Remasters That Look Worse Than The Original

Often, when games are remastered or re-released as “definitive” editions, visual elements like lighting, textures, and overall art style are altered. These changes can sometimes diminish what made the original game so visually appealing. The following list details several notable remasters and enhanced versions where fans noticed and documented technical or stylistic differences – comparing screenshots and update logs to see what was lost or changed. For each game, you’ll find specific examples of alterations, such as changes to fog, different visual effects, reduced quality on certain systems, or features that were removed. This information can help you decide which version of a game is best to play.

‘Silent Hill HD Collection’ (2012)

Okay, so this remastered collection had some issues. The fog effects were missing, which meant you could see low-quality models they were originally hiding, and some of the textures and fonts just didn’t fit the game’s original look – they were way too bright and sharp. They added new voice acting, but the original audio mixes weren’t there at first, you had to wait for a patch to get those. Plus, I ran into some annoying glitches like choppy animations and visible lines between parts of the scenery, stuff that wasn’t happening in the PS2 version. Konami put this out, and they had Hijinx Studios do the work to remaster it.

‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’ (2021)

When the game first launched, the rain and lighting didn’t always look right – heavy rain made it hard to see, and reflections appeared in odd places. Character models were replaced with simpler versions, and textures were stretched or displayed incorrect text. Some visual effects, like fog, were reduced, which altered the game’s atmosphere and how far you could see. Rockstar Games released the collection, and Grove Street Games handled the remastering process.

‘Warcraft III: Reforged’ (2020)

The remastered version launched with some changes from earlier previews, including simpler cutscenes and the removal of features like ladders and clans that were in the original game. Some battlefields looked less detailed due to changes in textures and lighting, and the way units were outlined wasn’t what players were used to. Players also couldn’t fully mix and match visual styles between the classic and remastered versions in multiplayer, leading to inconsistent appearances. Blizzard Entertainment created and released the remaster.

‘Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition’ (2022)

This version of the game uses updated character designs alongside backgrounds that haven’t been similarly improved, which often makes scenes look inconsistent. During combat and when moving between areas, the game’s frame rate sometimes dropped below 30, negating the advantage of the increased resolution. Visual effects like depth of field and bloom were also changed, resulting in a softer, less detailed image. Square Enix developed and released this remaster themselves.

‘Mafia II: Definitive Edition’ (2020)

The updated version of the game had some visual issues at first, including overly grainy textures, washed-out colors for faces and indoor areas, and textures that took a moment to fully load. Some surfaces, like leather and roads, also lost their realistic shine. On consoles, the game’s performance was initially inconsistent, but updates later fixed this. 2K published the remaster, which was created by D3T in partnership with Hangar 13.

‘Batman: Return to Arkham’ (2016)

Upgrading the games from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4 improved the lighting and shadows, making interiors brighter and reducing harsh contrasts. Surfaces like Batman’s suit and wet streets now reflected light in a more realistic way, shifting the overall dark and gritty look of the original game. Character faces also look smoother thanks to updated graphics technology. Warner Bros. released the updated collection, with Virtuos doing the work to remaster the games.

‘BioShock Remastered’ (2016)

The remaster of the game features updated lighting and visual effects, which have changed the colors inside Rapture to be less intensely green and blue. At launch, some graphics settings on PC weren’t working properly, and certain details like water reflections and stickers didn’t always appear. There were also some issues with how sounds and visuals were linked, causing effects like lights and signs to not always work as intended. Blind Squirrel Games developed the remaster, and 2K published it.

‘BioShock 2 Remastered’ (2016)

Like the original, this updated version had some visual glitches and occasional crashes when it first came out, but these were mostly fixed with updates. The new lighting made some areas, like underwater sections and the interiors of The Splicer, look less detailed than they should have. The user interface and mouse settings also weren’t ideal, which sometimes made it harder to see things clearly while playing. 2K was the publisher, and Blind Squirrel Games developed the game.

‘Assassin’s Creed III Remastered’ (2019)

This remastered version features stronger colors, more realistic lighting, and improved skin tones, making scenes from the colonial period much more vibrant. While some textures and shadows were updated, the results are inconsistent, with some areas looking sharp and others appearing blurry. Distant trees and plants also appear softer than in the original game, even with the highest settings enabled. Ubisoft was responsible for both the development and release of this remaster.

‘Final Fantasy VIII Remastered’ (2019)

The game received updated character models, but the backgrounds largely stayed the same, appearing blurry because they were filtered instead of completely redone. This created a noticeable difference in visual quality. While some menu screens were updated with higher resolution graphics, things like spell icons and battle effects still looked older. When the game switched between areas or during battles, you could sometimes see jagged edges or obvious lines around the newly improved visuals. Square Enix developed the remaster with help from both their in-house team and external developers.

‘Tales of Symphonia Remastered’ (2023)

The remastered game aimed for a smooth 30 frames per second on all consoles, even if the original version ran faster. To achieve this, the visuals were slightly softened with less detailed textures and anti-aliasing. Certain visual effects, like heat shimmer and glowing light, were toned down, altering the look of some environments. Players also reported issues with loading times and stretched user interface elements, which further affected the overall visual experience at launch. Bandai Namco Entertainment was responsible for both developing and publishing the remaster.

‘Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition’ (2022)

This updated version replaced the grainy, low-quality videos of the original game with smoother frames created using AI. However, this process sometimes resulted in blurry images and distorted details. The menus and subtitles were also updated, but initially, some scenes didn’t flow as smoothly as they did in the original game. The lighting in certain areas looked washed out because the process reduced the difference between light and dark. Nightdive Studios was responsible for the remaster, and Alcon Interactive Group owns the rights to the game.

‘Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning’ (2020)

Although the remastered game supported higher resolutions, it kept many of the original’s textures and visual effects. Early versions had a noticeable issue where objects would suddenly switch between detailed and low-detail versions at close range. The new lighting effects made indoor areas appear blurry unless players adjusted the settings. Performance on consoles was also inconsistent at first, making fast-paced action look less sharp. Kaiko developed the remaster, which was published by THQ Nordic.

‘Commandos 2 – HD Remaster’ (2020)

The updated version of the game features new lighting and textures, but these changes unfortunately made details in stone, snow, and plants look faded. Some objects in the environment were also made simpler or removed entirely, and certain symbols and signs on maps were changed. Additionally, the user interface appears blurry at some screen resolutions, making it harder to read helpful tips and see how you can interact with things. Kalypso Media released this updated version, and Yippee! Entertainment was responsible for its development.

‘Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary’ (2011)

The Anniversary mode gave classic missions a visual update with improved lighting and textures, making areas like glass hallways and Forerunner structures appear brighter and less threatening than in the original game. Certain visual effects, like particles and decals, looked different, and switching between the original and Anniversary versions clearly showed changes to the skies and fog. Initial versions of the game collection also had some issues with how colors and shading were displayed, affecting the overall contrast. The game was published by Microsoft Studios and developed by 343 Industries, with assistance from Saber Interactive.

‘The Sly Collection’ (2010)

So, I noticed a few things with this remaster. While the graphics are sharper, some of the effects looked a little rough around the edges, especially when things were moving fast – like the outlines and shading weren’t as smooth as I remembered. A few of the cutscenes felt a bit off too, the timing of jokes and camera movements just didn’t quite hit the same way as the original PS2 version. And honestly, stuff in the distance sometimes had this weird shimmering effect, probably because of how they handled the textures. It was published by Sony, and Sanzaru Games did the development work.

‘Dead Rising’ (2016)

As a big fan, I noticed the updated version toned down some of the really bright, blown-out look of the original, especially in the mall areas. It used to feel like the lighting was always changing! They also tweaked the shadows, but honestly, the characters sometimes looked a little flat during the cutscenes. They seemed to have softened things overall, reducing some of the grainy filters and that unique ‘TV camera’ feel the game had. Capcom did a great job bringing it back, though!

‘Devil May Cry HD Collection’ (2012)

The game collection received visual improvements like higher resolution and updated menus, but some effects, such as blur and depth perception, didn’t look quite right compared to the original games. Cutscenes sometimes had audio and video out of sync, and text appeared differently in various menus, creating an uneven experience. Additionally, textures and how the game fit the screen sometimes caused black bars or stretching, depending on the console it was played on. Capcom released the collection, with help from another studio on the visual updates.

‘Shenmue I & II’ (2018)

While the updated package offered consistent frame rates and resolutions, it reused many of the original textures, which resulted in some blurry or distorted details on signs and buildings. Changes to the game’s colors made nights appear brighter and cooler in certain areas, changing the overall mood. Reflections and shadows also looked different compared to the original Dreamcast version, sometimes causing strange visual effects with characters. SEGA released the package, with development assistance from d3t Ltd.

‘Risen’ (2023)

This updated version was made for current gaming consoles, but the graphics didn’t receive a major overhaul. While the resolution was slightly increased, the visual improvements were subtle, leaving textures like plants and rocks looking old-fashioned. Players noticed issues with how shadows appeared and how details loaded in open areas, which sometimes caused the game to run less smoothly. Some users also experienced problems with the user interface, where items in menus and on the map appeared blurry. THQ Nordic published the updated game, with help from a development team specializing in porting games to different platforms.

Let us know in the comments which remakes didn’t live up to expectations and which original versions you still enjoy!

2025-11-21 05:47