Classic games don’t always age very well. While they mighty still play great, their low resolution and blocky sprites make the experience on an HDTV into a chore. Even if you grew up on games like Street Fighter II and Pac-Man, if you played them today on your nice, big HDTV you’re more likely to get sharp, stabby, headachey feelings than warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feelings. The low resolution of older video games simply don’t look very good on newer displays.
Fortunately, some of the greatest classics of yesteryear have been given new life thanks to updated graphics. With gorgeous HD visuals, remixed soundtracks in Dolby Digital, controls, you can enjoy classic titles while still taking full advantage of your cutting-edge home theater. Even if you’re not a dedicated gamer, these titles are a feast for the eyes and ears, and an enjoyable experience for anyone who plunked a quarter into an arcade machine.
Don’t worry about shelling out $60 for a decades-old game, though. Thanks to Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) and the Playstation Network (PSN), these titles can be downloaded in a few minutes, and only cost $5 to $15 each. If you have an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3, you could be playing these games in under 10 minutes. If you don’t, you might want to consider purchasing one even if you’re not a gamer; besides arcade classics, the Xbox 360 is a handy Windows Media Center Extender and can stream Netflix videos straight to your HDTV, and the Playstation 3 is one of the most popular Blu-ray Disc players on the market.
Screenshot for Prince of Persia Classic comes from Gamespot. Screenshots from the original versions of all games listed come from MobyGames. All other graphics provided by their respective games' developers/publishers.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (XBLA/PSN)
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It’s one of the first and still one of the best arcade fighting games around. Street Fighter II first hit arcades in 1991, and was soon followed by numerous console ports and upgrades. Super Street Fighter II Turbo was the last major version of the game, with the largest roster and most polished combat. Players could choose from 17 different fighters, ranging from karate masters Ken and Ryu to Russian strongman Zangief to psychic supervillain M. Bison. The game is over 25 years old and is still loved by gamers everywhere.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (or SSFIITHDR for “short”) takes the sterling gameplay of the original Super Street Fighter II Turbo and gives it a full-blown HD makeover. Every single sprite in the game was redrawn by Udon Entertainment, the publishers of the Japanese street fighter comics. These new sprites pack almost 5 times the resolution as the original games’ sprites, putting enormous detail into what were once pixilated blobs.
Music was given similar treatment, with the game’s classic soundtrack remixed by game tribute group OverClocked Remix. The new soundtrack, based on OC Remix’s tribute album Blood on the Asphalt, contains the works of 20 different gamer musicians putting their own spin on every fighter and level’s theme. Both the game’s soundtrack and the original Blood on the Asphalt albums are available to download for free at ocremix.com.
Besides the new look and sound, SSFIITHDR was kept nearly identical to its predecessor. Characters, moves, and gameplay mechanics were generally left untouched. Even the framerate is the same; the sprites were redrawn, but they weren’t given additional animations. Hardcore gamers, who have memorized frame counts of each move will find their decades-honed reflexes are still valid with this new title.
Bionic Commando Rearmed (XBLA/PSN)
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Capcom didn’t stop at SFIITHDR when it was handing out the high-def makeovers. The company also upgraded its side-scrolling classic Bionic Commando with impressive new graphics and sound. Instead of redrawn sprites, Bionic Commando Rearmed uses freshly modeled 3D graphics to give itself that next-gen shine. The old swing-and-shoot action of the original game stays intact, but with gorgeous, fluid, high-def graphics.
While it stays very close to the original Bionic Commando, Capcom wasn’t afraid to make some tweaks and refinements to the gameplay. Players could now use their bionic arm to grab and throw enemies and objects, adding a new set of strategies for getting through the levels. Boss battles and even some levels were completely redesigned, often to take advantage of the new mechanics. Capcom also added a series of challenge rooms, short levels often filled with remarkable difficult jumps and puzzles.
Capcom recently released a new Bionic Commando game, for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Unfortunately, this new Bionic Commando disappointed fans with its unforgiving difficulty curve, awkward controls, and bland, irritating level design. It seems like a polar opposite to its downloadable cousin; Bionic Commando Rearmed is a steal at $10 and stands up as one of the best examples of putting out a retro game on a modern console, while the new Bionic Commando demonstrates how not to make a sequel of a classic game.
Prince of Persia Classic (XBLA/PSN)
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Long ago in ancient Persia (and 20 years ago on the Apple II computer), a mysterious prince braved wicked death traps, clever puzzles, and skilled swordsmen to save a princess from a wicked vizier. Thanks to its flowing graphics and challenging gameplay, Prince of Persia became a hit and spawned numerous remakes and sequels.
When creating the original Prince of Persia, developer Jordan Mechner rotoscoped (a process in which animators trace over live-action movement) his brother David running and jumping to produce the game’s protagonist, the titular Prince. Even on the Apple II and with the system’s low resolution and extremely limited color palette, the Prince moved naturally thanks to the technique. He might have only been a handful of big, blocky pixels, but those pixels moved fluidly, and accurately reflected the real-life action of Mechner’s brother.
Times have changed, and rotoscoped sprites have given way to motion captured 3D models. Much like Bionic Commando Rearmed, Prince of Persia Classic takes the game upon which it’s based and gives it a complete graphical overhaul. The level design and gameplay remains extremely similar to the original, but every character, set piece, and background is modeled in 3D and rendered in high-definition.
The Prince himself also gets a makeover; instead of looking like David Mechner in a white onesie, he now looks like the protagonist from 2003’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, a sequel which itself has grown immensely popular because of its incredibly polished graphics and gameplay. Ironically, while this remake of the original Prince of Persia plays at 1080i, The Sands of Time (the next-gen sequel to the original) is only 480p. Of course, both are still fine, classic games, both are playable on the Xbox 360, and both can be downloaded or bought for around $10.
Pac-Man Championship Edition (Namco)
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When you want classic arcade gaming, look no further than Pac-Man. This yellow, dot-munching superstar has consumed more quarters than a thousand Laundromats, and helped raise an entire generation of gamers. Since it was released in 1980, the Pac-Man formula has remained essentially identical, and it’s worked. For three decades gamers have loved running around mazes, eating pixels and avoiding ghosts. Besides 1981’s Ms. Pac-Man, it simply hasn’t produced any sequels that came close to the original’s popularity and polish.
Enter 2007’s Pac-Man Championship Edition, a remake/sequel to the original Pac-Man that doesn’t just infuse it with gorgeous 720p graphics, but offers up some surprisingly compelling, updated gameplay. This time, the maze is a living, constantly-changing thing. No longer do players simply jump to the next level when they eat all the dots on the screen. Instead, the maze is split up into two halves, and when the dots on one half are consumed, it seamlessly morphs into a new configuration. This new gameplay mechanic doesn’t just ensure a smooth flow as the game progresses, but also adds a fantastic element of variety and excitement. No longer are levels laid out before you to inspect before you begin; now they change around you while you play.
The soundtrack has also been given an impressive overhaul. While Namco left the game’s classic beeps and bloops intact, it added some subwoofer-thumping electronic tracks to the playlist that compliment the new graphics. Now while you hear Pac-Man go “Wakka-wakka-wakka,” you’ll also hear the music go “Oontz-oontz-oontz.”
OutRun Online Arcade (XBLA/PSN)
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When most people hear the word “Sega,” they tend to think about a certain blue hedgehog. Years before the speedster named Sonic hit the scene, however, Sega released one of the first great arcade racing games, Out Run. Despite its meager 320 x 224 resolution, it managed to give players a feeling of real speed thanks to its behind-the-car perspective and fast framerate.
While it’s not a complete remake of the original game, OutRun Online Arcade captures the arcade classic’s speed in 720p high-def. Players can hop into the driver’s seat of 10 different Ferraris, and drive through 15 lush, colorful tracks. Up to 6 players can race against each other online, and a variety of game modes keep the racing action from getting stale.
There are plenty of great racing games available on the Xbox 360, but OutRun Online Arcade’s combination of downloadable convenience and fast-paced arcade-style racing makes it one of the best. At only $10, it’s a must-have for any fan of the 1986 classic racer, or anyone who simply likes to drive fast.
Lode Runner (XBLA)
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Yet another classic from the days of the Apple II, Lode Runner was a fun, exciting mixture of Pac-Man and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Armed with only a glorified shovel, players had to run and climb through tombs and ruins to get every last scrap of treasure, all while avoiding murderous guards.
Lode Runner has gotten several graphical makeovers over the years, but none have been as good-looking as the Xbox Live Arcade Lode Runner version, released last April. The original gameplay is left intact, but now features 3D graphics rendered in 1080i. This newest incarnation of Lode Runner sports a whopping 220 levels, a multiplayer mode, and even a level editor for entertaining and confounding your friends. Unfortunately for PS3 owners, this particular title is Xbox 360-only.