God of War III Remastered was announced for the PlayStation 4 this week, and it represented one re-release too many for owners of Sony's next-gen system. We saw a small – but fair – backlash on this very website, but there was a more hostile response elsewhere, as the title's debut trailer got bombarded with down votes – and the PlayStation Blog flooded with frustrated comments.
Sony Santa Monica, to its credit, has said that it understands the complaints – but offered a measured response as to why remasters are important. "[This will] help us open the door to new players who perhaps did not play God of War III five years ago," said community manager Aaron Kaufmann. "People often forget, the more players we can bring into a franchise, the better for everyone."
It's a fair comment from where we're sitting: the platform holder's already said that a large proportion of PS4 owners never purchased a PlayStation 3, so games like this will be new to them. If this helps convert a few thousand new God of War fans, too, then sales for the native next-gen sequel will be better, which is obviously good news for the series as a whole.
Our stance is such: as long as the remasters aren't taking development talent away from new projects, then they're pretty easy to ignore if you don't want to buy them. Our only real issue with God of War III Remastered is that, even at a "budget" price point of $39.99, it still seems a little steep for what you're actually getting.
[source blog.us.playstation.com, via playstationlifestyle.net]
Comments 32
Makes sense, and I'm looking forward to the remaster, but another way to bring new people in? New games, polished, unbroken, and not a sequel to an ongoing franchise. This along with servers staying up, firmware updates, and just keep the hype train going.
The problem has been the success of gta v, tlou and halo. I'm a culprit here as I have bought 2/3. But enough is enough. I waited for gta v and never had a ps3 for tlou. But with gow3 in the bargain bucket its a weak candidate for a remaster. A remaster collection (similar to halo) would be the way to go. At £40 a single game remaster out so long ago is too much. I would love to see the sales figures for sleeping dogs remaster or dmc as I cant see these selling alot.
That makes sense for TLoU, Gravity Rush, and Tearaway, but how would remastering the third game in a franchise bring in new players? If someone wouldn't play a new God of War just because they never played the earlier games, then why would they play 3 without playing the first two?
@Storytime7 spot on!
@Storytime7 I guess their logic is that a lot of people went from Xbox 360 to PS4, and thus may have missed out on God of War entirely. The franchise was already big on the PS2, sure, but let's not forget that God of War II didn't come out until 2007, long after the 360 was well established.
I think it's perfectly possible that PS4 owners could have missed out on this franchise so far. How big is that number? I dunno, but you'd assume they'd have some form of data backing that up.
I've no really interest but I think the big backlash is definitely down to the lack of 2015 1st party exclusives and 'everyone' wanting AAA brand new games for their shiny new box.
Sony wouldn't be doing it if enough people weren't interested, I got GoW 3 when it came out before and I'll get it again even though I still have my PS3. I have no problem with remasters because I know they serve a purpose and let's face it, they are not coming at the expense of newer games in fact they'll probably be doing the opposite.
@get2sammyb If Sony had redone the first 2 they would have had people who bought the PS3 complaining as well. Just seems like Sony can't win regardless in some people's eyes.
@get2sammyb - But then why remaster 3 and not 4? Do people want to play the 3rd game in a series but not the 4th? Is Uncharted 2 going to be remastered but not 1 and 3?
How I translated Sonys comments - " Money, money money money, money. Money."
Remasters I'd pay £45 for, ES:Skyrim and Dragon's Dogma.
This would make complete sense if they were remastering God of War 1 or even Ascencion.
If you want to introduce newcomers to the series you're supposed to start from the beginning, but that's totaly not the case. -_-
I myself am looking forward to it as I never owned a ps3 so never played any God of war title. Tlou remastered was a excellent... Remaster? Lol which I also never played until I got my ps4. Am hoping they do a Uncharted to...
This is clearly just to make a quick buck and get old comers and new comers alike hyped on the new GOW train.
It's cool for games which originally lacked trophy support, and res bumps are usually a good thing (SH ahem) but it's not like we got rid of our PS3s. Not the smart ones at least.
Comments on stories are very skewed.People on the other side of the fence jumping in with snide remarks. People on this side do the same. Then you have people that own 3-4 games chiming in like it hurts their ability to buy AAA games.
If you want it buy if not don't, it's not hurting you. Many never say why other than OMG another remaster. Price point and the title are good points and opinions to express. I also have a problem with some of the I don't see much remastering and more porting done in. Sales will drive remasters not comments Profit = more, Loss = less to none done. Let the people who are excited about it have their fun..
I am honestly baffled by the negativity. No one is forcing you to buy them, they are good games being remastered also. People are strange on the interweb
Makes no sense, if the point is to introduce new fans into the series why not release a god of war collection instead of just the 3rd game?
I love re-releases.
But most of these remasters aren't exactly remasters.
See we have the same problem with "Borderlands: The Handsome Collection" as people are moaning that the 1st Borderlands isn't in it and how can people just jump to number 2, but number 2 is the 1st game line of this new series but people just like to moan I think! I was one of them peps that come from xbox 360, but this game don't bother me really.... Roll on Borderlands, Friday!! Yay!! Lol
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi
Which is reasonable. And with Uncharted 4, the only guarantee to be a great game, pushed to 2016 there isn't really much to look forward to. I don't think they need a big game to make the end of the year look nice as there are several B-level PS exclusives in Japan that could be brought over and give us a nice holiday lineup. Unfortunately those games will never come over and the best holiday games will be a Vita port and an Uncharted Collection. Not too impressive but it is what it is. I know some will say Sony could have a really nice surprise for E3, but all I kept hearing last year was 'wait for this show, wait for that show' and each one passed with nothing special. All I ask is Sony works with Sega and Namco to get Yakuza Zero and God Eater 2 in the West. It wouldn't stop all the complaining but it should quell some because those are quality games.
I'm completely fine with it. I didn't buy PS3 and this franchise was one of my favorites on PS2. Im totally looking forward to this. Besides there aren't any good games coming in July, not any that i know of.
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi True, people are too concerned with AAA games, whereas these days Indie games have been hugely successful.
The problem is that everyone loves different, older games so regardless of which games they announce people will get grumpy. I'm all for it as long as it doesn't adversely affect new releases.
...Why just remaster the third one though...
There's a part1, a part2, this one, and three prequels. If they're going under the idea "Gamers who never owned a PS3 never got to play GoW3", well the same could be said about Ascension and the handheld prequels.
Just stop with the PR bull. Sony Santa Monica is re-releasing the third one to learn to develop for the new sixth one. There arent any added modes or bonuses because they wanted to do the cheapest drag+drop job possible to make some extra cash. Nothing is wrong with that, but the way they go about explaining why only the third game is complete crap.
I'm actually happy, haven't had playstation console since playstation one so I'm super excited for all the remasters. Can't wait for Final Fantasy X and X-2 as well!
Isn't TLoU Remaster the only first party remaster released on Ps4 so far?
The least they could do is add cinematics with the main points of the first games, if they really want to get new players to know Kratos. Yakuza 3 did that, and that was for PS2 games, its prequels.
God Of War III is an excellent game it should also be 1080p 60fps, the reason Sony Santa Monica said is far one. Does remasters take away from new games? most people should know they don't, it all also helps them fund new games. Put it this way The Crew was ported over to the PS4 by 3 devs in 6 months, so you can see why remasters are popular, if this was the PS3 on the other hand it would be a different story.
@get2sammyb I missed out on this franchise, so I wouldn't mind a remaster of the trilogy but I don't want to start at 3
@get2sammyb I agree with this 100%...for example I probably never would have given Tales of Symphonia a shot, if it weren't for the PS3 HD Collection
(I still need to actually play it though lol)
It's remasters of games that came out recently on the last gen console that irritate me...but not enough that I can't just ignore them. The remasters of games that were Sony exclusive last gen serve the purpose of introducing them to those that missed PS3 releases. The remaster of GTAV was just pure money making and the price charged for some rereleased titles is too steep. As I'm sure some others will have said the remasters wouldn't rankle as much if the new games coming out recently hadn't so often been lacklustre and/or late. I have most of the remastered games on the PS3 and the new titles I bought the PS4 to play keep disappointing or keep having release dates pulled...like Arkham:Knight (again).
Remasters are GREAT! I love them; experience the game in a better quality for those who haven't played and it DOES help introduce new players to the great games.
BUT, I don't see the point to this one! I came from never owning a Playstation console, missing out on all the games until i bought a ps4 and shortly after a ps2. I missed out on so much! I also didnt get as many games as I'd like on my 360 so any remasters are even greater of games I didn't play yet. The problem with this is that WHY ONLY RERELEASE THE 3RD GAME? HOW IS THAT HELPING NEW PEOPLE TO THE SERIES?? I never played any god if war and its on my list and I'll probably get this remaster in time, but the release of the 3rd only doesnt help new playstation owners...
Tap here to load 32 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...