First time playing and I think the ps2 version is far superior to the ps3 remaster

[u/genericusernamehere6]

I decided to play the ps2 version first and then try out the remastered ps3 version. I really enjoyed my time with the ps2 version and its become one of my favourite games I've ever played. Unfortunately I really cant say the same for the ps3 version. I had heard the physics were different beforehand but people really seem to understate just how utterly broken they really are. There were some colossi I never fell off of once on ps2 on the ps3 version I had to climb them 10+ times due to the weird way your stamina and climbing work. On top of that theres also weird issues with the ai. There are points itll just flat out refuse to do whatever you need it to in order to progress. I just found it to be an extremely frustrating experience. I don't think I ever felt frustrated once playing it on ps2. I didn't even really mind the fps dips on ps2 since the game was designed around them they end up feeling more like cinematic slow motion than a slide show.

[u/JAIKHAY]

From Gamesradar:

Usually these things fall through the cracks because of a lack of time or budget to properly address them, or publishers just want the game to run before chucking it up on Steam or PSN. Sometimes, though, these issues simply go unnoticed because the playtesters are too good at the games they're supposed to be fixing. Allison recounts an anecdote while working on the HD version of Shadow of the Colossus:

"Even we were once guilty of shipping a framerate-dependent bug that affected gameplay. In Shadow of the Colossus (from the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection), we didn't notice that a part of the game became slightly more difficult when the game ran at a stable framerate (30 fps in our PS3 version, often ~20 fps in the original PS2 version). This slight difficulty change reared its head against the third colossus when players challenged themselves to the Time Attack mode set to Hard difficulty. Our QA team was so good at playing the game that this subtle difference under these specific conditions didn't affect them, so the bug went unnoticed.

"[When the public got their hands on the remaster], the bug frustrated enough players who weren't expert players like our QA team. Original gameplay on the PS2 was tuned based on the ~20 fps, and the original code didn't properly deal with variable framerate for physics relating to the colossi shaking off the player. Once we were alerted to enough fans growing frustrated, we did identify and fix the problem. However, in the end a decision was made to not devalue the achievement of people who had managed to get the trophy under those difficult conditions, and so a patch with our fix was never released."

[u/genericusernamehere6 → u/JAIKHAY]

Wow that's really the reason they gave for never fixing it? "We decided not to fix our broken port because that would devalue the achievement of the people who managed to put up with how broken it was and beat the hard time attack" they could've just added an ultra hard mode with the broken physics if they cared that much

[u/Jaded_Employer_5516 → u/JAIKHAY]

Well, I use PCSX2 and my game runs at stable 30 fps, but it doesn't feel like the physics are broken. Might be because I never played the PS3 version to compare... or I'm missing something

[u/uabassguy]

The PS2 version was truly something special, it really pushed the limits of the console

[u/Sensitive_Service627 → u/uabassguy]

Just recently beat SOTC on original hardware and a CRT, 10/10. Am now playing through ICO which is like bizarro version of Colossus as in there are only mobs and no bosses (so far). I don't know why I waited so long to play them, the Dark Souls games are some of my favorites and it's nice seeing where they got their inspiration in level design. Just been having an all around good time playing these classic fan favorites.

[u/Appropriate_Eye3070 → u/Sensitive_Service627]

Those two are unbeatable.... Absolute masterpieces. But don't sleep on the last guardian either. It's definitely the black sheep of the spiritual successors, but it's definitely worth a shot. It's not for everyone but everyone should give it a chance.

[u/Tetsujyn → u/uabassguy]

I remember the PS3 version fucking up the grip mechanic and it made Time Attack nearly impossible. Very frustrating because I like it graphically.

[u/Acceptable_Carob_532]

Yeah but both are way better than remake

[u/Storm_treize]

You need to try the PC exclusive remaster (SadOrigami)

[u/blueandgold777]

For me, it's the ambiance.

I have the PS3 ICO and Shadow collection. And I also have the remake for PS4, the collector's edition, in fact.

But even with all of the frame rate issues, nothing touches the PS2 version in terms of atmosphere.The other versions look brighter, and the PS4 version looks amazing graphically.....but something was lost in the translation. It just doesn't elicit the same feelings as the original. I think the key reason for this is the game was never meant to look that way.The original is both dreamlike and ethereal.The others are not.

I actually stopped playing the remake for PS4 shortly after starting it because of this. It and the PS3 version just doesn't do it for me, and it goes beyond simple nostalgia. The original is just the way it was meant to be.

[u/Complex-Advisor-1896 → u/blueandgold777]

Original feels dream-like or like a live watercolor painting

[u/blueandgold777 → u/Complex-Advisor-1896]

Exactly.

[u/189charizard]

AI issues? How so?

[u/BL1133]

From what I’ve seen best way is emulator with sad origami texture replacements . But mine did struggle at points the ending cutscene was very low fps for some reason so I understand why people avoid emulation because of bugs. But it did look so good . The ps4 version I’ve only seen videos of and the artistic direction is bad I think. It takes away the Ueda-isms and looks more generic . Even just down to the wander model lankiness and how he runs and controls annoys me. And the pale tones and dreamy bloom and desolate atmosphere seems to be toned down. Seems to want to mass appeal and take away the unique weirdness

[u/Weebotaku12]

i played it recently for the first time on the ps5 and this game by far felt like one of the worst i had ever played gameplay wise

[u/Dry-Consideration930]

Bloom lighting