10 Nintendo Games That Deserve Remakes (Not Remasters)

10. Enter The Matrix (Nintendo GameCube)

When The Matrix Reloaded premiered in the early 2000s, the game Enter the Matrix joined the fray to rather strong sales. In the game, players can choose between Niobe (Morpheus’ lost lady love) or her soft-spoken first mate Ghost. While neither playable character is drastically different, each character has a specialty skill set.

The gameplay was rather iconic; it housed top-of-the-line graphics, a decent story, and of course bullet time. Not to mention that the DOS-inspired menu and cheat code platform within Enter the Matrix made players feel even further down that rabbit hole which Morpheus never shuts up about it. However, it would definitely be in need of a facelift and restructured story to better suit this day and age.

9. The Simpsons: Hit And Run (Nintendo GameCube)

In this age of remakes, countless fans have been asking for one guilty pleasure in particular. Speaking specifically, the more “family-friendly” fun take on GTA 5/Saints Row 3/Insert 3rd person car-based AAA game, The Simpsons: Hit and Run. It is still considered by many to be subjectively the “best” Simpsons game in existence. The missions were well written, featured almost the entire original cast, and the plots felt very in line with what a fan would expect from Evergreen Terrace’s finest.

While there have been fan-made remakes over the years, an actual remake of Hit and Run has yet to happen. Not to mention that an online component would really be amazing, considering how popular the online mode in GTA5 is. Plus, let’s be completely honest, who doesn’t want to live in a fictional town like Springfield with Bart, Lisa, Homer, and company when life gets too serious?

8. Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64)

British Video game developer Rare is probably most famous for Nintendo 64 shooters Perfect Dark and Goldeneye (007). But back in 1997, they took a bit of a creative chance with this platformer featuring a bear and his avian pal in Banjo-Kazooie to match the success of Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot which both had been released the year prior. It is still considered one of the best that the N64 has to offer to the point where fans clamoring for a sequel in some way shape or form.

Considering how outdated the graphics are on this one, a remake feels like a surefire success (like that of the N. Sane Trilogy within the context of Crash Bandicoot). After all, the only way to play Banjo-Kazooie outside the original offering on Nintendo 64 is the version on Switch Online, and time has not been kind to a lot of the former platform’s more GameTopic models; beloved or not.

7. Def Jam: Fight For NY (Nintendo GameCube)

EA’s Def Jam: Fight For NY houses a rather ridiculous plot for a fighting game. Following in the footsteps of Def Jam: Vendetta, players are caught in a NYC turf war between Crow (played by Snoop Dogg) and D-Mob (played by God of War’s Christopher Judge). The remaining voice cast is equally strong, featuring much of Def Jam Record’s real-life roster at the time.

When considering how much gamers love their gratuitous violence, a remake of Fight For NY feels like a solid idea. If EA swapped out a few older irrelevant rappers with some newer blood, such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Cardi B, Post Malone, and A$AP Rocky.

6. WWF: No Mercy (Nintendo 64)

Speaking of wrestling games, WWF: No Mercy still to this day stands above the rest. Whether it was its large wrestling roster, the 90’s arcade feeling being brought to the Nintendo 64, or even a very personal multi-layered camera system; this was a bona fide hit. Suffice it to say that still to this day, it holds up.

But like many of the entries on this list from N64, this game particularly suffered clunky asymmetrical graphics that could use a gratuitous upheaval. If they were to remake this correctly, it stands to reason that $65/pop would be a steal to have that “authentic” WWF/WWE feeling from your upholstery of choice.

5. Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (Nintendo DS)

If one were to ask Kingdom Hearts fans what their favorite arc/game is, it is very often that of Roxas, Xion, and Axel as found in Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days. The issue here is that because it was released solely on Nintendo DS, most fans never got a chance to play. Furthermore, many experienced this title solely as HD cutscenes in the all-in-one collections.

But, the bigger reason is that Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days would likely need to be reworked as the story is clunky and feels repetitive. After all, it is considered to be rather long for a non-major KH title.

4. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (Nintendo 64)

The reimagining of classic AAA franchises isn’t anything new in the games industry. Take for instance, Santa Monica Studios’ handling of the God of War franchise. It housed a refocus on story and character development earning it universal acclaim. Enter Turok the Dinosaur Hunter.

Upon release, this title was hailed at the time for its clean graphics and gratuitous gore – so a more current story/approach could make this a well-deserved remake. Utilizing a third-person approach as well as maybe adding in a crafting component (like those found in Horizon Zero Dawn or Tomb Raider reboots) may cause Turok to be revitalized.

3. Superman 64 (Nintendo 64)

Throughout video gaming history, there have been seldom few Superman games. Part of that is likely because Superman 64 is still considered to be among the worst Superhero games of all time. For years, fans have been asking for an open-world game featuring the Man of Steel in the same vein as the iconic Arkham series of Batman games from developer Rocksteady, so this feels like the perfect opportunity.

Similar to Insomniac Games releasing a proper Spider-Man title in 2018 (eclipsing that of the 2000 Spider-Man game released on both Nintendo 64 and PlayStation platforms). Beyond that, if a prospective morality system was utilized similar to Infamous: Second Son or Mass Effect, then a remake of Superman 64 could be exactly what extraterrestrial orphan(s) from Kansas ordered.

2. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo GameCube)

In the year 2000, fans anxiously awaited the follow-up to the double whammy that was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask respectively. Especially when considering that the next few games felt juvenile in their aesthetic, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was a welcome change.

At the time of publication, it is still vastly underrated due to its limited availability. While fans have been begging for a remake of Ocarina of Time for even longer, a remake of Twilight Princess with perhaps BOTW’s look alongside updated mechanics would be spectacular.

1. Star Fox 64 (Nintendo 64)

Just as Super Mario 64 defined the landscape for Mario in 3D, so did Star Fox 64 define the scope of Fox McCloud’s intergalactic adventures. The usage of multiple planets felt unique, and the availability of various branches of storytelling made for some great replay value. Not to mention that the multiplayer mode was amazing.

While technically there was a remake for Star Fox 64 in 2011, it wasn’t considered a proper port given that the multiplayer had no online component. After all, we are long overdue for a proper Star Fox title in years, so this seems like an easy decision.

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10 Nintendo Games That Deserve Remakes (Not Remasters)