A good remaster can do a lot of good in the world of gaming, especially if it releases during a lull period in the year. That’s certainly not the case for two of the biggest remasters of 2025, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, considering that Ghost of Yotei followed soon after. Release windows aside, there are a certain number of aspects that each remaster should have at launch.
Price is worth mentioning too. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is $50, which feels about right for a remaster, while Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a bit steep at $70. Hitting that right number can get more fans and new players onboard. Beyond price, the following features will make fans and new players more appreciative of the re-releases. They seem like no-brainers for each given genre, but not every developer is as forward-thinking. Here are some reminders.
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Fast-Forward And Rewinding
Getting Through The Tedium
When it comes to RPGs, fast-forwarding buttons are usually a given. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is one recent example, and a majority of the PS1 Final Fantasy games that got remasters have a fast-forward function as well.
For RPGs, the ability to auto-battle with a fast-forward function would be good too, which The Ivalice Chronicles also has. Rewind functionality is a bit rarer and typically comes enclosed in non-RPGs. Rare Replay is one big example that collected tons of classic Rare games like Battletoads, and being able to rewind through difficult levels was a huge plus.
Difficulty Modes (If There Weren’t Any Before)
Make It Easier For Newbies
Remasters are great for fans who grew up with a game and have not been able to access it for years. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a good example again, and it was notorious for being a hard-as-nails tactical RPG without easy difficulty options.
Thankfully, the remaster added difficulty levels, and other games that didn’t start with difficulties should follow this example with their remasters too. Easier modes could help attract new players, while the addition of harder levels could help cater to more hardcore players.
Tweaking Gameplay Or Adding Lost Content
Give Old Fans Something Enticing
Being able to play an old game legally is half the thrill of a remaster, especially after waiting a decade or more. However, it’s even better if the developers go all in on the remaster and decide to change up gameplay or add new content.
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Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a good recent example, as so much of that game’s combat was changed, it was almost like a remake. The core game was mostly the same, but it played like a more modern Shin Megami Tensei game. As another example, .hack//G.U. Last Recode added a fourth game to the original trilogy, albeit a smaller one, but it was still pretty astounding for a remaster.
Switching Between Graphics
For 1:1 Remasters
The hope for any remaster is to get additional content, but sometimes the core idea is just to make the game prettier. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a good example, as it is a 1:1 remaster of the first game. At any point, players can switch back to the original graphics, albeit changed a bit to look smoother.
A more recent example is Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, which also lets players swap between graphical modes. It’s cool to see the comparisons with just a touch of a button instead of going to a YouTube comparison video.
Adding Voices To Text-Based Dialogue
Listen!
Most games before the PS2 generation only had text-based dialogue. The better the console technology, the more developers were able to put on the discs. To bring up The Ivalice Chronicles again, this recent remaster added fully voiced dialogue to the entire game, which is not an easy feat.
It’s all well-acted too, which is a huge plus. So, where applicable and achievable, getting new voice talent would be a big help. It's something Capcom should have considered when they released the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy.
Switching Encounters For RPGs
Get Rid Of Tedium
Random encounters in RPGs lasted up until the PS3 generation, surprisingly, and there are even some examples after. Going into battle without any sort of indication of what’s approaching is a chore that some games smartly did away with, including the groundbreaking Chrono Trigger.
For remasters, some games include an option allowing players to toggle random encounters on or off, like in Final Fantasy 7, which is a brilliant idea. In The Ivalice Chronicles, players can now decide when they want to fight on map icons and when they simply want to travel. These are two great examples of two great RPGs that many RPG developers getting into remasters should follow.
Getting Extras
In This Case, More Is Better
Finally, a remaster should be a celebration of that game or series. If there are multiple games in a series, it makes sense to remaster several in a collection, like Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, instead of being greedy and re-releasing them individually over time.
These remasters should also include extras like old trailers, commercials, magazine ads, box art, interviews, and more. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a good example, as it includes so much TMNT content beyond the games. Digital Eclipse, in general, is an example of a developer who is very good at this sort of marketing.
