The long-awaited reveal of the Resident Evil 2 remake made a lot of people very happy. Capcom, itself, spoke of being shocked at just how upbeat the reception way. No wonder, then, it’s since suggested it might look into reviving other old IPs in the future. That got us thinking, of all its exciting IPs, which would we most want to see get the full remake treatment?
Dino Crisis
Whereas Resident Evil grew from a survival horror-focused title into a more cheesy action affair, Dino Crisis was always firmly established in its campy, horror-action niche. Set in an alternate timeline where scientists have revived dinosaurs to be weaponized and altered for warfare, the player would take control of a group of special agents tasked with taking on the ravenous reptiles, uncovering the sinister plots that revived them and stemming the outbreak before it reaches civilization.
With Resident Evil moving back toward its survival horror roots, now would be the perfect time for Dino Crisis to fill the campy action vacuum it’ll leave behind. If it were given freshly made graphics, a multiplayer mode and a renewed take on some of the more monstrous dinosaurs in its stable of enemies, it could dial the already over-the-top plot up to 11, steer into the skid of its ridiculous premise, and expose today’s horror fans to the delightful absurdity of early ’90s survival horror titles.
Onimusha
What would happen if supernatural forces threatened to change the course of history? This is the question posed by Onimusha, an action-adventure title where players take on demonic creatures known as Genma during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. Following the death of Nobunaga Oda, members of a castle begin to disappear, taken by the Genma to fuel Nobunaga’s revival. In response, the samurai Hidemitsu Samanosuke Akechi must hack and slash his way through these otherworldly forces, avoid traps littered throughout the castle, and slay the creatures’ leader before their ambitions are realized.
A standout title among the early days of the hack-and-slash genre, Onimusha would be right at home among today’s action games with a fresh coat of paint. Not only that, but with some adjustments made to the gameplay structure to compensate for advancements made since its release, it could be even better than it was at its initial release. The areas could be bigger, combat could be more intricate, and battles could be even more pulse-pounding with more enemies to dispatch. It also helps that several samurai action titles, from Ghosts of Tsushima to Nioh and Shadows Die Twice, have players excited to step back into the genre in the near future, making for the perfect time to remake this series.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Let’s be frank: Ghosts ‘n Goblins is not an easy game. The gauntlet of hostile enemies, limited health, and slew of hidden collectibles crucial to completing the game in full have caused a fair few gaming-related headaches for more than one or two in the past. And yet, behind that challenge is a legitimately well-made game. With the proper timing and skill, players can make their way through a well-realized fantasy world full of charmingly designed monsters and creatures, an arsenal of useful weapons, and a perfect example of gaming from a past era.
With the continued popularity of challenging games like Dark Souls, Chasm and so many more, now would be an ideal time to bring players back into the fold of this teeth-cutting original with tweaks and refinements to the game here and there. Not only could Capcom touch up the graphics from its PlayStation Portable remaster, but they could also include more power-ups and replace the collectibles to streamline the experience, allowing for more players to gain the sense of accomplishment inherent in conquering this beast of a side-scrolling classic.
Darkstalkers
While most know of the series through Morgana and other characters’ cameos in Marvel vs. Capcom and other crossover titles, those who remember the original games can attest to its draw as something special in the fighting genre. Set in a world where the forces of good and evil clash as Earth starts to meld with the dark realm of Makai, the game sees supernatural monsters, holy men and occult forces throw down in a frantic battle for the fate of both realms. The title oozed style and brought a zaniness to the genre few others matched.
Done well, a full remake of Darkstalkers could help Capcom further cement its hold on the fighting game genre. In addition to visuals and character animations, a redesign and refinement of the game’s mechanics could help it stand toe-to-toe with the heavy hitters of today, from Dragon Ball FighterZ to Tekken 7. Plus, with the recent drop in popularity of Marvel Vs. Capcom, a title of its own may be the only way the game’s more iconic characters can carry over into future generations.
Power Stone
Among 3D arena fighting games, Power Stone continues to be a title worthy of being called the best despite its limited exposure through the Sega Dreamcast. Taking place in the 19th century, the game brings together travelers and thrill-seekers in a competition to win a power stone able to grant their every wish and desire. To obtain it, these individuals must engage in combat, using their select set of skills to gain the upper hand and grasp the item that can grant them what they’ve desired for all of their lives, and probably will never have a chance at without the stone’s help.
Vibrant, colorful and full of character, Power Stone puts charm and entertaining gameplay at the heart of its design. By refining and polishing the game’s art style for current generation, it could make for a fun and original foray into 3D arena fighters whereas the rest of the genre is full of licensed properties that players have seen time and time again. Throw in a few new characters and online functionality, and it very well might be able to get the recognition it always deserved.
Viewtiful Joe
There are few games that bleed with originality and style the way Viewtiful Joe did. Set in the fictional Movieland ruled by the shadowy villain organization known as Jadow, players find themselves in control of Joe, a movie buff sucked into the world and granted the power to transform into a masked hero in order to save his kidnapped girlfriend. From there, things only get crazier as players unleash lightning-fast combos, split-second dodges, and stylized finishing poses on a wide array of enemies and bosses, each more bombastic than the last.
Even today, few titles have managed to live up to the sense of originality Viewtiful Joe did, and so it’s a no-brainer to bring it back into the limelight to be experienced by a new generation of players. It wouldn’t even take that much work either: The cel-shaded art style has aged remarkably well, so most of the work for a remake could be put into polishing the gameplay up to meet the current standards and speed of stylish action titles. So come on Capcom; let’s henshin-a-go-go, baby!
Which Capcom game or franchise do you want a remake of? Let us know in the comments below, and for more on the storied developer and publisher, check out our dive into how the company’s recent moves kept it from experiencing an early collapse this generation.
Published: Aug 6, 2018 02:53 pm