Remakes Are Going To Save Virtual Reality

If Zelda goes back to 2D, it stands alongside the indie scene. It showcases that these older takes shouldn’t be abandoned due to their age. Many other games are doing this already, but none have the clout of Zelda. Going back to 2D with its next main entry - not a remake, remaster, or spin-off - would set a major precedent: not every new triple-A title needs to splash out to make a big blockbuster. It could be a hybrid like Octopath Traveler with its 2D sprites on top of its paper-like background, or it could go the full mile and be completely 2D. Whatever it does, going back would be refreshing for gaming and it could pave the way for other studios to do similar things with their own catal

The last 2D Zelda was released in 2004 - The Minish Cap . It was followed by Twilight Princess , Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, Skyward Sword , A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, and Breath of the Wild. Now, we have a sequel to the latter on the way. 2D Zelda seems to have died out, but that’s because 2D as a whole has seemingly been tossed to the wayside. Even now, remakes of 2D games opt to 3Dize them (if that isn’t a term, it is now). When I say that Nintendo should release another 2D game, I’m not talking about a remaster or remake or even the style of the 2D games but in 3D a la Link’s Awakening for the Switch. I’m talking flat, 2-dimensional sprites - the whole kaboo

Other rumors suggest Resident Evil 4 will get the remake treatment next. Is that necessary? It has been ported numerous times in various HD quality enhancements. That said, some things cannot be fixed with mere graphical makeovers. So if the game really is getting remade , here are some things Capcom should, and should not, do with

Square's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars introduced Nintendo's icon to the world of role-playing games, a decision that resulted in several great spiritual successors. Despite coming out in 1996, the SNES classic holds up pretty well thanks to its clever writing and simple but enjoyable combat; however, anyone craving a modern iteration that offers (slightly) more than just a fresh coat of paint should check out the Switch rem

As Nintendo stuck very close to the original game's blueprint, this is, ultimately, still the same Super Mario RPG that has been around for decades. It looks better and comes with a few quality-of-life adjustments, but the campaign does not have much in the way of new content. Consequently, players who have completed the original version and do not feel like revisiting it might want to hold off on picking up the remake. However, this also means that Super Mario RPG has all the same positives as its ancestor, including frequently hilarious dialogue and a world that is fun to explore. While generally the same, the combat is also improved thanks to the addition of a new special combo me

It’s not unlike animation’s seemingly unanimous move toward CGI, leaving 2D behind as a relic of the medium. Disney likely won’t ever make something in the style of The Jungle Book or The Lion King again when Tangled, Moana, and Frozen have such a wide appeal. Anime is huge in its own right but it doesn’t have the same pull in the West as Pixar, Disney, or DreamWorks - all of which have moved toward CGI animation. Indies in gaming hanging onto the old approach is like anime retaining its 2D style. Nintendo taking Zelda back in time would be akin to Disney releasing a new animated film in 2D. It would show that the approach still has a place and it would pave the way for others to do the same in whatever shape or form that might take. I wasn’t particularly optimistic about this ever being a possibility but now, with Metroid Dread , there’s a glimmer of hope on the hori

VR remakes like Resident Evil 4 are a much easier sell to non-VR players than other games in the medium. I can preach about how remarkable Half-Life: Alyx is until everyone hates me (which happens often) but it's impossible to really understand how great that game is unless you play it for yourself. This has always been a huge barrier for VR, which is why Oculus was so keen on developing a wireless model that could more easily be taken on the go and shared with friends. People need to try VR before they really get it, but remakes of classic games like RE4 might just be compelling enough to convince people to take the dive sight unseen. "It’s Resident Evil 4, but you’re actually walking through the village yourself" is easy to wrap your head around, and a pretty intriguing premise

The real wildcard is the new landmass that floats in the sky, a location that could throw everything we know out the window and incorporate a playstyle that is completely different from anything we’ve seen before. Link ( or could it be Ganon or Zelda? ) is capable of morphing through solid objects and flying through the air, so perhaps the need for climbing is obsolete in these circumstances. There are so many questions, but even now it seems Nintendo is acknowledging some of the previous game’s flaws and instead of removing them, is introducing diverse new gameplay ideas that provide other avenues of movement and traversal. Don’t just ditch the encumbrance of climbing in the rain or elden ring dlc exploration fragile weapons - instead, provide alternate ways of movement and combat that force you to rethink previously frustrating moments in a new way. Blatant removal feels like cowardice.