Remakers are all the rage in gaming, but not every remake is created equal. Some are simple cash grabs, while others are among the most hyped releases on the calendar.
We’ve sifted through all the noise and assembled three remakes that should make a big impact when – or in some cases, if – they eventually release to their patient fans.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Still regarded by many as the best Star Wars video game ever released, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has been in line for a remake for some time. Its original 2003 release came more than two decades ago, and while that original title still holds up, it could use the remake treatment to reach a new, modern audience.
Development studio Apsyr, with much experience in porting older games to other platforms, was originally tasked with recreating Knights of the Old Republic. That wasn’t to last, however, as the project was later transferred to Saber Interactive.
That move still didn’t quell speculation on the remake’s future, as Saber Interactive owner Embracer Group went through a period of financial uncertainty that eventually resulted in Saber being freed from its ownership and allowed to operate more independently.
What does that mean for the future of Knights of the Old Republic? Leaks and rumors have persisted around the game, and the general consensus is that the remake is not canceled, but it has faced numerous delays and setbacks due to the dramatics surrounding the teams developing it.
Star Wars fans are keeping their fingers crossed that Knights of the Old Republic will eventually see a modern remake, despite all the noise and drama. There’s no doubt that it has the potential to be even bigger than the highly-regarded original.
Metal Gear Solid
While not quite as big as the monolithic Star Wars franchise, the Metal Gear Solid franchise has established itself as among the biggest creative properties that are exclusive to gaming, and the original Metal Gear Solid is apparently in line for a much-desired remake.
Confirmation of the Metal Gear Solid 1 remake and its exclusivity to Sony’s PlayStation 5 console has been making waves among series fans. This is an addition to the upcoming Delta remake of the third MGS title. It’s a great turn of fortune for fans of the games, considering the winding road they’ve been on to date.
Released in 1998 and directed by Hideo Kojima, the original Metal Gear Solid is another example of a game that absolutely holds up in its classic form, but could benefit from the trappings of modern technology that are now available. Kojima’s eventual departure from publisher Konami, and the acrimony that accompanied it, hung over the game like a black cloud for some time. But that cloud appears to be lifting with news of these remakes being on the way.
Riven
While remakes for Knights of the Old Republic and Metal Gear Solid have received a fair deal of attention, one less-publicized remake that’s on the way is a recreation of Riven, the sequel to Myst.
Myst had a transformative effect on the PC gaming marketplace when it was released in 1993, and is rightly credited for having been one of the biggest drivers of CD-ROM hardware purchases. Its sequel, Riven, was released to nearly equitable fanfare in 1997.
Developer Cyan made clear its plans to remake that sequel in 2022, and later brought on the help of the talents behind The Starry Expanse project, which had been a fan-driven remake independent of the official plans at Cyan.
With these great talents brought together, it’s likely that this adventure game update will blow expectations out of the water, and it may even help to rekindle interest in the broader genre of first-person adventure exploration. At the very least, it should make some older gamers very happy.
