Ben-DutkaThe Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is fantastic, but it doesn't feature a high-definition remake of the original classic.
And that's because it would have to be entirely rebuilt and redone (the primary reason why you just won't see high-def overhauls for PS1 games). Franchise creator Hideo Kojima says part of him wants to deliver what the fans desire, but the other part is more of a realist and recognizes the significant generational and technological gap.
In speaking to OPM UK , Kojima first said that as a producer, he'd want to answer the calls of the die-hard fans who want a remake of the original title. But at the same time, it would have to be redesigned from the ground up; the only thing that would remain the same would be the story. And as for the rest of the production-
"If you bring the gameplay up to modern standards, then you lose a bit of the original game. It was a game made for a certain era – not just the story, but the controls and everything about it reflect that era in which the game was made."
In an action-based game like MGS, we fully understand that sentiment. But does it apply to everything? Everyone is always pining for a Final Fantasy VII remake, for instance; would that require a control and mechanical overhaul? MGS certainly would but might modern-day RPG fans really despise the slower turn-based style? That's a whole other can of worms, but you can see the contrast…
I agree with Kojima. Limitations in hardware tend to dictate why some things are done the way they are. Newer technology could make some things seem awkward when repeated on advanced systems.
Everytime I hear the excuse it would have been too difficult to remake MGS1 I immediaitely think of Twin Snakes for the GC. That was a MGS1 remake that brought the game up to MGS2 standards in terms of graphics, Why can't they use those assets as a staring point?
Twin Snakes was hurt by gameplay/balance issues that did not take into account how adding MGS2 controls and gameplay options would affect the game. That's not saying it could not be done. If enough thought went into it could be done without losing anything. Just don't mess with cutscenes. I hated the chages they made in Twin Snakes….YUCK!!!
Fans want the remake so just get it done.
Twin Snakes presentation was a joke. It was also still SD and didn't update it to MGS2 quality, only to the animation style of the Matrix. There is no comparison to made from that update to what is being talked of here in my view. Kojima is on the money of the pitfalls and if it really needs to be touched.
I will also just add he's not even offering an "excuse" or even ruling it out but very real thoughts of issues surrounding bringing it forward with a HD remaster and rework. Much more involved than people are giving the project credit.
I tend to give Kojima more credit than to believe he would resort to excuses.
If the graphics were updated to MGS4 quality, Snake and his environment would look great, but his abilities and weapons could seem limited or lacking. You may get the impression that the game is a little shallow.
I think Kojima has better reasons than Square Enix for shying away from a ps1 remake.
I would buy a MGS remake in a heartbeat, but I understand why he's saying no. He has to believe it could be done right and it appears he doesn't think it can.
I have the same thought. Unless there is some prohibition for using Twin Snakes' content (which I don't know), I say BULLSH!? on this lame excuse.
I admire a lot Kojima but I believe this game's remake is AT LEAST 10x more doable than FFVII if they could use Twin Snakes' design.
why do you have to bring the gameplay up to todays standards?
im really getting sick of this mentality!
its a remake, so why cant it just stay the way it is?
the whole reason people hated DNF so much is EXACTLY because of that!
some games are not suppose to be "modernized" they just dont work!
hell, sonic is perfect proof of that!
sega modernize him fans hated every game!
sega brings back the old sonic in generations and fans absolutely love it!
hmmmmmm i wonder why…………..
It's already been done… That's all I have to say for the matter, I am suprised people are even bringing this up…
Game design is inherently dependent on the technology of the era. Pong was designed because it was possible at that point and really for no other reason, but even as games became more creative and technological limits were pushed, the old games couldn't surpass the hardware we're running on. Donkey Kong was a brilliant milestone in game design, but it was designed just as a replacement game for the Radar Scope hardware. Super Mario Bros on NES went through a lot of changes because the NES couldn't handle some of the original ideas, but it came out one of the greatest games.
Just like with electronic music or computer graphics, much of the designer's art comes with working with the tech limitations, not transcending them entirely. MGS is one of the examples here. Others like Valkyrie Profile pushed the PS1 to its limits. Star Wars: Dark Forces on DOS, all that. Because we're used to newer systems that can handle more, the old methods can be seen as obtuse and outdated.
But just because a game feels obtuse and outdated doesn't mean it's any worse than the day it was released. Metroid II is one of my favorite examples here. Games, like all art, transcend their limitations in THAT sense. MGS on PS1 is just as much fun now as it ever was. Why? Because it's a masterpiece in game design! It always will be, too. I mean…it doesn't need a remake. If you want the game, just play it.
well said Kojima, industry needs someone like you who is an artistic visionary and perfectionist with a clear sharp mind working tirelessly in the name of love for a dream and ideal, without being blinded by the greed and earthly spinning noise!
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 12/27/2011 3:40:37 AM
Can we @least get the original with trophies? Or does the PSN offer that already?
I love how Kojima will always be a perfectionist when it comes to his games, and I think MGS as we know it now is a perfect title. That said what exactly does he think would affect this game if it would be redone? No additional level design is really needed (apart from giving it all the HD treatment) IF they keep the camera angles as they were in MGS. If he wants to give the HD remake the freedom Metal Gear 4 had in terms of the camera we all might as well ask for a GTA 1 or 2 remake from Rockstar with the technology thats being used for GTA 5. No one want to hear something like that, not even me, and I wrote that. Truth is thats just the way it is. Granted that MG has a more fleshed out story than those GTAs but thats what we are basically asking from this man if he would want to change the top-down view. How would you take down Revolver Ocelot in that room with all the trip wires if you had the MGS 4 camera and still had to bounce bullets off walls to hit him? I don't doubt it could be done but that fight would be harder than it was on the PS1. I would actually love if that segment kept the original view if a remake is done, for practicality and nostalgic reasons. What about that radar and the cones used to show the field of view enemis had? I remember plenty of time they should've seen me because I wasen't hiding behind anything just was not in that cone. Does Kojima have plans to inplement a more modern cover system for firefights? Now, lets all be realistic here, what about that last fight against Liquid? If it was redone in HD with no chages what so ever it would look pretty weird the way you have to dodge. Yes it was an amazing fight and it worked back then because thats all that was possible in that era. Those are just my thoughts, who knows how Kojima is criticising his own game (My guess- harshly, he is a perfectionist after all). With all that said I wouldn't even think twice about picking up a MGS remake because I know Kojima would make it work without a doubt. To me it wouldn't even need MGS4's graphics, I would be more than happy if it looked like the HD version of Peacewalker that was just released.
i havent opened my mgshd collection so correct me if i'm wrong. but if they're making a collection then they shouldnt leave out a game in the series, especially the first game. if completely remaking the first game is not financially not feasible, they shouldve just put in a collection of key scenes from the first game either with the mgs4 engine or just an updated hd version of the cutscenes. that way noone will get lost, of course this is a mgs game so people will get lost. its like how they put scenes of previous yakuza games with yakuza 3 and 4.
MGS1 should not be remade. While I'm tempted to see it, I think the classic should be left alone and Hideo was right. It's such a huge generational gap (in terms of graphics and gameplay), that changing the things that made MGS so much fun to play would be weird and unnecessary.
2,3 and PW translate better into HD.
Why all the hate for Twin Snake? I really liked it although having a First person camera made the game much easier since you could take out all cameras and gun cameras.
The cut scene were great as they captured how great Snake skills are and will ppl friggin stop saying matrix this, matrix that….the matrix era is over and comparison can be make with whatever you want to make it look like. We could look at what inspired the matrix, than what inspired that movie and so on with no actual purpose…
Back on topic, the only reason i could why they put MGS instead of MGS TS is that they didnt have enough room. If thats not the case then they should've included both games so gamers can pick either.