A lot of games right now are getting the HD-Remake treatment – Street Fighter, Beyond Good and Evil, Final Fight, and so many others. Why? Because they are either classics that have been brought back to live for a new generation or they were unexpected hits that are still needed to played over and over again. I hate to sound like Lisa Foiles, but here is my top five games needed for an HD-Remix.
5) Mega Man X
This classic Super Nintendo/Playstation series which has brought us classic enemies such as Chill Penguin, Magma Dragoon, Spark Mandril, and one of my personal favorites Grizzly Slash is one of the first games that come to mind when thinking about HD-Remakes. Looking back, the overall graphics and presentation were revolutionary for its time and were meant to be seen in the highest quality possible. Picture a fully charged X-Buster flying across the screen in full 1080p HD or any of X’s or Zero’s fully powered moves.
If this game does get released, I see it definitely coming out on all three systems as a download purchase. However, I feel Nintendo will try to do one better – release the game on a disc, but using the full advantage of the Wii-U: activating life and weapons tanks on the fly without pausing the game while Sigma or any of those Mavericks are on the verge of a comeback – all on that big, monitor controller of theirs. Does it even have a proper name yet? Anyway, it would be awesome.
4) Onimusha
Okay, this one I have to explain because it’s been almost a decade since we last heard anything related to the Onimusha series except the fact that they want to make a movie out of it along with Devil May Cry.
This series is in need of the HD-remake for one reason – it still has money making potential. The game play wasn’t revolutionary, but the story line, graphics, and plat forming was some of its best for its time. Many people say that there is no difference between this series and Devil May Cry other than alternative timelines and heroes. Onimusha had four (Samanosuke Akechi, Jubei Yagyu, Jacques Blanc, and Soki) while Devil May Cry had two (Dante and Virgil). So, hey, combo pack – four games in each series, four separate DLCs!
Also, this game came out at a perfect time. Anime and Japanese culture was rising in the United States. It took the classic samurai hero and made him more modern: a demon fighting bad-ass that could become a demon as well.
We should see this as a Playstation Network exclusive with the possibility of going over to Xbox Live depending on sales and demand. However, looking back at history, Onimusha didn’t sell on Xbox and became a Playstation exclusive afterwards.
3) Jade Empire
This kung-fu epic for the original Xbox was Mass Effect before Mass Effect programing got started. Sadly, this game fell under notice with HALO and Ninja Gaiden – the two games becoming king and queen of the Xbox generation. My reason for giving this game the HD-Remake is simple: this game needs a second chance to strive. It brought Chinese mythology to life or as much as true of it as was. However, it was still a pretty good game that had me replaying it over and over again. When I did have an Xbox, it was this and Fable that I would jump between. As soon as I beat one, I would play the other.
This game is the toss-up because it was made by Bio-Ware, however, Microsoft does own it publishing license. Most likely, it would end up a Xbox Live DLC. Playstation fan can only cry for its awesome-ness.
2) Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts
This one I could go into a lengthy discussion and debate about because this is my number two pick. However, I will just give you my main three points.
• The only Final Fantasy games that would be included for an HD-Remake are VIII, IX, and X. All these games would need is a simple smoothing out of the graphics to make the game pop more for an HD audience. Kingdom Hearts would only need the original and the sequel to be brought up for HD.
• Final Fantasy VII can’t be done for a simple HD tune up. It needs a freakin’ overhaul – character redesign (heroes to enemies), rescaled buildings, even more in depth to the weapons.
• Final Fantasy X-2 will not be done or as Sheppard put it “Don’t give them the tail lights.” This game alone got the ‘WTF’ from most FF fans – especially those who are committed to the series.
Finally….
1) Def Jam Vendetta/Fight for NY
Why is this mine number one over Final Fantasy? Final Fantasy wasn’t needed to bring back an entire genre lost by another franchise. The Def Jam fighting series was conceptive to be a rival against the WWF/WWE award winning Smackdown series. Games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken wouldn’t have a game released to ‘strike back’ for some time, but the Def Jam Vendetta would take WWF/WWE to their video game limit.
Yes, the Def Jam series did have its bases with wrestling. However, it made their moves more animated and stylish. After Vendetta, we received ‘Fight for NY’ – a game that took what worked in the first game and added on to it with various fighting styles, interactive environments, and more interesting ways to knock out an opponent than a wrestling ring (throwing them head first into wall, smashing them with a beer bottle, kicking their face in against a steel beam, ect.) Let’s not forget the most important part of the Def Jam fighting series: hip-hop superstars and legends fighting out in the ring with some serious tunes backing them up. Picture if Biggie and Tupac was added into the game as DLCs or some kind of special editions…mind blown.
This is one of the few games that would get a full DLC release on all three major systems and I would guess the price would be around 20 dollars. This would be one of those ‘need to have’ releases for any system.
Before I go, here’s my five of ‘Quick Hit’ mentions:
~~~~~~Power Stone (Dreamcast) – A great launch title for the Dreamcast and a fun game to play.
~~~~~Act Raiser (Super Nintendo) – One of the most difficult games to play for its time, but still addictive.
~~~~~Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks – The hidden gem in the MK Universe. It’s a must play if you are that deep of a fan.
~~~~Chrono Trigger/Cross – Do I really have to go in-depth? This is where true dedication to a game starts.
~~~~The Legend of Dragoon – It would have been on the list, but fell short. Awesome title for Sony and surprise it didn’t transition into the Playstation 2 as a sequel.
Take care and GAME ON!
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