Video games are one of those mediums where doing a reboot is usually a great idea both for developers and for players alike. It is not to say that the original games are not good in their own right. However, when the original game first came out, there was perhaps a limit to the technology or capabilities of the developers.
However, a reboot creates a chance for the game not only to reach new audiences but for the game to be a better, truer version of what it was originally trying to capture. Unfortunately, much of the time, the reboot cannot compare to the original game.
10 Worse: Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow - What Was Once Innovative Is Now A Blatant God Of War Rip-Off
Castlevania is one of the most iconic video game series out there. It is so iconic that it helped create an entire genre of video games. When it was released back in 1986, it became a roaring success, spawning many sequels with rave reviews. So naturally, when the time came for a reboot of the series, Konomi was chomping at the bit for a chance at striking gold again.
However, Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow was met with mediocre to poor reviews. The game was less of a Castlevania style of game than a generic God of War clone. It was not terrible by any means, but it certainly did not feel like a Castlevania type of game.
9 Better: Ninja Gaiden - A Surprise Gem Of An Arcade Classic
One of the more punishing titles from the arcade days, Ninja Gaiden was originally released back in 1988 and spawned several sequels afterward, all of which were punishingly difficult. As an arcade game, its punishing difficulty made sense. But compared to other difficult games, it was one of the more challenging titles.
Fast forward to 2004, and Ninja Gaiden gets a reboot in a third-person hack-and-slash action-platformer game. The game maintained its renowned difficulty but brought its art style and mechanics into the modern day. The reboot had spawned a bit of a cult following and remained popular enough to spawn a master collection in 2021
8 Worse: Star Wars Battlefront - How The Mighty Have Fallen To Microtransactions
Star Wars Battlefront was initially released in 2004 to rave reviews. It was essentially a large-scale battle simulator set in the Star Wars universe wherein most players would fight as troopers, rebels, droids, and Jedi alike. Even though the game was released in 2004, there are still active community servers supporting the game.
The Battlefront series was rebooted in 2015. Many Star Wars and gaming fans were eagerly excited for an updated version of a classic. Sadly, this game was met with negative reviews due to many bugs upon release and a heavy focus on pay-to-win mechanics.
7 Better: Shadow Warrior - A Hidden Gem Of A Rebooted Series
First released in 1997, the Shadow Warrior game was a Doom Knock-off for all intents and purposes. It was a simple game centered around a bodyguard who learns of the deep corruption of the Zilla company and fights waves of enemies in futuristic Japan. Nothing more, nothing less.
Then in 2013, Shadow Warrior was rebooted to a modern audience as another first-person action game. This reboot was met with amazing reviews. The combat was fluid, the environments were beautiful, and the writing was downright hilarious. A surprise hit and a massive improvement over its predecessor.
6 Worse: Bomberman: Act Zero - The Gritty Reboot Of A Franchise Nobody Asked For
Bomberman is a prolific series, to say the least. First introduced in 1985, it was a simple game. Players bombed other players or the CPU in a maze-like arena. There are many different titles that all follow the same formula.
That is until 2006. A reboot of the series focused on a more realistic style and game modes where players can choose the first-person perspective to play as their Bomberman. It was horrendous. It had many bugs, an ugly design, and was simply not fun in any way.
5 Better: Ratchet And Clank- The Iconic Duo Was Welcomed With Open Arms
Playstation fans are at the very least familiar with Ratchet and Clank. First Introduced in 2002, the heroic duo was an instant hit. The gameplay was an action platformer emphasizing weapons and gadgets set in a unique and amazing space environment.
The series was rebooted in 2016 and had adopted a slightly more family-friendly style and tone. Nonetheless, the series was reinvigorated, and old fans returned to the classic series while new fans came in droves.
4 Worse: Contra: Rogue Corps - An Arcade Classic That Just Does not Fit
This Konomi classic will likely continue to be popular for a long time to come. This was that game that was not only punishingly hard but popularized the use of the Konomi code as well as cheat codes in general when it was released in 1987.
This series had gone back and forth through several sequels and reboots, with the latest reboot in 2019 with Contra: Rogue Corps. The main issue with this game is that it feels stuck and out of touch with modern gaming. It is still a run and gunner like the original, but it has become a lackluster series that feels like it has overstayed its welcome
3 Better: Mortal Kombat - The Classic Went Back To Its Roots And Came Out Better For It
A historic franchise that had resulted in the establishment of the ESRB in 1994, the first game was released to arcades in 1992 and has captivated players with its over-the-top action, corny storylines, and graphic gore. The series was a huge success for some time, though when it made the jump to a more 3D style, it has started to dwindle.
Cut to 2011. The game was rebooted to its classic 2D fighting style with updated graphics and gameplay. In addition, this title had a greater emphasis on the story, creating more fleshed-out lore for players to enjoy and an update to the classic fatalities that were even bloodier and gorier than ever before.
2 Worse: Sonic The Hedgehog (2006) - A Game That Will Live In Infamy
Sonic has a complicated history. The video game series started great when it was first released in 1991. Kids of all ages were flocking to their local game stores to purchase Sonic the Hedgehog and the Sega Genesis console. Over the preceding decade, Sonic would stumble to find its footing in the 3D world of video games.
In 2006, Sega wanted to reboot the series with Sonic The Hedgehog (2006), which many referred to as Sonic 06. Unfortunately, this game is the definition of a mess. Sloppy controls, game-breaking bugs in every corner, and a terribly written story. It has become so bad that it now lives in infamy as one of the worst games ever made.
1 Better: God Of War (2018) - How To Revitalize A Franchise
God of War is an established and Iconic game series. Many fans who were first introduced to Kratos in 2005 fell in love with the Greek anti-hero. The series was well known for its hack-and-slash gameplay, gory kills, and incredible story set in the Greek mythos.
When God of War (2018) was first announced and that it would be set in Norse mythology, there was a heavy amount of skepticism regarding the game. This is because the reboot veered from the original gameplay design and was set in a completely different world. However, upon release, the game was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and many now anticipate the long-awaited sequel.