7 HD Collections That Need to be Released
The games industry is known for playing it safe, rehashing the same formula again and again and many felt it had reached its apex with the constant conveyor belt of HD Collections released for both the 360 and PS3. They are wrong: with the Ratchet and Clank Trilogy just around the corner, here’s 7 HD Collections that need to be remade and remastered.
Spyro HD (The first three Spyro the Dragon games and Enter the Dragonfly)
Spyro is often downplayed as a popular series as it was overawed by counterparts from Rare, Nintendo and even on the PlayStation console where it made its name. The first three Spyro games are benchmarks in showing how to create games that are both fun for kids and adults alike. The catchy soundtrack, madcap characters and imaginative locations all added to the fun as you went around headbutting chests and skateboarding as everyone’s favourite purple dragon. A facelift would do the environments a world of good; it can also add exposure to the increasingly prevalent Spyro brand.
Crash Collection (The first three Crash Bandicoot games, Crash Bash and Crash Team Racing)
Crash has had a rough time of it this generation, his games seemingly not suited to a world where shooters rule and platformers perish. The Crash series had felt stale, admittedly, even at the end of the original PlayStation’s shelf life but the formula was tight, rewarding and challenging for completionists. With Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank both being remastered in HD it seems a logical step- especially with the PlayStation All Stars game on the horizon- to release this mammoth package. Crash Bash and Crash Team Racing having online play included would be the cherry on top of a very sweet cake.
Kingdom Hearts Collection (1, 2 and Birth By Sleep)
Kingdom Hearts 3 is never, ever being released. Ever*. So whilst you mope into your Mickey Mouse themed pillow you can at least play through the PlayStation 2 classics whilst also exploring the oft-ignored PSP spin-off. No other game on this list is better placed for HD visuals to be plastered all over it. The magical worlds of Neverland and the 100 Acre Wood would look fantastic in HD and would be enough reason alone to play through these classics.
*It’s coming out one day. We promise.
Oddworld HD (Abe’s Oddysee, Abe’s Exoddus and Munch’s Oddysee)
We’re slightly cheating with this one as an Oddworld HD collection has been mooted for months and the first game (Oddysee for the uninitiated) is currently in development at Just Add Water. Later games deviated from the trusted formula but the first two PlayStation games were works of anarchic, madcap genius that hasn’t been replicated since. You control Abe the Mudokon has he sets out on liberating his co-workers through a series of increasingly difficult puzzles. This was making gamers laugh whilst simultaneously making their head hurt years before Portal came along. This is a dark game, too, with the gallows humour being able to translate well with a makeover.
Ape Escape Collection (1, 2 and 3)
Whilst we’re on the topic of series that have derailed since their heyday, Ape Escape is ripe for the picking when it comes to transforming tired-looking games into something fresh. The first game’s selling point was its use of the analogue stick to catch monkeys. This intuitive control scheme still feels natural now but the graphics don’t. A spruce and a shine here and there would make the first game playable again. The latter two would only need a slight touch up and the inclusion of online minigames (Monkey Football we’re looking at you) would be something almost impossible to pass up.
Grand Theft Auto Collection (III, Liberty City Stories, Vice City, Vice City Stories and San Andreas)
Does this need explaining? Five of the finest games to ever grace consoles (and handhelds, lest we forget) would only improve with a graphical overhaul. Now, graphics aren’t the be all and end all of a game but, GTA III in particular, is looking dated and many gamers didn’t get their hands on the ‘Stories’ spin offs which were almost as good as the main games in their own right. I wouldn’t envy the team in charge of this (hence why it is unlikely to ever grace store shelves) but it would be one hell of an appetiser before GTA V hits.
The Timeplitters Collection (1, 2 and 3)
A simple math equation: 150 madcap characters (including monkeys, robots and clowns) + the creators of Goldeneye + Tight shooting mechanics + HD graphics + online gameplay = $$$
Crytek have been discussing this openly over the past few months and it would be a crime to see such a good series go to waste. Free Radical is mostly dead and buried but this needn’t be. Additional challenges could be made available through DLC and, if costs need to be cut, the lacklustre third effort could be thrown out to make way for the critically acclaimed second in the series to take centre stage.
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Well, there you have it, seven HD collections that would look good on anyone’s shelf. What HD Collections would you like to see (if any) and are HD Collections really the right way to play the classics or should you just play the original? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
