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Six Games That Deserve a Next-Gen Update

Replay value.

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If PlayStation Turkey's vice president is to be believed, PS3 hit The Last of Us is getting a next-generation update. The Turkish PlayStation exec was quoted earlier this week as saying that the grim adventures of Joel and Ellie would be heading to the PS4 as both a physical and digital release sometime later in 2014, although those details are yet to be officially confirmed by Sony. If this rumor does end up being true, then The Last of Us would become the latest game to receive an update to a new console. Tomb Raider, for example, made the leap from previous-gen to next-gen earlier this year. So what other games deserve a next-gen update? Which previous-generation titles could do with a graphical spit-and-polish, or could make use of beefier hardware, or would just be great to experience again on a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Wii U? GameSpot's editors outline their favorite choices below.

No offense Sif, but you would look so much better on next-gen.
No offense Sif, but you would look so much better on next-gen.

Dark Souls and Dark Souls II -- Kevin VanOrd

Given the recent hubbub over the differences between Dark Souls II's early showings and its visuals upon release, developer From Software clearly needed to make compromises for the game to run properly on consoles. As for the original Dark Souls, Blighttown's frame rate dips are the stuff of legend, not to mention the fits and starts that occur anytime a creature bearing masses of fur appears onscreen. (Oh, Sif, your silky hair was that battle's downfall.) Releasing new-gen versions of the Souls series is a no-brainer. An improved lighting model would reinforce the series' soul-crushing atmosphere, and a fluid frame rate would ensure we were cursing the horrific monsters rather than the horrific hitches.

Grand Theft Auto V -- Randolph Ramsay

There was a five-year gap between the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008 and last year's Grand Theft Auto V. That, of course, was far too long a wait. So what better way to make the wait before the inevitable release of Grand Theft Auto VI more tolerable than by releasing a PS4 and Xbox One (and PC, of course) version of GTA V? Sure, Los Santos already looked impressive on the Xbox 360 and PS3, but imagine what the graphical power of next-gen consoles would be able to do to the misadventures of Trevor, Michael, and Franklin. Some open-world games are already looking amazing on the Xbox One and PS4 (like Infamous: Second Son and Watch Dogs), and Grand Theft Auto V would be a welcome addition to that growing list of titles.

Cole at 1080p, 60fps. Would you like that?
Cole at 1080p, 60fps. Would you like that?

Infamous -- Tom Mc Shea

Looks aren't everything, but they do matter. And in the case of Infamous, its muddy aesthetics would make it mighty difficult to return to. That's a shame because this is one of the most inventive, satisfying, and entertaining open-world games ever devised. A new coat of paint would welcome in those who turn their nose up at archaic visuals, and would help us all better appreciate the incredible adventure that Sucker Punch constructed.

The World Ends With You -- Randolph Ramsay

Square Enix has released its fair share of outstanding role-playing games, and The World Ends With You certainly sits comfortably as one of the best the company has ever produced. The game--which was first released in the West in 2008--made excellent use of the DS' two screens, allowing players to input battle commands using the lower screen while keeping the combat visuals locked to the top. And what better way to emulate that handheld experience now than with the Wii U, the only home console that can really support the original's dual-screen functionality? The World Ends With You had a passable port to iOS in 2012, but the move to a platform that can mimic the control scheme that made the game so unique in the first place is one this outstanding JRPG deserves.

If we can't get Fallout 4, can we at least get the old Fallouts?
If we can't get Fallout 4, can we at least get the old Fallouts?

Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas -- Justin Haywald

You can name a lot of series that would be well-served by a definitive collection, but while it's unlikely that we'll get another Elder Scrolls Anthology so soon, it's been a long time since we've had a definitive Fallout collection. Fallout 3 and New Vegas were spectacularly buggy at launch, but that's why the next-gen update would be perfect: not only would console gamers be able to get the best-looking versions, but they would also have all the kinks worked out.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts -- Tom Mc Shea

The world wasn't ready for Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts in 2008. Cries that it wasn't a typical platformer dominated the conversation, dooming this crafting adventure to a quick death at retail. Now is the time for repentance. Nuts & Bolts would thrive in the post-Minecraft landscape, and the technical hiccups could be eliminated with the added horsepower of the Xbox One. Wouldn't it be great to relive Rare's glory days with this underappreciated classic?

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