With the highly-anticipated Last of Us PS5 remake having been demonstrated for the first time, the graphical capabilities of 9th-generation video game consoles have never been more beautifully displayed. However, The Last of Us is far from the first remake for this generation.
Although remakes can be maligned for taking away focus from developing entirely new games, video games are unlike movies in that each console increases graphical capabilities that warrant bringing old classics to new systems. For Redditors, these particular games are the ones that most deserve 2022 graphical upgrades.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
For Tea_Sniffr, "Simpsons hit and run" is the most deserving of a 2022 graphical upgrade, and considering the suggestion has over 1,500 upvotes (the second-most on a thread with over 5,000 comments), it's pretty broadly a favorite. Released all the way back in 2003, Simpsons: Hit & Run has never been remade despite it being well-loved.
The Simpsons' presence on Disney+ allows for new generations to be introduced to the three-decade-long adventures of the ageless Simpson family and their town of Springfield. However, it also means that longtime viewers can also enjoy their favorite classics. Both groups make a Simpsons: Hit & Run remake a no-brainer.
The Witcher (2007)
Witcher 3 has one of the best storylines in gaming, yet the stories in the two predecessor games "rival witcher 3," according to A_Misplaced_Viking. However, while "2's graphics aren't bad ... 1's is," meriting this game for a remake more than Witcher 2 although Viking advocates for them both to be remade.
The Witcher 3's popularity and outstanding sales success have kept it popular for over half a decade now, and with the success of The Witcher TV series on Netflix, there really never has been a better time to update the game's graphics and release it, and its sequel, for current-gen consoles.
SSX Tricky
The sequel to SSX, the best snowboarding game on Metacritic, SSX Tricky released for 6th-generation consoles in 2001 and became a childhood favorite for many of the kids who grew up it. Iggy2Stackz was clearly a fan of the game, saying "a remake of SSX Tricky for Gen 8/9 consoles/PC would be amazing."
The graphics on future SSX games obviously improved tremendously on 7th-generation consoles, but the series faded out after a 2012 release. Perhaps it's nostalgia talking, but none of the games that followed Tricky seemed to capture whatever magical gameplay that made it and the first game so beloved.
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Rightfully considered one of the best movie tie-in video games, the Lord of the Rings adaptations in game form released alongside all three movies, but while advocating for a remake of all three, PhreedomPhighter reserved special praise for the third game: "Return of the King was especially good, in my opinion."
The Return of the King video game captures the epic scope of the final movie as well as could be expected for 2003. But imagine that gameplay combined with the graphical quality exhibited by the Middle-earth: Shadow series released during the 2010s! It may not be a blockbuster sale 20 years on, but it would definitely be a game worth playing for any Lord of the Rings fan.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (properly)
To say the release of Grand Theft Auto's "Definitive Edition" in 2021 was a disaster would still perhaps be charitable. For a studio known for producing some of the most immersive, beautifully rendered games of all time, it was almost literally unbelievable that they could have released this mess.
That's what led Breadboyofficial to say that a game most deserving of a 2022 graphical upgrade was "GTA San Andreas, but actually right." A San Andreas world rendered as crisply as Grand Theft Auto V on PC and consoles would be a great way to make up for the initial disappointment to fans, and it could even incorporate aspects of GTA V to make a better connection between the two San Andreas-set games.
Half-Life: Opposing Force
"It's a DLC, but Half-Life opposing force would be cool" with graphical upgrades, said Redditor Hamadhz. The first DLC ever released for the Half-Life series, as well as the first time Valve outsourced production of one of its key properties, Opposing Force gives players the perspective of an enemy from the first game, a Marine sent in to deal with the alien threat.
Opposing Force expanded the world of Half-Life narratively, as well as the gameplay possibilities that could be done in that world. Had Half-Life: Alyx not been a monumental success that introduced new players to the franchise, it might have seemed like a pipe dream. But now, it might be possible! Now, if only there were news on Half-Life 3...
The Legend of Dragoon
The Legend of Dragoon is a Sony-published fantasy RPG that follows a group of heroes trying to prevent the end of their world. The game released only for the original PlayStation, and has never received a remake or remaster, and Redditor machamb3 thinks that should change.
"Legend of Dragoons. Please!" the user pleaded. Even with the title typo the post received 395 upvotes as of now, indicating that nostalgia for this title is relatively high, at least among those who responded to the original post on which machamb3 commented. As it happens, there's a great argument for why a Ps5 Dragoon remake would be perfect. Whether it will happen or not is another question.
Fallout: New Vegas
The fourth installment in the overall Fallout series, New Vegas released two years after the acclaimed Fallout 3, and while taking place in the same world, acts as a spin-off of the series that takes inspiration from both Fallout 2 and 3.
All celt00 had to say was "New Vegas". The fact that this could be used without making direct reference to Fallout shows its nature as a spin-off worked, but more importantly that it has had its own impact beyond being simply another Fallout entry. With Fallout 76 being such a disappointment for Bethesda, a remake of one of their most beloved Fallout games would be a wise choice.
Dragon Age: Origins
The Reddit user BenadrylCumberb**** wants the original game in the Dragon Age series, "Dragon Age: Origins", to be remade today with the new graphical quality available. Now that Dragon Age 4 has been confirmed as Dragon Age Dreadwolf, it's never been a better time for a remake of the game that brought this long-lasting series to life.
Of course, even though BioWare is no doubt very busy with Dreadwolf, that doesn't mean an Origins remake can't be done simultaneously. After all, Bluepoint Games remastered the first three Uncharted games while Naughty Dog developed Uncharted 4 so that the former could release in line with the latter. Ideally, all three previous Dragon Age games deserve upgrades, but Origins needs it the most.
Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
"I realize there is technically a new [Battlefront II] but it's not what the star wars fans were expecting," nightwolf483 said in explanation as to why they want an upgrade to the original 2005 Battlefront II that the 2017 video game definitely did not deliver on, and which was a massive disappointment to fans.
2005's Battlefront II is backwards compatible for Xbox X/S, but it's never received a graphical upgrade, even though it's one of the most beloved Star Wars games ever. One of its greatest features is how it incorporates the point of view of a clone trooper/stormtrooper, rather than the Jedi. This one choice made it stand out and gave the narrative a frame that compelled players across the campaign.