Self-described new/old video game company Ziggurat Interactive has announced their intention to bring back classic game IPs from yesteryear, and update and/or remaster them for current gaming technology. This is exciting news!
To commemorate this announcement, here are 10 titles we think Ziggurat should definitely remaster and re-release! Obviously we’re not counting games the company has already announced but instead focusing on some classics that we think hit the mark.
10 ABUSE
PC players got a major treat in 1995 with the release of the side-scrolling action shooter Abuse. Innovative for its time, Abuse featured mouse control which allowed the player to fire 360 degrees while running in either either direction, opening up the gameplay mechanic significantly.
The graphics were great, sound effects were excellent, and the fast paced play was a ton of fun. It would be great to see a detailed remaster of the game with support for ultra widescreen resolutions!
9 HERETIC
This fantasy-inspired DOOM derivative caught a lot of great publicity when it was first released. John Romero even assisted developer Raven with tutorials on how to program the DOOM engine, which is a feather in its cap.
The original would go on to produce a string of sequels before being put on ice. Although a beautiful remaster of the game would be excellent, it may not happen due to Activision holding the publishing rights.
8 MDK
Shiny Entertainment broke a new mold in action games with the outrageously zany MDK, a third-person shooter pitting a dude in a weird combat suit against hordes of alien bad guys. The game was noted for its mixture of frantic combat and problem-solving, which varied up the gameplay.
MDK never saw a remake, but it did get a fairly decent sequel. The original could do with a fresh coat of paint, 5.1 surround sound, and fancier effects. It’s still a fun game, even to this day.
7 OUT OF THIS WORLD
We’ve seen many re-releases of this classic cinematic adventure game over the years, but never a full-on remake. The original polygon epic’s visuals are severely dated, so there’s never been a better time to slap a new coat of paint on it.
Out Of This World is tough, unforgiving and cruel. That’s part of its allure. It’s still a game that requires a lot of trial and error to master, especially when it comes to combat. What players got in return was a tried and tested adventure like no other.
6 TERMINATOR: FUTURE SHOCK
This original Terminator FPS title from Bethesda took PC gamers by storm when it was released in 1995. Though loosely based on the films, it was the first game to place the player in the ravaged future of 2029.
Future Shock could see an epic re-release with better graphics and the ironing out of some bugs, but it may not happen due to the recent release of Terminator: Resistance, which is arguably a better game.
5 THE IMMORTAL
This isometric dungeon crawler experienced a moderate level of success, so much that EA decided to port it over to the Sega Genesis. As far as RPGs go, it’s relatively light, but the game’s brutal traps, complex gameplay, and gruesome one-on-one combat managed to make a name for itself.
A full-on remaster of The Immortal would be a pleasant sight, with appropriate graphics and lighting that can make the most of a dungeon crawling epic such as this.
4 FIRE FIGHT
This little gem flew under the radar when it was released in 1996, and that’s a sin. It’s an isometric shooter putting the player in the cockpit of an advanced combat craft that can rotate 360 degrees on the fly using mouse control.
The game is noted for its inventive levels, fast gameplay and the most ultra-cool, window-shattering explosions of its time. It was underappreciated at the time, which makes it a prime candidate for some re-release love.
3 ALIEN TRILOGY
The release of Alien Trilogy on the original PlayStation, Saturn and PC was a huge delight for Alien fans everywhere. It combines the storylines of the first three Alien films into one story that takes huge liberties with the source material, yet doesn’t lose the magic.
Although dated in terms of shooter standards, a little nipping and tucking to enemy AI and certain game mechanics could work hand in hand with a nice remaster (those Xenomorph character sprites are awful) that would get a warm reception from Alien fans!
2 STAR WARS: DARK FORCES
This one might be tough, given that it’s a LucasArts property, but it remains to be seen just how far Ziggurat’s reach extends. The original Star Wars: Dark Forces never saw a remake or a remaster, but modders have attempted to port the game to new engines, despite never going all the way.
A Dark Forces remaster could be a landmark, highly successful release. A bump in framerates, mouse look, and resolutions would go a long way to breathing new life into this classic FPS title.
1 UPRISING
One of the coolest strategy action titles of all time was undoubtedly Uprising! The game put players in the driver’s seat of a futuristic battle tank with upgradeable weaponry and the ability to divert power between shields, fire rate and speed to deal with different situations. The objective of each level was to drop in large turret structures called Citadels at key checkpoints along the map, while battling opposing forces.
Players could mass-produce ground assault units like soldiers and tanks, plus aerial units, and even orbital space cannons to decimate foes on the battlefield. The mixture of tank-based combat and wider-scale map strategy was a frantic, feverish combination of excellence. It would be fantastic to see Ziggurat bring this masterpiece back with entirely remastered graphics and sound effects!
NEXT: 10 Things Everyone Completely Missed In The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Demo On PS4
