The Reloaded remaster promises better balance

There’s something oddly fun about seeing a decades-old video game you never played resurface out of nowhere with an unlikely remaster.Kingpin: Life of Crime–a controversialQuake II-era FPS from Xatrix and Interplay– is coming back in 2020 with a remaster for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

As someone who has zero history with the original game, the trailer forKingpin: Reloadedisn’t terribly convincing. But after reading up on this deceptively bonkers game– it has art decoandCypress Hill!–I’ve warmed up to it. (Thisretro reviewfrom YouTuber GmanLives helped catch me up to speed.)

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Beyond 4K and ultrawide support, theKingpinremaster will also have a “new quest system” and “re-balanced and polished gameplay,” so it’s not just a straightforward visual refresh. In terms of modernizing the gameplay, let’s hope the thugs aren’t quite as bulletproof as they were in 1999.

“Kingpindoesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said 3D Realms founder Frederik Schreiber. “We have the privilege of giving it a second chance for people who never heard of it, and sprucing it up for diehard fans.” I’m sure some of you foundKingpinat the exact right time and place and have a soft spot for it.

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

As surprising as it is to see this IP return, it makes sense– old-school FPSes are in right now.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.