Why Remasters Are Better Than BC

Sony has focused all their efforts into both PS Now and legions of remastered Classics for the PS4. Microsoft's Xbox One will be fully backward compatible with both original Xbox games as well as Xbox 360 games by the end of this year. It begs the question, which of these two company's policy is better?

[Tetsujin]

This article does bring up some valid points, especially towards the end about Xbox backwards compatibility and the release of the PS2 classics on PSN store.

I'd welcome both options actually; BC for discs gamers own, and a remaster for those who didn't get to play the game(s) during initial run, and don't want to pay $100+ because someone had to price gouge on Ebay/Amazon.

As I've said multiple times; there should be some sort of option to allow gamers to choose what they want to play, and even if there's a small fee, at least gamers can play what they want instead of being told "this is what we feel you would like." I'd also welcome some sort of collection of games on current gen so gamers can remember where certain franchises started from.

[AspiringProGenji]

I'd take remakes like Wipeout Omega and Crash over their originals any time. Anyone would! They are objectively better even with the BC option. The originals are old and classics worth the treatment and any fan to revisit

Now unneeded remasters like God of War 3, Twilight Princess, and some more, then BC is the way to go for those who have it. And for those who don't, it is either a money saver, or a better experience performace wise.

I'd like more classics redone like Crash and Wipeout. That would be great

[Tetsujin]

Remasters I'd take as long as they fixed bugs, added all content (not some, but all of it), and visual updates for todays technology.

There was one game remastered on the PS3 (forgot the name) where it was both the remaster and the original; to show how the game was updated from back then to today (at the time); those I'd welcome as well to show a difference in what was available as opposed to now. In fact I'd prefer both the original and remaster to show the differences, and so fans can see how far the game(s) have came from the original versions.

As I said already I welcome both options; a remaster and BC. I DO NOT welcome PS Now; I don't feel it's right to charge me something I already paid for digitally just to "rent" the game for X amount of days. If PS Now allowed access from previous gen free if you already own a digital license/copy, I'd be ok with it and play as I want; however, to pay twice for something just to rent it, I'll pass.

[sonarus]

Backwards compatibility option is cool certainly at least for the option. In my opinion that option is over valued but some might disagree. Remasters are cool too if priced appropriately but also overvalued in my opinion. I can get Sony mindset with the Uncharted, GOW and Last of Us remaster targeted at those who didnt own a Playstation last generation but if you really don't fall into that category chances are you already played these games and have voluntarily stopped playing them a while ago.

For every dollar/second of time invested in remasters is another dollar/second not dedicated to making cool new games. Same goes for backwards compatibility except it seems Microsoft has accepted their games library this generation is very crappy compared to 360 offerings so they have decided to spend resources to re open that 360 library up. Thats cool, really cool especially if you didnt own a 360 last generation but if you did thats boring. Way more boring than a new game

[Kratos0Ace]

I agree that I want more than BC or PS NOW, Remasters such as the Crash trilogy, Wipeout collection and Shadow of the Colossus. These three are brought to modern visuals and performance as expected but also add fixes to gameplay and even add some cool bonuses. Like the article says, the Crash trilogy fixes the checkpoint and saving system which was awful and adds new time trials as well as Coco as a playable character. The Wipeout collection adds new soundtracks and compiles some classic ones as well. Shadow of the Colossus is getting the controls remade, hopefully fixing the biggest weakness of the game. These are how remasters are done.

[Kratos0Ace]

@sonarus:

I partly agree with what you say. But keep in mind that the majority of remasters made for PS4 have been made by BluePoint Games. These guys are independent from Sony and actually specialized in making remasters. They are not a first party studio and have brought over to us Gravity Rush, Uncharted Collection and soon Shadow of the Colossus. The Crash trilogy is being made by Activision. So, while this is happening, Sony's 14 first party studios are busy making new games.

[bouzebbal]

They aren't always better.
Some remasters are missing the magic of the original.
One of my favorite series of all time is Oddworld. I didn't think the remake was as good as the original.

[Kratos0Ace]

@Tetsujin:

Both options would be great but I think that we won't see it. Think about it, the reports of the low usage of BC on Xbox One must onto something. Sony introduced PS2 games on PS4 but are very slowly adding ports to it. Too slowly. Could it be that gamers like the option of being able to play old games but at the end don't really have time for them? With all the exclusives coming out on PS4, I think only a remaster of the caliber of the Crash trilogy with all the updates and original weaknesses it fixes will do.

[Tetsujin]

The problem with BC is the companies "think" we want these games instead of asking the community as a whole, and find other ways to introduce BC; like software emulation.

[Kratos0Ace]

@Tetsujin:

Well, the companies have access to usage data. If people really wanted BC so much they would have purchased the PS3 model that did that. They would also have bought en masse the PS1 and PS2 classics ported to the PS3, PSP, PS Vita and PS4 (only PS2 classics in this last one). Something tells me that people barely bought these old games. A reason could be that they have kept their old hardware. Other than that, they might have had no time or can stand any longer outdated games.

[Bigpappy]

The only problem I have with remake and remasters, is paying for a game I already bought. If they are $10 -20 then I might give it a replay if the original was worth my time.
It is completely subjective, but not every game deserves a remake, that on the other hand is a fact.

[ILostMyMind]

They become cheap fast.

[modelgod]

Exactly! !

[SegaGamer]

I would prefer BC. I would rather developers work on new projects than go back and remaster old games.

I'm not against the odd game getting remastered here and there though, as long as it's games from before last gen that is. I see no reason why PS3 or Xbox 360 should be getting remastered.

[Kratos0Ace]

I don't mind these remasters happening just as long as Sony's first party studios are not the ones doing them which is largely the case. Bluepoint Games and Vicarious Visions are behind the majority of these remasters so far.

[StormLegend]

You say remaster, but the pic above is a remake of Crash bandicoot. Remakes and remasters are two totally different things. I would take remakes of an old games anyday because every single detail is improved for the current gen system.

[lptmg]

why not have both

[PhoenixUp]

Having both is the best option

[Trekster_Gamer]

Thanks MS...
Sony bends you over...

[FallenAngel1984]

Why is a remake being used for the thumbnail about an article about remasters

[Grap]

Why BC is better than Remasters:
1- it's free
'nuff said.

[Kratos0Ace]

Well if those old games have serious bugs, control issues, seriously outdated graphics and gameplay, it's no good even if they are free. Consider that both the Crash trilogy and upcoming Shadow of the Colossus are getting rid of their biggest issues. As a fan of some gems of old, I would want some of them to fix their issues if possible. And that is happening with PlayStation. BC, on the other hand, will not fix outdated or buggy messes.

[Grap]

"serious bugs, control issues, seriously outdated graphics and gameplay"
if the game have all the above why would anyone want to replay this game?.

[Kratos0Ace]

@Grap:

Exactly. That is the case with a lot of older games. Outdated graphics and textures for sure. They look ugly as can be. Many older games had control or checkpoint issues. This probably is the case with some of our favorite games of old. I've gone back to older generations and saw it for myself. I think many that really have might have become disilusioned with playing older games too.

[Kiwi66]

They both have pro's & con's depending upon the gamers situation and what works best for them and not what others say is the best or worst way

[Trekster_Gamer]

If the remaster is done right and not just a cheap resolution boost then I'm all for it.
There are SO many BC games on my XB1 that will never be remastered and I just put the original disc in and game on!

[Petebloodyonion]

First I think there's confusion with remaking a title and remastering a title.
Remastering is simply porting the title with better textures, resolution, frame rate.
Remaking the title is recreating the title from scratch with a new engine, polygons, etc.
Thus game like Heavy-Rain/Tlou/Uncharted are remastered
games like Shadow of Colossus /Crash Bandicoot and Metro Redux are remakes.

Now I agree with the author about remakes I don't about remaster especially when newer console automatically bring a higher upscale resolution.
The argument about who would play old graphics game is also moot when considering the popularity of retro system and Indy game that are trying to mimics the 16 bits era graphics.

Last but not least, yes it's probably true ppl doesn't play often BC games but guess what I'm sure also that 99% of the ppl are always online and 40% and plus of ppl buy their games digitally. Yet, PPL (rightfully so) protested about always online and DRM possibility.
Features like BC and free games with services are not often played but they give a sense of value to the product
Honestly, do you complain about your 5$ to play online? and when was the last time that you spent 40 hours plus on PS+ games or a Xbox live gold game?

[Shadowlee]

It depends, overall id take bc over remaster due to not every game gets remastered and takes forever to be remaster. However if were comparing a single game it depends on how dated the game is. If its a last gen game (360/ps3) im taking bc for $5/free over a $60 remaster thats not doing much upgrading since last gen holds up well, but a ps2 era and beyond then id take a remaster. (Even then some games id prefer to play in the old graphics. Like halo 1 remaster)

[Kratos0Ace]

Other than the Uncharted and The Last of Us remasters. The rest on PS4 have been all at $40 or under. In fact, the best remaster/remake to date will be the Crash trilogy with not only graphics but serious fixes in the checkpoint/save system as well as some bonus added content. All that for $40.

[Shadowlee]

Lol $30 and $40 doesnt change my point. If its last gen i prefer bc the jump/increase isnt much to justify the price vs free bc. Why i had no interest in halo 3 anniversery

[Kratos0Ace]

@Shadowlee:

To me it is justified is the remaster/remake fixes serious problems with the games like in the case of the Crash trilogy and Shadow of the Colossus.

[ONESHOTV2]

"Remasters Are Better Than BC" correction why console/ps4 gamers think a remaster is better than BC. an lool this is total bull when i could start my game max the setting turn and put the res to 4k and bam there you have your remaster no need to rebuy a game you already own.

[WheatBread]

They are better than bc, but I prefer remakes over remasters because some devs are lazy and only increase the resolution. Remakes give you a classic game with modern graphics.

[SolidDuck]

Id rather have bc and developers focus on new games. Plus sony doesnt remaster games i want like Socom 2. Instead they remast SotC for a 2nd time. SotC is great, but come on. Plus how many ps2 classics are even on the store? 20 maybe 30. Besides a few classics id rather play new games anyway. So its not a huge factor for me. Ps now runs better than i thought it would. Still not as good as native tho. Its also a pretty terrible value for the price. Its mostly trash with a handful of great games.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

so you can pay for the same games twice? sure. sounds great. i'd rather just be able to play the game and if i really loved it enough i'd buy the remaster of it and have both.

[BlackTar187]

They can both coexist. There is no reason they can't.

People play reramsters for a different feeling of nostglia.

[jrshankill]

Lol... ramsters

[BlackTar187]

Lol

[modelgod]

Translation: " if the PS4 was BC then this article wouldn't have been written." Although.....It'll be freaking cool to shell out another 30-40$ bucks on a remaster rather than playing an already owned game. Just to think I actually though DLC and remasters we're diluting this gen of gaming. Me and my damn twisted logic!

[no_more_heroes]

int choice;
bool remPreference = false;
bool bcPreference = false;

Console.WriteLine("Pleas e enter either 1 or 2);
choice = int.parse(Console.ReadLine());

If (choice == 1)
remPreference = true;
Console.WriteLine("This game is old enough to be remastered, so please go this route");
else if (choice == 2)
bcPreference = true;
Console.WriteLine("I mean, hey, Lost Odyssey still looks quite nice for its age :P");
else
Console.WriteLine("DOES NOT COMPUTE(not enough teraflops, I guess...)");

(yes, its not perfect, but I just felt like being really ridiculous for this comment because...)

[Razzer]

Should have used a switch-case statement.

;-)

[brando008]

Praying for a Spyro remaster

[Razzer]

This is one of the great things about PC. BC is already there. And usually if a game is remastered then the update is free like with Skyrim and Bioshock. Of course console exclusives do not apply, but still, not having generational/architectural walls is a good thing. Fully expect this to be case with consoles going forward as well. That is a good thing.

[JasonKCK]

Because you have no choice and everything is decided for you.

[KickSpinFilter]

I can't think of many I would buy as remasters or even BC
TLOU (always and for ever on every system), Shadow of the Colossus, Wipeout, Powerstone 2, Virtual-on
I mostly bought a new system to play well...new games, I think these things are really great to have at the start of a new generation console but after 6 months it losses it's appeal. Add it 3 years later, is a little two late. Going forward I don't think this will be an issue with games all digital, maybe.