From an open world Sonic The Hedgehog to a Metroid remake, the past years have seen some of the most profound examples of fan-made games. Although most of them are no longer in production, we owe major thanks to these fans and creators for going above and beyond. These dedicated gamers put years into projects that ran the risk of cancellation at any moment and well…. Well, whatever because regardless of the results these awesome projects deserve some serious praise.
Here’s to the fan developers, their awesome creations, how far they got, and the years they spent trying.
1. Resident Evil 2 Remake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc_n9F3IMHA
The frustration for a Resident Evil 2 remake is more than understandable. It’s frustrating. Despite being a higher commercial success than its predecessor- a remastered version hasn’t yet hit the market. (And no, sorry, that rail shooter does not count) RE2 was first released on the Sony Playstation in 1998 so it’s not surprising to know more than one remake project were in production. Of all the canceled projects Capcom went after, this one was featured because it appears to be the closest to completion. That and this nifty ability to change the camera angle to Resident Evil 4‘s over-the-shoulder style.
2. M.U.G.E.N.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfay2icT5TY
M.U.G.E.N. was any fighting fan’s dream until recently when the community website was shut down. Created back in 1999 and packed with a roster of thousands of fictional characters, M.U.G.E.N. was one of the most popular fan-made games and the oldest. No matter how clunky the animations appeared, the sheer bet of who would win was simply fantastic. Thank you M.U.G.E.N. for the memory of Magento perishing under Phoenix Wright.
3. Sonic Utopia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5paaz16Nw20
Nobody expected something like Sonic Utopia. Fans have felt cursed since the dark days of Sonic 06. All hope seemed lost and then BAM. A beautiful open world with hills, ramps, and good controls? What is this!? The beta was released to universal praise for its strong sense of nostalgia and its minimal technical issues. I’ve personally played Sonic Utopia and I gotta say, it felt like a reunion. This fan-made love letter created by the fans for their fellow dedicated players is still available, so treat yourself.
4. Metroid Return of Samus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLaUVMTA3Go
The last major role of Samus Aran was in 2010 and it left more than just a bitter taste with fans. It only got worse after a nonexistent 30-year anniversary celebration. Yet fans still loved Metroid and plans for a Metroid II remake were set under the title Return of Samus. The aim was simple: bring better graphics and gameplay to a fan favorite title. Although the project was near completion, it was unfortunately canceled after a beta release. Return of Samus not only promised to bring a refined, better experience but new areas and an updated soundtrack.
5. Pokemon Uranium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8NxPo4S4To
Just like with Return of Samus, Pokemon Uranium was shut down shortly after it was released. This nine-year-old project was packed with new content including 150 new (fake) Pokemon, a nuclear type, and even some dark situations, one being the death of the characters. Another interesting addition was that of starter Pokemon being determinable by test results. Whatever the consensus, Pokemon Uranium would have been a very interesting take on the Pokemon universe.
