ICO and Shadow of the Colossus emulated in HD

Digitalfoundry writes:

Rumours are rapidly gathering pace suggesting that Sony is looking to follow-up the success of its HD "remastering" of the God of War titles with a similar gaming double pack featuring the classic ICO and Shadow of the Colossus.

Digital Foundry took a good, long, hard look at the God of War Collection at the tail end of last year, comparing the original PlayStation 2 titles with the new 720p60 PS3 revisions, and came away supremely impressed.

Sony Santa Monica's original PS2 art worked beautifully in high definition, and the improved performance level could only be a good thing.

[BadOrcLeader]

I don't need HD Ico. It's beautiful the way it is right now.

[Redrum059]

Never played ico, played and enjoyed shadow. If an HD collection of them come out, it will be a must buy for me.

[Montrealien]

You bet, I guess Sony`s dream of selling the same games 2-3 times will become a reality, I loved the God of War colection, and I will definatly buy a Team Ico colection if and when it comes out.

Milk that PS2 library Sony! milk it good! I want more!

[mrv321]

Sony want to sell us a remastered version of a game which is rare and casts a lot. I say all for them, I want to buy it and a used version of SOTC will set me back $40 a new version of a ICO collection will set me back $40 with better framerate and graphics and ICO game and trophies and achievements.

[Montrealien]

I think we all know that mrv321. That's why this is so interesting!

I got ICO and Shadow of the Colossus and I will still get the remastered versions, but if they start doing this, they better go all out, Rogue Galaxy anyone? in full HD?

[mrv321]

I want there to be a line of the stuff... not just one or two game a year. Like one a month, the PS2 is one of the consoles with the longest of lifespanss and it has some real gems.

[DaTruth]

I have both GOW's, so I passed on the collection. I can still play it in upscaled 1080p so not much of a loss!

But Ico was a game my friend bought and I played it through once. I never knew SotC was Ico 2 and never bothered with it because I never knew anything about it. I thought I missed it completely and would never play Ico again!

Ico will be beautiful in HD! It was already a pretty beautiful game on PS2. And it will play on my new CECH-2001A.

[ryuzu]

Yes but a lot of people missed Ico/SotC and this is the chance before TLG, to play the spiritual prequels.

That + graphics updates + sound updates + trophies + goodies hits the mark for me.

I played both but I'd drop the cash on them again...

r.

[jmare]

They are spiritual prequels technically because of the order of release. But the operating theory is that they are set in the same world and the story is being told backwards. Either way, it will still be nice to play them in HD. I want to kill Colossi in HD.

[PaLaK-]

I missed out on ICO and SoTC but I hear they're epic and would love to play them.

Problems are, my PS2 isn't hooked up anymore, ICO is really expensive and after being spoiled by superb graphics the enjoyment would be
ruined.

2 Games in 1 for a low price with HD graphics, trophies, and released around the same time as The Last Guardian = profit!

Only thing is, I hope SCEE don't do to us Europeans what they did with GOW (release the collection a month after GOW3) and I hope they release it at the same time in Europe!

[mantisimo]

They were both fantastic games and are absolutely worthy of a rerelease in HD but can you all please realise it is pronounced eeco and although you are typing it correctly, in your heads you are pronouncing it eyeco. See I can see into your minds...... ;)

[DaTruth]

I was pronouncing it Eyeco in my head!

[mantisimo]

LOL see I knew it. Bubble for ya ;)

[sikbeta]

Of Course ICO+SoTC are Beautiful the way they are, but those Game can Look better and This Time MORE People will Have the Opportunity to Enjoy it...

TEAM ICO Collection Needs to be Released, SONY!!!

[kevnb]

but im not paying for my games to be rendered in higher res, I can already do that on my pc... and yes I own both these games.

[MNicholas]

Resolution aside, SoTC had tons of next gen features such as HDR, Tone-Mapping, per object motion blur (very few next gen games have this!), Bloom, fur shading (very rare even in next gen games), bump mapping, volumetric fog, cloth simulation, etc...

This was all possible because of the PS2's vector units. Vector units are basically what GPU shaders are going to be in a couple of years.

Vector units ran pixel shaders, vertex shaders, post-processing, physics and animation among others. Megahertz for megahertz they are actually more advanced and flexible than even the Cell processor's SPUs.

The SPUs were designed to make up for lacking certain functions that were present in the Vector units with sheer speed (almost 11 times the clock speed) and quantity (3 times the number of units), and more efficient system architecture.

[gtamike]

Twisted Metal Black HD please with online play :D

[bjornbear]

BIG improvements =D i wonder if more can be achieved =O

[k2d]

60 frames per second in 720p IS a big and welcomed improvement

[N4BmpS]

So this is happening I can start screaming and jumping for joy? We heart you(most of us do) TeamICO

[peeps]

"So this is happening I can start screaming and jumping for joy?"

who said it's happening? did you read the article? This is HD emulation and has nothing to do with TeamICO although i do hope the rumors are true

[N4BmpS]

Uh No one, Obviously I didn't.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Did you miss the question mark in the sentence you qouted? That means hes asking.

[KratosGIRL]

A testament to Ps2 power game still looks fantastic

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I need these games!!! Either one of these in HD is worth more than any brand new game!

[Kingdom Come]

Shadow of the Colossus reamains one of the most Compelling, Breathtaking, Spectacular titles in Gaming History, it was simply mezmorizing, I can only hope the Rumours of the Team ICO Collection are true.

[SolidAhmed]

bubbles up for u bro

[venum]

I like you enthusiasm

[ia_studio]

I still remember for this day the wonderful experience that Sotc, if that isn't something then I don't know what it is...

[Moac]

GREAT news if true.

What other games do you people wanna see a HD Ps2 - Ps3 port?

I hope. MGS collection. Tales of .... collection.

Why not just take the BEST selling 20 PS2 franchises and make them HD and with Trophies and added Content perhaps?

[Rucury]

Jak & Daxter Collection
Sly Cooper Collection
Kingdom Hearts Collection

Let's. Make. It. Happen.

[ia_studio]

persona 3&4 never played those 2

[wwm0nkey]

I LOVE PCSX2, the new beta added a lot of improvements, seriously look at this screen shot from FFX and FFXII on the emulator and tell me it doesnt look amazing (btw i play all PS2 games with my 360 controller :)

[Meryl]

I always wanted to play on ICO and SOTC, and if it comes remastered to ps3 i will die lool!!!

[Dnied]

if an HD remake comes out.. .. . !!

I have yet to really get into either.. I had SOTC for a while but seeing it stretched quite a bit on a big HD tv... and knowing that an HD is likely, I decided to wait, so it better come :)

[nickjkl]

i wonder what the ps3 equivalent will be it shall be epic it should have women mater of fact all women no men after all the female body is the most difficult to make and thus should be considered art

[Dnied]

what the, lol

I'm going to go ahead and give you a bubble, lol

[Rucury]

If this comes out, it's an obvious must-buy for me.

At the discounted price God of War Collection came out on, hell, I think I'd pay $60 for this collection.

Genuinely excited to see if Sony confirms these rumors.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I hope they do I haven't played either of these games and I am interested. Big improvement between the original and the HD 30FPS version.

[sgw_dec0y]

Considering that Ico is a very very hard game to find and I only got to play this masterpiece at a friends house geez.. 9 years ago, I would happily buy this collection. But the article is a bit true. I think they would have to rework this games a bit(SOTC mainly) so they can raise up the fps and keep them at a good rate.

[CowEater]

Wow. this game looks phenomenal locked at 30!

[SuperStrokey1123]

It does look significantly better doesnt it, now we just need to get them to lock it at 720p60 as stated in the article and it will be fantastic for all involved.

[Aphe]

I've been playing Ico on the pc today, great game.

[SuperStrokey1123]

I never played these games and would love them to be come out. I would seriously be so happy.

[El Nino]

But SOTC was a great game, for me it was just a work of art, beautiful landscapes, great variety in the colossi, something that i've never experienced before.

Definatly hope they remake it in HD and i'll get the chance to play ICO too then.

[Figboy]

i have a BC PS3, and the game simply wasn't made for HD upscaling. it's a pixelated mess on the PS3. a lot of those "year one" PS2 games, that simply weren't designed for HD televisions have that issue. it was before progressive tv sets picked up steam back then.

Shadow of the Colossus being upscaled via my PS3, however, looks fantastic.

a real HD upgrade to both would be wonderful, though.

[jalen247]

Day 1 purchase for me when Team Ico Collections is released

[jack_burt0n]

those ico shots look great.

[VersusEM]

FOR ME, A MUST BUY

[venum]

I can't wait the remake. On my opinion, these are a real piece of poetry.

[bviperz]

I got hooked by the ICO demo, an HD remaster would be awesome!

[ia_studio]

shadow of the colossus at a SOLID framerate *Droooools*
the game is awesome but the framerate changes too much It wasn't a big concern the game is awesome but it would be alot better with a solid framerate!

[andron]

Ico/SotC remake double pack would be great. I never got to play Ico, only the demo. And SotC I actually still have, but I never finished it because of the poor framerate. So a HD reamke would be awesome. Go on do it Sony...

[JohnnyAkiba]

Never played ICO. I will buy for sure.

[bednet]

I believe GOW collection plays in 1080p60 not 720p60 (as stated in the article)...unless it upscales or something, but my TV tells me its 1080p when most other games say 720p.

Anyone else can vouch for that?

[SephireX]

I've never played these two games and I'm sure many PS3 owners haven't either. I was going to play these soon on my PS2 but if they're coming to PS3 in HD, I'll certainly wait. Please do this Sony! I'd pay full price for these two games in HD.