After initiating this conversation in the Half-Life thread where it wasn't deemed appropriate, I think the subject is deserving of its thread to discuss this trend, its evolution, and its possibilities.
First of all, I'll try to establish the definition of the 4 terms, the former 2 being more complicated than the latter 2.
I'd also like to say that this isn't set in stone, but this is the most reasoned definitions I can come up with. On Wikipedia you'll often find "remastering" mixed with "remaking", and I have to assume that they simply don't know the exact difference since it was never set in stone by anyone, apparently. That's why I ask you to bear with me, and if what you're reading is something you can get behind, try to condone this analysis.
[B]Remake[/B]
A remake is a game that is (normally) made from the ground up. The devs didn't build on top of the original game, nor did they change anything from it, it's a different game, but it tells (approximately) the same story as the original. The goal of the remake is to profit from the quality of the story of the original work, and to present it to a new audience, thanks to updated mechanics and graphics, usually.
How to recognize a remake? Here are some of the tell-tale signs:
- New engine
- Redesigned levels
- Improved visuals
- Re-recorded sounds and music
- New gameplay mechanics and/or possibilities
Only one thing must remain: the broad story.
If the story is sensibly different but it's the same name as the original game, then it's a reboot.
Examples of remakes (and Wikipedia excerpts to help you understand why they are remakes):
- Resident Evil (2002) - remake of Resident Evil (1996)
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]The game retains the same graphical presentation, with 3D models superimposed over pre-rendered backgrounds. However, the quality of the graphics were vastly improved. The remake also features new gameplay mechanics, revised puzzles, additional explorable areas, a revised script, and new story details including an entire subplot cut from the original game.[/QUOTE]
- Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004) - remake of Metal Gear Solid (1998)
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]The Twin Snakes features graphical improvements over the original, new cut scenes written and directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, and gameplay functions originally introduced in the sequel Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. The game includes a revised translation with re-recorded voice acting using almost all of the original English voice cast.[/QUOTE]
- Day of Defeat: Source (2005) - remake of Day of Defeat (2003)
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]Set in World War II, the game is a complete remake of Day of Defeat it was updated from the GoldSrc engine used by its predecessor to the Source engine, and a remake of the game models.[/QUOTE]
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007) - remake of Tomb Raider (1996)
- Black Mesa (2012) - fan-made remake of Half-Life (1998)
- System Shock (2018) - upcoming remake of System Shock (1994)
- The Elder Scrolls Renewal Project: Skywind (201?) - upcoming fan-made remake of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)
More debatable games that I think are also remakes:
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011) - remake of Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]Anniversary's enhancements include a complete high-definition visual overhaul, support for cooperative and multiplayer gameplay via the Xbox Live online service, new and remastered sound effects and music, and extras such as achievements and hidden in-game collectibles.[/QUOTE]
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012) and Counter-Strike: Source (2004) - remakes of Counter-Strike (1999)
It's debatable, but I've established that it is a remake since the maps are the same (de_dust2, de_inferno, etc) and are thus clearly remakes. Why not a sequel? When talking about multiplayer games, sequels can lose their meaning when it's the same game with updated graphics, and a bit of updated gameplay.
[B]Remaster[/B]
A remaster is something that was built on top of the original game. The original game was improved, added to until it became something different enough to be sold again. Since remastering is a much easier task than remaking, a lot of games have received remastering treatment from the community.
Some tell-tale signs that it's a remaster:
- The same engine, or an improved version of the same one.
- Improved visuals, at the very least improved textures.
- Soundtrack may be remade, but voices and sounds usually aren't.
- Identical or nearly identical story.
- Core gameplay mechanics stay the same.
Some examples:
- Everything in your library that has "Remastered" in it, obviously.
- A lot of mods for many, many games can be categorized as part of a game's fan-made remaster.
- Many games released on PS3 and XBox 360 have been remastered for new-gen platforms, including Grand Theft Auto V (remastered for PS4, Xbox One and PC).
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut (2013) is a remaster of Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011).
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]They also made adjustments to the energy system, improved enemy AI, and upgrades to the lighting and shading systems.[/QUOTE]
- Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (2014) is a remaster of Sleeping Dogs (2012).
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (2016) is a remaster of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011).
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition, a remastered version of the game, was released for Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in October 2016, which includes all three DLC expansions and a complete graphical upgrade, along with additional features.[/QUOTE]
- Fake Factory's Cinematic Mod (20??) is a remaster of Half-Life 2 (2004). Yes. I know. No need to tell me.
[B]Reboot[/B]
It's not that hard. A reboot is a game that usually has the same name as a previously published game, but has actually a mostly new story. You don't usually reboot a single game, but a series. In other words, a reboot is just a game where they included to write the couple additional words in the title to say it's just another game in the series, but that would go against marketing rules. I personally hate it.
Tell-tale signs that it's a reboot:
- It's like a new game in the series but it has the same name as the original.
Examples include:
- Wolfenstein (2009)
- Tomb Raider (2013)
- Thief (2014)
- Doom (2016) - it may be considered as a remake to some, but I haven't played either so I can't judge.
- Prey (2017) - example of single-game reboot.
[B]Port[/B]
A port is a special kind of remaster. It's when the game is ported to a new engine (that usually has new capabilities) but all of its assets (or the vast majority) remain the same, no graphical improvement other than what the engine natively offers. Even for fans, it's usually a big undertaking.
Examples include:
- Morroblivion: a port of Morrowind to the Oblivion engine.
- Left 4 Dead maps were ported to Left 4 Dead 2, same is happening with Payday 2 (though in Payday's case, the maps might be improved on enough to call it a remaster).
There are probably other port examples but I can't find any here.
Feel free to add to the examples, I wouldn't mind improving this list.
Discuss, and remember, nothing is set in stone but this analysis makes the most sense.
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