Both Remakes and Remasters can be viewed as opposite sides of the same coin. In many ways, they accomplish the same purpose which is to bring back the old games, making them better and more adapted to the current-day gaming environment. Pulling an old forgotten game from gamming oblivion and breathing life into it once again is no small feat, it demands a lot of effort on the game's publisher’s part. However, both gaming and market trends at times, highlight the need for a previous game to be brought back into circulation on account of gamer and fan-base clamor, and desire for it.

Both Remakes and Remasters are also quite different from each other in several ways. The recreation process that they go through, and the extent of it, though from a current gamer's point of view is happening in the hidden background or under the hood, is geared to make the game palatable or updated to current gaming trends, game mechanics, advancements, and quality. With the advanced gaming technologies currently in use today, these old games have to be given a game facelift, or modification to fit today's gaming timeline.

With these in mind, let's discuss and differentiate a game Remaster from a game Remake.

Upgrading the Game

Many gamers find the need to play older games because they simply miss it. They miss the characters, the story, the gameplay, and so many other things about the game. Many want to re-live and get the feel of it once again. So, the game's creators and publisher bring them back with retouches and improvements to make the game presentable and up-to-date so it doesn't look like it was just pulled out from a Retro-Gaming store, repacked, then marketed as a current-day offering. That just won't work.

In cases like this, sans leaving the game to its historical value, and the active Retro-Game industry, a game Remaster is required. Remastering a game is like a high-definition restoration where the game at its core, practically remains intact. The story is the same, the game engine is the same, the gameplay is the same, the game levels and locations are the same, and the voice narrations, though may be reprocessed for better hi-fidelity remains the same. What the character said and sounded like in the original game is still there.

The ladies, usually before meeting other people, are always prompt in making themselves presentable, so they excuse themselves for a moment and rush to do a "Retouch" of themselves. A little more eyeliner there, a little more powder here, and wham! As good as new! This in essence is also how Remastering works, the game is retouched to bring out the vibrancy it once gave in the past.

These retouches can be seen in the form of improved and updated graphics like higher resolution of textures, improved lighting and shadows, and for gameplay, the game may now have improved loading times, a much better frame rate, and an updated (but not different) user interface. The look and feel of the game is very much improved but does not deviate that far from the original as it is a "Retouched" newly released game. Also, it runs on the current game machines of today.

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

A game Remake on the other hand can be viewed as a complete reconstruction of the game for use with modern gaming technology. It will take a lot more effort and cost than a normal game Remaster. A good analogy would be those really old movies like say “King Kong” which was first publicly screened in 1933. The first ever Remake was released in 1976, same King Kong but using 1970s film technology and a slightly deviated storyline. King Kong climbs the (then) World Trade Center instead of the Empire State Building in 1933. Now imagine applying the same principle to the old video games.

Being rebuilt from the ground up changes a lot of things for the game. To begin with, the “Game Engine” is usually upgraded to a much more advanced and current-day one. It may be a newer version of the original game engine (like say upgrading from Source to Source 2), or a totally different one altogether. The “Assets” (characters, objects, environmental elements to name a few) are rebuilt from scratch to reflect current-day gaming technology. Then the “Game Mechanics” and “User Interface” are updated to the way games are currently played today. As for the game’s story and narrative, just like the movie King Kong, some deviations may be put in place. The characters may be a bit different, the game’s levels and the environments may be re-imagines to fit in with the current gaming market, and the story a bit modified for garner interest among the first time players as well.

A remake is actually still the same game, but created to provide both an old nostalgic experience and a new one for those who are encountering it for the first time. Either way, the remake caters to both worlds and extends the legacy of the game.

So, whether it’s the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Remaster, or the Persona 3 Reload game Remake, both games are brought back into current-day gaming circulation to be experienced by both nostalgic veteran, and newer gamers alike.

Image Info:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/The_Elder_Scrolls_V_Skyrim_Special_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2161700/Persona_3_Reload/