What’s old is new again, as the video game industry has been making good use of the strong nostalgia for beloved classics from years gone by, with recent updates such as theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakereceiving huge critical acclaim. Activision, in particular, has been capitalizing on the recent trend, searching through its vast backlog for familiar favorites to breathe new life into in the modern era.
These remakes have been a smash success and even helped completely revive interest in what were once forgotten franchises, with the stunningCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogypaving the way for a proper new mainline installment inCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.Even with this considerable success, the company is not set to rest on its laurels just yet, withActivision confirming that even more remastersare due in 2021.
RELATED:Activision May Change The Way That Console Fans View Streaming
What each of these mystery remasters end up being is still yet to be confirmed, but based on what Activision has already remade and taking a moment to look back at the biggest hits under its belt, there are plenty of options for what could be on the horizon. Regardless of what ends up receiving a new coat of paint, gamers that are fans of all genres should have a reason to be excited.
Crash Bash
As mentioned earlier, theCrash Bandicootseries is on a roll after great remakes likeCrash Bandicoot N. Sane TrilogyandCrash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueledleading up to thecritically acclaimedCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Although an exciting time for fans of the PlayStation classics, one notable standout seemed to have been completely skipped over when it came time to receive the remake treatment. The fan favorite multiplayer party gameCrash Bashhas yet to be brought back into the spotlight with graphical improvements and gameplay tweaks.
Serving as a response toNintendo’s popularMario Partyfranchise,Crash Bashfollowed the same basic formula but naturally with the expected charm and humor found in theCrash Bandicootgames instead. The game’s overall design and stage layout is not terribly complicated, and with many of the assets and character models already updated for previous remakes, much of the groundwork is already finished for a potentialCrash Bashcomeback.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
After thedisastrous launch ofTony Hawk’sPro Skater 5back in 2015, the series was forced to take a hiatus from the gaming landscape and return to the drawing board. As with many remasters, theTony Hawk Pro Skaterfranchise made the wise decision to renew interest and trust in fans by travelling back in time to re-deliver the experience that started it all with a shiny new remake of not just the first, but second game as well all in one package.
Longtime fans of the skateboarding simulators will know thatTony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2was only half the original catalogue, with the following two games in thePro Skaterseries being left out from this recent remaster. Perhaps it would have been too ambitious an endeavor to remake all four games at once, so the choice could have been made to split them into two parts to pace out the release schedule. Especially considering that theTony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2remake was a nostalgia fueled success, Activision must know that fans are clamoring for more, with an announcement seeming like a definite possibility as time goes on.
Diablo 2
Activision merged withWorld of Warcraftdeveloper Blizzard Entertainment back in 2008, combining resources to become a colossal powerhouse in the gaming world. In early 2020, an attempt was made to bring back a classic PC game withWarcraft 3: Reforged,but the update was met with a dismal response from fans and critics alike. Even after a negative response to one revisit of an older title, it does not mean that Blizzard and Activision are calling it quits, with rampant rumors that aDiablo 2is next up for a full blown remake.
To this day,Diablo 2is often cited as the strongest game in the series and single handedly maintains the love for the franchise, even after past disappointments withDiablo 3’stroubled launch and thecontroversialDiablo Immortalreveal. Desire for aDiablo 2remaster is so high that, in recent years, one ambitious fan gained a lot of attention upon setting out to remasterDiablo 2in a crisp 4K resolution. WithDiablo 4already confirmed to be in development, Blizzard may indeed choose to remakeDiablo 2following the same logic asCrash BandicootandTony Hawk Pro Skaterabove, to renew interest in the series and generate further hype for new installments.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
With each passing year, it has come to be expected that Activision will launch a new installment in the long running first person shooter seriesCall of Duty. This juggernaut of the gaming world is not slowing its momentum any time soon, with a newCall of Dutyalready confirmed for 2021. However the franchise has gone on so long that older installments are bordering on being an entire decade old. In order to bring these golden oldies up to speed, beginning in 2016 alongside the launch ofCall of Duty: Infinite Warfare, a bundled in remaster of the mega-hit 2007 titleCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
With this trend of revamping older games appropriately continuing withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered, it seems logical to assume thatCall of Duty:Modern Warfare 3is next in line to receive a glossy new look. Additionally, by the end of this year, the original release will already be ten years old, and combined with persistent rumors that aModern Warfare 3remaster is in developmentand it just seems like it is a matter of time before this hypothetical remake becomes a reality.
Guitar Hero
Just like a retired rock star that has fled from the spotlight after a long popular stretch, it feels like it is due time for theGuitar Herofranchise to make a triumphant comebackto the gaming scene. During its heyday in the late 2000’s,Guitar Herocemented itself as a go-to game during parties and get togethers, regardless of each individual’s interest in actually playing music, simply due to the sense of harmony and unbridled joy it could bring to a group.
The multiplayer gaming scene nowadays is stronger than ever, with Activision’s ownCall of Dutyfranchise ranking among the leaders in that space. Furthermore, the rise of lip syncing and dubbing to songs within apps such asTik Tok have proven to be extremely popularwith the youth of today, so Activision must see an opportunity to dive back into the gaming scene with an experience that allows players to become a bonafide rock and roll superstar.
