9 Early 2000 Titles That Need the Legacy of Kain Remaster Treatment

It’s becoming more and more common to see all kinds of remasters in the video game industry. The Legacy of Kain Remaster, set to feature the first two games in the saga, is among the most recent confirmations. However, many other titles also merit updating to modern times, enabling new generations of players to enjoy them.

Numerous well-known names, like Half-Life, Driver, or Def Jam, have yet to receive this opportunity. Many games released in the early 2000s remain unreleased or unfairly overshadowed. This is a list of games from that era that should be remastered or updated.

Resistance

Despite its relative youth, PlayStation has largely forgotten this story. In 2006, PlayStation released the first game in the Resistance franchise, followed by two more sequels in the same generation.

Following the release of this trilogy, neither PlayStation nor Sony mentioned the saga again, leaving it completely stuck in the PS3 generation. This is quite strange, considering the company often remasters all kinds of games.

Even though these particular games aren’t widely known or even original IP, they feature several intriguing characters and a story worth telling. This is why it would be wonderful to see a graphical update or remaster of the saga for contemporary consoles.

Even a full remake wouldn’t be a disastrous decision by PlayStation to introduce this entire universe to new players. Resistance stands out due to its release during a period when first-person shooters dominated the market.

Driver

This series was particularly overlooked due to the undeniable success of GTA. Released around the same time as GTA, the first Driver games struggled to find an audience despite their unique 3D open-world environments.

However, remastering or even remaking this series wouldn’t be a disastrous decision by the studio to once again offer an alternative to GTA’s dominance. Many have tried, but Driver was one of the few franchises to come close, at least in the early 2000s.

Currently, this franchise is one of the many IPs owned by Ubisoft, and for now, the company doesn’t seem interested in reviving these games. One of the particular strengths of this studio is its extensive experience with open-world games.

They could use that expertise to create a completely original world for a hypothetical new Driver title. As the name suggests, one of the main features of this franchise is its abundance of spectacular cars to drive.

Syphon Filter

Probably considered one of the most popular stealth game franchises of all time, Syphon Filter is one of the most ignored sagas when it comes to new versions. Sony and PlayStation own the franchise’s rights, and they have never even hinted at updating the IP.

With the lack of original games in the current landscape, it would be a unique opportunity to adapt this type of game to modern times. Since the last title in the main series was released in 2001, there have been no new main entries in this universe.

Considering that a full remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 is coming soon, this would be a fantastic opportunity to bring the stealth genre back to where it belongs.

These cult games have a large fanbase that has been asking for years for a new installment or at least a remake. Despite their release on PlayStation 1 and PSP, these titles never had the opportunity to reach more modern platforms.

Prototype

This series of games isn’t as old compared to others on this list, but it’s still worth mentioning since it’s been almost 12 years since the last installment. Prototype offered a unique open-world gameplay experience where the player literally became an unstoppable killing machine with godlike powers.

The mechanics in these games were absolutely original, and the various abilities of the protagonists made for a very fun gameplay experience, offering a tremendous deal of freedom.

The second Prototype game was released in 2012 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation, and since then, fans have been asking for a third installment or a full remake of the first title.

Today’s available graphical and design tools could completely revamp these games’ gameplay. Just like what recently happened with the first Dead Rising, which had a remake that was well-received by both critics and players, there is a lot of potential to explore within this universe.

Lost Planet

There are many franchises that were born and died in the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation. One of these was Lost Planet, Capcom’s attempt to bring an entirely new universe within the action game standards of that time.

Although the premise of these games wasn’t original by any means, the vehicle controls and weapon mechanics were some of the best-polished aspects of the franchise. 2013 saw the release of the final game in this series, coinciding with the end of that console generation.

Considering that Capcom is currently in one of its best moments since the studio’s inception, it wouldn’t be a disastrous decision to bring back this franchise, which blends Monster Hunter with Titanfall.

Both a remaster and a remake, following the path of Dead Rising, would be a fantastic opportunity to introduce this saga to new players who never had the chance to try it. If so, the studio should polish mechanics and maintain these games’ action-packed gameplay.

Def Jam

These fighting games were some of the most original of the time, with spectacularly developed gameplay mechanics that made each move and fighter different from the next.

One of the unique aspects of the Def Jam franchise was that players could choose from a roster of rappers and engage in brutal fights for supremacy. The last game in this series was released in 2007 and was not well received by critics or players. But after more than 12 years, it would be a wonderful opportunity to bring it back.

Electronic Arts, in developing this franchise, has the opportunity to showcase a multitude of contemporary rappers, including those from the globally popular trap genre.

We are at the ideal musical juncture to introduce a fighter game that will pit the biggest names in the industry against each other in a unique fighting experience. Especially in its PlayStation 2 installments, the combat mechanics were very well-polished.

Fallout

Bethesda continues to bet heavily on the Fallout saga with its online version, but for many years, fans have been asking for a remake or remaster of the first two titles. They would even be thrilled to receive a graphical update for the third game in the series.

Given the success of the TV series based on this IP, the studio should be considering releasing the fifth installment as soon as possible. Additionally, the possibility of an update for the older games in this universe would be a fantastic idea.

Fans, who expected something much better from the studio, did not warmly receive Fallout 76, despite its improved state. A remake or remaster of the first two games would be a brilliant move by the development team to regain credibility.

It would be best for the studio to adapt the first two games, which are completely different from the rest of the franchise, to please veteran fans.

F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon)

Considering its physics, gameplay, and premise, this is one of the most innovative shooters of the last 20 years. F.E.A.R. is a game that mixes first-person action with Japanese-style horror, combined with spectacular graphics.

Originally released in 2005, this title’s two sequels, particularly the third installment, did not receive as much positive reception from fans. This franchise has a ton of potential.

The studio behind the three games now belongs to Warner Bros. Monolith redefined horror and blended it with a significant amount of action, which was perfect for the time.

With a graphical update or full remake, this could be one of their best and most original game rediscoveries. Unfortunately, the current Monolith is facing issues and mismanagement, which may mean that we never see another game in this franchise.

Half-Life

Although this franchise technically received a sort of remake with Black Mesa, a fan-made project, Valve hasn’t officially returned to this popular IP beyond Half-Life: Alyx.

A full remake would greatly benefit Valve as a company and could also open the door to a possible third installment, finally closing Gordon Freeman’s trilogy. If this game comes out, it could literally change the industry once again, but the expectations are too high.

Unfortunately, both fans and the gaming press know that this is a very remote possibility. The company behind these games rarely releases new titles, preferring to focus on improving Steam as a platform rather than creating new games.

It all depends on whether Gabe Newell, the head of the company, is willing to make a competent remake of this saga. Since the genre is no longer as relevant as it once was, a game like this could potentially change everything.

What are your thoughts on these remakes or remasters? Let us know in the comments!