Exploring the Nuances of Remasters and Remakes
What’s the difference between a remaster and a remake? It’s a fair question with lots of games getting this treatment, and it can be hard to draw the lines between the two. After all, the terms are used interchangeably, with even clearly defined remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and God of War deemed as remasters by some.
This question pops up a lot as we see more and more games get this treatment, especially with remastered games for PS4 and Xbox One being pretty common now. We’ve even seen some of the best PC games get their own version with better visuals, and it’s easy to see why the term remaster is so confusing. So, to help clear things up, we’ve got a breakdown of what’s the difference between a remake and a remaster.
What is the difference between a Remaster and a Remake?
The main difference between a remake and a remaster is that a remake is more than just a graphical upgrade. Games like Shadow of the Colossus and Resident Evil 2 have seen various improvements to their gameplay, controls, and more beyond just new assets.
A remake is a significantly different version of a game that replaces the original in continuity. It’s a similar idea to a reboot, but the distinction is that a remake keeps the same story, themes, and characters while a reboot discards them.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is a good example of this. While some aspects look similar, the combat, upgrade system, and more are all brand new. It’s easy to see why some people think it’s more of a sequel or reboot rather than a remake, but it sits between the two with enough changes that it’s not a remake in the traditional sense.
There are also differences in the way remasters and remakes are made. Sometimes developers have to work with the original base of the game, which could be an issue if the PC version of the original game was made with the limitations of the PS3 in mind.
Some games, like Shadow of the Colossus, have been rebuilt from the ground up, with improvements in visuals, movement, combat, and UI. Other games have seen changes to assets and cutscenes, which is what the Dead Space Remake is like.
So, to answer the question, what is the difference between a remake and a remaster? A remake is more than just a graphical upgrade, with games like Resident Evil 2 being an example of a remake that has more changes than just new assets. Meanwhile, a remaster is a graphical upgrade of a game, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be more than that.
The lines between these terms are pretty blurry, so perhaps it’s best to have your own definitions for them. Personally, I think remakes are a lazy way for developers to cash in on nostalgia, but I also don’t mind remasters if they’re done right.
Final Fantasy VII Remake and Shadow of the Colossus Comparison
One user points out that Shadow of the Colossus and Resident Evil 2 have different levels of changes. While Shadow was a graphical remake, Resident Evil 2 was more of a reimagining.
The discussion on remakes and remasters becomes more nuanced, with people disagreeing on specific categorizations. The lines are seen as pretty blurry, with multiple users suggesting having personal definitions for these terms.
The comparisons between Final Fantasy VII Remake and Shadow of the Colossus become more detailed, with users commenting on the discrepancies in the trailers and gameplay videos.
One user describes how Shadow of the Colossus was rebuilt from the ground up, whereas Final Fantasy VII Remake is more of a sequel disguised as a remake.
The confusion surrounding the definitions of remakes and remasters are shared by many users, with one suggesting that the terms may be intentionally used interchangeably by some people. Another user jokes that the explanation is like a poorly made how-to video.
Some users express frustration with people who struggle to understand the differences between remakes and remasters.
Another user suggests that developers may have purposefully made PC versions worse in the past or that the issues were due to the limitations of the PS3.
The idea that Final Fantasy VII was more of a reboot or sequel than a remake is shared by some users.
The distinction between remasters and remakes is further discussed with examples like The Last of Us and Xcom Enemy Unknown.
The discussion gets heated at times, with some users expressing disappointment with Final Fantasy VII Remake.
A user points out that Shadow of the Colossus and Resident Evil 2 have different levels of changes, with Shadow being a graphical remake and RE2 being a reimagining.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is described as sitting between a remake and a reboot, with enough changes to make it not a remake.
The confusion around the terms remaster and remake is shared by many users, with some expressing frustration with the lack of distinction.
A user discusses Final Fantasy VII Remake and Shadow of the Colossus, expressing their opinion that it’s not a remake.
The discussion gets heated at times, with one user expressing their opinion that remakes are a lazy way for developers to cash in on nostalgia.
The Dead Space Remake is compared to Final Fantasy VII Remake in terms of the changes they bring.
