Video games have been a medium for decades at this point, spawning many legendary titles and franchises. As some of these games are quite old, some players might not have experienced them. These games also most likely have aspects of them that don’t fit with the modern environment, the most obvious of which being graphics.
Remaking a gameis a way to reintroduce an older video game to a modern audience, to the modern landscape, or both. And within the many genres, first-person shooters have always been insanely popular, with some titles indeed being decades old. However, some have been remade, sometimes received positively, sometimes received negatively, but nonetheless breathing new air into the series.
TheCounter-Strikeserieshas seen its fair share of weird games, fromCounter-Strike Nexon, toCounter-Strike NEO.Counter-Strike: Sourcewas Valve’s attempt at remaking the originalCounter-Strike, despite being often remembered as its own standalone game nowadays, which makes sense given it took them over two decades to make a direct sequel to the original.
Counter-Strike Source’slength is open-ended, as being a competitive multiplayer game, it technically doesn’t have an ending. Players can play for as long as they want to, whether that’s five hours, or thousands of hours. One can argue its length ended in 2012 whenCounter-Strike: Global Offensivetook over as the new game of the series, but even now, people can go back and continue playingCS: Source,given it doesn’t have a conclusive ending.
2025-07-03
Genre
First-person Shooter
Rise of the Triadhas had some different versions of it released since its release in 1995. Recently, theRise of the Triad: Ludicrous Editionwas released, being a remaster of the original. However, the 2013 game, simply titledRise of the Triad,was a remake of the original game, aiming to replicate the gameplay of the 1995 title.
The player is able to move at a fast speed, the level design is non-linear, and there are various weapons for use in fighting enemies.The game will take about seven hoursto complete on average, while the additional side content can add on to this, increasing the time to eleven hours. For completionist players, the game can be a decent time sink, taking up to around thirty-eight hours to complete.
TheJames Bondseries has seen its fair share of video game entries, going back decades at this point. Among them, the most legendary was the 1997 game,GoldenEye 007for the Nintendo 64. Being such a beloved and legendary game, it would make sense for a remake to be created of it at some point.
In 2010, a remake ofGoldenEye 007was released, simply also namedGoldenEye 007,for the Wii and Nintendo DS. The remake has some changes to it compared to the original, such as the use of Daniel Craig asJames Bondinstead of Pierce Brosnan, but still allows players to play through areas of the film interactively. There are a different number of weapons for the player to use and progress through the game with. Thegame usually takes around seven hoursto complete, while it can take sixteen hours when also indulging in the side content.
Valve is one of the most legendary gaming companies to exist, finding success off ofequally legendary gamesthat have stood the test of time. Out of the different franchises they have created,Half-Lifeis the most well-known, being one of the most influential games ever. As a result, a remake of it would naturally come about sooner or later.
Named after the facility the game takes place in,Black Mesais a remake of the originalHalf-Life,with stunning visuals as its immediate obvious feature. It is a very faithful remake of the firstHalf-Life,bringing the original areas, enemies, and weapons into a modern re-imagining that lives up to the legacy created by the original game. It isn’t too long of an experience either, beingaround fifteen hours longwhen focusing on the main story, and around eighteen hours long when completing the side content. Its length might be a result of a remake of a game made in 1998, but that doesn’t negate its viability, and anyone who enjoys the original, or is looking to get into theHalf-Lifeseries,should playBlack Mesa.
There were various games released in the 1990s that earned legendary status, and became some of themost influential gamesto be created, withSystem Shockbeing one such example. Released in 1994, it became a beloved game that is often talked about as a title that should be played when discussing the all-time greats.
As a result of such praise, it was a natural conclusion for a remake to be created. Released in 2023, the remake also garnered high praise, for keeping it in line with what made the original great, but also updating for the modern landscape. As it is a remake based on a game released in 1994, the length isn’t as long compared to some modern video games, onlytaking around sixteen hoursto complete it. However, the side content can increase this playtime up to around twenty-four hours, while for the completionist, it can take thirty-three hours, making for a good deluge of gameplay.
