The "remake" is indeed a slippery slope. I can't exactly say my thoughts on the matter always sync up with popular opinion for or against them:

- - I feel that depending on it's time, not every generation has the same level of remake viability, with the PS1 era being a prime example. There's simply too much risk involved with modernizing titles that embodied a transitional gen, which the fifth generation obviously was for 3D gaming. Updating 'this' and taking out 'that' with trailblazing games dilutes too much of what they were and what they represented. I think having new 'ways' to play these titles is more appropriate than risking butchering them. 

- - Generational circumstances aside, not every game is a ground-up remake candidate because not every experience jives well with modern design habits.. this is exacerbated by the fact that a remake is not a one-way street in terms of quality - the newer gen's bad habits will find their way in every bit as much as the improved graphics and presentation will. 

This is a problem, because for many, increasing feelings of unfulfillment with the state of modern gaming is as much of a reason for wanting remakes as the aging state of classic titles supposedly no longer cutting it.   

- - Sometimes when people desire a remake it's not that they aren't accepting of their old favorites anymore, maybe they simply want more of what they had and have since lost, just as it was. I count myself in this group. 

When I crave something like an FF VI update, I don't necessarily want a game with a complete graphical overhaul, I just want to experience another adventure in the vein of what I enjoyed before. Mega Man 9 and 10 bringing back the NES sprites while being 'new' games is exactly the kind of thing those like me were looking for. The Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection on the PSP was another nice way to satisfy nostalgia while providing new content, improving the original sprite models on top of additional sequel stories is something I wish FF VI would get treated to as well.       

- - There is nothing wrong with the "HD update" when used appropriately. An example of this is the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, a full remake was completely unnecessary. Instead these games received exactly what was, a quality HD touch-up that loosened some of the restrictions placed on them by their native platform and provided fans with easier access. 

Yeah, there are plenty of ill-conceived "HD" collections that are nothing more than petty cash grabs, but that doesn't mean the likes of the Ico/SotC and MGS HD Collections aren't worthwhile.

I think remakes (not HD bumps) of older great games are a great idea but they have to be done carefully and with great respect for the source material. I'll go back to to FF VII. imagine it with an orchestrated version of the score. Imagine dynamic camera that show 3D versions familiar environments explored by character models that done't look like a pile of blocks put together by a child. Imagine the same script but voice acted by the same actors used in Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, and Crisis Core. Imagine Vincent and Yuffie aren't optional characters and that there were more story moments that addressed them being there. Imagine random moments of party banter that fleshed out the characters that don't get much dialogue like Red XIII, Yuffie. Imagine Cait Sith having a level four limit break. Imagine FF VII without random encounters or a way to skip over ones that are beneath your attention. Imagine everything that irked you about FF VII being fixed.

Another important reason to remake a game as opposed to giving it a HD facelift is to bring the experience of playing it up to modern standards. Genres evolve and things that were the norm ten years ago can be maddeningly annoying now. Most importantly though it exposes a new generation of players to experiences that meant the world to people like us. How many times have you recommended FF VII to somebody younger than you and gotten the response "I tried playing it man, but I just couldn't get into it" because "I couldn't get past the dated visuals" or "it's just not as fun as the games I like." In that way older games are much like renaissance paintings, movies made during or before the 70s, or classical music. They are part of our history and everything we play now exists because of them but they exist separately from contemporary culture as relics of the past; things enjoyed by a minority of people with an appreciation for the way things were.

Sorry for writing a response that was almost as long as your blog post. I'm done now, honestly.

Great post sir. I have a number of thoughts on it.

1) Your questions about MGS 1 can be answered by playing Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for Gamecube. I did last year and it's a great retelling of MGS but giving Snake all the abilities he had in MGS 2 (particularly first person view) destroys a lot of the challenge the original game had. The dev team tried to compensate for this by adding challenges from MGS 2, like soldiers that radio in at set intervals. In my opinion, The Twin Snakes is a great example of how a remake that stays as faithful as possible to the source material (level design, enemy/item placement, plot) both enhances and detracts from the original experience at the same time.

2) Your musings about FF VII reminded me of thoughts I had while playing Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for PSP. If you haven't played Crisis Core it follows Zack and there are certain scenes that overlap with certain flashbacks from FF VII. The dialogue is the same, just voice acted and the music is the same. While I agree that a voice acted FF VII would distract from the fantastic score I genuinely think that those scenes from Crisis Core highlight how great a remake of FF VII could be. I say could be. I think Square have stayed away from it because they know they would mess it up by changing it too much.

I've given this subject some thought as well.

I've come to two (2) conclusions regarding the neccessity of remakes:

1) If it's better than the original. Case in point: Ys the Oath in Felghana (PC/PSN); it's actually better than Ys III from which it was remade. Or the Resident Evil remake for Gamecube and Wii. But these are the very rare exceptions, not the rule.

2) If it's a direct re-release. Take Resident Evil for the Nintendo DS, subtitled: Deadly Silence. Capcom kept the core game as is and threw in a few extra modes. Same for RE2 for N64, Dreamcast and Gamecube.

These days, unfortunately, we get "HD" remakes instead. Partly to charge people more money for what they already own, partly due to backward compatibility being treated like a mortal sin by console makers and publishers. Thankfully, the PC gaming scene doesn't get slammed with too much of that.

You make some good points.

Games get changed a lot in remakes, because they have to. The old stuff just doesn't cut the musterd anymore, that's why Snake could do all that in MGS:TS. I'm sure if they'll update FF7, they will change an awful lot.

Interesting blog. your poinnt is quite true. I for one one love to see a VII remake but I wouldn't want them to change a thing. However they could still contine the voice acting and keep the original score. Ni No Kuni does it quite well, which you should try out Old-school RPG we've all been waiting for.