I've actually never played Legend of Dragoon beyond a demo from one of OPM's issues (I was poor, man, I couldn't afford every cool game that came out!), but I have to wonder, with the game being so old, and also considering how far the RPG genre has evolved over the years, what would you expect a Legend of Dragoon on PS5 to be like?
Bluepoint has shown that they have a mission statement to maintain the integrity of the gameplay of the titles they remake, even when they update the visuals (see, Shadow of the Colossus HD Remaster on PS3, and Shadow of the Colossus Remake on PS4; aside from the obvious graphical improvements, the core feel of the gameplay is relatively identical; though the controls are tighter and more responsive, and the framerate is rock solid). So I wonder, what aspects of Legend of Dragoon should remain faithful to its now 21 year old game design?
Taking off rose tinted glasses for a second, are there any gameplay systems that still hold up today, and that would translate to modern game design sensibilities? And then I have to ask, if Bluepoint has to make executive decisions about how to bring that game forward 20 years, is it really still true to Legend of Dragoon for the fans?
Demon's Souls, at its core, is still Demon's Souls. It's gameplay systems were already brilliant and engaging. It was simply hampered by a mix of complicated to develop for hardware, and the time/budget resources at the From Software team's disposal. I'll have to watch some LoD let's plays, but I have a feeling that updating that game would be quite a monumental task for Bluepoint, and also potentially polarizing for longtime fans.
I think about Final Fantasy VII Remake. I remember loving the original to death back when I first played it in 1997, but I feel like the Remake was an excellent re-imagining, and it wasn't just a copy/paste of the original, with pretty graphics. I guess, to wrap my head around the passion for a LoD remake, I want to know what the fans of the original actually want when they picture a Legend of Dragoon Remake on PS5.
Personally, I think Bluepoint excels at 3rd person action/adventure games. It's primarily what they've spent the past 10+ honing their developmental skills on. With that in mind, I think, if they stay in the Sony catalogue, a remake of inFAMOUS and inFAMOUS 2 would be an excellent fit. The core gameplay of inFAMOUS is great, and the super powers and setting of Empire City and New Marais would let them flex their engine's muscles as well. Jak and Daxter might work, but I wonder how they'd translate the bright and colorful cartoony style to the PS5. I'd hope like Insomniac has been continuously evolving Ratchet & Clank into over the past decade, but I wonder if Bluepoint's artists are interested in going that route, when they so clearly have a strong eye for more "grounded," "gritty," and "realistic" worlds.
I can't see them doing a remake of Uncharted, as they've already remastered the original trilogy for PS4. Same for God of War 1 -3 Remake, so I'm curious. I'm not saying I wouldn't be down for a Legend of Dragoon Remake (I know that they've already expressed a fondness for that game), I just wonder how closely to the original would they be able to keep, while keeping longtime fans pleased, yet appealing to the wider PlayStation audience with gameplay mechanics that may be considered "dated" by today's standards.
