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Christmas is a time of fond memories for many gamers, whether it be unwrapping our N64s and getting stuck into Goldeneye 007 or playing our best party games with friends. At this time of great gaming experiences and excessive consumption of food, we should take a moment to look at some of those games that we've come to love through the years along with the remakes, ports and other throwbacks that have been made in their wake.

It has taken time for the games industry to find its feet in terms of what signifies a classic but today we can look back at the generations of gaming and see dozens of titles that shine amongst their contemporaries and remind us of why we love the gaming medium above all others. Whether it's a popular classic or one of our own favourites, we all go back to these unforgettable games now and then. The best thing about nostalgia in gaming is that the industry has made a surprisingly regular habit of trying to sate our nostalgic needs.

Whether it's a port or a remake or even a mod for a more modern game, the gaming world has countless ways to give us access to our old favourites. Some of these reincarnations have been excellent, giving us both a method and an excuse to travel back in time. Others have met with harsh criticism or have fizzled away with little mention. Generally we see two kinds of remake; one with a purist philosophy that changes little in the game play (direct ports and emulations can also be placed in this category) and another that makes significant changes to help the game fit into the modern arena.

Memories of Mario
Nintendo has been one of the most generous providers of game remakes and they often give gamers a gentle nudge down memory lane with their references to Nintendo classics; whether it's an old Mario Kart track revisited in a new game or the bundling of greats like The Ocarina of Time in with more modern packages.

Nintendo has paid particular attention to its flagship franchise, Mario, and his recurring forays into our gaming lives. Super Mario 64 has long stood as one of the defining games of the 3D era. It also captured our hearts with its engrossing world and memorable levels that still entertain to this day. Nintendo have, of course, capitalised on Mario 64's success and we have two new versions to prove it.

The first significant remake of Super Mario 64 was on the DS and it added a lot to the features on offer in the game. Players can now control Yoshi, Luigi and Wario in addition to Mario while questing for additional stars on top of those that came with the original game. To sweeten the deal Nintendo threw in a wide selection of mini-games. Another remake for Mario 64 would come in the form of a higher resolution version downloadable on the Wii Virtual Console. Finally, if you haven't played Mario Galaxy 2 already, give it a go to find a remake of a familiar Mario 64 level (although this should really be the least of your reasons for trying out Mario Galaxy 2).

In addition to Mario 64 Nintendo has also recently revisited Mario's origins with modernised versions of the classic Super Mario Bros. on both the DS and the Wii. These games offer new items, far superior graphics, new bosses and a host of new levels. If that weren't enough, the compilation Super Mario All-Stars has just been released in a 25th Anniversary Edition with a collection of the earliest Mario games.

The Wii and DS aren't the only Nintendo consoles to play host to remakes of beloved classics. Before the Wii came along, the GameCube (while not lacking in its own selection of games) enjoyed some superb remakes. Several Nintendo greats were re-released in their original form on the GameCube (look for The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition for a great deal) while a couple other classics were given complete refits.

Journeys to the Past
The first of these two games was Capcom's Resident Evil (REmake to the fans), the origin of a series that needs no introduction. Resident Evil for the GameCube offered tremendous enhancements on the original game while not compromising the narrative. Characters are no longer polygonal and the environments are now high quality pre-rendered images surpassing those of the original game. Game play has also been enhanced with new game modes, character animations to convey health and a better control system. While the remake didn't outsell its predecessor it did fend well for itself with 1.35 million sales and critical acclaim.

The second high profile remake was that of the first Metal Gear Solid game; reborn as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. The GameCube remake features many new game play elements found in later instalments in the series such as the ability to use first person view and improved enemy A.I. Perhaps most notable is the rewritten translation, new voice acting (by mostly the same cast) and a new score. Personally I find it a shame to lose the original soundtrack which had a lot of character, but generally speaking this remake has a lot to offer an interested collector.

Nintendo aren't the only ones to revisit their classic two dimensional style of gaming. In an effort to please nostalgic old school fans and to draw in new players, Sega have returned to their original style of 2D Sonic platformer this year. Sonic 4: Episode 1 offers players a modernised set of four zones that are strongly based on levels from the Sonic classics Sonic 1 and Sonic 2. The bosses are also very similar. While the game did enjoy success, Sonic 4 has irritated some retro fans with its very different physics and the addition of a lock on ability. In addition to Sonic 4, Sega are known for releasing their Mega Drive and Master System classics in countless iterations on various platforms both handheld and console based.

A more recent success has gripped those of us who played through the N64 era and enjoyed the party multiplayer revolution that was Goldeneye 007. The remake of the same name for the Wii is made by different developers and offers a completely new campaign based on the story of the film. While the game is only based on the same source material as the original, Goldeneye 007 does offer an experience that harkens back to the N64 classic. The story itself is heavily modernised and updated. It is, however, written by one of the writers of the original film.

Reborn in a New Dimension
It's been a good couple years for those of us with nostalgic tendencies; many classics have received modernised remakes lately, from the XBLA Perfect Dark or the long awaited Pokémon Gold and Silver remakes. The downloadable nature of modern games has allowed for countless ports of old games to easily accessible platforms. The future, however, has yet more throwbacks to the golden days waiting for us. The release of the Nintendo 3DS will mark another excellent opportunity to travel back in time, as two N64 greats will be released with it.

Lylat Wars (Starfox 64 to those across the Atlantic) will be receiving a 3D remake on the 3DS. Also in the early line-up will be The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, a remake of one of the greatest games of all time. Not only will these games be in 3D, they will also take advantage of the touch screen. It goes without saying that mobile, 3D versions of these games are a very exciting prospect.

Games, by their nature, offer incredibly immersive experiences and so it's natural that gamers will want to revisit the worlds and atmosphere of the classics they have so enjoyed. Thankfully the gaming industry seems to be aware of our passion for the retro greats and we've seen it put out remakes faster than any other medium. Despite this, there are still some fantastic titles are in need of an update; for example there have been regular calls for Final Fantasy 7 to receive its long needed remake. For now there are plenty of remakes out there to refresh our favourite gaming memories and, if all else fails, we can always dig up and dust off our most beloved consoles.