Good/Bad Game Anniversaries(PS)

[Dragon78]

So what video game anniversaries did you think were good? what did you think was bad?

Basically anniversaries for games that only Playstation or at least mostly related to the system(s).

I would say the Persona 25th was very lackluster.

[ChadFL]

I'll mention a somewhat obscure one for a great anniversary - The Year of Luigi.

Luigi has always been an overlooked character from Nintendo, but the really went all out for his 30th anniversary. I recall being shocked at how many new games, game variations, and special editions released through 2013-14 as part of the 30th anniversary.

Nintendo revived the long dormant Luigi's Mansion series, put out a new Mario & Luigi game, dropped New Super Luigi U (an interesting, much harder version of New Super Mario U), a Dr. Luigi game (similar to the famed Dr. Mario), as well as a nice Luigi themed 3DS limited edition console.

https://www.mariowiki.com/The_Year_of_Luigi

Nintendo 3DS
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team



Wii U
New Super Luigi U
Luigi Bros. in Super Mario 3D World
Dr. Luigi
Super Luigi Bros. in NES Remix 2 and NES Remix Pack



Console special editions
A Luigi-themed Nintendo 3DS XL with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team pre-installed on the 4GB SD card.



Sadly, the Year of Luigi happened right around the time (middle of the Wii U's lifespan) now referred to as "the dark age of Nintendo," when it was evident the Wii U was a complete disaster commercially and Nintendo was in its worst shape financially in decades. Some even wrongly attribute the Year of Luigi to Nintendo's woes at that time. As a result, the really good games and cool merchandise releases are largely overlooked.

[ChadFL]

Awful anniversary - Square Enix's 35th Anniversary Final Fantasy

Ok, this one is obvious being so recent, I'll admit. But there's no denying the awfulness that is Square's recent 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy.

What is the absolute worst thing you can do to your legendary franchise? Oh, I dunno, how about releasing the first six beloved games in the franchise, with relatively little improvement visually for just shy of $100 shipped (they charge like $20-something for shipping a single Switch game)... ONLY available in North America as a limited release on the Square website... which sold out completely in a matter of minutes when the company put them up for preorder in the middle of the night?



And to add another layer of bullsh*t, how about making the collector's edition for this collection costs about $300 shipped, and in very limited numbers exclusive to the Square online store? The scalpers have this thing selling for almost $1,000 on Ebay.



The only thing that made this 35th anniversary fiasco even marginally less awful was the release of Theatrhythm Final Bar Line.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Awful anniversary - Square Enix's 35th Anniversary Final Fantasy

You ain't kidding! For 1/2/4, there's versions on the PSP with better graphics, gameplay improvements, and bonus levels. Square-Enix should've given 3/5/6 the same treatments and used those for the Anniversary Remasters. The Pixel Remasters are a joke.

[Zivouhr]

The PS2 game, Shadow of the Colossus, looked cool on PS3 packed with the prior game, and also offered a stereo 3D mode.

I never played them, but heard the Silent Hill collection on PS3(?) was not ideal.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

The PS2 game, Shadow of the Colossus, looked cool on PS3 packed with the prior game, and also offered a stereo 3D mode.

I never played them, but heard the Silent Hill collection on PS3(?) was not ideal.

The Silent Hill HD collection was absolute garbage. The worst HD collection released for the PS3. Very glitchy and looked like crap. In some ways, it looked and played WORSE than the original games. It really was a sign of the dark times to come for Konami.

Hopefully Bloober Team handles the Silent Hill 2 remake well, because that franchise hasn't had a good game in about a decade and a half.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

The Silent Hill HD collection was absolute garbage. The worst HD collection released for the PS3. Very glitchy and looked like crap. In some ways, it looked and played WORSE than the original games. It really was a sign of the dark times to come for Konami.

Hopefully Bloober Team handles the Silent Hill 2 remake well, because that franchise hasn't had a good game in about a decade and a half.

Thanks. Yes, that was unfortunate to hear how poorly they were ported from the prior versions.

Yes, I'm actually looking forward to the Silent Hill 2 remake since it'll be such a major improvement visually over the PS2 classic game. Hopefully. Would be nice if there's a classic mode and newer gameplay mode to pick.

[Dragon78]

I am hoping the SMT 30th anniversary will be better then the Persona 25th.

[_Seth]

Good (just misunderstood and underrated) game, 20th anniversary: Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness.

Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness Modern Trailer - YouTube

The people that gave this game a solid chance know what's up.

[Dragon78]

Well so far the SMT 30th is much worse then the Persona 25th. Though the deadline for SMT 30th is October so there is some time left.

[Zivouhr]

Ridge Racer, that series disappeared years ago, so that's a bad anniversary series I'd say in terms of continuing franchises versus discontinued ones.

Syphon Filter had a good run there, but seems discontinued.

Soul Reaver had a good run from 1999 through mid 2004 or so, with 5 or so games. That series is long discontinued. I don't see it returning.

Ape Escape, that series seems finished. I hardly played the original but it was clever.

Dig Dug, Dig Dug 2, then Dig Dug Arrangement from Namco. They said Mr. Driller was a the successor, but that game is absolutely nothing like Dig Dug and total BS if they think that's a continuation. Sadly, the Dig Dug series is extinct for any chance of a continuing franchise.

Golden Axe, II, III, Return of Death Adder, Fighters, RPG, Golden Axe Tyris Flare PS3, that series seems finished. The first game was and still is the best of them all. IMO.

[Dragon78]

When was the last time they did anything for Chrono Trigger's anniversary?

[Dragon78]

I was hoping that the SMT 30th would be better then the Persona 25th.....that isn't going to happen. Now I am just hoping that Atlus gives us something game related.

[Dragon78]

I heard Starfox was completely ignored during it's anniversary this year.