Just Forget The Idea Of PS1 Remakes
See Full ImageRemakes of great PS2 games are common these days, and developers say it isn't overly complicated or draining to undertake such projects.
But the reason we're not seeing remakes of classic PS1 games is simple: it's just too hard. That may have sounded like a cop-out coming from Square Enix in regards to a Final Fantasy VII remake, but the truth of the matter is becoming clear. The gap in technology is just too great. We're not talking about a "remake" at this point; we're talking about rebuilding the game from the ground up.
For example, take the recent Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. When announcing it, Konami specifically said they couldn't include the original MGS because it would've taken far too much time and effort. The generational tech difference is just too great, and they would've had to change just about everything; it's no longer an "upgrade" when we're talking about such a project. As another example, remember that Square Enix is doing a high-definition overhaul of Final Fantasy X.
Now, as awesome as that is, you gotta figure that even Square Enix knew the fans wanted FFVII more. It has been talked about for years. But the technical hurdles were just too much for them, and that's perfectly understandable. I do believe that they could easily have assigned a team to the task, taken care of it, and satisfied about a bazillion hardcore Final Fantasy fans, but that's the beside the point. The bottom line is that we're not seeing PS1 remakes for a very good reason.
So you're just going to have to be happy with the PS2 remakes. No, Capcom isn't going to remake the original Dino Crisis in HD. No, Konami won't revamp Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and give us a glorious HD side-scrolling quest. ...okay, maybe the latter is more possible, as it doesn't involve 3D modeling and rendering and what-have-you. But in general, just get the idea of PS1 remakes out of your head. Sorry.
Tags: remakes, playstation remakes, ffvii remake, final fantasy vii remake
12/7/2011 9:10:21 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (33 posts)
LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:02:09 PM
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7 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:21:00 PM
6 up, 0 down
TheAgingHipster
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 8:29:33 AM
2 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 9:12:53 PM
All of these HD rereleases aren't true remakes, just upscaling so you can play it in HD and retain it's original glory!
A true remake would take a long time, but not nearly as long as it would take to make a new game all together, a new game requires you to not just develop the game, but the concept and story too.
I mean, lets look at COD and AC, those games have such short development cycles (AC mainly), and they are entirely new, current gen, games.
With a remake like FFVII a bit of the work is already done, they just need to redo the graphics and probably upgrade some of the gameplay. There is a lot of concept and story work that would still come into play because of the differences in graphics (the same story could be told in a completely new way simply through the use of new graphics) but the ground work is already there.
Last edited by Akuma07 on 12/8/2011 9:14:13 PM
0 up, 0 down
Yukian
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:02:49 PM
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I don't understand why they put on a negative mind-set about it. Why they can't treat the damn games like if they were freaking new???
This isn't a side quest of an RPG where it's a breeze to do... it's a main quest and you should treat it like that. Put it on schedule and get the big guns!
They have the concept art, themes and whatever the hell they need to do a game from the gound up.
It's even better 'cause it's a 90% chance that'll be massive success because people recognize it! If only they can just stay away from touching the battle mechanics... :/
4 up, 0 down
TrophyHunter
Friday, December 09, 2011 @ 9:48:12 AM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:02:54 PM
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7 up, 0 down
SubjectiveTruth
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:10:18 PM
5 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:52:10 PM
4 up, 0 down
Ogibillm
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:14:44 PM
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6 up, 0 down
CrusaderForever
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 10:33:49 PM
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Last edited by CrusaderForever on 12/7/2011 10:34:12 PM
8 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 11:14:27 PM
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1 up, 0 down
CanadianGuy420
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 11:30:09 PM
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3 up, 0 down
Yukian
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 11:49:15 PM
2 up, 0 down
hellish_devil
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 11:42:26 PM
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3 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 12:26:51 AM
2 up, 0 down
killerbee12
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 1:42:35 AM
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1 up, 7 down
New School
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 2:18:29 AM
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3 up, 0 down
Rogueagent01
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 2:58:18 AM
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2 up, 0 down
RaYz89
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 3:09:57 AM
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For example if all the world of FFVII if they were made into the level of graphics of FF13, dont forget the huge amount of CG animation to fit in it... I dont think its possible for this gen storage capacity... I think everyone would agree when I say even the rpg's in this gen that has high graphics are very short compared to the old ones. Take FF13, the content is very small compared to FF7 (13 only have 1 city and 1 continent) but hey it already consumed a lot of storage capacity (4 disc for XBOX even when they scale it down to 720p). Even the ps3 / pc exclusives are very short nowadays, Uncharted doesn't took that long to finish, Starcraft 2 is even worse, only included one faction campaign in the whole game (compared to all 3 factions in the previous installment). Is not just RPGs, almost every genre is getting shorter as graphics are getting better.
Even if it is possible and they go to the extend of using more than 1 blu-ray disc for FFVII remake... is it economically feasible?? If they charge user twice the amount of normal game, will people buy it? Maybe... maybe not... definitely a business risk
Interestingly that's what SE is doing with FF Type-0 with two UMDs... and its selling quite well, maybe this can be a point where SE will start producing RPGs with huge content using more than 1 blu-ray disc if they see type-0 as a success...
4 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 3:25:31 AM
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as the saying goes, where theres a will theres a way.
hell, look at the crash returns mod for the CE2.
if a bunch of modders can do it, then surely a whole development team with hundreds of employees and millions of bucks backing them can do it!
tis why ive never bought the "its too hard" excuse.
yet another place where modders are putting "professionals" to shame!
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 5:10:29 AM
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Speaking of the MGS HD collection...I wonder why Konami could not have used the assets from MGS Twin Snakes for a HD remake of MGS1. Twin Snakes was a MGS1 remake that essentially brought MGS1 up to PS2 graphical standards.
+1 for mentioning Dino Crisis. I loved that series. Dino Crisis 2 had a cliffhanger ending that never got resolved becuase Capcom decided to send the dinosaurs to space in Dino Crisis 3 for the Xbox. What in the world were they thinking?
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 12/8/2011 5:26:46 AM
2 up, 0 down
Ultimadream
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 5:53:04 AM
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The truth about these HD remakes is due to the new PS3's lack of PS2 compatibility. So Sony are exploiting this and releaseing them in HD... I admit some HD remakes have benefited well (Ico & SotC) But I have an old 60GB PS3 so I can play PS2 games and most of them look great trhough my PS3 anyway. PS1 games work on even the new PS3's, thats why they're not in the HD packages. They could at least add a Download Code for the PS1 prequel if it is on the PSN.
2 up, 0 down
JohnnyGold
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 7:04:30 AM
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1 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 7:58:40 AM
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mainly the reply to post 21...........
now all i need is a HD remake of crash, spyro and pandemonium and im set!
oh and point blank couldent hurt.......
1 up, 0 down
DrRockso87
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 9:19:12 AM
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I do agree that PS1 remakes are much more difficult to remake compared to PS2 titles (like you said, remaking PS1 titles includes rebuilding the game whereas PS2 titles simply require upping the resolution, sound, textures, etc.)
Still, remaking PS1 games isn't completely out of the question. Konami and Kojima even said they do plan to remake the original 'Metal Gear Solid' title in the future someday. Also, Just Add Water and Oddworld Inhabitants also confirmed a complete HD remake of 'Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee' (possibly 'Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus' soon after as well) so there are three games that developers plan to remake.
But I agree. 'Final Fantasy VII', 'Legend of Dragoon', 'Xenogears', etc. Games with soooo much content would take forever to remake in HD. I could see developers still being able to commit to remakes but I fear plenty of content would be lost. Oh well. At least there are graphic mods for those games on the PC.
Last edited by DrRockso87 on 12/8/2011 9:21:12 AM
0 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 11:54:34 AM
2 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Thursday, December 08, 2011 @ 11:57:06 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Sol
Friday, December 09, 2011 @ 3:30:00 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Monday, December 12, 2011 @ 2:45:06 PM
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CanadianGuy420
Monday, December 12, 2011 @ 8:02:18 PM
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Jawknee
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Wednesday, December 07, 2011 @ 9:37:08 PM