If you don't like the upscaling then let me suggest a stupid idea...

DOWNscale it... go back to the classic bitmap sprite images. I have a 4K HD monitor as well and I agree the upscaling gave me all kinds of fuzzy feelings (and not in the right way). So I decided to go back to how it should've looked on the PS2 in the gfx-option in the settings and ironically the classic graphics make the game look a LOT sharper and better if you're into the retro like I am.... at least I didn't have the feeling anymore that I was looking at the game through glasses with the wrong prescription.

Ah... I was just thinking they got all those fancy programs that upscale things to 4k. But If the old school mode will work, that'll have to be it.
Thanks for the idea.
If people know how to pick the game apart to work towards some true HD... let me know.

Alright. Tried out turning off the blur/smooth filter. No longer plan on refunding the game.

Originally posted by Azazel:

Alright. Tried out turning off the blur/smooth filter. No longer plan on refunding the game.

Glad to hear this worked out for you to the point you're now enjoying the game :)

Do you guys know what the original resolution should be? I'm thinking of using windowed mode and just scooting up to my screen rather than all this blurry cutscene text.

Originally posted by camelotcrusade:

Do you guys know what the original resolution should be? I'm thinking of using windowed mode and just scooting up to my screen rather than all this blurry cutscene text.

Again; downscaling to the bitmap sprites should ALSO clear up the fuzzy text (or at least it did on my monitor)

i try to enhance it with nvidia control panel, i think it start to getting good

Originally posted by camelotcrusade:

Do you guys know what the original resolution should be? I'm thinking of using windowed mode and just scooting up to my screen rather than all this blurry cutscene text.

Depending on the assets they used the PSP was 480 x 272 , the PS2 was 480p/i by default

I put a CRT filter on top of the game. The app is called ShaderGlass. I also remove that blur effect from the game. Works for me.

you dont want ai upscaling. it either has no effect, or ruins the image. take a look at the portraits and backgrounds of la puecelle ragnarok for a prime example of what to expect from NIS in regards to AI upscaling. distorted faces and strangely smooth baby faced no-detail faces. really wish we had the option of original artwork for that one.

I'm surprised nobody has made a mod for PlayStation controller support or updated UI like you said