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[Late Stage Marxist]

One thing that always seems to come up in discussions of classic games is the possibility of a remake. While people are still waiting for remakes of FFVII, Silent Hill and Metal Gear, there are a number of remakes that have already been commercially released.

In the early days of video gaming it was much more difficult to seperate a remake from a port (just look at the difference between PC, C64, Master System and NES "ports"). Often the version that turned out best ended up looking like a remake of the inferior versions released at the same time. What sets a remake apart from a superior version of a simultaneous multi-console game is the retrospection.

In the case of a remake there is a great amount of pressure on the developer to deliver a product that is not only as good as the original, but better in as many ways as possible, however an improvement in graphics is usually more than enough to please fans. In many cases fans of the original game feel that developers have added too much to the game (eg. MGS:TTS), so it is often a tightrope for the developers.

I know the subject of "port versus remake" may come up at least once in this thread, but I trust that in most cases we're all discerning enough to distinguish the glaring differences.

Anyhow Tetris/Chess/Monopoly/etc aside the following is a provisional list of games that have been remade, and for what console they were re-released. This list is a work-in-progress and can't be completed without the help of the forum. If you have any corrections or additions, don't be shy.

PS2
After Burner II
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alien Syndrome
Bonanza Brothers
Columns
Decathlete
Dragon Force
Dragon Warrior V
Fantasy Zone
Fist of the North Star
Gain Ground
Golden Axe
Last Bronx
Monaco GP
OutRun
Phantasy Star I
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star IV: End of the Millennium
Ridge Racer
Romancing SaGA
Sakura Taisen
Space Harrier
Streets of Rage
Virtua Athlete 2K
Virtua Racing -Flat Out-
Wild ARMs
Winter Heat
Zill O'll Infinite

GameCube
Metal Gear Solid
Resident Evil

Xbox
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive 2

N64
Star Fox

PSone
Dragon Warrior IV
Front Mission

SNES
Castlevania
Dragon Warrior I
Dragon Warrior II
Dragon Warrior III
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
The Legend of Zelda

Genesis
Megaman 1
Megaman 2
Megaman 3

NES
Maniac Mansion

NDS
Final Fantasy III
Mario 64

GBA
Double Dragon
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy Adventure
Kirby's Adventure
Lunar: Silver Star Story
Mario Bros.
Metroid
Mr. Nutz
Pokemon Green
Pokemon Red
River City Ransom
Shining Force
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3

GBC
Crystalis
Deja Vu
Deja Vu II
Dragon Warrior I
Dragon Warrior II
Dragon Warrior III
Quest 64
Super Mario Bros.

PC
Half-Life
King's Quest
Leisure Suit Larry
Police Quest
Quest For Glory
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Space Quest

Rumored/TBD
King of Fighters '94
Quake II (mentioned in Carmack interview)

Contributors: TekunoRobby, Helena, Rlan, demi, Scott, Ruud_Luiten, stonedwal, bjork, jarrod

Thanks!

 

[Dkong]

Add Skies of Arcadia: Legends to the GameCube-list.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

I think it's more of a port with additional features, as it uses the same graphics engine, no?

 

[ourumov]

WTF @ the FFIII in the NDS list ? Is this FFVI ? When was it announced ?

 

[Dkong]

Then why would all the Mario-games found on the Mario All-stars cart count as remakes on the SNES?

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

WTF @ the FFIII in the NDS list ? Is this FFVI ? When was it announced ?

No it's that JPN FFIII with the class system. Too bad eh?

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Then why would all the Mario-games found on the Mario All-stars cart count as remakes on the SNES?

Super Mario All-Stars was a 16-bit update of 8-bit games. A complete graphical rehaul.

 

[TekunoRobby]

GBA:
Super Mario Bros. 3 (new lvls via e-reader, original Mario game)
Metroid: Zero Mission
Chu Chu Rocket (graphically it was downgraded but it was remade for the GBA and had, I think, new lvls and a more expanded multiplayer)

That Satellaview in Japan for the SNES:
Legend of Zelda

GameCube:
Animal Crossing (graphically the same but features an expansive amount of extras to the original)

Playstation:
Chrono Trigger (only addition is new anime sequences so I don't know if you'd consider it a remake)

Nintendo DS:
Super Mario 64 (improved graphics, multiplayer, new content, minigames)

 

[aku:jiki]

The Sharp X68000 and SNES both have Castlevania I remakes, depending on how you want to look at it. Obviously, calling SCV4 a "remake" is stretching it, but that's what it is.

Actually, Castlevania I might be considered a remake of the MSX game Vampire Killer, but that would be really stretching it. What do you call heavily altered ports, anyway?

 

[Helena]

PS:

Lunar 2 Eternal Blue Complete
Lunar the Silver Star Story Complete

GBA:

Lunar Legends
POKéMON Fr/Lg
River City Ransom
Shining Force RotDD

XBOX:

JSRF

 

[TekunoRobby]

XBOX:
JSRF

That's actually the sequel to the original. It's considered a re-envisioning of the franchise.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

The Sharp X68000 and SNES both have Castlevania I remakes, depending on how you want to look at it. Obviously, calling SCV4 a "remake" is stretching it, but that's what it is.

Actually, Castlevania I might be considered a remake of the MSX game Vampire Killer, but that would be really stretching it. What do you call heavily altered ports, anyway?

From what I understand Castlevania Dracula X on SNES was almost a sequel or prequel to Dracula X on PCE, due to the fact that the story and levels differed. Though I haven't played either game, so I can't be positive.

 

[Rlan]

Sonic Adventure DX was released for the Gamecube and PC.

 

[aku:jiki]

That's actually the sequel to the original. It's considered a re-envisioning of the franchise.

But Coin (I think?) isn't dead/missing in JSRF, and etc? It like completely ignores the first game. It's the same area of stretching it as CV4 being a remake/"retelling", I think, only not really. CV4 still has the same general areas and enemies and such, JSRF has too much all-new stuff.

From what I understand Castlevania Dracula X on SNES was almost a sequel or prequel to Dracula X on PCE, due to the fact that the story and levels differed.

It's been a while since I played the SNES version, but from what I can remember the only real difference was that everything was suck in the SNES version (at least compared to the PCE one -- as a standalone it's not that bad). I dunno if I'd want to count severe downgrades as "remakes". Comes back to the "heavily altered port" thing again, I guess?

 

[Helena]

It's considered a re-envisioning of the franchise.

Isn't that what a remake is?

Sonic Adventure DX was released for the Gamecube and PC.

Enhanced port /=/ remake.

 

[TekunoRobby]

Isn't that what a remake is?

JSRF goes beyond what we traditionally consider a remake to be. This game is a complete and utter change of the original and can easily be considered it's own game, not a recreation of the original. A re-envisioning simply means that it takes all the original ideas or goals of the original game and sets out to recreate the original experience in a wholly original product (IMO of course). Doom 3 is also another example of re-envisioning a franchise (though it's success is up to opinion). This thread simply addresses games that are vastly enhanced ports, which may or may not add new content, that retains the original game (or most of it) intact.

 

[Rlan]

JSRF is completely different to the original. Different story, different badguys, different locals.

Yeah, I wasn't sure if SADX would count. It does pack a fair few extras here and there though.

Would F-Zero MV be considered a port or remake? I think there MAY have been a remake of one of those Minnie & Mickey games on the GBA too. Was that Altered Beast GBA a remake?

Alien Homonid is technically.

Prince of Persia on the Megadrive? Snake, Rattle & Roll on the Megadrive? Megeman Xtreme on the GBC? Lylat Wars on N64?

Edit: Sonic 3D Flickies Island on the Saturn?

 

[Blimblim]

JSRF is a sequel, not a remake. Why is that so difficult to understand ?

 

[TekunoRobby]

I'd consider Mega Man Xtreme for the GBC a remake, though a tehcnically inferior one. It wasn't the same exact game and it wasn't the same engine, they attempted to mimic the experience and recreated the game for an inferior platform.

That reminds me.

GB/GBC:
Dragon Warrior I & II
Dragon Warrior III

SNES:
Dragon Warrior I & II
Dragon Warrior III

 

[aku:jiki]

Why is that so difficult to understand ?

Because it's a weird sequel that ignores its own predecessor and tells basically the same story again.

 

[Kiriku]

It's been a while since I played the SNES version, but from what I can remember the only real difference was that everything was suck in the SNES version (at least compared to the PCE one -- as a standalone it's not that bad). I dunno if I'd want to count severe downgrades as "remakes". Comes back to the "heavily altered port" thing again, I guess?

Yeah, the main difference between PCE and SNES version is that the SNES version was been downgraded in a number of areas (the music ). From a gameplay perspective few things were actually different as far as I can remember.

And speaking of Castlevania, could Castlevania Chronicles for PSX be considered a remake? Although I guess they didn't change enough for that...

 

[demi]

Sword of Mana...?

 

[Rlan]

Tony Hawk 2X? Ridge Racer DS? Ridge Racers?

 

[Scott]

Some more to add:

Gameboy Advance
Sword of Mana :: Originally Final Fantasy Adventure for Gameboy.

GameCube
Evolution Worlds :: May be stretching it, but it's a heavily altered port of the originals, where they added new voice acting, new content, etc. They also cut out about 90% of the original Evolution, and smushed the two titles together into one flowing narrative. Up to you if that's enough to qualify.

PlayStation One
Dragon Warrior IV
Front Mission 1st

PlayStation 2
Dragon Warrior V
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song
Sakura Taisen: In the Hot Blood
Sakura Taisen III: Hometown Paris is Burning
Wild ARMs: Alter Code: F
Zill O'll Infinity

EDIT: Bah, demi beat me to it on Sword of Mana.

 

[Kiriku]

If F-Zero for GBA is considered a remake, what about Mario Kart: Super Circuit?

 

[aku:jiki]

And speaking of Castlevania, could Castlevania Chronicles for PSX be considered a remake? Although I guess they didn't change enough for that...

Doesn't it have an entire remake option? New music and slightly updated graphics and such? It's been a while. That'd be a remake of a remake though -- that's kinda funny (but not really).

 

[TekunoRobby]

If F-Zero for GBA is considered a remake, what about Mario Kart: Super Circuit?

Which F-Zero game was a remake?

Mario Kart: Super Circuit was a sequel with a ton of new levels and tightened the gameplay of the original but also featured the original SNES levles as unlockables. It's up to opinion but I wouldn't consider that a remake.

UPDATE:

Playstation:
Umihara Kawase Shun

PC:
Half Life: Source

 

[Blimblim]

Because it's a weird sequel that ignores its own predecessor and tells basically the same story again.

You played JSR / JSRF for the story ? What story ? That's like saying Mario 64 was a remake

 

[Alex Anderson]

1. The Mario games on the SNES and GBA are ports. All that's been changed are the graphics (minor additions to the GBA titles excluded) and sound. A remake does not have the same core code as the original.

2. Chu Chu Rocket for GBA: This is more of a conversion, not a remake. It's sort of like the insane number of Game Gear/Master System conversions of big-brother Genesis games. Sonic The Hedgehog for SMS/GG is by no means a remake of the Genesis title.

3. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 on Xbox: Neither of these should be included. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X is a port with some more stages and that's it.

 

[Kiriku]

Which F-Zero game was a remake?

I don't know, since he only listed it as "F-Zero"...

 

[demi]

Quest: Brian's Journey?

GBC version of a N64 game. That's gotta sorta count, right?

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

I don't know, since he only listed it as "F-Zero"...

Just going by what Rlan said about F-Zero MV. Can't verify it first-hand.

 

[TekunoRobby]

2. Chu Chu Rocket for GBA: This is more of a conversion, not a remake. It's sort of like the insane number of Game Gear/Master System conversions of big-brother Genesis games. Sonic The Hedgehog for SMS/GG is by no means a remake of the Genesis title.

Thanks, that was the word I was looking for. Technically the game was exactly the same but with added levels. Of course it was completely recoded for the GBA hardware. Same game different features/graphics unlike those SMS to GG games (which were based on the originals).

 

[Fularu]

PlayStation 2
Sakura Taisen III: Hometown Paris is Burning

This is a port, not a remake

 

[Rlan]

I've no idea what F-Zero MV was like, I never played it, so don't take my word for it

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

1. The Mario games on the SNES and GBA are ports. All that's been changed are the graphics (minor additions to the GBA titles excluded) and sound. A remake does not have the same core code as the original.

I wasn't aware they shared the same core code. Link?

 

[TekunoRobby]

None of the F-Zero games for the GBA are remakes they are all bonafied sequels.

 

[Ruud_Luiten]

Please add.....

gba
- breath of fire I
- breath of fire II
- The lost vikings
- Rock and roll racing
- Pitfall
- Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, 3
- Mr. Nutz
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (extra polish)
- Sim City 2000
- The lionking
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (extra polish)
- Pocky & Rocky with Becky
- million Famicom remakes.....

psp
- Vampire Chronicle
- Gran Turismo 4
- Activision Anthology
- Mahjong

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Hey, I own all of those games!

 

[Rlan]

Isn't the GBA Lion King based on Lion King 1 1/2 [or 3, depending on where you are]

 

[stonedwal]

Quest for Glory (PC)

 

[demi]

Ok how about the following:

Crystalis (GBC)
Deja Vu I & II (GBC)
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (GBC)

Or how can we forget:

Mario Bros. (GBA)

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Or how can we forget:

Mario Bros. (GBA)

Is that in SMB3 for GBA?

 

[demi]

It's in all of them. Even Superstar Saga!

 

[Scott]

Heh, little hesitant to add Zill O'll & Front Mission?

Zill O'll Infinite (had the name slightly wrong before) is a PS2 remake of Koei's PSOne RPG "Zill O'll." Screens of the original are here, and some of the remake here.

Front Mission 1st is a remake of the SNES original "Front Mission." It doesn't update the game engine much, adding just little things like a couple new battle backgrounds, improved Wanzer graphics in shop view, a simplified battle option, etc. The big addition is the new scenario, which allows you to play as the "USN" with a new main character, and runs alongside the original scenario (which follows the "OCU") to give a contrasting view to the storyline. It also ties the title into Front Mission IV better (which takes place 6 years later), and introduces a couple characters later seen in FMIV.

I figure if updates like Crystalis and the SNES Mario titles can count, this should too.

This is a port, not a remake

My mistake. I was skimming RPG sites last night, and a couple of the additions made me think it was a full remake like the first title. Seems to just be a straight port with a few things thrown on-top.

Sorry about that. :\


EDIT: Just noticed, Dragon Warrior IV is listed for PS2, when it's V that was remade for it.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Updated, thanks. I didn't completely finish it earlier. Funny how all the PC titles can be linked to Sierra (stretching it in HL's case).

 

[Vargas]

Please add.....

gba
- breath of fire I
- breath of fire II
- The lost vikings
- Rock and roll racing
- Pitfall
- Donkey Kong Country 1, 2, 3
- Mr. Nutz
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (extra polish)
- Sim City 2000
- The lionking
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (extra polish)
- Pocky & Rocky with Becky
- million Famicom remakes.....

psp
- Vampire Chronicle
- Gran Turismo 4
- Activision Anthology
- Mahjong

Most of those games are ports.

 

[bjork]

PC - Pirates!

 

[jarrod]

PS2
Virtua Fighter 2

No, it's actually the exact same Model 2 game badly emulated on PS2.

PSone
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy II
Front Mission

Nope, these are all ports of the WSC remakes with added cinemas.

PSP
Darkstalkers

Almost a direct port of the DC release. A single new game mode doesn't qualify it as a remake.

NDS
Mario 64

This one's iffy... I could see it called either way.

GBA
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy II

Again, based off the WSC remakes... though these are actually more different than the PSone versions, using somewhat different battle sprites, new music, tweaked mechanics, new script, etc.

GBA
Mr. Nutz
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3

These are all essentially ports of the SNES versions.

GBC
Crystalis
Deja Vu
Deja Vu II
Dragon Warrior I
Dragon Warrior II
Dragon Warrior III
Quest 64
Super Mario Bros.

All NES ports, except Quest 64 which was a new game iirc. The DQ games feature additions from the SFC remakes though.

Rumored/TBD
King of Fighters '94

KOF '94 is more of an enhanced port I'd say. It's pretty much the old game with tweaked sprites.

As for other games, Ridge Racer V is essentially a remake of Ridge Racer, Star Fox 64 is essetially a Star Fox remake and as Aku mentioned, Castlevania IV is really a Castlevania remake too. The titles might get some people upset, but al these sequels are really excellent remakes of the first installments of their series.

There's also MegaMan: The Wily Wars for Genesis.

 

[johnjohnson]

What about GBAs Phantasy Star Collection? Is that a remake of the Master System/Mega Drive games or is it a port?