Unforgivable Audio [Ninja Gaiden Trilogy]
After Super Mario All-Stars wowed us on the SNES, developers saw the viability in selling collections of old games on the (at the time) new systems like the Super Nintendo. Hence the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy — an “updated” version of three NES classics. Really, its only barely different from the originals. The controls are the same (despite having like +4 buttons on the SNES controller) and the graphics have only be touched up slightly from the 8-Bit console. It looks like a muddy NES game.
The presentation is pretty awkward, but the worst is all in the audio. The music and sound effects have none of the punch of the original. The music is soft and weak — the sound track was one of the most memorable parts of the original games! At least this one has passwords you can input, but the games are still so difficult! Just a completely half-assed attempt at a re-release. No wonder it took another 9 years before we got a proper new game.
Draining Every Ounce Of Charm [Final Fantasy 5 & 6]
Square Enix gave us a lovingly recreated version of Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake — a game that might be one of the shining examples of a remake done right. But the re-releases for mobile FF5 and FF6 are a war crime in video game form. The charming pixel graphics were butchered and completely replaced with terrible F2P-style art that looks like it was stolen straight from RPG Maker 2000. I mean, just look at that screenshot. That’s straight-up embarrassing.
And the worst part? These “enhanced” editions weren’t limited to mobile devices where they belong. These travesties are currently the only versions you can buy on Steam! The battle graphics aren’t too bad, and the additional portraits on the text boxes add a little flair that wasn’t there before to the original — but everything else? The world map? Shockingly ugly.
When remakes go wrong. The list continues on the next page.
