Reviving Gaming's Legacy: How Retro Franchises are Shaping the Future

In an era where the video game industry is dominated by big-budget, AAA projects, a few publishers and studios are finding innovative ways to breathe new life into beloved classics. From remakes and remasters to direct sequels and genre-bending reimaginings, these companies are proving that the past can be a powerful source of inspiration for the future.

Unlocking the Potential of Retro Gaming Franchises

Redefining the Boundaries of Remake and Reimagination

The video game industry has long been enamored with the idea of revisiting classic titles, but the approaches taken by publishers and developers have varied greatly. Some opt for faithful remakes, while others take a more daring path, blending the familiar with the unexpected. Square Enix's "Final Fantasy VII Remake" is a prime example of the latter, using time-bending and alternate reality tropes to both honor the original story and serve as a sequel to the beloved 1997 RPG.

Dotemu, a publisher known for its work on modern reimaginings of classic franchises, has taken a different approach. Instead of remaking the games, they've sought out studios willing to create direct sequels that build upon the foundations of the past. This philosophy of "modernization over direct preservation" has resulted in titles like "Streets of Rage 4" and "Windjammers 2," which bring familiar names back to life while adapting and improving upon the original gameplay and visual aesthetics.

Translating Arcade Classics into New Genres

One of Dotemu's latest projects, "Metal Slug Tactics," exemplifies this approach. The iconic SNK war-themed side-scroller is making a comeback, but this time with a more tactical twist. Traditionally known for its fast-paced, run-and-gun gameplay, the "Metal Slug" series is now being reimagined as a slower-paced strategy game, while still retaining its classic pixel art aesthetic.

Leikir Studio, the developer behind "Metal Slug Tactics," faced the challenge of adapting the franchise's beloved visual style to a new genre. As Aurelien Loos, the game's creative director, explains, "For us, Metal Slug is almost the definition of pixel art, so we can't do anything more than that, it doesn't make any sense." The team's commitment to preserving the series' iconic look, combined with the need to translate it into an isometric 3D plane, resulted in a meticulous process of recreating and enhancing the original sprite-based visuals.

Striking a Balance Between Retro and Modern

The collaboration between Leikir Studio and SNK, the original creators of "Metal Slug," was crucial in ensuring that the new tactical approach remained true to the franchise's essence. Frequent communication and feedback from SNK helped the development team strike the right balance between respecting the past and introducing innovative gameplay elements.

Cyrille Imbert, the CEO of Dotemu, emphasizes the importance of this balance, stating, "We have to bring something new to the table. When we start a project, we ask ourselves if there is a specific need, and if so, how can we best answer it? For us, it's to create something new, but in a way that captures the essence of what the original game was and delivers it in a modern way that people want to play."

Preserving Gaming's Legacy Through Modernization

The work of Dotemu and its partner studios can be seen as a form of indirect game preservation. By reviving classic franchises and adapting them for modern audiences, they are ensuring that these beloved titles remain accessible and relevant to new generations of players.

Imbert acknowledges that the gaming industry has been slow to prioritize preservation efforts, with many early developers and publishers failing to see the value in safeguarding their digital legacies. However, as the industry has matured, the importance of preserving gaming's history has become increasingly recognized. By breathing new life into these classic IPs, Dotemu and its collaborators are not only satisfying the nostalgia of longtime fans but also introducing these beloved franchises to a new audience.

Tapping into the Untapped Potential of Retro Gaming

As Dotemu and its partners continue to explore the vast landscape of gaming's past, the possibilities for future projects are endless. Aurelien Loos, the creative director of "Metal Slug Tactics," expresses a personal desire to see classic RPG franchises like "Secret of Mana," "Final Fantasy Tactics," and "Suikoden 2" receive similar treatment.

Cyrille Imbert, on the other hand, has his sights set on reviving the spirit of the beloved MMORPG "Dark Age of Camelot" in a more modern, genre-blending format. "There is something to do there to kind of bring back that Dark Age of Camelot spirit," Imbert says, suggesting that a base-building survival sim akin to "Valheim" could be a viable approach to capturing the essence of the classic title without the need for a full-fledged MMORPG development.

As the video game industry continues to evolve, the demand for innovative and nostalgic experiences is only growing. By tapping into the rich history of gaming and reimagining beloved classics in fresh and exciting ways, publishers and developers like Dotemu are not only preserving the past but also shaping the future of the medium. The possibilities are endless, and the journey of reviving gaming's legacy has only just begun.