Reader Discussion: Are Re-released Games, Like Star Wars, Worth Playing and Paying Again?

Waiting for a new game to be released sucks. It seems to take forever and the game could end up being a dud. Sometimes the wait is the most unbearable part of the process and we have to find a way to cope. When you are dealing with a game based in a particular franchise or universe, you can relive some glory and kill time by playing existing games from said franchise.

Let’s look at one case in-particular: Star Wars. During the wait until Star Wars Battlefront is released, we keep seeing more and more of the Lucas Arts classics getting rereleased via digital venues and it begs the question…are they worth playing again?

“If you are a console aficionado, you have already limited your choices.”

It’s a hard question to answer with multiple angles to look at. If you are a console aficionado, you have already limited your choices. Most of the classic titles are locked to the platform they originally released on and few, if any, are being updated for newer consoles. In fact, outside of The Force Unleashed series, there are not many Star Wars games for the PS3/Xbox 360 era unless you include the LEGO games.

Those of the PC gamer level have far more options and continue to see their choices expand. GoG has rereleased several additional classic Star Wars games in addition to those that were already available on the service and Steam. It’s great to have these games available, but the value proposition may be questionable to some of us. These games are not being remastered and given a graphical refresh, they are just being made available in their existing fidelities. This distinction must be noted if you are looking at a game and must consider whether it is simply re-released or remastered, as it could drastically skew your expectations. Your brand-spankin-new GPU won’t make a game that is over ten years old look any better.

“Ultimately the decision comes down to you.”

If you never experienced these games or have an aching desire to play them again, then you are more likely to buy into these rereleases. Most of these games are clocking in around the $10 price range, and given the amount of play time you will get, that is not a bad price. Those with an abundance of cash and an inclination to extremities can spend $100 for thirteen of these games and still be missing out. You’ll have countless hours worth of games to play, but some of the “better” games are still not in the collection, like X-Wing, Tie-Fighter, X-Wing vs. Tie-Fighter, etc..

Ultimately the decision comes down to you. Will you spend the money now to feed a fetish or scratch an itch? Or are you ok with holding out and waiting for the fresh meat to drop into the cage? I would like to do both, but I can look back at my memories of these old games with a fondness and clarity that tells me I don’t need to play them again. For my taste, there have been too many re-releases and remasters. As much as I enjoy nostalgia, it doesn’t mean I want to relive it and sometimes memories should just stay as they are. I’d rather be paying for new content as opposed to repaying for something I’ve already experienced.

Plenty of other games and franchises are embarking on the rerelease route. Resident Evil just re-released recently and older games like Grim Fandango Remastered have yet to come. There is still an appreciation for these games and a will to have them live on since some have not experienced them. However, at some point innovation and invention must return to games in order to reinvigorate not only the player, but also the designers.

Paul Novak is a self described Polish ninja toiling away as an IT professional but more into gaming and writing. Physically existing in the west side of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania yet existentially flowing with the ether of the Internet. Found here at What’s Your Tag? and on the Twitter @dudewantshisrug. Game on with Team XBRO!