Remasters Vs Backwards Compatibility: Why Not Both?

The role of remasters within gaming as well as its effects on backwards compatibility has proved polarizing for gamers.

[Trekster_Gamer]

I'm definitely for both except a lot of remasters aren't remasters at all there's Simpson simply pixel upgrades all of BioShock collection, The Last of Us and many more.

[Sonyslave3]

I agree but The Last of Us did had a huge improvement in FPS 30 too 60.

[CrimsonWing69]

Yea but at the cost of visual fidelity.

[mikeslemonade]

I rather have 1 new title over sum of 10000 remasters and BC games. That's how meaningless old games are too me. I already played them. I want a new experience. 1 new title > infinite rehash games.

[RevXM]

@Mike
The old games doesnt stop working on old systems, but backwards compatibility is a hardware/system issue.
Remasters take time from game developers that could have been spent on making a new game, where as BC is implemented into a console hardware and software by the manufacturer.

I hope that Sony will stick with x86 for a while to ensure backwards compatibility with ps4 and future systems and hopefully implementing a functional PS3 emulator one day. PS1 & 2 emulator should be a no brainer next time around IMO as it has been around on PC for quite a while. Ps3 remasters to ps4 are nice though, it means some classic Ps3 games might be playable in the future on coming generations of hardware PS5 and forward and perhaps even finding its way to pc with emulators in a few years in case a stable and fully functional Ps3 software emulator takes longer than we'd like, it might not happen for a another decade. That is the upside to remastered Ps3 games. :) But yeah sometimes remasters feel like a cheap cash grab.

[babadivad]

Man that game was so great.

[iTechHeads]

Simpsons?

[Gamist2dot0]

I like remasters that fix the problems from the original and improve on frame rates and textures like TLOUS, Uncharted collection, and the upcoming COD: Modern Warfare. Not a fan of games that claim to be remasters but look like PC ports.

[Trekster_Gamer]

So you'll pay full price for them to fix problems that should have not been there in the first place?
That is your idea of a remaster?

I look at games like
Gear of War
Halo 2
CODMW
They feel like completely new games with all the bells and whistles that have been added!

[DragonDDark]

I think that you took what he said the wrong way. You basically said what he meant after your questions.

[Tetsujin]

Really depends on what the remaster offers the original version didn't have. If it's just to look pretty I'll pass, but if its improvements, added content, and reasonably priced I'll give it a shot.

[marquisray]

Remastered games should be free especially if you own the original backwards are free so why not remaster the games and people who dont have the games will go buy them plain and simple

[nitus10]

No company would make a remastered game for free, that's a sure way of going out of business.

Now an emulator that is a different story since you are using the original game be it in physical or digital format. I can even understand charging for the emulator but if you have the original game then playing it via the emulator should be free.

[s45gr32]

No, but it happened on PC in regards to Skyrim and Bioshock collection FREE of charge to ONLY the PC gamers that owned the original copy of the game 😄. You do not see it on consoles because console gamers don't demand for it.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@s4- I believe with Skyrim it was only if you owned a special collector's edition and I believe that it's technically not for free if your factoring there's a prerequisite of having to own a specific Edition or all the previous copies to actually get the version.

I'm pretty positive somebody's actually told you this before on another article I'm not really sure why you're continuing to ignore it but cross-buy has existed on consoles before meaning that you get a free copy of something like Journey for free on Playstation 4 for owning the PlayStation 3 version.

I would say crossbuy on consoles and handhelds is just as much as getting a free remaster on PC in fact I'd argue that it's more rare on PC for a developer to give you a free remaster for owning the previous.

When was that ever the norm on PC?

[iTechHeads]

Keep dreaming. Remasters cost money.

[s45gr32]

I agree but it should be free ONLY ONLY for the gamers that own the original copy; for example, skyrim remastered edition on PC is free for those that own the original copy plus Bioshock collection is free for those that own the original copy. I also got Trine 2 remastered edition for free. Is great being a PC gamer 😄

[_-EDMIX-_]

@s45- it's nice that developers do that but I don't believe it "should" be the norm in regards to any force or law or any requirement.

Remastered very in regards to how much work has been put into them.

I'm still not sure why you keep ignoring that consoles have cross-buy with many games....

[s45gr32]

They done it on PC:

Skyrim
Bioshock collection.

[BlaqMagiq1]

You know why they done it on PC? Because they can mod the hell out the original copy. They don't need the remaster and the devs know that so they just give it away.

[ONESHOTV2]

Any one with a brain would know that this problem can easily be solved by building a rig no need for remasters or worries about backwards compatibility.

[PhucSeeker]

Still, i want to play Ninja Gaiden 2, Vanquish (with a slightly performance boost).

[marquisray]

So you all think buying the same game twice is right thats why i like b/c

[pandehz]

You dont need to buy backwards compatible titles if you already own them.

Remasters, if not remastered well is just an expensive resolution bump.

[s45gr32]

If you are talking consoles then the user needs to unplug its next-gen console plug in his/her last console insert the game that they currently own. That is if their last gen console works and the game they want to play is in mint condition. That is a drag. On PC re download PC game from 2009, 2008, and any game bought from a digital store call it a day.

[pandehz]

Many xbox 360 game discs work on xbox one. Thats what I am talking about. Whats the point if backwards compatibility if you need to keep your old system?

Backwards compatibility is free on the x1. Roughly 230 games are supported now abd more on the way.

Pc of course has always enjoyed this. Props to MS for trying to unify it the way pc does it. X1 titles will work on Scorpio from the get go.

So yes like i said remasters vs backwards?

[Youngindy21]

I'm only a fan of remasters if the game is old or came out at the beginning of last gen. If your game came out after 2010, then you're game does not warrant a remaster and it should instead be made backwards compatible. Remasters are mostly just a way of milking fans for more money. The only "remasters" that are actually significantly better than the original that I have played have been Tomb Raider:Definitive Edition, Gears Ultimate, Master Chief Collection, and GTA V. The rest of the remasters are just ports.

[Redx165]

Very few Remastered games even deserve the $60. Most just do the lazy higher res and a fps bump and call it a day.

Look at GTA V for example. It might not be at 60 FPS but the game looks completely different.

[Kyosuke_Sanada]

I usually buy remasters of games that I don't own. Backwards compatibility would be ideal because it's great at saving space in the living room.

[s45gr32]

Everyone knows my stand on this so no need to repeat myself.

[MCTJim]

If its full price for a remaster...pass..especially if the game is old. Updated graphics etc are awesome, but full price on a remaster is a big no no...I'd rather play it with BC.

[rainslacker]

I don't tend to buy the single game remasters. I do enjoy the collection remasters though. I'll also buy a remaster for a game that I would play regularly when I have the itch to revisit it. Remasters rarely make my day one purchase list though, with the exception of the Sly collection which was awesome. Most of my remaster purchases are when they are on sale, and there mostly for collection purposes, or to play a game I never got around to when it was first released.

But I would say BC is good too, and would love to have it on all consoles. However, I do keep my old consoles, and have a game room with tons of consoles, both old and new, hooked up so it's not that hard to just play an old copy.

Both are fine. If someone has a problem with remasters, then so be it. They don't have to buy or play them. Doesn't mean that others don't like them, or that they're taking away people's enjoyment of other games they may want to play. Their existence is hardly worth lamenting. Some people seem to take the existence of something personally, which is weird and unhealthy.