I am in the planning stage of a full scale remake the Xenosaga series in the Unreal 4 engine, and at the moment have already made two possible routes both of which involve a full remake of all assets as well as new ones, route 1 is a remake with the same mechanics (more or less unified) as the originals but redesigned maps and content but roughly the same core content, or option 2 a complete (and ambitious) remake in a hybrid third person/first person format which will be rather difficult to pull off effectively, whereas option 1 will be a faithful remake option 2 will be in most ways completely new while keeping the same story and adding much more content as well as interactive parts including character based abilites and puzzles as well as significantly more gameplay options, objectives and features, think something like a cross between xenosaga and, well maybe skyrim and mechwarrior, although gameplay will be radically different, but will still keep the epic feel of the original trilogy if not improve on it.
I want to know if you want a faithful remake or a completely modernized experience or both, after all I have nothing but time to myself, but I may need assistance with certain aspects including modeling and sounds, and I have no idea how to do voice overs, but I am sure that it is possible and before you say that I do not intend to actually go through with this, I actually do and intend to see it through as obviously there will not be an official remake, and am only looking for suggestions and possible help as well as what the community desires. If I have to i'll do it myself but it may take years, but I will get it done.
anyway on to what I (personally) had in mind...
first and foremost I personally am not a purist, not really anyway and would prefer a much more in depth remake than a faithful one.
both will be much more detailed and designed from the ground up but option one won't change anything important other than the assets in the game, but option 2 I have much more fleshed out, and would prefer your opinion on since it is the most unique.
I intend for there to be third person primarily on foot, as well as first and third person for AGWS AMWS and ES craft as well as controlling ships more on that in a bit.
Puzzles that require unusual thinking and teamwork with your party and some rather scientific and philosphical puzzles as well, that will require research into the background lore to solve as well as some outside the box thinking, as well as the use of each member's abilites.
RPG mechanics for characters.
use of character specific talents, an example would be KOS-MOS can do things other characters can't such as move faster, run along walls, have greatly increased strength and agility as well as see things others can't (D.S.S.S and scanning mechanic) which will all have they're own uses,
weapons may or may not require aiming depending on your preferences,
cover mechanics if the above is desired.
stealth mechanics for many missions including pleroma, the durandal's invasion (both of them) as well as other areas.
multi choice situations that may or may not directly influence the story but will influence your chances of survival
Terrifyingly dangerous Gnosis, Full hilbert effect usage, if you do not use it on them you will die... instantly, the woglinde section will require stealth to survive, and only MOMO or KOS-MOS have a Hilbert resonance Emitter, maybe use hilbert (grenades or ammunition?), rare use conservatively.
Ethers will be much more useful and do more than just heal or damage things, as well as an ether overload feature (use them without enough EP and you could damage, incapacitate or even kill yourself).
Health system, KOS-MOS and Zigg can have subsystem damage, and losing all hp does not mean death unless it's a ridiculous amount of damage or an execution by an enemy as well as a direct hit from a out of phase gnosis, revives will be used for KIA while incapacitation is temporary, if KIA by gnosis crystallization, game over results (very rare and heavily dependent on stealth, or if you don't use HRE before attacking in which case you deserve it anyway.)
Difficulty settings, as well as realism for various aspects, can be easy and casual, challenging and realistic or as difficult as killing a testament with your bare hands and requires you to have an actual ES pilot's license.
control over the Elsa and free roam between primary story missions,
space combat with drones or mechs as well as the elsa
Upgrade the elsa with weapons, engines, shields armor etc or just make your own customisations to your quarters
Learn how to pilot an AGWS and then crash into a building with the E.S Asher while leraning how to operate it, or the Dinah when Shion tries to operate it without KOS-MOS,
fuel mechanic for AGWS and AMWS, youll be able to use AGWS anywhere there's things to kill, and AMWS When in areas not big enough for an ES and it will either be FPS or TPS based, hopefully like mechwarrior only much more fun.
significantly expanded galaxy, many planets and side missions
a fully functional connection gear as well as upgrades for it and maybe some cool minigames as well as an AI assistant for Shion later in episode one, that will be heavily expanded upon.
A massive amount of background information to learn and discover via scanning hacking or exploration and talking,.
exploit and abuse Allen or make him into someone interesting and useful,
talk to KOS-MOS and maybe annoy her enough to do unusual things
Maybe have side missions as Albedo or other characters
U-DO Dream sections with puzzles for shion.
Hidden choices that may cause unexpected and possibly humorous situations or early endings (maybe let Merkabah destroy Miltia) prevent KOS-MOS from killing vergil or maybe
choose Kevin at the end of episode three.
and who knows what we will do in the second trilogy
and many other features as if this wasn't enough
expect it to be similar to mass effect in some ways only much bigger, better and without the bull$^&* ending, sort of, as I intend to finish 4,5 and 6 as well
This will not be like COD or anything that terrible but it will be something good and enjoyable, and no focus on multiplayer, except maybe co-op (MAYBE)... the story takes highest priority, It will be real quality, quality that games used to have before mass produced EA and other garbage.
or we could just go with a smaller and faithful remake/remaster ( i don't want to though)
It will unfortunately be PC only but will be generous to people with low end specs but also with high end as well
maybe it could be run by high end or just a potato, maybe even vr though honestly I don't see how unless it's just for vehicles
maybe a donation based funding system if possible or indeed necessary.
I think with more planning and maybe some actual ideas from the community this rough draft could be epic or just be a really good faithful remake, it's your choice, but I could do both as it could share most assets, and maybe include a classic or new mode option or something, not sure yet, and keep in mind this will be non-profit and if they do try a C&D I will just make it for myself however i want it to be, but honestly I would like to release publicly if possible, no matter what it ends up being...
so Please let your ideas and opinions flow out from your minds. you will come up with ideas and help, your hands will type them willingly and you will be content...
so go ahead tell me what you think, and maybe we can can make it happen ourselves, not like they will...
oh and remember I am Albedo so don't think that I am not ambitious much less sane(but I am the best), I will make this happen one way or another... I guess my holiday will end up being a release date, oh well... it's something that will show off my greatness.
Update... I have begun production of something simple... A model of the Zohar... will need textures though.
I want to know if you want a faithful remake or a completely modernized experience or both, after all I have nothing but time to myself, but I may need assistance with certain aspects including modeling and sounds, and I have no idea how to do voice overs, but I am sure that it is possible and before you say that I do not intend to actually go through with this, I actually do and intend to see it through as obviously there will not be an official remake, and am only looking for suggestions and possible help as well as what the community desires. If I have to i'll do it myself but it may take years, but I will get it done.
anyway on to what I (personally) had in mind...
first and foremost I personally am not a purist, not really anyway and would prefer a much more in depth remake than a faithful one.
both will be much more detailed and designed from the ground up but option one won't change anything important other than the assets in the game, but option 2 I have much more fleshed out, and would prefer your opinion on since it is the most unique.
I intend for there to be third person primarily on foot, as well as first and third person for AGWS AMWS and ES craft as well as controlling ships more on that in a bit.
Puzzles that require unusual thinking and teamwork with your party and some rather scientific and philosphical puzzles as well, that will require research into the background lore to solve as well as some outside the box thinking, as well as the use of each member's abilites.
RPG mechanics for characters.
use of character specific talents, an example would be KOS-MOS can do things other characters can't such as move faster, run along walls, have greatly increased strength and agility as well as see things others can't (D.S.S.S and scanning mechanic) which will all have they're own uses,
weapons may or may not require aiming depending on your preferences,
cover mechanics if the above is desired.
stealth mechanics for many missions including pleroma, the durandal's invasion (both of them) as well as other areas.
multi choice situations that may or may not directly influence the story but will influence your chances of survival
Terrifyingly dangerous Gnosis, Full hilbert effect usage, if you do not use it on them you will die... instantly, the woglinde section will require stealth to survive, and only MOMO or KOS-MOS have a Hilbert resonance Emitter, maybe use hilbert (grenades or ammunition?), rare use conservatively.
Ethers will be much more useful and do more than just heal or damage things, as well as an ether overload feature (use them without enough EP and you could damage, incapacitate or even kill yourself).
Health system, KOS-MOS and Zigg can have subsystem damage, and losing all hp does not mean death unless it's a ridiculous amount of damage or an execution by an enemy as well as a direct hit from a out of phase gnosis, revives will be used for KIA while incapacitation is temporary, if KIA by gnosis crystallization, game over results (very rare and heavily dependent on stealth, or if you don't use HRE before attacking in which case you deserve it anyway.)
Difficulty settings, as well as realism for various aspects, can be easy and casual, challenging and realistic or as difficult as killing a testament with your bare hands and requires you to have an actual ES pilot's license.
control over the Elsa and free roam between primary story missions,
space combat with drones or mechs as well as the elsa
Upgrade the elsa with weapons, engines, shields armor etc or just make your own customisations to your quarters
Learn how to pilot an AGWS and then crash into a building with the E.S Asher while leraning how to operate it, or the Dinah when Shion tries to operate it without KOS-MOS,
fuel mechanic for AGWS and AMWS, youll be able to use AGWS anywhere there's things to kill, and AMWS When in areas not big enough for an ES and it will either be FPS or TPS based, hopefully like mechwarrior only much more fun.
significantly expanded galaxy, many planets and side missions
a fully functional connection gear as well as upgrades for it and maybe some cool minigames as well as an AI assistant for Shion later in episode one, that will be heavily expanded upon.
A massive amount of background information to learn and discover via scanning hacking or exploration and talking,.
exploit and abuse Allen or make him into someone interesting and useful,
talk to KOS-MOS and maybe annoy her enough to do unusual things
Maybe have side missions as Albedo or other characters
U-DO Dream sections with puzzles for shion.
Hidden choices that may cause unexpected and possibly humorous situations or early endings (maybe let Merkabah destroy Miltia) prevent KOS-MOS from killing vergil or maybe
choose Kevin at the end of episode three.
and who knows what we will do in the second trilogy
and many other features as if this wasn't enough
expect it to be similar to mass effect in some ways only much bigger, better and without the bull$^&* ending, sort of, as I intend to finish 4,5 and 6 as well
This will not be like COD or anything that terrible but it will be something good and enjoyable, and no focus on multiplayer, except maybe co-op (MAYBE)... the story takes highest priority, It will be real quality, quality that games used to have before mass produced EA and other garbage.
or we could just go with a smaller and faithful remake/remaster ( i don't want to though)
It will unfortunately be PC only but will be generous to people with low end specs but also with high end as well
maybe it could be run by high end or just a potato, maybe even vr though honestly I don't see how unless it's just for vehicles
maybe a donation based funding system if possible or indeed necessary.
I think with more planning and maybe some actual ideas from the community this rough draft could be epic or just be a really good faithful remake, it's your choice, but I could do both as it could share most assets, and maybe include a classic or new mode option or something, not sure yet, and keep in mind this will be non-profit and if they do try a C&D I will just make it for myself however i want it to be, but honestly I would like to release publicly if possible, no matter what it ends up being...
so Please let your ideas and opinions flow out from your minds. you will come up with ideas and help, your hands will type them willingly and you will be content...
so go ahead tell me what you think, and maybe we can can make it happen ourselves, not like they will...
oh and remember I am Albedo so don't think that I am not ambitious much less sane(but I am the best), I will make this happen one way or another... I guess my holiday will end up being a release date, oh well... it's something that will show off my greatness.
Update... I have begun production of something simple... A model of the Zohar... will need textures though.
