By Dean Moses
When video game consoles made the jump to high definition, gamers were first introduced to the remaster. This refers to the redistribution of an older title upgraded to look and play better, which soon became a trend for many years to come. However, with the advent of 4K, ultra-fast systems there is now a fresh trend on the market, that of the upgrade. If a player owns a specific list of older titles, they can purchase an upgraded version of that same game. Here are the best currently available:
Game: Death Stranding Director’s Cut
Platform: PS5
Rating: M for Mature
Cost: $59.99
There are games that will forever live-in infamy—the ones that you play over and over again, trying to unlock every trophy or achievement. While Death Stranding tends to be somewhat polarizing, there is no denying once it hooks you, you are… well, hooked. Developed by the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding is perhaps one of the most unique games ever to hit consoles by putting players in the shoes of a delivery man in a post-apocalyptic world. Providing an epic narrative and an abundance of gameplay nuances, the newest iteration of the game shows-off beautiful graphics and super-fast load times, along with a number of extra in-game features.
Game: Alan Wake Remastered
Platform: Xbox Series and PlayStation 5
Rating: T for Teen
Cost: $30.00
Less of an upgrade and more of a–as the game’s name implies–remaster, Alan Wake is back with vastly improved visuals. While still not quite up to snuff when compared to its more contemporary peers, this tale of a fiction writer battling shadowy foes appears vastly more appealing to the eye than launched on the Xbox 360 all those years ago. Thanks to a compelling story and distinctive combat mechanics, Alan Wake Remastered remains a must own for fans of Stephen-esque storytelling.
Game: Marvel’s Avengers
Platform: PS4/PS5
Rating: T for Teen
Cost: $39.00 (upgrade is free if you purchased the PS4 version)
Introduced just before the PlayStation 5 was released, Marvel’s Avengers was one of the first to receive a free upgrade for all of those who purchased the PlayStation 4 version. This epic, third-person, action-adventure is the perfect single and multiplayer game for comic book lovers. It pays homage to lore of each Marvel character in the comic books while also offering a few nods to the films as well. The biggest change in the upgrade is the load time, which often could take several minutes—a nuisance if your character keeps dying—as well as the option to play in either 4K mode or Performance mode.
Game: Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
Platform: PS4/PS5
Rating: M for Mature
Cost: $69.99 for PS5/$59.99 for PS4
Ghost of Tsushima ushered in a controversial shift in PlayStation’s marketing technique, which went from free upgrades if you purchased the PS4 version to paying full price on an item that is the same game, just slightly enhanced with Downloadedable content. The Director’s Cut boasts similar attributes to other upgrades, such as faster load times, 4k mode and performance mode, as well as new island to explore with other downloaded content.
