Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock

Recommended reading

Dakota Johnson as Cassandra and Sydney Sweeney as Julia in Madame Web
Marvel Movies Madame Web star Dakota Johnson says Hollywood is "a bit of a mess" because of constant remakes: "When something does well, studios want to keep that going"
Aaron Stanford as Doug holding a baseball bat
Horror Movies Terrifier director has revealed his favorite horror remake from the '00s, and film fans are discussing their picks
Bring Her Back
Horror Movies The most exciting upcoming horror movies coming in 2025 and beyond
The Running Man
Action Movies Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how the new remake of Stephen King's Running Man can improve on his 1987 movie: "[Ours] was great, but it could've been better"
Julian Sands as James Atherton in horror comedy Arachnophobia
Horror Movies Happy Death Day director confirms his Arachnophobia reboot has been scrapped: "A classic case of creative differences"
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Don't write off a Red Dead Redemption 2 remake or remaster, Arthur Morgan actor says: "We've already started to see it for GTA 5 and the original"
Best PS2 games
Devil May Cry Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya would love to remake the first game: "Capcom – please leave it to me"
  1. Games
  2. RPG

7 remakes in need of a remake

Features
By Henry Gilbert published 7 October 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Try, try again

Try, try again

For as many original games that get made every year, there's something compelling about playing (or replaying) some classic titles in a new context. Remakes can have a rejuvenating effect on games that changed the medium back in their day, introducing people to timeless games that might've never gotten the chance to experience otherwise. Plus, remakes have the added benefit of catching up the visuals and gameplay with current industry standards. But nothing stays current forever.

Gaming has been around long enough that there are now a good number of remade games that could use some new packaging. As Capcom is doing with Resident Evil HD, the multipatform recreation of the 2003 GameCube REmake, publishers seem ready to return to their games once more to rechristen them all over again. So here are seven more remakes in need of a new coat of paint. At least they'll be up to date for another decade...

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

When it first came to the PlayStation, Metal Gear Solids use of music and full voice-acting were revolutionary at the time, as was the mature subject matter, while MGSs 32-bit graphics weren't looking so groundbreaking in 2004. That's when the unexpected trio of Konami, Nintendo, and Silicon Knights got together to make one of the most epic game recreations of all time: the GameCube-exclusive Twin Snakes. Silicon Knights handled programming while Konami redid all the cutscenes and voice work, all with the amount of care the iconic title deserves. Its worth revisiting for any MGS fan, but that unique collaboration is also why Twin Snakes may never be experienced elsewhere.

Firstly, the GameCube-exclusive game is littered with Nintendo Easter eggs that would need to be removed to go multiplatform. Then theres the fact that developer Silicon Knights got sued into oblivion in 2012, so I doubt they could be that helpful. Hideo Kojima and company would be better off starting from scratch when returning Twin Snakes anyway, dropping the unneeded gameplay additions and over-the-top cinematics in favor of a stripped-down restoration to the original iteration. Im sure MGS5s FOX engine could handle it--just dont recast Snake with Kiefer Sutherland!

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 Portable

Whenever someone asks me the best way to play Persona 3 (which happens all the time), Im torn. The PSP version, sometimes referred to as P3P, is certainly the most convenient to play, but the outstanding JRPG just feels so compromised by the hardware. Yes, there are new characters and dungeons added to P3P, but to fit it all on the PSP, the striking anime cutscenes were removed. Replacing lengthy animation with a still frame and a brief, written description of whats happening is not what Id call great storytelling.

P3Ps situation is even more frustrating because Persona 4: Golden only got better with its Vita re-release, adding new scenes and features without losing a step. Seeing as the PS2 versions of Persona 3 and 4 run on the same engine, whats preventing P3P from getting the same Golden treatment on Vita? Atlus remakes nearly all of its games at least once, so maybe its only a matter of time before it returns to Persona 3 once again.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

The NES version of Super Mario Bros. is one of those games that people return to again and again, with the layout of World 1-1 burned into the minds of nearly anyone that has ever touched a video game. Given the number of times Nintendo has re-released SMB, many forget that the game got a full-on remake for the Game Boy Color. And, dare I say it, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe might just be the ideal way to play the title. For one, the updated map interface and save system makes for a smoother experience, and it integrates all the Super Mario Bros. Lost Levels content as a post-game bonus, making it feel more complete than any other version.

The 1999 title is easy enough to find, but nowadays the GBC graphics and screen size are holding it back. Perhaps Nintendo should reexamine this edition by combining the content with a more visually impressive remake. Take the Super Mario All-Stars' 16-bit graphics and graft it onto the design of Deluxe to create the ultimate version. If timed with the games 30th anniversary in 2015, itd be a better tribute than the quickie port job All-Stars received on the Wii U.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Final Fantasy VI Advance

Final Fantasy VI Advance

Square Enix remakes its Final Fantasy games again and again, but hey, the audience loves to buy them. FF fans are some of the most nostalgic in gaming, always ready to give another 60 hours to replay their favorite entry. Many did just that with the multiple remakes of Final Fantasy VI, and the GBA version is easily the standout of the pack. The updated translation makes the story flow better than ever, and the SNES graphics transferred perfectly to the GBA. The only problem is that the straightforward remake seems a bit paltry when viewed next to some of the more recent revisitations of FF.

Final Fantasy III and IV both got massive reboots on the DS, completely redoing the graphics in 3D, as well as adding voice acting and orchestrated music. But just as fans were primed for other classics to get the same treatment, the publisher shifted to lower-cost smartphone remakes. Final Fantasy VI is to many the pinnacle of the series, so its a shame to see it get less TLC than its predecessors. After the surprise success of Bravely Default, Square Enix needs to get that team back onto the FF bandwagon and give VI the royal treatment it deserves.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Lara Crofts 1996 debut mixes impressive 3D exploration, dynamic action, and sex appeal, making Lara one of the breakout stars of the 32-bit era. However, time hasnt been all that kind to the original, so its understandable that in 2007, Laras then-new dev team at Crystal Dynamics updated the experience with Tomb Raider: Anniversary. It brought the gameplay more in line with the then-recent reboot, Tomb Raider: Legend, but now that Ms. Croft has been rebooted once more in the last seven years, Anniversary is getting long in the tooth.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary also had the bad timing of hitting just as developers were moving from the PS2 to 360, meaning Lara got caught mid-leap onto HD hardware. Today, the 360 and PS3 ports of Anniversary cant compare to detailed world of 2013s Tomb Raider, and just imagine how dated Anniversary will look next to Rise of the Tomb Raider. Square Enix needs to start planning now for Laras 20th anniversary in 2016, so having Crystal Dynamics update Anniversary as a new-gen experience sounds like a fitting tribute.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
WWF Wrestlefest

WWF Wrestlefest

If you were an impressionable kid in the early 90s, you may have fallen under the sway of Hulkamania and the other thrills of pro-wrestling. At the time, no game better captured the feel of WWF television than Wrestlefest, a 1992 arcade fighter that featured over a dozen favored grapplers. Seeing a pixelated Ultimate Warrior bodyslam Mr. Perfect will still give some fans the chills. So news of a Wrestlefest remake excited the inner child of many wrasslin' fans, but all that anticipation vanished when the letters "iOS" were attached to the remake.

Yes, WWE Wrestlefest took inspiration from the original arcade grappler, but replaced the classic roster with current stars, added in touch controls, and smoothed out the graphics to make it look more like a Flash game. Publisher THQ completely missed the point of why fans wanted to see Wrestlefest return, seemingly just digging up the brand to market its mobile experiment. Now that 2K Sports makes WWE games, theres a new chance to give Wrestlefest (or any other classic WWE title) the real reboot it deserves.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Skies of Arcadia Legends

Skies of Arcadia Legends

The Dreamcast was Segas last gasp as a console manufacturer, and it was doing some of its best work ever near the systems end. Skies of Arcadia is a whimsical JRPG cut from the same cloth as Sega classics like Phantasy Star and the Shining series, but with a flavor all its own. It was overlooked in 2000, though it got a second chance as a Legends remake on the GameCube. Unfortunately, that just gave consumers another chance to ignore it--but maybe the GC remake just needs to be reconfigured for HD to finally give the Arcadia the popularity it deserves.

Sega has HD remakes of Dreamcast standouts like Sonic Adventure, Jet Set Radio, and Crazy Taxi, so its time for the publisher to keep dig a little deeper and excavate this gem. The cel-shaded style of Skies of Arcadia should follow Jet Sets impressive transition to HD, and it could be a nice way for Sega to test international interest in some more recent JRPGs that arent localized yet. And if Sega doesnt have the time, it could just pass Skies over to the newly acquired Atlus, a team that knows a thing or two about lovingly remaking RPGs.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Back for seconds

Back for seconds

Those are the seven remakes I think deserve another chance, but what would you add to the list? Tell me all about it in the comments, then I just might remake your words into a new entry for this list. (I might even give you credit.)

And if you're looking for more happy returns, check out 12 most ridiculously re-released games of all time and 10 last-gen games that need Xbox One and PS4 remakes.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Resident Evil Persona 3 Portable Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Skies of Arcadia: legends
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Social Links Navigation

Henry Gilbert is a former GamesRadar+ Editor, having spent seven years at the site helping to navigate our readers through the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Henry is now following another passion of his besides video games, working as the producer and podcast cohost of the popular Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts. 

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Dakota Johnson as Cassandra and Sydney Sweeney as Julia in Madame Web
Madame Web star Dakota Johnson says Hollywood is "a bit of a mess" because of constant remakes: "When something does well, studios want to keep that going"
Aaron Stanford as Doug holding a baseball bat
Terrifier director has revealed his favorite horror remake from the '00s, and film fans are discussing their picks
Bring Her Back
The most exciting upcoming horror movies coming in 2025 and beyond
The Running Man
Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how the new remake of Stephen King's Running Man can improve on his 1987 movie: "[Ours] was great, but it could've been better"
Julian Sands as James Atherton in horror comedy Arachnophobia
Happy Death Day director confirms his Arachnophobia reboot has been scrapped: "A classic case of creative differences"
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2
Don't write off a Red Dead Redemption 2 remake or remaster, Arthur Morgan actor says: "We've already started to see it for GTA 5 and the original"
Latest in RPG
The Witcher 3
Cyberpunk 2 director says "mature games" used to mainly be about killing and sex, but The Witcher 3 was part of a "broader process" to change that as devs grew older
Dave the Diver Godzilla screenshot
Dave the Diver celebrates 2nd birthday by sharing messages from Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon and the Subnautica studio CEO, bringing back Godzilla DLC, and dang, delaying its next DLC
Marvel Mystic Mayhem codes
All Marvel Mystic Mayhem codes (June 2025) and how to redeem
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot of Aza, a cultist companion with short pink hair who holds a dagger
The Outer Worlds 2 is "going deeper and more complex" with its companions, and I'm already making grabby hands at this RPG
Hytale
Hytale studio founder says he was "burning" up to $400,000 a month on its development at one point, and turned down "way more money" before partnering with Riot
Hypixel Studios lead art
Hytale studio founder says he'd spend $25 million buying it back from Riot to get the game finished, and in his eyes it was "maximum 2 years away from a PC release" over 5 years ago: "That's how much I believe in it"
Latest in Features
One-Punch Man season 3: Saitama punching while in mid-air during the anime One-Punch Man.
Anime Expo 2025: dates, announcements, and why One-Punch Man fans should be excited
The Shrouds
It may feature corpses, missing limbs, and AI, but with The Shrouds, legendary director David Cronenberg has made the ultimate meditation on grief: "To me, there is no afterlife"
A full setup for Fate of the Fellowship with cards, tokens, and pieces all laid out
Legendary board game designer says his upcoming Lord of the Rings project is "definitely the most thematically and mechanically rich game I’ve worked on"
Promotional artwork for the Steam Summer Sale 2025 which runs from June 26th - July 10th at 10am PT
I've spent six hours exploring the Steam Summer Sale with our Games Editor, and these are the 10 best games on discount I'd recommend so far
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot of Aza, a cultist companion with short pink hair who holds a dagger
The Outer Worlds 2 is "going deeper and more complex" with its companions, and I'm already making grabby hands at this RPG
Ruffy runs across the ocean on wooden crates in Ruffy and the Riverside, with the GamesRadar+ Indie Spotlight logo
Banjo-Kazooie and Paper Mario mix together in this delightful puzzle platformer that has me swapping textures to solve puzzles by changing the world
  1. Sam fires at the ghost mech squid boss in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    1
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  2. 2
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  3. 3
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  4. 4
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  5. 5
    Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter"
  1. M3GAN doll in M3GAN 2.0
    1
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  3. 3
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  4. 4
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  5. 5
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...