The classic approaches weren’t bad or archaic. It’s a common misconception. They often had janky controls, poor accessibility, or even overly difficult game design – but the aesthetic was never to blame. The industry has ironed out a lot of these creases over the years to create much smoother experiences, and the indie space is proof enough that 2D doesn’t mean old and obtuse. The Binding of Isaac takes the original Zelda and makes it a roguelike, even sharing its UI, dungeon format, and item pickup animation – the inspirations ooze. Undertale is a 2D RPG that has combat expressed through a small box that has you avoiding the bullet-hell barrage – it doesn’t rely on fancy graphics. Little Dew is a more comedic Zelda that feels like an HD rendition of the classics with a quaint, cartoony art style. These are all iconic titles, despite not being 3D triple-A blockbusters. Meanwhile, when Nintendo wants to revive its classic library, it does so by modifying its 2D approach, 3Dizing them instead. Look no further than the upcoming Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Pokemon gam
Don’t get me wrong, Leon in Resident Evil 4 isn’t to be trifled with, but even as the game enters its final act, Capcom keeps finding new horrors to surprise you with. Upon entering Umbrella’s labs, we stumble upon the Regenedors for the first time. These horrific, grey-skinned beasts are initially unstoppable, marching slowly toward you as otherworldly growls leave their infected lips. The only option is to run, or open fire and pray there is some way to bring this thing down. There isn’t, not until you come across the thermal scope and uncover the secret behind its impossible power. Scares force you to think smartly and find immediate solutions, instead of pulling out your shotgun and blowing your problems a
It does something that a remake or remaster can never do. No matter how much Mass Effect Legendary Edition or Spyro Reignited may look like how we remember them, they’ll never be able to capture the experience of playing games as a kid. Revisiting classics through remasters and remakes definitely induces nostalgia, and they have the power to trigger all manner of memories and feelings from the past, but a fresh coat of paint just isn’t enough to truly bring me back. Resident Evil 4 VR, despite it being a completely different format, has moved me in ways a normal remake never could. This game makes me regress, and from talking to other people and watching streamers play it, it seems to be doing the same thing to everyone that grew up with Leon’s Spanish advent
I can’t play the Spyro trilogy for the first time again, nor can I approach it with the same innocence and sense of wonder that I did when I was ten years old. I still love the series, but games have changed a lot since Spyro first came out. There have been 20 years of evolution and innovation since Spyro the Dragon was made, and https://adventuregameland.com/posts/galactic-shadows-Respawn-s-struggle-amidst-ea-s-industry-Tempest I’ve seen how games have been refined and enhanced since then. I’ve changed a lot too. I’m a critic now, and I pick games apart and analyze them for a living. I can revisit Spyro from a new perspective, but now I experience it as an echo of the original – a snapshot of my childh
In 2019, Capcom released the Resident Evil 2 remake, and it is evident that the studio learned its lesson when it comes to the importance of platforms this time around. RE2 remake was released to the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Given the wide variety of platforms available, the Resident Evil 2 remake was able to reach every single Resident Evil fan, except for the Nintendo Switch, which is understandable given that the franchise isn’t that popular with most Nintendo players. However, apart from releasing the game on the right platforms, the Resident Evil 2 remake was heralded for staying true to the essence of the original game. Interestingly enough, the RE2 remake is not a shot-for-shot re-imagining of the original, but it was still able to keep the essence of the first game even if it’s not as faithful as the 2002 Resident Evil rem
We only see Princess Zelda fall into a pit in the trailer, presumably descending deeper into the castle’s inner sanctum. Can’t she just climb back out, or is she stuck there until we fish her back out once the final boss is dealt with? I sincerely hope it’s the former, or Nintendo is throwing us a red herring and the true circumstances of the narrative are being cleverly hidden from view. The company has said it’s holding the true title back for Breath of the Wild 2 in fear of spoilers, and the skyward version of Link only ever being framed from the back has convinced me it is another character entir
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but Zelda has always been a wonderfully diverse series. Not to the extent of Mario which has crossed all manner of genres in its years, but it is diverse all the same. It has shaped the RPG genre numerous times since the ‘80s, inspiring the likes of Dark Souls, Secret of Mana, Shadow of the Colossus, and now, the aforementioned Genshin Impact. You can see how much the RPG genre varies with Zelda’s inspirations alone and that’s telling. After Breath of the Wild 2, it needs to do something different again. Going back to the classics might not scream new. In fact, it sounds like a step back, aye? Well, that’s the thing. The triple-A space seems to be scared of its own history, desperate to move past it and become more cinematic, more graphically domineering. It’s all about tech and visual prowess. But art style is just as import
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