Video Game Reboots

The topic of video game reboots has been a long-requested one for me. I see them constantly. Not just here at IndieGala. But yeah. I must admit, this particular article has been inspired by one such reboot. I’m talking about the Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters. The latest project from the Warhammer universe. And the latest project from Frontier Developments and Complex Games.

The game is about to be released in May of this year, but yeah. We do have a pre-purchase order on it right now. Just click here and get it while it’s hot. And it’s not like we haven’t written about the Warhammer universe. I did last year and from two totally different aspects. The celebrity fans of the Warhammer universe (there are a lot of them). And I did a review of the animated movie. Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 which you can read here.

Video Game Reboots

Video Game Reboots: Yes, Daemonhunters Is One Of Them

As we mentioned earlier, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a reboot. And a reboot of the 1998 game Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate. A turn-based strategy video game set in the gothic science fiction backdrop of the Games Workshop game system Warhammer 40,000.

Lead humanity’s greatest weapon, the Grey Knights, against the corrupting forces of Chaos in this brutal and fast-paced turn-based tactical RPG. Root out and put a stop to an insidious plot to infect the galaxy with the Bloom, an intergalactic cosmic plague capable of rotting worlds into oblivion.

Armored in faith, shielded by devotion, the Grey Knights’ very existence is rooted in mystery, enforced with mind-wipes and executions. Experience life in the 41st millennium and follow the journey of these elite warriors in a narrative penned by acclaimed Black Library author, Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

Of course, you can pre-purchase Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters with a single click here. Don’t miss out on it.

But before we dive into the delightful world of reboots, it’s best to first differentiate what is a reboot, remake and remaster?

Video Game Reboots VS Remakes VS Remasters

Let’s start with the reboots. Video Game Reboots that is. When a game is rebooted, designers take elements from a previous game series and essentially start it over again. There are usually big changes to characters, settings, or the overall story. For instance, the 2016 game Doom was a reboot of the 1993 FPS game. It completely updated the graphics, as well as added more depth to the game’s storyline and gameplay elements.

In a remake, game developers attempt to completely rebuild the game from its original form, updating it technically as well as making it more playable for a newer generation. The main concepts of the game, such as the characters, plotlines, and settings, all tend to stay the same within a remake. And what about the remastered games? Well, While a remake tends to focus on reworking the technical and performance aspects of a game, a remaster is generally made to look good on newer devices, and update the game to different resolutions like HD.

Video Game Reboots

And What About The Reception Among The Fans?

Well, as one Redditor said it…. „It seems to me like the number of reboots and remakes we’re seeing is increasing every year. Considering how well they are doing financially leads me to believe this trend will continue for the foreseeable future“. That turned out to be the case. But despite being a financial cash grab for the video game publishers, what’s the reputation of reboots among fans?

Look, I come from the movie industry. And I’m very well aware of how reboots are perceived among the fans. They’re not favorites let’s just leave it at that. Especially the reboots where there’s a gender mix of the roles. For instance, Ocean’s Eight or the 2016’s Ghostbusters movie.

And for so long I was dying to know how are things in that department. But in the video game industry, instead of the film industry. 

Love Them Or Hate Them? It’s Up To You

It’s pretty much the sentiment yeah. And I found many conflicting stories of acceptance and dismissal. Some fans are warier and reserved when it comes to reboots. While others are more accepting. And frankly one of the best arguments I came across that favors them is actually from a supposedly older Redditors/gamers.

To be honest, I think this is a great thing for games. Unlike other mediums, games are heavily bound to technology. There are things we can do now that literally could not be done in the past, things that I bet many designers wish they could have done. I believe remakes give a great way for game designers to complete and integrate their initial ideas.

Video Game Reboots

Moreover, games are a fairly new medium. There’s been a lot of innovation in ideas and techniques in a fairly short period of time. With remakes, developers can unitize this new knowledge to improve on their past ideas. Lastly, game preservation has been unfortunately lacking. There are still many classic games stuck on past-gen hardware and while remakes won’t give a 100% authentic feeling of how those games were in the past, they will allow these ideas to be carried on into the future for more players.

I Can’t Argue With It Really! But The Opposition Disagrees.

Yes. On the other hand, those who hate the reboots argue that it’s all show and no tell. 90% of remakes, reboots and remasters are not done by the original developers. There’s no fulfillment of the true intention behind the work given newer technology. It’s a superficial enhancement done by randoms that often fails to improve on the core of the work, and may also replace the original in the modern landscape. The gaming industry loves erasing its history, which is bad enough on its own but combining it with how many re-whatever are downgraded in one or more ways, it’s contemptible.

But Which Are Some Of The Best Video Game Reboots?

Well, there are plenty to name in both brackets. And bear in mind that each mention in the best and worst reboot sections is highly subjective. What you find to be the best, can be the opposite for the person next to you. And vice-versa.

So in the best-rebooted video games reboots we’d put Duke Nukem Forever (which we do have here at IndieGala). Next, there’s the 2011 Mortal Kombat Reboot. And the Resident Evil 7. Also known as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and yes. We also have it, available for purchase here at IndieGala. And you know which awesome reboot we also have? XCom: Enemy Unknown. Get it here.

But what about the not-so-great reboots? Who are they? Well, gain… All is subjective but Alone In The Dark Should Be on the list. It’s available for purchase here at IndieGala too. Castlevania: Lords Of Shadows is available for purchase as well (here), and so is Contra: Rogue Corps (here). And here’s a controversial game that can go either way. My research told me that it’s considered the best and the worst reboot. But we’re gonna stir the pot and put it in the worst reboot games bracket. God Of War. Yes. It’s available for purchase at IndieGala. But we’d like to know where you’d put it yourself.

Video Game Reboots: What Are Some Of The Best And The Worst Picks?

Tell us all about them. We’d love to know more about your opinions on the best and worst rebooted video games. Don’t be shy. Hit that comment section.

Chatter with us