By: Kevin Larrabee

Suppose that you have access to a time traveling DeLorean. What would you have answered when asked what your favorite video game is? It is a good possibility that the answer that is given change throughout the course of your life. Sequels come out that introduce better gameplay and graphics, your tastes may change as you get older, and new types of games may be created (3D platformers, First-Person Shooters). After ten or twenty years, you find yourself going back to those classics less frequently. But what if that game was remade with updated graphics, new features and online functionality?

Remakes have been a big focus for publishers trying to revive classic, bankable franchises. This trend makes sense to publishers since it is much easier to sell a game with a mascot that gamers recognize. There are two kinds of remakes, those that have redone graphics and additional features and those that have completely redone gameplay (going from 2D side-scrolling to 3D). The current generation of consoles offers a great outlet for these games thanks to their online marketplaces (XBLA, PSN, Wii Ware). Games such as Contra, Pac-Man Championship Edition and Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix have done a great job taking advantage of the online marketplace. Some of these remakes are even appearing on store shelves as full budget retail games (Bionic Commando on 360 and PS3). With all of these remakes from franchises that were dead (or at least in hibernation), there are some fan-favorite titles that deserve the remake treatment.

After pondering the subject for the last couple months and from listening to what the gamers want through various message boards, I have concluded that there are some titles that need to be remade. This editorial will also address why the remakes have not been developed and why they should be.

Final Fantasy VII

The second-best selling PlayStation One game of all time is considered by many as the best Final Fantasy game ever. At E3 2005, Square Enix showed off a tech demo to display what FF VII would look like with the power of the PS3. As expected, fans of the series simultaneously began to drool and type furiously on message boards to discuss the possibility of a remake.

The characters from FF VII are so popular that two spinoff games have been created in the form of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP and Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII for the PS2. There was also a Full Motion Video movie made titled: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Used copies of the original still sell for over $50 on eBay. Sony would also be ecstatic because after announcing that they have lost $3 billion due to the launch of the PS3, they need to sell games and hardware to begin recouping their losses.

Remaking FF VII would not be an easy task. Square Enix would need to assign a large team (50-100 people) to redo the visuals and the cut scenes. The gameplay elements are already in place, as well as the story. Carrying over the voice work and soundtrack from the original PlayStation One title would help ease the difficulty of production as well.

It has been three years since the tech demo and there still has been no announcement nor plans (that have been made public) to develop a FF VII remake. This may be because Square Enix is focused on finishing FF XIII right now, which looks like it won’t be done until late 2009 at the earliest. Instead of working on a FF VII remake Square Enix has a team working on FF XIII Versus, a spinoff title for a game (FF XIII) that isn’t even out yet. Most developers would suggest finishing FF XIII before working on a spinoff that would come years after the first game in the series.

GoldenEye 007

Back in 1997 everyone who owned an N64 (or knew someone with an N64) and a copy of GoldenEye 007 was playing 4-player split-screen deathmatch. GoldenEye was the shooter that gave developers and gamers hope that first-person shooters on a console could be great. The graphics were “realistic” and the controls were precise and easy to learn.

Now in 2008, if you hook up that N64 and pop in GoldenEye, you will find out that the game is incredibly dated. The first question you will ask yourself is, “Where is the second thumbstick?” Back in the days of the Nintendo 64 there was only one thumbstick, making auto aim a requirement. The second question will be in regards to the graphics and framerate. GoldenEye’s framerate would drop the instant there was more than two enemies on the screen or when something was blowing up. In the day of Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3, GoldenEye is unplayable.

GoldenEye 007 needs to be remade. The recipe is simple and but the execution will be difficult and time consuming. The textures and environments would need to be re-done in HD. Also re-done character models would be nice so people on screen don’t look like they were made out of cardboard boxes. Since multiplayer was such an important feature in the original, online multiplayer would be a must. Finally, map the controls to two thumbsticks so anyone that is familiar with Halo and Call of Duty will know how to control the game. If you do all of that and throw on a $15 price tag you have yourself a million seller.

OK, perhaps it isn’t that simple. It has leaked out that Rare (now owned by Microsoft), the original developer, has begun work on a remade version of GoldenEye. The only thing holding back its release were stalled negotiations between Microsoft, Nintendo (the original publisher) and Activision (the current James Bond rights holder). Apparently, it was proposed that the original GoldenEye 007 would be released on Nintendo’s Virtual Console and an HD version with other online enhancements would be released on XBLA. The possibility remains. But the decision makers need to iron out the details so everyone wins. Nintendo would have to settle for having the original GoldenEye 007 rom. Perhaps some monetary details can be arranged so Nintendo is satisfied.

Battletoads

We last saw Battletoads on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis consoles in Battletoads & Double Dragon. The Rare developed side-scrolling beat-em-up was a hit back in the 90s when it began on the NES. But, we haven’t had a new iteration in 15 years. Battletoads was kind of odd, as it went for an ascetic that would appeal to a younger male audience. Basically, the idea revolved around young gamers liking things that are considered, “gross.” For example, the heroes of the game were named after skin irritations in the form of Rash and Zit.

Variety was what made Battletoads such a breath of fresh air. It seemed that every level presented new gameplay mechanics. You could find yourself side scrolling in one level, then scrolling vertically in the next, then in a jet ski-like vehicle dodging barriers in the next. Repetition was not the issue with this game, the only thing gamers found to complain about was the difficulty.

For the remake all Battletoads really needs is HD graphics, online co-op and some options for difficulty. The remake would have to stay true to the side-scrolling 2D mechanics.

Rare currently holds the rights to the Battletoads intellectual property, so if Battletoads did get remade it would probably be a 360 exclusive. This begs to ask the question why Microsoft hasn’t drafted Rare to develop the title. At this point Rare is only worth the value of its IPs (Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, ect.) since they have failed at creating new IPs that sell (Viva Piñata). There are no barriers keeping a Battletoads remake from being developed. Microsoft and Rare must simply decided if the project is economically feasible.

Metal Gear 1 and 2 (MSX2)

Metal Gear Solid 4 has sold over 2 million copies in its first three weeks of release. Many gamers who picked up a copy of MGS4 were introduced to the series on the PS1 with Metal Gear Solid. Some have played the NES version of Metal Gear, but it only sold 1 million copies. Metal Gear creator, Hideo Kojima publicly denounced the NES port because of its inferior graphics and revisions to the levels that he did not approve.  Most American’s never played Metal Gear 2 which was on the MSX2. Instead Americas received Solid Snake, a sequel to Metal Gear on the NES which was not made by Kojima.

Everyone knows that Konami (the Metal Gear Series Publisher) and Sony (creators of the PlayStation 3) want another Metal Gear game. But as of late Kojima has stated that he wants to move on from the series. In a recent IGN.com article the president of Konami mentioned that Kojima is working on a concept for a new game outside of Metal Gear. There may be a way so both parties win. Remake the MSX2 versions of Metal Gear 1 and 2 in 3D with visuals like MGS4. Add in cut scenes, voice acting from the MGS4 cast, and you have yourself a multi-million seller. Gamers will be able to relive the story of MG1 and MG2 and those who are new to the series might actually get the chance to understand the full story. Some will argue that Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation One was the remake, but this would be a much more faithful remake. For example, the buildings and environments would be exactly the same (but in 3D) and items would be in the same place as the MSX2 versions.

Everyone has that special game that they wish to see remade. Thanks to the positive sales of XBLA, PSN, and Wii Ware/Virtual Console titles and rereleases in the form of full retail games (FF IV, V, VI on the DS) the possibility of seeing these games get remade is looking better and better everyday. Make your voice heard by posting on popular video game forums and by e-mailing community figures like Major Nelson (Microsoft Xbox). If enough fans state that they want these remakes someone with the power to do so will hear them