Seems like it. The worst part is, Konami will go "Well, people just aren't interested in SH games. Look at the sales!"
It's a circle of shit.
Silent Hill HD Collection |OT| Programmed in Smoke Signals
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Seems like it. The worst part is, Konami will go "Well, people just aren't interested in SH games. Look at the sales!"
It's a circle of shit.
RadioHeadAche
Member
I feel bad for buying this. I tried to be optimistic, but this is just sad.
The funny thing is, I was really looking forward to this. It may be fine for newcomers, but all I see are negative changes and flaws on what was once a splendid game.
I'd say definitely not thanks to this collection.
The funny thing is, I was really looking forward to this. It may be fine for newcomers, but all I see are negative changes and flaws on what was once a splendid game.
I'd say definitely not thanks to this collection.
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
I cannot understand why they had to release this version in this state, there is no pride in Konami's work anymore (SH related) it seems.
RadioHeadAche
Member
It's a shame that HD re-releases in general seem to be rubbish. Splinter Cell is basically sub-HD and is imperfect. Resident Evil 4 had low-res, VHS quality cutscenes, but it at least wasn't broken. Then there's Shadow of the Colossus and Ico which not only are remastered beautifully, but there are free dynamic themes and bonus features. Metal Gear Solid HD is three great games that look fantastic and despite some small technical issues, runs beautifully. What are these other teams doing wrong? Is it really that difficult to remaster these old games? Why is Bluepoint the only seemingly competent developer for this?
If anything, Downpour is the last reay of hope. Horror community reactions range from Ok to zOMG best shit since 2.
And while Book of Memories sounds ridiculous, hey, it's Wayforward, they can't do wrong.
Well, keep in mind that SH2 and 3 were made for use on a CRT display. The black areas actually appeared very dark resulting a very scary, claustrophobic experience. By filling in all of this darkness with shadow detail you actually remove some of the tension from the experience as you have a clear visual indicator of what you're seeing. The extreme darkness used in SH3 (at times) was part of its appeal.
I maintain that there is no better way to play Silent Hill than on a high quality CRT of some sort. These games were designed for those displays and many of the visual tricks they use are destroyed by the beaming backlights of modern LCDs. At this point, the Vita would probably have been the best place for this port to land, oddly enough, as its OLED display could actually handle the blacks required. Some displays (such as the Pioneer Kuro) can deliver this as well, but the vast majority of TVs being used by gamers today simply don't play nicely with Silent Hill.
Silent Hill 3 is very faithful (though still missing the odd effect here or there), but the PC version of SH2 is NOT at all. Compared to the HD Collection it's a masterwork, but ignoring that it's actually a pretty bad port. It's missing a number of effects present in the PS2 version that damages atmosphere (hard shadows, missing fog, low quality FMV, etc.).
I still believe that nothing beats the very original release of Silent Hill 2. There's a purity to it that's tough to beat. It starts right up with barely a company logo and absolutely no "graphic content" warning. It just feels right.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
SH1 would have to be remade since it was a PS1 game, and I guess they thought the demand for SH4 wouldn't be very significant.
Ravensmash
Member
I'm really disappointed; I never played the originals and was looking forward to it as the games have a really high level of praise.
I can not, and will not, spend £30 on a port that sounds broken. Maybe if it gets fixed via patch, but then that still sends the wrong message.
RadioHeadAche
Member
It's funny, because these lighting issues and lack of fog effects really wouldn't affect Silent Hill 4 as the game is pretty bright and there hardly any areas with fog (just the forest and maybe cylinder prison).
A 4GB install (PS3 version) and an almost 300mb patch and the game still has problems. Try to find the PS2 versions if you can, because those are worth it.
A 4GB install (PS3 version) and an almost 300mb patch and the game still has problems. Try to find the PS2 versions if you can, because those are worth it.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
I assume he's referring to how the image quality is clearer and crisper than in the original PS2 versions, and thus it looks better.
Yeah, but all the other issues negate that effect. So actually it looks
RadioHeadAche
Member
The games from a graphical standpoint look good. It hardly looks like a 2003 game. At the same time, it hardly looks like a Silent Hill 3 game.
Yes.
The character models are still great looking as well as some of the environments. About the only good thing to come from this collection is that it looks pretty close to high-definition. However, everything else suffers.
LiquidSolid
Member
Bluepoint isn't the only one. Ready at Dawn, Sanzaru Games and Mass Media all did really good jobs (Jak Trilogy wasn't perfect but then those would've been some of the hardest games on the PS2 to port). I'd say it depends more on the publisher. Sony and Kojima Productions actually cared about their ports, so they probably gave their port teams plenty of resources and support. Ubisoft and the Konami (which at this point, I view as entirely separate from KojiPro) were just after a quick buck and didn't really care about how well the games held up and it shows.
At this point, that's exactly what I expect out of Ubisoft ports though, as the complete lack of giving a shit about ports has been a long established trait of theirs going back to the PS1. Konami though? I'm pretty disappointed in. But then look at the state of that company (again, sans KojiPro) and it's not exactly a pretty sight.
Speaking of which, anyone know what's happened to Tsuboyama? How he went from directing SH2 to not being heard of for years, I have no idea. I guess he's left the industry?
ss_lemonade
Member
So is resolution the only improvement, with everything else being a downgrade? I like how they just upsized the resolution of the original to emphasize the difference lol. I don't care if the original was running at SD res, at least it runs better and has the effects and atmosphere to back it up
RadioHeadAche
Member
Yes. The game "looks better" than the PS2 versions, but at the same time is much worse than them.
Can someone please explain the why they would need to alter Pyramid Head's assault of the lying figure? It's not particularly graphic and lasts only a few seconds before the fight starts. This is also a mature game, so none of that censorship makes sense.
He worked on SH4, but he's completely disappeared after that.
plagiarize
Banned
i think the most damning thing is how much worse than the PC versions this 'HD' collection looks, even when running the PC version at the same resolution. that the HD collections look better than the PS2 originals in one or two ways, doesn't excuse for me all the missing effects, the inappropriate new textures, the terrible performance, and so on.
RadioHeadAche
Member
Wouldn't it be funny if Book of Memories turned out to not only run well, but actually be good? Of the three Silent Hill releases this year the multiplayer one being the best would just be nutrageous.
At this point, the only Silent Hill title I would look forward to is a console port of Silent Hill: The Arcade (yes, I know). However, such a release is highly, highly unlikely. I will play Downpour at some point, though.
At this point, the only Silent Hill title I would look forward to is a console port of Silent Hill: The Arcade (yes, I know). However, such a release is highly, highly unlikely. I will play Downpour at some point, though.
It was safe to say that from Homecoming onward.
Well mine is still sealed today...guess i'll just return it and repurchase the PS2 versions. I can take some missing effects here and there, but apparent framerate troubles, voice sync issues, and said missing effects actually making certain parts of the game look much worse than they should (SH2 fog + boat rope) or changing the entire point of a scene as a side effect...ugh. I want to think there was some reason aside from cutting corners.
disappeared
Banned
I was going to say that, if we're lucky, the originals might pop up on PSN someday. But given the legal and technical fist-fucks that both games have gone through, I doubt it.
RadioHeadAche
Member
I just want to play my favorite games on current hardware. Why must they make it so difficult?
PS3 or 360?
No, a higher resolution is only part of the "look". If there are effects missing, textures got replaced with really bland and unfitting ones and everything looks washed out, then I'd say it looks worse overall. Atmosphere is extremely important in SH games and it seems the HD ports lost quite a bit of it.
PS3. The would be about the same too.
RadioHeadAche
Member
Go buy a cannon and fire it into the sun.
Broder Salsa
Banned
I remember people actually destroying their pro evolution 2008 discs when that was released and putting pics up of it, also a fine product of konami this generation. Everyone break your discs and upload photos of it, we can make a nice collages.
Would probably cause some chemical reaction at this point. Its kind of funny since I bought the MGS, ICO/SH, and RE4 HD ports without any second thoughts...then something like this happens. How game reviewers hit NG3 and RE:ORC so hard, and then let this slide is beyond me. Complaints about the controls were going to be an obvious mark on the collection from a general viewpoint, but i'm surprised no one, except the rely on horror site, pointed out sync issues.
RadioHeadAche
Member
The only good thing to come out of this collection is the boxart. It's really appropriate and unique compared to most of the HD collection art.
I think this is the most I've ever bitched about something since I've been on gaf, or perhaps ever. If not, it's certainly up there.
I think this is the most I've ever bitched about something since I've been on gaf, or perhaps ever. If not, it's certainly up there.
Broder Salsa
Banned
Yeah. Really compared to most silent hill box art too, some real stinkers through the time.
RadioHeadAche
Member
Like Shattered Memories? Oh yeah. It was the blandiest piece of bland that ever bland.
indigo-cyclops
Member
If you're going to completely trust these reviewers, I suggest you rent Downpour to try it out for yourself, at least.
Yeah aside from the plain enemy design, Downpour really isnt bad.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
It was still better than the actual game though.
Anyway, I managed to snag a used copy of the Director's Cut PS2 version off Amazon UK (in very good condition to boot!), so I'm set. I won't cancel my preorder for the PS2 Downport Collection tho, as I'll keep it if only for the convenience of playing SH 1, 2 and 3 on my PS3.
RadioHeadAche
Member
A majority of what I've read in the official thread makes me want to play it. I just don't want to spend $60 on it.
Typographenia
Member
I'm hoping for a pricedrop, but since NeverDead still hasn't gotten one... I'm considering biting the bullet and just getting it.
RadioHeadAche
Member
That's what I keep telling myself, but all those glaring flaws are making it difficult to enjoy.
That is my problem lol. I've got SH1 on PSN already since I missed out on the disc version while it was nicely priced, and there is still a part of me (after seeing what FFXIV went through and is current being improved) that still thinks Konami could pull through with a couple patches. But then there is still the issue of what will happen to the game and performance wise after the patches are no longer available...and after seeing a current patch being 250 something MB, yet not fixing anything...I feel dumb for my rug comment the other day lol.
Has the game released in japan yet?
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
I'll just stock up on ice cream, booze and tissues for the inevitable flood of tears when playing the demakes
Typographenia
Member
Seems the release date is the 29th, from what I could find online.
These always put a smile on my face.
The best Silent Hill 1 video ever.
That red, pyramid thing.
RadioHeadAche
Member
I'm in tears after watching him gather all those items.
Typographenia
Member
Thank God... Another human being.
*bang*
Typographenia
Member
It's supposedly the very first shot in this cutscene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vprETGvyShM
It's only about 2 seconds of content, but it still makes you wonder why.
Nemesis_
Member
My copy just shipped today, but probably won't be here till Tuesday =(
PsychoMantis
Neo Member
I just got to that part in the game and that scene is definitely still there.
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