Game remakes vs remasters: what is the difference?

Game remakes vs remasters: what is the difference?
If you missed out on a classic game when it originally released, there are a number of reasons why you might have a hard time playing it in 2020. For one thing, you might not have the same nostalgic appreciation of the game as those who played it at the time, which which can sometimes make up for a game's shortcomings when ; doesn't age as well. Second, unless you're content to collect old game consoles, many retro games just don't work with modern machines. If you prefer to evolve over time, maintaining access to old titles is often at the mercy of console manufacturers. While facilitating backwards compatibility is the traditional way of providing gamers with access to their old game collections, developers and publishers have found a more preferable and cost-effective method: through remasters and remakes. Restored classic games are now commonplace, with several classics reappearing on our tablets and hard drives in the form of "HD Editions", "Remasters", and "Remakes". With so much unfamiliar marketing jargon attached to our favorite games, it's not always clear what's changed between the original version and these new ones. If you're a little confused by all this, don't worry. We are here to (simply) break down the differences between remakes and remasters of the game.

Remasters: a paint job

Final Fantasy XII: Age of the Zodiac

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age went beyond a simple `` HD remaster '' & # 39; & # 39; (Image credit: Square Enix) The term "remaster" is something that is used in multimedia as a whole, the term has meaning when it comes to music and film. Remastering usually involves improving the quality of an original "master" version, which means that the source structure is simply improved, rather than modified. In video games this same rule generally applies, the most popular form of remastering is based on fidelity and resolution. Simply put, remastering an old game will make it look less like pixelated vomit on your fancy new TV. Despite this simple definition, remasters can still vary in quality, which is often due to the effort put into each instance. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have seen a large number of ``HD Remasters'', consisting mainly of ported titles that were previously not compatible with the aforementioned hardware. Apart from upscaling the original title to HD resolution, there is nothing else that sets them apart from their original form. This type of HD upscaling can also be achieved through backwards compatibility or by using additional hardware to upgrade a retro console, as described in our retro gaming guide. Some would argue that this specific type of HD remastering is like stealing someone's bicycle wheels to resell, which we agree with. Fortunately, the art of remastering games has come a long way. Rather than just increasing the resolution, remasters like Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age have reinvigorated the game's textures, performance, and soundtrack. As consumers expect more from their video game remasters, simple ports are becoming less common. As a result, many publishers have ventured not only to add polish, but also to rebuild games from scratch.

Remakes: a world of reimagining

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a completely new game based on the original, while 8's Final Fantasy 2019 Remastered was the same game, only improved in many ways.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an all-new game based on the original, while 8's Final Fantasy 2019 Remastered was the same game, only improved in many ways. (Image credit: Square Enix) The word "remake" basically means an entirely new game based on an earlier game, usually a classic. But there are variations in how it is defined. Rebuild using modern technology
Replays of classic video games could almost be thought of as a paint-by-numbers process. Many of these projects will simply take the loops and mechanical ideas from the original game and rebuild them using modern technology, with better controls and often new assets, the result is usually an experience you know, but much more refined. Great examples of this type of remake are the Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, MediEvil, and Shadow of the Colossus remixes, which in their new guise are visual recreations that look eerily similar to their original retro counterparts, but aren't exactly the same. Also check out the Wii U remake of Zelda: Wind Waker, which has a slightly different art style and adds the option to sail its seas faster. Same idea, different execution
Now though, we're starting to see total remakes that are more than just a better and better version of the original. They are essentially different games, even if they use the same story, decoration, music, art style, or gameplay ideas. We may not have quite gotten it yet, but the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake seems to be a great example, ditching the traditional turn-based antics of the original and instead using the mechanics of modern Final Fantasy titles. Regardless of the full Final Fantasy VII overhaul, Cloud is still looking forward to donning this gorgeous purple dress like he's supposed to. The Resident Evil 2 2019 remake is also designed to mirror as much of the original as possible, but instead of the fixed camera angles of the 1998 version, it's a shooter. third person with more modern shoulder. This approach shows how you can give people a comfortable dose of nostalgia while creating a top-tier game for today's gamers. It's no surprise that Resident Evil 3 gets the same treatment. Expect to see more of this type of remake in the coming years.

Identity crisis

MediEvil

Some people have wondered if MediEvil should be a remaster or a remake (Image credit: Sony) If one thing is certain, it's that restored nostalgia sells. The recent wave of retro PSone recreations has marked a new culture within the industry, one of which chooses to use modern technological standards to breathe fresh air into franchises. classics and reintroduce them to a new audience. When trying to differentiate between a remaster '' & # 39; & # 39; y un remake '' can be a bit technically confusing at times, it should be noted that trying to use these tags as absolutes is probably never accurate, in which case you'd be better off adjusting your expectations. The only absolutes in this dynamic industry are those old games on their shelf that have already been created and mastered, no matter how disappointed they are in their modern resurrection.