Yes, that’s right, people nowadays are blowing the dust off of their cartridges and digging out their old video game jewel cases to relive the good old days, but with nostalgic gaming in full swing this year, studios have been bringing the heat with some classic remakes and remasters, and we are here for it!
With today being the day that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 kickflips back into our gaming libraries courtesy of Xbox Game Pass, it’s time we took a look at why nostalgia is kicking butt right now. Depending on your age of course, the video game titles of old either come as a delightful surprise as they add some charming retro flair to your gaming backlog, or they bring back pleasant memories of sitting in front of the TV, controller plugged in, memory card slotted, and going all square-eyed from those long gaming sessions staring at that CRT screen. Xbox announced that Tony Hawks Pro Skater hit Game Pass today in a unique style on their X feed (Twitter), and man am I excited to reignite my love for virtual skateboarding and landing trick combos!
The recent success of classic games being given the good old spit and polish as well as from the ground up reimaginings, some good examples being the semi-recent releases of some of the Resident Evil titles including Resident Evil 2 Remake and Resident Evil 4 remake being received with massive critical and commercial success, has inspired many studios to introduce a new generation of gamers to their previous hits, while providing that ever-so-needed hit of nostalgia for prior fans.
I mean, the graphical improvements alone made the RE remakes shine brighter than ever before but introducing over-the-shoulder third-person camera angles and great action set pieces completely changed the dynamic of the original games, while retaining the connective tissue to the classic titles. With that said, some fans of the originals have voiced the opinion that they would have far preferred a simple remaster of the classic titles, and that is in essence what Iron Galaxy, the team behind THPS 3+4 have done, with some slight changes that we’ll leave up to you to form an opinion on.
A title that I hold dearly in my heart is The Thing, developed by Computer Artworks all the way back in 2002. This was a video game adaptation of the classic horror film of the same name, that brought with it the same grim tone and surprising elements that the movie did. At the time, this title showcased such a unique gameplay style in terms of its approach to the themes of its source material, with the constant fear that an alien could be literally any one of your crew mates. This made the game tense and exciting, but most of all, memorable!
The Thing got a remaster at the end of 2024 from the talented team at Nightdive Studios who are dedicated to “Bringing lost and forgotten gaming treasures back from the depths…” The remaster retained its original gameplay and visual appeal by staying true to its original style but provided a total visual overhaul, bringing one of my favorite classic games into the modern era with vastly improved graphics and some slight gameplay tweaks for smoother enjoyment. The Thing can now hold its own against modern horror releases, and very much still feels like a good old PS2 game from back in the day! It still has me grinning from ear to ear like the kid I once was.
As many are aware, there have been a plethora of fantastic video games from many years past that are returning to our screens, with Crash Bandicoot making his return with the OGs getting a remake with the N’sane trilogy, and Spyro also got a brilliant remake with the 2018 release of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. Moving away though from our beloved cartoon-like gaming mascots, Final Fantasy VII got a game changing and genre-defining remake in 2020, when Square Enix grabbed fans’ attention and brought them back to a beloved franchise, now complete with upgraded visuals and controls, and an insane amount of changes that only added to the overall quality and longevity of the game… or should I say games, now that it has been split into three full titles! I could sit here all-day listing games that have been given a phenomenal remaster or remake treatment, but the show must go on!
The big question is, why has nostalgic gaming made a booming comeback as of late? My personal answer hinges on the feelings of deep comfort and emotional connection that those classic games gave me back when I first played them! I feel connected to a game and how it strikes me emotionally, so when studios connect with us fans and give us what we want in terms of remakes and remasters of these very special games that remind us of our childhood, it feels like we are being listened to and appreciated.
In a world where there are so many stresses and pressures, having a piece of youthful bliss waiting for us in our gaming library feels like such a weight off of our shoulders. It’s like a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter morning, sat in front of the fire, listening to a nostalgic gaming track play in the background while we wait for our hands to warm up enough to grab that controller and dive back into the fun! THAT, in my opinion, is why so many gamers enjoy remakes and remasters of older games and why we always seek that nostalgic return.
There is also a generational shift taking place, where parents in this modern era are introducing their children to the video games they grew up on, and this is creating a platform for the classics to really earn their bank even in this day and age. It gives parents a chance to share some of who they are and what their childhood was like, while re-experiencing that happiness through their loved ones. The smile on their face when they get stuck at the same place the parent did so many years ago, the excitement and wonder of sharing a world that is so beloved. The same goes for partners sharing these games with their loved ones.
Let us know what you guys think and let us know what your favorite nostalgic video game is so we can share in your happiness!
