When a series becomes stagnant, to the point where it’s on the verge of falling into obscurity, sometimes it needs more than a sequel to breathe new life into it. Sometimes it needs a complete reboot. With a fresh idea, a new platform and tweaks to gameplay, a reboot can completely revitalize any gaming franchise for old and new players.
6 Remakes That Were Better Than The Original
It’s rare for a remake to faithfully capture the charm and essence of the original game, but these remakes did exactly that and more.
Sure, some have been hit or miss, but for everyterrible reboot that hits the scene, one comes along that pushes the right buttons. Whether it’s continuing a series with a new coat of paint, or a whole new beginning, there are more than enough examples that prove reboots can work.
10Mortal Kombat (2011)
“Fatality!”
Mortal Kombat (2011)
TheMortal Kombatname is known to players of all generations. Unique characters fight, blood and violence ensue, and then parents complain about the noise. Unfortunately, because of theoverabundance of games, along with its expanding continuity and lore, the series was having difficulty attracting new players. So, after the founding ofNetherRealm Studios, a decision was made for a clean slate.
In 2011, the series returned to the original Mortal Kombat tournament where the classic characters first fought. The action was bloodier than ever with the introduction of the fan-favorite X-ray moves, where players can see the damage they wreak on other fighters. Some veteran fans may have been divided over the fact that the old stories had been retconned, but it was a small price to pay for the sake of continuing the franchise for fans new and old.
9Tomb Raider (2013)
A Survivor Is Born
Tomb Raider
Lara Croft has been raiding tombs since the era of the PlayStation 1. TheTomb Raiderfranchise garnered such popularity that it even got afilm adaptation starring Angelina Jolie. Despite its growing fanbase and critical reception, according toCrystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Underworld failed to meet sales expectations. So it was decided to take the series in a new direction with a darker spin.
8 Greatest Tomb Raider Games of All Time
Lara Croft is a cultural icon, and with the impressive number of games under her belt, there’s plenty to choose from when ranking the best.
The2013 Tomb Raideris an origin story about an inexperienced Lara Croft getting stranded on a cursed island. The game introducedsurvival horrorelements as Lara battles killer cultists and undead warriors, making it the first in the franchise to receive an M rating. Possessing a balance between exploration and combat, you raid tombs while upgrading your weapons with materials you scavenge as Lara gets stronger throughout the story.
8Deus Ex: Human Revolution
“I Never Asked for This”
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
The originalDeus Exwas a triumph of classicPCgaming. Besides the cyberpunk setting, the game combined the elements of anFPSwith stealth mechanics, giving players the freedom to handle objectives in multiple ways. Numerous video games today were inspired by what Deus Ex started, but even with its success, the game only received one sequel three years later. The series soon became inactive.
Then Human Revolution completely jump-started the series as a rebooted prequel. Set in the fictional future of 2027, just 25 years before the events of the original Deus Ex, players assume the role of Adam Jensen, a man who’s been augmented after a terrorist attack nearly kills him. Hunting down the perpetrators, Jensen’s search will lead him into a conspiracy of corruption and transhumanism. True to the original, Human Revolution continued the balance between stealth and action, opportunities for approaching missions, and even added a cover system.
7Fallout 3
The Black Sheep of Fallout
Considered a soft reboot,Fallout 3completely changed the series. Going from a top-down isometricRPGinto an action shooter, the third game left the West Coast of America and took place in the East Coast cities, within the ruins of Washington DC. Although it was a major success upon release, when compared to theother games of the Fallout series, Fallout 3 has often been deemed the black sheep of the family.
Unlike its successors, the game lacks the storytelling ofNew Vegasor the heavy combat ofFallout 4. That’s no reason to discount it, though. The game was the first successful Fallout game on consoles, introduced FPS mechanics into the series, altered the dialogue system and completely revamped inventory management with the Pip-Boy 3000. In layman’s terms, Fallout 3 walked so the sequels could run.
6XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The Invasion Begins
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
It’s a tale as old as time. Mankind meets aliens. Aliens invade Earth. Earth fights back. Truly timeless. Jokes aside, despite its rocky origins, the originalXCOMremains a classic forturn-based strategyPC gaming. Players step into the role of a commander leading their team in a war against alien invaders. It was simple, but sometimes simple is enough. Even with the several sequels it spawned, fans eventually lost interest in the series.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown works as both a reboot and a remake, following the same beat-for-beat as the original, only now with complete enhancements for visuals and gameplay. The missions were bigger and felt like commanding soldiers through intense battles, while the aliens were creepier and smarter than ever. To this day, Enemy Unknown is praised for renewing players’ interest in the turn-based tactics genre.
5Hitman (2016)
Agent 47’s Sandbox Adventure
Hitman (2016)
One of the most iconic assassins in video games returns. Though the 2016 reboot continues the old-school mechanics of using disguises to get around while concealing your weapons, it brings it to the next level by expanding the world into an open sandbox adventure. Where the old games were about reaching your target at the end of a long level or large map, now the targets have gotten smarter, as have their defenses.
Every assassination is broken up into separate episodes, each with its own flares and gimmicks. Thanks to the reboot, you feel like a killer moving through a crowd as you learn about your target, their quirks and weaknesses, exploiting them as you execute your objectives in the cleanest method possible. Or you could just go gung-ho and blast your way through and leave a mess of bodies in your wake. The game allows that too.
4Wolfenstein: New Order
Nazis Rule the World
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Though the graphics, weapons and stories have changed over the years, theWolfensteingames have maintained their main gratifying feature: slaughtering Nazis. Unfortunately, due to the poor sales results of Activision’s Wolfenstein 2009,MachineGameslater acquired the property and took the series into a brand-new war.
World War II is over. The Germans have won. But the battle is far from over for Nazi-slayer B. J. Blazkowicz. Forming a resistance, it’s time to restart the fight, and hunt down the coldest and most disturbing Nazi scientist in video game history: Deathshead.Wolfenstein: New Orderis everything that made the original games great – only expanded upon. Fast-paced action, multiple weapons to carry, a balance between challenge and fun, and a banger of a score by Mick Gordon. Yes, the same mad genius behind the DOOM 2016 soundtrack.
3Metroid Prime
From 16-Bit To 3D
Metroid Prime
ClassicNintendoproperties always find their way back in every gaming generation. While Mario and Link became third-person action platformers, however, when Samus made the leap to 3D, they turned her from a side-scrolling sprite into a first-person action heroine and started one of the best FPS series in gaming.
The firstMetroid Primeblew Nintendo fans away when it first came out, and to this day, is still hailed as one of the best. Armed with only an arm cannon from the beginning, you battle the vile Space Pirates and a planet full of hostile lifeforms, obtaining upgrades along the way. For a game without dialogue, the story was easy to follow, using your helmet to scan for clues and secrets to put together while battling a selection of challenging bosses.
2God of War (2018)
A Father & Son Tale
God of War
The thirdGod of Warsupposedly marked the end of the series. Though a spin-off and a remaster came now and then, it seemed like the franchise had reached its peak. With thePlayStation 4already out, however, development commenced to reboot the franchise and continue the story of Kratos in a new location, with a new cast of characters, and a new mythology.
The 2018 release unveiled a brand-new Kratos, going from a raging God-slayer into a tired father. The game was a phenomenal tale of family and godhood, with a story that new fans could follow without having ever seen the previous games. The combat was just as powerful, giving Kratos a magic axe that’s on par with Thor’s Mjölnir, capable of being hurled wherever you choose, and it’ll always return. Plus, with Norse mythology as the setting, players had a new folklore to explore (before tearing it apart).
1DOOM (2016)
“Rip and Tear, Until It Is Done”
The originalDOOMcould be considered the veteran grandfather of first-person shooters. He may be old, but he’s still got it. Despite the impressive feats of DOOM 3, the franchise fell into a pit of obscurity for a long period. Then, in 2016, a new DOOM crawled out and became an example of a flawless reboot.
From the moment you press New Game, you’re thrown into the action – no lengthy cutscenes and no long tutorial – everything you need to know is right there. There’s a Demonic Invasion, so grab your gun and get to work. Each battle feels intense. But you cannot talk about DOOM 2016 without discussing the greatest mechanic ever put into an FPS: Glory Kills, which instantly slaughters any demon in a unique animation and rewards you with extra health. With all the weapons, upgrades and power-ups, YOU feel like the final boss by the end.
10 First-Person Shooters That Deserve Remakes
Come get some. It’s time to check out the best FPS games deserving of being remade.
