It’s hard to believe that the 2000s were 20 years ago. For many, it feels like it was just yesterday when players huddled around their standard definition television playing classics like Final Fantasy X and halo 2. But the 2000s did, of course, start with the transition to high-definition gaming, with the introduction of series such as not mapped and Assassin’s Creedas well as the rising popularity of the Duty series.
In general, the 2000s were a great time in gaming, where visuals took a huge leap towards realism and online play began to reign supreme. Games from the 2000s are very popular picks for remasters, but a slew of remakes of games from the 2000s have already been released, with others like Resident Evil 4 and Empty space underway.
10 Destroy all humans! Series has received two remakes in the 2020s
With so many video games tasking players with fending off an alien invasion, the Destroy all humans! series was a breath of fresh air. In Destroy all humans! Players play as Crypto, a member of an alien race who comes to Earth to investigate and prevent the extinction of his race.
The original Destroy all humans! got a remake in 2020. The sequel, Destroy all humans! 2, also got a remake in Destroy all humans! 2: Re-probed in August 2022. Hopefully, the renewed interest in the series will lead to a much-needed sequel.
9 Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories produced one of the fastest remake turnaround times
When Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories was released for the Gameboy Advance in 2004, there was only one other Kingdom Hearts play with someone else along the way. Life was simple for Kingdom Hearts fans then, if the Kingdom Hearts series was still young. Kingdom Hearts has since produced numerous sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, leading to an increasingly complex story.
Chain of memories was remade in 2008 for the PlayStation 2 as Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories in one of the fastest turnaround times for a remake in gaming history. The once 2D Chain of memories is now fully fleshed out in 3D while retaining the same structure and card-based combat system.
8 Mafia needed a final version
The mafia series was a dream come true for players who had fallen in love with the glorified gangster transactions of crime families, such as the Corleone family from the iconic film series the godfatherwho also saw video games in the 2000s.
The mafia series has since released two sequels, with a recently announced fourth entry in the works. The original 2002 mafia was remade as Mafia: Definitive Edition in 2020 and was released alongside remasters of Mafia II and Mafia III. So with a fourth mafia game is underway, now is the perfect time to revisit Lost Heaven, Illinois.
7 The Yakuza remakes are more easily connected to their prequel, Yakuza 0
It’s not just American mobsters of the 1930s that have allowed players to delve into the world of crime. The Yakuza series also debuted in the 2000s, starting in 2005. Unlike the mafia series, the Yakuza series is one of the most comedic video game series of all time. Although the Yakuza series isn’t afraid to get serious when necessary.
The original Yakuza and Yakuza 2 saw remakes Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 2 Kiwami in 2016 and 2017. In addition to modernizing the gameplay, these Yakuza remakes also include new story elements based on the prequel Yakuza 0.
6 Pokémon saw two sets of remakes
pokemon and remakes are two Caterpies in a Metapod, or whatever the saying goes. The pokemon series isn’t afraid to remake their hugely popular and influential games. So far the first four generations of games, in addition to Pokémon Yellowhave seen remakes.
The third and fourth generation of pokemonoriginally released in the 2000s, each have received remakes. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were released in 2014 during the sixth generation on 3DS, while Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were released in 2021 during the eighth generation on Nintendo Switch. However, many pokemon fans were disappointed that the Sinnoh remakes opted for a traditional top-down design rather than fully 3D like the third-generation remakes, making them nervous for the inevitable fifth-generation remakes.
5 Luigi’s Mansion Remake Was Thanks To The Sequel
Sometimes developing a remake is an impulsive decision. Maybe it was an idea that came up with the development of a sequel, or it was a wave of success from another game. That was the case with Luigi’s Mansion.
Nintendo previously made a prototype of the original Luigi’s Mansion to test the power of the 3DS. This led to work on a sequel in Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moonwhich was released in 2013. The success of dark moon forced Nintendo to rewatch the original Luigi’s Mansion to fully produce a remake in 2018, followed by another sequel in 2019. Like dark moonthe Luigi’s Mansion remake also includes a fun co-op mode, which wasn’t in the original GameCube version.
4 Ratchet & Clank was a draw in an animated film
Some video game series from the 2000s do not need to be reintroduced to a new generation of players. Like the Ratchet & Clank series, which has consistently released new items for PlayStation systems since its debut in 2002.
However, with a Ratchet & Clank movie in the making, Insomniac Games decided to recreate the original Ratchet & Clank serve as a point of reference. The Ratchet & Clank remake, released in 2016, tells the story of the original Ratchet & Clank game, but follows the story more closely with the movie version, featuring new characters and characterizations that received mixed opinions from longtime fans.
3 Fans had long had their eyes on the remake of a Majora’s Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is easily one of the most bizarre entries in The Legend of Zelda series. In Majora’s maskLink must relive a period of three days to slowly build up enough strength and a collection of masks to save Clock Town from impending doom.
Majora’s mask was remade for the 3DS in 2015. This remake brought with it numerous quality-of-life updates such as the Bombers’ Notebook, which made it easier for players to organize the many sidequests Majora’s mask has to offer. Majora’s Masks boss fights also got a facelift by including a more obvious weak point.
2 Fighting the control scheme has never looked more beautiful than in the shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is a work of art. While other video games focused on emulating cinema, Shadow of the Colossus took a more simplistic note by focusing on atmosphere. Wander rides past his trusty horse, Agro, as they chase a series of 16 Colossi in an attempt to rekindle their dead love.
Shadow of the Colossus is an emotional journey with intense colossal combat, and the 2018 remake makes the experience more beautiful than ever. Shadow of the Colossus remake also introduces a new controller scheme, somewhat alleviating the original’s biggest complaint. It’s not perfect though, as the control scheme is still one of the biggest hurdles in this otherwise masterpiece.
1 Demon souls started a phenomenon
It is not easy to start a phenomenon in gaming. Most of the good ideas are long-established, whether it’s crossover platform battles or an open-world sandbox. However, the innovation created by Demon Souls in 2009 countered a trend that was seen all over the gaming world. While video games have increasingly lowered the difficulty, Demon Souls went the opposite direction with its punishing fights and boss fights.
Demon Souls would be succeeded by the dark souls series and other “Soulslike” games like Bloodbourne and Elden Ring. With the launch of the PlayStation 5, Sony tapped Bluepoint Games to recreate the game that kicked off one of the greatest gaming phenomenon in recent memory. As a result, demons souls got the recognition it long deserved while being one of the best remakes ever.
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