Top Five List: Top Five Games That Could Use Makeovers
Super Mario All Stars. A great title for the SNES that took the original 4 Mario games and added enhanced graphics and better music, all while keeping the essentials that made these games classic. It was a makeover, one that Tyra Banks is still trying to emulate to this day. We've seen some great ones over the years, most recently with titles like Mega Man Powered Up, taking Mega Man 1 and turning it into a 3d hydrocephalitic chibi funtime romp. Without changing the basics of what makes these games great, makeovers rekindle what we loved about them in the first place. Here is a list of games we think could really use the All-Star treatment.
Frodo:
5: Mega Man 2 - Arguably the best game of the series, Mega Man 2 really needs the Powered Up treatment. Enhanced music, a level editor, expanded gameplay... I am drooling just thinking about it. Just put it on something a bit more accessable than the PSP, mmkay?
4: Maniac Mansion - I am aware that this LucasArts masterpiece has been re-done by people on the interwebs already, but I would love to see an enhanced version for a major console. A Wii version with beautiful hand-drawn characters and voice acting would basically make me weep with joy.
3: Secret of Mana - This game is already pretty gorgeous, one of the most visually and audably stunning titles on the SNES, but imagine it on a current system with Squeenix's Mana lineup. Lush environments, fully orchestrated soundtrack, cutscenes and online co-op would make this classic even classic-er. Classic-er?
2: Starcraft - Even by today's standards, Starcraft is a good looking PC real time strategy game. Imagine it using Blizzard's Warcraft III engine and you have a title that would make them tons of cash for many more years to come. Heck, the country of Korea alone would make this venture cost-effective.
1: The Legend of Zelda - We've seen the NES Zelda ported to the Gamecube on a collector's disk, to the GBA with the collector's series and now to the Virtual Console on the Wii, but it has always been untouched. I would love to see a Mario All-Stars treatment for Zelda. Imagine Zelda 1 and 2 with Link to the Past or Minish Cap quality graphics and remixed music. I'd wet myself, die, and then wet my corpse. We got a remake of the first Metroid a couple of years ago, why not your biggest cash cow, Nintendo? I'd drop a cool 1000 Wii points on that title in a heartbeat.
The Geek:
5: Uniracers - Take this awesomely fun SNES classic, crank up the visuals to 11, and give it some great Wii controls and you'll have a hit.
4: The THQ/AKI WWF/WCW games from the N64 - I still consider these games to be the pinnacle of 'rasslin games, at least from a gameplay standpoint. The controls were so easy to pick up and the animation of the wrestlers was so smooth. I would love to see something pretty much exactly like these games, except with a graphical and audio overhaul, making sure they leave the good animation intact.
3: Toe Jam and Earl - I love this Genesis classic. A great way to while away an afternoon. I would love to see it with some much more sharp and detailed graphics. Though I can't decide if I'd want it to be really, really detailed sprites or full on cel-shaded 3D. Either would work. Oh, and while we're at it, let's hire George Clinton and his crew to funk up the soundtrack something fierce.
2: Starfox 64 - One of my very favoritest games, Starfox got absolutely no respect on the GameCube with the horrible Starfox Assault game. The arwing levels were perfect, but everything else sucked hardcore. Give me Starfox 64 with really, really shiny new graphics and I will be in hog heaven.
1: Final Fantasy VII - Rumored, speculated, rumored some more, an updated FF7 has been the holy grail for Final Fantasy fanboys. Advent Children gave us a taste of what it could be like. FF7 was amazing when it came out, but even just compared to the next in the series, the visuals are just embarassing any more. Giant cubes for hands? Come on! And imagine, if you will, that entire soundtrack performed by a full, real live orchestra. Beauty.
Honorable Mention: Goldeneye - I really considered putting this on the list, but it's pretty much already been made thanks to the amazing Source engine and the rabid modding community out there.
What do you think would be a good game to give a makeover to? Post your suggestions in the comments!
What say you?!