Video game remake

The Nintendo GameCube remake of Resident Evil features enhancements in both graphics and gameplay.

In video games, an enhanced remake (also called updated classics) is an updated version of a game that was originally developed for a less advanced system. Remakes with resolution upgrades are called high-resolution remakes. A remake with revisions in the plot, gameplay, and overworld is called a reimagined remake. The practice of updating old games began in the 16-bit era but was popularized during the Sixth Generation 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, additional animations, 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. 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, Final Fantasy II of Final Fantasy Origins, and Final Fantasy III for the Nintendo DS. (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 Quest I-V were Japan-only, but some were unofficially translated into English, and Dragon Quest I-III remakes ported to Game Boy Color were officially translated into English but did not sell well outside Japan. The original version of Dragon Quest V was also Japan-only. The enhanced version still has a chance to be localized to North America.

Controversy

Often changes made in remakes are scrutinized, by the purist or traditionalist, as being unnecessary or frivolous, such as the addition, alteration, or removal of plot elements, characters, voice acting, or new features. With 2D to 3D remakes, such as Wild Arms Alter Code: F, some feel 3D doesn't effectively convey the same artistic style or feeling as 2D. Arcade games are thought of as arcade perfect if all effects are as they were in the original. Such are called direct ports.

Conversely, some gamers believe that these remakes give the games more vitality, and welcome new content. Purist gamers can perhaps believe that the enhanced version lives up to the original's quality, but typically do not accept it as canon, unless future games reference it as such. Although the original game is usually not included with their remakes, some enhanced remakes do include their respective original versions. For example, Metroid: Zero Mission for the Game Boy Advance includes the original Metroid for the NES as an unlockable.

List of enhanced remakes

This list does not include reissues (or direct ports) of original games, nor does it include clones ( = "Japan only"):

Game Title	Original Platform(s)	Remake Title(s)	Remake Platform(s) & Notes
Animal Forest	Nintendo 64	Animal Crossing	Nintendo GameCube
Bad Mojo	PC	Bad Mojo Redux	PC
Bubble Bobble	Arcade/Various	Bubble Bobble Old and New	Game Boy Advance
Castlevania	NES	Akumajō Dracula	Sharp X68000
		Castlevania Chronicles	PlayStation
		Super Castlevania IV	Super NES
		Vampire Killer	MSX
		Haunted Castle	Arcade
Comic Party	PC, Sega Dreamcast	Comic Party DCE	PC
		Comic Party Portable	PSP
Command & Conquer	PC	Sega Saturn (internationalization enhancement)
		Playstation (internationalization plus an additional 5 exclusive missions. The Covert Operations expansion set is also included)
		Command & Conquer 64	Nintendo 64 (utilises 3D rendered models. Includes The Covert Operations expansion set)
		Command & Conquer: Gold	PC (enhanced graphical engine for Windows 95)
Conker's Bad Fur Day	Nintendo 64	Conker: Live & Reloaded	Xbox
Counter-Strike	PC	Counter-Strike: Source	Xbox, PC
Daikoukai Jidai IV: Porto Estado (Uncharted Waters IV)	PlayStation	Daikoukai Jidai IV: Rota Nova	Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable
Dead or Alive 2	Playstation 2, Dreamcast	Dead or Alive Ultimate	Xbox (with enhanced graphics, extra costumes, an extra character and online play)
Deja Vu	Macintosh, NES	Déjà Vu I & II: The Casebooks of Ace Harding	Game Boy Color, PC
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei	NES	Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei	Super Nintendo
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei 2
Dinosaur	Various popular Japanese computer systems (such as the NEC PC8801, PC-9801, and FM Towns)	Dinosaur: Resurrection	PC, for Windows
Doom	PC	Doom 3	PC, Xbox
Double Dragon	Arcade/Various	Double Dragon Advance	Game Boy Advance
		Xbox Live Arcade (includes enhanced HD graphics and sound as well as the original game)
Dr. Mario	NES, Game Boy	(part of) Nintendo Puzzle Collection	Super NES, Nintendo GameCube
		(part of) Dr. Mario & Puzzle League	Game Boy Advance
Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior)	MSX , NES	Super NES (released in Japan only, later fan-translated into English)
		Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version)
		Java ME
Dragon Quest II (Dragon Warrior II)	MSX , NES	Super NES (released in Japan only, later fan-translated into English)
		Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version). Bundled with the precedent entry when remade.
Dragon Quest III (Dragon Warrior III)	NES	Super NES (released in Japan only, later fan-translated into English)
		Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version)
Dragon Quest IV (Dragon Warrior IV)	NES	Sony PlayStation . Enix America, Inc. wanted to release the remake in North America also, but was unable to complete localization due to the developer's exit from the industry.
		Nintendo DS .
Dragon Quest V	Super NES	PlayStation 2 (Resolution upgrade due to the traditional resolution of the new platform. Remake has an orchestrated soundtrack, performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra.)
Dune 2: Battle For Arrakis	PC	Dune 2000	PC (This was a DOS-based RTS game made by Westwood before Command & Conquer. Westwood remade the game with improved graphics, more units and a deeper storyline).
		Emperor: Battle for Dune	PC (This could be considered a remake of the remake)
Earthworm Jim	SNES, Sega Genesis	Earthworm Jim PSP (working title)	PlayStation Portable (2D/3D remake)
Final Fantasy	NES, MSX		WonderSwan Color
		(part of) Final Fantasy Origins	PlayStation (enhanced from WonderSwan Color version)
		(part of) Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls	Game Boy Advance
			PlayStation Portable (20th anniversary edition)
			Java ME
Final Fantasy II	NES		WonderSwan Color
		(part of) Final Fantasy Origins	PlayStation (enhanced from WonderSwan Color version)
		(part of) Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls)	Game Boy Advance
			PlayStation Portable (20th anniversary edition)
Final Fantasy III	NES	Nintendo DS (Fully 3D remake)
Final Fantasy IV	SNES	Nintendo DS (recently announced 3D remake)
Final Fantasy Adventure (Seiken Densetsu)	Game Boy	Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu Sword of Mana	Game Boy Advance (All Final Fantasy elements have been removed)
		Java ME (visual upgrade)
Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi	NES	Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo	Super NES (included as the first chapter)
		Fire Emblem DS (tentative title)	Nintendo DS .
Various Game & Watch games	Game & Watch	Game & Watch Gallery series	Game Boy, Game Boy Advance (includes the original & remake versions of the games)
Gradius 2	MSX	Nemesis '90 Kai	Sharp X68000
GripShift	PlayStation Portable	PlayStation 3 (as a downloadable content game)
Jade Empire	Xbox	PC Jade Empire Special Edition
Gyakuten Saiban	Game Boy Advance	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney	Nintendo DS
Gyakuten Saiban 2	Game Boy Advance	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All	Nintendo DS
Gyakuten Saiban 3	Game Boy Advance	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations	Nintendo DS
Head Over Heels	MSX, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC	Soon after the initial release a hi-res port was made for the Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64, and Atari XL/XE.
		An enhanced remake was released in 2003 for Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, BeOS. This remake was voted the 2nd best remake ever by PC Zone maganize.
Hitman: Codename 47	PC	Hitman: Contracts	PC, PlayStation 2. While not a game remake in the strictest sense of the phrase, of the 13 missions in Contracts, 6 of them were graphical, aesthetic and structural remakes of missions which had appeared in Codename 47.
The Journeyman Project	Macintosh, PC	The Journeyman Project: Pegasus Prime	Power Mac , Apple Pippin and PlayStation .
The King of Fighters '94	Neo-Geo	The King of Fighters '94 Re-bout	PlayStation 2, with 3D backgrounds and high-resolution sprites. Re-bout is the suffix for enhanced remakes of SNK fighting games.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories	Game Boy Advance	Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories	PlayStation 2 (fully 3D remake)
King's Quest I	Various Home Computer Systems	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 AGD Interactive in 2001.
King's Quest II	PC	A fan re-remake was released by AGD Interactive in 2002.
Kirby's Adventure	NES	Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land	Game Boy Advance
The Legend of Zelda	NES	BS Zelda no Densetsu	Super Famicom Satellaview
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards	Various Home Computer Systems	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.
Lunar: The Silver Star	Sega CD	Lunar: Silver Star Story	Sega Saturn, PC
		Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete	PlayStation
		Lunar Legend	Game Boy Advance
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue	Sega CD	Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete	PlayStation
Lunar: Walking School	Game Gear	Magic School Lunar!	Sega Saturn
Makaitoushi SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend)	Game Boy	WonderSwan Color (original version also included, graphics made over from monochrome 8-bit to color 16-bit)
Mario Bros.	Arcade	Kaettekita Mario Bros.	Famicom Disk System
		Super Mario Advance	Game Boy Advance (as a bonus game on both games)
		Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga
MDK 2	PC	Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
Mega Man Classic series	NES	Rockman Complete Works	PlayStation
Mega Man	NES	Mega Man Powered Up, Rockman Rockman	PlayStation Portable
Mega Man X	SNES	Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, Irregular Hunter X	PlayStation Portable
Metal Gear	MSX2, NES	(part of) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence	PlayStation 2 (the first English localization of the original MSX2 version)
			Java ME
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake	MSX2	(part of) Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence	PlayStation 2 (also, the first English localization of the game)
			Java ME
Metal Gear Solid	PlayStation	Direct port to PC with barely enhanced graphics.
		Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes	Nintendo GameCube
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty	PlayStation 2	Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance	PlayStation 2, Xbox (additional gameplay features)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater	PlayStation 2	Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence	PlayStation 2 (additional gameplay features)
Metal Slug 2	Neo-Geo, PlayStation	Metal Slug X
Metroid	NES	Metroid: Zero Mission	Game Boy Advance (graphics, audio, and gameplay elements vastly improved to the standards of sequels Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion)
Myst	PC, Macintosh	Myst: Masterpiece Edition	PC
		RealMyst
Mythri	Game Boy Color	Game Boy Advance
Ninja Gaiden	Xbox	Ninja Gaiden Sigma	PlayStation 3
Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack)	Super NES	(part of) Nintendo Puzzle Collection	Nintendo GameCube
		(part of) Dr. Mario & Puzzle League	Game Boy Advance
Pengo	Arcade/Various	Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis (The original arcade game is included in this remake)
Phantasy Star	Sega Master System	Phantasy Star Generation 1	PlayStation 2
Phantasy Star II	Sega Genesis	Phantasy Star Generation 2	PlayStation 2
Phantasy Star IV	Sega Genesis	PlayStation 2
Pokémon Blue	Game Boy	Pokémon LeafGreen	Game Boy Advance
Pokémon Red	Game Boy	Pokémon FireRed	Game Boy Advance
Police Quest	Various Home Computer Systems	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.
Prince of Persia	Apple II	Prince of Persia Classic	Xbox Live Arcade (Remade with 3D graphics)
Quake 3: Arena	PC	Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
Quest for Glory 1 (Hero's Quest 1)	Amiga, Mac, 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.
Quest for Glory II	PC	A fan re-remake is currently in development by AGD Interactive.
Rayman 2	PC, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast	Rayman 2 Revolution	Sony PlayStation 2
		Rayman DS	Nintendo DS
Resident Evil	Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PC	Nintendo GameCube.
River City Ransom (Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari)	NES	River City Ransom EX Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX	Game Boy Advance
Romancing SaGa	SNES	Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song	PlayStation 2
Shin Megami Tensei	Super NES	PlayStation , Game Boy Advance
Shin Megami Tensei II
Shin Megami Tensei: If...		Sony PlayStation
Sid Meier's Pirates!	Various Home Computer Systems	PC for Windows, Xbox.
Snatcher	NEC PC-88, MSX2	Snatcher CD-ROMantic	PC Engine, Sega CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Space Quest I	Various Home Computer Systems	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.
Star Ocean	Super NES	Star Ocean: The First Departure	PlayStation Portable (with new graphics)
Star Ocean: The Second Story	PlayStation	Star Ocean: The Second Evolution	PlayStation Portable (with extensive audio enhancements)
Super Mario 64	Nintendo 64	Super Mario 64 DS	Nintendo DS
Super Mario Bros.	NES	(part of) Super Mario All-Stars	Super NES
		Super Mario Bros. Deluxe	Game Boy Color
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario Bros. USA)	NES	(part of) Super Mario All-Stars	Super NES
		Super Mario Advance	Game Boy Advance
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels	NES (original version released as a Disk Card)	(part of) Super Mario All-Stars	Super NES
		(part of) Super Mario Bros. Deluxe	Game Boy Color
Super Mario Bros. 3	NES	(part of) Super Mario All-Stars	Super NES
		Super Mario Advance 4	Game Boy Advance
Super Mario World	Super NES	Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2	Game Boy Advance
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island	Super NES	Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3	Game Boy Advance
Super Street Fighter II Turbo	Arcade	Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival	Game Boy Advance
		Super Street Fighter II Turbo for Matching Service	Dreamcast (with added online play)
		Hyper Street Fighter II: Anniversary Edition, (part of Street Fighter Anniversary Collection)	PlayStation 2, Xbox
		Super Street Fighter II HD, ( A HD remake released over the PSN and XBLA)	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Tales of Phantasia	Super Famicom (has been fan-translated into English, and several other languages)	PlayStation , Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable
Tales of Destiny	Playstation	Tales of Destiny	PlayStation 2
		Tales of Destiny Director's Cut	PlayStation 2
Tengai Makyou II	NEC TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine	PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS all
To Heart	PC, PlayStation	To Heart PSE	PC
ToHeart2	PlayStation 2	ToHeart2 X-Rated	PC (Includes adult scenes not present in the original, two mini-games and a new character)
Tomb Raider	Playstation, PC	Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary	PlayStation 2, PC, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Turrican	C64, Amiga	Hurrican	PC A Freeware effort from the German group Poke53280.
Unreal Tournament	PC	Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
Warhawk	Commodore 64	Remade for PlayStation[dubious – discuss][citation needed] and remade again for PlayStation 3 with updated graphics and tilt compatibility.
Wild Arms	PlayStation	Wild Arms: Alter Code F	PlayStation 2. Remade as a 3D graphics game, a controversial remake idea.
WinBack	Nintendo 64	PlayStation 2
Yoshi's Cookie	NES, SNES, Game Boy	(part of) Nintendo Puzzle Collection	Nintendo GameCube
Ys	NEC PC-88		NES, MSX
		Ys Eternal	PlayStation 2, Windows
Ys II	NEC PC-88		NES, MSX
		Ys II Eternal	PlayStation 2, Windows
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys	NEC PC-9801		NES, MSX, NEC TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine, Sega Genesis, SNES
		Ys: The Oath in Felghana	PlayStation 2, PC
Ys IV: Mask of the Sun	Super NES	PlayStation 2
	Super NES	PlayStation 2

See also

• Clone
• cover version (music)
• Eye candy
• Emulator
• fan translation
• film remake (motion pictures)
• Source port
• Total Conversion

External links

• http://www.retroremakes.com/ - A site dedicated to fan made remakes of classic games. (also at remakes.org)
• http://retrospec.sgn.net/ - A site that makes remakes.
• http://www.agdinteractive.com - A site dedicated to remakes of classic Sierra games.
• http://cezgs.computeremuzone.com/eng - A site that makes remakes for classic and actual systems.

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