Four of the Most Pointless Remasters of All Time: The Unnecessary Reboot

Key Takeaways

• The compilation of classic Mario games in Tremendous Mario 3D All-Stars left fans feeling shortchanged due to its limited-time availability at launch, leading to an overall underwhelming experience.
• The revamp of Warcraft III: Reforged sparked widespread criticism due to its flawed execution, leading to a significant backlash from fans and players alike.
• While Grand Theft Auto: Definitive Edition offers a comprehensive package of three classic games, its execution is marred by lingering technical issues and uncertain music licensing, ultimately rendering the original versions more desirable for nostalgic enthusiasts.

The gaming industry has evolved over time, with both notable successes and disappointing failures as a result of its progression. Several highly acclaimed re-releases of classic games, akin to the most recent instance of making a beloved title playable on modern consoles. Despite having examined several re-releases, we’ve encountered a few that leave us questioning the reasoning behind their remastering in the first place.

I’m highlighting four of the most underwhelming remasters, but it’s astonishing to discover that there are even more lackluster re-releases available. Although you won’t record any re-makes here as these are remakes, it’s easy to confuse the two. While I may not see the value in revising classic titles, this doesn’t mean I’m entirely dismissive of the original games themselves?

A missed alternative

It’s a peculiar occurrence stemming from the fact that Super Mario 3D All-Stars has brought three cherished games – Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy – to a modern platform on the floor. To generate buzz around its new title, Nintendo opted for an unconventional approach: launching it briefly before removing it from stores, both physical and digital, ensuring availability was short-lived.

Although Nintendo excelled in bringing these three exceptional video games to the Switch, they surprisingly undertook a remarkably modest approach in their porting process. However, having them available on modern consoles is a pleasant surprise, while the harsh truth that they’re no longer in production is a major drawback. The visually updated video games received a welcome facelift and widescreen enhancement, but a conspicuous lack of substance ultimately soured my experience. Three iconic Mario games that are crucial to the franchise’s history; however, there is currently no straightforward way to access these titles on modern gaming platforms without making a separate purchase or acquiring a physical copy of 3D All-Stars during its initial release. While this unusual decision from Nintendo may raise eyebrows, it’s an outcome we must learn to accept. What should have been a resounding success in the form of a remastered classic has instead fallen flat, with no discernible reason or justification for its subpar quality.

A lot went unsuitable

As Age of Empires 2 received a revitalized following with its Definitive Edition release, Blizzard’s decision to remaster classic Warcraft III seemed like an obvious next step. The much-anticipated remastered release surprisingly gave rise to new problems, sparking widespread criticism due to its myriad technical glitches. Blizzard’s decision to delist the original Warcraft III following the release of Reforged further exacerbated existing problems, effectively rendering the classic version unavailable and leaving Reforged as the sole means of accessing the game.

With numerous shortcomings, compromised warranties, and required updates, the overhaul essentially transformed a delightfully functional and cherished format into something people loathe. While a well-executed remaster might have been met with enthusiasm, the final result fell woefully short of expectations, leaving much to be improved. While gamers have effectively mitigated many problems through modding, it would indeed be advantageous to provide a straightforward means of playing the original game without requiring the purchase of an older disc.

Poorly executed remasters of excellent original games are a bitter pill to swallow for nostalgic gamers.

While many remastered themes initially seem like solid ideas, a closer examination reveals that their execution ultimately renders them ineffective. It’s a stroke of genius to bring GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas to modern platforms, but the execution falls flat. Despite lingering concerns about music licensing issues, numerous technical glitches, and the removal of previous iterations, deciphering the motivation behind this remastered release proves a daunting task. The apparent reply is cash. In some cases, it’s better to take matters into your own hands, literally – grab a PlayStation 2 and head out to buy the games yourself.

Given the immense popularity of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series on PlayStation 2 (PS2), it’s unlikely that you’d have trouble finding a used copy at a reasonable price in most video game stores or online marketplaces, as they consistently rank among the best-selling games on the console. While the GTA: Definitive Edition’s remastered collection may offer fleeting entertainment for those familiar with the original soundtracks, it’s undeniable that the classic scores still reign supreme. Having access to the entire collection of three video games in one convenient location eliminates the need for tedious searching and replaces it with instant availability at your fingertips.

Newer, however it runs worse

In a departure from convention, Tales of Symphonia Remastered buckles under pressure rather than soaring to new heights, its efficiency lagging behind expectations. The GameCube’s inaugural game showcased its impressive capability to run at a smooth 60 frames per second, resulting in an effortlessly enjoyable experience. Despite its re-release, the remastered game’s frame rate remains capped at 30 frames per second, an acceptable compromise for many but still surprising given the improved capabilities of modern hardware.

Nowadays, accessing the remastered version of the game is much easier than its original GameCube counterpart. Despite some enthusiasts’ claims that the original GameCube is the ultimate gaming experience, its limited availability means those who want one must be prepared to pay a premium price and also have access to a functioning console to ensure it remains in good working order.