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Other PlayStation Titles Deserving of a Remake

Published: June 14, 2024 by Matt Karoglou | 1 Comment on Other PlayStation Titles Deserving of a Remake

Advancements in technology made possible by 8th and 9th-generation hardware have given way to a wave of high-profile video game remakes that reimagine classic titles for a new audience. At the forefront of this push into video game remakes is Sony, who have devoted considerable first-party resources to reimagining some of the more classic titles in their systems’ libraries on new hardware. Even newer titles like The Last of Us and its sequel received impressive next-gen upgrades on the PS5, but the true highlight are the 5th and 6th-generation titles from the PlayStation and PS2 libraries that have been brought into the modern era through ground-up remakes. Still, there are several untouched series that deserve their place among the ever-growing library of PlayStation remakes.

The PS1 library is a veritable treasure trove of first and third-party games that stand the test of time as highlights of their respective genres. While popular and system-defining games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil 2 have gotten ground-up remakes on 8th and 9th-generation hardware, other, lesser-known games are being left to the annals of history despite being just as deserving of a modern update. Each of the games on this list are titles from franchises that fans have been clamoring for, either as a new entry or a remake of classic entries. It’s not hard to imagine any of the potential remakes of the games below standing right alongside the likes of Resident Evil 4, Demon’s Souls, Shadow of the Colossus, or Dead Space as some of the best reimaginings of beloved titles.

Wipeout

Original Release — Wipeout (1995), PlayStation
Last Release — Wipeout Omega Collection (2017), PlayStation 4
Publisher/Developer — Sony Interactive Entertainment/Studio Liverpool (Psygnosis)

Despite being a cornerstone of the Sony first-party lineup for many years, it’s been more than a decade since an original game in the futuristic racing series Wipeout was released. The last official game in the series was the Wipeout Omega Collection, a compilation that includes Wipeout HD and Wipeout 2048. The Wipeout series is synonymous with some impressive visuals and a killer soundtrack to accompany its breakneck sense of speed and gravity-defying tracks, and an official new entry in the series or remake of one of the classic entries (fingers crossed for Wipeout XL) would be a welcome addition to the PS5 library.

Tenchu

Original Release — Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998), PlayStation
Last Release — Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (2008), PSP
Publisher/Developer — Activision, FromSoftware, Sega/Acquire, K2 LLC, FromSoftware

The original Tenchu game is one of several noteworthy titles responsible for developing the modern conventions of stealth-action gameplay. Though the series would expand from pure stealth into more action-oriented territory, it’s the original Tenchu that stands as the best game in the series thanks to the many tools it gives the player to avoid conflict and confuse the enemy before swooping in for swift takedowns. The last entry in the series actually features development from none other than FromSoftware, and the possibility of that studio working on a new Tenchu in the same vein as Sekiro is a winning combination that is incredibly appealing. A new Tenchu title that reimagines the pure stealth-focused ninja action of the first title in stunning 4K could reinvigorate interest in the stealth genre and give way to a whole new line of Tenchu games.

Fear Effect

Original Release — Fear Effect (2000), PlayStation
Last Release — Fear Effect Sedna (2018), PlayStation 4
Publisher/Developer — Eidos Interactive/Kronos Digital Entertainment

Fear Effect (and, to a lesser extent, its sequel/prequel) is one of the somewhat hidden survival-horror gems of the PS1 library, and it’s a shame that the series continues to languish in relative obscurity despite providing a unique spin on the genre in an era of shameless Resident Evil-clones. The cel-shaded art style and mix of third-person shooting and stealth in its survival-horror gameplay helped give Fear Effect its own vibe in comparison to contemporaries like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, and its supernatural-themed horrors taking influence from Eastern mythology and folklore are vastly different from the horror tropes common in the genre. There were reportedly plans for a Fear Effect remake that never materialized, and there’s never been a better time than now to revive the series and see it stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the remakes of Resident Evil 2, Silent Hill 2, and Dead Space.

Final Fantasy VIII

Original Release — Final Fantasy VIII (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (2019), PlayStation 4
Publisher/Developer — Square/Square

With Square Enix currently developing the closing chapter to its ambitious Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy and reportedly eyeing a remake of Final Fantasy IX, it’s unlikely that players will get a remake of Final Fantasy VIII anytime soon. That’s a shame because Final Fantasy VIII is arguably one of the best entries in the series in terms of its mechanics and RPG systems. While the story and characters of Final Fantasy VIII aren’t necessarily a series highlight, the gameplay of the title certainly is, rewarding players who master its mechanics with the potential to become incredibly overpowered early on in the game. A remake of Final Fantasy VIII could do a better job of explaining the nuance of its systems to players and see the title finally get the recognition it deserves.

Legend of Dragoon

Original Release — The Legend of Dragoon (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — The Legend of Dragoon (Classics Collection) (2023), PS4/PS5
Publisher/Developer — Sony Computer Entertainment/Japan Studio

On the flip side of the PS1 JRPG spectrum from Final Fantasy VIII is Legend of Dragoon. This criminally underrated and cult-classic game deserves the same kind of praise normally reserved for the bigger JRPG franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but for one reason or another, it ended up being a one-and-done affair despite some strong sales and a solid fan following. In addition to its excellent combat mechanics and unique RPG systems, Legend of Dragoon has a surprisingly heartfelt and compelling story that easily compares to some of the better games in the Final Fantasy series. A remake of Legend of Dragoon is something that’s been high-up on fans’ wishlists for a long time, and the title doesn’t need much outside of a visual overhaul and some slight quality-of-life adjustments to bring it into the modern era.

Alundra

Original Release — Alundra (1997), PlayStation
Last Release — Alundra (PSOne Classics) (2010), PlayStation 3
Publisher/Developer — Working Designs/Matrix Software

Another relative hidden gem in the PS1 library, Alundra is about as close as PlayStation gamers would get to having their own Legend of Zelda, and the title actually comes from an impressive pedigree. Alundra‘s developer, Matrix Software, was primarily made up of staff who worked on the excellent Sega Genesis classic Landstalker, and those inspirations shine through in its compelling combat and challenging puzzle-solving. Alundra features a great story to accompany its excellent ARPG gameplay too, and a modern remake could utilize the same HD-2D art style popularized by games like Octopath Traveler to retain the original’s amazing art direction and pixel-art sprites.

Brave Fencer Musashi

Original Release — Brave Fencer Musashi (1998), PlayStation
Last Release — Musashi: Samurai Legend (2005), PlayStation 2
Publisher/Developer — Square/Square

Released during a time when Square was firing on all cylinders and delivering one quality release after another on the PS1, Brave Fencer Musashi is a cult-favorite action RPG that deserves another chance in the spotlight. Somewhat similar to The Legend of Zelda, players control a plucky young hero (in this case, the young samurai Musashi) as he clears dungeons, solves puzzles, and engages in some light platforming and environmental traversal. Brave Fencer Musashi doesn’t do all that much to differentiate itself from other ARPGs, but its charming characters and sense of humor more than carry it through to being one of the better games in Square’s PS1 catalog. The sequel on PS2 abandoned just about everything that makes the original special, making a remake of the first game in the series a must-have.

PaRappa the Rapper

Original Release — PaRappa the Rapper (1997), PlayStation
Last Release — PaRappa the Rapper (Remaster) (2017), PlayStation 4
Publisher/Developer — Sony Computer Entertainment/NanaOn-Sha

One of the originators of the modern rhythm game and an iconic piece of PS1 history, PaRappa the Rapper is one of the titles most deserving of a modern remake thanks to its timeless visual style and absolute earworm of a soundtrack. Rhythm games have come a long way since the original release of PaRappa, but the simplicity and accessibility of its button-matching gameplay make it the perfect jumping-on point for newcomers and allows players of all skill levels to simply sit back and enjoy the excellent music that acts as the game’s foundation. The remaster of PaRappa on PS4 suffered from some technical issues that resulted in it being an inferior version of the game, and a remake could absolutely do better by one of the PS1’s many mascots.

Syphon Filter

Original Release — Syphon Filter (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (2007), PlayStation 2
Publisher/Developer — 989 Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment/Sony Bend (Bend Studio)

Originally derided by some as a “Metal Gear Solid-clone”, Syphon Filter is far more deserving of players’ respect for how it skillfully translates the secret agent experience into a competent third-person shooter. The original three games in the series on the PS1 are definitely the highlight of the Syphon Filter franchise, with later entries resulting in a series of diminishing returns as the series struggled to keep up with modern shooter trends. Sony Bend has proven itself to be an excellent studio with far more tricks up its sleeve than just Syphon Filter, but to see the studio return to the franchise that gave it its start would be an excellent full-circle moment in gaming that could see Syphon Filter get a well-deserved second chance in the spotlight.

Dino Crisis

Original Release — Dino Crisis (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — Dino Crisis 3 (2003), Xbox
Publisher/Developer — Capcom/Capcom

The dinosaur-hunting cousin of Resident Evil, Capcom’s Dino Crisis is a fan-favorite series and more action-oriented take on the survival horror formula the developer/publisher helped establish. The last game in the series would end up being the third official title in the franchise and released on the Xbox rather than the PS2, meaning it’s high time that Dino Crisis made its triumphant return to PlayStation hardware courtesy of a remake. Capcom’s skill at reimagining the classic Resident Evil titles in a series of incredible modern remakes makes a strong case for there to be a remake of the original Dino Crisis built in the RE Engine, and fans’ interest in other Capcom dinosaur games like Exoprimal only proves that there’s an audience for a new game where we get to fight against T-Rexes and Velociraptors with shotguns.

Omega Boost

Original Release — Omega Boost (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — Omega Boost (1999), PlayStation
Publisher/Developer — Sony Computer Entertainment/Polyphony Digitial

To date, Polyphony Digital has only one title under its belt not bearing the Gran Turismo name, and that’s the cult-classic PS1 mech shooter Omega Blast. Thanks to a relative lack of marketing and some middling critical reviews (mostly due to the game’s shorter length), Omega Blast would largely fly under the radar and go unknown by many players until well after its initial release. As a result, Polyphony has continued to stick to only developing racing sims via the best-in-genre Gran Turismo series, but there’s no reason why the studio couldn’t revisit the universe of Omega Blast in a modern remake. Especially with how adept Polyphony is at squeezing every bit of power from Sony’s hardware, an Omega Blast remake on PS5 would be a visual tour-de-force and unbelievable assault on the senses.

Twisted Metal

Original Release — Twisted Metal (1995), PlayStation
Last Release — Twisted Metal (2012), PlayStation 3
Publisher/Developer — Sony Interactive Entertainment/SingleTrac, Sony Interactive Studios America, Incognito Entertainment, Eat Sleep Play

Like Wipeout, Twisted Metal was one of many signature franchises showing up time and again on each new iteration of PlayStation hardware until the series somehow fell by the wayside. Car combat games have somewhat fallen out of vogue in the intervening years between the last Twisted Metal entry on PS3 and now, but a new game in the genre and series that reimagines the original Twisted Metal tournament as a live-service battle royale is a perfect match. Ideally, this remake could include a “who’s who” of the best combatants from across the series’ best games, pulling iconic heroes and villains of the Twisted Metal tournament and their signature vehicles. The single-player modes in Twisted Metal deserve a return as well, but a remake and series reboot of the series can and should focus on multiplayer as the building blocks of its revival.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Original Release — Final Fantasy Tactics (1997), PlayStation
Last Release — Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions (2007), PSP
Publisher/Developer — Square/Square

When it’s not just fans but also developers who worked on the original release who want a remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, you know how important a game it is. The original Final Fantasy Tactics would end up being many Western players’ first foray into the TRPG/SRPG subgenre thanks to its inclusion of the Final Fantasy name, and its arrival hot on the heels of the release and mainstream success of Final Fantasy VII was perfectly timed. Despite the fact that the original release still holds up as one of the best games in the genre, a modern-day remake could kill two birds with one stone by revamping the already excellent visuals and making the game more accessible than ever before. And, if we’re making a wishlist, some extra endgame content and new Jobs to master couldn’t hurt either.

Ape Escape

Original Release — Ape Escape (1999), PlayStation
Last Release — PlayStation Move: Ape Escape (2010), PlayStation 3
Publisher/Developer — Sony Computer Entertainment/Japan Studio

Another of Sony’s erstwhile first-party franchises deserving of a comeback is the excellent Ape Escape, and the first entry in the series is a perfect candidate for a modern-day remake that makes full use of the PS5’s impressive DualSense controller. Fittingly, the original Ape Escape was a hardware showpiece for the original DualShock on the PS1, and a remake could serve a similar function by making the best use of the many unique features of the DualSense like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The PS5’s pack-in game, Astro’s Playroom, is one of the few games on the console to take full advantage of the DualSense, and that it comes from Team ASOBI and Japan Studio (Ape Escape‘s original developer) gives cause for the two to team up on a reimagining of Ape Escape.

Xenogears

Original Release — Xenogears (1998), PlayStation
Last Release — Xenogears (PSOne Classics) (2011), PlayStation 3
Publisher/Developer — Square/Square

Fans have been clamoring for either a sequel to or remake of Xenogears since the original game was released nearly 3 decades ago. And while the team behind Xenogears left Square and formed their own studio as Monoloth Soft, there’s no reason that the two entities couldn’t reunite for a reimagining of this cult-classic JRPG as it was originally imagined. The initial release of Xenogears would suffer from budget and time constraints, resulting in the game shipping in a somewhat unfinished state and its second disc lacking most of its originally planned content. A remake of Xenogears could correct this and inevitably become the definitive version of one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time.

Metal Gear Solid

Original Release — Metal Gear Solid (1998), PlayStation
Last Release — Metal Gear Solid Master Collection, Vol. 1 (2023), PS4/PS5
Publisher/Developer — Konami/Konami Computer Entertainment Japan

The first game in the Metal Gear Solid series is one of the many “sacred cows” of gaming that many fans would prefer to leave untouched, but the importance of that title and its ability to hold up even in a modern context shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a remake. In fact, most Metal Gear fans consider Metal Gear Solid 3 to be the best entry in the series, and that title has a remake currently in development. Sony already has the perfect first-party studio to handle the remake in Bluepoint, which has proven itself adept at taking beloved and classic titles and giving them a modern audiovisual upgrade while remaining true to the mechanics and gameplay of the original. Metal Gear Solid doesn’t need “fixing”, but a visual upgrade on the PS5 could go a long way.

Bloodborne

Original Release — Bloodborne (2015), PlayStation 4
Last Release — Bloodborne (2015), PlayStation 4
Publisher/Developer — Sony Computer Entertainment/FromSoftware

Even though it’s not a PS1 title, Bloodborne is one of the few first-party Sony games that remains locked behind its PS4 exclusivity and is absolutely deserving of a remake or remaster. In the almost 10 years since Bloodborne‘s release, FromSoftware has continued to release one incredible game after another, but somehow Bloodborne stands tall as perhaps the best game in the developer’s catalog thanks to its impeccable gameplay and dread-inducing atmosphere. While players have been (rightfully) begging for a PC port for years, what would be more beneficial is a ground-up remake or 4K remaster that improves performance to have the title running at 60 FPS and improves the visuals while leaving the near-perfect gameplay largely intact.