The news that came out of E3 sparked hope and a lot of anticipation anxiety into the hearts of gamers everywhere. From the announcement of Kingdom Hearts III (who, let’s be honest, won E3 And Sony) to a second Nioh game and the production of Life Is Strange 2, many a fan nearly passed out from the sheer excitement. We also got a few special surprises between late last year and early this year, though, which included remakes and reboots of some of our favorite games. With these remakes and reboots always come mixed feelings, though. Not every game should be created all over again, and some even lose their nostalgic touch in the process. Others… well, let’s just say they were better left alone from the get-go.
Some of these game remakes and reboots are older news and were announced at the end of last year, but are still considered “for the 2019 year.” Others were announced at E3, and some are nothing more than hushed whispers of news that are just now coming to light. Sandwiched in between are games that I would downvote as far as a remake goes, whether it be for pure nostalgia or the fact that the original game itself failed miserably and should never be brought back to light. This is half fact and half popular opinion, but feel free to debate at will. We’d love to hear what you’d like to see remade, rebooted, or remain untouched by future designer’s hands.
25 Remake: Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 7 rocked the world when it came to PS4 and brought with it a plethora of blood, gross CGI, and characters we could only imagine in our most sinister nightmares.
The trailer initially threw fans with its rat’s eye view of the world, but quickly regained them with a recognizable storyline.
While devs claim this isn’t technically a “remake,” we’ll take a solid reboot with the promise that it follows the same horror as the original choppy-graphic game. We won’t know until January 25th of next year, but this is one remake I’m shutting the lights off for.
24 No Thanks: Resident Evil 6
Speaking of Resident Evil, not all the games were created equally as brilliant. Resident Evil 6 was one that was just not popular on the receiving end and, granted, you’re going to get some floozies… but this game was mixed as far as its ratings from both fans and critics. Japanese Gaming Mag Famitsu critiqued the game by saying it was “too dark.” Not metaphorically, but literally. For a PS3 game, the consensus was that it could have been better amidst mixed emotions all around. This is one that should probably just remain in the dark.
23 No Thanks: Silent Hill
I told you from the beginning that some of these made the list because of nostalgia, and Silent Hill is absolutely one of them. Completely disregard the movies that trashed the storyline by Revelations, and consider how creepy this game was when it first came out. Choppy, hard to distinguish graphics, sub-par audio that made white noise even more terrifying, and, of course, those classic PS1 controls. This game would be flawless as a remake, but holds some of its horrific twisted charm in the fact that it’s an older game.
22 Remake: Spyro Reignited Trilogy
We’re considering Spyro Reignited Trilogy a “2019” release because it’s coming out at the end of this year. Come September, Spyro games will be available on nearly every platform (excluding the Switch at this point), but the feisty little purple dragon got his start in 1998 on the original PlayStation.
Old-school and modern gamers alike are psyched about this release because it’s a chance to see upgraded gameplay, new levels, and crazy bosses.
I mean, it’s not like I have it written on the calendar or anything… but I can’t say I’m not counting down the months.
21 No Thanks: Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
Oof, where do we start with this one? It’s not that 2006 games require a remake, since 12 years doesn’t technically make a game applicable for a remake or reboot. The problem with this game was that it tried too hard to be a reboot in celebration of Sonic’s 15th anniversary, and ended up being a failure in part due to the rush of development. Shotty gameplay, noticeable glitches, and a weird, overly complex storyline led to the demise of Sonic’s original remake… it’s one we’d rather not see done again.
20 Reboot: Pokémon For Nintendo Switch
Two new Pokémon games are coming to the Nintendo Switch in November of this year, and are both inspired by the popular Pokémon Go! game. However, we also know now that there’s another Pokémon game on its way and it’s set for a 2019 release date. The next Pokémon will be an RPG that we’re considering a reboot for now, and it’s one we’re pretty pumped about. Rumors have gone around that the game is actually a reboot having to do with Kanto, but until it’s confirmed we’ll just applaud the news of more Pokémon catching.
19 No Thanks: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
Elder Scrolls rocked the world with its RPG capabilities and made players feel like they were actually part of the story they were playing. It was fully customizable with formidable opponents, hilarious glitches that occasionally made fighting a breeze, and a fairly simple leveling-up system. This game doesn’t need a remake because it would inevitably lose all its PS3/Xbox 360 charm, and let’s be honest… it’s much funnier having a horse when you’re sliding, stationary, down a mountainside on it. Plus, Elder Scrolls VI is on the way and we’re prepping our battle axes.
18 Remake: Bowser’s Inside Story
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story and Bowser Jr.’s Journey are making their way to Nintendo DS in 2019. While Bowser’s Inside Story came to the DS in 2009, with Mario and Luigi will finding themselves the victims of Bowser’s unfortunate digestive tract, Bowser Jr.’s Journey is a never-before-told RPG that will take players in a different direction. It’ll be a great chance for DS fans to play Bowser’s Inside Story if they haven’t yet, and a cool expansion option for current fans of the game.
17 No Thanks: Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Majora’s Mask is one of the greatest Zelda games ever made. Change my mind. Just kidding, because you can’t. While a remake of this game would inevitably be amazing and probably somewhat mindblowing considering how we’ve all seen and drooled over Breath of the Wild, the nostalgia is strong with this one.
There’s just something about the midi-style music and pixelated graphics that hold it near and dear to my heart, as well as the hearts of every other Zelda fan.
16 No Thanks: Kingdom Hearts I
With the highly (HIGHLY) anticipated release date of Kingdom Hearts III coming out in January, whether or not the series will eventually see a reboot is a pretty valid question. After seeing the graphics that elevate and completely transform the third installment, we lost our minds thinking of how smooth, flawless, and uninterrupted the gameplay will be.
The question is, would we ask the same of the first game? The answer is no… never.
Donald never healing you, the slight delay in jump attacks, and avant-garde voice acting is what makes the game a cult classic.
15 Remake: Fear Effect Reinvented
This title is due to be released at some point this year, release date still pending. Earlier in the year, devs reassured fans that the remake is going well and is still undergoing production but also teased a new episode that will keep fans held over until the remake. The episode is called Fear Effect Sedina, and it takes place after the first game. Four years after the first game, to be exact. Fans will recognize many of the same characters and it’s a nice little segway before the big remake gets announced.
14 No Thanks: FFIX
I know this is an unpopular opinion in the truest definition of the term, but I can’t help it… I’m a purist. As someone who immediately fell in love with the word bubbles, turn-based attacks, and bosses who still looked wicked and calculating in PS2 graphics, the idea of a FFIX remake is a slight turn-off.
I find that the charm is in the old-school gameplay as well as how endearing the characters manage to be without voice acting.
It allows your imagination to fill in the blanks and that’s something I value in all older Final Fantasy games.
13 No Thanks: Doom
The original Doom was said to be the pioneer for many games that followed in its footsteps. Back in 1993, if you weren’t playing Doom or had at least heard of it, it’s almost like you weren’t a gamer at all. Even today, Doom is still referenced in its early 90s throwback glory, and that’s why this horror game, while it would make for a crazy remake, is best left alone. It’s part of gaming history and some things are just better left to their original glory.
12 Remake: Final Fantasy VII
Oh boy, here’s a hot-button topic. Many fans found themselves in an uproar after Squenix’s showcase upon being left with not a single piece of FFVII Remake news (myself included). While we can spend all the time in the world in a never-ending rage-quit protesting Square Enix, Tetsuya Nomura always seems to be three steps ahead of his fans.
I mean, considering he came up with the entire story for Kingdom Hearts that’s spanned almost two decades, the man is a game-developing genius.
There’s no release date yet, but he has confirmed the game is “further along” than we think.
11 No Thanks: Lemmings
How many of you would come home after school in the mid-90s and immediately jump on the computer to see what level you could get to in Lemmings before their heads exploded? Take me back the days of DOS games, where graphics didn’t matter and the 8-bit music was everything. Lemmings was the all-American pastime for kids in the 90s and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Also, kudos to those who actually finished the game without self-destructing.
We’ll pass on a remake just because… well, head explosions are better in dozens of rainbow-colored pixels.
10 No Thanks: Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
For the same reason that myself and others would reject a Majora’s Mask remake, Ocarina of Time was great in all its Nintendo 64 glory, if that was your chosen console. Since the release of Breath of the Wild on the Switch, a remake of two of the greatest Zelda games became somewhat obsolete since we’ve already seen how good new Zelda games can be. For this one, we’ll just hold onto our Link-inspired nostalgia for a little bit longer.
9 Remake: Catherine
Atlas completely wrecked the JRPG world with the release of Persona 5 which was a long-time coming. After Persona 4 which was somewhat, but really nothing, like Persona 5, it was a welcome and appreciated update and change. For those who don’t know, Catherine is a super scandalous game that’s currently undergoing some major renovations; as of the end of 2017, it was at a 50% completion rate. We can only hope for a 2019 release of the intricate and somewhat strange game as only Atlas can deliver.
8 No Thanks: GoldenEye 007
August of 1997 was an exciting time for fans of shooters since it was the year that GoldenEye 007 came out. Fans of James Bond rejoiced as they powered up the Nintendo 64 consoles to play either a multiplayer witch hunt or play through the intense storyline. We’re going to go ahead and say no to a remake of this, if only for the sake of kids who spent the ends of their summers immersed in the world of undercover agents.
7 Reboot: Devil May Cry 5
With a decade since the last Devil May Cry and a bit of mixed reception, devs said the Devil May Cry 5 is an effort to update, modernize, and make still “relevant” the game that is DMC.
Capcom has set the release date for 2019 and what we’ve seen so far is nothing short of a Tokyo Ghoul-esque feel of the upcoming game.
It’s exciting for fans of the series who have long awaited this and definitely a welcome reboot that’s set only years after the 4th installment.
6 No Thanks: Resident Evil I
Resident Evil 1 received outstanding reception when it first hit the gaming scene back in 1996. Similar to Silent Hill, this game’s now underwhelming graphics and classic PlayStation controls might seem irrelevant, but to true fans, we know that breaking out the ‘ol console is the only way to get a proper Resident Evil scare. We’re going to vote no to a potential remake of this game and delight in that that is the Resident Evil 2 remake instead. An original is an original for a reason.
