Which Iconic Arcade Racing Games Deserve To Be Remastered?
This post comes in light of Burnout Paradise being Remastered for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Rumours have been circulating about 2008 hit arcade racer making a comeback, but EA has confirmed the Burnout Franchise making its way onto current-gen platforms in March 2018.
So what makes Burnout Paradise so special? It took what made the series great, including fast paced action and immense vehicle carnage, and placed it into the ultimate open world playground. It also had a very unique approach to multiplayer with Freeburn Challenges in which players would collaborate to complete quirky challenges. The title offered so much variety from launch, and that was enhanced even further with the downloadable content packs, all of which are included in the remaster.
If the reaction of the public is anything to go by, fans are very excited and eager to relive their moments from one of the best racing games from the last decade. So what is stopping other developers from cashing in on the same strategy? Here are four games which I think will benefit from being remastered as much as Burnout Paradise, perhaps even more so.
Midnight Club Los Angeles
At one stage, there were rumours about a new Midnight Club title in the works, although it was never made clear whether it was a remaster or a reboot. Whatever it ends up being, I'll take it! Los Angeles marked a new direction in the series - Rather than taking place in multiple locations, this title had one location, but it featured more detail and variety than any other game before it. It was also presented in Rockstar's Advanced Gaming Engine for that extra sparkle and featured a soundtrack with over a 100 tracks spanning over multiple genres. And of course, customisation was king in this game. If you could see anything on your car, chances are there were a few ways you could alter it. That includes the interior!
Test Drive Unlimited
It has been touted as a game that was ahead of its time, and for good reason. Let's start off with the map - It was massive and such a delightful environment to drive in. The presentation was spot on, the graphics and sound made it truly feel like a driving paradise. There was also the MMO aspect, with the ability to buy garages and accessories for your driving avatar. Some of the fit and finish let TDU down, but it was a very demanding title for last-gen consoles to run. Perhaps on modern technology, we would be able to see TDU become the game it was always meant to be!
Blur
I never actually got the chance to play Blur, which means a remastered version of this game would be an amazing way to experience it first hand. When the Developers of Project Gotham Racing introduced a new style of racing game which involved power ups, there was a mixed reception but when it was released, concerns about Bizarre Creations pulling off this action-racing title were put to bed and those who played it have many fond stories to tell.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the sales success it was meant to be. Not only was it released around the same period as Red Dead Redemption, it has two other critically-acclaimed racing games to compete with, releasing in the same week! Nevertheless, a remastered version of Blur would see the game achieve the sales figures it truly deserved.
And now for an unusual choice...
Need For Speed ProStreet
Now bear with me because I am aware this is an unusual choice for a number of reasons. If any Need For Speed title was to be remastered, Most Wanted 2005 or an Underground game would be at the top of the wishlist for most people. What's crucial about ProStreet compared to Underground or Most Wanted is that it has not aged as much compared to the other two titles. The festival-like setting has hints of Forza Horizon, GRID and even the upcoming off-road racer Gravel. The adoption of car customisation, a cheesy storyline and accessible physics also made ProStreet perfect for those wanting to get into track racing games without losing the charisma of the preceeding street racing games in the franchise.
So what makes Burnout Paradise so special? It took what made the series great, including fast paced action and immense vehicle carnage, and placed it into the ultimate open world playground. It also had a very unique approach to multiplayer with Freeburn Challenges in which players would collaborate to complete quirky challenges. The title offered so much variety from launch, and that was enhanced even further with the downloadable content packs, all of which are included in the remaster.
If the reaction of the public is anything to go by, fans are very excited and eager to relive their moments from one of the best racing games from the last decade. So what is stopping other developers from cashing in on the same strategy? Here are four games which I think will benefit from being remastered as much as Burnout Paradise, perhaps even more so.
Midnight Club Los Angeles
At one stage, there were rumours about a new Midnight Club title in the works, although it was never made clear whether it was a remaster or a reboot. Whatever it ends up being, I'll take it! Los Angeles marked a new direction in the series - Rather than taking place in multiple locations, this title had one location, but it featured more detail and variety than any other game before it. It was also presented in Rockstar's Advanced Gaming Engine for that extra sparkle and featured a soundtrack with over a 100 tracks spanning over multiple genres. And of course, customisation was king in this game. If you could see anything on your car, chances are there were a few ways you could alter it. That includes the interior!
Test Drive Unlimited
It has been touted as a game that was ahead of its time, and for good reason. Let's start off with the map - It was massive and such a delightful environment to drive in. The presentation was spot on, the graphics and sound made it truly feel like a driving paradise. There was also the MMO aspect, with the ability to buy garages and accessories for your driving avatar. Some of the fit and finish let TDU down, but it was a very demanding title for last-gen consoles to run. Perhaps on modern technology, we would be able to see TDU become the game it was always meant to be!
Blur
I never actually got the chance to play Blur, which means a remastered version of this game would be an amazing way to experience it first hand. When the Developers of Project Gotham Racing introduced a new style of racing game which involved power ups, there was a mixed reception but when it was released, concerns about Bizarre Creations pulling off this action-racing title were put to bed and those who played it have many fond stories to tell.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the sales success it was meant to be. Not only was it released around the same period as Red Dead Redemption, it has two other critically-acclaimed racing games to compete with, releasing in the same week! Nevertheless, a remastered version of Blur would see the game achieve the sales figures it truly deserved.
And now for an unusual choice...
Need For Speed ProStreet
Now bear with me because I am aware this is an unusual choice for a number of reasons. If any Need For Speed title was to be remastered, Most Wanted 2005 or an Underground game would be at the top of the wishlist for most people. What's crucial about ProStreet compared to Underground or Most Wanted is that it has not aged as much compared to the other two titles. The festival-like setting has hints of Forza Horizon, GRID and even the upcoming off-road racer Gravel. The adoption of car customisation, a cheesy storyline and accessible physics also made ProStreet perfect for those wanting to get into track racing games without losing the charisma of the preceeding street racing games in the franchise.
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