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Lately, HD remakes of titles are not so much trendy, but more a key aspect of video game culture. HD remastering provides developers with the chance to double-up on sales of their games, while fans get a chance to play some of their favorite titles on the newest generation of consoles. Industry leaders are even making remasters of Triple-A titles a priority, so at the very least, remakes are a profitable business for popular games.

Atlus and Vanillaware are no strangers to games with devoted followings, and announced today that they're bringing arguably their most successful collaboration back for another go. Atlus is known for its extensive library of JRPG successes, while Vanillaware is renowned for its specialization in 2D or sprite-based games. Together, they brought Odin Sphere to the PS2 in 2007, and now they're developing a remade version exclusive to PlayStation consoles – enter Odin Sphere Leifdrasir.

Odin Sphere Leifdrasir will be a HD reimagining of the original Odin Sphere, featuring the usual visual upgrades as well as new enemies, bosses, battle actions, animations, and maps. Atlus and Vanillaware also indicated that enhancements would be made to the combat system, with new features being added to make the gameplay smoother and faster. Fans of the original game will be especially pleased to hear that that Odin Sphere's innovative and unique 2D scrolling gameplay will still be available in the HD remake in "Classic Mode".

Odin Sphere Leifdrasir's predecessor, Odin Sphere, was released to critical acclaim back in 2007. Critics praised its deep combat system, gorgeous graphics, and interesting story on its way to winning several awards in the gaming industry that year. With the HD remake of Final Fantasy 7 getting so much media attention, it only makes sense for developers with pedigrees like Atlus and Vanillaware to revisit their own successful RPG title.

After Atlus' parent company publicly admitted to betraying their fans recently, Sega looks to be making good on its assertion that it will let its subsidiary companies, like Atlus, continue to make their own decisions about the direction of their game development. If this direction includes more great games being remade for the current generation of consoles, perhaps Sega will earn the forgiveness of fans after all. Odin Sphere Leifdrasir is another in a long line of premium titles getting the HD treatment, with speculators eager to voice their opinions on the next games that should be remastered. Do you think more games should received HD upgrades, or has the industry already overdone HD remastering? Let us know in the comments below.

Odin Sphere Leifdrasir is set to release in Japan on January 14, 2016 for the PS3, PS4, and Vita. There is currently no North American or European release date announced.

Source: IGN