Video games are great and they shouldn’t just be for one group of people.
Each year, newcomers flock to this hobby and find enjoyment that many have found for decades. They discover a rich backlog of content that is sure to keep them busy for years to come.
Unfortunately, as newcomers, they may find that games from a bygone era do not feel as accessible many of their counterparts. Speaking from experience, this can be really frustrating.
What becomes more frustrating is the barrage of gatekeeping that can come with not growing up with gaming. Not everyone, but there is a large chunk that do not accept you as “a real gamer,” whatever that means, because you do not enjoy games from their childhood in their original format.
While gatekeeping is a topic for another day, it still does the industry a disservice as it drives new fans away. That is why remasters and remakes are a good compromise.
There are some qualifiers to that statement that I will discuss later, but the larger sense of it still remains. Newcomers, in particular, greatly benefit from remasters and remakes because it serves as a gateway into past games.
Remakes and remasters, for the most part, provide many quality-of-life updates that make it easier for newcomers to enjoy. This helps them jump into a critically-acclaimed game and feel right at home.
Let’s face it, video games have evolved over their lifetime. There are elements that worked in the ’80s and ’90s that don’t work today. As technology has advanced, so have video games.
All that said, many people’s personal tastes may not have changed and that is where we get a passion for what some may see as “outdated features.” That is OK look back fondly at a time that brought us a lot of joy.
When it comes to remakes and remasters, there will be many who complain that they are a waste of time or that developers ruined what they loved about a game. All of that is fair and valid, but it doesn’t negate the benefits they bring to newcomers as well as more veteran players.
Remakes, in particular, may get a different interpretation of the game than what the original format had. In many cases, this may be welcomed and in many other instances, it is reviled.
Still, it provides a newcomer a chance to experience a game they wouldn’t have otherwise tried. That is always a good thing. Furthermore, it opens the door for a newcomer to go back and try the original.
This year featured a lot of remakes and remasters, leading to in increased interest in the originals. This is where remasters, specifically, can thrive as a close-to-original experience for newcomers.
Now, I did mention qualifiers earlier. Oftentimes, we see half-hearted remasters or remakes that are very clearly cash-grabs.
The fact of the matter is games are made to make money and there is no way around that. Still, you can make a good remake or remaster that will make money.
Any type of rerelease should be worth the money. If you’re going to make a half-hearted remaster, then give it a cheap price tag. Any developer should earn its price tag by putting in the effort and care to remaking a beloved game.
This goes back to my original point, the main benefactors of remakes or remasters are newcomers. While a good remake can serve as a fantastic gateway to the industry, a bad one will turn them away.
There is clearly a market for remakes and remasters that will always be there. While there are many cynical explanations as to why, there are also many positive ones: newcomers want to experience these games too.
At the end of the day, we should be more welcoming to those who want to join us in this hobby we love. One way is through creative and careful remasters and remakes.
What about you? Do you enjoy remakes and remasters? Do you think newcomers benefit from these rereleases? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Nintendo (via Mashable)
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