Video game remasters are very common these days. They enable studios to release their games on newer systems in a more attention-grabbing manner, rather than simply porting them over. Unlike remakes, remasters aren’t usually too different from the original. There may be a few alterations and possibly some quality-of-life changes. However, the main things that change are the visuals.
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Developers typically attempt to improve the graphics by making use of the power of the new system on which they’re releasing the game. This doesn’t always work, though. Sometimes, the visuals even end up being worse. Here are some examples.
8 Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection
The Ezio Collection contains remasters of Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations. When it was released, it received plenty of criticism for some of the models of the background characters, as they looked strange and unrealistic.
Yet, the background models aren’t the only visual issues in the collection. The main characters also have a few problems. Some faces and outfits appear lighter or darker than they should be. This makes the little details harder to notice, and the models look more unnatural as a result.
7 Life Is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection
Life is Strange doesn’t opt for realistic visuals; instead, they’re more comic-like. So, realism isn’t the aim of the remastered versions of the first two games, either. In fact, it isn’t clear what the aim of the remasters is. It seems the developers just lowered the brightness, as everything seems darker.
The downside of this is that some things look a bit too dark. Characters’ hair is particularly problematic, as the extra darkness means you can’t notice the smaller details anymore. There are also several lighting and shadow issues. These aren’t huge problems, but it does make the remasters seem like a downgrade.
6 Final Fantasy 5 (Mobile Version)
The mobile and Steam versions of Final Fantasy 5 made a few adjustments to the original game. One of those was a tweak to the art style. The developers effectively de-pixelated the graphics.
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As a result, the character models are a lot smoother and clean-looking. This doesn’t sound bad, but the new graphics took something away from the classic look. There is a certain charm to the pixelated visuals, as shown when they returned in the more popular Pixel Remaster version of the game.
5 Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition
Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition isn’t the worst remaster of all time, but it’s hardly the best remaster, either. The visuals look almost identical to the original version, except it seems the developers have upped the contrast.
This has created a brighter, yet more washed-out, visual style. It isn’t a huge problem, but it is noticeable, particularly during scenes that are supposed to happen at night, as they don’t feel as dark as they’re supposed to. It also ruins some of the shadow effects.
4 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
The Grand Theft Auto Definitive Edition is a collection containing GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. The games had a lot of issues upon release, not just the visuals.
That said, the graphics did come in for some criticism as well. Instead of aiming for realism like the original versions seemed to do, the remasters have a more cartoony art style that doesn’t quite suit the Grand Theft Auto series. Specific character models, in particular, look poor, and overall, the collection isn’t a graphical improvement over the originals.
3 Crysis Remastered
The original Crysis was once known as one of the best-looking games out there. Naturally, the game was released in 2007, so it doesn’t hold up against the most graphically impressive games out there today. However, it is still better than the 2020 remaster of the game.
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This is mainly down to the character models in cutscenes. The faces in the remaster look odd and less detailed for some reason. This lack of detail is also seen in bits of the environment.
2 Silent Hill HD Collection
The Silent Hill HD Collection contains the remastered versions of Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3. Both remasters have some graphical problems. One of the most famous aspects is the lack of fog in Silent Hill 2. You are supposed to spend the game wandering through the fog into the unknown, but much of the fog is gone.
What is also lost in these remasters are some of the smaller details that can be seen in the original games. Little cracks in walls and unique textures are missing, making the place feel a little less real and run-down. Additionally, the shadows are inconsistent, and the foliage is unappealing.
1 Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered
There are several visual improvements in Assassin’s Creed 3 remastered compared to the original. For instance, the lighting and shadows are often better. However, there are also some significant problems. For starters, the vegetation and foliage look blander and less detailed.
More importantly, though, what is going on with the characters’ faces? They all look like they’re made out of plastic, especially compared to the originals. It seems the lighting and shadows only look good outside of cutscenes, as they certainly play a part in making the faces look odd. One of the best Assassin’s Creed games ever deserves better than this remaster.
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