SuperPhillip Central Best of 2020 Awards - Top Five Remakes & Remasters

Remakes and remasters are common in this industry more often than in others.  It makes sense as games end up being lost to history and stuck on old platforms. Technology also allows older games to rise from their ashes like a Phoenix and present players with new visuals and perhaps even new takes on beloved classics. This countdown and awards category as part of SuperPhillip Central's Best of 2020 Awards lists the greatest of these types of games that launched in 2020. Note: Some particular gaming outlets didn't get their hands on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series console, so certain games might not be on their lists... Not naming any names, though! 

Let's get to the countdown with the Top Five Remakes & Remasters!

5) Resident Evil 3 (PS4, XB1, PC)

Despite removing some content from the original, I argue that Resident Evil 3 is still a remarkable remake. It's similarly an intense, pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping thrill ride filled with scares and fun alike. In that sense it's just like Resident Evil 2, a game I listed as one of SPC's Games of 2019. The only difference is that while RE2 got a little long in the tooth on repeated playthroughs, Resident Evil 3's remake was a shorter experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs that were more enjoyable--at least for me. There is a fair number of downsides to Resident Evil 3's remake, but for me, the positives far outweighed the negatives, making for a truly terrifying survival horror shooter that made my heart pound and hands sweat from beginning to end, especially on the higher difficulties!

4) Trials of Mana (PS4, NSW, PC)

Whereas many remakes on this list changed things up considerably compared to their originals, Square Enix's Trials of Mana played it a bit more cautiously, remaking a game that feels like a relic of the golden age of gaming. This time, though, the major difference being that the beautiful 2D sprites and worlds of the original Trials of Mana were fully realized in glorious, colorful, vivid 3D. The action on display offered simple but effective--and most importantly fun--combat that required paying attention to enemy tells and red area of effect targets to avoid damage. Exploring the world was an immense joy and pleasure, searching for hidden treasures and secrets alike. Being able to choose from the cast of six protagonists to join your three-person party meant that multiple playthroughs were encouraged to fully enjoy this already exciting and engaging remake. And, that's exactly what I did with Trials of Mana, a remake that didn't reinvent the wheel, but what there was already was so good that it didn't need to do so.

3) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PS4, XB1, PC)

It's time to trick out with Tony Hawk with the remake of both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and Pro Skater 2 with the appropriately titled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2. Like past remakes from Activision's team of developers (Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled), so much love and care was poured into this game. Right away my muscle memory from decades ago came back almost immediately, as the controls are just as tight, precise, responsive, and feel as good as they ever have. The levels were also lovingly restored with new visual touches, making old, familiar playgrounds (or in this case, skate parks) feel brand spankin' new. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 finally gave the Birdman prominence in gaming once more and is a true testament to the developers for making a game that lives up to the legacy of the originals.

2) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (NSW)

Getting SuperPhillip Central's coveted (your mileage may vary on that) Game of 2012 back when this awards ceremony was structured differently, Xenoblade Chronicles returns to SuperPhillip Central's Best of Awards with a definitive edition releasing this year on the Nintendo Switch. With updated character models and environments, looking absolutely fabulous and more beautiful than ever before, as well as remixed and rearranged music, Xenoblade Chronicles has never looked or sounded better. The quality of life improvements added to the game's menus and systems made a great game even better as well! The addition of Future Connected, an epilogue story with a previously cut area from the original game, featured the same "wow" factor and sense of discovery as the main Xenoblade adventure. All in all, it was a true treasure and wonderful pleasure to be able to have an excuse to play through Xenoblade Chronicles all over again, this time with the definitely definitive version of the game.

1) Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

So many of the remakes of 2020 stayed true to the formulas that the original games constructed--and I no doubt adore them for that--but one game--one remake--that totally took a tremendous risk that ultimately paid off for most players like myself was Final Fantasy VII's glorious remake. I was hesitant to learn (but understood the reason) that the legendary RPG was being split up into parts and that the first part would only take place in Midgar. While some of my hesitation was well founded due to some padding in some chapters of the game, Final Fantasy VII Remake ultimately works because of the additional character interactions and story content the developers included with the game. No spoilers here, but like the decision with the game's story, it was also so very bold of the developers to create an action-RPG focus first with Final Fantasy VII Remake's combat. It overall worked out in the end, as Final Fantasy VII Remake wasn't just a magnificent achievement, but it unquestionably earns the right to be listed among the top remakes of the year--or in this case, at the very top as the best remake of 2020.

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Tomorrow evening, the SuperPhillip Central Best of 2020 Awards continues on with more categories and more winners (and some losers, too)! I hope you'll join in on the fun!

Review Round-Up - October 2020

Despite the collection feeling phoned in by Nintendo, the trio of games featured in Super Mario 3D All-Stars was
 more than worth the price of admission for SPC's Featured Game (or in this case, Games) of the Month.

Hey, all. Here's hoping your Halloween was a spooky and ultimately safe one! October was a scary good month of video game reviews here at SuperPhillip Central. What else can you say when the lowest grade handed out this past month was a B-! Before we say "goodbye" to the month that was, it haunts SPC one last time with the Review Round-Up!

We began entering into the hell that was unpaid internships with the abundantly clever and creative take on the rogue-like, Going Under. It received a B- with notes in its personnel file for needing some slight improvement. (See what I did there?) Moving on from there, we went old school with a retro review of the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive cult classic Decap Attack, digging up a B- grade as well.

We continued our frightful look at some scary, Halloween-themed games with the incredible force that was Resident Evil 3, which had its own unstoppable force inside with the hulking menace known as Nemesis. The game strong-armed its way to an A-.

Following up Resident Evil 3's remake was another game--well, trio of games in one collection--that tied the highest grade given this month, Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It, too, ran, jumped, and slid into its deserved A- score. 

Wrapping up the month were two more games fitting of the Halloween spirit and festivities. The first was Hollow Knight, a long awaited review that saw me rewarding the game with an A- as well. Last and certainly not least, Crown Trick was another rogue-like game that brought something new to the table, and it earned a satisfying B- grade due to how much fun I had navigating its nightmarish dungeons.

As is customary for the conclusion of each Review Round-Up (well, at least since last December or so), here are some excerpts of each review along with a link to the full reviews themselves. Finally, this is your reminder to check out the SPC Review Archive for all of the reviews ever published on this site.

Going Under (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC) - B-

Unlike actual internships, I enjoyed my time at Fizzle. Combat is a bit loose and clunky, lacking a lot of variety that will keep most players from coming to back to the game, but Going Under otherwise keeps an elevated level of quality throughout its relatively short campaign. The optional added accessibility and assist options makes for a game that while still challenging, offers a game that can be custom tailored to a given player's skill level. Thus, anyone with a love for Roguelikes but not necessarily a love for their general difficulty can enjoy this game. Overall, Aggro Crab has done a good job with their first game.

Decap Attack (GEN) - B-

It was a thrill (in more ways than one) returning to the macabre world of Decap Attack and once more taking control of Chuck D. Head in his adventure to save the world, defeat Max D. Cap and yes, get the surprise ending of him becoming human as reward for his good deeds. While there isn't too much here that pushes the platforming genre forward--and it would otherwise be lost in a sea of similar platformers without its unique atmosphere and vibe--Decap Attack remains a solid 2D platformer right down to its bones. 

Resident Evil 3 (PS4, XB1, PC) - A-

Resident Evil 3 brings a welcome return to Raccoon City, delivering a more action-oriented romp than the previous Resident Evil remake from last year, yet remaining a tense (and intense) game all the same. Though there isn't as much longevity in the base campaign, that made for me a campaign that could be enjoyed multiple times in various ways without a sign of burnout on my end, quite unlike my experience with the otherwise excellent Resident Evil 2. All in all, revisiting the horrors of both Raccoon City and Resident Evil 3 made for a gloriously gruesome and great gaming experience.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars (NSW) - A-

All of this notwithstanding, it says a lot about how excellent the games included in this otherwise ho-hum package are in that I still recommend Super Mario 3D All-Stars. The games are just as good as, or in some cases, better than they've always been. The lack of Super Mario Galaxy 2 is certainly a bummer and very much missed, but ultimately, Super Mario 3D All-Stars' trio of games is some of the best games in this industry. That alone puts it as an easy recommendation for me, not because of Nintendo's decidedly lazy approach to packaging these games--but despite it.

Hollow Knight (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC) - A-

Hollow Knight is the definition of a modern classic, and it takes its inspirations from games like Metroid--with its world structure--and Dark Souls--with its penalty for dying--and expands upon them in brilliantly clever ways. The ability to not be bound to a set path and instead be able to explore the vast world freely, offers a fresh, welcomed take to the genre, and the added Focus ability is one of the smartest additions to a Metroidvania that would otherwise be impossible to complete. At the same time, it's no "win" button either with how it makes you vulnerable upon using it. Hollow Knight is a fantastic Metroidvania, and if there's one true gripe I have, it's that I waited all this time to finally play it.

Crown Trick (NSW, PC) - B-

When it's all said and done, Crown Trick is a mostly well made and well executed rogue-lite that allows for plenty of opportunities for planning and strategy with its turn-based movement and combat. Our heroine Elle's ability to Break enemies' defenses and Blink around rooms to evade attacks and better position herself in battle are smart, worthwhile mechanics. Add in pleasant and stylish visuals (though not without performance problems on the Switch version), and you have a rogue-like that's easy to recommend but absolutely hard in both how difficult the game is, and how hard it can be to put it down.

Games of Halloween past and present rounded out the rest of SPC's reviews for this themed month.

Resident Evil 3 (PS4, XB1, PC) Review

SPC checked out Decap Attack for a retro review last week as part of our Halloween-themed game coverage this month, but now let's look as something more modern with a review of the remake of Resident Evil 3. 

A scary good time with Miss Valentine

One of my favorite games of 2019 was the remarkably done remake of Resident Evil 2. No doubt with a sequel releasing just over a year later, you can imagine that many fans had doubts as to how good this next remake could be. Despite this remake of Resident Evil 3's cut content compared to the original Nemesis and shorter campaign when compared to Resident Evil 2, this remake managed to grab hold of me and not let go--five runs through the game and on. 

Occurring during the same timespan of the events of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3's remake sees Spencer Mansion survivor and S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valentine doing her best to escape the zombie-filled, monster-infested streets of Raccoon City. Of course, like any Resident Evil protagonist, Miss Valentine's mission is plagued with problems and in true horror fashion, practically everything goes wrong. It also doesn't help that she's being relentlessly stalked by a massive monster named Nemesis, who is tasked with eliminating every single member of S.T.A.R.S. that could reveal the truth about the Umbrella Corporation. 

Along the way, Jill meets up with an Umbrella task force operative named Carlos Oliveira, whose partnership with one another starts out decidedly rocky. However, through overcoming the odds, facing horrors beyond their wildest dreams, and doing so in a somewhat realistic fashion, the two grow closer through their mutual adversity. 

The RE Engine really looks sensational in Resident Evil 3.

Resident Evil 3's remake is structured differently from last year's remake of Resident Evil 2. For one, there is but one campaign to play through as opposed to the four (Leon's two and Claire's two) of RE2. While this severely limits the longevity of Resident Evil 3, it makes for a more streamlined and focused game. Though there is only one campaign to play through, there are two playable characters that the game switches between as specific points of the campaign. Jill Valentine, of course, is the first, but a second in the form of Carlos gets his time in the spotlight as well on occasion. Carlos is more likeable this time around, has more personality to him, and his assault rifle is great for gunning down groups of enemies in a jiffy.

Carlos helps this Hunter out with its bullet deficiency.

Unlike the big, interconnected areas of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 is more segmented and split up. There's less of a focus on solving puzzles and picking up hints in the game (though both are in the game), and more of a focus on action this time around. That's not to say there aren't moments of exploration, or that the game doesn't deliver a lot of frights; It definitely does have both. The first area, the streets of Raccoon City, offers an immense amount of paths and points of interest to explore, and it along with the hospital were my two favorite areas of the game. That's due to the fact that they're the most open and complicated of the areas within Resident Evil 3, and the streets particularly are a wonderful way to open the game.

The streets of Raccoon City is a strong start for Resident Evil 3's campaign.

Yes, Resident Evil 3 starts out strong, and really, it doesn't let go from beginning to end. That's more on the campaign being on the short side, with the first run for me taking about five-to-six hours. A lot of that time was spent getting accustomed to the mechanics, watching cutscenes, and learning the general layout of the areas of the game. Future runs brought that time down considerably, where one can rush through the game in less than two hours. While some might think of the shorter length of the game as a detriment, I found it most refreshing. It enabled me to make multiple runs through the game on each and every difficulty setting, sometimes doing speed runs, sometimes doing tailored runs like never opening an item box, and not getting as burned out as I did with Resident Evil 2's repeated, more involved, and more time-consuming play-throughs. 

Even though the subtitle "Nemesis" has been dropped from this remake, the actual big, hulking, menacing monster is still very much a massive part of Resident Evil 3, and he's as much of a terror as ever. Throughout Jill's journey to escape Raccoon City, Nemesis will cross paths in his patented forceful and frightful way, doing his best to take out Jill before she can escape. A persistent presence throughout Resident Evil 3, Nemesis pops up at specific points throughout the game, each time more menacing than before. This is in opposition to Mr. X of Resident Evil 2, who could appear anywhere and at any time within the confines of the excellent RPD section of the game. Still, Nemesis is threatening as all get out, despite being more scripted in this remake, due to the fact that he can outrun you, damage you heavily, and just spook the hell out of you with his frightful presence.

Oh... This... This isn't going to end well for Jill.

Fortunately, Miss Valentine is hardly a damsel in distress. After all, she's dealt with bioweapons and zombies before. Jill has a repertoire of weapons she can obtain, as well as upgrade via items found throughout Raccoon City. Weapons like the handgun, shotgun, grenade launcher, knife, or grenades by the themselves can be assigned to one of four shortcuts, immediately accessible via the D-Pad. The guns pack a serious visible punch to them, and the gunplay itself feels better than ever before. With all of the enemies, whether they be zombie or bioweapons, that Jill will encounter, she'll need all she can to even the odds against and survive. That's if she's taking the fight directly to the enemy, or using environmental goodies like exploding red barrels or electric boxes that can shock foes so Jill can cut loose or escape with her life intact. 

What also assists in allowing our heroes to stay alive more capably is a new mechanic in Resident Evil 3 allows Jill and later Carlos to initiate an evasive maneuver with the right shoulder button. With precise timing, they can avoid a lunging enemy, slow time, and deliver damage to a foe. This move is practically mandatory for later difficulties, where enemies are much more aggressive, attack with much more strength, and ammo is much harder to come by. 

Nemesis appears at scripted times in Resident Evil 3, whether in chase sequences like these or boss battles.

Not just ammo, either, as Jill and Carlos's inventory are limited with regard to how much they can carry, a classic Resident Evil mechanic brought to this remake as well. You need to be smart and strategic in what you pick up, as well as what you leave behind. You can mix herbs together to make for more powerful healing properties, in addition to combining gunpowder and explosive varieties to make helpful ammo.

You'll need lots of ammo, or at least clever ammo management, to survive the unlockable Nightmare and Inferno difficulties. The latter difficulty eliminates the ability to auto-save completely, as well as removing several typewriters from rooms, making for longer sessions without being able to save your game. Certain key items and all enemy placements are altered in these difficulties, too, meaning that it's essentially a whole new campaign to learn all over again. Specific enemies that in other difficulties wouldn't appear until late in the game make earlier appearances in Nightmare and Inferno, so it's quite the taxing challenge.

Despite Resident Evil 3's short length, there's plenty of content to be found, as long as you don't mind replaying the campaign again and again. I certainly didn't mind, as as soon as I finished my first six hour run of the game, I immediately leaped back into Raccoon City to play the game again. Only this time I had more knowledge and skill to survive more competently. Regardless, there's of course the new difficulties to try to overcome, but there's also specialty runs like speed runs, "S" rank runs, and minimalist runs to take on. There is also a series of challenges and tasks to accomplish, which reward points that can be used to purchase new items from a shop in the main menu. These items range from infinite ammo weapons like the lovely rocket launcher and assault rifle to coins that when held offer higher attack, defense, and health recovery. The added bonus with these is that they can be used in any run to make the higher difficulties much more manageable. 

Resident Evil 3 brings a welcome return to Raccoon City, delivering a more action-oriented romp than the previous Resident Evil remake from last year, yet remaining a tense (and intense) game all the same. Though there isn't as much longevity in the base campaign, that made for me a campaign that could be enjoyed multiple times in various ways without a sign of burnout on my end, quite unlike my experience with the otherwise excellent Resident Evil 2. All in all, revisiting the horrors of both Raccoon City and Resident Evil 3 made for a gloriously gruesome and great gaming experience.

[SPC Says: A-]

Top Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2020

As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new, and that's the perfect sentiment to have as SuperPhillip Central turns away from 2019 and focuses its attention and energy to 2020. As is customary to kick off the start of a new year of content on the site, I have a look at my most anticipated games currently announced for 2020. These games need to have a confirmation of being released in 2020 and can't have rumors, so unfortunately, there's no The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel on this list to speak of. That said, what IS on this list are some other truly exciting games that show that 2020 is going to be one killer year of gaming content.

After checking out these picks, which games are you most excited for this year?

10) Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)

Kicking off this countdown is Ghost of Tsushima, developed by Sucker Punch, the minds behind the Sly Cooper and InFamous franchises. Sure, the game checks a lot of the boxes of a PlayStation first-party game: third-person perspective, open world, action-adventure--but it's difficult to deny that the PlayStation brand's first-party output has skyrocketed in quality over the past generation or two. Thus, it's hard to doubt that Ghost of Tsushima will do anything other than impress and delight when it releases later this year. I look forward to stealthily slicing and slaying my way through hordes of enemies in Ghost of Tsushima.

9) Trials of Mana (PS4, NSW)

I've been on a bit of a Mana kick recently, having played through Final Fantasy Adventure (aka Adventure of Mana), and am now playing through Secret of Mana as part of the Collection of Mana compilation on the Nintendo Switch. I have yet to start Trials of Mana's original version from that collection, but it's my hope to do so before its full fledged remake arrives in April. That way I can see and appreciate just how much effort was put into the remake and what has changed. This colorful and whimsical game already looks right up my alley, so here's to playing the final, finished product when it releases in a few months on both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

8) Doom Eternal (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

The 2016 revival of the Doom franchise was one of my favorite first-person shooters released in a long time. Its near perfect mix of platforming, exploration, and traditional run and gun action made for a game that I loved Platinum-ing on the PlayStation 4 and beating fully on the Switch soon after. While the Switch version of Doom Eternal won't release along the other versions, that's alright for me, as it's not preferred place to play the game. What I expect out of Doom Eternal is a game that is bigger, better, meatier, and gorier than the original, and I hope I'm not disappointed when the game launches in March.

7) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (NSW)

Despite owning Xenoblade Chronicles on two platforms now, the Wii and New Nintendo 3DS, I still have yet to beat the game. I look to change that with the Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles, due to launch sometime in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch. What I played of the original Xenoblade I greatly enjoyed, and I got very far in the game before other titles took my attention. That said, this is one lengthy game, and the additional content (just rumors for now on what that content actually is are being circulated) will no doubt make the game even longer. However, I'm ready to take on the challenge, Xenoblade Chronicles, so bring it on!

6) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition (PS4, NSW, Mobile)

This is a bit of wild horse on this list of my most anticipated games of 2020. It's a remastered version of a game that came out in 2004 in North America. It's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition, and the original GameCube game was one of my favorite titles on the system. The action-focused, co-op-centric multiplayer dungeon crawler was quite unlike anything else at the time, and the added bonus now of being able to play online with friends and randoms alike will add to my love of the game. I just hope that I won't always be stuck carrying the chalice!

5) Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (PS4, XB1, PC)

While I'm not a huge fan of Dragon Ball Z, and could not sit through a whole saga due to the original show's atrocious pacing, I do find the characters and spectacles of the fights to be incredible to witness. Being able to play a role in them is what gets me playing games like Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball FighterZ, for instance. While playing through the entire Dragon Ball Z series isn't anything new, the approach that Bandai Namco Entertainment takes with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot very much is new. It's essentially a 3D version of The Legacy of Goku games from the Game Boy Advance era, and adding a much heavier sense of size, scope, and scale. I won't have to wait long to play the game either, as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot launches in less than two weeks.

4) Resident Evil 3 (PS4, XB1, PC)

After loving Resident Evil 2's remake so much that I put it on the #3 spot of my Game of the Year list, I very much look forward to the sum of Resident Evil 3's part, the full remake in the vein of Resident Evil 2, and the asymmetrical multiplayer part with Resident Evil Resistance. Obviously though, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't looking forward to seeing the new changes and improvements to the original Resident Evil 3 more than playing Resident Evil Resistance. With a fresh coat of paint and new looks to old familiar characters such as Jill and the grotesque Nemesis, who I dread running in to if Mr. X from the previous game is anything to go by, Resident Evil 3 is shaping up to provide a terrifyingly fresh perspective to a classic game.

3) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NSW)

March 20, 2020 is marked on my calendar. Okay, I don't have a calendar, but I do have the date etched in my memory banks anyway. That's the date that the latest installment of the Animal Crossing series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, finally arrives. It's been over seven years since the last new traditional Animal Crossing game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, has released on a Nintendo platform, so the extended wait has been excruciating. Not even the most ardent fan of Animal Crossing can play a game every day for seven years straight without wanting something new. Well, we're getting something new finally not just game-wise but concept-wise with an island to restore to its former glory, as well as new mechanics to help out with the process. I'm ready to lose what's left of my free time to the cozy and comfortable world of Animal Crossing once more when New Horizons launches on the Nintendo Switch in just over two months.

2) Dreams (PS4)

Speaking of games I'll lose a lot of free time to this year, Dreams comes from the developers of a franchise that I've lost hundreds of hours to--the LittleBigPlanet series. Dreams, however, is so much more. It's not built or marketed as a tool to create your own levels. Instead, it's a tool to create your own games, and the sky is the limit. It's not hyperbole to say that if you can think it, you can conceivably build it. Already, players of the beta have crafted creative and clever concoctions from playable builds of the Final Fantasy VII Remake (albeit in a much more rudimentary form), platforming levels a la Crash Bandicoot, and even an exceptionally mouth-watering, darn-it-if-that-doesn't-look-real English breakfast. There's no limit to what genre you can make, either, so you're really only limited by your imagination. As someone passionate about game design, I look forward to fully utilizing all of Dreams' tools with the hope that the level of accessibility is there for all players to enjoy making their own creations.

1) Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

It's probably a gaming sin for someone of my gaming literacy to admit, but I've never played all the way through the original Final Fantasy VII. I got so far as Disc Three, but something way back when interrupted my progress. That said, what I played of the original FFVII I really enjoyed, and while I have an idea of what to expect from this wholly re-imagined remake, I eagerly anticipate being surprised by the curve balls the development team will throw in there to spice things up. Final Fantasy VII Remake is of course not just exciting because of the new content being placed into the game, but it's also one I anticipate because of seeing familiar areas given a whole new lease on life with an impressive makeover. Already, I've seen places in Midgar that have been touched up with such pristine, masterful care that I'm close to salivating at the thought of finally playing the game when it launches this March.