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Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: September 18th, 2015, 7:00 pm
by Atariboy
Still puzzled that the Critic had to download some non-360 content here. Everything else I've read about this collection indicated that titles like Conker's Bad Fur Day were on the actual disc.

My impression was that the only N64 titles that were supposed to be downloaded were Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie, and Banjo Tooie since it's their 360 remasters here rather than the original N64 versions.

Verm3 wrote:I've heard that Grabbed by the Ghoulies is apparently a re-master (and hence not an emulation) made from the original source code; notably the game is upped to 1080p resolution and 60fps? I've also heard that some of the N64 games also received resolution bumps?


It's basically halfway there since it runs at 60fps and 1080p, but no texture upgrades and other such features that are commonly seen with remasters like Wind Waker HD's new lighting engine were implemented.

The emulated N64 titles (Which is all of them except the pair of Banjo titles and Perfect Dark that were remastered for the Xbox 360 and are here in that form) all render in HD like a homebrew PC emulator would do for a 3d N64 game.

ActRaiser wrote:
Gleebergloben123 wrote:I bought this for my son and was watching him play it on XBox One (haven't yet gotten around to playing it). Seems like a great value, but one thing that I did not like was the games only took up about 2/3rds or 3/4ths of the screen. Can this be changed to a full screen? If not, why is it like this? And please explain slowly using sock puppets.


I assumed it was in order to keep the 4/3 ratio versus stretching it out. If you're using a small screen I could see that being annoying.


I may be wrong here, but I believe that he's actually asking why they don't fill the vertical dimensions of his screen (As seen by the Critic's screenshot used in his review), not the horizontal dimension which would require stretching.

I think it's often a scaling consideration that leads to them letterboxing 4:3 content slightly in classic compilations and the like, rather than maximizing the possible size of the 4:3 picture within the constraints of its original aspect ratio. To go bigger likely would've negatively affected the picture quality, so they probably made the decision to sacrifice a bit of real estate to allow for a more elegant scaling solution.

velcrozombie wrote:Certain later games do give the option for widescreen - I know Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini, Grabbed by the Ghoulies and the Banjo games do. As Actraiser said, the borders are present to keep the proper aspect ratio in the earlier games. You do have the option to turn the border artwork on and off, however.


Sadly, Jet Force Gemini isn't remastered like those others and isn't really full 16:9. The widescreen option that it retains from its original N64 release apparently only applies to cutscenes.

Gameplay is still 4:3.

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: September 19th, 2015, 3:34 am
by Verm3
I don't think the Critic should give too much information about each game in the collection aside from notable emulation issues. But Perhaps each games he names could double as a link to the review of that game, if he has reviewed it?

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: September 19th, 2015, 1:46 pm
by MoarRipter
I rated this collection an A, I'm enjoying it a lot, especially with the cheap price I picked it up for. I had no idea Slalom was made my Rare, that was a cool surprise to see it in there. I also like the overall presentation, it appears pretty polished.

Being forced to download certain titles for this compilation or be online is not an issue for me because unlike a friggen' damned EA game there were no EULA screens or prompts for giving an email address and creating an additional account just to play it!

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: September 19th, 2015, 6:26 pm
by Tron
Is there an expiration date as to when the downloadable games will no longer be available to download?

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: September 20th, 2015, 12:55 pm
by BlasteroidAli
Tron wrote:Is there an expiration date as to when the downloadable games will no longer be available to download?

Not as far as I am aware.

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: October 10th, 2015, 2:01 pm
by ptdebate
I picked up the collection recently and would personally rate it an "A." Super polished, well-curated collection of games and supplemental materials with a price that can't be beaten. I found it for $20 at Target--that's $20 for 30 games, a few of which are from the previous generation!

An online requirement should be pretty much assumed across the board. If you want to universally lower the review scores to reflect this, fine. But with the 8th generation, you're simply not going to have a great time if you try to leave your consoles disconnected. Not a fun fact for some people, but it's just how consoles work now. If we disagree with it, we can boycott them by voting with our dollars and not buying them.

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: October 13th, 2015, 6:22 pm
by VideoGameCritic
ptdebate,

I was struck by this comment "you're simply not going to have a great time if you try to leave your consoles disconnected".

At first I thought you were saying that the online element was somehow making these games fun.
Then I read it again and interpreted it as "if you don't want to be miserable, you need to put your consoles online".
If that's the case, it further illustrates how the game companies are forcing us to go in this direction for their own purposes and not for our benefit.

I'm not giving an inch to these companies. I'll put my console online if and when I feel like it. (If a game expressly requires online, that's different). If the experience is poor, either online or off, I'm calling them out on it. I'm not making any assumptions or giving them a free pass about anything.

Heck, you could make the argument that today's games are shipped buggy because "that's just the way it is". But I refuse to use modern technology as an excuse.

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: October 13th, 2015, 7:38 pm
by ptdebate
VideoGameCritic wrote:ptdebate,

I was struck by this comment "you're simply not going to have a great time if you try to leave your consoles disconnected".

At first I thought you were saying that the online element was somehow making these games fun.
Then I read it again and interpreted it as "if you don't want to be miserable, you need to put your consoles online".
If that's the case, it further illustrates how the game companies are forcing us to go in this direction for their own purposes and not for our benefit.

I'm not giving an inch to these companies. I'll put my console online if and when I feel like it. (If a game expressly requires online, that's different). If the experience is poor, either online or off, I'm calling them out on it. I'm not making any assumptions or giving them a free pass about anything.

Heck, you could make the argument that today's games are shipped buggy because "that's just the way it is". But I refuse to use modern technology as an excuse.


I definitely get it. And it makes sense with your stance as a critic, but from a quality of life standpoint...it just sounds like a lot of unnecessary headache. I wish the stalwart few could change things, but videogame companies are focused on the least common denominator, not the dissenting minority. I don't think the tides will reverse in any significant way, so normal gamers would do well to play along (or not play at all and just stick to older consoles, which is completely defensible).

Heck, playing along is what 99% of people seem to be doing anyway. They just play the games, regardless of the long-term implications of the way their content is delivered. We on this forum don't think that way, but that's because we put a lot more thought and effort into gaming as a hobby than most people do.

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: October 13th, 2015, 11:56 pm
by VideoGameCritic
Hard to argue with your points ptdebate. Most people just take the path of least resistance and most don't care enough to see the big picture. But for those of us who are wise and know better we should not hesitate to speak up if we don't like something. Just going along with everything really sends the wrong message.

I feel like there is currently a battle for control between game companies and consumers. Gamers like me want full ownership of the games I buy with no strings attached. The game companies would prefer to have total control with gamers paying-as-they-play. We're definitely moving towards the latter and I feel like we need to exert some degree of pressure to maintain a balance.
VGC

Re: 2015/9/17: Xbox One: Rare Replay

Posted: October 14th, 2015, 12:51 am
by Shapur
VideoGameCritic wrote:ptdebate,

I was struck by this comment "you're simply not going to have a great time if you try to leave your consoles disconnected".

At first I thought you were saying that the online element was somehow making these games fun.
Then I read it again and interpreted it as "if you don't want to be miserable, you need to put your consoles online".
If that's the case, it further illustrates how the game companies are forcing us to go in this direction for their own purposes and not for our benefit.

I'm not giving an inch to these companies. I'll put my console online if and when I feel like it. (If a game expressly requires online, that's different). If the experience is poor, either online or off, I'm calling them out on it. I'm not making any assumptions or giving them a free pass about anything.

Heck, you could make the argument that today's games are shipped buggy because "that's just the way it is". But I refuse to use modern technology as an excuse.


And please keep calling it like it is. Most sites just assume any problems will be patched and that we all want to be online 24/7. I enjoy the reviews here because I get this kind of information. This viewpoint is definitely not the majority, but if you(or we) complain at least someone might listen. Readers might start to think twice and spread the message. No harm in trying right?