Topic: SILENT HILL 3!!!!

[Grey Ninja]

YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!

Konami might not give a rat's ass about GameCube, but as long as they keep giving us good PC ports of their PS2 games that are worthwhile, I will be plenty happy.  

Silent Hill has long been one of the few games available only on Sony consoles that I have really really wanted.  When Silent Hill 2 came out, it killed me to be without a PS2, and I actually put aside my pride and rented one so that I could play the game.  When a PC port was announced, I was overjoyed, and the quality of the PC port very much impressed me.  The inclusion of exclusive Silent Hill 3 trailers on the PC disc kind of clued me in that Konami was giving some serious thought to making more good PC ports.

Now that it's officially announced that a release will come quite early this time (August 2003), I couldn't be happier.  I am still worried that Silent Hill 3 might suck (some of the trailers are off-putting), but I now have the opportunity to buy it.  

Man, with Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3, and Shadows of Destiny on PC, and Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes on GameCube, I am finding it hard to hate Konami right now.  

EDIT:  Forgot to mention.  The PC version will also include the soundtrack for the game.  This will save me bloody ages trying to hunt down the soundtrack elsewhere this time as well.  

[BlkPaladin]

I just read the announcment also. Personally I'm kind of divided, I will have to buy a new 3D accelerator for the computer (My brother stole the Voodoo card I had in), then I would only be able to play it after everyone went to bed. (Both computers are in the Dining Room... More of a Computer Room now...._) Also I kind of find it more interesting to play in the darkness of my room. (I have insulatted the windows closed to help save on heating and cooling since I live in a old house.)

[Grey Ninja]

Oooohh... that sucks.  You have to admit though that a voodoo card, (while still very good), is getting a little old.  I currently have a GeForce3 Ti200 in my PC, and I really have no complaints.  I can run Silent Hill 2 with some pretty fine detail, and a decent resolution without issue.  If need be, I can overclock my card to almost a Ti500 level as well.    Best of all, the cards can be had for very cheap thse days.  I would seriously consider one if I were you.  It's a good buy, even if it isn't top of the line anymore.

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

I've noticed from the PC Gamer magazine that Konami having been porting a fair amount of games to the PC.  Lately, these games have been getting bad reviews from the magazine.  What bothers me about some console-to-PC ports is that in some games, and I quote from the magazine: "the code needs to be tailored to suit the destination platform."

ie: you can't even quit some games in a integrated manner.  That is not very classy.  And how hard is it for a programmer to implement that function?

Even one of the biggest complaint about MGS2: Substance on the PC was the control.  Most PC game pads operate differently to the PS2 analogue pad.  I quote from the reivew: "For example, on the PS2, to not fire once you've taken aim with your pistol requires you to slowly ease off with the analogue trigger.  The same's true here.  Clearly, if you don't have an analogue button pad, you're in trouble."  Again, not very classy.

I'm not bashing Konami or console-to-PC ports, in fact, I wish there were more of them, but developers need to make the conversion more successful.

[Grey Ninja]

Personally I hated the controls in the PS2 version of MGS2, so no biggie.

I assure you that the Konami PC ports I have played were wonderful on my computer though.

Metal Gear Solid - If all PC ports were this good, I would have nothing to bitch about with PC gaming.  They cut the motion blur from the cut scenes, but gave us the ability to have an insane resolution, and PERSPECTIVE CORRECTION!  (YAY!).  In addition, the game is the enhanced "Integral" version of the game, which was never released outside of Japan.  The sound was excellently done, and since I have a PSX->USB Converter, the controls are spot on.  Fully customizable as well.  PSX emulation has almost reached this level in quality recently, yet it's still a toss up whether you want the PC or PSX version to play on your PC.  The PSX version has the motion blur, but the PC version has higher resolution text, perspective correction, and the VR missions thrown in.

Silent Hill 2 - Even better than the MGS port.  No features were dropped from the console version.  Quick saving, FMV viewer, Extra scenario from PS2 version, higher quality graphics, ability to tailor the appearance of the game to whatever you like (I like a high resolution screen with the grain effect ON), and fully customizable controls.  I have nothing bad to say about this port, other than the slight degradation in FMV quality.  (but it's still quite good, and you can play the game with only one CD in the drive, but you need 3GB of free hard drive space.  (ouch)).

Shadow of Destiny - Camera controls SUCK.  Not many menu options for adjusting the graphics, yet the game still looks better than the PS2 version.  I have heard that the PS2 version didn't have ANY camera controls though, so I can't really whine about them too much.  Lack of customizable controls is my biggest gripe with the game.

Konami PC ports are excellent, and by far the best of the console -> PC ports available.  In my experience, PC reviewers will complain about console games no matter what.  I would take the word of a console/PC gamer over a professional reviewer any day.

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
In my experience, PC reviewers will complain about console games no matter what.  I would take the word of a console/PC gamer over a professional reviewer any day.

Just because someone is a journalist for a PC magazine doesn't mean he/she doesn't play console games.  And it doesn't mean he/she hasn't been a journalist for a console magazine.  Most gaming journalist jump from different gaming magazines.  My favourite journalist, Kieron Gillen, who has been with PC Gamer for serveral years, worked for sister magazine Offical Playstation beforehand.  And MGS was one of his favourite games.  So, it's not like he doesn't know consoles games, and the other journalists for that matter.

I subscribe to the magazine because it is really funny and fun to read (they do really weird and strange features), and I like the fact that the highest score given to a game has been 96% (twice).  I don't believe in giving a game a perfect score (*cough*PGC*cough*).  

I was seriously thinking of getting the PC version of Grandia II until I got a Dreamcast.

Anyway, we should stay on topic.

[Grey Ninja]

Sorry, I was remembering my experiences with the PC editors on IGN and PC Gamer again.  I swear that they have never touched a console game in their lives.  At least they write that way.