumours of a Code Veronica remake too. I’m all for them, but Resident Evil: Outbreak needs a redemption story more than most in this survival horror series.
Resident Evil: Outbreak and its sequel released in 2003 and 2004 respectively for PS2. However depending on your region this was a game created for online play that was either playable online or it wasn’t, meaning that millions of fans potentially missed out on everything this spin-off series had to offer. I think it’s fair to say that the Outbreak series was ahead of its time.
Another of our top next-gen remakes, Resident Evil: Outbreak is playable via emulation on PC, but this game needs a next-gen console release and with online player numbers thriving more than ever, no generation is better suited for an Outbreak revival.
Ico
In 2011 Bluepoint Games brought us Shadow of the Colossus and Ico in one awesome remastered collection for PS3. However while these were both good remasters, they released during a time when basic remasters were a trend and it wasn’t until 2018 that Bluepoint developed a full remake of Shadow of the Colossus for PS4, and then more recently Demon’s Souls in 2020 as a PS5 launch title.
When both games originally released for the PS2 during the early 2000s, Ico came before Shadow of the Colossus which is probably why some fans thought it was a little odd that the latter got a full remake first. So with that said I think it’s only fair that Ico is next in line to receive some of that Bluepoint Games remake magic on the PlayStation 5!
Project Zero/Fatal Frame
When the Project Zero (or Fatal Frame for North Americans out there) released in the early 2000s, the series scared the living cr*p out of me like no game ever had. Armed with a special camera to defend yourself against evil spirits, it’s a concept that on paper shouldn’t work but it most certainly did. Both Resident Evil and Silent Hill were scary in their own rights, but this horror game that featured eerie Japanese ghosts made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. No one does horror movies quite like the Japanese and this was perfectly replicated in the Project Zero/Fatal Frame series.
Well – it was perfectly replicated until we got the Nintendo Wii U release of Maiden of Black Water in 2014. This was a game that tried to be clever by using the Wii U GamePad as a camera and it worked fine, the problem was that this game simply wasn’t scary.
It’s been six years since Maiden of Black Water released and I think it’s time for the Project Zero/Fatal Frame series to make a next-gen comeback. Plus can you imagine playing this game in VR?! It has all the ingredients to be one of the scariest games of all time, so make it happen please!
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
Looking back on 2007’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on PS3 brings back fond memories. However the problem with looking back with fond memories is that you can often be wearing rose-tinted glasses, and when I revisited this beloved game in 2015 as part of the Uncharted: Nathan Drake Collection, some of its old gameplay issues became quite apparent.
Sure some improvements were made with the Nathan Drake Collection remaster, such as no longer having to throw grenades with the motion controls, as well as the visuals and textures getting some added detail. However in terms of gameplay, it was nowhere near as refined as both of its PS3 sequels.
Just imagine a full remake (either developed by Naughty Dog or Bluepoint Games) using the same engine that powered Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and The Last of Us Part 2, only this time with all the next-gen technical enhancements that a PS5 can bring. If we’re getting greedy, we’d ask for next-gen remakes of Uncharted 2 and 3 to also make our list of top games we want to see, but just the first will do for now. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is a diamond in the rough, worthy of a Nathan Drake treasure hunt.
Halo 3: Anniversary
When you consider that the original Halo: Combat Evolved received the remaster treatment with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360 in 2011 and then Halo 2: Anniversary in 2014 as part of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One, many fans have been left wondering where is the love for Halo 3?
What is considered to be a soft-reboot for the series, Halo Infinite was supposed to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X|S in November of 2020. However now that it’s been announced that Halo Infinite won’t release for Microsoft’s next-gen console until Fall of 2021, right now could be the perfect time to work on Halo 3: Anniversary.
I know you can play Halo 3 as part of the Master Chief Collection on Xbox Series X|S but it’s not the same. Whether it’s handled by 343 Industries or outsourced to another talented development studio, a full next-gen remake of 2007’s Halo 3 would be awesome!
That concludes the top video games I’d love to see returns as next-gen remakes, but be sure to let us know what games you believe you deserve to be remade across our social media channels.
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Featured Image Credit: BioWare/Koei Tecmo/Capcom/Sony/343 industries/ Naughty Dog