Mario, Link, and Sonic the Hedgehog are just three of the most recognizable faces in the video game industry. Having careers stretching as far back as the '80s will almost guarantee an extensive existence in the hearts of players everywhere. So it practically goes without saying that such famous faces have come a long way since the days of the 8-bit era.
While their origin titles might be time-honored classics, many famous faces of the medium look almost nothing like they did in those games, but sometimes that's a good thing. It might have been something as simple as a graphic upgrade or a complete overhaul, but many beloved video game characters have received major makeovers over the years.
Sonic (Sonic The Hedgehog)
The Blue Blur gets a special mention due to the fact that Sega has recently realized that if it's not broke, don't fix it. Despite Sonic getting the full 3D treatment in many of his modern games and spin-offs, he has since returned to his 16-bit origins in recent years.
With the release of Sonic Mania and its DLC, Sonic fans received a much-needed return to form from their favorite spiky hedgehog. While he's certainly sharper than he was back in the '90s, it's refreshing to see a modern update to Sonic's original design.
Samus Aran (Metroid)
Samus might be one of the most consistently designed characters around but she has advanced quite a bit since the chunky spacesuit she wore in the original NES title. The original Metroid definitely broke new ground for Nintendo, but both Samus and her series didn't truly come into their own until Super Metroid on the SNES.
While she currently sports a fully visualized bounty hunter suit with enough bells and whistles to make Boba Fett jealous, her modern look would be nothing without her '90s upgrade. There's a reason that the classics never die.
Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)
Sometimes less is more, but in some cases, a little extra never hurts. Ryu Hayabusa might be one of the deadliest ninjas in video games, but looking at the original Ninja Gaiden and comparing it to other titles like Shinobi and Shadow Dancer, he doesn't exactly stand out from the typical garden-variety assassin.
When Ryu received his graphical overhaul for the reboot in the Playstation era, he came onto the scene with a fully realized shinobi-esque redesign. He was the epitome of a classic ninja, but with his own distinct personality and flavor.
Alucard (Castlevania III/Symphony Of The Night)
Many casual players of the Castlevania series often forget that Alucard did not originate in the acclaimed Symphony of the Night, but rather in Castlevania III on the NES. With that in mind, his redesign and 16-bit update made him the ideal vampire hero for the classic Metroidvania.
While he was more than a little extra compared to Simon or Trevor Belmont, his flowing design gave him a more regal and elegant quality. Taking inspiration from the vampire Lestat with his gorgeous locks and ornate attire, it's an impressive look for the 16-bit son of Dracula.
Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
With 11 entries in the core series, it's easy to see how a full cast of tournament fighters can evolve and develop over time. But if one were to nominate a poster boy for the gruesome and gory Mortal Kombat series, that honor has to go to the firey Scorpion.
From the 16-bit photo sprites to the fully rendered models, Scorpion has kept up with the times. And with each new incarnation more deadly than the last, there's no sign of him slowing down anytime soon. Given that the most recent game offers new ways to customize the revenant warrior, there's a Scorpion for every occasion.
Kratos (God Of War)
Kratos is a very special case in terms of design and development, because not only has he grown in terms of visual enhancements, but as a character as well. The original Ghost of Sparta was a Greek champion even King Leonidas would have to fear, but that all changed when the Norse-inspired God of War reboot came into the formula.
Not only has Kratos greatly adapted to the Viking lifestyle with a thick beard and the Leviathan Axe, but he's evolved as a character tremendously. The champion seen in the reboot is practically a different character compared to the bloodthirsty ball of rage he was in his original titles.
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
She might have begun her video game career as a sex symbol of the industry, but Lara Croft has come a long way since her low-poly model days on the original play station. Thanks to Sony's reinvention of the Tomb Raider franchise, she's now a more grounded and realistic survivalist instead of a stereotype.
Lara's evolution, like Kratos, is one that matured for the better. She's still one of gaming's top leading ladies, but now she's got a more cinematic and developed skillset, having more in common with Rambo than Angelina Jolie.
Doom Slayer (Doom)
The 2016 remake/reboot of Doom was a return to form for the FPS genre. While there's definitely a lore-rich story amongst the carnage presented, the main idea of the game is to let the bullets fly and watch the bad guys fall. The graphics and the gore weren't the only things to get a massive overhaul, as clearly demonstrated by the hulking brute on the box art.
The Doom Slayer has gone above and beyond the 16-bit head in the box from yesteryear, as now he's armed to the teeth and dressed to kill. Simply put, from the helmet to the boots, he's anything and everything a demon hunter could possibly want.
Mario (Super Mario)
The video game industry would not be what it is today if it wasn't for Nintendo's plucky little plumber. A lot of things have changed for Mario and his games since he first went toe-to-toe in Donkey Kong way back in the arcade days, and his overall look is one of the bigger ones.
Mario has gone from the Popeye-esque figure seen on the side of arcade cabinets to a more friendly-faced adventurer of the Mushroom Kingdom. Although his appearance in the recent Smash Bros series received much more intricate details, there's still something to be said for his classic red and blue attire.
Link (The Legend Of Zelda)
If it's a numbers game, the Hero of Hyrule definitely holds the title belt. Link has practically received a new design with each new Zelda installment, ranging from elven adventurer to an epic fantasy champion with blades and bows to spare. There's quite literally a Link for every occasion.
As the series has evolved, so has the land of Hyrule and its inhabitants. Along with his relationship with Princess Zelda, Link's design and outward appearance have matured along the way, growing from the boy without a fairy to the savior of Zelda's kingdom.