As more and more games continue down this train of remasters, ports, and remakes, life-long fans of many long-neglected properties eagerly wait in anticipation of the next franchise to get the remaster treatment. While we continue to get more and more reboots, developers seek to appeal to a new generation while bringing something fresh to mainstays.
Regardless of where the industry goes next, we can guarantee that the nostalgia vibes will continue to be very strong. In fact, the argument has been made that remasters are revitalizing video game franchises. From cult classics to obscure gems, here are a list of classic games that desperately need a reappraisal.
Persona 3
Atlus may have their hands full with different ports and versions of Persona 4 and 5 and the eventual next mainline Persona title, but we'd love to see Persona 3 making a return to modern consoles in some way. The PS2 title became a cult success due to its ambitious RPG elements and deep, heart-touching characters and story.
As more and more fans fall into the Persona series, the bigger the chance the next title will be a guaranteed smash hit. This wouldn’t be a miss for fans and Atlus at all, and this is a franchise with a built-in audience.
Simpsons: Hit & Run
Call all the praise of this game nostalgia bias, but if any game has a chance to be remade and released for old fans and newcomers alike, it’s the cult classic Simpsons: Hit & Run. Its open world that allows you to visit every nook and cranny of Springfield would really open itself up to a polished remaster.
The controls and camera for the game may not be the best, but simple fixes such as that could make this game feel as ageless as ever. Though The Simpsons has been going strong for decades, there is still no end in sight. This game would be a definitive sell if it were to be remastered.
Jak & Daxter Trilogy
Developed by Naughty Dog, Jak & Daxter follows two friends who go on zany heroic adventures to save the world from a number of threats. The debut game was the first-of-its-kind, being a 3D platformer with an epic-scale open world, to boot.
The sequels grew to be much bigger, utilizing a vast amount of new mechanics and attacks, from guns, GTA-style driving and notoriety mechanics, and much more fleshed out adventure with rich and dynamic characters. The studio may be currently a bit busy working on stuff like Uncharted releases or The Last of Us and its upcoming HBO adaptation. Still, fans are hoping that they’ll turn their attention to a new Jak game.
Sly Cooper Trilogy
After the successes of Crash N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro: Reignited, if any other mascot-platformer deserves a full touched-up remaster it’s the Sly Cooper trilogy. The first entry in the series, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus was a simple but fun platformer that resembled something more akin to Crash Bandicoot than the Sly Cooper we would come to know and love.
All that changed, however, when the sequel, Sly 2: Band of Thieves changed up the formula drastically, offering new ways to play from different stealth mechanics and different playable characters from the genius mastermind turtle Bentley and big-hearted tough guy hippo Murray. With its stealth-based platforming, dynamic world design, and strong character writing, Sly Cooper deserves to be reskinned.
Ape Escape
Die-hard Ape Escape fans would fall head over heels on the day their monkey-centric collectathon. With players being able to utilize a variety of gadgets – monkey net to catch monkey, hula-hoop for extra speed, and a propeller for vertical distance – the goal is to catch the troublesome monkeys in creative and colorful ways with open and varied level designs.
Ape Escape was one of the great, original classics for PlayStation that also brought on the birth of the revolutionary Dualshock controller. If you ask us, a rerelease is long overdue.
Gex
The suave, stylish, and living meme known as Gex would be a hoot to see in a modern context. Littered with outlandish pop culture references and pop culture breakdowns, Gex was a groundbreaking platformer with a mascot that, for a time, rivaled the likes of Mario, Sonic, and Crash Bandicoot.
With his dated references and inside jokes, Gex the Gecko returning in the 2020s would be an irresistible treat. Bringing a slick sense of humor and adventurous identity, Gex is unabashedly proud of what it is and desperately needs to get a reskin sometime in the future.
Banjo-Kazooie
After being forgotten about for well over a decade, Banjo-Kazooie caused surprise and joy when Banjo and his pal Kazooie were brought to the world of Smash Bros. with fireworks. After the complicated history of Banjo-Threeie and the aggressively-mixed reception of the vehicle customization-ridden Nuts & Bolts, this move has shown that nobody at Microsoft has forgotten about Banjo and his escapades.
Though the future of Banjo-Threeie is unknown (and unlikely) that doesn’t mean Banjo-Kazooie will never come back. Whether it’d be a reboot or a remaster, the popularity and love that Banjo received after Smash was a surefire tell that people are willing to see the adventurous duo again. Banjo-Kazooie got a recent port to the Nintendo Switch, continuing the legacy of the series and giving home we can see them in a new adventure once again.