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video games that turned out worse on more powerful hardware


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You could also argue that Atlantis and Qbert on the O2 were more fun than on some of the more "advanced" systems (probably not with Popeye, frogger, and demon attack).

 

I think the reason the Odyssey 2 looks so good in this thread is because even though the O2 was less flexible than the 2600 and most other systems, the use of a premade graphics set allowed for some very solid, fast moving, flicker free graphics.

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You could also argue that Atlantis and Qbert on the O2 were more fun than on some of the more "advanced" systems (probably not with Popeye, frogger, and demon attack).

 

I think the reason the Odyssey 2 looks so good in this thread is because even though the O2 was less flexible than the 2600 and most other systems, the use of a premade graphics set allowed for some very solid, fast moving, flicker free graphics.

I actually prefer the O2 version of Demon Attack as well

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I know Castlevania came up as a laugh for Amiga, but the PC version compared to the NES is a wet turd too. Come to think of it, a lot of the PC versions of NES games were crappier. Typically the audio ended up being PC-beep or little better, usually very low frame rate in general or lack of frames for sprites. As low color as the visuals were on the NES, usually the PC stuff was pre-VGA in many cases so they were chunkier, lower color, and just uglier to differentiate stuff yet still those PCs were more powerful and advanced than the lowly NES was so it was just a sad let down repeatedly for years. Eventually VGA kicked in as a regular thing as did 8/16bit sound blaster/adlb audio and that shifted, just too late for those conversions.

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I know Castlevania came up as a laugh for Amiga, but the PC version compared to the NES is a wet turd too. Come to think of it, a lot of the PC versions of NES games were crappier. Typically the audio ended up being PC-beep or little better, usually very low frame rate in general or lack of frames for sprites. As low color as the visuals were on the NES, usually the PC stuff was pre-VGA in many cases so they were chunkier, lower color, and just uglier to differentiate stuff yet still those PCs were more powerful and advanced than the lowly NES was so it was just a sad let down repeatedly for years. Eventually VGA kicked in as a regular thing as did 8/16bit sound blaster/adlb audio and that shifted, just too late for those conversions.

Early PCs had a lot of muscle as business or number crunching machines, but the audio/visual of early PCs was atrocious. The PC beep made the TIA sound of the 7800 awesome by comparison.

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Also from the Atari 8-bit to ST conversion camp: Moon Patrol.

 

Moon Patrol on the 400/800 range played well. It wasn't 100% arcade-perfect, but it was very playable and managed to keep a great deal of the arcade feel within the usual constraints of arcade-to-home ports of the time.

 

The ST version did none of that. The graphics were somewhat more detailed, but the controls (or, more accurately, controllability of the player's tank) sucked. The sensitivity and reactivity was all wrong, and ruined the game's most critical element.

 

I could go on about the level design, but, really, that one blatant screwup in the control department is the true killer.

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Yes see last page, I think that's the same thing as the Classic Serie version which is hands down the best version ever made, including the arcade version...

I've been running the PAL exclusive variant on my NTSC NES and it is fantastic. Pitch is a bit sharp but otherwise spot on. Though being able to turn in mid air will spoil you from playing the arcade original. It makes the game MUCH easier. I make it to the icicles every time...
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Might be a matter of opinion, but Asteroids on the 2600 is better than on the 8-bit/5200. At best it's a tie, which it really shouldn't be.

 

IMO the thing the 400/800 version has going for it is simultaneous multiplayer (up to four!) with a couple of different game modes. Pretty nifty if you can con some people into playing with you. Otherwise it's a solidly C- kind of game.

 

Dark green was an ill-advised choice for P1's ship, as well.

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I've been running the PAL exclusive variant on my NTSC NES and it is fantastic. Pitch is a bit sharp but otherwise spot on. Though being able to turn in mid air will spoil you from playing the arcade original. It makes the game MUCH easier. I make it to the icicles every time...

I can't stand the off-pitch audio, so I put up with loading times and Ramen ads.

 

The definitive version of Mario Bros. for the NES has yet to be hacked. Think about it, US vs. Japan level progression, mid-air switch vs. non-mid air switch, instruction screens, larger enemy sprites.

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Well, there are attempts on the 2600 at UFO, Pick Axe Pete, KC Munchkin,and Killer Bees and while I appreciate the efforts, all pale in comparison to the originals. There is also a Smithereens like game called defend your castle for the 2600 I find less enjoyable than the more simple original.

 

PC versions of Quest for the Rings and Attack of the Timelord disappointed as well...

 

Ed Averett liked this port of KC Munchkin for the 2600, it takes some liberties with the game by exaggerating some of the features and game mechanics. You might enjoy the variation too:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aghqgf6qqRw

 

A potential issue with games that are exact ports is that they tend to get exactly compared a la the ghost patterns in Pacman; clone ports are held in higher scrutiny than the more liberal ports of the genre like G-Pac Defender, one of my favorites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcPX4uaONk

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Defender of the Crown is arguably better on C64 than on Amiga, though that pertains only to gameplay, not fx of course. Amiga version was rushed and lacks some strategy features.

 

Yeah there are quite a few examples where the C64 version was simply more fun than the Amiga version. Defender of the Crown is an obvious example as the C64 version has more gameplay options, but there are others. All a matter of opinion, but I enjoyed playing Elite more on the C64 than the Amiga. I tended to enjoy sports games better overall on the C64, so I'd throw the Epyx olympics games into the mix. Some lesser known games would be Superstar Ice Hockey and Omni Play Basketball.

 

I also remember going back and wanting to play Test Drive on the C64 after playing the Amiga version for a while.

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Early PCs had a lot of muscle as business or number crunching machines, but the audio/visual of early PCs was atrocious. The PC beep made the TIA sound of the 7800 awesome by comparison.

 

I want to agree with you but in a way I just can't. Maybe it's more of a stand out than normal, I'd admit that much. But an interesting evidence to the fact the PC speaker was more abused than used would be a game like Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies for DOS. They entirely used MOD tracks, sample based tracks for both the music and sound effects of the game. The speaker while surely mono actually had an audio quality approaching the Sound Blaster/Adlib of the time. I recall sneaking it on old school PCs back in the day to play when my work was done since it fit on a floppy. Another game while not as clean, but still guilty of the bleh visuals, Gauntlet II also used sampled (non MOD) audio to capture the voices and sound effects of the arcade so it was quite like the NES one, just more bloated and uglier a bit.

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I can't stand the off-pitch audio, so I put up with loading times and Ramen ads.The definitive version of Mario Bros. for the NES has yet to be hacked. Think about it, US vs. Japan level progression, mid-air switch vs. non-mid air switch, instruction screens, larger enemy sprites.

I've also played it in PAL50 mode on my AVS. I don't have perfect pitch but do have a good ear for sound. Running PAL games as NTSC or visa versa, the game audio is in tune with itself so it's fine. Strangely I don't notice much difference with this game running in NTSC vs PAL.

 

PAL Super Mario, on the other hand is stupid blitz fast on NTSC mode. I have Mario Bros Classic Serie, and Mario/Tetris/World Cup as the only PAL exclusives in my collection. Super Mario Bros and Tetris run too fast in NTSC. World Cup appears to be unoptimised. At least it plays identical to my NTSC World Cup / Super Spikd Volleyball cart.

 

Classic Serie, I have noticed no issues running in either 60hz or 50hz mode.

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If we're including sequels, the PS1 Crash Bandicoot games were better than the PS2 Crash games.

oh no. crash bash was crap

I bought a 3-pack of Crash Bandicoot PS2 games (back before I sold my ps2) and they were hot garbage. I played them with a friend and he thought they were the most shameless Mario Kart ripoffs ever. I couldn't agree more.
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