MediEvil is one first-party series for the original PlayStation that charmed players from the start. The cartoonish and humor-filled adventures of the resurrected Hero of Gallowmere, the skeleton Sir Dan Fortesque, and his quest to become a real hero after suffering a rather unheroic death gave players a unique world full of great characters and gameplay. However, for too long, fans thought the series to be just another forgotten gem from a bygone era. However, in 2019, MediEvil was resurrected (much like its skeleton protagonist) with an excellent remake of the first game.
The MediEvil remake brilliantly recreated the world that so many PlayStation fans loved, brining the series into the modern era with gorgeous graphics and an enjoyable spooky aesthetic. However, many fans wondered why MediEvil didn't get the same remake treatment that the Crash Bandicoot series received, with Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy collecting the first three Crash games into a massively successful package.
For many fans, MediEvil hit its creative and gameplay stride with its sequel, MediEvil 2. The game sees Sir Dan transported 500 years into the future, as he wakes up in Victorian England and must once again save the day from evil Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper. With the success of the MediEvil remake still fresh in fans' minds, now is the perfect time for Sony to capitalize by remaking MediEvil 2, bringing its fantastical Victorian adventure to the PlayStation 5.
MediEvil 2 is a sequel that expands both the lore and gameplay of the series in interesting ways. After being placed back into his eternal slumber after saving the day in MediEvil, Sir Dan is transported 500 years into the future to be resurrected once again and fight for the forces of good. However, this time, Sir Dan finds himself in a cartoonish and spooky Victorian London, and the fish-out-of-water premise works wonderfully for the oafish knight. MediEvil 2 not only gave Sir Dan new time period-specific weapons like firearms, but it also pitted the silly hero against evil Lord Palethorn, who has inadvertently resurrected the hero along with all other manners of monsters in order to take over the world.
The MediEvil series is known for being funny, and MediEvil 2 only reenforces this sentiment as Sir Dan (who lacks a jaw) mumbles his way through his new adventure as a begrudging protagonist. Characters constantly chide the now-ancient knight and make fun of him for literally being a museum relic -- MediEvil 2's jokes stay strong throughout its runtime. Whether teaming up with a mummy or fighting Jack the Ripper in a boss fight, the sequel provides an even better setting than the original, and this Gothic humor-filled world needs to be brought to the current generation.
Furthermore, a PS5 remake could allow Sony to continue showing off the most exciting innovations of its new hardware, including haptic feedback and 3D audio. A MediEvil 2 that gave players unique haptic feedback could make players feel each individual cobblestone as Dan explores the Victorian streets. A remake could also provide unique trigger pulls for Dan's various weapons, with the DualSense requiring different tension for the blunderbuss over the Gatling gun or the pistol. Since MediEvil is a wholly-owned Sony property, a remake could be a great opportunity to showcase the best parts of the PS5.
On top of this, in the current climate of massive open-world RPGs and service-based epic titles, many players are simply looking for shorter, solid gaming experiences. PlayStation could capitalize on these gamers by making a MediEvil 2 remake a short, sweet and consistantly enjoyable experience that can be completed in around five to eight hours. Currently, Sony is the current king of epic first-party adventures, but it would do well to diversify by providing some smaller exclusives as well.
Ultimately, Sony has already seen massive critical and commercial success with its PS5 remakes like Demon's Souls, which was a console launch title. Since the company owns MediEvil and has remade the original, a remake of the sequel makes perfect sense. It could also provide an opportunity to launch a new MediEvil adventure, a prospect that diehard fans have wanted for decades. The world of MediEvil is full of colorful and hilarious horror adventures, and it must not be forgotten again.