Enhanced remake
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In the video game subculture, an enhanced remake (also called updated classics) is an updated version of a video or computer game that was originally developed for a less advanced system. They are also known as "Super Mario All-Stars format", because an early occurrence of the idea was Super Mario All-Stars. Remakes with resolution upgrades are called high-resolution remakes. The practice of updating old games began in the 16-bit era but was popularized during the 128-bit era.
The basic features of an enhanced remake are graphical and audio enhancements (or "facelifts"). The methods of graphical enhancement include re-touching, decompression, polygon upgrade, texturization or texture resolution upgrade, and two-dimensional to three-dimensional transformation (hence three-dimensional remakes, or the "Wild Arms: Alter Code F format"). Audio enhancements include new music, better sound quality, and remixes of the old music. Sometimes extra levels or other features are added, and the game engine may be improved. In most cases, however, the majority of gameplay itself is left unaltered.
Enhanced remakes occur mostly on video game consoles. They have occurred mostly during the 128-bit era. The system that the game is being enhanced from is called the source system, and the system it is been enhanced for is called the target system. The earliest enhanced remakes are 16-bit remakes of 8-bit games. Also, occasionally games that were originally released only in Japan are remade and re-released in the West, most notably Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and Final Fantasy II of Final Fantasy Origins. (See also Fan translation.)
Some examples of enhanced remakes include Super Mario All-Stars (from NES to Super NES) and Final Fantasy Origins (from NES to WonderSwan Color to Sony PlayStation). The enhanced remakes of Dragon Warrior I-IV were Japan-only, but later unofficially translated into English.
Sometimes, a publisher makes an unauthorized copy of another publisher's game. This "remake" is called a "clone". Making and publishing a clone is legal if no copyright or patent covers any essential aspect of the game (for example, Tetris), as long as the clone is published under a name that is not confusingly similar. Most clones, however, do not fall under this rule and are illegal. Some are even pirated versions of the game they are supposedly remaking.
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Controversy
Many gamers find that enhanced remakes achieve the same level of quality that the original versions did, but some others oppose the idea on grounds that games lose something in the transformation to newer technology. The most controversial form of the idea is the three-dimensional remake idea, as in Wild ARMs: Alter Code F. Some "old school" gamers believe that remaking a two-dimensional graphics video game into a three-dimensional graphics one ruins the entire experience of the game and detract from what they call the "charm" the game would formerly have. Others claim that enhanced remakes overshadow their original versions.
Conversely, some gamers believe that enhanced remakes give the games more vitality, and place high value on large enhancements. Other gamers prefer the original version (usually out of nostalgia) but believe that the enhanced version lives up to its quality. In many cases, the remakes make old games more accessible to new players, who might not even be aware of the original. Most gamers, however, are neutral. Also, many new gamers, and gamers who take retrogaming seriously, balk at emulated versions of very old, or ancient, video games, like Mega Man Anniversary Collection, Midway's Arcade Treasures, and Sonic Mega Collection on modern video game consoles, and may voice their opinion that they want enhanced remakes of the re-released old games, because they find it difficult to have the outdated graphics and audio on the current-era consoles. They call such re-releases ageware.
Enhanced remakes and console emulation
Sometimes, the enhanced remake idea, with the inclusion of the original version with in the enhanced version, curbs the urge for console emulation. Original versions of the games that are enhanced-remade are usually not included with the original version. Nintendo decided that when they did an enhanced remake of the original Metroid, as Metroid: Zero Mission, they included the original version within the enhanced version as an unlockable.
See also
- cover version (music)
- fan translation
- film remake (motion pictures)
List of enhanced remakes
This list does not include reissues (or direct ports) of original games, nor does it include clones:
| Game Title | Original Platform | Remake Platforms and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble Bobble | Arcade/Various | Game Boy Advance (as Bubble Bobble Old and New) |
| Castlevania | NES | Sharp X68000 (Japan-only), Sony PlayStation, Super NES |
| Comic Party | PC, Sega Dreamcast | PC (As Comic Party PSE) |
| Crystalis | NES | Game Boy Color |
| Dinosaur | Various popular Japanese computer systems (such as the PC-8801, PC-9801, and FM-TOWNS in 1990 | PC in 2002, for Windows, as Dinosaur: Resurrection - It is a first-person "adventure RPG" with a presentation akin to Arcana/Cardmaster for the SNES/Super Famicom. No version of the game has ever been translated into English. |
| Donkey Kong | Arcade/Various | Game Boy (unofficially called Donkey Kong '94 with 96 levels added) |
| Double Dragon | Arcade/Various | Game Boy Advance (as Double Dragon Advance) |
| Dr. Mario | NES, Game Boy (Monochrome) | Super NES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube |
| Dragon Warrior I | MSX, NES (MSX version Japan-only) | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version), cellular phone (MSX and cellular phone versions Japan-only) |
| Dragon Warrior II | MSX, NES (MSX version Japan-only) | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version). Bundled with the precedent entry when remade. |
| Dragon Warrior III | NES | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version) |
| Dragon Warrior IV | NES | Sony PlayStation (Japan only) |
| Dragon Warrior V | Super NES (original version Japan-only) | PlayStation 2 (This version may get localized to North America. Resolution upgrade due to the traditional resolution of the new platform. Remake has an orchestrated soundtrack, performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra. Other Dragon Quest games up to Dragon Quest VII are likely to be remade in the same fashion due to an orchestral arrangement plan by composer Koichi Sugiyama.) |
| Final Fantasy I | NES | MSX, WonderSwan Color, Sony PlayStation (enhanced from WonderSwan Color version), cellular phone, Game Boy Advance (as part of Final Fantasy I&II: Dawn of Souls) |
| Final Fantasy II | NES (original version Japan-only) | WonderSwan Color, Sony PlayStation (PlayStation version enhanced from WonderSwan Color version and released in the United States as a component of Final Fantasy Origins), Game Boy Advance (as part of the Final Fantasy I&II: Dawn of Souls) |
| Final Fantasy III | NES (original version Japan-only) | Was in the works for the WonderSwan Color, recently announced for the Nintendo DS |
| Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryű to Hikari no Tsurugi | NES (original version Japan-only) | Super NES (included as a bonus in its sequel, Fire Emblem: Monshô no Nazo) |
| The King of Fighters '94 | Neo-Geo | PlayStation 2, as The King of Fighters '94 Re-bout. 3D backgrounds and high-resolution sprites. "Re-bout" is the suffix for enhanced remakes of SNK fighting games. |
| King's Quest 1 | Various (Home Computers) | The original animated adventure game, produced by Sierra On-Line in 1984, it was re-released in 1987 with enhanced graphics (EGA) and sound. A fan re-remake was released by Tierra Entertainment in 2001. |
| Kirby's Adventure | NES | Game Boy Advance (as Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land) |
| The Legend of Zelda | NES | Super Famicom Satellaview (Japan Only) as BS Zelda |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Color (as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, made over from monochrome to color) |
| Leisure Suit Larry In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | Various (Home Computers) | The original was produced by Sierra On-Line in 1987 (itself a re-make of their previous text-only 'Softporn Adventure'), and was re-released in 1991 with enhanced VGA graphics and sound, and a point-and-click interface. |
| Makaitoushi SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend) | Game Boy (Monochrome) | WonderSwan Color (original version also included, graphics made over from monochrome 8-bit to color 16-bit) |
| Mario Bros. | Arcade | Game Boy Advance (as a bonus game on all of the Super Mario Advance games as well as Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga) |
| Mega Man 1-6 | NES | PlayStation (As Rockman Complete Works series, later bundled into the Mega Man Anniversary Collection for Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2) |
| Metal Gear Solid | PlayStation | Nintendo GameCube (as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes) |
| Metroid | NES | Game Boy Advance (as Metroid: Zero Mission - graphics improved to Super Metroid quality, additional items added, new section after the original game) |
| Mythri | Game Boy Color | Game Boy Advance |
| Ninja Gaiden | NES | Super NES Xbox |
| Ninja Gaiden 2 | NES | Super NES Xbox |
| Ninja Gaiden 3 | NES | Super NES Xbox |
| Pac-Man | Arcade | Arcade (as a component of Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2) |
| Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack) | Super NES | Nintendo GameCube (as a component of Nintendo Puzzle Collection) |
| Phantasy Star | Sega Master System | Sony PlayStation 2 (as Phantasy Star Generation 1) |
| Pokémon Green | Game Boy (Monochrome) (Original version released in America as Pokémon Blue) | Game Boy Advance (as Pokémon Leaf Green). Mass removal of Pokémon entries led to the development of this remake. |
| Pokémon Red | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Advance (as Pokémon Fire Red). Mass removal of Pokémon entries led to the development of this remake. |
| Police Quest 1 | Various (Home Computers) | The original was produced by Sierra On-Line in 1987, and was re-released in 1991 with enhanced VGA graphics and sound, and a point-and-click interface. |
| Quest For Glory 1 (AKA Heroes Quest 1) | Amiga, Macintosh, PC (VGA) | The original was produced by Sierra On-Line in 1989, and was re-released in 1991 with enhanced VGA graphics and sound, and a point-and-click interface. |
| Rayman 2 | PC, Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast | Sony PlayStation 2 (As Rayman 2 Revolution) and Nintendo DS (As Rayman DS) |
| Resident Evil | Sony PlayStation | Nintendo GameCube |
| River City Ransom (Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari) | NES | Game Boy Advance (as River City Ransom EX in the United States and as Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX in Japan) |
| Romancing SaGa | SNES | PlayStation 2 (as Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song) |
| Seiken Densetsu (Final Fantasy Adventure) | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Advance (as Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu in Japan and as Sword of Mana in the United States. All Final Fantasy elements have been removed.) |
| Shin Megami Tensei | Various (Originated on Super NES) | Sony PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance - both original and enhanced versions are Japanese only |
| Shin Megami Tensei II | Super NES | Sony PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance - both original and enhanced versions are Japanese only |
| Shin Megami Tensei: If... | Super NES | Sony PlayStation 2 - both original and enhanced versions are Japanese only |
| Sid Meier's Pirates! | Various (Home Computers) | PC, for Windows |
| Skies of Arcadia (Japan: Eternal Arcadia) | Sega Dreamcast | Nintendo GameCube as Skies of Arcadia Legends |
| Snatcher | NEC PC-88/MSX2 | PC Engine (as Snatcher CD-ROMantic), Sega CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
| Space Quest 1 | Various (Home Computers) | The original was produced by Sierra On-Line in 1986, and was re-released in 1990 with enhanced VGA graphics and sound, and a point-and-click interface. |
| Sonic Adventure | Sega Dreamcast | Nintendo GameCube and PC as Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut. All the glitches were left in, which was considered controversial. |
| Sonic Adventure 2 | Sega Dreamcast | Nintendo GameCube as Sonic Adventure 2: Battle |
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo 64 | Nintendo DS (as Super Mario 64 DS) |
| Super Mario Bros. | NES | Super NES (as part of Super Mario All-Stars), Game Boy Color (as Super Mario Bros. Deluxe) |
| Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario Bros. USA) | NES | Super NES (as part of Super Mario All-Stars), Game Boy Advance |
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | NES (original version Japan-only) | Super NES (as part of Super Mario All-Stars) |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | NES | Super NES, (as part of Super Mario All-Stars), Game Boy Advance |
| Super Mario World | Super NES | Game Boy Advance |
| Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | Super NES | Game Boy Advance |
| Super Street Fighter II Turbo | Arcade | Game Boy Advance, Dreamcast with added online play (Japan Only), PlayStation 2 and Xbox (Hyper Street Fighter II: Anniversary Edition, part of Street Fighter Anniversary Collection) |
| Tales of Phantasia | Super NES (All versions Japan-only) | Sony PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance (All versions Japan-only) |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game | NES | Nintendo GameCube, unlockable in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Battle Nexus |
| Tengai Makyou II | NEC TurboGrafix 16/PC-Engine | Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube |
| To Heart | PC, Sony PlayStation | PC (As To Heart PSE) |
| Wild ARMs | Sony PlayStation 2 | Sony PlayStation 2 (as Wild ARMs: Alter Code F). Remade as a 3D graphics game, a controversial remake idea. |
| WinBack | Nintendo 64 | Sony PlayStation 2 |
| Ys | NEC PC-88 | NES, MSX, Windows, PlayStation 2 (as Ys Eternal) |
| Ys II | NEC PC-88 | NES, MSX, Windows, PlayStation 2 (as Ys II Eternal) |
| Ys III: Wanderers from Ys | NEC PC-9801 | NES, MSX, NEC TurboGrafix-16/PC-Engine, Sega Genesis, SNES, and PlayStation 2 |
| Ys IV: Mask of the Sun | Super NES | Sony PlayStation 2 |
| Ys V: Ushinawareta Sunano Miyako Kefin | Super NES | SonyPlayStation 2 |
External links
http://www.remakes.org/ - A site dedicated to fan made remakes of classic games.