Latest news with #PS1
Metro
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Playing Gex again is a reminder of a simpler time for gaming - Reader's Feature
A reader welcomes the return of PS1 platformer Gex and reminiscences over both a childhood favourite and an era when video games weren't so demanding. This week, a game trilogy has been re-released which is very dear to me but seemingly very few people have even heard of: Gex – where a gecko is tasked with saving television from the evil robot Rez. This is good news, even if you don't know or care about Gex. Games are notoriously difficult to preserve. Playing old games today, without the hardware they originally ran on, can be a mission that quickly enters a legal grey area. Therefore, I am immensely grateful for companies like Limited Run Games giving some of these old games a new lease of life. Although it feels like only a minimum effort went into this one – note how I call it a re-release and not a remaster or remake. The Switch version, in its current state, looks especially awful. At least they added some quality of life features, like being able to manually save whenever you want to, which can take the frustration out of some of the more challenging levels. Gex was originally created by Crystal Dynamics, who took over the Tomb Raider franchise after Angel Of Darkness. Speaking of which, did you know that until the 2013 reboot, Lara's model was measured in Gexels? This is because the Tomb Raider games were made on a modified engine based on the one developed for Gex 3D: Enter The Gecko, which was heavily inspired by Super Mario 64 and in my opinion definitely doesn't have to stand in that game's shadow. This is the game I played religiously as a child. I loved the tail-whipping gecko from the first moment I laid eyes on him, on my neighbour's PlayStation, and eventually got the game for PC. Once I also got the graphics card necessary to actually play it, I spent every minute of my allotted hour of computer time in the media dimension, where Gex hops into the different levels, which are pastiches of television genres and movies. These range from haunted house horror to Looney Toons, kung fu movies, Star Wars, and many more. They are full of fun nods to their inspirations and Gex usually dresses for the occasion, be that fighting hunters as a bunny during 'Wabbit' season or wearing a hide and a bone although his nose in the Jurassic levels. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The animations and sound design made it so much fun to double jump around on Gex's spring-shaped tail, accompanied by a characteristic 'boioinnng!' And if you happened to land on some unfortunate enemy's head, they got flattened. Similarly, when jumping into a wall, Gex might hit his head and fall flat on his back with a splat, after which stars circle over his head, together with an 'oooww' sound. I'm definitely guilty of giving the poor gecko a few headaches. The game also rewarded my urge to explore and while I failed a timed Indiana Jones style level a lot, because I spent my time marvelling at the snakeheads and skulls adorning the temple walls, imagine my elation when I discovered, in a horror level, that some bookshelves would turn when walking against them, revealing a lever that opened a new part of the level! Of course. I also hunted down all the collectibles to earn all the TV remotes. With enough remotes you would unlock new levels and bosses and one of these has been living rent free in my head for over 20 years now: Gexzilla battling it out with Mecharez – complete with tanks and helicopters trying to defend the city that is getting destroyed in the process – epic! The only thing that doesn't quite hit home for me is Gex's actual personality, especially when it comes to the voice lines, which trigger all the time. While the sound effects and animations are quite endearing, the comedian Dana Gould's quips are old-fashioned and feel weird to hear out of a gecko's mouth. (It seems you were playing the US version. In the UK, Gex was originally voiced by Leslie Philips and then later Danny John-Jules. Their voices weren't in the initial re-release but are being added via a patch – GC) And then there is the fact that a Gecko has implied relations with a human woman… ick. I guess it is a product of its time, much like the older James Bond films which inspired his personality, but I do have to give its makers credit for trying something different than 'Mamma mia.' More Trending I love revisiting Gex because it reminds me of simpler days. Life is busier now and I rarely find the time or motivation anymore, to fully explore and complete today's often vast and complex games. Older games making a comeback shows us that there is a case for more simplicity. Being able to finish a game without it taking dozens of hours and eating up all your spare time is such a relief. By reader Peter Schmid The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Video games are great for my mental and physical wellbeing - Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster Had To Be Brute-Forced Into Existence And Makes Some Controversial Cuts
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles will make the PS1 classic playable on modern hardware in September for the first time since the PlayStation 3 generation over a decade ago. Why did it take so long for Square Enix to bring back the beloved strategy spin-off? It might have had something to do with missing source code. 'There were a number of major challenges, but all of them stemmed from the fact that the master data and source code from the original game no longer existed,' the remaster's director, Kazutoyo Maehiro, said in a newly published interview. The writer behind Final Fantasy XVI decided to push forward with bringing back Final Fantasy Tactics after replaying it 2018 on a livestream for the first time since it released in 1997. A lack of rigorous documentation procedures at the time made it hard, however. Back in the PS1 days, games were made quickly and once they shipped the company moved on. The Japanese version might be completely overwritten in English for the international release. As a result, the current Square Enix team had to cobble together the new enhanced The Ivalice Chronicles version through 'sheer force.' 'We analyzed a number of existing versions of the game and reconstructed the programming of the original, but there were also times where we played the original game and worked it out by feel alone,' Maehiro said. The entire process was the result of cumulative hard work—on the one hand working to implement new features, while behind the scenes our work was similar to porting an old arcade game to the NES.' The Ivalice Chronicles includes updated graphics (read: HD smoothing), voice acting, a re-edited script, and quality-of-life features like fast-forward and save anywhere. The original version of the game is also playable. But this isn't the first time Square Enix has ported Final Fantasy Tactics. The War of the Lions version was released for PlayStation Portable in 2007, alongside a Shakespeare-ified script, some additional cutscenes, new job classes, and a wireless multiplayer mode. Surprisingly, none of that new content will be in The Ivalice Chronicles. 'We did of course consider the addition of new jobs, abilities, and characters—including the jobs featured in War of the Lions,' Maehiro said. 'However, the original version of Final Fantasy Tactics is a very complete game both from a game design and story perspective. If we were to make major changes, it would only be a loss for not only fans of the original game, but also those new to the title.' The director notes that the War of the Lions port was handled by a different team than the original game, and he suggests that having gotten some of the original game's veterans back together—including original writer and director Yasumi Matsuno—the team wanted to stay as close to the original as possible. In an interview with Famitsu, there's also a mention of how poorly optimized the PSP version was, with audio bugs and frame rate crashes. While I can respect that, it also feels like a huge missed opportunity to expand on one of the best tactical RPG sandboxes in the genre. That could have meant adding new jobs for players to explore or new modes. Online multiplayer, a roguelite mode, or some other end-game content feels like an obvious addition to one of the best games ever made. Fortunately, it does sound like three new difficulty options in The Ivalice Chronicles will rebalance some of the gameplay. Once you've mastered Final Fantasy Tactics' job system, it can make even its toughest battles feel trivially easy. A new tactical mode will add a new level of challenge, while some abilities that were useless in the original, like archer charging attacks, have been fixed in the standard difficulty. Another neat addition? Players will encounter the Final Fantasy VII sidequest to recruit Cloud much earlier this time around. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New PS Plus Premium PS2 Game Leaked for PS5, PS4
A new PS2 game has been rated for PS5 and PS4, signaling its inclusion in an upcoming lineup. Legacy of Kain: Defiance is set to be the last game in the series to join modern consoles, completing the entire set from 1996 to 2003. Sony hasn't officially announced Legacy of Kain: Defiance's inclusion in PS Plus, but Gematsu spotted a new PS5, PS4 rating for the game on Taiwan rating board's official website. This is typically how upcoming classics leak. Those who aren't subscribed to PS Plus Premium will be able to purchase Legacy of Kain: Defiance via the PS Store. We'll confirm the price once the listing goes live. As for when the game will join PS Plus, we can't say for sure right now. There have been cases where classics were rated for PS5 and PS4 months before they joined the Premium catalog. As a reminder, here are the upcoming classics that Sony has already confirmed for PS Plus: Twisted Metal 3 (July 2025) Twisted Metal 4 (July 2025) PS1's Resident Evil 2 (Summer 2025) PS1's Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Summer 2025) We'll update our readers when we have more information. The post New PS Plus Premium PS2 Game Leaked for PS5, PS4 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Silent Hill returns: Konami announces plans for the horror game franchise's comeback
Silent Hill is officially back. Konami has finally confirmed the long-rumoured remake of Silent Hill, setting off excitement among horror fans around the world. While Silent Hill 2's remake is already deep in development, the surprise reveal of a Silent Hill 1 remake signals something even bigger. Konami is not just revisiting its horror legacy, but they are rebuilding it from the ground up. The first Silent Hill originally came out in 1999 on the PlayStation and changed the horror genre with its fog-filled atmosphere, eerie storytelling and disturbing monsters. Now, fans will get to see that iconic game through a modern lens. Whether it sticks closely to the classic PS1 roots or includes new ideas from later games like Shattered Memories, the new version is shaping up to be both a love letter to the past and a terrifying new experience. A scary step into the past The dense fog returns!We are thrilled to announce that a #SILENTHILL remake project is in the works at Bloober Team, developed in close cooperation with our friends from @Konami!#KONAMI #BlooberTeam While the visuals and mechanics will be updated for new consoles, Konami wants to keep the original spirit alive. That means twisted puzzles, psychological horror, and a town full of fog and fear. Longtime fans are hoping for fixed camera angles and tank controls, but there's also talk of more fluid gameplay and even reimagined scenes to surprise returning players. The remake is being handled by a trusted team, although Konami has not revealed every detail yet. However, they have confirmed it will stick closely to the story of Harry Mason searching for his missing daughter, Cheryl, in the cursed town. Expect a heavy dose of mind-bending horror, disturbing creatures and emotional storytelling. What's next for the Silent Hill franchise? The return of Silent Hill 1, alongside the already hyped remake of Silent Hill 2, clearly shows that Konami is not stopping here. Fans believe that Silent Hill 3 could be next in line, with Silent Hill 4 also on the cards. If these projects perform well, we could even see unexpected comebacks for the less-loved titles like Homecoming and Downpour. This looks like the beginning of a full Silent Hill revival, and for many fans, it has been a long time coming. For new players, it might be their first time stepping into the fog. For older fans, it will feel like a nightmare they never wanted to wake up from.
Pink Villa
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Decoding The Economics of Thug Life: Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam aim for BIG profits; Recovers budget with non-theatrical but…
After the historic success of Nayakan, Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam are reuniting after 38 years on the June 5, 2025 release, Thug Life. The film went on floors in January 2024, and the makers shot it over a 100-day period, and is among the most anticipated films of the year. It also features STR in a key role with Trisha Krishnan as the female lead. With just 2 days to go for the release, we got our hands at the economics of the much-awaited action thriller. According to reliable trade sources, Thug Life has been made on a budget of Rs 180 crore, with another Rs 20 crore spent on the print and publicity. This takes the total cost of this Kamal Haasan and STR starrer to Rs 200 crore. One must note that the above cost does not include the acting fees of Kamal Haasan, who is producing the film and will take home a lion's share from the profit. Talking of recoveries, the digital rights of Thug Life were sold to Netflix for a mammoth price after the the director and actor duo of Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan independently tasted blockbuster success with PS 1 and Vikram. The film fetched an excellent deal from the digital player of Rs 130 crore, which is among the highest of all time for a film of Tamil Origin. The satellite rights of Thug Life are sold for Rs 60 crore, whereas the music of the film fetched Rs 20 crore. The total recovery from the non-theatrical medium is Rs 210 crore, as against an expense of Rs 200 crore, giving the makers a profit of Rs 10 crore. However, a lot still remains, as the fees of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam are not included in the cost and will largely depend on the theatrical performance. If we talk of fair value, the two will draw a combined salary of at-least Rs 110 crore, which means that Thug Life needs to draw a global theatrical share of Rs 110 crore to break-even, and the business beyond be in the profits in true sense for all the stakeholders. Here's a look at the economics of Thug Life
