RPG Cast – Episode 809: “Trails Mix to Heaven”

1. Although I suppose a game could be reimagined so heavily that it may as well be a different game, I do tend to prefer them over other forms of re-releases. If I wanted to play the same game, I would just replay the version I already own, even if it is prettier. I’m more likely to play a remake if there is significant new content. Having said that, the two reimaginings I have played, Sword of Mana and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, are games where I haven’t played the originals (Final Fantasy Adventure and Fire Emblem Gaiden). I love both games and think the developers did a remarkable job of updating these two games.

   • Yeah I’m going to have to agree. Reimaginings ALL the way!

2. Can someone tell me what the difference is!?!

   • You can’t tell the difference?

   • Remaster – A port of an existing game to a newer platform. These usually have little to no new content, but will update graphics to have higher resolution and/or framerates, tweaked assets, and improved lighting. Sometimes music is remixed as well. Examples include the recent Tales of remasters

     Remake – A new games for newer hardware, at times using the source code as a base, other time from scratch using modern engines and techniques. These can follow the game’s story exactly as the original, or add to and expand it. It may or may not contain new gameplay elements. It will remix the soundtrack and may add voice acting if it lacked it originally. An example is the Super Mario RPG remakes on Nintendo Switch.

     Reimaging – A remake with such significant changes and differences from the original, that it is almost a new game. The different between this and a remake can be a matter of debate. An example is Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, a reimaging of the Famicom game Fire Emblem Gaiden.

3. It really depends on the game, although I lean more to remasters. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the 3DS and Dead Space on the Xbox Series S/X were great but each of them had to follow a different path. OoT had really good gameplay and setting so making changes wasn’t really needed except to make things more apparent, especially for the Water Temple. Dead Space on the other hand took the concept and really reworked it into it’s own entity. Although that’s when the outcome works. I was really looking forward to Legacy of Kain: Defiance because the gameplay didn’t age well and I wish the devs had gone through a remake instead of a remaster. With remasters I have some expectations on how the game will turn out, and with remakes/reimaging its a roll of the dice whether I’ll enjoy it.

4. I tend to prefer remakes because they offer a familiar experience with some added features.

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