Hello everyone. Today I'm going to be taking a look at some games that I would like to see get a remake. I'm not talking about just talking HD remasters, but updates to bring them back to the limelight, or perhaps into the light for the first time. I realize most if not all of these will never happen for one reason or another, but I figure I'll just throw the thoughts out there. I also get that remakes are everywhere today. This game being remade and that game being remade, and to an extent I get the frustration. It's annoying to see games that came out on say the Playstation 2 getting remakes on the Playstation 3.... and then on the Playstation 4. I get it. What I'm looking at are much older games that can be remade with some cool new features added in, or simply could use a face lift.
The first game that comes to mind that I would love to see get a remake is The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening. This is, in my opinion, one of the best Zelda games and it has been quiet for way too long while some of the other older Zelda games have seen remakes. While the original two games on the Nintendo Entertainment System have yet to be remade we had A Link to the Past get remade with Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance. Both Majora's Mask and Ocarina of time have been remade for the 3DS as well. Links Awakening did get enhanced on the Game Boy Color with new features, but since then the game hasn't really done much. I would love to see what Nintendo could do with this game on either the Switch or the 3DS. If it were to happen I could see it on the 3DS before the Switch, but it would be cool to see the best original handheld Zelda game (in my books) come to a more advanced system with improved graphics, music, and features. I'd love to see this game in the same graphical style as A Link Between Worlds. Nintendo make it happen!
The next game I think now has a very real chance of being updated. Warcraft III needs no introduction to Blizzard fans. This PC real time strategy game was one of Blizzard's masterpieces in the early 2000's and still sees a large amount of play today. For those unfamiliar with the game, you basically build an army while leveling up a hero to take out your opponents base. It's similar to Starcraft, but the hero units add a whole different dimension to the game. Top it off with a ton of great user created maps and games as well as a great single player story and you have one of the better PC games ever made. The game's continuing popularity alone should be enough for a remaster and since Blizzard recently gave Starcraft a remaster, I think this is a good possibility for the future.
Pokemon Red and Blue (Green in Japan) are the two games that started the insane craze known as Pokemon. The games originally appeared on the Game Boy, but were remade as Fire Red and Leaf Green on the Game Boy Advance. That remake took a lot from Ruby and Sapphire which added a lot of depth to the game at the time. Could you imagine it now? As it stands, Red and Blue is the only generation whose story has not been told on the DS or 3DS in an updated fashion. Gold and Silver, originally made for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, saw remakes named Heart Gold and Soul Silver on the DS. The third generation of Ruby and Sapphire were remade on the 3DS as Alpha Ruby and Omega Sapphire. All of the other generations are also available on the DS or 3DS. Red and Blue in their original form (not Fire Red and Leaf Green) are only available via the e-shop and were never remade for the DS. I would have loved to see DS versions of every Pokemon generation leading to where the series is now. This is one I think should have happened, but wont as it sounds like the Pokemon franchise is making the jump to the Nintendo Switch.
Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot were two of Sony's big names when the Playstation was the hot new system. Over the years both characters had their highs and certainly had their lows, but one thing for both always seemed constant. The first three games in each series were awesome. We recently saw Crash get remade with the N. Sane Trilogy, so why not give Spyro the same treatment. The originals are all great games and honestly, I think the Spyro trilogy got better with each passing game. I tend to feel that given the choice here I would like to simply see a remaster and not a full blown remake. I don't really see why the N. Sane Trilogy is considered a remake over a remaster, but whatever the case, I would love to see Spyro updated in today's graphics and with an updated camera.
The last game for today that I would love to see get remade would be awesome in my opinion, but will never happen. The Disney fan in me would love to see Adventures in the Magic Kingdom for the Nintendo Entertainment System be remade for modern consoles and even expanded on. The original game offers a wide variety of Disney goodies. You get to explore an 8-bit version of The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. At least it seems to be since you are looking for the key to Cinderella's Castle and Sleeping Beauty's Castle is in Disneyland.... Anyway. Outside of exploring what would be a virtual Magic Kingdom you'd see updated 2D platforming levels based on attractions like The Haunted Mansion, great looking top down levels including the original based on Big Thunder Mountain, and possibly a Star Fox esque first person flying level based on Space Mountain. These ideas would all just be updates to the original game, but with The Magic Kingdom now versus then, you could add in so much. Again, it's something I would love to see, but in all probability, wont.
Thanks for reading my first installment of Remake Request Time. While I love retro games there is always that part of me that would love to see certain ones get a chance to shine on a modern day console. That is why I started this series. To think of some what if scenarios and kind of float my thoughts out on the whole remake craze that seems to be sweeping gaming lately. Would remakes of these games make the originals obsolete? I don't think so at all. I mean as much as I am looking forward to having the N. Sane Trilogy on my Switch, I don't see anything about it that screams "better than the originals". Take a look at Duck Tales. It got a massive remake on the Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, but the original is still every bit as good as it ever was. Starcraft got a remaster, but the original is just as good as the remaster. Anyway... Thank you again for reading and I'll be floating some more remake ideas out there soon!
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Sunday, March 18, 2018
My Top 5 The Legend of Zelda Games
Hello again everyone! Today I will be taking a look at my top five games from The Legend of Zelda series. To be honest, I can't do a full ranking on all the games because I have not played a few of the handheld ones (DS/3DS). So to do a full blown list on those wouldn't really be fair. Keep in mind this list is by no means fact. It is just my opinion. Let's get right into this..... and uh.... Spoilers ahead!
For a Game Boy game, it plays really, really well. It fits right in with the feel of the original game on the NES and even A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo. The difficulty is there too, but is never downright unfair. The graphics for Game Boy are great and as is always the case with Zelda games, the music is great! I could go on and on about Link's Awakening, but that's for another time! Onto number 4.
Still considered one of the best Zelda games of all time, A Link to the Past remains one of my favorite in the series. I remember the first time I played it and my reaction. I was so used to playing Link's Awakening that young me hadn't really given a Zelda game on the Super Nintendo any thought. I knew it was out there, but for some reason, I didn't really gravitate to it right away. Probably because I was fully engrossed with the Donkey Kong Country games and Super Mario All Stars to really care at the time. I did finally get the game and when I popped it into my Super Nintendo my brain basically melted. The game is beautiful. The game sounds beautiful. The game plays beautifully. For a top down Zelda game it is still, I think, the best out there. Now that all of that is out of the way, here is why this game fits into my number 4 spot.
A Link to the Past is a massive adventure that expands two realms. It took the formula of the original on the Nintendo Entertainment System, made it more friendly for everyone while not killing the difficulty, and expanded on every other aspect. It is not as free reign style as the original and you will certainly want to follow an order to things, but there is still minimal hand holding. There is still a ton to explore and new ways of exploring are also introduced. When you finally grab the master sword and really set out on your journey you feel ready to take on something grand. It's these senses of accomplishment and want that set A Link to the Past apart from many other games of this style. I'm not even going to mention the incredible story.... Oh wait... Just did....
This game is widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made, so of course it was going to end up in my top five. Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game that hit the market. No, not hit the market, take over the market. This game was so big when it came out and still is. The story is incredible. The music is incredible. The graphics gave all new meaning to the word adventure. The game is nearly perfect in so many ways.
My favorite thing about this game is the journey itself. From an important beginning to a seven year time jump to returning to the past after having righted the future, the story is amazing. It is full of emotion, full of fun, and full of that sense of adventure. At this point progression was made pretty streamlined, so you don't have as many options as to where to go and when, but the story makes up for that as you learn more by simply progressing. This game used to be my second favorite in the series. I didn't think anything other than my favorite would ever take it's place, but Nintendo did something. Something glorious!
Something glorious indeed. Nintendo took the story driven formula of Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, The Windwaker, and all the other 3D Zelda games and literally threw it out the window. Then they decided to bring back a formula that had lain dormant for a long time. When you start the game you will be introduced to a tutorial of sorts. This tutorial will teach you the basics of the game, but not directly. Want to know how to cook? Here's a hint of a pot with a fire under it. Want to know about different climates? Climb this mountain and figure out why you're suddenly freezing to death. Want to know how to increase your life and stamina? Visit these shrines and figure it out from there. All of that is just the tutorial part of the game.
From then on it is open world exploring. The story of Breath of the Wild is not directly given outside of the main objective. Every aspect of how you go to the beginning of the game is shrouded in mystery that can only be discovered by traversing a devastated Hyrule. This is a massive change from the other 3D Zelda games that pointed you where to go and when. The game is able to do this because there simply is nobody to tell a story. You find your memories of a hundred years ago, but the story in game is whatever you make of it and that is the greatest part of this game. Of course the graphics are pretty, the music (what little there is) is pretty, and the gameplay is wonderful too. This game is easily one of my favorite games of all time and is one I still have to go back to and uncover so much more, but there is just one ahead of it...
Before typing a bit about my all time favorite Zelda game, I want to give a couple of games a shout out. The first is the original The Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Before Breath of the Wild came out, this game was on my top five. One of the biggest reasons it's not anymore is because Breath of the Wild took everything about it and expanded on it, right down to being thrown right in with little knowledge on what to do. It is still a fantastic game though and one that any fan of this series should experience. The second is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS. This game is the sequel to A Link to the Past and keeps the same top down style. It was great to see this style return and the item rental system was a very interesting new mechanic. The game itself is great too and really does feel like you are back in the same Hyrule that existed in A Link to the Past.
The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask is the sequel to Ocarina of Time and is my favorite Zelda game to this point. I am a huge fan of games that have a dark tone as well as horror games and things of that nature, so Majora's Mask grabbed my attention as soon as it came out. The game is creepy, depressing, ambitious, and rewarding all at the same time. I reviewed this game way back when I first started this blog and it is one that I meant to look back on before life got way too busy this past fall. There are all kind of theories about this game ranging from Link being dead in it to it representing the stages of grief. Who knows if any of the theories are true, but it's easy to see why so much spawns from this game.
I said the game is rewarding and depressing all at the same time. To keep spoilers low here... The main mechanic in the game is time. You have three days to defeat the Skull Kid in possession of Majora's Mask, but it is impossible to do so. Luckily the Ocarina of Time has the power to turn the clock back to day one by playing the song of time. So what that means is if you reunite a couple that has been separated on the third day, you feel great and happy for them. Suddenly you realize time is running out and have to play the Song of Time. By playing it, you tear the couple apart as everything resets back to how it was on day one. It's a terrible feeling, but one the game forces you to do over, and over, and over, and over until you free the four guardians (Luckily they do not reset once freed). While Termina may not be as big as Hyrule, there is still plenty to do and plenty to collect.
I understand that this game is not for everyone and that many people have issues with the time mechanic, but to me this is my favorite Zelda game. Is it the "best" in terms of graphics, gameplay, etc.? No, but I enjoy it more than the others and that is what matters most. I will be doing that look back at this game in the not too distant future and there I will explain a lot about the game. As always thank you for reading!
#5: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
Link's Awakening is the first Zelda game I have any real memory playing. The game's story always intrigued me as it was all a dream. For those of you who don't know, before the title screen of Link's Awakening you see Link on a ship caught in a massive storm. The storm eventually claims Link's boat and an unconscious Link washes up on Koholint Island. Only it never happened that way. Not going to go much more into the story, but that is one thing of this game that always intrigued me. It's really unique. Adding to that uniqueness is the number of random Nintendo characters that make an appearance. Yoshi makes an appearance as a doll, Goombas, Piranha Plants, Boos, Pokeys, Cheep Cheeps, Shy Guys (called Mask-Mimic), Kirby (called anti-Kirby), and Bloopers can all be found in the game as well as a Chain Chomp that will join you for a time. On the beach you will also run into enemies that look like Gordos from the Kirby series as well. It's not just all these fun appearances and story that makes me love this game, but also the gameplay itself.
For a Game Boy game, it plays really, really well. It fits right in with the feel of the original game on the NES and even A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo. The difficulty is there too, but is never downright unfair. The graphics for Game Boy are great and as is always the case with Zelda games, the music is great! I could go on and on about Link's Awakening, but that's for another time! Onto number 4.
#4: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
Still considered one of the best Zelda games of all time, A Link to the Past remains one of my favorite in the series. I remember the first time I played it and my reaction. I was so used to playing Link's Awakening that young me hadn't really given a Zelda game on the Super Nintendo any thought. I knew it was out there, but for some reason, I didn't really gravitate to it right away. Probably because I was fully engrossed with the Donkey Kong Country games and Super Mario All Stars to really care at the time. I did finally get the game and when I popped it into my Super Nintendo my brain basically melted. The game is beautiful. The game sounds beautiful. The game plays beautifully. For a top down Zelda game it is still, I think, the best out there. Now that all of that is out of the way, here is why this game fits into my number 4 spot.
A Link to the Past is a massive adventure that expands two realms. It took the formula of the original on the Nintendo Entertainment System, made it more friendly for everyone while not killing the difficulty, and expanded on every other aspect. It is not as free reign style as the original and you will certainly want to follow an order to things, but there is still minimal hand holding. There is still a ton to explore and new ways of exploring are also introduced. When you finally grab the master sword and really set out on your journey you feel ready to take on something grand. It's these senses of accomplishment and want that set A Link to the Past apart from many other games of this style. I'm not even going to mention the incredible story.... Oh wait... Just did....
#3: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
This game is widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made, so of course it was going to end up in my top five. Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game that hit the market. No, not hit the market, take over the market. This game was so big when it came out and still is. The story is incredible. The music is incredible. The graphics gave all new meaning to the word adventure. The game is nearly perfect in so many ways.
My favorite thing about this game is the journey itself. From an important beginning to a seven year time jump to returning to the past after having righted the future, the story is amazing. It is full of emotion, full of fun, and full of that sense of adventure. At this point progression was made pretty streamlined, so you don't have as many options as to where to go and when, but the story makes up for that as you learn more by simply progressing. This game used to be my second favorite in the series. I didn't think anything other than my favorite would ever take it's place, but Nintendo did something. Something glorious!
#2: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch)
Something glorious indeed. Nintendo took the story driven formula of Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, The Windwaker, and all the other 3D Zelda games and literally threw it out the window. Then they decided to bring back a formula that had lain dormant for a long time. When you start the game you will be introduced to a tutorial of sorts. This tutorial will teach you the basics of the game, but not directly. Want to know how to cook? Here's a hint of a pot with a fire under it. Want to know about different climates? Climb this mountain and figure out why you're suddenly freezing to death. Want to know how to increase your life and stamina? Visit these shrines and figure it out from there. All of that is just the tutorial part of the game.
From then on it is open world exploring. The story of Breath of the Wild is not directly given outside of the main objective. Every aspect of how you go to the beginning of the game is shrouded in mystery that can only be discovered by traversing a devastated Hyrule. This is a massive change from the other 3D Zelda games that pointed you where to go and when. The game is able to do this because there simply is nobody to tell a story. You find your memories of a hundred years ago, but the story in game is whatever you make of it and that is the greatest part of this game. Of course the graphics are pretty, the music (what little there is) is pretty, and the gameplay is wonderful too. This game is easily one of my favorite games of all time and is one I still have to go back to and uncover so much more, but there is just one ahead of it...
Before typing a bit about my all time favorite Zelda game, I want to give a couple of games a shout out. The first is the original The Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Before Breath of the Wild came out, this game was on my top five. One of the biggest reasons it's not anymore is because Breath of the Wild took everything about it and expanded on it, right down to being thrown right in with little knowledge on what to do. It is still a fantastic game though and one that any fan of this series should experience. The second is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS. This game is the sequel to A Link to the Past and keeps the same top down style. It was great to see this style return and the item rental system was a very interesting new mechanic. The game itself is great too and really does feel like you are back in the same Hyrule that existed in A Link to the Past.
#1: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64)
The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask is the sequel to Ocarina of Time and is my favorite Zelda game to this point. I am a huge fan of games that have a dark tone as well as horror games and things of that nature, so Majora's Mask grabbed my attention as soon as it came out. The game is creepy, depressing, ambitious, and rewarding all at the same time. I reviewed this game way back when I first started this blog and it is one that I meant to look back on before life got way too busy this past fall. There are all kind of theories about this game ranging from Link being dead in it to it representing the stages of grief. Who knows if any of the theories are true, but it's easy to see why so much spawns from this game.
I said the game is rewarding and depressing all at the same time. To keep spoilers low here... The main mechanic in the game is time. You have three days to defeat the Skull Kid in possession of Majora's Mask, but it is impossible to do so. Luckily the Ocarina of Time has the power to turn the clock back to day one by playing the song of time. So what that means is if you reunite a couple that has been separated on the third day, you feel great and happy for them. Suddenly you realize time is running out and have to play the Song of Time. By playing it, you tear the couple apart as everything resets back to how it was on day one. It's a terrible feeling, but one the game forces you to do over, and over, and over, and over until you free the four guardians (Luckily they do not reset once freed). While Termina may not be as big as Hyrule, there is still plenty to do and plenty to collect.
I understand that this game is not for everyone and that many people have issues with the time mechanic, but to me this is my favorite Zelda game. Is it the "best" in terms of graphics, gameplay, etc.? No, but I enjoy it more than the others and that is what matters most. I will be doing that look back at this game in the not too distant future and there I will explain a lot about the game. As always thank you for reading!
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Game Changers
Hello everyone. Today I will be starting a new series on this blog called Game Changers. These small blogs will be taking quick looks at some of the games that were what I call game changers to me. They were either my first experiences with a specific genre or they were games that gripped me and to this day have not let me go. As you could probably guess these games will mostly come from the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy libraries, but there will certainly be a good amount of other consoles included as well. These are not going to be full on reviews or anything, but my thoughts on these games and some of the experiences I've had with them. To kick things off I feel that I need to start at the beginning. The first game that I have any real recollection of playing.
What a way to get into the video game world. I am not lucky enough to have any memories of having an Nintendo Entertainment System, though apparently I did have one when I was young. Whatever the case what I do remember and still have is Super Mario World. My first grey brick Game Boy will always be one of the best gifts I ever got. I remember being taking this game with me pretty much everywhere. Parties, family gathering, long car rides, or wherever else I was going. While I took it everywhere I remember being pretty crappy at it. I was able to get through the first world pretty quick, but I remember world 2-2 giving me all kinds of problems. Then forget it when I finally got to world 3. It felt like I hit a brick wall. I tried and tried, but just couldn't do it. I eventually did beat the game and I remember it being a major highlight of my young gaming career.
The funny thing about it is the first time I beat it it was not even on the Game Boy. The first time I beat this game I had a Super Nintendo controller in my hand thanks to the Super Game Boy which was completely mind blowing. Super Mario Land introduced me to platform games, as well as well... Video games in general really. It set off a craze that has continued to this very day with 2-D platformers still being my favorite type of game.
It's funny for me to look back at this game now and even play it. When I was little I had no idea who Princess Toadstool was or Bowser. I wouldn't be introduced to them until I played Super Mario All Stars on the Super Nintendo. All I knew was that there was this guy names Mario and he is a pretty cool guy. This first game changer opened my eyes to the world of video games. The next game changer is one that really brought my PC gaming to the next level. This game is also celebrating it's 20th anniversary. Next time on Game Crashers.... Starcraft!
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