Final Fantasy 7 Remake was one of the boldest remakes of all time when it was released in 2020. The name is a bit misleading, as it’s more of a sequel than a remake of the original PS1 version of Final Fantasy 7, but saying anything more would be a spoiler.
The 2019 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is also a good example of a bold remake. As great as it is when developers take big risks when remaking a classic game, others err on the side of caution to appease more of their longtime fans. These next games are among the best remakes that don’t necessarily add or try many new things, but they are still fun games.
The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019)
Toys To Life
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was originally released for the Game Boy in 1993. Besides a color enhancement, the 2019 version was the first major remake of the game, and it changed up the art style to give everything a toy-like aesthetic.
It’s a great visual style, but beyond the graphical upgrade, it’s still the exact same world and gameplay. A classic top-down Zelda will never get old, so it’s understandable why things weren’t touched up too much for this remake.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
What A Thrill
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was originally released for the PS2 in 2004 and had many versions follow it, including a 3D version on the 3DS. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a full graphical remake that adds some quality of life changes to make gameplay feel more modern, from sneaking around the jungle to shooting enemies.
However, most of the audio is reused in cutscenes and Codec calls, so the story doesn't change at all. The core plot follows the same beats, just with more stunning visuals, and that’s not a bad thing even if the original director, Hideo Kojima, wasn’t involved. It was a great game in 2004, and it remains so now.
Final Fantasy 4 (DS Remake)
Now With More Voices
Most Final Fantasy remake games play it close to the source material, like the DS remake of Final Fantasy 4. That faithfulness is not a bad thing, as it's great to see all the pixel models in full, albeit cuter, 3D graphics. Also, voice acting was added to make the story feel more dramatic.
The turn-based battles and narrative beats are almost one-to-one translations, but they're perhaps a bit easier than the SNES version, which was released in 1991 as opposed to this 2008 remake.
Resident Evil 4
Can’t Remake Perfection
Capcom made the wise decision to remake the second and third RE games before Resident Evil 4. As PS1 games, they needed more work to make them feel modern, whereas Resident Evil 4, thanks to countless remasters, already felt modern.
Gunplay and controls are perhaps more solid in the 2023 version as opposed to the 2005 original, but most of the game doesn't take any chances to surprise players. The biggest difference is some slight extra exploration on the boat, but other than that, Capcom knew it didn’t have to try hard to redo perfection.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
