Fan Remakes BETTER than the Originals | MojoPlays
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
WRITTEN BY: Ty Richardson
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we'll be looking at seven Fan Remakes Better Than the Originals! Not every legendary video game has aged well, not in all corners, at least. Luckily, when a studio neglects its IP we can count on fans like these to reintroduce them to the world with a fresh coat of paint.
Fan Remakes Better Than the Original
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’ll be looking at seven Fan Remakes Better Than the Originals! Not every legendary video game has aged well, not in all corners, at least. Luckily, when a studio neglects its IP we can count on fans like these to reintroduce them to the world with a fresh coat of paint.
“The Elder Scrolls Renewal: Skywind” (TBD)
Looking to revisit the older “Elder Scrolls” games while we wait for the next installment? Tired of beating “Skyrim” over and over again? Well, you might want to check out “Skywind”, a remake of “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind” that utilizes the Creation Engine. Under the banner “TESRenewal”, “Skywind” aims to rebuild “Morrowind” with newer assets and making it play a little more like “Skyrim”. The developers even plan to include original questlines to beef up the game’s content. We say “plan” because...well, the remake isn’t released yet. Although, what we’ve seen so far is absolutely stunning, and if you’re interested in lending a hand, they are looking for volunteers.
“GoldenEye: Source” (2010)
Due to legal and licensing agreements, its highly unlikely that we'll see "GoldenEye" return anytime soon. Luckily, there is still a way to play the N64 classic while having access to modern controls. Enter “GoldenEye: Source”, a perfectly recreated version of Rare’s FPS featuring online multiplayer, updated visuals, and additional maps based on various Bond films. Yes, even that cheat of a character Oddjob is included. What’s more impressive is how the visuals are balanced between being detailed and simplistic, making it feel like this is just a straight-up remaster. It’s going to be a looong time before we get an official 007 game, but at least we have this faithful remake to keep us occupied.
“The Dark Mod” (2013)
Since the lackluster 2014 reboot of “Thief”, it appears as though the franchise won’t be back for quite some time. Luckily, a small team known as Looking Glass Studios has created a free, open-source game that replicates the classic “Thief” gameplay we fell in love with two decades ago. “The Dark Mod” was originally a conversion mod for “Doom 3” before it became its own game in 2013, boasting hundreds of missions created by fans and continuous support from Looking Glass. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic or craving a good stealth game, “The Dark Mod” will do more than suffice!
“Black Mesa” (TBA)
Valve hasn’t exactly been keeping up appearances when it comes to software. While “Team Fortress 2” and “Portal” still look decent today, “Half-Life”, on the other hand, looks like a relic from the 90’s. However, you can play it with updated visuals and controls thanks to the people at Crowbar Collective, who not only made the game look prettier, but also added more to the game’s narrative. Valve was so impressed by Crowbar’s work that they actually allowed the team to sell the remake on Steam, which is somewhat surprising given how protective other companies tend to get, as we’ll see later on.
“Renegade X” (2009)
Aside from the mobile spin-off “Rivals”, “Command & Conquer: Renegade” was the most abysmal entry in the series, turning the strategy game into a shooter with incredibly stupid AI and a campaign that is about as heavily scripted as a sales associate begging you to sign up for the rewards club. Surprisingly, a small team known as Totem Arts was patient enough to go and clean up the mess, thus creating “Renegade X”. Originally posing as a mod for “Unreal Tournament 3”, “Renegade X” made the campaign more exciting before it went and amped up the multiplayer. What’s even more shocking is that EA encouraged Totem Arts instead of getting legal and filing DMCAs. Good on you, guys.
“Star Wars: Episode I - Racer Fan Game” (2018)
While “Mario Kart” and “Crash Team Racing” were dominating their respective consoles in the late 90’s, “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” was storming every platform at the time. Unfortunately, EA doesn’t seem to hold any interest for a “Star Wars” racing game. Although, audiences won’t be completely starved as one fan named Rob Jin as recreated the Tatooine track in Unreal 4. It may not be a full build with several tracks and playable characters missing, but the work displayed here is still impressive, from the detailed environments to the podracer’s animations.
“AM2R” (2016)
As if “Pokemon Uranium” wasn’t enough, another fan game was released and saw universal praise - “AM2R: The Return of Samus”. A remake of the original “Metroid II” on Game Boy, “AM2R” enhanced its official predecessor by including elements that were introduced in later titles such as a map system and mini-bosses. The level of detail was jaw-dropping, especially when you consider the entire game was built by one person named Milton Guasti. Sadly, all this work would fade away when Nintendo filed DMCA against Guasti, and Mario’s fortress would launch its own “Metroid II” remake in the following year. There was still a happy ending for Guasti; today, he’s working at Moon Studios as a level designer for “Ori and the Will of the Wisps”.
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’ll be looking at seven Fan Remakes Better Than the Originals! Not every legendary video game has aged well, not in all corners, at least. Luckily, when a studio neglects its IP we can count on fans like these to reintroduce them to the world with a fresh coat of paint.
“The Elder Scrolls Renewal: Skywind” (TBD)
Looking to revisit the older “Elder Scrolls” games while we wait for the next installment? Tired of beating “Skyrim” over and over again? Well, you might want to check out “Skywind”, a remake of “The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind” that utilizes the Creation Engine. Under the banner “TESRenewal”, “Skywind” aims to rebuild “Morrowind” with newer assets and making it play a little more like “Skyrim”. The developers even plan to include original questlines to beef up the game’s content. We say “plan” because...well, the remake isn’t released yet. Although, what we’ve seen so far is absolutely stunning, and if you’re interested in lending a hand, they are looking for volunteers.
“GoldenEye: Source” (2010)
Due to legal and licensing agreements, its highly unlikely that we'll see "GoldenEye" return anytime soon. Luckily, there is still a way to play the N64 classic while having access to modern controls. Enter “GoldenEye: Source”, a perfectly recreated version of Rare’s FPS featuring online multiplayer, updated visuals, and additional maps based on various Bond films. Yes, even that cheat of a character Oddjob is included. What’s more impressive is how the visuals are balanced between being detailed and simplistic, making it feel like this is just a straight-up remaster. It’s going to be a looong time before we get an official 007 game, but at least we have this faithful remake to keep us occupied.
“The Dark Mod” (2013)
Since the lackluster 2014 reboot of “Thief”, it appears as though the franchise won’t be back for quite some time. Luckily, a small team known as Looking Glass Studios has created a free, open-source game that replicates the classic “Thief” gameplay we fell in love with two decades ago. “The Dark Mod” was originally a conversion mod for “Doom 3” before it became its own game in 2013, boasting hundreds of missions created by fans and continuous support from Looking Glass. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic or craving a good stealth game, “The Dark Mod” will do more than suffice!
“Black Mesa” (TBA)
Valve hasn’t exactly been keeping up appearances when it comes to software. While “Team Fortress 2” and “Portal” still look decent today, “Half-Life”, on the other hand, looks like a relic from the 90’s. However, you can play it with updated visuals and controls thanks to the people at Crowbar Collective, who not only made the game look prettier, but also added more to the game’s narrative. Valve was so impressed by Crowbar’s work that they actually allowed the team to sell the remake on Steam, which is somewhat surprising given how protective other companies tend to get, as we’ll see later on.
“Renegade X” (2009)
Aside from the mobile spin-off “Rivals”, “Command & Conquer: Renegade” was the most abysmal entry in the series, turning the strategy game into a shooter with incredibly stupid AI and a campaign that is about as heavily scripted as a sales associate begging you to sign up for the rewards club. Surprisingly, a small team known as Totem Arts was patient enough to go and clean up the mess, thus creating “Renegade X”. Originally posing as a mod for “Unreal Tournament 3”, “Renegade X” made the campaign more exciting before it went and amped up the multiplayer. What’s even more shocking is that EA encouraged Totem Arts instead of getting legal and filing DMCAs. Good on you, guys.
“Star Wars: Episode I - Racer Fan Game” (2018)
While “Mario Kart” and “Crash Team Racing” were dominating their respective consoles in the late 90’s, “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” was storming every platform at the time. Unfortunately, EA doesn’t seem to hold any interest for a “Star Wars” racing game. Although, audiences won’t be completely starved as one fan named Rob Jin as recreated the Tatooine track in Unreal 4. It may not be a full build with several tracks and playable characters missing, but the work displayed here is still impressive, from the detailed environments to the podracer’s animations.
“AM2R” (2016)
As if “Pokemon Uranium” wasn’t enough, another fan game was released and saw universal praise - “AM2R: The Return of Samus”. A remake of the original “Metroid II” on Game Boy, “AM2R” enhanced its official predecessor by including elements that were introduced in later titles such as a map system and mini-bosses. The level of detail was jaw-dropping, especially when you consider the entire game was built by one person named Milton Guasti. Sadly, all this work would fade away when Nintendo filed DMCA against Guasti, and Mario’s fortress would launch its own “Metroid II” remake in the following year. There was still a happy ending for Guasti; today, he’s working at Moon Studios as a level designer for “Ori and the Will of the Wisps”.
