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This article was originally published on GamePro. Since that publication is now gone, I thought I would repost it here. I'd hate to think that a feature I spent so much time on would disappear in the nether of the Internet.
Exciting, original content on a new system is great, but The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for Nintendo’s relatively new 3DS system proves that you can just as much fun revisiting the classics.
We know that Ocarina of Time won’t be the last vintage title ported to the handheld; Star Fox 64 3DS and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater are already in the process of receiving similar re-releases. Other games are sure to follow, but which ones really deserve receive a 3DS makeover?
To be considered for a 3DS remake, a game needs to somehow benefit from the system’s unique features (the 3D presentation, the gyroscope controls, the dual screens, and the touchscreen), but I’m also looking at titles that haven’t already been ported multiple times. Sorry, Resident Evil.
Blast Corps | Rare
Blowing stuff up is fun. Numerous games have been designed around this simple principle, but Rare’s Blast Corps for the Nintendo 64 was the only one that let you control giant robots and demolition vehicles as they pulverized entire buildings. The game rarely got more complicated than that. You bulldozed, tackled, and even somersaulted into buildings until nothing remained but more rubble than a Flinstone could handle.
Why on 3DS? How many people are going to see Transformers: Dark of the Moon simply to watch giant robots blow stuff up in 3D? Imagine how much more fun they’d have if they were controlling all that destruction. Besides, the 3DS will give the aging title a much needed graphical update.
Grim Fandango | LucasArts
LucasArts made a name for themselves in the ’90s with their original, humorous, and clever adventure games. Perhaps the greatest of them all (and the first one in 3D) was Grim Fandango, the epic journey of grim reaper/travel agent Manuel Calavera across the Spanish Land of the Dead. Armed with his trusty scythe and anything else he could get his grubby hands on, Manny spends four epic years solving puzzles and navigating dialogue trees.
Why on 3DS? Having one of the greatest adventure games ever on a handheld should be enough, but replacing Grim Fandango’s annoyingly slow inventory system (which forces you to cycle through each item individually) with one easily accessed via the touchscreen would help rectify one of the game’s few faults.
Panzer Dragoon Saga | Sega
Sega’s ill-fated Saturn may not have had the longest life cycle, but it still managed to produce a few gems. Perhaps none of the system’s classics have built up more intrigue and reverence than Panzer Dragoon Saga, an RPG where players fought battles while flying on the back of a laser-spewing dragon. Unfortunately, the title was released only in limited quantities and near the end of the system’s life.
Why on 3DS? Honestly, the best thing about a Panzer Dragoon Saga port would simply be having the ability to buy the game at a reasonable price. Purchasing a copy of the Saturn version today will easily run you a couple hundred dollars. A shame, since this is a game that should be enjoyed by the masses, not just collectors.
Also, anyone who’s played Pilotwings Resort knows that any game involving flying characters looks great in 3D. Panzer Dragoon Saga would certainly be no different.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 | Activision
A bizarre and awkward skateboard peripheral may have forced the Tony Hawk series to take a very long hiatus, but there was once a time when people couldn’t get enough of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The third entry was released for the PlayStation 2 at the height of the series’ popularity. It also introduced the revert, which extended a trick with the simple push of a button after landing in a quarterpipe. This new feature allowed for ridiculously long combos when used with the manual.
Why on 3DS? Imagine Tony Hawk flying at the screen as he launches off a halfpipe, spinning faster than the Tasmanian Devil as he tries to land a 900. Besides, unlike Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, which saw a port to the original Xbox during its launch, THSP3 is overdue for a re-release. Also, the 3DS’ gyroscope controls could easily be used for balancing during grinds and manuals.
Final Fantasy IX | Square Enix
As the last entry in its series released for the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy IX was overlooked at the time of its release. A lot of people were waiting for Final Fantasy X, scheduled to come out only a year later for the PlayStation 2. Too bad, since FFIX was one of the most charming and entertaining installments created in the long-running franchise.
Why on 3DS? People will no doubt clamor for HD remakes of the more realistic Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, but FFIX’s more exaggerated, cartoony style would translate better to the 3DS without requiring nearly as extensive a facelift as a full-on HD recreation. The 3DS is also currently lacking in the RPG department, so FFIX could help fill that important void.
Jet Set Radio Future | Sega
Few of us are likely to build up enough nerve to buy some spray-paint and splash graffiti on the walls of our city, let alone while skating. Luckily, Jet Set Radio Future gave us all the thrill of expressing ourselves with street art. Just, you know, without the risk of being charged for misdemeanors. Also, despite being over nine years old, this sequel to the Dreamcast’s Jet Grind Radio is still an incredibly striking game, thanks in large part to its unique, cel-shaded art design.
Why on 3DS? Creating your own custom tags would be a cinch with the system’s touchscreen. Seeing those stunning visuals in 3D would certainly be a nice bonus.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron | LucasArts
Every Star Wars fan dreams of flying his own X-wing into battle against the Empire’s fleet. After getting a taste in the Battle of Hoth level for Nintendo 64′s Shadows of the Empire, players were given a whole game where they took control of the Rebellion’s finest ships…and a Buick Electra.
Why on 3DS? We’ve already established that flying games looks great in 3D, and Star Wars: Rouge Squadron was one of the best games in the genre for Nintendo 64. Plus, thanks to advances in technology, we’ll no longer need the system’s Expansion Pack in order to play the game at a staggering 640 × 480 resolution.