Resident Evil (2002)

The original Resident Evil was a groundbreaking title, mixing together survival and horror in a way that was never seen before. The PlayStation version was a product of its time, and the developer remastered it for the GameCube generation with a significant overhaul to its visuals and several quality-of-life changes. The fixed camera angles meant better pre-baked reflections and textures, making the visuals a step above what was possible with a free camera.

Developed by Toys for Bob and released in 2018, Spyro Reignited Trilogy contains remakes of the first three titles in the series – Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. While the visuals are heavily revamped (and still look gorgeous), the layout and size of the levels remain similar to the original titles.

Certain gameplay elements like skill points and rolling have been standardized across all three titles. Spyro Reignited Trilogy has sold over ten million units since its launch and garnered extensive critical acclaim. Check out our review here. It’s also playable on PS4 and Nintendo Switch alongside Xbox One and PC. A new mainline title was rumored to be in development, but nothing has officially been announced.

Over on the Exputer forums, prominent leaker eXtas1s has claimed that Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will be releasing for Game Pass sometime in August, though it’s unknown if it will be playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming as well. Interestingly enough, the same has been corroborated by Windows Central as well.

Meanwhile, the leaker claims that the trilogy of Crash remakes will be joined by fellow platforming remake trilogy Spyro Reignited Trilogy, as well as beloved remake duology Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. It’s unknown, however, whether they will also release for the service in August.

The leaker goes on to say that they currently have no information on when we can expect Call of Duty games to begin being added to the Game Pass catalog. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will, of course, launch day 1 for the service this October, but it remains to be seen how long we’ll be waiting for prior instalments in the series to follow suit.

15. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty!

Oddworld has always been something of a niche series, and thankfully the remake of 1997’s Abe’s Odyssey hasn’t lost that unique charm. New ‘n’ Tasty successfully takes the janky early 3D game and brushes it up to 2014 polish with modern HD graphics. The clearest demonstration of this polish is the much-improved level flow thanks to the elimination of screen partisions in favor of seamless platforming. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is the best way to play the 1997 classic today, and it helped pave the way for a wider Oddworld audience.

 14. The Last of Us Part 1

The Last of Us Part 1 took one of the greatest games of all time and made it even better. The graphical improvements showcase the power of PS5 hardware with remarkably dense foliage and improved animations across the board. AI got a substantial overhaul as well, as companions help you fight off the improved enemy AI. And as if the enhanced AI didn’t bolster the challenge enough, The Last of Us Part 1 features a speedrun mode that tracks your time per chapter. The Last of Us Part 1 may not be the most needed remake in the world, but it sure stands as one of the most impressive.

13. Shadow of the Colossus

2018’s Shadow of the Colossus is another example of a 1-to-1 faithful remake that doesn’t distance itself far from the original. As expected, Bluepoint Games updated the graphics to modern standards. The result is a truly transformed vision of the classic PS2 game where the slightest change in lighting can give a totally unique ambiance from the original. Best of all, the controls are vastly improved with a bevy of convenience features the original lacked.

12. Star Fox 64 3DS

Who doesn’t love Star Fox 64? It’s such an easy game to pick up and play, and the 3DS remake makes it even easier with its portability. Star Fox 64 looks amazing on the 3DS, with some of the most attractive 3D visuals on the system. By and large, Star Fox 64 3DS is a faithful remake of the arcade shooter original with a host of cool enhancements. The orchestrated soundtrack is easy to love, and the new Score Attack mode is a fun way to replay all those classic levels with added challenge and rewards.

11. System Shock

1994’s seminal System Shock redefined what a shooter can be and helped create the immersive sim genre. Fast-forward to 2023 and the remake is just as fascinating and immersive as it was back in the day. 2023’s System Shock is by far the best way to experience the game. The gunplay is worlds apart from the janky original with tight and snappy controls and a convenient interface. The sub-par music is fully redone here with an ambient soundtrack that accompanies the HD graphics wonderfully. System Shock gets the royal treatment in this faithful remake, even keeping the backtracking in the original. There’s never been a better time to experience System Shock, especially with the console release dropping in a couple of months and the sequel coming soon.

10. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

Metal Gear Solid had some rough gameplay segments on the PS1. Pseudo-tank controls compounded some of the game’s backtracking issues and made it a slog at times. Well, the remake smooths those control issues over with the wonderful Gamecube control stick scheme and gameplay lifted from Metal Gear Solid 2. Twin Snakes also adds updated cutscenes, which serve to fill in transitions and add more comedy relief to the game. Best of all was the improved graphics to the jagged polygonal PS1 original. Metal Gear Solid has some of gaming’s most hardcore fans, so this remake didn’t satisfy all of them, but it certainly did go over well for most and helped pave the way forward for future entries in the series.

9. Yakuza Kiwami

Yakuza Kiwami is a faithful remake of the very first Yakuza, many systems and general story connectivity from Yakuza 0. Goro Majima is a recurring character in a quest chain that delighted and bewildered us in equal measure. And the inclusion of Yakuza 0’s pocket racer and many minigame don’t hurt the remake either. All in all, Yakuza Kiwami stands as the most quintessential remake in the series, making for a quirky but fantastic sequel to fan-favorite Yakuza 0.

8. Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories has long been the ugly duck of the popular series. The original Chain of Memories released on the Game Boy Advance, which just further distanced players from accepting it. But when the remake came out, it was suddenly accepted as a must-play (or watch) entry. Without hyperbole, RE: Chain of Memories supplies the best narrative of all the Kingdom Hearts games. The compelling mystery surrounding Castle Oblivion and the sinister Organization 13 get their HD treatment in this remake with full voice acting. If you want the true KH story experience, you owe it to yourself to play RE: Chain of Memories … or just watch the brilliant cutscenes.

7. Dead Space (2023)

The 2023 remake of the original Dead Space is without a doubt one of the most intense gaming experiences out there. The inclusion of enhanced DualSense rumble facilitates the ultra-detailed visuals to a scary degree. Most of you already know just how phenomenal the original Dead Space is, so imagine that but turned up several notches. I particularly appreciate the added nuance they added to Isaac Clarke and other characters’ personalities. There’s just the right amount of small additional details to fill in story gaps of the original without taking away its lean pacing and tension. Dead Space‘s remake is one of the best showcases of how modern hardware can enhance a masterpiece, and just how intense and visceral gaming in general can be.

6. Ratchet And Clank (2016)

Three years may not seem like a long time, but up until 2013, Insomniac was releasing a new Ratchet and Clank like clockwork every year. The three years of silence was broken with the first PS4 Ratchet and Clank title, and it was a remake of the very first entry to boot. 2016’s Ratchet and Clank remains the smoothest action-platformer game I’ve ever played. Sure, Rift Apart for PS5 featured next-gen tech with the new dimensional rift gun, but you just can’t beat the simplicity and excellent pacing of the remade original game. The planet of Rilgar is a highlight in the series I’ll never forget, not least of all due to the fun hoverboard minigame and pixelizer gun. Ratchet and Clank 2016 is my favorite game in the series due to its tight pacing and excellent recreation of the original’s unmatched level design.

5. Spyro Reignited Trilogy

It’s not cheating to have three games for one entry since that’s how Spyro Reignited is packaged, and what a sweet deal it is. The Spyro Reignited trilogy faithfully recreates the first three games in the Spyro series with fluid controls and completely redone graphics and physics. Each of the dragons is fully voiced and the music is completely redone while remaining faithful. Toys from Bob nailed the visual aesthetic with Spyro Reignited, giving the old PS1 series Pixar-level attention to detail. This is as faithful as remakes get, so don’t expect new or changed content here. That adherence to the original source is what makes this remake so special and deserving of a high spot on this list. Out of all the entries here, Spyro Reignited may just be the one hardest to find criticism for due to its straightforward 1-for-1 approach.

4. Black Mesa

Black Mesa is a remake of the original Half-Life, built within Half-Life 2’s engine. The well-optimized controls of the original weren’t bad to begin with, but they’re made even better with the polished Half-Life 2 tech. It’s more than just a graphical and controls overhaul though, many areas have been redesigned to feature a more balanced enemy and weapon layout. One of the biggest flaws of the original was the final area, Xen, which got completely redesigned into a very fun and well-paced level with Black Mesa. If you’re a Half-Life fan, or just a shooter fan in general, Black Mesa is a must-play for its adherence to the source material and dedication to fixing its flaws.

3. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

RPG fans rejoice, the decade-old promise of a fully fleshed and remade Final Fantasy 7 has been fulfilled. The developer has somehow managed to squeeze a blown-up HD version of the middle portion of Final Fantasy 7 into a single game. Iconic locales such as Costa Del Sol and the infamous Gold Saucer amusement park are blown up to a glorious HD scale without losing any of their original charm. It’s a faithful remake that expands on the story elements of the original in ways the PS1 couldn’t quite communicate. The acting, soundtrack, and deep battle system continue to blow me away 150 hours later.

2. Super Mario 64 DS

Super Mario 64 is one of those classics all gamers speak fondly about, yet hesitate to return to. Whether due to the rough N64 controls or the terrible camera system, the original has aged rather poorly. That’s where the Nintendo DS remake comes in. Controls are vastly improved and the camera is downright perfect for its 3D environs. Super Mario 64 DS was the first time me and many other fans experienced the awe of added content to a beloved classic. The remake added 30 new stars, totaling 150 for the full game. Super Mario 64 DS is the definitive way to play this classic; I just wish it was available on a modern platform so more could experience it.

1. Resident Evil 2 (2019)

Pretty much every modern remake owes something to 2019’s Resident Evil 2. The RE2 remake established a new benchmark of what it means to take an original game and polish it to modern specifications while expanding and adding to it. Characters such as William Birkin and Chief Irons receive substantial development compared to the original, and the narrative cohesively ties into the wider Resident Evil setting following the events of RE2. Obviously, the tank controls of the original had to go in favor of precise over-the-shoulder shooting. In addition to the rich expansions on the original content, the remake adds a 4^th Survival mode and dozens of unlockable secrets ranging from new playable characters to an unbreakable knife for future playthroughs. Resident Evil 2 shines as an example of how to remake a classic game, earning it the top spot for the second year in a row.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

As reported by SF Chronicle, state filings in California have revealed that Activision Blizzard is laying off 86 employees at a studio headquartered in Novato at 4 Hamilton Landing- which is the address of Toys for Bob’s office. Toys for Bob is, of course, the creator of the Skylanders franchise, and has also developed Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon titles, including, in recent years, the likes of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Crash Team Rumble, and Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

In addition to losing a significant portion of its workforce, Toys for Bob is also shutting down its office. However, as reported on Twitter by Windows Central’s Jez Corden and Seasoned Gaming’s editor-in-chief Ainsley Bowden, the developer isn’t shutting down, with the closure of its physical office suggesting that it will be going fully remote- at least on a temporary basis, until it relocates to a smaller (and presumably cheaper) office.

Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games has also reduced its workforce significantly as part of Microsoft’s layoffs, having let go over 70 of its employees. Previously, it was reported that, due to the layoffs, Blizzard Entertainment’s unannounced survival game had also been cancelled after over six years of development.

I also got confirmation that Toys for Bob is not closing down. https://t.co/UQzxRzudpf

— Jez (@JezCorden) February 8, 2024

Taking to Twitter, in celebration of Spyro the Dragon’s 25th anniversary – which is coming up on September 9 – Activision announced via the series’ official page that Spyro Reignited Trilogy has hit a major sales milestone, with over 10 million units sold worldwide across all platforms.

In our review of Spyro Reignited Trilogy upon its launch in 2018, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Style and substance make Spyro Reignited Trilogy an incredibly compelling package, for fans and newcomers alike.” You can read the full review through here.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

https://twitter.com/SpyroTheDragon/status/1697658224348967118

Mafia: Definitive Edition

After the Definitive Editions for Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 released with numerous issues, there was concern for Mafia: Definitive Edition especially since it’s a full-fledged remake. Fortunately, Hangar 13 has exhibited true love and care in updating the classic. The graphics have been significantly improved, especially with the new lighting engine; more story sequences have been added; and even the layout between objectives has been redesigned. So if you’ve ever wanted to experience Tommy Angelo’s rise through crime, this is the way to do it.

Nemesis – Resident Evil 3

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the redesign for Nemesis in the upcoming Resident Evil 3 is pretty twisted. While the original looked frightening enough, the remake stretches its lower jaw skin further while resembling the T-103 more (which itself very much resembling Mr. X). It’s a natural evolution and reflects the extreme nature of the Pursuer.

Octopus BT – Death Stranding

This is the first time Sam meets Higgs, the latter hamming it up as best as he can. Afterwards, Higgs summons a monstrous octopus BT to battle you. It’s threatening enough but not really. Stay on the rooftops and keep throwing Hematic Grenades. Despite all the flailing, it’s not really that aggressive and can be dealt with from a distance in almost comically easy fashion.

Shadow of the Colossus

Bluepoint Games always had a stellar reputation for ports before this. However, Shadow of the Colossus veered straight into remake territory, featuring completely overhauled textures, an improved control scheme and much more, bringing new life to this timeless classic. If you haven’t experienced the magic of Shadow of the Colossus, now’s a good time to start.

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