The idea of repurposing and bringing back a beloved videogame gamers enjoy is a tumultuous task. Many developers are careful not to compromise the original version's vision and they do all they can to make their updated versions as brilliant as they can possibly be. Then there are the remasters, remakes and reboots that totally squander their attempts by producing buggy and broken experiences or otherwise games that completely fail to live up to the original's standards. There are a myriad of ways attempts at videogame refinements can go wrong and that's what we're here for-to take a look at examples of the worst remakes, remasters and reboots in order to assess where they went so wrong and whether there is any merit still left in them whatsoever. In order to achieve this articles will be split up into a three to create trilogy format-don't go expecting a Lord of The Rings style epic here but you will get a thorough evaluation of the worst Remakes, Remasters and Reboots you can be sure of that. Before we get there though this will be a primer of what is to come- a short overview of what to expect and a look at the games that will be included. So strap in and hold on tight things about to get rocky-no not like the film series either.
There's no doubt about it, when a videogame we love doesn't get the revision treatment it deserves it can be very disappointing and frustrating. Our expectations are that the newer version of the game we loved would see substantial improvements in graphics, gameplay, design and presentation and when those hopes are dashed you'll be looking at a game that will probably go down in infamy as one of the worst examples of its kind. A reboot should revitalize a once-dormant franchise and make us fall in love with it all over again, a remaster should upgrade the original's base experience with reasonable aesthetic enhancements and a remake should give us a complete facelift along with a richer and more rewarding experience than the original was even capable of. To get none of what we require leaves our memories of the original to fall back on-not that that's a bad thing, but we want those games to be celebrated, commemorated and preserved meaningfully and to end up with anything less is truly disappointing.
So what games will be featured in this trilogy you say? Well you can expect to see failed examples of all three that have sprang up over the course of the last decade or so with a few exceptions-but primarily the focus will be largely around the PS4/Xbox One generation with the chance of a few Nintendo-related offerings showing up too. From the horrid Mafia II: Definitive Edition to the very disappointing GRID Reboot and the wayward Conker: Live & Reloaded-there are plenty of poor videogame revisions to gawk and moan at. Some examples failed because they misrepresented what the original stood for and others failed on a technical level-they're all a showcase of badly updated games.
So let's all celebrate the failures to reignite the original flames of which these reboots, remasters and remakes have sparked. Together we'll toast and tip one back to the games that did so much to steer themselves away from the original creations. Along the way it will be treacherous but ultimately we'll arrive at a destination of clarity whereby we will understand what can threaten to make these kinds of games so bad. Until then take heed and get ready for bedlam.