20 PS2 Games That Deserve A Remake
Transcript
00:00 Welcome to Mojo Plays and today we're hoping these PS2 games will one day have another
00:05 chance on modern consoles.
00:18 The Punisher.
00:28 The Punisher has had quite a tumultuous history befitting his character.
00:32 After Thomas Jane's portrayal, we didn't see another worthy live-action iteration until
00:37 Jon Bernthal and arguably made the character more popular than ever.
00:42 So why not give his best and frankly only video game outing another chance?
00:48 We'd love to see the game adopt a more comic book cel-shaded art style to help the game
00:53 avoid the troublesome adults-only rating the original nearly had.
00:57 And with all the advancements in not only tech and game engines, the developers could
01:02 also really be set loose to come up with even more elaborate ways to make those frank interrogations
01:09 more interactive.
01:11 We'd also love to see players be given the option to play as their favorite Punisher,
01:15 whether they be the classic comic book, Thomas Jane, or Jon Bernthal, much in the way Spidey
01:21 has innumerable unlockable outfits.
01:31 Dirge of Cerberus Final Fantasy VII
01:44 Before we begin, let's get something straight.
01:47 Dirge of Cerberus is not a great game.
01:50 It's alright, it's fine, but that's not why it made it on this list.
01:54 What makes this game special is actually the recent release of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
02:01 Originally the compilation of Final Fantasy VII, including Advent Children and Crisis
02:05 Core, were meant to flesh out the world of Final Fantasy VII and not necessarily be considered
02:10 canon.
02:12 That all changed however after the release of Remake, and now all additional content
02:16 is part of VII's lore.
02:18 With this in mind, Dirge of Cerberus becomes very integral and deserving of the same love
02:23 and attention the original title has been given to fully flesh out its world, gameplay,
02:29 and characters as well as continue the story of Vincent Valentine after the events of Remake,
02:35 however they might turn out in the end.
03:01 Interactive has been on a hot streak lately with their updates to the Hitman series, but
03:06 there's another potential franchise that deserves some love.
03:10 Released right in the middle of Hitman's early days, Freedom Fighters puts a pair of plumbing
03:15 brothers up against an invading force in an alternate history New York with a squad of
03:20 AI companions to combat the onslaught.
03:24 If given the chance, IO could streamline many of the game's tactical elements and even infuse
03:30 some of their patented stealth tactics into gameplay, giving players multiple ways to
03:35 tackle objectives in a hopefully open world war-torn New York City.
03:40 With strategic game scene resurgence as well as improvements to squad AI as well as third
03:46 person combat, and while some narrative elements might need to be updated, Freedom Fighters
03:52 has the chance to defy the odds and rise to the challenge.
04:18 Team Ico and Japan Studio came out swinging with their first game and it was instantly
04:23 a hit with critics and quickly achieved cult status.
04:27 While the sequel Shadow of the Colossus was undoubtedly more of a commercial success,
04:31 Ico still holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers.
04:36 Following the titular character Ico as he is locked away in a castle after being shunned
04:40 by his village for his horns, he soon meets another captive in the castle, a young girl
04:45 named Yorda, and the two set about finding a means of escape by solving a myriad of puzzles
04:50 and fighting off Shadows determined to recapture Yorda once again.
04:55 Given the incredible remake of Shadow of the Colossus, it seems only right for the title
04:59 that started it all to be given the same treatment and brought into the modern age for a whole
05:04 new generation.
05:17 Need for Speed Underground
05:28 The right game in the right place can make all the difference in the world.
05:35 And that's never been more true with Need for Speed Underground.
05:39 Released at the peak of the Fast and Furious franchise's original run in popularity, this
05:43 game was every street racer, and family's, dream come true.
05:49 Successful enough to produce a much beloved sequel that took the concept to the open world,
05:53 there's still something about the arcadey nature of the first title.
06:03 From memorizing the tracks to shave precious seconds off of your time, or hitting that
06:07 nitrous boost seconds from the finish line to overtake first place, it is chef's kiss
06:13 good.
06:14 That adrenaline-pumping feeling of narrowly winning a drag race by an inch or a mile is
06:20 still a rush that the series has yet to recapture, even almost two decades later.
06:34 Shadow of Rome
06:46 Shadow of Rome is a setting often overlooked by video games, which is a shame, considering
06:52 the violent and turbulent time being the perfect setting for video games.
06:57 One game that attempted to capitalize on this time period, possibly too early, was Shadow
07:03 of Rome, where much of the gameplay was focused on bloody arena combat filled with bodily
07:09 dismemberment and chariot races.
07:11 The game also featured another playable character whose levels focused more on stealth and narrative
07:17 information gathering, but these sections slowed the game's pace to a crawl rather than
07:22 offer to reprieve from the endless carnage.
07:25 A remake could expand on the game's already impressive combat, and update the stealth
07:30 sections to include real stealth elements that many games have improved upon since Shadow
07:36 of Rome's initial release.
07:50 Tony Hawk's Underground
07:58 With a fifth entry in the now legendary Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise, Neversoft decided
08:04 to make things a bit more personal, and gave us one of the most hated characters on the
08:09 PS2, Eric Sparrow.
08:13 No one could have expected such an engaging and emotional storyline from a series about
08:18 building combos and doing your best not to land on your face after a halfpipe.
08:24 With some of the most diverse skating locations in the series, Underground nailed every aspect
08:30 of its gameplay from the familiar yet intuitive controls to a narrative that had no right
08:36 to be this good.
08:37 Replaying through the game a second time even unlocks an alternate ending that gives players
08:42 exactly what they wanted, the chance to knock Eric's teeth out.
08:48 After the success of the Tony Hawk 1 and 2 remake, Underground needs to be the next in
08:53 line to receive a fresh coat of paint.
09:00 Resident Evil Code Veronica X
09:19 Who's in charge of greenlighting the remakes over at Capcom?
09:23 I just want to have a word about continuity with them.
09:28 So far we've had amazing remakes of Resi 1 and 2, the well-meaning remake of 3, and
09:33 possibly the best remake of them all with 4.
09:37 Where is the love for what is canonically the next game after 3?
09:55 Claire Redfield is definitely a fan favorite character who has been missing from the main
09:59 line games for far too long.
10:01 And while she did make a comeback in Revelations 2, there's no excuse for her first solo
10:07 outing to be left in the past considering the other remakes' current successes.
10:12 Code Veronica was also the last mainline entry to still embrace the series' cramped corridor
10:17 and puzzle-based architecture before losing itself to the more action-heavy future entries
10:22 and will look absolutely outstanding in Capcom's RE Engine.
10:51 Taking the GTA formula and making it a bit more kid-friendly, Bully gave players classes
10:57 to attend, friends to make, an open world to explore, and an arsenal that would make
11:02 Bart Simpson jealous.
11:03 And despite the game's title, Jimmy spends most of the game defending other students
11:09 from bullies and playing pranks while attempting to keep up with his studies.
11:13 A sequel was in the works before being cancelled, and given all the advancements Rockstar has
11:19 made as a developer, crafting fully realized worlds and memorable characters, we'd love
11:25 the chance to re-enroll in Bulworth Academy and see what Rockstar could accomplish with
11:30 a more contained open world.
11:33 Rockstar could even implement their online infrastructure they're so fond of with school
11:37 activities for players to compete in, like track, dodgeball, and other extracurricular
11:43 activities.
11:44 The money is right there for the taking, Rockstar.
12:11 Metal Arms Glitch in the System is definitely a title that a lot of people slept on during
12:15 its initial release, and that's a shame because it's genuinely a very good shooter with an
12:20 engaging story and likable characters.
12:23 Playing as the amnesiac Glitch, you take on the evil General Corrosive and his armies
12:28 to protect the last remaining droid settlements from the General's ever-advancing war machine.
12:34 The game was generally well-received by critics and even set up a sequel by the time credits
12:39 rolled.
12:40 However, it failed to generate the sales necessary to make that a reality.
12:56 Being able to revisit a game with all the groundwork already in place, just remade in
13:00 something like the Unreal Engine 5, could prove this little robot's journey was more
13:05 than just a glitch in the system.
13:17 Downhill Domination What happens when you combine Matt Hoffman's
13:21 pro-BMX with blazing speed and adrenaline-filled bike combat?
13:26 Downhill Domination is another extreme sports title that is often overlooked by many possibly
13:33 due to not having a pro athlete's name on the cover.
13:37 With players racing to be the first to the bottom of the mountain, fans of the SSX series
13:42 will feel right at home as they perform tricks at breakneck speeds while using every weapon
13:47 at their disposal to literally knock out the competition.
13:51 A remake would be able to capitalize on the game's insane sense of speed careening down
13:56 the game's many mountains, narrowly missing trees and guardrails while trying not to fly
14:01 off the edge.
14:03 Give gamers the chance to play in VR and you'll have one of the most visceral experiences
14:08 imaginable.
14:09 The Thing.
14:18 Very few video game tie-ins can hold the honor of being considered a canonical sequel to
14:23 the movie it's based on, and The Thing remains one of the best examples of how to do it right.
14:29 As part of one of the teams sent to investigate Outpost 31, it's not long before players discover
14:35 The Thing is still very much around and any one of your team could be one of them.
14:41 The atmosphere perfectly captures the feel of the film and updates to the gameplay, in
14:46 particular the gunplay and melee combat, along with a more dedicated system possibly akin
14:52 to the Nemesis system would make the paranoia of your squadmates even more realistic and
14:58 each encounter more harrowing with your limited resources and squad's untrustworthiness.
15:04 The Thing is a timeless classic and its sequel deserves a chance for players to experience
15:10 the complete story.
15:21 The Simpsons Hit and Run.
15:30 We all know how much EA loves money, and yet even though The Simpsons might not be as popular
15:37 as they used to be, they are still undoubtedly a money printing franchise that EA has completely
15:43 squandered in the last decade.
15:46 Released during the wave of GTA clones hitting the market, The Simpsons Hit and Run finally
15:50 found a formula that was perfect for the license.
16:00 A fully realized and explorable Springfield, all the beloved characters brought to life
16:05 by their original voice actors and a hilarious script with input from the show's creators
16:10 themselves, Hit and Run finally managed to make more than just a clone of the popular
16:14 franchise.
16:16 This is undoubtedly one of the most requested remakes by fans and with EA seemingly on a
16:21 new track of listening to the fans and putting games first, maybe there's finally hope in
16:26 revisiting Springfield once again.
16:36 Maximo Goes to Glory.
16:47 Updating an old IP for modern consoles can be a hit or miss affair.
16:52 Isn't that right, Bomberman Act Zero?
16:55 Described by many as the original Dark Souls, the game retains the same challenging gameplay
17:00 of its original incarnation right down to Maximo losing bits of his armor every time
17:06 he's hit.
17:07 And while there is something inherently funny about taking down a hulking boss in your undies,
17:12 the game lives up to the comparison with its tough but fair combat and platforming.
17:18 These days, unless you're Nintendo, there's been a severe lack of 3D platformers and now
17:23 would be the perfect time for this king to dust off his armor and resurrect himself one
17:29 last time.
17:30 Just don't lose that cartoony art style for something dark and gritty, okay Capcom?
17:44 The Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction.
17:59 Given the fact that one of the main draws of gaming is the quote-unquote "power fantasy"
18:04 that comes with losing yourself in a game, it's honestly remarkable that the Hulk hasn't
18:08 had more time in the spotlight.
18:10 A character almost perfectly designed for the video game space and given the character's
18:15 unwavering popularity, it's criminal we haven't had a proper Hulk video game since this classic
18:21 back on PS2.
18:35 No other game to date featuring the mean green fighting machine has even come close to giving
18:41 players the feeling of all that rage and power at their fingertips.
18:45 With the ability to power up and completely level the battlefield as well as freely explore
18:50 and destroy to your heart's content, the time has come for the Hulk to reclaim his rightful
18:56 place as the world's strongest weapon of destruction.
19:12 Dark Cloud.
19:20 It seems like every other game nowadays has found ways to add settlement building elements
19:24 into their games, so why not bring back one of the earliest titles to experiment with
19:29 the possibility of combining those ideas into an RPG?
19:34 After a dark genie destroys your village, Tone ventures into randomly generated dungeons
19:39 to retrieve pieces of your village and its residents and rebuild your home better than
19:44 before.
19:45 The game featured many survival elements such as a thirst meter as well as a weapon leveling
19:50 system in place of the standard character level-up progression.
19:53 This was about as close as PlayStation gamers got to a Legend of Zelda title on their system
19:58 and with Level-5 still making games today, they owe it to themselves to revisit the title
20:03 that helped launch their success in the RPG genre that continues with the Ni No Kuni franchise.
20:17 SSX Tricky.
20:19 What happened to extreme sports games?
20:23 Building combos with outrageous characters while performing death-defying tricks was
20:28 a staple of the late 90's and early 2000's and it's a genre we deeply, deeply miss.
20:36 Arguably one of the best titles that represented this trend was the SSX series and the best
20:41 entry is undoubtedly a bit tricky.
20:45 EA recently made great use of realistic graphics paired with an anime comic book art style
20:50 with the recent need for speed unbound and that style would be a perfect fit for the
20:55 over-the-top snowboarders and getting those splashes of color every time players land
21:00 a perfect trick would be visually stunning against the white backdrop of the snowy mountains.
21:07 There have been other recent attempts to bring back the genre but none have been able to
21:11 recapture the spirit and just downright fun energy of the early SSX games, not even the
21:18 series' own sequels.
21:21 Psy-Ops The Mindgate Conspiracy
21:32 Before there was Control or even The Force Unleashed, there was Psy-Ops.
21:36 A game that gave you psionic abilities that let you throw not only objects around the
21:40 environment but enemies as well.
21:43 You could take over a foe and use them to attack their allies or even quite literally
21:48 blow their minds.
21:50 While the story was engaging enough and had more than a few twists and turns, the gameplay
21:55 was where the title truly shined and is even more impressive given the tech it was running
22:00 on back in 2004.
22:01 However, despite all the critical praise and love from the fanbase, the game never received
22:06 a sequel despite ending on a shockingly blatant cliffhanger that still bothers me to this
22:12 day.
22:13 Psy-Ops laid a lot of groundwork for psionic powers in gaming and it's time the OG Psy
22:18 Operative took back control.
22:29 The Suffering
22:38 With the recent resurgence of horror remakes on modern consoles, now would be the perfect
22:44 time to give this overlooked horror classic a chance to step out of the shadows.
22:48 With all hell descending on the prison where Tork is being held, a remake could give the
22:54 game's already impressive creature designs even greater detail and provide nightmares
22:59 for an entire new generation.
23:02 The gameplay itself and some story elements might need to be tweaked or updated, but the
23:07 core experience still holds up today alongside the likes of Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill
23:13 2.
23:14 A more up close, over the shoulder perspective and leaning more into the true horrors of
23:19 the environments and atmosphere paired with the game's already included insanity meter
23:25 could even help the title surpass the likes of the aforementioned classics, with each
23:30 demonic horror Tork encounters representing one of the many forms of execution within
23:35 the prison.
23:43 Burnout 3 - Takedown
23:56 Often imitated, but never duplicated, Burnout 3 is a game whose DNA is still felt in arcade
24:02 racing games almost two decades after release.
24:06 The perfect blend of speed and vehicular carnage, Burnout 3 was the culmination of what the
24:11 series had been building to and nailed every aspect of its varied gameplay.
24:17 Besides the standard racing events that saw you slam your opponents to gain the upper
24:21 hand as well as a much needed boost, the game featured the fan favorite Crash Mode, which
24:26 tasked players with creating as much financial damage as possible before their car becomes
24:31 nothing more than twisted metal.
24:34 Even with the series most successful entry taking Burnout Open World, Burnout 3 set not
24:39 only the bar for all future arcade racers, but the entire racing game genre that has
24:45 yet to be met even to this day.
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