Knock the Dust Off: 10 Video Games From the '90s (and Beyond) That Desperately Need the "Strider" Treatment

Strider was dope. Here are 10 games from the 90s that desperately need the Strider treatment.

March 26, 2014

Image via Complex Original

Have you played the new Strider from Double Helix?

The game is kind of amazing. We've been playing it on the Xbox One and the game has done the legacy of Capcom's platformer justice. The game is visually compelling and managed that rare task to make us actually feel like a somersaulting ninja badass. Should you be playing Strider?

That depends. Do you like awesome shit? Well then, yes, you should be playing Strider. But these vehement and breathless accolades got us thinking.

What other classic titles are in need of the Strider treatment? Not just an HD reboot, but an actual ground up, next-gen rebuilding.

Here are ten titles that are criminally overdue for an introduction to current-gen consoles.

10. Oregon Trail

If we're going to be completely honest, Oregon Trail was never a pretty game, even for its time. It's perfect for a graphical update. The Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U and modern PCs could produce beautiful environments and deadly hazards for the path out west.

The story isn't one to be rewritten, but the way we play the game could change. Players could drive their carriages, hunt and fight off thieves in a sandbox environment.

9. Harvest Moon 64

Laboring under the hot sun isn't most people's idea of fun, but Harvest Moon was addictive. Taking care of crops, wooing the town's ladies (and, later in the series, gentlemen), and observing town holidays was a ton of fun.

It would be amazing to see Harvest Moon 64 remastered (all of the black space surrounding the town could be filled in), the spelling errors corrected, and adding the option to play as a woman that would be found later in the series would bring a fan favorite up to modern standards.

8. NFL Blitz

Madden has been repetitive for awhile, and roster updates can't change that. It also doesn't look like we're getting another Backbreaker anytime soon.

For some more excitement and accessiblity, NFL Blitz would be a perfect fit for modern platforms. Add new teams and rosters and let fans play football with hard hits and almost no rules. Sign me up.

7. Golden Axe

Golden Axe is a classic, pure and simple. Some would say not to mess with it, but an update would bring it to the attention of a new generation. Keep the hack-and-slash gameplay, keep the spells.

A remake was made for the PlayStation 2, so that makes things even easier. Make an HD version and let us play Golden Axe again. And again. And again.

6. Skate or Die

Tony Hawk may be coming back to mobile, but Skate or Die could bring some attitude back to skating games. Updating the graphics, adding some new tricks and a punk rock soundtrack would freshen up a franchise that has been lying dormant for years.

The series of mini games would be make it perfect for a downlodable title on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network.

5. Vectorman

On a thematic level, there is no better game to bring up to modern standards than Vectorman. After humans leave Earth for other planets, Vectorman is one of several robots left to clean up the mess humans made with rampant pollution.

The game was ahead of its time. Climate change and space exploration are big topics these days, and Vectorman could comment on both of them while bringing a classic Sega Genesis game to new platforms.

4. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon was held in fairly high esteem, but it had it's issues. While its dialogue was memorable, it wasn't localized well, leaving some players confused. If the game was re-translated, given some voice acting, and had its graphics updated, you'd have a funny, innovative platformer ready to go.

3. RoboCop

If the critics are to be believed, the 2014 RoboCop film wasn't half bad. Why not upgrade the game?

We don't mean an adaptation like the recent mobile game - we mean to upgrade the 1988 arcade game.

Let's see near-future Detroit, an upgraded suit, and some stages based off of the new plot.

Keep the arcade-style, sidescrolling gameplay, though. No need to mess up a good thing.

2. Rampage

If PCs and consoles could add one thing to Rampage, it's destruction. Sure, the game was purposefully cartoony with its claymation visuals, but there's nothing like a modern graphics card to show the dust, broken glass, bent steel, and debris left behind by George, Lizzie, and Ralph. Let's add a sandbox mode, for good measure.

1. Vigilante 8

It's about time vehicular combat made a comeback, and what better way to do than to update Vigilante 8?

Though part of the game's charm was being it's 1970's flavor, it's story about a global oil crisis and crashing economy would make for some great contemporary satire.

Also, updating the game to the 21st century would mean we could fight with some really nice, really fancy, really expensive cars.