Old Game Remakes - Good or Bad?

[Peench]

Nostalgia is something that all of us experience. Whether it be your favorite food from childhood or simply an experience we recall with fondness. I think gamers are notorious for this type of nostalgia. Just think back to the thread here about your "favorite gaming moment." These are all memories that we hold near and dear to our hearts (to some extent anyway) based on games that we played in the past.

Then there are the games many of us grew up on in arcades. Spy Hunter, Galaga, Dragon's Lair, Tempest, even the recently released Tron. But with all of the amazing games out today I'm wondering if our nostalgia is clouding our judgment. Sure the games were awesome back in the days and sure we spent many hours and even more quarters playing them, but compared with games of today, do we really want to play them again?

Most recently there has been talk about the remote possibility of Goldeneye 007 being released as an Xbox Live Arcade Title. Personally I don't think it will happen, but that hasn't stopped thousands (over 11,000) people from signing petitions and Digging stories about the prospect. I'm not certain how much these activities will accomplish and I suppose it can't really hurt but I'm still wondering - are we gamers spending our time clamoring for a game that we loved back in the days simply because we loved it back in the days? Do we honestly think that we will love it now when compared with the incredible games out now?

I don't know the answer, but if the recent let down with some of the game remakes is any indication, my belief is that nostalgia is clouding our judgment and that if the game is released on XBLA thousands may jump to purchase it only to have their fond memories ruined by a game that doesn't quite cut it when compared with recent releases.

So what do you think? Game remakes, are they a good or bad idea?

[D_Litch]

It's a good idea if they stay true to the source, and don't try to do anything drastic.

I really hope Goldeneye 007 comes to XBLA, I can't wait to have slap-fights with you guys.

[Causedawg 83]

I agree with DLitch on the Goldeneye thing. I will admit though that these games are really more exciting because of the nostalgia aspect of it. The other day, I plugged in my SuperNes and played Super Street Fighter 2. I was all excited and planned on taking over the world with Ryu, my favorite fighter. After about 5 minutes, I thought I was going to kill myself, so I turned it off, put the SNES away, and played some Xbox 360.

[JParker0105]

I think its a great idea to remake a game, as D said, so long as they stick with the old feel of the game.

I'm just waiting for Monopoly!

[namehater]

i think its a bad idea, some things are better left as memories, video games are one of those things

[lovekeiiy]

I'm indifferent to the idea overall. Personally, I think it's just the game developers trying to cash in a few bucks for little work.

Some games I wouldn't mind playing again. The the remakes just make it easy to do without having to dragging out an old system. Some games aren't worth no $5 to $10 that are being charged.

I actually like the ability to just play the old disc in the current system with the backward compatibility such with the 360, Wii, and PS3. Sure the graphics aren't the best as the new games, but I wouldn't be expecting.

If I'm paying money for some DLC, I want it to look a bit updated graphically. Not some pixelated nightmare that I used to have fond memories of.

On a side note, it is a way for the younger generations to enjoy some old classics such as Link to the Past, the original zelda, mario, metriod and so forth. How many people still have their old gaming systems and games? If so, would you like your kids play with them?

[Gordon]

Guess more people will be buying Rogue Agent to get some of that Golden-Eye action?

I'm all for game remakes, but most of the remakes don't stay true to the original game, especially FPSs / Action. That's because better systems can play the games faster, which means the combat style that was available in the original.

With most of the other genres, RPGs or the simple 2D ones it is much easier to revamp them, so long as they still stay true to the game. Sometimes that means keeping it 2D rather than 3D, just like Spyhunter.

[namehater]

@botmann-

i would love for my kids to be entertained by the games i liked when i was a kid. i dont know about anybody else's kids, but i got them a pc game i used to like back in the day, they would NOT play it because the graphics were so bad. to me it seems as tho graphics is the biggest selling factor for kids these days, pixels arent cool apparently lol. they would hit a broader market if instead of just porting games to XBL or where ever, they actually did remake the game, with updated graphics at least.

if that was done, they would be hitting the original players of the game and it would still appeal to people that dont know the game originally. a good example of what im talking about is Final Fantasy for the NES and PSP, they did a remake, of it, its sweet, and my kids actually played the hell out of it

[Causedawg 83]

Originally Posted by lovekeiiy

How many people still have their old gaming systems and games? If so, would you like your kids play with them?

I still have my old gaming systems (nes, snes, 64), and I've been recollecting my old games over the years. One of the main reasons is that I wanted my kids to play them instead of whatever newer system is out in their younger years. That might be wrong though... I might just be wanting to relive my childhood through my future kids.

[Peench]

My PS1 is set up in the kid's area for them to play. They don't care how bad the graphics are (they're 6 and 4) compared with gaming systems of today so long as they are having fun. They also play the current gen consoles with me as well and I think my wife lets my son play the PS3 when I'm not home too! But they still enjoy em.

[Lord LouDog]

If we are talking about re-releases, like many of the XBLA stuff, then I am okay with it. Mostly because the the trial lasts long enough for me to feel enough of that nostalgia to be satisfied. As far as old games being remade, let's say like Bionic Commando, I think the game can be further realized with newer technology.

[Desi Cuse]

Since I'm a young gamer, I would only want them to remake them because I refuse to play them due to my pickyness with graphics. People keep yelling at me because I refuse to play Baldur's Gate and Deus Ex. If they were remade, I would probably play them.

[dmiller68]

I think it is cool, however I would like to see enhancements. I think some of the revamps of classics are cool. The strait ports like tron not so much. I'm split on this, some times the past is better left in the past.

[lovekeiiy]

Name, that's what my particular issue. I love the old Zelda games, except Zelda II, and I think they're still to play. But compared to today's games graphically, they're uglier than Kathy Bates in a thong bikini. So, they loose a lot of appeal with younger gamers. And if you have HD setup, it's really bad, and could be bad enough to ruin the experience. Unfortunately, there is only certain level lower graphics most people will tolerate.

Personally, I just don't see game developers putting a lot of time redoing some of these games. And some of them it's more than obvious they didn't put a lot of time. It's more just to make a few bucks. Nothing against that; maybe it's need to give them working capital to work on the big budget games.

So, it's not that I'm against the remakes. It's more I'm against just the ports, and not putting in some quality time in developing these games.

[lovekeiiy]

I also have all my old gaming systems. The only one I don't have is the sega master system, but I traded that for a bunch of NES games after it broke. I have an Atari 2600, NES, SNES, N64, GCN, Dreamcast, and Xbox, and all the games I ever got for them. They've all brought many good memories to me.

[schlickabod]

I like the re-releases, though I still suck at them. I think they're hard, and I guess they were intended to be that way when earning $.25 at a time. They can quit "evolving" them, though. I'm turned off by a screen full of flashing light explosions. Geometry Wars is my upper limit of that mess. (Does anyone on Earth like Space Giraffe???)

Hell, I'd probably still play Intellivision if there were a download for it.