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الوسم: GOG

  • Completing Silent Hill Games: Solving Mysteries on GOG Soon!

    Completing Silent Hill Games: Solving Mysteries on GOG Soon!

    Konami’s Comeback

    Konami is making a big comeback with projects like the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 and remasters of Suikoden. One of their most exciting projects is the remake of Silent Hill 2 and the new game Silent Hill f, written by Ryukishi07.

    As a fan of JRPGs and psychological horror games, I’ve been thrilled about these updates. But what about the original classic games from Konami? The PlayStation versions of the first Silent Hill games have a special charm. A recent video from GOG has sparked excitement about the possibility of them returning, along with potential releases on other platforms.

    “This Game Shaped Me”

    The video has become popular on platforms like Reddit since its release on GOG Classics Vault’s YouTube channel. Titled “This Game Shaped Me,” the video starts with quotes from community member @MaxZyrix, shared on GOG’s Dreamlist page. Their post states, “This game simply helped shape me into the person I am today,” which clearly resonated with the GOG team.

    Currently, fans can vote for all three classic Silent Hill games on GOG’s website. As of now, Silent Hill has almost 95,000 votes, while Silent Hill 2 has even more, and Silent Hill 3 has reached 45,000 votes. GOG pays close attention to these votes, but there’s no guarantee that they will get the green light due to business negotiations with Konami.

    In the past, fan enthusiasm has led to successful re-releases for other classic horror games. Last year, the first three Resident Evil games became available on GOG without any DRM, following the nostalgic style many remember. Additionally, during Sony’s June State of Play event, it was announced that the original Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 will soon be accessible on PlayStation Plus.

    If Silent Hill 1-3 are re-released on GOG, I’ll be eager to play them again. As a console gamer, I’d love to replay them on my PlayStation 5. GOG Classics often leads to wider launches, so I hope Konami is open to showcasing these games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2 in the future.

  • GOG Brings Back Classic RPG Over 20 Years Later

    GOG Brings Back Classic RPG Over 20 Years Later

    Over twenty years since its initial debut, the beloved JRPG Breath of Fire IV is now available on PC through the GOG Preservation Program. Originally launched on PC in 2000 (with European and Japanese releases following in 2003), the game’s early port was considered lacking by many fans.

    One major issue is that Breath of Fire IV was originally crafted for 240p displays. Despite the use of sophisticated upscaling methods, many players have noted that even GOG’s updated version requires some adjustments to mitigate blurriness. However, this new iteration includes numerous bug fixes and enhancements that greatly improve gameplay on contemporary systems by removing DRM.

    According to GOG, Breath of Fire IV is fully compatible with Windows 10 and 11, and it features both English and Japanese translations along with various rendering options. The update also reinstates previously missing environmental sounds and enhances keyboard and mouse support while addressing crashes that could occur during battles. Notably, this version now supports controllers as well.

    Breath of Fire IV
    Capcom

    As part of its Preservation Program, GOG asserts that this new version of Breath of Fire IV is the best available on any PC platform. The game was selected after more than 23,000 votes were cast on the GOG Dreamlist, highlighting the community’s desire for its revitalization.

    If you’re unfamiliar with the Breath of Fire series, this is a perfect chance to dive in. While the visuals might feel dated, the charming, sprite-based graphics and pixelated characters have their own appeal. The game offers plenty of content, with the main storyline taking over 30 hours to complete; completionists can easily double that playtime. And if PC gaming isn’t your preference, it’s also accessible through the Nintendo Switch Online library.

  • GOG Launches Program for PC Games Preservation

    GOG Launches Program for PC Games Preservation

    Mr. X attacking Leon and holding him up by his neck in the original Resident Evil 2
    Capcom

    GOG has long been a cornerstone of vintage PC gaming. While their catalog does feature modern games, it’s the platform’s selection of DRM-free classics like Beyond Good & Evil and Silent Hill 4: The Room that truly stands out. This vast library offers many titles that are often hard to find elsewhere.

    Now, under the ownership of CD Projekt Red, GOG is enhancing its appeal with the announcement of the GOG Preservation Program. Unveiled on Wednesday, this initiative aims to ensure that selected games, branded as “Good Old Games,” maintain their compatibility with current and future systems while being preserved as authentically as possible.

    According to the blog post, “If a game is part of the Preservation Program, it means that we commit our own resources to maintaining its compatibility with modern and future systems.” Currently, these titles work on Windows 10 and 11, with plans for better support on future platforms.

    The program currently includes 100 classic titles such as System Shock 2, Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, and the original Diablo, with more to come. Although many of these games have been available for a while, the Preservation Program serves as a commitment from GOG to ensure they receive necessary updates and meet specific standards for players. Plus, all these titles are DRM-free, allowing users to enjoy them without the fear of licenses being revoked or requiring an internet connection.

    For example, earlier this year, GOG released the Resident Evil Bundle, featuring the first three classic Resident Evil games for $25. They made minimal enhancements, like quality-of-life improvements with new rendering options and better controller support, while ensuring the games remain as true to the original experience as possible—more so than an emulator or vintage physical copies might offer.

    Despite recent improvements in the preservation and availability of classic games, the industry still faces significant hurdles. High-profile companies have closed digital storefronts, making it difficult for older titles to continue being accessible. For instance, while Sony reversed its decision to shut down its PlayStation 3 and PS Vita digital stores, Nintendo permanently closed its Wii U and 3DS eShops in 2023. While major platforms have begun publishing retro titles through subscription services, the PC gaming space has lagged, with remakes frequently failing to capture the essence of the originals.

    The GOG blog lamented this, stating, “Unfortunately, the classic PC games market is in a sorry state. It’s too tiny for leading platforms to give it any attention. Classic releases often get the sell-it-and-forget-it treatment, and as time goes on and technology evolves, compatibility issues arise and remain unaddressed.”