Remasters remain popular with game publishers. While they scratch a similar itch, they're distinct from remakes in that they're the original versions of games updated to modern hardware. Games from Judgment Remastered to Mass Effect Legendary Edition are updating games without fundamentally changing them.

Superhero games have largely been absent from the remaster trend. That's likely due to licensing issues, including Marvel and DC Comics' desire to showcase versions of the characters in line with their cinematic universes. It would still be nice to see older versions of the characters in video game form on modern platforms, especially as backwards compatibility remains a spotty form of game preservation.

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Batman: Vengeance

Nearly three decades after its premiere, Batman: The Animated Series is an enduringly popular interpretation of the character. With a comic book revival gearing up for a second season and new episodes potentially in the works at HBO Max, now would be a good time for a remaster of the best BTAS video game, 2001's Batman: Vengeance.

Visually, Vengeance melded the show's distinct style with 3D environments. It starred most of the main voice cast from the show, including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. The Joker isn't the only villain on hand; Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze are also involved in the plot. Vengeance's main failings were some difficult controls and a difficult camera. Quality of life improvements could smooth some of those problems over. Even with some of its flaws still present, it would be worth remastering just to have a piece of BTAS history with updated visuals.

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Spider-Man (2000)

While 2000's Spider-Man isn't an adaptation of the Fox Network's Spider-Man animated series, it features voice actors like Rino Romano and Jennifer Hale reprising their roles from the show and includes nostalgia-inducing narration from Stan Lee. The game's main draw is the way it makes Spider-Man feel like a part of a wider Marvel Universe. Many of his major villains appear, including a Doctor Octopus/Carnage, and it features appearances from heroes like Captain America and Daredevil.

Spider-Man's gameplay is radically different from most of the Spider-Man games that followed it. It's an action game that uses the Tony Hawk Pro Skater engine, but without the open-world web-swinging that's been a constant since the 2002 tie-in to the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. Improved graphics and frame rate might make it easier for modern players to enjoy a Spider-Man game where you can die from falling off a roof.

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Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

The Hulk has become more of a team player since becoming a founding member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers. While it works well in the movies, it means we may never get another solo Hulk video game. Luckily, the platonic ideal of a Hulk game already exists and would only need visual and performance upgrades to be worthy of appearing on modern hardware.

Ultimate Destruction lived up to its title, giving the jade giant an open world to rampage through. Beyond allowing him ample opportunity to destroy everything in his path, Ultimate Destruction also gave the Hulk a form of parkour with "Unstoppable Movement." He could break walls, climb buildings and use giant leaping bounds to traverse levels. The game's story was written by comic book author Paul Jenkins, who included one of his creations, the Devil Hulk, as a villain. Devil Hulk would take the lead role in the popular Immortal Hulk series, giving his game appearance added relevance for Marvel fans.

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Justice League Heroes

Justice-League-Heroes

Justice League Heroes had the misfortune of releasing the same year as Marvel Ultimate Alliance, and it, unfortunately, doesn't compare favorably to its Marvel Universe counterpart. It's a solid action/RPG  with an enjoyable story by the late Dwayne McDuffie, starring a group of characters with a shocking lack of quality video game appearances and a host of fun alternate costumes from across DC's range of characters. What other game lets you play as the Walter West version of The Flash?

Beyond the lack of good Justice League games where they aren't being killed or killing each other, a Heroes remaster would hopefully rectify the game's biggest omission; a four-player mode. While it did have a two-player co-op, the lack of four-player Justice League squads was a big reason why Heroes never escaped Ultimate Alliance's shadow.

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X-Men Legends Series

The X-Men Legends series was the predecessor of Ultimate Alliance and Heroes. After two successful entries, Ultimate Alliance supplanted it, releasing three games that mixed the X-Men with characters from the rest of the Marvel Universe. As enjoyable as seeing the X-Men work alongside the Avengers and the Fantastic Four is, the X-Men Legends games are worth revisiting in their own right. Several popular mutants have been omitted from the Ultimate Alliance games over the years. It would be nice to play as a full complement of X-Men again, as well as the Brotherhood of Mutants characters who appear in Legends 2.

Legends 2 is also worth revisiting because it's a loose adaptation of the classic X-Men crossover Age of Apocalypse. Superhero games that take their cues from the source material are exceedingly rare these days. The main reason to revisit the Legends games is that a remaster might lead a long-overdue third game in the series.

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