Mazerati Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 it was pretty rare back in the day when a home version would surpass the original arcade game but to me it happened a couple times i think the Atari 5200 Pengo was better than the arcade version on graphics and playability in fact i dont find the arcade version all that much fun because of the difficulty but the 5200 version seems just right and Intellivision Burgertime in my opinion was better than the arcade version because the controls were much smoother..maybe its because i was one of the few who enjoyed using the disc but i found the arcade version (as well as the colecovision version) a bit unresponsive when compared to the Intellivision version you guys have any to add? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelboy Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Spy Hunter for ColecoVision: The music runs throughout the game, not just in the beginning like the arcade game. Zaxxon for ColecoVision: The choppy scrolling actually brings a sense of rythm to the game, while the arcade game, with its smooth scrolling, makes me feel like I'm flying out of control towards obstacles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbid Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i agree with intellivision burgertime, mainly on the arcade game, the speed of climbing up and down ladders is too slow, while on the intelly chef pepper moves at a fairly constant speed up/down or left/right. i cant think of many beyond that, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmel_andrews Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 PC Engine R-Type...The numero uno of all computer/console ports at that time (even better then the ST/Amiga version) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) I actually like a lot of the home ports more than I do the arcade ones. Not necessarily because of graphical beauty, but because of playability. The home games didn't have to try to suck a quarter out of your pocket every few minutes. Also, I like the ones that offer lots of play options, particularly the early 80s games on the 2600. So, just for example, I prefer: Venture on the ColecoVision, Ladybug on the ColecoVision and 2600, Pole Position on the Atari consoles and computers, Berzerk on the 2600, Centipede on the 5200, Dig Dug on the XE Game System, and Jungle Hunt on the XEGS. To me, the only important graphical advantage of the early arcade games was the greater resolution and screen size allowed for much larger playfields. Not to mention the portrait orientation of many arcade monitors. Space Invaders and Asteroids feel much different in the arcade than they do in their home versions largely because of the size of the playfield, IMO. (Altho the 7800 version of Asteroids mitigates this somewhat.) The only other important advantage of the arcade games was the diversity of controls. There just is no easy way to competently translate Tron to any console (short of a custom controller), for example. But for any game that used a reasonably-sized playfield, a joystick or potentiometer, and a couple of buttons, I've found that I nearly always prefer one or more home versions to the arcade one (when they exist). That was a surprising finding made possible by MAME. Edited February 12, 2009 by Ransom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2600Lives Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I always preferred the NES version of Strider. It played more like an RPG, giving it a more adventure-like feel. Love the original, too, but if given a choice, I'll play the NES version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombiecraig Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I always preferred the NES version of Strider. It played more like an RPG, giving it a more adventure-like feel. Love the original, too, but if given a choice, I'll play the NES version. I've never really played the NES Strider, but in a similar vein, I enjoy the NES Bionic Commando much more than the arcade version. The NES version just has a lot more depth to it, in both story and gameplay. Maybe I should give Strider a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverfleet Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Contra for the NES. I think it's much more playable on the NES than the arcade. The 30 lives code helps too! I also like the original Double Dragon for the NES. The arcade one is good, but I really like the NES version too, weirdo glitches and all. The SMS version isn't too shabby either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I actually like a lot of the home ports more than I do the arcade ones. Not necessarily because of graphical beauty, but because of playability. The home games didn't have to try to suck a quarter out of your pocket every few minutes. Also, I like the ones that offer lots of play options, particularly the early 80s games on the 2600. I agree 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 contra for nes comes to mind pretty quick. but really San Francisco Rush 2049 on Dreamcast was also a darn good arcade racer that doesn't get nearly enough credit. It added a lot of depth to something designed to be simple without bits feeling 'tacked on' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Space Invaders (Atari VCS) Breakout (Atari VCS) Berzerk (Atari 5200) Centipede (Atari 5200) Contra (NES) Double Dragon (NES...yes, seriously. Nostalgia's a powerful thing) Space Wars (Vectrex) House Of The Dead 2 (Dreamcast) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bohoki Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 eswat for the genesis better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i think the Atari 5200 Pengo was better than the arcade version on graphics and playabilityin fact i dont find the arcade version all that much fun because of the difficulty but the 5200 version seems just right There are different versions of the arcade version out there. They differ on the music, & the "ice clearing" at the beginning of the stages, but more importantly to what you're saying.. they differ on default difficulty. There are some Pengo's where it's just extremely difficult, and the snowbees make a beeline for you right off the bat. I think the U.S. version is like that. The japanese version (with the "popcorn" music) seems to be a heck of a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwalla Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) There's a bunch of arcade conversions for consoles that are more fun to play than the original arcade game. As a rule I prefer the console versions of arcade games because you can select the skill level and actually play the game for a while (in other words, I generally suck at most arcade games ). Here's a quick rundown... ColecoVision: Venture - the arcade game is unplayable due to it's extreme difficulty but the CV version (on skill Levels 3,4) is fantastic Pepper II - better than the arcade Zaxxon - just as fun as the arcade but with little twists (ie. mobots, walls with forcefields) Galaxian - better than the arcade Frenzy - atleast as good as the arcade (CV version displays your body outline when you get nailed) Space Panic - maybe not a terribly popular game but the CV version puts the arcade version to shame (I love this game) Atari 5200/8-bit Pengo - arcade game is too damn hard but perfect on the 5200/8-bit Missile Command - better on the 8-bit to me (XEGS built-in ) Jungle Hunt - better on the 8-bit Berzerk - better on the 5200/8-bit Choplifter - greatly modified from the arcade version but atleast it's playable and more fun on the 5200/8-bit Donkey Kong - better than the arcade with fast, nonstop action - just bought the XE (blue box) version from Best Electronics Atari 2600 Breakout - better than the arcade (and Super Breakout simply rules!) Berzerk - atleast as good as the arcade Jungle Hunt - better than the arcade Atari 7800 Centipede - choice of skill levels and co-op play make it superior to the arcade Joust - better than the arcade because it takes less "wing flaps" to rise faster (healthier for the trigger finger!) Robotron - graphics/gameplay the same as the arcade and i've got a little dual-joystick contraption that's great! Edited February 13, 2009 by chuckwalla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telengard Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I enjoy Atari 2600 Space Invaders more than the arcade version for some reason. ~telengard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameGirl420 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Space Harrier on Sega Saturn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister VCS Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) Atari 2600Breakout - better than the arcade (and Super Breakout simply rules!) Berzerk - atleast as good as the arcade Jungle Hunt - better than the arcade Jungle Hunt 2600 better than the arcade? Why that? Edited February 13, 2009 by Mister VCS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Contra (NES) Ninja Gaiden (NES) Bionic Commando (NES) Those are the only ones that come to mind. I think the NES is the world champion console when it comes to weird coin-op ports. When it worked it could be pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdevil Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) Gunsmoke, Contra and Bionic Commando on the NES are much better IMHO than they were in the arcades. The graphics may not be as good but they played better. Altered Beast, Paperboy, and Ninja Gaiden are games that may not be "better" on consoles, but I enjoyed them way more at home then I did at the arcades. Missile Command on the 2600 is one that I like as much as I did at the arcade, though they're nearly two different games tech wise. Edited February 13, 2009 by superdevil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandcross Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Berserk for Atari 2600. The different game modes let you play the game a whole lot differently. I usually play a mode with no Evil Otto so I can just take my time taking out the robots. It's kinda relaxing. Also, I think the action is a bit more fun than the arcade version. Missile Command for the 2600 is also a pretty decent adaption though I could probably go either way on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonner242 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 MERCS (Genesis) Contra (NES) Ninja Gaiden (NES) Bionic Commando (NES) Any Neo Geo AES game cuz they came in AWESOME boxes with great Artwork......And just seem more fun to play at home, other than that they were arcade perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWASABI Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I don't know if you'd count this, but I'd definitely say Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar was better than Tempest for the arcade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tan Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Rastan for the Sega Master System. The music is so much better than the arcade version! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Speaking of weird ports...Rygar on the NES is another good candidate. I've never played (!) the NES version, but I've heard good things about it and I have played the coin-op version and it's pretty humdrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengwin Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Like others in this thread, I generally prefer the home versions of some games. My particular favourites are: Donkey Kong (800XL) Atari Invaders (800XL) - compared to Space Invaders Frogger (800XL) Pac-Man (800XL) Donkey Kong Jr (800XL) Mr Wimpy (Oric Atmos) - UK Burger Time clone Although I have yet to find a home port of Asteroids or Battlezone that beats the original arcade versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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