For better or worse and whatever your stance is on the matter, the 3DS seems to be a natural fit for remakes. As far as the developers are concerned, these projects are easier and less time consuming than new releases. For everyone else it's great to see cIassic games with updated graphics, 3D visuals, new content, and added portability. I personally have no problems with remakes, as long as they're needed in the first place and are done right. Here are some that I'm waiting for.
Final Fantasy IX
November 14th, 2000
My favorite game of all time outside of the Pokémon franchise. I could really go on and on about how great this game is. It's aged beautifully and it's still very enjoyable to this day, but that's not to say that it couldn't use an update. Just the chance to hear the soundtrack remastered would make it worth it in my book; Nobuo Uematsu's fantastic score is what made me fall in love with video game music.
Something I'd love to see from a remake is having Beatrix as a legitimate member of the party. She's arguably the coolest character in the game, so her presence would be a welcomed one. Another thing that always bothered me about Final Fantasy IX is that Dagger and Eiko are basically the same thing gameplay wise, and what's worse is that one is actually better than the other. More diversity between these characters would be greatly appreciated. Of course, this wouldn't be Square's first attempt at a Final Fantasy remake and the usual trappings should be expected as well. This would be a great time to flesh out the story and add voice acting, as well as add extra dungeons, spells, and side quests.
Final Fantasy IX is my personal Ocarina of Time. As a self-identifying Nintendo fan girl I'd love to play this on the 3DS, but if they announce this for any other console I'll buy it just for this game. I have literally dreamed of this game. Make it happen, Square!
Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi
March 29th, 2002 (JP)
As you may or may not know, the "original" Fire Emblem on the Gameboy Advance is actually a prequel to this game. Seems like kind of an odd choice to localize a prequel and then leave the "sequel" in Japan, doesn't it? Nintendo of America never fails to impress where localization is concerned. That said, Nintendo could earn back all their lost coolness points and then some with a 3DS remake. For us in the West, not only would we finally get to see Roy in context, we'd also get to visit the land of Elibe for a second time, which as a Fire Emblem fan would make me absolutely giddy.
As we'd be experiencing the game as a sequel, it would make a lot of sense to feature more Fire Emblem characters from the "original" game. Lyndis in particular should really make an appearance of some sort here. Other than that they could be as liberal or as conservative with the changes to the game as they want, really, as long as the story remains intact. I really just want the chance to play this one! You'd think Nintendo could make some easy money by releasing translated versions of the unreleased Fire Emblem games on Wii Ware or something, but that's a different conversation entirely.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
October 26th, 2000
Here's an obvious one. Since they've already gone through the trouble of remaking Ocarina of Time, why not go the extra mile and remake Majora's Mask, too? I'm clearly not the only one who would appreciate this game, and I think our chances of seeing this are actually quite high.
While I have yet to pick up Ocarina of Time 3D, this would be a day one purchase for me. I've always really loved the game's story and atmosphere. Unfortunately I never got around to finishing this one, so I'd love the chance to.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
March 19th, 2003
Now I bet none of you saw this coming. Obviously I would love a remake of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire! Of course it's true that Pokémon from the original Ruby and Sapphire can still be sent to Black and White, albeit not directly. But is that really such a big deal? I even think it would be kind of cool for the remake to be able to connect with the originals to be honest. So then, the only reasons you have left to remake Ruby and Sapphire are… pretty much the only reasons to remake any game ever.
The most important of which, at least as far as Gamefreak is concerned, is money. For the gamers, so much has changed in ten years for the series. Obviously the graphics will be enhanced by a great deal. The original Ruby and Sapphire were hardly standouts as far as graphics are concerned, so why not really take advantage of the 3DS and create something stunning? On the other hand, the music in the game is some of the best in the series and I could definitely go for some higher quality remixes.
Many of my complaints with the originals could be fixed in the inevitable remakes, just as Heart Gold and Soul Silver did before them. Gamefreak's decision not to implement the day/night cycle was baffling to say the least, but now not only will we be able to experience Hoenn at night, we'll also be able to experience it in spring and autumn! This time around we'll even be able to bring all of our favorite 4th and 5th gen Pokémon with us! I'm twitching with excitement just thinking about it.
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So, what are some remakes you'd like to see on the 3DS, or elsewhere?