Summary
Video game preservation has become a hot-button topic over the last few years, and for good reason. Unlike films or books, many games are tied to their consoles of origin, meaning that special hardware must also be preserved for an entire library. Old games do not get second editions, and many publishers are not interested in porting games to PC, even digitally. The original PlayStation is a retro console whosestellar library of gamesis in danger of being forgotten as it sinks deeper into the past.
Thankfully, some studios have seen fit to take old games and preserve them through remaster projects. While there is some overlap between the two, remasters are distinct from remakes in that they are the same game (or the bones of the original) with extra polish, quality of life, or special features included, and as such, faithful ground-up remakes such asTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2orMedieval (2019)would not belong on this list.
With more refined controllers, a tighter camera, and a trove of additional content in the “Crocipedia,” theCroc: Legend of the Gobbosremaster is a labor of love that does service to the memory of the original. WhileCrocwould have been unlikely to make a list ofthe best PS1 platformersdue to its clunky controls and camera, there are still gamers with plenty of nostalgia for this cute collectathon, and this remake cleans up some of its biggest issues.
As with any good remaster, the new and old graphics can be toggled with a button press, but asStephanie Sterling identified about theCrocremaster, the new graphics look a little too smoothed over for a game with such primative scenerary, and as such, the game is better experienced with the old chunky, pixelated skin than the overly smooth one.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueledmay look like a full-on remake, but it really is a one-to-one recreation of the PS1 classic, just with a wildly impressive coat of paint, plus a few additional (optional) features from the otherCrashracers.
Although Crash Team Racing is 100% intact under Nitro Fueled, microtransactions are offered on top. Online multiplayer and customization options add a modern layer, and the soundtrack remix complements the visual upgrade very well. Although there isn’t a graphics toggle, there is a way to switch between the new and original soundtrack.
Long out of print and hard to access legally, Suikoden 1 and 2 have long been hailed as two of the best JRPGs of all time. The first game is often described as a warmup to the second entry, which frequently lands on “Greatest RPGs" lists. The HD Remaster doesn’t change much, but that’s the point. These games didn’t need a ground-up reinvention, they just needed to be visible again.
The remaster upgrades the UI, smooths out the background art while retaining its original flavor (although it does look a little too smooth in some places), and even tweaks the notoriously clunky localization. The remaster also includes quality-of-life additions like fast-forward battles and auto-saves, making the journey to recruit thehuge roster of party membersless punishing.
The originalTomb Raidertrilogy helped define 3D platforming in the mid-’90s, even if its legacy has since been overshadowed by smoother successors and Lara’s modern reboots. What makes Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered so successful is its commitment to preservation: it’s the same games, quirks and all, but given a layer of polish that makes them palatable in 2024.
The new visuals are vibrant and detailed without sacrificing the weird, blocky charm of the originals, and the ability to toggle back to PS1 graphics at any time is a nice reminder of how far games have come (and also a useful way to find wayward keys or switches, which are still somewhat hard to see in their HD textures,even after the update). The controls are still tanky, and the puzzles and platforming just as awkward, but for fans who want to experience the rise of a gaming icon in her early years, this is the definitive way to do it.
Vicarious Visions’Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogylooks so good that it might be mistaken fora remake that improved upon the original, like Toys for Bob’sSpyro: Reignited. Its developers described theN. Sane Trilogyas something of a “Remaster Plus,” as all of the trilogy’s levels and characters were built on the original threeCrashgames' level geometry and character meshes, respectively.
Although Vicarious was not able to access the original three games' source code, they went beyond upscaling by adding their own art assets and rescoring and revoicing the soundtrack and dialogue to match the feel, precision, and tone of the originals. Whether it qualifies as a “super remaster” or a remake on top of some of the Bandicoot’s old bones, it is undeniably one of the best PlayStation remasters around.
Mature, thought-provoking, challenging, and timelessly stylish,The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2are truly some of the greatest stories ever pressed into interactive media, assuming the player can get over some of the gawkiness associated with the PS1 era. Combat is fair and surprisingly innovative for a game of its time, but some of the puzzles (especially when it comes to a lack of tutorials around flipping blocks) can be difficult for modern gamers to come to grips with.
The upscaled textures match theoriginal PS1 game’s brooding, dark fantasy vibe, and some of the new models that go beyond upscaling characters are even more (suitably) nightmarish. Of course, those who prefer (or are curious about) the old look can flip back and forth with the push of an analogue stick. Combat is now less clunky thanks to the same analogue stick camera, and a quick keybinding (i.e., binding jumping and combat actions to the triggers and bumper buttons) will do wonders to improve Raziel’s odds in a fight.
