While new home consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S continue to propel the technical capabilities of gaming to new heights, they also provide new ways to revisit classic game and give them current-gen polish. More than just throwing a high definition coat of paint over old visuals, a good remaster reminds players why certain games remain just as relevant now as they were when they originally released, standing tall alongside their modern counterparts.
2021 was a year full of remasters, and while some like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy disappointed by launching with fundemental issues that ruined the experience, others elevated the great underlying game with modern enhancements. Here are the five best ones that breathed new life and thrilled longtime fans and new gamers alike.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
Just in time for the Super Monkey Ball franchise's 20th anniversary, the first three console games in the series were compiled and reimagined in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. Rebalancing the difficulty of the level design and bringing back all the popular multiplayer modes, Banana Mania brings a surprising amount of depth to such a simple gameplay premise.
In addition to remastering the 300 stages from the original Super Monkey Ball trilogy, Banana Mania offers additional gameplay modes that keep the experience fresh. It also adds a whole line of guest characters from a variety of classic Sega franchises and beyond to join in on the fun.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD
Atlus' long-running Shin Megami Tensei franchise had a huge year, with this November seeing the launch of Shin Megami Tensei V. As SMT charts a new future, though, the franchise also returned to its fan-favorite 2003 PlayStation 2 entry, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, which received a remastered that brought the game to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Based on the 2004 director's cut of Nocturne, the HD remaster includes additional difficulty settings to make the particularly unforgivable game more accessible. Along with revised dialogue and cutscenes, Nocturne showcases why the SMT and its epic, turn-based gameplay has endured for decades in a post-apocalyptic vision of Tokyo filled with demons and demigods.
Alan Wake Remastered
It's been over a decade since the psychological mystery game Alan Wake debuted and ahead of 2023's Alan Wake II, the original game was updated in Alan Wake Remastered for modern consoles. Following the eponymous novelist, Alan Wake investigates his wife's disappearance in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Updated with 4K resolution, Alan Wake Remastered includes all the DLC expansions that continue the core game's story while avoiding wider revisions to the technical presentation to maintain what made the core gameplay in the original title resonate with gamers for years.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
After years of rumors and speculation, Nintendo finally released an HD remaster 2011's The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in time for the game's tenth anniversary and the 35th anniversary of the overall Legend of Zelda franchise. The Switch remaster follows the adventures of the first Link and Zelda in the franchise's chronological timeline as they defend the kingdom of Skyloft from the villainous Ghirahim and Demise.
More than simply updating the visuals, Skyward Sword HD allows for conventional controller-based gameplay in addition to the motion controls the original release featured on the Wii. Some of the more tedious elements from the original are streamlined, with Skyward Sword HD now boasting fast-travel across Skyloft and addition quality-of-life improvements that are (controversially) unlocked using amiibo.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
While Mass Effect fans wait eagerly for the next installment in BioWare's beloved sci-fi franchise, the original trilogy received a remaster in the interim to help tide audiences over. Released for the PS4, Xbox One and PC, Mass Effect Legendary Edition follows Commander Shepherd's efforts to stop the Reapers from wiping out all organic life in the galaxy while building a powerful alliance.
While critics were divided if the graphical enhancements made to the games were too subtle or kept in line with the games' original presentation, Legendary Edition itself was largely well-received for making the epic trilogy feel up-to-date. Regardless of its changes and whether they go far enough, Mass Effect Legendary Edition provides a great way to experience the complete saga of Commander Shepherd (DLC included) in one comprehensive package.