This is a category that has really changed in recent years. The early remasters back in the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 days often offered simply higher resolution textures with maybe a few slight enhancements here and there.
But in 2024, full-fledged remakes, are mostly dominating the category. Rather than the subtle enhancements of earlier times, remakes are typically complete recreations of a classic game that update the entire experience to make it a familiar yet new experience.
This category is typically hard to find enough nominees for, but this year, it was one of the tougher ones to trim down to seven entries. Let’s take a look at our nominees for the Best Remaster/Remake of 2024:
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
Back in 2006, Dead Rising felt like one of those games that was ahead of its time. It had its constraints due to existing technology at the time, but it pushed that technology to the limits, allowing players to carve through hordes of zombies with an arsenal of makeshift weapons.
Destructoid’s Master of Gaming Zoey Handley jumped into the improved Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster when it was released earlier this year and praised developer Capcom’s ability to address the issues that plagued the original version nearly two decades ago while adding a fresh new set of pain with its graphical upgrades.
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
In 2010, gamers were shocked to realize that Mickey wielding a paintbrush could actually make for a pretty fun experience. Despite being a platformer, the ability to use Mickey’s magic brush to actually shape and mold the world added some unique puzzle variability to the genre. The only major downside to Epic Mickey is that it was exclusive to the Nintendo Wii.
Nearly a decade and a half later, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed has been released with enhanced graphics, new abilities, costumes, and interactions for Mickey, some gameplay tweaks, and, best of all, on most modern consoles and PC.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
The second part of the remake of the arguably most popular RPG of all time, Final Fantasy 7, was even bolder than part 1. While Final Fantasy 7 Remake modernized the original while adding some extra content and flair, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth completely overhauled the game, turning it into a massive, sprawling open world, allowing players to really explore the game world they came to love.
Our very own Chris “The OG” Carter gave Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a much deserving 9.5/10, heralding Square Enix’s ability to walk the line between seriousness and absurdity. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was my most anticipated game heading into the year, and it did not disappoint.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
I will admit, that most of the titles on this list are seeing remasters or remakes after a decade or more since the original release, so it is a bit odd seeing The Last of Us 2 get remastered just four years post-release. But to be fair, in 2020 The Last of Us 2 received a staggering more than 320 Game of the Year awards and countless other accolades for its deep narrative and immersive gameplay.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered touts mostly visual enhancements, including increased texture resolution, higher level-of-detail distances, improved shadow quality and animation sampling rates, and more. For those who play on the PlayStation 5, the survival action game also makes use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, pushing the experience to the next level.
Persona 3 Reload
Once considered somewhat of a cult classic, the popularity of the Persona series has simply exploded in recent years with the release of Persona 5. Heralded by some fans as the best in the series, Persona 3 got the remaster treatment earlier this year with updated graphics, additions to the soundtrack, some enhancements to the battle system, and more.
Persona 3 Reload would also go on to add the game’s popular Episode Aegis: The Answer DLC which wraps up the story of Persona 3 and adds a plethora of end-game content for fans to enjoy for many hours.
Silent Hill 2
Another entry on this list that got a pretty extensive remake treatment, is Silent Hill 2. The incredibly unique and bizarre adventure through an eerie small town shrouded in a deep fog that spawns disturbing monstrosities has been modernized in every way.
In fact, the only thing that has really gone unchanged in the updated Silent Hill 2 appears to be the story, as the third-person psychological horror game has received completely remade visuals and improved gameplay enhancements. Zoey Handley felt it ran a bit long and brought its own technical problems, and considered it a worthwhile new perspective on the original game.
Sonic x Shadow Generations
Depending on when you were born and started gaming probably dictates whether you picture Sonic as a 2D or 3D game. With Sonic x Shadow Generations, you get the best of both worlds. Technically a remaster of the 2011 Sonic Generations, Sonic x Shadow Generations also features a new game called Shadow Generations that features Shadow the Hedgehog as a playable character.
It’s a good year for platformers, and Sonic X Shadow Generations only amplifies that feeling. With improved visuals, new stages, and a second campaign featuring Shadow, Sonic x Shadow Generations creatively walks the line between remaster and remak,e offering the best of both worlds.
Published: Dec 13, 2024 02:05 pm