Who to enhance with a gaming face-lift?
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Feb 4th 2007 at 12:00PM }
Frodo et al. over at The Weekly Geek compiled the games that could use a makeover, but only in the most superficial sense. They aren't talking about gameplay, they are just asking about Nip/Tuck style upgrade to bring their old beauty back to the surface. As the perfect example they use Super Mario All-Stars for the SNES, which took Mario Bros. 1-3 (Japan SMB 2 included) and gave them a graphics upgrade -- it was fantastic. And for those that remember it, makes us wonder why Super Mario Bros. is on the Wii Virtual Console with its tired look, instead of the great makeover. Here are some of the games Weekly Geek suggested for makeover:
- Mega Man 2 - "Mega Man 2 really needs the Powered Up treatment. Enhanced music, a level editor, expanded gameplay ... Just put it on something a bit more accessible than the PSP, mmkay?"
- Maniac Mansion - "A Wii version with beautiful hand-drawn characters and voice acting would basically make me weep with joy."
- Secret of Mana - "One of the most visually and audibly stunning titles on the SNES, but imagine it on a current system with Squeenix's Mana lineup. Lush environments, fully orchestrated soundtrack, cutscenes and online co-op would make this classic even classic-er."
- The Legend of Zelda - "I would love to see a Mario All-Stars treatment for Zelda. Imagine Zelda 1 and 2 with Link to the Past or Minish Cap quality graphics and remixed music ... We got a remake of the first Metroid a couple of years ago, why not your biggest cash cow, Nintendo? I'd drop a cool 1000 Wii points on that title in a heartbeat."
- Final Fantasy VII - "Rumored, speculated, rumored some more, an updated FF7 has been the holy grail for Final Fantasy fanboys ... imagine, if you will, that entire soundtrack performed by a full, real live orchestra. Beauty."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Rabalais @ Feb 4th 2007 12:08PM
i can agree with mega man or zelda, but i'm starting to get sick of all these final fantasy seven remakes.
I'd much rather see new IP's from Square coming out then remakes of on game.
Anonymous @ Feb 4th 2007 12:13PM
there's a difference between remake and spinoff you know
Back_Lit @ Feb 4th 2007 1:06PM
Actually Nintendo did do a remake of the original Zelda with SNES quality graphics, it wasn't perfect but it was much improved and it was called Zelda BS (
for the satellite attachment in Japan).
Keif @ Feb 4th 2007 12:13PM
They allready remade the first zelda with SNES graphics, it was only available on SNES's satlite download service in japan though.
but as teh main character they had the stalite services mascot instead of link.
Darkness @ Feb 4th 2007 12:15PM
Personally, I'd rather the companies leave the games in the state we played them originally. Complete with slowdown and screen flicker. Everyone gets different things out of old games and releasing these old games can be hard as some people want upgrades and some don't. I think leaving the game intact covers more bases and makes the games available for consumer consumption in a more timely manner than changing things.
herman_munsters_stunt_double @ Feb 4th 2007 12:18PM
Rescue on Fractalus!, Koronis Rift and The Eidolon - how cool would they look now?
Kannon @ Feb 4th 2007 12:55PM
Why not make games that werent fun, fun. Interesting concept.
Darkness @ Feb 4th 2007 12:38PM
Damn, people actually remember those games, Herman? I still own them all for my Atari 800XL. I managed to beat Rescue on Fractalus and Koronis Rift, but the Eidolon was hard. The dragon at the end simply kicks my butt everywhere. Also, the fact that the spacebar on my computer is all but shot, makes it harder.
Those are games I'd love to see Lucas Arts put on Virtual Console. Just hope they're the superior Atari versions and not the C64 ports.
Pzykotikfreak @ Feb 4th 2007 12:44PM
Seconded Darkness. I like my games the way they were - if I want a game with shinies, I'll get a new game. If SMB for the VirCon had updated graphics, I wouldn't have bought it.
Jacob @ Feb 4th 2007 12:52PM
"And for those that remember it, makes us wonder why Super Mario Bros. is on the Wii Virtual Console with its tired look, instead of the great makeover."
Because sometimes the authentic original is nice. Would you rather listen to an original song or some glossy modern cover of it?
SMB on the NES had perfect graphics for what it was when it was. In their simple way, they still stand out as iconic to this day. (Other NES games, not so much.)
Jason @ Feb 4th 2007 12:58PM
I'd love to see MegaMan 2 remade, especially the music. Some of the remixes of this entirely brilliant soundtrack on www.ocremix.org are absolutely fantastic.
Secret of Mana is also high up there, though I think maybe the gameplay and visuals could take just a couple lessons from Kingdom Hearts. Imagine this one on the DS, the co-op would be fantastic.
David @ Feb 4th 2007 1:03PM
I'm glad they rererererererererereleased Mario 1 with the real graphics, that's how the game is played. Nintendo says numberous times "Graphics don't matter" and then use updated graphics? If anythnig I think they should have had both for downloading.
SenorWeird @ Feb 4th 2007 1:05PM
My question: why doesn't someone just make a simple 2d platformer, akin to Super Mario and use the ample amount of storage space of, say, the XBox 360, to have beautiful, hand-drawn style characters. Backgrounds full of intricate details in the drawings, all unique. And lets not load the game with about seventy bazillion features to complicate it. I never liked any of the MegaMan past the SNES because they were bogged down, or 3d atrocities to the eyes.
But if a new Megaman came out and it was a side-scroller no more complex than the original game, but that LOOKED like a cartoon, I'd buy it in a heart beat. Its one of the only reasons I'm considering Alien Hominid (though I'd rather see a more natural drawing style and less a "blown-up flash animation" style). And I suspect the interest in all these old catalog games is NOT just for the nostalgia factor. Else why would people be buying games they'd never played? The 2D platformer is dead, long live the 2D platformer!
KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid!
theron @ Feb 4th 2007 1:13PM
Enhanced music for Mega Man 2? How could you possibly enhance that? That's the crème de la crème of video game music right there.
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Feb 4th 2007 1:19PM
I'm with Kannon.
Imagine if they re-did Zombie Nation. (You know, the one where you have to fight the Statue of Liberty as the disembodied head of a Samurai.) People would buy that for the kitsch alone.
bounchfx @ Feb 4th 2007 1:30PM
um, how about some secret of mana 2 for the usa please?
on gba/ds/VC
PLEASE?
Nick @ Feb 4th 2007 1:27PM
I'd like to see Super Mario World remade with the Smash Bros. Brawl look... or I'd probably just be content if they'd bring the cape back into the mario series.
BPM @ Feb 4th 2007 1:28PM
You can't visit the Minus World in Mario All-Stars.
CountZer0 @ Feb 4th 2007 4:25PM
Super Metroid would be cool as a New Super Mario bros style 2.5D game on the DS.
Dopple Boppler @ Feb 4th 2007 1:56PM
"14. Enhanced music for Mega Man 2? How could you possibly enhance that? That's the crème de la crème of video game music right there."
Concur'd. Not only did that game have the best soundtrack of any NES game, it's probably my favorite game soundtrack of all time. Final Fantasy schminal schmantasy; climbing the outer wall of the Skull Castle while the first Wily music plays is epic to the max.
animejoe @ Feb 4th 2007 3:16PM
I don't understand why companies can't please both the purists and those who want an updated experience. All that needs to be done is include the original game with the remake. Metroid: Zero Mission is a fair example of this concept, except that the original game had to be unlocked by beating Zero Mission. I will admit I enjoy being nostalgic and replaying the classics in their original form. At the same time, I'd love to see Super Mario Bros and other classics redone with lush, new art, cutting-edge graphics and high quality audio.
Abscissa @ Feb 4th 2007 2:14PM
"And for those that remember it, makes us wonder why Super Mario Bros. is on the Wii Virtual Console with its tired look, instead of the great makeover."
Probably because last time they tried that (Mario All-Stars), most people threw an absolute fit (myself included, I admit).
Personally, I like the "best of both worlds" approach certain games have been taking lately (like the upcoming PSP Castlevania) by including both an enhanced version and the original. I do love seeing my favorite classics with a modern graphics/sound facelift, but sometimes I just want to go back and play oldschool-style.
bootsielon @ Feb 4th 2007 2:10PM
I'm getting sick of purists saying they rather leave the game untouched in exchange for new intellectual property, making the absurd assumption that it is NOT possible to have both.
Even if you think we can have both, but that you rather have the game UNTOUCHED, you have the option to NOT BUY IT. It's that simple. Some of us don't like to re-buy Nintendo's games, especially if they are left untouched. I'd by the entire Wii VC if they actually modify the games superficial aspects, and perhaps add some new modes or content. If Nintendo only plans to add "Wii-mote functionality" (as in simply tweaking the controlling method), then I will never buy any of the games I've had; and that's too bad for Nintendo, since they'd like to profit. Then again, I'm not so sure if they like to profit as much as they could, since they pretty much gave Sony, with little or no struggle, the keys to the console kingdom.
Anyway, I want all the first six final fantasies being re-made in 3D, and all the last six final fantasies re-made in 2D. I'd also like the same for Zelda, God of War, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil. You know, just to experiment. Of course I'd like some new IP, but companies should be smart to know that these games are already made and that the only cost would be to adapt them to another engine. Hell, they don't even need to make new engines, they can re-utilize old 2D and 3D engines. That way games are cheap to make, cheap to sell and that helps the demand go up.
By the way, game companies will become richer just because of my advice.
bootsielon @ Feb 4th 2007 2:14PM
And maybe kingdom hearts, and a few others too. Hell, the new 2.5D Castlevania looks awesome. And I don't think it would be bad for the original games, seriously. I mean, look at how many movies have been re-masterized with better sound, and now AGAIN in HD for Blu-ray. Why not do the same to games? Both Old and Young Gamers would look at old games with new interest, and companies could cash in. It's a win-win situation.
Pzykotikfreak @ Feb 4th 2007 2:16PM
"Even if you think we can have both, but that you rather have the game UNTOUCHED, you have the option to NOT BUY IT. It's that simple. Some of us don't like to re-buy Nintendo's games, especially if they are left untouched. I'd by the entire Wii VC if they actually modify the games superficial aspects, and perhaps add some new modes or content. If Nintendo only plans to add "Wii-mote functionality" (as in simply tweaking the controlling method), then I will never buy any of the games I've had; and that's too bad for Nintendo, since they'd like to profit."
Protip: The Virtual Console was made for oldschool purists, simple as that. If you want stuff modified and added, then you won't find it on the VC - the entire intent was to remember the old stuff, not to remake it.
You'd be better off finding graphical updates and skins online for your ROMs.
bootsielon @ Feb 4th 2007 2:16PM
Yeah, as abscissa said, including both versions. Nobody is talking about completely dumping the original versions, simply add the Old and New looks. New/Young Gamers would see how games actually looked back then, and what does today's technology enable devs to make for those games, with added functionality of course.
bootsielon @ Feb 4th 2007 2:20PM
Pzykotikfreak:
Virtual Console was made for Nintendo to cash in. Period. If they wanted to cash in MORE, they could just add stuff to the games. I mean, I still have my NES, SNES, N64, and Gameboy player for the cube if I want to play my old games; I could even download some illegal emulators. The only thing I would use the VC for is for games I actually missed on TurbographX and Genesis, and perhaps other platforms in the future. But if Nintendo wants even MORE people to re-buy those titles (and not only fanboys), then adding new content will definitely help. As I said, it's win-win. Then again, maybe Nintendo doesn't want to win any more money, so...
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 4th 2007 2:22PM
I'd love to see a graphic upgrade for Master of Magic.
Mr Khan @ Feb 4th 2007 2:33PM
The "point" of virtual console is left to user interpretation, thus determining if they use it at all, or how they use it
In my case, the interpretation is: Oppurtunity for me to buy all the games that aren't for N64 (which i have, and thus can get the original games cheaper) and i don't have in Re-make form for GBA, GC, DC, or DS
Some people say: Fuck that, i've got ROMs
Some people say: ZOMG!! I must have them all, no matter if i've got the 4 other incarnations of Super Mario Bros!
Ninegauger @ Feb 4th 2007 2:40PM
I concur on FFVII mostly... it hasn't aged well at all, hell, it looked like crap when I played it.
Nintendo did Pokemon Red/Blue/Green remakes already, Super Mario Bros. and Metroid... so it seems like Legend of Zelda would be a no brainer but alas.
I also definitely recommend including the original as well, just for comparison. The PSP Castlevania is doing it and Metroid:Zero Mission did it.
In terms of real desire for me I think Final Fantasy VII is far and above any other game.
There's a certain charm to NES era graphics (on quality games of course) but the Playstation's graphics always looked like crap... even the best games were a pixelated mess.
JOKER @ Feb 4th 2007 2:55PM
Final Fantasy VII's OST played by an entire orchestra? No. They did that with Dragon Quest VIII, and it sounded horribly out of place and just odd. I wouldn't mind a better synth, though, because Final Fantasy VII had probably the most mediocre synth I've ever heard in a game -- SNES games had a better sound synth than FFVII.
GamerCrusader @ Feb 4th 2007 2:54PM
As I see it there is a fundamental problem with remaking the graphics for a game while leaving the gameplay unchanged and selling it at a much lower price than the original game. As most should know the gameplay never takes as much time or cost to the developers as the graphics, and updating the graphics alone costs nearly as much as the original games development costs. I understand that these costs will most likely jack up the price of the games back to their original prices making a 10 dollar remake highly unlikely. Super mario all-stars was a completely new game for how much it cost, most remakes are. As such I doubt Nintendo will see it in their heart to give us these much beloved remakes.
But I digress, since the beginning of time we have been treated to sequels (Not remakes) of our favorite games. Breathing new life into the franchise with each one, however, how often has a remake made the series come alive again? Not ever. Why must we get remakes then? The original was good enough and unless we want a 40 dollar remake I do not believe that there is much chance of that happening either.
10 dollar remakes? A hopeful dream crushed once again by the boots of rising development costs. But we can dream cant we?
Darkness @ Feb 4th 2007 3:05PM
People don't understand exactly how much work goes into updating something graphically. It's tough, and depending on how something was programmed, may lead to breaking other parts of the game (especially with old games where things were hard-coded). It's better for everyone involved to simply leave it as it is and put that effort into something new.
As someone stated earlier, the Virtual Console is made for those who want the games exactly as they were when they were released. I can just imagine the complaining if someone's favorite game as "upgraded" in a way they didn't like. Better to not even go down that road and at least people can play the games like they were.
Antonio @ Feb 4th 2007 3:17PM
I think the games should be left as-is, except for the addition of online play where applicable. If emulators downloaded over the net can do it, why can't the Big N? I don't mind graphical updates, but I also want to be able to play the original. I'm more interested in playing the original Mario 3, which hasn't been released since the NES days than it's All-Stars remake.
I'm playing Dragon Quest VIII and the soundtrack is fantastic.
NintendoFanbot @ Feb 4th 2007 3:27PM
#20 said:
"I'm getting sick of purists saying they rather leave the game untouched in exchange for new intellectual property, making the absurd assumption that it is NOT possible to have both."
Based on what you said, Nintendo would rather satisfy that demand by re-releasing games as new titles rather than putting them on VC, so your argument is moot in some aspects.
For example:
A remake with new content - Super Mario Bros. DX
Or a modern iteration - NEW Super Mario Bros.
I loved All-Stars, but SMB for it wasn't the same. The music didn't impress me and the sounds didn't provide as much feedback as the originals did (to me, anyways). It was more SMB3 than it was SMB and I would believe that a lot would agree with that.
I guess you could hope for All-stars on VC as well.
Though besides the hidden AC version I haven't unlocked yet, SMB for VC is the closest to the original experience I and many haven't seen in a long time.
BPM @ Feb 4th 2007 3:33PM
..."but the Playstation's graphics always looked like crap... even the best games were a pixelated mess."
Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I think the MegaMan Legends games still look pretty good to this day.
Only, the N64 version looked slightly better (but it sounded worse, since they kept ALL the voice acting, but compromised the quality a lot to fit it in a Game Pak).
"SNES games had a better sound synth than FFVII."
That's kinda funny, since Ken Kutaragi himself designed Super NES's sound processor (SPC700).
Clayton A. @ Feb 4th 2007 3:37PM
I totally agree with this Idea. I know it's superficial, but after getting an Xbox 360, just looking at even Playstation 2 games is annoying. I want to play all those classic games again, but I can't stand all the pixels. Bringing them to HD isn't enough, and I would gladly pay double for something like Zelda on the Wii or Contra on the 360 with Newly enhanced graphics.
djmg82 @ Feb 4th 2007 3:39PM
I owned all 3 US SMB games and I LOVED Super Mario All-Stars. I would love to see similar updates to games like Zelda and Megaman. And it would be entirely possible for them to be offered side-by-side with the untouched classics. I think the PS FF games would be rather easy to port over. Just use higher resolution 2D backgrounds and update the character models to have more polys and better textures. Hell, I'd be happy with an FF7 remake that looked only marginally better than FF9, which looks nice (tolerable by todays standards) on an emulator. Oh, and Metroid: Zero Mission was an absolute gem. Not only did they update the graphics but extended the gameplay and did it very well. Don't get me wrong, I love the classics the way the were... I just don't see a problem with polishing them up a little. Especially if it means younger generations being more likely to give them a try.
Frankie @ Feb 4th 2007 3:37PM
Just leave the games as is, thats the point of playing them in the first place. They are classics for a reason. You wouldnt want anybody adding rap beats or techno stuff into some of Beethoven's stuff now, do you?
djmg82 @ Feb 4th 2007 4:00PM
Aesthetic updates, as well as additional gameplay would make me more inclined to spend money on VC titles. Many of you "purists" here who are so against updating the classics probably OWN them already anyway... and what is more "pure" than playing them on the original console? Nintendo said they were trying to bring new audiences into their fold. Updated classics would help them in that endeavor more than simply re-releasing in the same old ancient format. Look at how well the updated GBA and DS games are doing. A whole generation that completely missed the 8bit (and to a lesser extent the 16bit) era is getting at least a taste of what gaming was like back then... and they never would have if they were only offered the ORIGINAL original SMB/Metroid/etc on their shiny new handhelds. The only way that might have worked would be in the form of an Arcade Megapack-esque release.
Evan @ Feb 4th 2007 4:05PM
I'd like to see "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" rendered in 1080P, with all the sprites re-drawn with intricate detail (not just smoothed out to remove jaggies like some XBLA reworks).
Evan @ Feb 4th 2007 4:29PM
"There's a certain charm to NES era graphics (on quality games of course) but the Playstation's graphics always looked like crap... even the best games were a pixelated mess."
I think part is the reason is: 3D Playstation games looked like crap because of shimmering, dithering, and other 3D artifacts, but 2D graphics were rendered pixel-perfect!
P.S. I know there is an XBLA version of "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night", but the graphics were not redrawn in high-definition.
Plokosh @ Feb 4th 2007 4:38PM
I say make over Ocarina of Time, leave the gameplay untouched and it should be even awesomer than it was back on the N64!
pandafresh @ Feb 4th 2007 5:11PM
how about a 3d Chrono Trigger like people were doing awhile ago before they got shut down by Square? I'd like to see that a lot
Mike @ Feb 4th 2007 5:19PM
ontra is a stone cold classic, but the game looks so corny with the art style of the aliens. They should redo Contra with revisioned enemies.
Super Mario All-Stars doesn't need to be fixed up, Nintendo just needs to wise the #@&^% up and put the "All-Stars & World" version on the DS. Screw the Mario Advance games, we want All-Stars (preferably without the original Mario Brothers arcade game for once)!
umm....hello??? @ Feb 4th 2007 5:20PM
I would love a remake of FFVII, especially if they make the cutscenes/special-battle-moves (like Knights of the Round) skippable. It adds another 20hours to the game just watching all the extra special moves!!!!!!!!!!
samred @ Feb 4th 2007 5:46PM
All of the Zelda 1 remake you'll ever need (and you'll see what I mean)...
http://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/bszelda.shtml
samfish @ Feb 4th 2007 6:01PM
No. No graphical updates. If you can't go back and enjoy old games as they are, then maybe you need to go back and explore your roots.
"Virtual Console was made for Nintendo to cash in. Period. If they wanted to cash in MORE, they could just add stuff to the games. I mean, I still have my NES, SNES, N64, and Gameboy player for the cube if I want to play my old games;"
That's a cynical way to look at it. I'm kind of tired of people saying that, really. The fact is, NOT all people have played the older games. I bet at least 50% of the people on this site alone didn't start playing games until the N64/PS1.
Even if they might have spent a bit of time with an NES or SNES or even Atari or something, they'll never have the joy of knowing what it's like to have been around for the golden age of gaming.
So saying that it's just a Nintendo cash-in is pretty...well...ignorant. No offense.
If Nintendo HADN'T re-released all those old games years ago, people would have been screaming for it for years.
"But if a new Megaman came out and it was a side-scroller no more complex than the original game, but that LOOKED like a cartoon, I'd buy it in a heart beat."
Viewtiful Joe and Viewtiful Joe 2.
That's as close as we'll ever get to that from this creatively dead industry.
Especially since VJ was a "disappointment" and a bunch of morons threw a shit fit over Wind Waker.
Rubang B @ Feb 4th 2007 5:59PM
I think Link's Awakening was the best Zelda ever made, and I think it's a great injustice that so many people missed out on it. I think it should get a graphics overhaul up to Link to the Past or Minish Cap and released on the VC. I'd buy the living hell out of it, and I already have both the GB and the GBC "DX" cartridges.
MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Feb 4th 2007 6:18PM
People need to get off of Final Fantasy 7's testicles. The game's plot was mediocre, the graphics were appalling even for its time, and character development were nil for most of the cast. The only reason it recieved as much praise as it did, was because it was the first 3D final fantasy, and it was hyped to no tomorrow by Sony (even went as far as to say the cutscenes were real gameplay, Sony even lied back then).
8 and 9 were far better games than 7 ever hoped to be, but most fanboys can't put their blindness aside to even give those 2 games a try, as they are afraid that they might actually like them (a hard concept for fanboys). If any game in the FF universe needs to be remade, it should be 6, and put it on the Wii.