Remake

Overview

A remake is a game that is meant to be an updated version of a previously existing game. Typically, remakes feature updated graphics and refined gameplay mechanics, while the core of the game stays the same. A remake may maintain a strict sense of faithfulness to the original game, adding little in the way of additional content, or expand on the game by adding new features such as additional levels, playable characters, a revised soundtrack, and so on.

The term "remake" carries a certain weight, as it creates the expectation that the original game will be rebuilt from the ground up. For projects that reuse significant portions of the original product, this expectation is sometimes avoided by substituting terms like "remaster" or "update", but these games can still be considered remakes if they differ enough from the original.

Examples

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

A remake of the original Metal Gear Solid, The Twin Snakes was developed as a collaboration between Konami, Nintendo, and Silicon Knights, which at the time was a Nintendo second-party developer. The game follows the same storyline as the original PlayStation release and maintains elements such as the map design, boss fights, and basic gameplay. Changes made in the remake include a revised script and voice acting, and revised cutscenes with more elaborate fight choreography. New gameplay elements included the addition of first-person aiming and the ability to hang from ledges (both taken from Metal Gear Solid 2). The voice acting was also entirely redone due to the more limited sound quality of the original recordings.

Final Fantasy III / Final Fantasy IV

Both Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV were given full remakes for the Nintendo DS, complete with polygonal 3D graphics, revised game mechanics and updated gameplay that takes advantage of the DS hardware. In addition, cutscenes in Final Fantasy IV are voice acted. The DS remake of Final Fantasy III was the first edition of the game to be released in North America.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

Released as a means to mark the ten year anniversary of the birth of the Halo franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a full remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved with HD graphics. The game also features a graphics toggle that allows the player to switch between the updated graphics and the graphics of the original version at any point. The biggest change to the game is the multiplayer mode which, unlike the campaign, is based on the Halo: Reach engine.

Metroid: Zero Mission

Metroid: Zero Mission is a GBA remake of the original Metroid. The game features the same map and power-ups as the original game, in addition to new areas to explore and items to collect. The remake also contains mission objective markers on the map that inform the player on where to go next, as well as all-new cutscenes that help illustrate the story. The biggest change to the game comes in the end; after destroying Mother Brain and escaping the Space Pirate base before it self-destructs (the point at which the original game ends), Samus is forced to crash-land back on Zebes and loses her powersuit in the process. The game then adopts a simple form of stealth gameplay until Samus acquires a new, more powerful powersuit.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

The PSP remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 strips out a number of the original version's presentation elements in order to fit on the UMD format. Exploration of the world outside of Tartarus is reduced to moving a cursor across static images, and the game's story is presented mostly with still images and character portraits, making it resemble a visual novel to an extent. However, the game presents a major addition in the form of a playable female protagonist that the player can choose at the games start in addition to the normal male protagonist. The female protagonist's story plays out quite differently in a number of respects, particularly in the way that certain party members interact with her. The Social Links available to her also vary greatly, as she can form bonds with the male party members in addition to the girls, as well as a pair of new characters exclusive to her side of the game.