Remakes and remasters have become a constant thrum in the release schedule. It's easy to understand why. Reliable name recognition, a pre-established fanbase, and an already-designed game make for a smart investment. Yet, at the same time, it's a paradoxical approach that does a disservice to what makes gaming unique as a medium. Simply put, the games that need to be revisited and granted a second chance, the near-misses, are never the ones that get the opportunity.
Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite games in recent years have been remakes. I think Resident Evil 4 genuinely evolves the series' zombie-blasting combat loop with its impressive new knife. And the recent Silent Hill 2 is legitimately additive, with revisions of its iconic monsters inspiring true dread and its shaken up level designs giving new opportunities to feel lost in the fog. But even when I'm playing and loving them, I'm haunted by the feeling that we're missing out.
