A popular trend over the last few years has been for publishers to re-release classic games for modern consoles. Unlike with other forms of media, games are constantly evolving with technology so that classic games can now be unplayable. After all, it is very easy for a video game to look old or have outdated gameplay. Even titles that released a few years ago and suffer from this problem.
The extra power that consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have given developers opportunities to update their games. They can remake their classic games to give them better graphics and other improvements, selling them to a new audience. Of course, there is also the bonus that publishers know such titles already have devoted fans. The trend will continue next year.
Here are all the classic video games being re-released in 2020.
Yakuza 5 Remastered
The Yakuza Remastered Collection is a bundle of Yakuza, 3, 4, and 5 for PlayStation 4. These games have before only released in Japan, so players in the West haven’t been able to play them. Each game is releasing separately, with Yakuza 3 and 4 already available to those who purchased the collection.
The remasters have improved visuals and performance, they now run at 1080p with 60 frames per second. Each has also gone through an extensive localization process to change the scripts to better suit the English language.
Yakuza 5 Remastered will release on February 11, 2020.
Trials Of Mana HD
Number 3 on our list of the 10 Best Console Games that Never Made it to America, Trials of Mana is finally making its way to the West. Trials of Mana HD will launch on April 24, 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4. Featuring completely reworked visuals and a new combat system, it will bring the classic game to modern consoles.
The original Trials of Mana released in 1995. The role-playing game was a direct sequel to the 1993 game Secret of Mana, which launched on for the SNES. Despite the fact that it included many new gameplay features, such as time progression, it was not as popular as its predecessor.
Destroy All Humans!
Destroy All Humans! is a remake from Black Forest Games and THQ Nordic that is due to release in 2020. It is an open world action-adventure game whereby the player takes on the role of Crypto. He is an alien being who attempts to harvest as many humans as possible to help clone more of his kind.
Famous for off-the-wall humor and parodying of America in the ’50s and ’60s, the game became a cult classic when it released in 2005. A sequel in 2007 was the last entry in the series to date. The remake will launch on Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Halo: Reach
In 2014, 343 Studios released Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It included every title in the series that featured the hero Master Chief, such as Halo: CE and Halo 2. While the team updated these titles extensively, 343 only made minor improvements to both Halo 3 and Halo 4.
The developer would later release Halo 3: ODST with similar graphical upgrades. At E3 2019, Microsoft revealed that Halo: Reach would also come to The Master Chief Collection as paid DLC. This will include all the original campaign missions as well as all previous multiplayer maps. The game was originally estimated to release in 2020, but fans won’t have to wait that long!
Halo: Reach becomes available on The Master Chief Collection for Xbox One and PC on December 3, 2019.
System Shock
Nightdive Studios announced that they were working on a remake of the acclaimed action role-playing game in 2016. A Kickstarter campaign for the new System Shock raised more than $1 million from backers. Midway through development, the team revealed that they were switching engines. This also prompted a shift in focus.
Rather than being a faithful remaster of the 1994 title, it would now be a more fleshed out reboot. A firm release date has not yet been announced but the game is due early 2020.
XIII
Based on a Belgian graphic novel of the same name, XIII was a first-person shooter released in 2003. Taking inspiration from its comic book origins, it has a distinctive cel-shaded visual style. Critics praised the game for the appealing graphics and intriguing story, with the protagonist trying to discover his past.
Developer PlayMagic and publisher Microids announced a faithful remake of the game with upgraded performance and visuals. Originally slated for release in November 2019, it has been delayed to arrive in 2020 to give the team more development time. The remake will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Fans have been requesting a remake for Final Fantasy VII for many years. The 1994 game is regarded as the best entry in the franchise and one of the greatest RPGs ever. Square Enix announced the remake at E3 2015 and has set a release date of March 3, 2020.
To help ensure that the remake retains the spirit of the original, key developers returned. This includes Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima, and composer Nobuo Uematsu. Square Enix will also make gameplay changes to bring the title up to modern standards. Real-time combat and the ability to switch between party members instantly are two such modifications. Check out What We Already Know About the Final Fantasy VII Remake for more info.
Which video game re-releases are you excited about? Let us know in the comments below!
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