10 Video Game Remakes NO ONE Asked For

6. Bomberman: Act Zero

until dawn remake
Hudson Soft

The bulk of Bomberman's gameplay involves cornering enemies and blowing them up with high-powered explosives. The premise may sound dark out of context, but Hudson Soft's pioneering franchise is renowned for its light-hearted vibe and cutesy aesthetic.

That's why it was non-sensical when the adorable maze adventure title received a gritty reboot in 2006. Bomberman: Act Zero did away with the kiddy design, replacing it with realistic graphics. Rather than playing as the cheerful and upbeat hero we're all familiar with, you took control of a futuristic soldier who's trying to escape from a labyrinth-like dystopia.

To the surprise of nobody, Act Zero was lambasted for its forced edginess and failing miserably to capture the spirit of its predecessor. Not only that, there's no diversity in the gameplay whatsoever since every level is identical.

Not only was Act Zero absolute drivel, it highlighted that Bomberman doesn't need to be retooled. Like Tetris or Pac-Man, every remake, reimagining, and reboot of Bomberman has failed to improve on the original concept, which Hudson Soft perfected when the franchise was in its infancy. Though companies keep attempting to revitalise the addictive brand, Bomberman was at its best in the good old days.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows