Over 2,000 People Reveal Their Choice For The Best Video Game Remake Ever
Video game fans share many great memories of playing their favorite games on older systems. It took time to master the original PlayStation controls of Crash Bandicoot or topple giants in Shadow of the Colossus, and many fans would be thrilled to relive those experiences.
However, as console technology moves forward, finding a working PlayStation, or even a functional copy of your favorite game, has become either a chore or overly expensive. Finding a way to hook up ancient consoles to modern TVs and audio systems is another obstacle.
Beyond that, those memories of playing classic games might be a little rose-colored, as the mechanics of video games have evolved alongside their technology. Guiding Crash through the original Crash Bandicoot's boxy world may be a lot clumsier and frustrating than you would like to remember.
That's why remakes are such a great way to replay or share classic games. Publishers are aware of the demand and are more than happy to revamp a classic to sell to an established audience, although the results can vary. SVG surveyed over 2,000 gamers worldwide to find out the best remake of all time, and we found a definitive champion.
Resident Evil 2 sets a standard for videogame remakes
Resident Evil 2's 2019 remake was a clear winner, coming in 50 points ahead of any other candidate. 64% of the poll respondents called the survival horror game their favorite remake. While such a definitive winner might be surprising, Resident Evil 2 raised the bar for remakes when released, even receiving a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019.
The remake wasn't just a hit with critics. The 2019 version of Resident Evil 2 outsold the original's lifetime sales of 4.96 million units in under a year, with 5 million copies sold in the game's first eleven months.
When Resident Evil 2 hit shelves in early 2019, a review for Polygon called it "everything a video game remake should be." The game stayed faithful to the source material, evoking sinister tension from atmospheric terror rather than the explosive set pieces that later games used as a crutch, while also expanding the world with concurrent storylines and an intuitive new camera system.
Solid remakes hold gamers' attention
While Resident Evil 2 was a clear favorite, hundreds of people voted for other remakes. The 2018 Shadow of the Colossus remake for PlayStation 4 finished 2nd with 10% of the vote. Next was the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening that was released in 2019 to become one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games ever, receiving 9% of the total vote. Coming in fourth with 8% of the vote was Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, which consists of remakes of all three original Crash Bandicoot games.
While each of these games had some diehard fans, 9% of poll respondents picked "Other," and let SVG know what their favorite remake was in the comments. Enthusiastic support was shown for Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and some people went to bat for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Even the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil for the GameCube had some ardent supporters.
Not everyone seems to love remakes, however. One commenter replied simply, "Remakes should not exist." However, the majority of respondents were excited to see some new life breathed into their favorite games.