I think this came up on an earlier episode and I didn’t comment on it, but I’m not sure I agree with Frank’s delineation between “remaster” and “remake.” I mean, given his definition of remaster (uses all the original art assets but renders them at a higher resolution), wouldn’t that Final Fantasy VIII remaster actually be a remake, because all the character models were replaced with more detailed versions?
I don’t think it should be! It’s still basically the same game. But it’s absolutely not just the original game running at a higher resolution.
I will argue we actually need THREE categories:
A Remake is any game which introduces new art assets AND significantly changes the level design and/or mechanics of the original game, but retains the basic story or scenario. Examples: Resident Evil 2 Remake, Metroid: Zero Mission, Tomb Raider: Anniversary. (Film Equivalent: Peter Jackson’s King Kong)
A Remaster is any game which introduces new art assets (or completely overhauls the visuals altogether), but retains a majority of the original level design and game mechanics, optionally with minor tweaks or quality of life improvements to make it more palatable for modern tastes. Examples: Demon’s Souls, Crash Bandicoot or Spyro remake trilogies, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. (Film Equivalent: Gus Van Sant’s Psycho)
An Enhanced Port (remember when we used to use this?) is what I would call what Frank described as a remaster - the original game, original assets intact, just playing at an enhanced resolution and/or framerate. Examples: The Ico/Shadow of the Colossus PS3 port, Bluepoint’s Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. (Film Equivalent: A 4K restoration of any classic film)