39 replies to this topic

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

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.

[Ransom]

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

[Reaperman]

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 by Reaperman, Sat Feb 11, 2012 7:17 PM.

[SoulBlazer]

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

[uglyclone]

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.

[save2600]

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 by save2600, Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:27 PM.

[bomberpunk]

Double Dragon II (NES)

[Eltigro]

I agree with some others about Galaga '90 on the TG, but the Turbo version of R-Type is pretty awesome, too.

[chuckwalla]

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)

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Wow looking good guys thanks!

[NE146]

Eltigro, on Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:26 PM, said:

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.

[Armonigann]

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...

[cmart604]

Burgertime for Intellivision hands down.

[Animan]

Roadblasters for the Genesis.

[Cynicaster]

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.

[mbd30]

Cynicaster, on Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:42 AM, said:

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.

[Torr]

Double Dragon on the SMS

It's Fan-flickin'-tastic!

Edited by Torr, Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:16 PM.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Interesting, I look forward to checking many of these out!

[Skarrj]

Hands down...Life force NES

[icemanxp300]

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 by icemanxp300, Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:48 PM.

[Hitachi]

My favorite of all the versions/sequels/ports


Gradius 3 for Super Nintendo.

[Underball]

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

[Jimmer]

Space Dungeon on the 5200 over the arcade prototype...

[Taskmaster99]

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.

[Lord Helmet]

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