Enhanced remake
In the video game subculture, an enhanced remake is an updated version of a video game that was originally developed for a less advanced system. Enhanced remakes are sometimes called "updated classics." They are also known as "Super Mario All-Stars format", because the idea originated in Super Mario All-Stars. Remakes with resolution upgrades are called high-resolution remakes. The enhanced remake idea was introduced by the Mario franchise during the 16-bit era and popularized during the 128-bit era. It has also been considered part of the tradition of the Dragon Quest franchise.The basic features of an enhanced remake are graphical and audio enhancements (or "facelifts"). The methods of graphical enhancement include re-touching, decompression, polygon upgrade, texturization or texture resolution upgrade, and two-dimensional to three-dimensional transformation (hence three-dimensional remakes). Audio enhancements include new music, better sound quality, and remixes of the old music. Sometimes extra levels or other features are added, and the game engine may be improved. The original versions of the remade games are usually not included with the remakes. One exception is that the original Gameboy monochrome version of Makaitoushi SaGa (or Final Fantasy Legend) was included on the same cartridge as the Wonderswan Color remake.
Enhanced remakes occur mostly on video game consoles. They have occurred mostly during the 128-bit era. The system that the game is being enhanced from is called the source system, and the system it is been enhanced for is called the target system. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is the source system for many remakes.
The earliest enhanced remakes are 16-bit remakes of 8-bit games. Also, occassionally games that were originally released only in Japan are remade and re-released in the West, most notably and Final Fantasy II of Final Fantasy Origins. (See also Fan translation.)
Some examples of enhanced remakes include Super Mario All-Stars (from NES to Super NES) and Final Fantasy Origins (from NES to Wonderswan Color to Sony PlayStation). The enhanced remakes of Dragon Warrior I-IV were Japan-only, but later unofficially translated into English.
Sometimes, a publisher makes an unauthorized copy of another publisher's game. This "remake" is called a "clone". Making and publishing a clone is legal if no copyright or patent covers any essential aspect of the game (for example, Tetris), as long as the clone is published under a name that is not confusingly similar. Most clones, however, do not fall under this rule and are illegal. Some are even pirated versions of the game they are supposedly remaking.
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2 Related Ideas 3 List of enhanced remakes |
Many gamers find that enhanced remakes achieve the same level of quality that the original versions did, but some others (mostly Final Fantasy fans) oppose the idea on grounds that games lose something in the transformation to newer technology. Others claim that enhanced remakes overshadow their original versions.
Contrariwise, some gamers believe that enhanced remakes gives games something vital, and place high value on large enhancements. Other gamers prefer the original version (usually out of nostalgia) but believe that the enhanced version lives up to its quality. In many cases, the remakes make old games more accessible to new players, who might not even be aware of the original. Most gamers, however, are neutral.
This list does not include reissues (or direct ports) of original games, nor does it include clones:
Controversy
Related Ideas
List of enhanced remakes
| Game Title | Original Platform | Remake Platforms and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Castlevania | NES | Sharp X68000 (Japan-only), Sony PlayStation, Super NES |
| Crystalis | NES | Game Boy Color |
| Dinosaur | Various popular Japanese computer systems (such as the PC-8801, PC-9801, and FM-TOWNS in 1990 | PC in 2002, for Windows, as Dinosaur: Resurrection - It is a first-person "adventure RPG" with a presentation akin to Arcana/Cardmaster for the SNES/Super Famicom. No version of the game has ever been translated into English. |
| Dr. Mario | NES, Game Boy(Monochrome) | Super NES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube |
| Dragon Warrior I | MSX, NES (MSX version Japan-only) | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version), cellular phone (MSX and cellular phone versions Japan-only) |
| Dragon Warrior II | MSX, NES (MSX version Japan-only) | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version). Bundled with the precedent entry when remade. |
| Dragon Warrior III | NES | Super NES (translated into English through emulation), Game Boy Color (adapted from Super NES version) |
| Dragon Warrior IV | NES | Sony PlayStation (Japan only) |
| Dragon Warrior V | Super NES (original version Japan-only) | Sony PlayStation 2 (This version may get localized to North America. Resolution upgrade due to the traditional resolution of the new platform. Remake has an orchestrated soundtrack, performed by NHK Symphony Orchestra. Other Dragon Quest games up to Dragon Quest VII are likely to be remade in the same fashion due to an orchestral arrangement plan by composer Koichi Sugiyama.) |
| Final Fantasy I | NES | MSX, Wonderswan Color, Sony PlayStation (enhanced from Wonderswan Color version), cellular phone, Game Boy Advance (as Part of the recently announced Final Fantasy IÃÂ÷II Advance) |
| Final Fantasy II | NES (original version Japan-only) | Wonderswan Color, Sony PlayStation (Playstation version enhanced from Wonderswan Color version and released in the United States as a component of Final Fantasy Origins), Game Boy Advance (as Part of the recently announced Final Fantasy IÃÂ÷II Advance) |
| Kirby's Adventure | NES | Game Boy Advance (as ) |
| Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Color (as , made over from monochrome to color) | |
| Makaitoushi SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend) | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Wonderswan Color (original version also included, graphics made over from monochrome 8-bit to color 16-bit) |
| Mario Bros | Arcade | Game Boy Advance (as a bonus game on all of the Super Mario Advance games as well as ) |
| Metal Gear Solid | Sony Playstation | Nintendo Gamecube (as ) |
| Metroid | NES | Game Boy Advance (as - graphics improved to Super Metroid quality, additional items added, new section after the original game) |
| Mythri | Game Boy Color | Game Boy Advance |
| Ninja Gaiden | NES | Super NES |
| Ninja Gaiden 2 | NES | Super NES |
| Ninja Gaiden 3 | NES | Super NES |
| Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack) | Super NES | Nintendo GameCube (as a component of Nintendo Puzzle Collection) |
| Phantasy Star | Sega Master System | Sony PlayStation 2 (as Phantasy Star Generation 1) |
| PokÃÂémon Green | Game Boy (Monochrome) (Original version Japan-only) | Game Boy Advance (as PokÃÂémon Leaf Green) |
| PokÃÂémon Red | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Advance (as PokÃÂémon Fire Red) |
| Resident Evil | Sony Playstation | Nintendo Gamecube |
| River City Ransom (Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari | NES | Game Boy Advance (as River City Ransom Advance in the United States and as Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari EX in Japan) |
| Seiken Densetsu (Final Fantasy Adventure) | Game Boy (Monochrome) | Game Boy Advance (as Shinyaku Seiken Densetsu in Japan and as Sword of Mana in the United States. All Final Fantasy elements have been removed.) |
| Super Mario Bros | NES | Super NES |
| Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario Bros. USA) | NES | Super NES, Game Boy Advance |
| NES (original version Japan-only) | Super NES | |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | NES | Super NES, Game Boy Advance |
| Tales of Phantasia | Super NES (All versions Japan-only) | Sony Playstation, Game Boy Advance (All versions Japan-only) |
| Tengai Makyou II | NEC TurboGrafix 16/PC-Engine | Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube |
| Wild Arms | Sony Playstation | Sony Playstation 2 (as ) |
| WinBack | Nintendo 64 | Sony Playstation 2 |
| Ys | NEC PC-88 | Windows, Sony Playstation 2 (as Ys Eternal) |
| Ys II | NEC PC-88 | Windows, Sony Playstation 2 (as Ys II Eternal) |