Best Character Action Games That Deserve the Remaster Treatment

Character Action, Stylish Action, Hack and Slash, or just good old action games, whatever you want to call them, we all know them when we see them. Games with technically impressive combat systems, plenty of character flair, and an emphasis on gameplay mastery.

These are some of the most rewarding games to sink your teeth into with endless replayability.

While there are many titles on multiple platforms through ports or backward compatibility, several classics remain confined to their original release platforms. It’s a shame because the genre once offered not just quality but quantity as well. Here are our picks for the best character action games that deserve the remaster treatment on modern platforms

Now, let’s get this out of the way. Not all games here fit the strict definition of character action games. Instead, these are action titles that offer more depth than most games with shallow combat systems.

With that said, here are ten of the best character action games that deserve a remaster.

10) Urban Reign

• Release Date: September 13, 2005
• Platform: PS2

Urban Reign is an overlooked gem of a beat ’em up PS2 release featuring a complex brawling combat system with plenty of grapples, sweeps, throws, counters, and launchers. Developed by the Tekken team, its combat system shares obvious similarities to the fighting franchise going as far as to include Paul and Law as playable characters.

Its initial difficulty might put off some players, but once you get past the first few missions, you’ll be juggling and wall-splatting goons with ease. The animations are highly detailed, covering a wide range of attacks, and the soundtrack is pure early 2000s NAMCO bliss.

09) Ghost Rider

• Release Date: February 13, 2007
• Platform: PS2, PSP

Before Sam Barlow worked on Her Story and Immortality, he served as the lead designer on a licensed Ghost Rider action game, released to coincide with the live-action film. This was no disposable licensed game, however, and features a fun combat system with all the right ideas.

Inspired largely by Devil May Cry and God of War, Ghost Rider comes with a style rank, tons of combos from the get-go, and none of the RPG-lite mechanics we’ve come to expect from modern action titles. It is a fun ride with some neat motorcycle sections thrown in, has great feedback, and offers a grim aesthetic that’s vibrant and pleasing.

8) Bujingai: The Forsaken City

• Release Date: July 22, 2004
• Platform: PS2

Bujingai is another underappreciated action title that’s stuck on the PS2, which is a common trend you’ll see throughout this list. The PS2’s library is filled to the brim with action titles that are unfortunately being removed from our collective memory. Bujingai is one of those games, which would benefit tremendously from a remaster.

It’s not the most polished game on this list, and the voice acting is awful. The levels can range from boring to downright ugly, too. However, where it shines is the combat, which takes a bit of getting used to but rewards players who take the time to understand when certain attacks should be used.

It flows beautifully thanks to its strong art direction, detailed animation work, and a varied enemy roster, especially the bosses. Bujingai could benefit from a remaster that would work out the kinks and improve the camera and controls, making this a potentially fantastic title.

7) MadWorld

• Release Date: March 10, 2009
• Platform: Wii

The debut title from PlatinumGames deserves another look because, while it was praised by critics at the time, being limited to just the Wii meant it was never a commercial success. The action game is drenched in style with an aesthetic ripped straight from Frank Miller’s Sin City and a soundtrack that puts most AAA titles to shame.

It’s bloody, gory, and violent in all the right ways. SEGA has been slowly reviving their older franchises in the form of remasters, and we hope that they consider re-releasing MadWorld for modern hardware. Its timeless art style means that it would translate well to higher resolution and the control scheme could easily be converted to regular controllers.

6) Otogi 1 and 2

• Release Date: December 12, 2002
• Platform: Xbox

FromSoftware used to dabble in a host of action genres before its success with the Souls series, and both Otogi 1 and 2 are some of its most artistically imaginative and mechanically satisfying titles released exclusively for the Xbox.

While it has a competent combat system, the hook comes from the magic meter which slowly depletes when you begin a stage. You have several ways to keep it from depleting, but if you aren’t careful enough, it will lead to damage and eventual death. It’s a neat mechanic that forces players to be quick on their feet, makes each encounter critical, and rewards quick traversal through a level.

FromSoftware hasn’t exactly jumped on the remastering train, but we hope they consider making their back catalog available for a modern audience.

5) Shinobi

• Release Date: November 12, 2002
• Platform: PS2

The Shinobi franchise has spanned several console generations, but the PS2 reboot is the one that stands out for completely shifting the direction of the series for something bold, hardcore, and unlike anything else on the market.

Players take on the role of Hotsuma, who wields the Akujiki, a sword that feeds on the souls of fallen foes. However, if players don’t feed Akujiki these souls, it will turn on Hotsuma and kill him instead. That’s not all, as players can take out multiple foes in succession, including bosses, with the TATE technique. This forces players to think ahead, prioritize targets, and manage resources effectively.

4) God of War 1 and 2

• Release Date: March 22, 2005 & March 13, 2007
• Platform: PS2

Okay, technically, both God of War 1 and 2 received remasters on the PS3, but that’s yet another system the first two entries are confined to. I prefer the camera and combat design of the Greek Saga over the newer God of War titles. These games were never afraid to be shamelessly gory, featured an incredible sense of scale, and had a simple yet competent combat system with solid feedback.

These games were system sellers, yet players still have to rely on original hardware or emulation to experience them. There are rumors of a remastered collection for modern platforms, and we hope it actually comes to fruition.

3) Transformers Devastation

• Release Date: October 6, 2015
• Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

This isn’t exactly a case of a title needing a remaster, but even a re-release will suffice. Transformers Devastation was delisted from all digital storefronts in 2017, only two years after its release. This is because of the licensing agreement with Hasbro, but it’s a tragedy nonetheless.

PlatinumGames outdid themselves with an incredible action title that was a love letter to the G1 series with faithful designs, original voice actors, a smashing soundtrack, and some of the best boss battles in the studio’s history.

It was published by Activision, and we really hope that the title is re-released. You can still grab a physical copy for consoles, but good luck finding a key for Steam that’s listed for under $250. Probably the most deserving character action game that needs a remaster on this list so far.

2) Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2

• Release Date: June 26, 2003 & November 18, 2004
• Platform: PS2 and GameCube

After Devil May Cry, Hideki Kamiya went on to form Clover Studio, debuting with Viewtiful Joe. This unique take on the 2D beat ’em up genre showcases what’s possible in a 2D space when backed by a team with deep action-game expertise.

Players control Joe, who is sucked into Movieland and granted VFX powers, allowing him to slow time, fast forward, and zoom in. These abilities work together to create some of the most stylish combat encounters in both 2D and 3D action games.

Rather than attacking outright, players are encouraged to dodge first and cause enemies to enter a dizzy state which is perfect for dealing extra damage – especially when combined with VFX moves. Tough as nails, visually stunning, and endlessly replayable, Viewtiful Joe’s short runtime is bolstered by multiple difficulty levels that introduce new enemies, moves, and restrictions

1) God Hand

• Release Date: October 10, 2006
• Platform: PS2

Last but not least, we have another CAPCOM title that’s stuck on the PS2, which is none other than Shinji Mikami’s seminal action title, God Hand. It’s obvious that the game ran out of budget during development with some visible artistic compromises, especially in the graphics department.

However, this doesn’t take away from its excellent combat system, featuring an experimental yet intuitive camera that many action titles have taken the wrong lessons from. With endless customization thanks to its vast array of attacks, God Hand remains a misunderstood gem, an action game with bold ideas that would be better appreciated by a modern audience.

Remastering God Hand could easily smooth out its rough edges as long as the core experience is retained. We hope that CAPCOM considers bringing this flawed masterpiece to modern platforms just like they’re slowly remastering older titles like Dead Rising, Onimusha, and more.

That’s our list of some of the best action titles that are sadly stuck on their original platforms. What are some games you would like to see remastered for modern platforms? Let us know in the comments below.

---