100 Classic Games That Need A Remake-First 25

Sometimes being ambitious is a necessary thing, which is the case with the following article I am working on. To me, gamers have been calling for remakes of some of their favorite games for years now. Some prayers have been answered, and some games have been butchered in the process. Other times, games just don’t deliver all of the wishes gamers were hoping for in the remake. So with that in mind I decided to look through the libraries of video games for the NES, SNES, Genesis, and N64 and come up with 100 (yes 100) games that either need a remake, or another shot at a remake after an abysmal attempt by developers. Here are some rules to remember while reading this article.

1)I did not include any games for handhelds. To me, most games on handhelds are just titles originated on the home consoles.

2)I didn’t include games that were arcade only. I could go on for days about games that were only in the arcades that need to be remade today.

3)Some games may be under general titles for just the series itself instead of a specific game in the series. This may mean I want just the one game remade, or perhaps the whole series itself.

4)Some games may have been remade already, but for this gamer, I am writing about the game because the remake may have let people down.

5)I tried my best to include as many games that have NEVER had a true remake AND have a decent fanbase.

6)Lastly, and most important, this is NOT a countdown, these are just 100 games I feel could use retouching.

1)1942-A true arcade classic in every sense of the word, 1942 was released in the arcades in 1984, and was soon ported to practically every gaming system and home computer at the time. Years later it was included in a Capcom’s Collection game for the PS2 and Xbox, and then brought to the Wii Virtual Console, but it has never had a true remake, which is shocking to me with all of these military games out there, and the fact that most of those games focus on ground military, and not planes. To me, all it would take is an ambitious game developer to take the franchise into the 21^st century. To true historian, or heck my dad who loves WWII stuff, would jump at the chance to hop into a plane and take it to the enemy.

2)Adventure Island-If Nintendo really wants to make a charge at overtaking its competitors, it may need to dig deep into its vast historic library and start pulling out more classic games. While I could certainly see this game remade for the Xbox 360 or PS3 as downloadable content, a true release of the game for the Wii would give it more exposure and really tap into the demographic Nintendo keeps catering to, children. Adventure Island was a franchise that started out great, but then took a nosedive later on. Sure, there was a remake for the Wii made in 2009, but it was nothing more then the original Adventure Island made with 3D graphics, and I think gamers deserve a bit more then that, plus it wasn’t an original game, it was downloadable content for the Wii. There’s nothing wrong with the childish bliss this game creates, but a more modern adaptation wouldn’t hurt.

3)Back To The Future-Yes friends, there was a remake of this game done earlier this year, but it didn’t get as big of a response from gamers and critics as expected by developers, and I think the reason for this was the very cartoony nature of the graphics and the fact it didn’t capture the real essence of the films. To me, the best plan for this remake would be to remake the movies separately as they were done in a way for the NES years prior, but hand the licensing to the folks who made Uncharted to give it a more realistic feel. I understand that getting the voices and everything in the movie accurately may be impossible, but I think the fans of the films deserve a game that really does the movies justice.

4)Baseball Stars-Around the peak of the NES’s popularity, Baseball Stars debuted and changed the way we looked at baseball games. With the ability to change the name of your team as well as the roster, it was like no other baseball game of its time. The sequel may not have been as successful as its predecessor, but the influence the franchise left on the genre can still be felt today. Sadly, after 1992 and the franchise’s debut on the Neo Geo, it was never heard from again, and to me, its sad and unacceptable that the folks at SNK haven’t ordered the game to be remade, even if it is just a Playstation Network download in the same vein as Tecmo Bowl Throwback. Sports titles have become so in depth over the years, it would be a nice change of pace to play a game with simple controls and nothing driving it but the love of a classic sports franchise.

5)Battletoads-Trust me, I can understand the hesitation by some gamers as I speak about a game that while revered was also hated because of its insane difficulty. That being said, it doesn’t change the fact we haven’t seen a Battletoads game since the early 1990s and while that may be a good thing for those of us who hated the game, but for those people who have been waiting since their last, more graphic arcade outing, I think this would be an easy game for any developer to snag and remake for the PS3 or Xbox 360. While originally a Nintendo game, I don’t see the game getting its proper due on the Wii. The cartoony giant fists and the awesome tunes would see new light and there’s nothing wrong with that…as long as someone also creates a difficulty option.

6)California Games-Long before the X Games came to be and people were making cheesy surfer movies California Games was the “extreme sport” video game, featuring a bunch of mini games in one cartridge, complete with sponsors and the ability to enter your name as well as the names of your friends (well their names that fit into the space available). Some of the games featured included BMX bike riding, surfing (complete with killer shark and its own killer shark theme music), skateboarding, and my personal favorite, footbag. You know footbag, don’t you? Oh I apologize stoners, I meant hackey sack. Damn kids. Anyways, I think the initial game was a huge success, and it is still one of my favorite games to play for the NES. Sure, the Wii has come out with so many sports titles that probably have these games in it, but I think the folks who hated California Games II for the SNES (and seriously, who did like that horrible excuse for a sequel?) deserve a remake, and I think it could be a surefire hit for those folks at Microsoft to use for their Kinect thingamajig (whippernsappers!). I say that for one reason you probably wouldn’t think of without any research. Ken Nicholson, inventor of the Kinect technology, just so happens to be the same fella who in 1987 designed the footbag level for California Games. It’s fate Ken. Do it for the homeland. Rumors suggest the game may be re-released for the Playstation Network as well as the Wii and Nintendo DS handhelds, but I have my doubts.

7)Castlevania-You may be puzzled as to why I put this game here, but hear me out young grasshopper. Yes, last year a Castlevania game was released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 and while it was well received by gamers and critics alike, it was a reboot, not a remake, and to me there’s a difference. There was also a Playstation Network and Xbox Live release. Sure, the core elements of the Castelvania series were in these games, but this was not the original Castlevania story or even a story related to it remade in modern gaming splendor, and I think that’s what most gamers want. I can applaud game designers for trying something new with a franchise that had seen better days, but to me that’s not a true remake, that’s a company trying to use old tricks to convince gamers they are witnessing history, when in reality they are witnessing a bait and switch. I want a Castelvania game with more then just awesome graphics and immense levels. I want the Belmonts of old, not some Gabriel Belmont who isn’t worth the whip he uses to defeat monsters. Castlevania also belongs on the Wii or a Nintendo system, and its sad to know that the Nunchuk device for the Wii was never used as a whip for a true non WiiWare Castlevania games. That shitty fighting game doesn’t count.

8)Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers-Trust me, I know Disney releasing the rights to make this game are slim to none, but hey the economy is bad and people are looking to trips down memory lane as a way to make them feel better about life, and thus, spend money on said things that make them feel nostalgic, so perhaps this could happen. I could see this game either being an exclusive Wii or even WiiU release, or perhaps even a 3DS title, but to me it is a license to print money for Nintendo, Capcom, and Disney if they could bring in characters that both appeal to children as well as bring in adults who grew up watching Chip and Dale solve crimes.

9)Contra-Sure, Contra has seen several additions to the franchise throughout the years, but to me, the franchise is so far removed from the original it is quite sickening. I understand the game had some futuristic environments in it, and of course, the aliens in the game certainly stand out, but to me I always pictured the game to be more like Rambo meets Alien, not Battlestar Galactica Contra, and I think that’s where we’re at now. I love the fact there’s more of a story to the games now, but why not create a relative to the original heroes and take them back to the jungles? I also think a solid multiplayer or sandbox type option to the game would do the franchise good. I feel like the concept of Contra has been lost over the years, and that’s a sad thing for someone like me who writes to preserve the essence of classic video games for the younger generation. There are rumors of a new Contra game, but not much is known about it just yet. Let’s hope we’re heading back to the 1980’s with this new edition.

10)DejaVu-I think the time and place in video games is ripe for a return of this game. For those of you who don’t know about this NES gem, it is a point and click adventure, along the lines of Shadowgate, except you are a detective framed for murder in 1940s Chicago. With the emergence of LA Noire onto the gaming scene, as well as a lot of other games based on times in history, this is a no brainer to me. I also think Ace Harding is a character that could become iconic in modern gaming if done right. The last time we saw Ace he was hanging around the Game Boy Color (remember those?) solving crimes, and creating so much excitement that the game is now out of print. If by some chance you’re reading this, gaming students or game designers, this is my gift to you. Come up with a successful remake of this game and you’d be set for life. Just don’t forget who gave you the idea.

11)Double Dragon-I don’t own a fancy cellphone, mostly because I’m much too poor to afford one, but also because of the fact it is my direct revolt against the legions of kiddies who thought it was a good idea to ask for a Double Dragon remake for, get this, the iPhone! Are you idiots that greedy? Your phone has music, tons of apps, photos, and oh yeah, you can make phone calls on it, did you really have to rob the legions of hardcore classic gamers who want a true Double Dragon remake for something other than the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade? You should be ashamed of yourselves, as should the creators of this classic game by selling out to self-important pricks with Smartphones. Double Dragon is the grandfather of brawler games and it deserves to be remade or even rebooted in a way that shows the superb design work of modern gaming studios, not just some cheap redone model of the original game. That doesn’t show effort or creativity. Maybe even a remake of the original 3 games. Not a bad idea if you ask me.

12)Duck Tales-That’s right, go ahead, just try to get the addicting theme music of the TV show out of your head. It burrows into your skull like the Wrath Of Khan. Yeah, I stole that off of Epic Rap Battles Of History, so sue me Nice Peter. In any event, Duck Tales is another game that if done right and marketed well could make tons of money for everyone involved. Keep this in mind dear reader, that in 1989, when the game was first released, it eventually sold 1.67 million copies worldwide, which is pretty impressive for a game with simple graphics, difficult to grasp controls, and an amazing soundtrack. Duck Tales continues to entertain its legions of fans through the release of DVDs and merchandise. To me, a remake of the original game or a brand new Duck Tales game could do nothing but help boost those sales. Besides, I want to control GizmoDuck gosh darn it!

13)Faxanadu-Sometimes I honestly feel like one of the few people to have ever played this game for the NES in 1989. The game was initially given great reviews by Nintendo critics, even climbing to #6 on the Top 30 list of games for Nintendo at the end of 1989, but it wouldn’t take long for the game to fall from grace and basically be buried in the hidden lore of gaming history, which is a sad thing, because it combined so many genres of gaming, from RPG, adventure, and platform to make a pretty decent game, especially for those folks who love all of that medieval and fantasy type books and movies. To me there’s not a better time then right now for some game design studio to jump on the licensing of this franchise and bring it back. Hybrid games, combinations of genres, they’re pretty hot right now, and it already has a fan base built in.

14)Friday The 13^th –Ah yes, a game so terribly made back in the 1980s for the NES, only diehard fans of the horror films could stomach it. Sure, it scared the crap out of me as a kid, but nowhere near as much as the films did. Countless gaming magazines, including Nintendo Power, have noted it as one of the worst games ever made. Come to think of it, the movies began to take a nosedive later on too. It would be difficult, would probably be banned in several countries, but for the millions of fans of these horror flicks a new game needs to be made. The marketing would be fun too, if it could be released on Friday the 13^th, and if it fell on the same month as Halloween, even better. Who created that Manhunt game? Something tells me those crazy bastards would have a blast bringing this iconic monster back to life on a modern system.

15)Little Nemo: The Dream Master-How do you explain a game often overlooked by fans of Capcom titles? Well you could talk about the decent soundtrack, the colorful levels, or the fact you could feed candy to animals and use their powers. I think the bigger explanation here, or the lack of one, is why Nintendo hasn’t brought this franchise to the Wii or 3DS yet. It definitely has appeal to the younger crowd, but I could see fans of the original picking it up as well. I understand the gaming industry likes fresh and new ideas, but I think this game could introduce some features that weren’t in the original while not straying too far from what made the game fun.

16)Maniac Mansion-I think one of the main reasons I’m such a huge fan of classic gaming is that I think a lot of the games from that era are an art form, which isn’t to say that today’s games aren’t, but for me I think it was a greater challenge back then because there was less available to work with. Maniac Mansion quickly became one of my favorite games for the NES as a child. It was just a weird, quirky, yet highly entertaining game with a funny B movie style story, and while I never played the sequel, I can say it wasn’t as good as the original because it was a completely different type of game. I’m not saying another point and click adventure Maniac Mansion should come out, though to see it on the Playstation Network or Xbox Live Arcade would be nice to see. I think the studios behind Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Dexter could do a fine job of shedding some light on this franchise, and I think it would sell well, for if no other reason then Lucasfilms being behind the original game.

17)Paperboy-Last seen on a major video game console in 2007, nothing but anniversary edition iPhone and iPod Touch Paperboy games have been made since, and in my book that’s a major crime. Sure, I own an iPod Touch and would love to play the game on the tiny screen, but there’s something so magical about playing the game as it was originally presented, in the arcades or on the NES. I find it odd Nintendo hasn’t remade this game for the Wii, because the motion of throwing a paper seems custom made for the motion sensor controls of the console, but as you will come to find, for every 5 good ideas Nintendo has, there’s 20 that don’t make any sense. If someone does decide to create a true remake of this game, I hope it is a nice mix of the original Paperboy and Paperboy 2 and hey, if they want to use old school graphics, that’s fine by me.

18)POW: Prisoners Of War-In 1988, this game hit the arcades, with an NES port to follow the next year. Even if you haven’t played this game, one look at the box art or arcade flyer and chances are you knew what the general idea of the game was. As a prisoner in what appears to be a jail in some Asian country, you escape and make your way to the enemy leader in order to escape. Just imagine if logic was entered into video games. Normally a prisoner would just escape and not give a damn about who is in charge, but this is SNK folks, those geniuses that brought us the most expensive video game system in the 1990’s the Neo Geo, so they take their prison breaks very seriously. The game was pretty well done, with the ability to use weapons and face off against bosses and the only drawback to the NES port is the lack of two-player mode, which even baffled me as a kid as to why it was removed. I’m shocked to know that this game hasn’t even seen any action on the Playstation Network or Xbox Live Arcade, which is a shame because it has been almost 25 years since the game’s debut. I also feel this game could be done well in various genres, from a first person shooter to a Mass Effect style series. It could be huge if done well.

19)Popeye-There’s nothing wrong with bringing a classic cartoon character, a true iconic character into the 21^st century, but only if it is done in a way that preserves the true charm of the character. I’m tired of seeing cartoons that don’t feel like the ones that were made during my childhood. The same goes for video games, and Popeye was a pretty decent video game, even if it was about as basic as they come. I can picture a platform type game with mini games that involve Popeye fighting enemies, perhaps even make it difficult for Popeye in some levels with putting the spinach in spots that take time to get to. The marketing for the game would be quite simple, all you need is someone who can do the voice well and that awesome song and you’ve got a winner.

20)RC Pro Am Racing-I’m a strange gamer as it relates to racing games in that I could play Super Mario Kart until I pass out, but Gran Turismo games bore me to tears. That being said, this was a game I played over and over again. I never liked any follow ups to the game, and just the fact it inspired so many other racing games I feel it deserves to be brought into the next era of gaming. Remote control cars are something that is still a big hit among kids and I think this game would play well on any system. Did I mention it was one of the best games made by those fine folks at Rare? Does anyone know why this game hasn’t been remade? This is another game approaching that 25 year mark, so maybe it is all just a matter of time. I’d even take a Playstation Network release at this point.

21)River City Ransom-Sorry Nintendo, re-releasing this game for the Wii Virtual Console just isn’t satisfying my craving for the fast feet and fists of this classic brawler, and until you or some other gaming company bring this franchise into the 21^st century I will consider you all idiots because games like this are becoming lost in the shuffle of first person shooters and extensive Rockstar projects, and I just can’t accept the fact that the days of this game lighting my face up with a smile are gone. I know I’m not the only one. Besides, as a kid I thought if I fought someone and beat them in one on one combat they would turn into a coin and yell “BARF!” and that just didn’t happen. You owe me big time for misleading me during childhood Nintendo.

22)StarTropics-What can be said about a game that critics called “the natural evolution of The Legend Of Zelda?” Sure, that may sound confusing, but the setup of StarTropics as far as gameplay and controls was very much like the first two Zeldas. The game also had a fine pedigree, being made by the same developers as the Punch Out series, so it definitely came from people who knew their video games and how to make them entertaining. The game also came with parchment that when put in water revealed a clue for the game. Why don’t games have this kind of marketing anymore? Sure, if the parchment turned into a giant foam dinosaur it would probably be cooler, but work with me here. StarTropics is a cult classic yet isn’t well known among many gamers today. Could the game be given an Uncharted retouch? I don’t think it would hurt.

23)Super Dodge Ball-Remember the joys of dodge ball? Sure, there may be some folks still taking medication because of any traumatic experiences during elementary school where they were constantly beaned in the head, but for the most part it is a fun schoolyard game we all enjoyed, and in this writer’s case, the most fun was hitting those girls who were more concerned with their makeup or their nails and not the fact a big red ball is screaming forth towards their skull. I know that might sound mean, but you must remember, I wasn’t the coolest kid in school, but I had a reputation as a pretty good dodge ball player, so I had an image to uphold here. I was always big on this game for the NES, and I still play it today when the opportunity presents itself. The music wasn’t the best in the world, but the gameplay was addicting and fun, especially with those high power shots you’d get after a running start. The game has been remade a few times in the past, but nothing earth shattering. To me, this game needs the motion sensor treatment, and that’s coming from a guy who HATES motion sensor anything. If this way is not an option, I think a straight Playstation Network or Xbox Live Arcade version with better graphics and perhaps even a season mode, would be a nice touch. The folks who made the game might not be called Technos anymore, but some of the members made a new studio that made the previous remakes. So the tools are there to make it happen.

24)Wizards and Warriors-Sure, there was a near riot from male gamers over the fact the original game cartridge had Fabio (I still can’t believe it’s not butter, even after all these years) as the cover art, when the actual character wears a full suit of armor throughout the game. Obviously someone didn’t get the memo there. That aside, the game was very extensive for a NES game at the time, with some true classic battles and levels that would do well in a more open and expansive set up. I don’t think this game could ever compete with the big boys as far as action adventure games go, but I don’t think taking a stab at it would hurt. Just keep that bastard Fabio off the cover art, for the love of all that is holy.

25)Skate Or Die-A lot of gamers remember the craze of skating games that seemed to come out of nowhere once those Tony Hawk games hit the scene. Of course, these same gamers know those games totally tanked not too long ago, and it seems like a good skating game is hard to find. To me, remaking this franchise could be the key to bringing it back to prominence. Even as a re-release, it has been almost 4 years since the Virtual Console had it under its umbrella, and that was only in Europe, not here in the States. To me, bringing more depth to the game, and expanding the story of the two skaters that were used in the sequel could usher in a whole new fan base if done properly. Chances are this may never get a true remake, just a tuned up version for the Playstation Network or Xbox Live Arcade.

Well, there are my first 25. I plan on starting work on the next 25, which features SNES titles, this weekend. Until then, share your thoughts on these or other remakes you feel should be made.

Game on!