Video PS3

As you all know, HD remakes have become quite trendy these days and even Sam Fisher decided to get his own HD face lift in Splinter Cell Trilogy HD. Ubisoft sent us three codes to download the three original games on PSN and we captured a bunch of videos for you guys. The collection will be available at your retailer by the end of the month, but you can purchase the three titles independently on PSN for $9.99 each. My impressions on each port inside.

The first Splinter Cell game was released back in 2002, so one could not hope for a miracle when launching the HD edition adapted from the PC version. Despite some HD textures, it clearly is the episode which looks the most dated. Cutscenes especially show their age, with hands modeled in just one block. In spite of pixelated textures worth of the 32bits era, the shadow effects still look good and the lighting is sometimes worthy of a few modern AAA titles.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow HD has received a better treatment. Textures are decent enough and the dynamic lighting effects start to show what they are capable of. On the downside, aliasing is still too visible for the HD port of a 2004 game.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory arrived on Xbox and PC one year later, in 2005. As a result, its HD version looks a lot better than the other two. Don't expect the quality of today's standards, textures being a bit poor, but the great work they had done with the lighting is still impressive. Aliasing is also more discrete, though one can't help but wonder why it is still there today.


In the end, these three ports do not seem to have changed much from the PC versions of the time. However, in spite of their age, some effects are still worth a look and add to the immersion. That being said, unless you are a great fan of the franchise, these HD versions will probably appeal more to those who have never played the games. As for the others, they will most certainly pass, especially since there is no trace of the excellent multiplayer mode.
ManThatYouFear
ManThatYouFear
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:17:25
I say this every time

No multiplayer
No sale.

I so badly wanted this as well (chaos theory MP)
Damn you ubisoft.. damn you to hell.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:30:30
Considering it took so damn long, they're ment to be pretty shoddy ports too. Suffering the same performance issues of their 6+ year old counterparts. Which is just inexcusable. Ubisoft just dont do these HD remakes very well. Prince of persia was the same.
In reply to
GangStarr - Inhibited Sony Lover
GangStarr
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:35:37
its a HD remake though.... its not a remake

so it does what it says, its the original but in HD
In reply to
ManThatYouFear
ManThatYouFear
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:38:23 In reply to GangStarr
Posted by GangStarr
its a HD remake though.... its not a remake

so it does what it says, its the original but in HD
but its not the originals..

originals had MP (- the first obviously)
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:41:40 In reply to GangStarr
Posted by GangStarr
its a HD remake though.... its not a remake

so it does what it says, its the original but in HD
In ubisofts case it isnt actually even that. More a port of the PC version.
In reply to
Driftwood - Dictateur en chef
Driftwood
Commented on 2011-09-01 14:46:44 In reply to KORNdog
Posted by KORNdog
Ubisoft just dont do these HD remakes very well.
BGE was a great port imo. But as for the rest, yeah, a bit lazy...
In reply to
Archaos
Archaos
Commented on 2011-09-01 15:54:05
It might have been asking a bit much but if this had been given the same kind of graphical treatment that we've seen for the Halo update AND included the glorious Spy Vs Merc multiplayer, they would have had all my money.
In reply to
Doom_Bringer - I have terrible taste
Doom_Bringer
Commented on 2011-09-01 15:56:26
Just buy the PC version guys :P

Pandora Tomorrow is difficult to track down since it isn't available on any download service but the rest are easy to obtain through Steam etc. I personally LOVE Chaos Theory or loved it back in the day...I don't the series has aged well sadly.
In reply to
digi_matrix
digi_matrix
Commented on 2011-09-01 16:16:53 In reply to Archaos
Posted by Archaos
It might have been asking a bit much but if this had been given the same kind of graphical treatment that we've seen for the Halo update AND included the glorious Spy Vs Merc multiplayer, they would have had all my money.
I think it says more about the company. Ubisoft is way too big now, rivaling Activision and EA, so they don't put as much love into the little things like HD remakes. Bungie obviously does, since Halo is their baby.
In reply to
DirtEHarry
DirtEHarry
Commented on 2011-09-01 17:30:16 In reply to digi_matrix
Posted by digi_matrix
Bungie obviously does, since Halo is their baby.
Wrong. 343 Industries is taking care of the Halo remake.
In reply to
FreeSwag
FreeSwag
Commented on 2011-09-01 19:18:46 In reply to Archaos
Posted by Archaos
It might have been asking a bit much but if this had been given the same kind of graphical treatment that we've seen for the Halo update AND included the glorious Spy Vs Merc multiplayer, they would have had all my money.
And there is the magic.

Someone was saying a few weeks ago, they'd rather pay the money for lots of games in an HD collection on a single disc. And then you look as some of these collections, and they are rubbish. The only ones really worth owning are the God of War and the upcoming Team Ico collections. And even those, I would have happily paid more money and got them separately, if it mean that each game in those collections got a proper HD remake treatment.

Most of these collections out there, it's like Nintendo or someone is in charge of producing them - they do the bare minimum to bring them to new platforms, only for the milking rights, when they know a bunch of suckers will buy OOT or SM64 for the billionth time, because a new gimmick has been added to the game, instead of giving true classic games the proper refresh they deserve.

Halo: CEA gives you both a super cleaned up, HD-enhanced version of the original, plus a complete graphic overhaul. And simply pushing a single button, you can toggle between the two. Every HD remake should be given so much love and respect - especially when you are remaking some of gaming's most classic moments

These Splinter Cell ports deserved better - much better. Companies should be ashamed of just cashing in on these great titles.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2011-09-01 19:43:51 In reply to FreeSwag
Posted by FreeSwag
And there is the magic.

Someone was saying a few weeks ago, they'd rather pay the money for lots of games in an HD collection on a single disc. And then you look as some of these collections, and they are rubbish. The only ones really worth owning are the God of War and the upcoming Team Ico collections. And even those, I would have happily paid more money and got them separately, if it mean that each game in those collections got a proper HD remake treatment.

Most of these collections out there, it's like Nintendo or someone is in charge of producing them - they do the bare minimum to bring them to new platforms, only for the milking rights, when they know a bunch of suckers will buy OOT or SM64 for the billionth time, because a new gimmick has been added to the game, instead of giving true classic games the proper refresh they deserve.

Halo: CEA gives you both a super cleaned up, HD-enhanced version of the original, plus a complete graphic overhaul. And simply pushing a single button, you can toggle between the two. Every HD remake should be given so much love and respect - especially when you are remaking some of gaming's most classic moments

These Splinter Cell ports deserved better - much better. Companies should be ashamed of just cashing in on these great titles.
I'm one of those that want more in a HD collection. But i also want it doing right. Ubisoft do the former, but fall flat on the latter. I only own 2 HD collections, and i only have my eye on 2 more (ICO and GOW collection 2) i cant justify spending 30 quid on a single game i've already played, no matter how good it looks. But i CAN justify getting 3 games for 25 quid (sly collection) or 2 for 20 quid (GOW collection)

But then i'm not big on playing through games multiple times anyway, so the more bang i can get for my buck, the better. I'd take a franchises entire back catalogue that has been up-res'd to 1080p, 60fps with trophies and 3D support over a single game that looks nicer but costs more. But then it's an old game, with old gameplay. A fresh coat of paint wont make you forget you're playing a 10 year old game. Because mechanically times have changed and games have moved on. So in that sutuation i'd rather have 3 full games, giving me 30 + hours of gameplay. It may not look as fancy, but that isnt what i'm looking for in these collections anyway. I just want a ton of content for less money that doesnt look like a blury, jaggy mess on my HDTV.

But ubisoft has failed at even the most basic of tasks with both HD collections they have released. They're just PC ports, no optimisation, modes removed and performance the same as it was originally. Which is a shame, because i was excited by the prospect of playing chaos thery, in 1080p, 60fps, with multi and co-op modes intact. But they cant even manage that.
In reply to
moroboshi
moroboshi
Commented on 2011-09-01 20:07:57
A word of warning - none of these ports supports inverting the Y axis. Bizarre omission and one which rendered all three totally unplayable for me.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2011-09-01 20:26:46 In reply to moroboshi
Posted by moroboshi
A word of warning - none of these ports supports inverting the Y axis. Bizarre omission and one which rendered all three totally unplayable for me.
So does that mean up is down and down is up by default?
In reply to
digi_matrix
digi_matrix
Commented on 2011-09-01 20:54:29 In reply to DirtEHarry
Posted by DirtEHarry
Wrong. 343 Industries is taking care of the Halo remake.
Why do I keep on forgetting that?! Anyway, isn't that just formed of former Bungie employees, like Frank O Connor?
In reply to
Drsw36
Drsw36
Commented on 2011-09-01 21:00:03 In reply to FreeSwag
Posted by FreeSwag
Halo: CEA gives you both a super cleaned up, HD-enhanced version of the original, plus a complete graphic overhaul. Every HD remake should be given so much love and respect. Companies should be ashamed of just cashing in on these great titles.
I'm sick of people saying that in every HD port topic. Making a HD remake like Halo cost a lot of $$$. Not every game company want to put the time & money for that. This is a 3 games collection were talking about just imagine how long it would take and how expensive it would be.

Even Square Enix doesn't want to make a FF7 remake even though a lot of people are asking for it.
In reply to
brobban
brobban
Commented on 2011-09-01 21:05:54 In reply to moroboshi
Posted by moroboshi
A word of warning - none of these ports supports inverting the Y axis. Bizarre omission and one which rendered all three totally unplayable for me.
It means that I won't be able to play them... o well, I'll play the PC-versions instead.

Unfortunately, in Beyond Good And Evil HD you couldn't set invert X/Y individually. So I had to skip that game also :(
In reply to
Kethmach
Kethmach
Commented on 2011-09-02 16:45:19
So my big question is: Is it an HD version of the PS2 games or the Xbox games? They were dramatically different versions- with the Xbox versions being vastly superior. You mentioned the PC version in the preview/review but I don't know if that's like the PS or the Xbox?
In reply to
Driftwood - Dictateur en chef
Driftwood
Commented on 2011-09-02 16:50:56 In reply to Kethmach
The PC version looked better than either one at the time. So I suppose you could say that the xbox version was the closest to PC you could get. The PS2 versions of the Splinter Cell games were poor in comparison.
In reply to
crookedmind
crookedmind
Commented on 2011-09-03 09:38:55 In reply to ManThatYouFear
Chaos Theory - Best, fucking, Splinter Cell, ever, period.
In reply to
Real720
Real720
Commented on 2011-09-03 19:04:19 In reply to crookedmind
I agree.
In reply to
V8VANTAGE
V8VANTAGE
Commented on 2011-09-04 15:33:32
Ok so its several years since these were originally out yet the PC versions still look and run better? What the hell have you been doing Ubisoft!

It STILL lacks anti-aliasing and the PC version runs at 60fps on a tablet pc. PS3 still only manages 30fps and native 720p from the looks of things.
In reply to
KORNdog
KORNdog
Commented on 2011-09-04 16:29:03 In reply to V8VANTAGE
Posted by V8VANTAGE
Ok so its several years since these were originally out yet the PC versions still look and run better? What the hell have you been doing Ubisoft!

It STILL lacks anti-aliasing and the PC version runs at 60fps on a tablet pc. PS3 still only manages 30fps and native 720p from the looks of things.
Still 30fps, but they all run native 1080p...to the detriment of the framerate. But the framerate suffers either way, which is rediculous.
In reply to
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