10 Modern Fan Remakes of Classic Video Games
“Banjo-Kazooie”
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By: Project Dream The poor Banjo-Kazooie franchise hasn’t had the best luck since its N64 days. After being purchased by Microsoft, Rare released the divisive “Nuts & Bolts” and then seemingly used those bolts to close the coffin on the franchise for good. Even despite a resurgence in recent years with their appearance in Smash Bros, the duo hasn’t had a true outing since 2000. Fans refuse to let the Bird and Bear lie dormant however and Project Dream created a non-playable teaser of what Banjo Kazooie would look like today. The team even went so far as to create concept trailers for not only Banjo-Tooie but also the long-rumored fan wishlist game Banjo-Threeie using the same assets. While there is unlikely to be a new entry in the franchise any time soon, longtime fans haven’t forgotten the pair that created so much OCD in collectathon gamers all those years ago.
“DoomRL”
By: Kornel Kiselewicz Doom is one of the grandfathers of the first person shooter genre and every entry in the franchise has continued that legacy. Another genre even older than Doom is the rogue-like, and while on the surface neither of these two juggernauts of the industry would have anything to do with one another, Kornel Kiselewicz saw fit to bring the two together and the results were the best thing since peanut butter and chocolate. The oldest entry on our list, DoomRL was originally released in 2002 and featured the Doom Slayer traversing ever changing dungeons from a top down perspective and engaging in turn-based combat instead of his normal grimace and shotgun. DoomRL was a major hit with fans of both Doom and rouge-likes and remains playable even today despite a cease and desist from Zenimax, simply renamed DRL.
“Dino Crisis 2”
By: Stephano Cagnani Despite being one their most requested IPs to receive a coveted remake in the RE Engine, Capcom seemingly has no interest in revisiting Dino Crisis and its time traveling dinosaurs, so it’s left to the fans to bring the series up to modern standards. Stephano Cagnani, known for creating playable demos based on horror films, brought the jungles of Dino Crisis 2 to life using Unreal Engine 4 and the results are pretty remarkable to say the least. It may just be an early build but it is still playable for those wanting to try it out and makes good use of the impressive tech the Unreal Engine provides. The combat mechanics might be a bit basic but are still functional, especially when facing down the Carnotaurus at the end of the demo. Although brief, it still gives players an idea of what a modern Dino Crisis could potentially look like.
“Castlevania: Simon’s Destiny”
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By: Andrea Gori The Doom engine is by far one of the most versatile engines ever made, allowing gamers to experience the classic Doom on everything from a graphics calculator to a pregnancy test should they feel so inclined. Other gamers have taken to adapting the Doom engine to recreate some of their favorite games in the first person perspective. Andrea Gori took it upon himself to recreate the original NES Castlevania, whips and all, allowing players to take down Dracula in classic Doom style. Simon’s Destiny is not only a blast to play but also visually stunning, running on an upgraded version of the decades old engine with various particle effects and spells filling the screen as Simon Blemont takes on Dracula’s minions.
“Chrono Resurrection”
By: Resurrection Games Chrono Trigger is one of the most beloved RPGs of all time and despite a moderately successful follow-up Chrono Cross, the series has remained dormant since the early 2000s besides numerous re-releases on modern hardware. One fan was so inspired by both Chrono Trigger and Super Mario 64, he attempted to update Chrono Trigger using 3D models and intended to release his version on the N64. However, the scope of the game became too much for the small team and after a cease and desist from Square, the ten scenes that had been completed were released for Windows and the studio closed shortly after to avoid any further legal troubles. The released demo was very well received and even sparked an internet petition for Square to allow Resurrection Games to complete their project to no avail.
“Tomb Raider 2: The Dagger of Xian”
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By: Nicobass Where would the gaming world be without Lara Croft? An instant industry icon, Lara Croft’s adventures have been ongoing in one form or another for a quarter of a century. While the modern Tomb Raider games have given the series a much needed shot in the arm, there are still those who have a deep nostalgic love for the original PS1 adventures. Nicobass’s love for the original Tomb Raider 2 has led to the creation of The Dagger of Xian running on Unreal Engine 4, and while it might only be the introductory level so far, the presentation rivals what Crystal Dynamics was able to accomplish with their remakes back in the mid 2000s. There unfortunately haven’t been any updates on the remake in almost 5 years but what is available is a love letter to the many fans of the series from all those years ago.
“AM2R: Another Metroid 2 Remake”
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By: DoctorM64 Until recently, Metroid was one of the most overlooked and dormant franchises in Nintendo’s long running catalog of franchises, leaving many to find new ways to experience the series they loved. One such project was AM2R or Another Metroid 2 Remake by DoctorM64. Metroid II: Return of Samus was only available on the original Game Boy, so those without who wanted to continue Samus’s adventures had to wait until Super Metroid on the SNES. While many have taken on the challenge of remaking this classic, AM2R is by far one of the best. DoctorM64 not only updated the visuals but also added many quality of life improvements such as the ability to shoot diagonally and grab onto ledges. After receiving numerous DMCA takedowns, DoctorM64 ended production on his passion project and Nintendo released Metroid: Samus Returns shortly thereafter which ended up using many of the features first implemented in AM2R.
“The Simpsons: Hit & Run”
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By: reubs The Simpsons is not only one of the longest running sitcoms in television history, it’s also one of the most lucrative properties on the planet and EA hasn’t released a true Simpsons game since 2007. One of the most loved titles in The Simpsons gaming catalog is undoubtedly “The Simpsons Hit & Run” and one fan finally had enough waiting and set to work giving gamers the remake they’ve been wanting for years. Despite having no plans to release his creation publically, fans can still follow along with the creation process as reubs brings the world of Springfield to life using the Unreal Engine. Reubs videos are not only a fascinating look into the world of game design but also a fan’s dream come true to finally take to the streets of a beautifully realized and modern video game version of Springfield.
“Black Mesa”
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By: Crowbar Collective It’s very rare for a developer to not only take an interest in a fan made remake but also encourage the developer and then allow them to release the full product on their platform! Such is the case of the Crowbar Collective and their remake of Half-Life using Valve’s own Source engine to bring the classic 1998 game to modern audiences. Beyond updating the visuals and physics, Crowbar also made meaningful changes to the frustrating Xen level near the end of the game, making it much more playable and easier to navigate. Even despite the small team, the love and dedication put into the project was greatly rewarded and Black Mesa released to widely positive reviews with many comparing it to a genuine Valve-developed title.
“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”
By: CryZENx There has been no shortage of fan remakes of The Legend of Zelda titles like the impressive Twilight Princess Reimagine by ARTAKE that puts Nintendo’s own re-releases to shame, but it’s CryZENx’s wildly impressive Ocarina of Time fan project running in Unreal Engine 4 we want to highlight here. This absolutely jaw droppingly gorgeous fan project puts even modern Zelda titles on watch with realistic foliage, reflections and lighting effects. From riding in the fields on Epona to exploring Hyrule Castle and Kakariko Village, the love and attention to detail on display here is astounding. Everything about this remake is the way gamers imagined Ocarina of Time looking when they first played it and CryZENx’s work on this as well as his many other remakes of classic titles such as Pokemon and Sonic deserve not only gamers’ attention but the gaming industry’s as well.
