Gamers have once again been excitedly immersing themselves in the world of Crash Bandicoot, after the first three games were remastered into the N.Sane Trilogy.
Being able to play these games, with all the nostalgia that a Dip Dab and a gobstopper brings but with the modern graphics that don't turn your eyes square, is a prospect we couldn't have dreamed of a few years ago.
It's like playing out your childhood. It distracts you from the reality of life for a short while. All the burdens of work and adulthood take a backseat as you take on Cortex.
Credit: Activision
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Nostalgia; that's what these remasters are all about. Once you've played an updated game, all of a sudden you're in the loft and searching for your Game Boy, PlayStation One, N64, SNES and all the others while also hoping that they're still in working condition.
That's pretty much the focal point of remastering games. Companies are well aware that gamers will happily pay money for something they've already owned, but a version that is made to please the modern need for high-quality graphics and game play.
Just think about it. A load of new games are announced next year. It's great, many big titles, all shaping up to be amazing. But, then, out of the shadowy depths of the '90s comes the announcement that GoldenEye 007 is being fully remastered for every current console. What are you most excited about and what's going to take up most of your time?
It's a no brainer, really.
A re-imagining of the GoldenEye 007 level 'Facility', created using Unreal Engine 4. Credit: Jude Wilson
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There's obviously a point where we have to be careful what we wish for when it comes to remasters. But surely it can only be a good thing?
Dan Maher, gaming expert and editorial director at Explosive Alan, a video production agency specialising in gaming, seems to think so.
"A remaster in the right hands means that an old favourite looks as good as you remember it, and ideally plays even better - or at the very least considers quality-of-life expectations like regular checkpoints or save points," Dan told LADbible.
"Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a perfect example, although its brutal difficulty and unforgiving controls have come as an unpleasant surprise to some.
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"Is it worth the effort? Judging by Crash's sales and the reception to the announcements for the remasters of Resident Evil 2 and Shadow of Colossus, definitely.
"Do they detract from the appeal of brand new releases? No. If anything, a trip down memory lane is often an indicator of just how far things have come and increases your appreciation of the numerous advances made over the years. You'd have to be pretty wrong to believe that things really were better in the old days."
Shadow of Colossus trailer. Credit: PlayStation
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Some classic games would probably be exempt from the long list of possible remasters, given that their natural form could be perceived as their best.
Perhaps titles such as Grand Theft Auto San Andreas are best left in their original glory, given that it was seen as perfect when it was released, and there's no point in building on it. However, if you are more inclined to see CJ's adventures stay on the PS2, you still have to admit that you'd be more than interested in a remaster.
Other games, though, which don't quite have the same cult status, still had room to grow. Any of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games, for example, would be welcomed on next-gen consoles. The original Metal Gear Solid. Spyro. Dino Crisis. Any Tekken. Canis Canem Edit (Bully). The list goes on.
What would be on your wishlist for a remaster? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: ActivisionTopics: GAMING