RE4 and Code Veronica HD confirmed for PS3 and Xbox 360

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/03/23/re_revival_selection/

Our usual source for magazine leaks now has the magazine and has confirmed thatthe PS3 and Xbox 360 multiplatform title does indeed include two classic RE games: Resident Evil Code: Veronica Director's Cut and Resident Evil 4.

Both versions will appear in "HD remastered" form. The magazine apparently shows comparison pics between the two versions. For Resident Evil 4, the magazine confirms that the game will include Ada Wong's The Another Order scenario.

So it seems that Capcom is jumping the HD bandwagon, which is totally fine by me as RE4 was a good game just like the old PoP PS2 games, GoW and such.

But RE4 got so many remakes though, but I will probably still get it when it comes out, especially with Veronica. Your thoughts?

[Scruffy]

I'm pretty excited, but it's unfortunate that there was no mention of any new features or any word on a North American release. Still, I haven't even beaten RE4 yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed what I played.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

I don't think their is going to be anything new besides trophies and achievements. Basically it's what Santa Monica, Ubisoft and others did with GoW, PoP, Sprinter Cell etc.

[Scruffy]

I think these HD collections are good for newer gamers who haven't had a chance to play older classics, but for those of us who have already played through them several times, there's not much point to them. Only reason I could see myself getting HD Collections is if there's a lot of exploration and collectibles, such as in the Sly Collection.

[Skylar1]

well, it's not that bad if you haven't played them in a very long time.

It's like re-watching a movie from when you were a kid. Sure, you know what's going to happen, but memory distorts enough that's it's a good refresh.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

Exactly. Reliving the epic moments on your HDTV couldn't get any better.

[Scruffy]

well, it's not that bad if you haven't played them in a very long time.

It's like re-watching a movie from when you were a kid. Sure, you know what's going to happen, but memory distorts enough that's it's a good refresh.
I'll agree with that. It just seems half-assed of a company to tack on HD to a game and resell it. An example of what I'm talking about would be if, say, Square Enix remade Final Fantasy VII [overused example, but EHH]. They would have to almost make everything entirely from scratch, add in elements to the game that previously weren't there such as voice acting, and remake the cutscenes/possibly add in more using far more advanced CGI.

Then again, what I'm referring to is a remake and not exactly an HD port, so I don't know what I'm going on about. xD

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

But these are not remakes, more like HD Remasters. So they are grabbing the original games still.

[Skylar1]

I'll agree with that. It just seems half-assed of a company to tack on HD to a game and resell it. An example of what I'm talking about would be if, say, Square Enix remade Final Fantasy VII [overused example, but EHH]. They would have to almost make everything entirely from scratch, add in elements to the game that previously weren't there such as voice acting, and remake the cutscenes/possibly add in more using far more advanced CGI.
I don't see much of a problem with it, because again, not everyone was around to play the original when it first came out. As time goes on, access to the original consoles and copies become rarer and rarer. So it's a good way to re-inject life into a series that some might have missed out on.

[Scruffy]

And there's my NA announcement.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/resident-evil-4-code-veronica-hd-downloads/

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

I will probably import it from Europe. Trust me, it will come a lot more cheaper since they will probably making into a disc, just like PoP.

[Scruffy]

I will probably import it from Europe. Trust me, it will come a lot more cheaper since they will probably making into a disc, just like PoP.

For us Xbawx region-locked fans, this, unfortunately, is not an option. D:

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

You never know, a lot of games are region-free.

I didn't buy it but PoP EU costs 33 bucks, and that's a 7 bucks difference compared to the American version disc that is coming out and downloading the three digitally since 15x3=45.

If they do the same for this, and it comes out cheaper then I am importing.

[.:neuko:.]

For persons who own a PS3 or XBox 360 and have never bought or played RECV or RE4, the fact that Capcom are releasing HD versions of these 2 games is no doubt welcome news. However, for gamers who already own previous (SD) versions, the potential concern will of course be value for money... and as luck would have it, I'd be one of those gamers, since I own the Gamecube versions of both RECV and RE4.

Personally, I wouldn't be particularly interested in (re)buying RECV and/or RE4, and absolutely not if they turn out to be mere HD ports of their SD predecessors. But if they'd both be remakes with properly improved graphics (i.e. feature extended character storylines and alternative puzzles like RE on on the Gamecube), then that might be different... as they'd be an incentive for me to play both the HD versions of RECV and RE4 without neglecting the previous Gamecube versions.

It's straightforward enough for a games developer to convert older games into HD; but that only results in their graphics looking cleaner, not necessarily more realistic. Consider the (lazily ported) RE2 and RE3 on the Gamecube; the only noticeable improvement in these con-versions (and even then it was minor) was the cleaner appearance in the 3D graphics; I say 3D (as obvious as it sounds) because up to RE3, the Resident Evil series had relied on (then) realistic pre-rendered (i.e. 2D) images in addition to 3D graphics for its renowned execution of horror.

Still, the graphics in the Gamecube versions of RE2 and RE3 did look easier on the eye overall compared to the original versions; so a slight improvement in graphics is better than no improvement at all, right? Well yes... and no, depending on how how you define "improved" graphics. On the Gamecube, the higher resolution in both games did make the 3D models appear less rough around the edges and cleaner textured; but it also emphasised the original (lower) resolution of their pre-rendered backgrounds. Anyone with applied basic knowledge of image editor software would know that you cannot improve the quality of 2D images by sheerly increasing their resolution. The 2D pre-rendered images in the Gamecube versions of RE2 and RE3 are no exception, hence the fact they looked pixellated next to the higher-resolution 3D models; the only appreciable attribute of the former being the mipmapping, which somewhat helped to soften the pixellation. Saying that, the 3D texture resolution in the 3D models looked even worse in some ways, as Capcom didn't even bother to include mipmapping for any of the models' textures, nor did they consider upping their polygon counts - both additions would have been most welcome, since the higher-resolution graphics in the Gamecube versions of RE2 and RE3 had a way of further exposing the low-poly counts in the 3D models (or rather, the hardware limitations of the console from which the games were ported).

So, in regard to the HD releases of RECV and RE4: Capcom would have to at least address the more meaningful attributes of HD graphics in order to get my personal attention. For RECV especially, I'd want to see realistic 3D textures (I'm talking bump-mapping, shadowing, and gloss mapping here), real-time lighting effects, and high polygon counts, and (for a change, Capcom) antisotrophic filtering! RE4 looked gorgeous on the 'Cube, but also suffered from a lack of texture filtering... And one other thing... the games would have to be in full (yes full) HD (1080p), not the lesser HD standard of 720p, because the latter's not that great a leap over SD games (including Wii titles) imo to get me all that excited. Meet those requirements Capcom, then well talk...

Warning: There's small chance that you'll never play/buy a 360 or PS3 game again after you read the following. If in doubt, close this spoiler now, otherwise don't say I didn't warn you! :p

Forgive me if I go a little off topic here, but I feel the visual difference in 720p games over SD (480p) games is questionable at best, especially when you do the math and realise that (potentially) full HD games resolve around 5 times more detail over SD games; 720p games only resolve twice as much detail by comparison, making the latter's visual potential much nearer to SD than full HD in real terms. Which brings me back to a more fundamental problem I have with HD games released on the XBox 360 and PS3, and one which I think owners of full HD HDTVs should take note: for games developers (Capcom included) to effectively suggest that we should pay the same price for 720p games as full HD games is quite frankling insulting imo; they waste around 50% of the potential resolution in our panels; and given that their pricepoint is no different to full HD games, they are effectively more expensive.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIP_ClNAR8I

[KillerDragonX]

So they dont give an exact date on when they are going to be released?

[Mang]

Oh sweet, Resident Evil 4 is (still) one of my favorite games of all time.. When it comes out for PS3.,, I can finally get rid of my gamecube ;P