Are HD collections a scam?

[Menegrothx]

What's the point of all these HD remakes that have been released lately? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-defin ... n_consoles
Wikipedia states the following

These games are not direct ports, but remastered versions in high-definition, to take advantage of the newer consoles' capabilities. The remastering of the games include updated graphics, new textures,

All of the games that have been remade are relatively new PS2 games that still look good. Isnt the purporse of a HD remake to update a game's graphics up to date? Luckily the original Oddworld games are getting a HD remake too, but there are bunch of collections there that dont make sense. Silent Hill 2 and 3 got a HD remake, but Silent Hill 1 didn't.SH2&3 still look good, while many gamers whine that they can not play the original Silent Hill because it looks too ugly and that it has horrible graphics. It's the same thing with Metal Gear Solid. 2&3 got a HD remake but the graphically outdated original game didn't. Munch's Oddysee and Stranger's Wrath got HD remakes. Two very mediocre games that frankly not very many people care about got an HD remake before the two original Abe games. They are both one of the most iconic PS1 games of all time.

When you watch footage of these HD remakes, they often dont really look any different than the original games. There might be slight differences here and there, but they definitely do not look like Xbox360/PS3 games.
Here is gameplay footage of the HD version of Jak and Daxter

I just played through the original Jak and Daxter on my PS2 yesterday and I can honestly say that I dont see any difference what so ever between that video and the original game.
http://www.destructoid.com/silent-hill- ... 4421.phtml
I've read that the HD Silent Hill 2 actually looks worse than the original game and that the HD version absolutely ruined the game totally.

So, given that in most cases you can find the original PS2 games for cheaper than what they are asking for a brand new HD collection, is there any reason besides trophies (ugh) to buy a HD collection if you own a functioning PS2?
I havent played a single HD collection so far so I'm not sure what to think of them, but so far it seems to me like HD collections are a complete scam.

What I would like to see is some actually deserving games to get updated in the graphics department. I dont mean that the PS2 games that are getting HD remakes are bad, what I mean is that they should find some genuinely outdated classic games and make them look better, while keeping every other aspect intact. Those PS2 games still look fine. Just think how awesome Silent Hill would be if it looked as good as a current gen game? Just think what old adventure games like Maniac Mansion would look like if they had beautiful hand drawn graphics. There are tons and tons of 1980s and 1990s games that deserve/need to be graphically updated before games like God of War 2 (released in 2007, one of the best looking PS2 games), it doesn't make any sense.

[hashiriya1]

The ICO/SOTC HD remake was worth it for me. Playing them in 3D is amazing and the update does have a noticeable difference.

I haven't tried any of the other ones. They are also a good way for people to try older games that they would probably miss out on since not everyone has as many systems as most of the people on here do. A good example is my cousin. He picked up the God of War collection because he loved his first experience with the series, which was GOW3, but he doesn't own a PS2 (he got rid of his when he bought a PS3).

In the end, don't buy it if you feel they're not worth your money. They are there for people who want them. Calling them a 'scam' is a bit harsh.

[flojocabron]

this is the reason why they removed PS2 functions from the PS3

This is a rehash. A way to get more money out of old, popular but aged games.

They figure that making a compilation album you'll get your moneys worth.

Theres also the saying "Even the oldest stories will have new readers."

You may have played the jak and daxter games back in the day. But your little brother or child(?) have never played it before and will enjoy it.

So yeah they are milking it for money yet again. But we are probably gonna buy it anyways.

Did you buy the Halo anniversary edition? Thats basically an old game given the whole overhaul for the newer 360system. What about Tomb Raider Anniversary? Thats pretty much and old game made newer.

The reason why PS1 games havent gotten the HD treatment is that they would be too ugly for a straight port. that would require a whole new engine and more programmers to make it function with the newest system. Thats why its easier with PS2 games. The technology is more similar and therefore easy to port over with minimal effort.

Yeah its a quick buck. But we now have a reason to play the game from start to finish. Or if we skiped a game we now have a reason to finish it.

[Menegrothx]

The reason why PS1 games havent gotten the HD treatment is that they would be too ugly for a straight port. that would require a whole new engine and more programmers to make it function with the newest system.

Exactly, they would actually have to work for their money. It's easier to re-sell and old product for easy profit. I completely forgot that PS3 cant play PS2 games. It makes sense now.

Since there is a Jak and Daxter HD collection, I kinda wish there was a Crash Bandicoot 1-3&Crash Team Racing HD collection, but those games havent really become graphically outdated so there is no reason to have one. They still look good. But I would pay 60 euros with out hesitating if they would make Silent Hill 1 HD remake. Current gen graphics but old music, controls, sound effects, fog effects, voice acting etc.

You may have played the jak and daxter games back in the day. But your little brother or child(?) have have never played it before and will enjoy it.

I think most of these games are still too young for that.

I haven't tried any of the other ones. They are also a good way for people to try older games that they would probably miss out on since not everyone has as many systems as most of the people on here do. A good example is my cousin. He picked up the God of War collection because he loved his first experience with the series, which was GOW3, but he doesn't own a PS2 (he got rid of his when he bought a PS3).

In the end, don't buy it if you feel they're not worth your money. They are there for people who want them. Calling them a 'scam' is a bit harsh.

Isnt that why we have PSN and virtual console? If they are only re-releasing the same old game, they should just sell it in PSN for 5-10e like all the other older games.
Any blatant attempt to makey easy cash from gullible fans is a scam in my books. I dont have a problem with a well done HD remake and I'm glad to hear that SOTC and ICO werent ruined. I might buy that one myself.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Yup, re-releasing games for a new audience is totally a bad thing.

Yes I'd prefer them to put more work into them, but frankly, most of those PS2 games have aged just as bad as the PS1 games in my honest opinion. The higher resolution really helps in my opinion. A lot of those PS2 textures are extremely muddy.

These rereleases aren't really for people that have already played and own the originals. They're more a cheap way to reuse and reintroduce old content to a new audience. I certainly don't consider that a bad thing.

[flex wood]

These rereleases aren't really for people that have already played and own the originals. They're more a cheap way to reuse and reintroduce old content to a new audience. I certainly don't consider that a bad thing.

This. The games are for people that haven't played the originals. It's also less of an entry fee for someone that already has a current gen console then to go out and track down the originals and the hardware to play them on. I don't remember people complaining when super mario all stars was released.

[Menegrothx]

I don't remember people complaining when super mario all stars was released.

It had new content and the jump from 8 to 16 bit was quite noticeable. That was on SNES. We're talking PS3 here, there already is a service for buying classic games (PSN).

[Cronozilla]

I think some are legitimate releases, and some are cash ins. The ICO/SOTC set is a legitimate release. Shadow of the Colossus looks so substantially better. I think, the Ratchet and Clank and Jak collections are legit, they add some useful things like widescreen. But, to be honest, the poster child for fantastic HD collections is the Sly Cooper collection. This is what they should try to do more often. It's like Super Mario All-Stars but for Sly Cooper. It's legitimately redone and is fabulous.

I'd say Eidos and UbiSoft are likely the biggest offenders with those Lara Croft and Splinter Cell sets.

I do think there's legitimate grounds if they actually do something substantial. But things like ... just doing bumping up the render resolution and adding more anti-aliasing bugs me because that could be easily done with a PS2 emulator for all PS2 games.

[TheyCallMeTheSwede]

There are some games that includes games that where only out on the PSP, like Peace Walker on the MGS collection, and the GOW prequel collection, and they do not just port it, they bump up the resolution, and add some extra stuff in it.

I dunno, I am hoping someday they start doing something like a Criterion treatment and include bonus features like documentaries, audio commentary, deleted content, and so on and so forth. Just make it something worth your money.

[CRTGAMER]

The same thing happens with movies. VHS to Laser to DVD to Blue Ray. I like the idea HD releases if the game justifies it. ICO/SOTC due to the better frame speed deserves the remake, some of the other HD collections don't seem worth the respend of the moola though.