Demon’s Souls

We’re talking the 2009 original not the 2020 remake. Demon’s Souls suffered through troubled development due to unfocused vision before meeting lukewarm reception following its demo reveal, with the most seething criticism decrying a game with unreasonably difficult gameplay and outdated world design. Well, how wrong was that?! Combat and world-building ended up being the very things Demon’s Souls drew acclaim for, establishing the FromSoft blueprint for Dark Souls and beyond.     

]]> 605936 https://gamingbolt.com/15-single-player-games-from-the-2000s-that-have-aged-really-well Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:51:22 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=604773 In a time when single player campaigns weren’t shaped or undermined by their online counterparts, the games released from 2000 to 2009 exhibited innovativeness in terms of gameplay and story (and sometimes both), with the fifteen featured here all standing the test of time.

Grand Theft Auto IV

With the hype surrounding GTA VI plus GTA: The Trilogy’s semi-recent release, GTA IV’s foray through Liberty City’s grimy suburbs has become an outcast. Granted, most of you have completed Niko Bellic’s rise through LC’s criminal underworld already but take a moment to remember it’s surprisingly emotional story, of Bellic desperately outrunning his past in pursuit of a better life for him and his family. If you’ll allow us to describe it as such, its arguably the most relatable narrative in GTA’s canon.   

]]> 604773 https://gamingbolt.com/15-ps3-games-that-would-absolutely-shine-as-ps5-remakes Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:34:50 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=582654 Despite the lack of first party exclusives this year, the PlayStation 5 has been absolutely killing it with its PS3 remakes such as the likes of Demon’s Souls and The Last of Us Part 1, but there are so many more games of that generation that deserve to get that treatment as well. With this feature, we take a look at 15 such games that need to be remade for the PS5. We have quite a bit to cover, so let’s dive right into it.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 

After a strong start with the first game, Naughty Dog really came into its own element with the sequel. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves told an enthralling story punctuated with thrilling set pieces and memorable characters, and it’s a game that surprisingly holds up well to this date. A PlayStation 5 remake could take full advantage of current-gen horsepower and deliver stunning visuals and smoothed-out gameplay, making for an experience that would feel completely new and fresh.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid is making a comeback with an upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but the entry that is in the most desperate need of a remake has to be Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. And that’s not just for introducing the game to a new audience, but also because Metal Gear Solid 4 is locked on the PS3 and there is no legitimate way for current-gen console owners to enjoy this classic. We are hoping that the next remake after Delta Snake Eater will be this one, so there’s no harm in keeping your fingers crossed as well.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 

Before Ninja Theory worked on Hellblade and eventually got acquired by Microsoft, it delivered an amazing action adventure in the form of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Released in 2010, Enslaved was a game that provided a fresh take on the classic novel Journey to the West. With its interesting gameplay ideas based on cooperation and fresh world design, Enslaved was a game that had plenty of merits to its name. Of course, it wasn’t a flawless experience by any means – which is why we need a remake for this classic. Ninja Theory could use its current-gen technology and learnings from subsequent projects to create a game that’s bigger and better than the original in every regard.

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar Games delivered an amazing Wild West epic with Red Dead Redemption. John Marston’s tale of redemption is worth experiencing through to the end, but sadly it’s a game that’s locked on the PS3 and Xbox. While there is a remastered version available for current-gen consoles, it’s a barebones port that is in dire need of substantial improvement. As such, having a ground-up remake for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S would be really appreciated by both returning fans and those who played Red Dead Redemption 2.

Dead Space 2

EA Motive delivered an excellent reimagining of the first Dead Space with its recent remake, and we can’t help but ask for a similar remake of the second game as well. Fans of the franchise would agree that Dead Space 2 was the series at its absolute peak, and getting to experience all that through a new lens is something that has us salivating at the very thought of it all. Given the success of the first remake, it’s obviously possible that something like this might happen in the near future – so keep your fingers crossed. 

Fallout 3

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic US, Fallout 3 takes players on an unforgettable journey filled with tons of meaningful quests and characters that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite those merits, it’s not easy to play Fallout 3 for players accustomed to modern gaming conveniences – which is why we so desperately need a remake of this classic. With no new single-player Fallout game in sight, we could do with a reimagining of Fallout 3 for the time being.

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs might feel like a cheap GTA clone at first glance, but the moment you look past that initial veneer – you will find a surprisingly fun open world with a complex web of different mechanics that come together to create something special. It’s well and truly a game of its time, and it deserves to be re-introduced to a brand new audience with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a difficult task considering that the original developer United Front Games closed its doors in 2012, but there’s no harm in having some hopes. Right?

Resistance: Fall of Man

Insomniac Games’ Resistance series was Sony’s answer to Microsoft’s Gears of War, and the similarities ranging from a post-apocalyptic backdrop to the opposing alien forces are readily apparent. But despite those similarities, Resistance: Fall of Man is a solid first-person shooter with plenty of spectacle and set pieces which makes it such a great game to remake at a time when PlayStation is known for its cinematic blockbuster experiences. Apart from that, Sony has a very evident lack of first-person shooters in its roster of exclusive IPs, so bringing Resistance back would also help diversify its portfolio.

Vanquish 

PlatinumGames is known for its slick action and spectacle like seen in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and Vanquish is a game that’s emblematic of those very strengths. This third-person action game features a rather unique gameplay loop that makes cover-based shooting an extremely fun activity through the use of power slides and slow motion, and it’s a game that has surprisingly stood the test of time. That being said, not many people actually tried Vanquish back in the day – and a full-fledged remake with modern graphics and smoother animations would be right up the alley of many gamers.

Dark Souls 1

FromSoftware perfected what they started with Demon’s Souls with 2011’s Dark Souls, and it instantly became a game for the history books. Thanks to a meticulously crafted world with distinct levels and memorable boss fights, Dark Souls was able to win the hearts of thousands upon thousands of fans. But it would be wrong to say that Dark Souls doesn’t have its fair share of problems, both stemming from the technology at the time and also a few quirks related to its design. But with a full-fledged remake, FromSoftware can take its learnings and create a game that’s better than before. 

inFamous 1

Sucker Punch Productions of Ghost of Tsushima fame made its reputation as one of Sony’s top talents through the inFamous series, which provided a thrill ride through an open-world filled with interesting missions and side activities alongside a morality system that significantly changes your playstyles and skill trees. The first game has arguably aged the worst, which is why it would require a full-fledged remake for the PS5. 

Motorstorm

Motorstorm was a rather unique offroad racing experience where players get to choose from different vehicle types to win the race. It combines high-octane racing with destruction mechanics to make for an experience that’s unlike anything, and it retains that status even after all these years. Between this and the fact that not a lot of players actually picked it up back in the day, Motorstorm is the perfect candidate for a full-fledged remake that could introduce this experience to a brand-new audience.

L.A. Noire 

L.A. Noire is undoubtedly one of the most creative games in Rockstar’s wide array of open-world offerings, and a lot of that falls down on the impressive detective work that players get to do in the myriad of cases available to solve across its vast space. The developer used cutting-edge facial modeling to make conversations with subjects more meaningful, but many of those ideas were obviously limited by the technology of the time. But now that we have modern engines like Unreal Engine 5 with features like MetaHuman toolkits, a remake of LA Noire could finally fulfill its complete creative vision in earnest.

The Elder Scrolls: IV Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is an expansive RPG with a complex web of systems and dozens of quests for players to complete. It’s safe to say that it was also ahead of its time in so many ways, which is why it is the perfect fit for a full-fledged remake for current-generation systems. Getting to explore the mystical beauty of its world in high definition will be a dream come true for fans of the genre, and while the chances of it all happening anytime soon are pretty slim – we can at least hope.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady’s debut Batman Arkham game might just be its most focused game in the series. Each room in the asylum is meticulously designed, and the interconnected nature of the levels combined with memorable boss fights really makes it feel like a living, breathing place. But it’s also true that the game hasn’t aged all that well after so many years and subsequent entries in the series, so a remake that brings the features and mechanics from modern games would result in an instant hit.

#15. BATMAN: THE ENEMY WITHIN

The first iteration of Telltale Games had a spotty track record with licensed properties in its latter years, but one in particular where the studio knocked it out of the work was Batman. And though the first Telltale Batman game was solid enough in its own right, its sequel, The Enemy Within, took things to much greater heights. Its portrayal and characterization of Batman and the Joker deserves all the praise in the world, and the complex, nuanced dynamic between the two characters is something every Batman fan needs to experience.

Alongside being available on the Nintendo Switch for the first time, the collection of Batman: Arkham games will also include every DLC that has been released for the three games so far, including all story DLC and the smaller costume DLC. Interestingly, Batman: Arkham Origins is missing from the bundle.

The last game in the critically acclaimed series, Batman: Arkham Knight, was released on June 2015. While all three games have seen quite a bit of critical and commercial release, Batman: Arkham Knight was regarded as the most divisive entry in the trilogy, thanks to an added emphasis on vehicular combat that makes use of the Batmobile.

Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid)

Metal Gear Solid has a reputation for featuring boss fights that defy player expectations – and Psycho Mantis is definitely one such fight that really shocked gamers back in the day. You see, Psycho Mantis will always evade your moves since he’s reading them directly from the controller – which makes it impossible to damage the boss at first. Psycho Mantis can also read your memory card, and his dialogues will reflect what saves are present on your card.

The solution to beating him is to switch the controller from port 1 to port 2, which makes him open to attacks. Once that’s done, this boss fight becomes ridiculously easy and you can easily gun him down and get on with the story. On repeat playthroughs when you know what needs to be done, Psycho Mantis becomes a very silly albeit creative boss fight that poses little to no threat to the player.

Keiji Shibusawa – Yakuza 0

There’s only room for one Dragon of Dojima in Yakuza 0 and unfortunately for Keiji Shibusawa, it’s not him. The patriarch of Yakuza 0’s Shibusawa family, he’s usually portrayed as someone with a mind for business. However, this hides his sheer ruthlessness as witnessed when he set out to kill the Kazama family. The final battle sees Kiryu nearly kill Shibusawa but Nishiki would intervene, thus ensuring that Keiji went to jail.

Half-Life – Surface Tension

Surface Tension is many things. It’s perhaps the biggest level in Half-Life and a culmination of Gordon Freeman’s escape from Black Mesa. But the brilliance of its design is perhaps underscored by how chaotically controlled everything is. Marines are fighting aliens as helicopters, tanks and turrets litter the area. Freeman must battle all of this, surviving ambushes, navigating across cliffs and much more. It’s tense, exciting and highlights the stellar AI.

Yesterday, we reported that a Batman: Arkham Collection had been leaked by Amazon UK for the PS4 and the Xbox One, compiling Rocksteady’s trilogy of superhero games into one package. Now, it’s been confirmed by Rocksteady’s marketing manager Gaz Deaves (via VG247) that the leak is real, and that the collection is indeed coming in September. Here’s the catch though- it’s only coming to Europe.

The collection, as detailed in Amazon’s listing, will including Batman: Arkham Knight and the Return to Arkham collection, which includes remastered versions of both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. Arkham Knight will also come with the Earth 2 Dark Knight skin, making this the first time that it’s made available to European audiences, having released exclusively in North America previously.

Of course, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment continues to pretend like the excellent prequel Batman: Arkham Origins – developed by Warner Bros’ Montreal studio – doesn’t exist. We’ll just have to keep on praying that the overlooked gem also eventually gets ported over to current gen hardware.

Batman: Arkham might be a series that won’t be seeing any sequels in the near future, but that doesn’t mean Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is completely done with it. Amazon UK has put up a listing for Batman Arkham Collection for the PS4 and the Xbox One, supposedly due out later this year, which means we could be about to revisit the Caped Crusader’s antics across Arkham Asylum and Gotham City very soon (via Gematsu).

The listing mentions that the collection will include Batman: Arkham Knight’s Game of the Year edition, in addition to the Return to Arkham collection, which itself included Arkham Asylum and Arkham City in remastered form for current-gen hardware. Disappointingly enough, there’s no mention of Warner Bros. Montreal’s excellent and criminally overlooked Arkham Origins, which remains unplayable on current gen hardware except through backward compatibility on the Xbox One.

The listing also mentions that the retail release of the collection will come with a steelbook case, and that on the PS4 it will include an “Earth to Dark Knight” skin.

Retailer listings can often end up being accurate leaks for unannounced releases, but then again, often they can be inaccurate too- so take this with a pinch of salt for now. In any case, it’s not like this is the first time an Arkham collection has been leaked.