Many games like Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, DOOM, etc., have been rebooted over the past several years and received stellar scores. Gaming reboots are generally a touchy subject, especially amongst hardcore fans.
Many hardcore fans don't like it when developers reboot their favorite franchises, often changing the characters, story parts, or the universe in different ways. On the other hand, newer fans don't get to see the original glory of the title.
However, the gaming industry evolves at a breathtaking pace. New technology ultimately breeds new ideas, which eventually results in a massive improvement in overall production quality.
What Are Video Game Reboots?
A video game reboot is when game developers take key elements from the original game and then use them to restart production on the franchise. Leveraging new technology, developers and designers often make significant changes to the gameplay, characters, and story.
A video game reboot isn't a sequel, as they tend to fundamentally change several major game features, often in a bid to appeal to a broader audience. However, the underlying universe and the assets remain similar to the original game. To put it simply, reboots generally change the original story to a certain extent while introducing new gameplay elements.
Why Should We Reboot Video Games?
Rebooting a beloved classic might seem risky, especially for an established developer. It could either have a dire impact on their existing reputation or elevate a cult classic into a full-blown mainstream hit. Some think that developers reboot old classics when they can't think of new concepts or ideas. That's not always true. Here are some of the best reasons why we should reboot video games.
Leverage New Technology to Give an Old Classic New Life
Developers are burgeoning with new ideas on how they can improve old games. The technology back then limited a lot of the old games we grew up playing. However, new technology allows developers to take famous characters and settings, and show them in a new light.
Look at the Tomb Raider franchise, for example. The original Tomb Raider from 1996, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, and Tomb Raider: Legend are all excellent games. However, spend a bit of time with them, and you'll realize that movement is blocky while the mechanics seem dated. The protagonist, Lara Croft, herself doesn't seem like an engaging character.
The reboot, handled by Crystal Dynamics, completely changed all that. In the reboot, Lara's character arc is much more believable, and she's so much more grounded as a character as she goes through her journey. This is precisely why the reboot was critically acclaimed and led to two sequels, all of which had impressive sales figures.
A More Modern Interpretation of an Old Classic
Developers have often used video games to tell stories for decades. For instance, as the world embraces diversity and equality, many developers often introduce such themes in their reboots. Here's a fine example:
God of War, a critically acclaimed PlayStation exclusive, featured sex mini-games in each of its earlier iterations. Toxic masculinity was a major issue with the originals, even though they were very well-received. Its reboot that won the Game of the Year in 2018 improved upon the original by avoiding gratuitous representations of women.
Instead of completely erasing the game's history, the developers invoke a thoughtful discussion, often showing Kratos talking to his son and expressing regret at his actions. It's a classic example of how developers can reboot old classics with modern themes.
New Ideas in an Old Formula
Reboots also allow developers to explore new ideas while still retaining the core formula of the series. The Deus Ex reboot is one of the best examples of developers trying something new without straying too far from what made the original game so good.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution featured tighter controls, better graphics, and introduced new abilities. It featured more characters, bigger sandbox levels, and more memorable characters, all of which were possible due to advanced technology that wasn't available when the original was released.
The reboot also featured a new art direction and a revamped art style that matched modern first-person stealth games. Another example is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which rebooted the classic and introduced new graphics, better performance, and more gameplay options.
Why We Shouldn't Reboot Video Games
However, not all video games deserve a reboot. Some classics should be left alone, as they say. Many games that don't deserve a reboot end up getting one anyway, ruining the original experience for players.
Half-Baked Ideas With No Execution
Video game reboots are hard to pull off because developers have to meet the original's standards and introduce it in the market while keeping modern standards in mind. That's not always possible, especially when developers have a half-baked idea.
Aliens: Colonial Marines is a prime example. Despite trying to reintroduce the classic Aliens vs. Predators formula, it failed to do anything except attract mockery from all parts of the gaming world.
Forgetting What Made the Original So Good
Developers need to think long and hard about which games to reboot and which ones to leave on the shelves. Here's an example: Medal of Honor. Many considered it a reboot when it launched in 2010, but the market was already saturated with first-person shooters at the time.
The original three have been widely regarded as some of the best first-person shooters ever made; Steven Spielberg wrote the story for them! The developers rebooted the franchise in 2010 to capture some of the market from Call of Duty but ended up copying too much and lost most of its original charm and appeal.
Video Game Reboots Shouldn't Be Lazy
Most gamers consider a reboot as a poor cash grab attempt, and for a good reason. Many developers use the franchise's popularity to push sales rather than putting effort into the game itself. However, if they take the time and effort to execute their ideas, a reboot could expose the video game franchise to the modern-day audience.
While you wait for your favorite games to reboot, you can play some classics right on your phone using various emulators. Smartphones have gotten so powerful that they can effortlessly run console games from a couple of decades ago. You can find emulators that run games made for the Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Game Boy, and more.