OldSchoolRetroGamer Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 So, I was thinking, we love and cherish so many classic arcade games. However, often our fist experience with a specific title isn't with the original arcade version either becuase we were to young or simply never came across the arcade original. Or sometimes, like in my case , I simply got a version on console so played it a lot. For my example, my favorite version of Mr. Do! was the Colecovision version and to this day it is not only my favorite colecovision game but my favorite version of it as well, it may not have been better, it may have been inferior to the arcade or many other ports but it is my personal favorite version I chose over all others. Also, I played a LOT. Also my favorite version of Pac Man would be the Shareware version on Amiga called PAC MAN DELUXE because again I owned it, played it a LOT and I loved the changes and enhancements over the original. So here is my question to all of you : What is your favorite version of any arcade game other than the original arcade? Answers can include ports, console versions, computer versions, PD, shareware, web browser flash game etc. For the record, I ask this as over the years I have discovered many great games that I enjoyed more then the arcade original and would always be interested to play a version a might have missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Good topic idea! I could list a ton of games, since I generally do prefer the console version of most games. But I'll try to restrict myself to one per system. Bump 'n' Jump: Intellivision Pac-Man: Atari 5200 Turtles: Odyssey2 Galaga: Turbografx-16 (OK, it's Galaga '90, but still...) Berzerk: Atari 2600 Asteroids: Atari 7800 Lady Bug: Colecovision (with the 2600 version close behind) Tempest: Jaguar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) I always liked the atari 8-bit version of joust. It didn't look good, but everything moved well. I'd rather play it over the arcade any day. Contra. I doubt the NES port of it has ever been 'overlooked.' Still, if the arcade version plays anything like the emulators say, I'll take the NES version too. And Dreamcast did wonderful things for adding depth and replay value San Francisco Rush 2049 without it ever feeling 'padded out.' Not bad on soul calibur either, but it didn't manage to avoid that second bit as well as Rush did. Edited February 12, 2012 by Reaperman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBlazer Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 There's a number of NES games. Contra, for sure, Reaperman said. Konami really expanded and added on to the game for the NES version. Super C (Super Contra) also. Jackal Astyanax TMNT 2: The Arcade Game Super Mario Brothers Gradius For Atari 2600 games: Space Invaders Pac-Man Defender SNES games: Gradius 3 TMNT 4: Turtles in Time 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uglyclone Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 For me it's Burgertime on Intellivision and Double Dragon on the NES. I've spent so much time on both of these ports, it's to the point that I don't get enjoyment out of playing the arcade versions of either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) Galaga '90 for the TG-16. Never played or saw the original arcade until probably 15 years after its release. The TG-16 version is superb. Super Breakout for the 2600. I don't *think* I've ever played this in the arcade. If I did, it was too many beers ago and I can't remember. lol Playing the arcade today on a 60-in-1 or MAME, I'm not impressed with it at all. 2600 version blows them away. Intellivision's Burgertime. My friend back in the day, had an INTV and this game. We played the living snot out of it. I was familiar enough with the arcade back then, but still preferred the Intellivision version. Do to this day. Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar, definitely over the comparatively "dull" arcade original. And I say that tongue-in-cheek of course. T2K is pure genius for what it is though. SNES NBA Jam T.E. or maybe I'm just thinking the original NBA Jam - just something about the gameplay on the SNES that made the game more fun and accessible to me. I liked the slightly smaller characters of the SNES version. TI Invaders for the TI-99/4A... this would be the definitive home version of the classic coin op for me. Can't say it's "better" than the arcade, but damn is it nearly as good and its bonus saucer ship round really adds a different dimension to an already great game. That said, I'd rather play TI Invaders than that newer Taito Space Invaders/Qix cabinet out there. All they did was shove a 25" color monitor into a cheapened cabinet - just as Namco did with Pac-Man/Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man. Space Invaders is not Space Invaders without the "3D" artwork and mirror projection of the arcade original IMO. Maybe someone can help me out with this one. Haven't played it in years, but it was an assembly language Centipede/Millipede clone for the TI that I used to load from tape into my Mini-Memory cartridge. Atarisoft's Centipede for the TI is masterful on its own, but this enhanced version was friggin' incredible. Anyone know what game I'm talking about? Would love to get it back again... on tape. (pretty sure it was NOT called TI-pede or anything stupid like that - lol) Speaking of the TI, Munchmobile is a game I used to get some decent enjoyment out of. Never really knew it was an arcade game back in the day, just thought it was kind of a cool (or different anyway) "original" TI game. Oh and absolutely cannot forget TI's Blasto! My friend and I (the one that had an Intellivision) would play this for hours on end. Pretty much a Bomberman meets Combat type of game that never seemed to get old. Loco-Motion for the Intellivision. I never played the arcade original, but yeah... I know I'd still like the INTV version better. I played me lots of Reactor in the arcade and while the 2600 version is pretty good, you really do need an analog roller controller to play this properly. Same with Missile Command, albeit to a lesser extent. You get used to both and both are extremely playable, which is why I mention them here. Really not too many home versions of games I'd consider "superior" to their arcade counterparts, but there are some incredible translations and efforts out there. Dreamcast's Rush 2049 deserves honorable mention. The stunt tracks totally made that game for me (to this day) and if those were NOT a part of the arcade game, I'd definitely say the home versions were better then. Had Medieval Mayhem been released around the time of Warlords, I'd definitely go with the former. The new-ish Gunfight homebrew for the 2600 is also another kick ass release for what it is, but I was pretty familiar with the arcade version as we happened to have that at home throughout the late 70's and 80's. Edited February 12, 2012 by save2600 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberpunk Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Double Dragon II (NES) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eltigro Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I agree with some others about Galaga '90 on the TG, but the Turbo version of R-Type is pretty awesome, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwalla Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Asteroids - 7800 Joust - 7800 Robotron - 7800 Ladybug - ColecoVision Venture - ColecoVision Galaxian - ColecoVision Pengo - 5200/8-bit Donkey Kong - 8-bit Centipede - 5200 Defender - 8-bit Ms. Pac Man - 2600 (the only version where I can actually clear a few screens) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSchoolRetroGamer Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 Wow looking good guys thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 I agree with some others about Galaga '90 on the TG, but the Turbo version of R-Type is pretty awesome, too. Well both those games are pretty darn close to their original arcade versions. So it's almost like liking the same game. For me, I really like the 2600 version of Ms. Pacman. Of course I like the arcade version and am pretty good at it, but the 2600 version just has a certain charm that clicks in my brain. I even like the mazes. Maybe it was the utter surprise of when I first played it as a kid that it was actually a good home version of Pacman on my Atari. . Anyway, I still like playing it today. Someone mentioned the 8-bit version of Joust. I too prefer the 5200 version of Joust over the arcade for a number of reasons. It's easier to fly, the ceiling is bouncy (makes for great kill stunts), and the overall esthetic is more pleasing, at least to me. NES Contra.. of course. 5200 Space Dungeon to me is more playable than the difficult arcade version. I also think if I had a regular choice between playing the arcade version of Crystal Castles vs. the 2600 version, I'd choose the 2600 version. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armonigann Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Joust 7800 Dig Dug 7800 Centipede 7800 Asteroids 7800 Jungle Hunt 2600 Bump n' Jump 2600 Kangaroo 2600 Super Mario Bros. NES Galaga NES Donkey Kong NES Paperboy Genesis Toki Genesis RoadBlasters Genesis... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cmart604 Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Burgertime for Intellivision hands down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animan Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Roadblasters for the Genesis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynicaster Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I think I'm a bit of an oddball in that I have always viewed arcade versions of games to be the premium experience and absolute final word, with 2600 Space Invaders being the only possible exception I can think of. I suppose I enjoyed 2600 Asteroids as well, and it's the only home version I can stomach for more than 30 seconds. I know they have a nice "3D" version for the 7800, but for me it's still a huge step backwards because the original vector graphics are absolutely perfect. I always found that pre-16-bit consoles were at their best with original (non-arcade) games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbd30 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I think I'm a bit of an oddball in that I have always viewed arcade versions of games to be the premium experience and absolute final word, with 2600 Space Invaders being the only possible exception I can think of. Dreamcast "Soul Calibur" is a technical improvement over the arcade. Unless you're specifically referring to the "classic" consoles... 16-bit and earlier. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) Double Dragon on the SMS It's Fan-flickin'-tastic! Edited February 14, 2012 by Torr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSchoolRetroGamer Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Interesting, I look forward to checking many of these out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skarrj Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Hands down...Life force NES 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icemanxp300 Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) Metroid nes Mario Kart n64 F-zero N64 Zelda ocarina of time N64 Marvel Vs. Capcom Dreamcast Street Fighter 2 special champions edition genesis Zanac x Zanac ps1 import Dragon Warrior 1 Nes I could probabaly go all day here lol Edited February 14, 2012 by icemanxp300 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitachi Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 My favorite of all the versions/sequels/ports Gradius 3 for Super Nintendo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underball Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Choplifter for SMS Food Fight for Atari 7800 Stargate for Atari 2600 Virtua Racing for Sega 32x Mortal Kombat II for Sega 32x Return Fire on 3DO Dragon's Lair on Sony PS3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmer Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Space Dungeon on the 5200 over the arcade prototype... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taskmaster99 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Tempest 2000 on the Jag was and still is great!!!! I think I also enjoyed Mike Tysons Punch Out over the arcade Punch out and Super Punch Out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 5200 Defender 5200 Joust 2600 Lady Bug 2600 Space Invaders 2600 Star Fire SNES Mortal Kombat II 5200 Beef Drop 5200 Centipede NES Tecmo Bowl NES Super Mario Bros 8-Bit Donkey Kong 7800 Asteroids 7800 Asteroids Deluxe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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