Director Motohide Eshiro shared insights into the stunning improvements made in the game’s remastered edition. He highlighted how the enhanced HD resolution and a solid 60 frames per second performance breathe new life into its unique visual style. “The swordplay now feels more responsive than ever,” Eshiro noted. With TVs having evolved to widescreen formats, the game has been optimized to make full use of the display, offering a more immersive experience, particularly during those thrilling battle scenes.
Having spent countless hours in this vivid world, I can attest to the heightened responsiveness of the swordplay. Bouts with adversaries feel personal and intense, especially when navigating the narrow temple corridors. Slashing through waves of demons, striving to perfect the powerful issen counterattacks, and absorbing enemy souls to level up adds layers of excitement to the gameplay.
Eshiro mentioned, “We wanted players trying out this remaster to feel just as exhilarated as those who played in 2002.” To achieve this, they kept the core features intact while updating some elements to match today’s gaming expectations. They were lucky to have access to the original high-quality assets, which were somewhat limited by the CRT displays back in the day. With modern upscaling techniques, they unlocked the full potential of these assets for HD screens, enhancing everything from the beautifully rendered backgrounds to the dynamic elements like flowing rivers.
Overall, the remastered version manages to retain the charm of the original while seamlessly integrating advancements that amplify the visual and interactive experience, making it a fresh and enthralling journey for both newcomers and returning fans.
