We all have our favorite games old games. And we'd love to see them remade with the latest technology. That feeling of nostalgia combined with the latest greatest game engines is something most gamers long for on some level.
However, most gamers also feel that there is a great lack of original titles in gaming. Especially when most games are just sequels of previous games, licensed titles, or sequels of previous licensed titles. So when wanting an old title to be remade, it perpetuates the lack of originality.
Doom 3 is really just a remake of Doom. It has that feeling of nostalgia combined with the latest greatest game engine. And while it sold well, it's pretty evident the gameplay was as advanced as Doom. Most old school gamers were probably not expecting the remake to be that true to the original. They were probably expecting the gameplay to be somewhat elevated beyond id's previous titles.
Remaking a game that is both nostalgic and innovative is a very difficult balance. How to you keep a game true to the original while still giving the player something different?
I believe the answer lies in movies. There are remakes of old movies which still give the feeling of nostalgia and maintain their own uniqueness. Scarface is a good example this. It case you're wondering, it was done in 1932. Seven years before another classic remake, Wizard of Oz. This was redone from the 1925 version. Not only are these movies more popular than the originals, but they also better quality movies.
One thing that makes these two big improvements over there originals is the amount of detail put into the remade stories, the characters where more stereotypical than the originals. Yes, even the Wizard of Oz. Like the 'The Fly' remade different! Another point which makes the remake superior is the updated story. Certain things just didn't make sense in the originals when the remakes were done. The stories had to be updated to connect better with the audience. The final difference is that the talent in these movies simply tops the original across the board. Granted technology may have a factor a few categories. But things acting were just flat out trumped.
The key now is to apply these points when remaking a game in order to avoid us gamers getting remakes more a kin to 'Lost in Space' or 'Planet of the Apes'.
