Super Mario All-Stars for the SNES to me is the definitive way to play the original NES classics. For today’s gamers who’ve been exposed to constant remakes of today, remakes even happened back then, they just weren’t a regular thing. This is one example of them and Nintendo hit it out of the park with this. The visuals are crisp, you would almost not believe that it was originally released back in the early 1990s before its re-release later in 2020. Just everything about this package of games, is the gold standard of what remakes should be about.
Super Castlevania IV is another example and yet another game I put in high praise as a remake. This entry of the series, though confusing at first, is the re-telling of the very first Castlevania game released. They just wanted to do it on newer hardware at the time and do things they couldn’t with 8-bit constraints. That really showed here because everything about this game is nothing short but amazing of a remake from visuals to music to even the additions that might’ve not been possible the first round.
Both of these examples are a testament to their craft because to this day, nobody is touching them to remake them from the ground up. They may get repackaged, but it isn’t like anybody looks at them with the thought of an entire do-over.
There are remakes, remasters, and rereleases. A lot of time they get lumped together but are distinctly different. Usually I prefer a good remaster. If the game has improved graphics, sound quality, works on modern systems with modern controls, and other quality of life upgrades then that’s awesome. The Command and Conquer Remastered collection really hit the mark with this recently. Quake 1 and 2, Halo Master Chief Collection, and God of War Collection were all pretty solid. Bioshock 1 and 2 were nice but fighting the mouse controls sucked. GTA Trilogy remaster seemed great too, but I only originally had played Vice City on initial release.
Rereleases are usually cash grabs and I hate that. It can be nice to get a port but when Nintendo is charging $30 for ancient games you have several copies of that just sucks. The recent Clash of Heroes M&M remaster felt like a cash grab rerelease too.
Remakes are usually a miss because they change things I dont want changed. I hate the FF7 remake. Give me a remaster and I would love it but that remake is packed with so much garbage filler and fundamentally changes the combat into button mashing boredom, its awful. Very pretty looking, but just horrible to play.
To answer the original question, remakes I like: Resident Evil 1 and 2 nailed it. Better controls, graphics etc, and maintained the majority of the game layout, awkward fucking script, and everything that made them iconic. Dead Space nailed it too except for the transition stutter when moving from area to area. Other worthy mentions are Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Shadow of the Collosus, Duck Tales, Grim Fandango, and Prince of Persia collection.
I’m playing System Shock now, but having never played the original I cant compare it. Its neat to have the opportunity to play a classic with improvements, and it reviewed well so I think its faithful enough I’m getting a good experience of it.
And Ports, Reimagining and Reboots. I count Ports extra, because Re-releases can be emulation being the exact same game (through a Rom in example), while Ports are native games and not 100% exact same game anymore.
The FF7 remake is for sure not just doing the original game again, but the combat is far from button mashing.