Summary
New and exciting ideas are always being implemented into the horror genre, but classic titles keep getting remade. One of the reasons developers keep going back to the past is because many of these huge titles changed the industry when they originally launched, and it’s exciting to see how the boundaries of what’s possible years later can offer new experiences that couldn’t be implemented before.
Finding new ways to approachterrifying jump scaresor enhancing the animation or visuals of a plethora of nightmarish creatures and locations will forever be something to fascinate those who adore such a thrilling genre. Remakes are here to stay, and with so many horrors ripe for improvement on modern platforms, there will always be opportunities to re-envision a classic or two.
It may not have been the game everyone wanted, but it’s hard to deny just how much of an improvementAlone in the Darkwas on the original.With excellent performancesfrom leading actors David Harbour and Jodie Comer, the search for the entity known as the Dark Man continued to impress.
There were some impressive scenes involving all the odd characters, but it was the unraveling of the mysteries surrounding Dark Man that led to the scariest moments within the story. Decerto Manor is filled with smart puzzles and bizarre locations, never allowing the player to find comfort in the quieter moments.
Rebuilt inUnreal Engine 5,Layers of Fearis a visual delight that manages to make all the unnerving psychological elements of its story more immersive. Ray tracing and 4K resolution now brings everything to life in new and exciting ways, whether in its twisting hallways, ever-changing rooms, creepy mannequins, or unsettling dialogue.
There are jump scares, but what is most remarkable is how environments shift seamlessly within the confines the new technology provides. Alongside these enhancements to the way it looks, there are new story beats to thread the narrative together across the whole game, giving players an experience that changes how it was originally released.
WhenSystem Shockwas released in 1994, it was considered a game-changer within the horror genre. Set on board a Citadel Stationrun by a psychopathic AIknown as SHODAN, the remake manages to change everything about how it looked and played thanks to HD visuals and overhauled gameplay, yet still keeps what made it unsettling in the first place.
Battling rogue cyborgs and deformed creatures is part of the struggle of trying to stop the destruction of humanity, but hearing the creepy commands of SHODAN throughout makes it so unnerving. Learning the depths of depravity she has sunk to in order to twist these former crew mates to do her bidding makes surviving even more challenging.
2003’sFatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterflybrought new life to the survival horror genre, butProject Zero 2: Wii Editiontakes the original and remakes it into something truly terrifying. A paranormal scarefest is made even more unsettling thanks to the Camera Obscura mechanic, which sees players use the Wii controller to bust the ghosts.
As Mio searches for her sister in Minakami Village, she has to defeat ghosts by taking pictures of them with her camera, and when viewing them through the lens, these apparitions take many horrid forms. On top of the intuitive controls, it also included a mode called ‘Haunted House’ where players have to hold the controller still while being surprised by various spirits.
AlongsideSilent Hill, the original release ofResident Evilis considered one of the most influential survival horror titles of all time. In 2015, Capcom released an HD remaster that brought the original into the present, with a higher resolution and improved graphics. Seeing thosedogs jump through the windowhas never been more terrifying.
It’s hard to argue about the impact this series has had on video games, and this remake manages to retain the anxiety-inducing set pieces and creepy character designs. It still holds up thanks to impressive puzzles and an atmosphere filled with chilling encounters across multiple areas of the Spencer Mansion.
There are seldom settings more scary than actual hell, and the 2016 remake ofDoombrings heart-pounding action and sublime visuals to a wonderfully crafted world. Compared to the original, it’s a drastic improvement that throws satanic imagery and rivers of gore at the player and refuses to slow down for a second.
The fluidity of movement and gunplay works perfectly in sync, and thanks to a variety of enemies, there are always fun and exciting ways to kill them, whether obliterating them with a shotgun blast to the chest or ripping their limbs clean off their bodies. Visually and mechanically, Bethesda’s re-imagining is remarkable in every way.
It had been some time since the world got a good survival horror, but in 2008,Dead Spaceleft its mark on the genre. In 2023, EA rebuilt the classic from the ground up and gave audiences a brand-new way to experience the story of Isaac Clarke and the horrors that awaited him on board the USG Ishimura.
The stunning remake brings a new level of strategy to how Isaac kills enemies thanks to precision shots that target specific body parts. The layout of the ship changed to encourage taking new routes through the Ishimura, and enemies respawn in different places upon the protagonist’s death, meaning no playthrough is the same.
The remake ofResident Evil 2was so impressive when it released in 2019. Not only is it a complete rebuild of the original, it makes full use of the RE Engine to breathe new life into the critically acclaimed survival horror, with photorealistic visuals that show off the RCPD and the rest of Raccoon City in a new light.
The over-the-shoulder viewpoint and tight controls allow for more concise gameplay, and the way thezombie’s hideous appearanceglistens fiendishly under the improved lighting all add to its appeal. Witnessing Leon and Claire’s story with better visuals and enhanced controls makes it a true spectacle within the genre.
Improving onThe Last of Us Remasteredseemed impossible, but Naughty Dog did just that withThe Last of Us Part 1. It offers even better visuals alongside some impressive accessibility options, giving even more players the chance to experience Joel and Ellie’s journey across America.
Whether escaping from clickers in an abandoned museum or embarking on a rescue attempt during a snowstorm, the remake provides even more detail in the most harrowing of moments thanks to impressive 4K resolution, but it’s the facial animations that make everyheart-wrenching sceneeven more poignant.
It’s no surprise that Capcom keeps remakingResident Evilgames. At their core, they tell exciting stories focused on the Umbrella Corporation and the evolution of the T-Virus, but they’re also fun to play. 2023’sResident Evil 4felt like a dramatic improvement on the original, and not just in its stellar visuals.
Moving around and taking aim at incoming enemies is fluid but also easy to do, meaning you never have to break immersion to dodge or run away. While ammo can still be in short supply, switching between weapons is easy as well. What makes it even better, however, is the incredible detail and atmosphere in the fictional Eastern European location.
