Game:

VC (1982)

Duration: 11:13

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HD Remakes vs Virtual Console

HD
Graphical Upgrades
Depending on the art style this is important.
I never would have said that A Link to the Past needs a graphical update, but after playing A Link Between Worlds I would love to see the old classic updated.
Another example of this is Bionic Commando the remake of the 80s classic was fantastic and I think helped the game immensely.
There may be some games out there that might lose some of the charm by being updated though. One way around this would be giving both graphical styles, new and old and leave it up to the player.
Game design has improved over the years.
Sometimes they just weren’t as good as we remember
I played a lot of Metroid, and while the original is a great game, it’s remake Metroid Zero Mission is by all accounts far superior to the original.
Ocarina of Time is one of my all time favorite games
Developers took what they learned from years of work and applied it to a game that most would say is one of the greatest and improved it. By making instructions clearer, fixing things they didn’t have time to do the first time around, adding in motion controls for the Bow etc.
Suspend mode.
Old games didn’t have access to a suspend mode feature.
Anyone that has a 3DS will tell you the irritation that comes with playing VC games on it.
When I play an HD Remake like Majora’s Mask, if I close the lid, the system goes to sleep.
When you play VC games it specifically tells you that this game wasn’t designed with this feature in mind, and you must save and quit your game or your DS will continue running.
Virtual Console
Nostalgia
Something to be said for playing old games in their original form.
Recently been playing through Final Fantasy 1 on my NES Classic (come watch)
I don’t personally have nostalgia for the game, lots of people in chat love seeing the old style of it.
Game holds up incredibly well.
Graphics are horrible
Buggy
Still really fun
Price
Typically VC game range from $5-$10
$40 or More for a Remake
Easier to make (more of them)
This is more speculation than anything since I’m not a developer. But, once an emulator has been developed by the console maker, development isn’t really an issue any more. Probably some testing, and licensing deals are all that stand in the way of an avalanche of games on the VC.
Longer battery life.
Nintendo Switch is a portable console and battery life is something that Nintendo has been browbeaten a bit on (even though the battery life is similar to the 3DS)
More demanding graphics use more battery. VC games shouldn’t be overly demanding, meaning you’re more likely to get 6 hours of unplugged play vs. 2.5 which is the Minimum battery life according to Nintendo.

Thanks to Alex Mauer for the use of his music, please check him out at
alexmauer.bandcamp.com