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10 Retro Games That Should be Remade Immediately

by Jon Gracey
20 March 2014 16 Comments

The recent remake of XCOM: Enemy Unknown has shown us that we gamers are suckers for a bit of nostalgia. Game developers, give these titles an update and we'll buy them in droves...

1.) Cannon Fodder (1993) 

With its blisteringly hard gameplay and wicked sense of humour, Sensible Software’s Cannon Fodder would translate brilliantly to today’s hardcore gaming community. Also, a graphical update might just put and end to those teeth-gnashing “pebble or mine?” conundrums that proved the end of Jools and Jops so many, many, many times. Bring on Sensible World Of Soccer 2012 while you’re at it.

2.) Joust (1982)

Day-glo knights riding flying ostriches? If you don’t want this in glorious, rippling HD, you’d better check your pulse, son. Whilst the tight dog-fighting mechanics of Joust very much suit the 2D plane, who can honestly say they haven’t thought about soaring through the skies, lancing pterodactyls from an impossibly impractical steed? Exactly. Think of an ace hybrid of Skyward Sword and Panzer Dragoon, with a sprinkling of Jeff Minter.

3.) Revenge Of The Mutant Camels (1984)

Speaking of which, Minter’s epic psychedelia-fest Revenge Of The Mutant Camels is begging for a full on Rez / Child Of Eden graphical remake. Think of how terrifying the phone box, polos and skiing kangaroos would look. With the relatively low sales of Space Giraffe, it’s time Minter got his excellently odd games back in the public eye. Make sure you claim Player One though, or you’ll have to play as the goat.

4.) Ruff ‘N’ Tumble (1994)

This moderately tasteless Amiga platformer / shooter made the questionable decision of having gun-toting, poorly-named 8-year-old “Ruff Rogers” as its lead. Aside from the central conceit of putting lethal weapons in the hands of what is essentially a large toddler, it was a neat little action game. A 3D remake along the lines of Conker’s Bad Fur Day would rejuvenate the bizarre licence a storm, though I can already picture the Mail’s headlines.

5.) Great Giana Sisters (1987)

They should really update thi- oh yeah. Super Mario Bros.

6.) Pushover (1992)

This fun puzzler was made almost exclusively to sell Quavers crisps – they even featured heavily in the plot. Luckily it was a nice little head-scratcher, involving elaborate setting up and toppling of dominoes before heading to the exit. The ramifications for making this in 3D make the head hurt, but nowadays it would probably be sponsored by Heineken anyway, and involve navigating a drunk G.I. Ant home from the pub.

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7.) Rick Dangerous 2 (1990)

This terrifyingly frustrating platformer resulted in many a hurled controller, but with the advent of games like Super Meat Boy, the time has come to make a smoother, more accessible – but no less punishing – remake where Rick’s adventure to destroy the brilliantly named “Fat Guy” comes to its thrilling conclusion. Slicker controls and a chance to react to foes instead of being insta-killed as soon as you move would also be nice.

8.) Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior (1987)

This ancestor of Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter et al. was one of the most excessive early examples of the 2D fighter. Based heavily on Conan The Barbarian, it captured audiences in the 80s with its rich mechanics and decapitation specials. An update would combine the gore of Mortal Kombat 2 with the swordplay of Soul Calibur; battles would be very short, but very awesome. And as an unlockable character? The Governator. 

9.) Trick Or Treat (1995)

I’ll forgive you if you haven’t heard of this one; it doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page. It was an oddball one-on-one FPS deathmatch, featuring wizards with machine guns. What else could you need, right? It had a bunch of unusual spells to tip the balance either way, and a no small sense of humour. Throw in a graphical update and 4-player / online support, and Call Of Duty would be a distant memory, drowned in a hail of spells and bullets.

10.) Alex Kidd In Miracle World (1986) 

Even though it came inbuilt with the Master System II, I doubt many people completed Alex Kidd. But from rock, paper scissors boss-battles to high-octance bike races, kept you guessing. The difficulty level was unforgiving, and we’d get rid of the lives system in this day and age, but Miracle World was an interesting place to explore, and a Super Mario 64 style reworking would  polish up this IP no end.

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These, and plenty more retro oddities have ideas to burn. With the success of titles like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and the aforementioned XCOM, modern developers are really starting to understand how to use the combination of rich ideas - created by the bedroom programmers and experimental developers of yesteryear - and the more sophisticated and technical understanding of gaming and its audience that we have today. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Check in every Friday at Games That Rocked My World for new games

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image descriptionCOMMENTS

Skin Ed 11:10 am, 4-Nov-2012

Nintendo's Eternal Darkness. That is all.

MadBambi 11:40 am, 4-Nov-2012

I completed Alex Kidd in Miracle World! *proud* and I was only about 13, tried it again recently and I did not have the patience. My vote for "retro remake" is Paperboy.

Ash 1:10 pm, 4-Nov-2012

No battletoads? And you call this a list?

Grubberkick 3:34 pm, 4-Nov-2012

Always thought Speedball was a good one.. Blood being spilled whilst the call of "ice cream" could be heard from the stands.. Brilliant

frank cooper 8:23 am, 5-Nov-2012

Im with you on Speedball all the way

Borjax 11:53 am, 5-Nov-2012

I get the impression someone's an Amiga fan. I disagree that XCOM:EU was a worthy update (though it's at least better than the FPS they have/had hanging around in the background), but I'll give you a thumbs up just for including Ruff 'n' Tumble and the uber-obscure yet massively fun Trick or Treat on this list. I'd also like to add my own personal vote for The Chaos Engine, as well.

discuit 12:09 pm, 6-Nov-2012

you can get Speedball on Xbox Live... And they have also remade Cannon Fodder apparently.

Benzaemon 10:24 am, 7-Nov-2012

PUSHOVER! Ruddy loved that, one of the only things I've ever won, and out of a packet of quavers no less. Bug Hunter was class too.

Skillachi 10:54 am, 8-Nov-2012

I've been wanting someone to release a 21st century version of Toejam & Earl for time now...

Matt 10:14 pm, 15-Nov-2012

NO ToeJam & Earl!? fuck that list

Babydave 3:51 pm, 18-Nov-2012

When people go on about Speedball, surely they mean Speedball 2. Impossible to win the first division. Best game with the best intro music ever.

Ryan 4:58 am, 24-Dec-2012

Cannon Fodder cannot be improved!

Ryan 5:02 am, 24-Dec-2012

Cadaver, Powermonger, Jet Set Willy, Booty,...

Luser Jetman 11:44 pm, 12-Jan-2013

No love for Thanatos? Greatest speccy game ever!

anon 5:38 pm, 21-Mar-2014

NO TOEJAM AND EARL!? List is totally invalid.

r.walker 1:39 am, 23-Mar-2014

Champions league on the ps1. Scoring unbelievable goals from 50 yards out on the touchline,highly unrealistic but hugely addictive.

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