Home Version/Arcade Version, IN REVERSE.

[Aswald]

Be it "Pong" from the 1970s, and the crude dedicated consoles back then, or the most recent home versions of arcade games on the most recent consoles, and all in between, we know the story: you play the arcade game, like it, purchase the home version based on that.

But, how many times have you bought the home version of an arcade game, AND THEN, some time later, came across the arcade game somewhere? Then, it's the other way around: you compare the home version to the arcade version!

The single best example of this with me was with CV Pepper 2. I bought it in 1983, because it looked so good (and it was- in fact, I'll write a review for it), and then, a couple of years later, in the basement arcade of Dutchess Community College (clue!), did I encounter the arcade machine.

I was not disappointed by the home version, although it was a surprise to see that the mazes each had their own pair of "track" colors (in the CV Vesrion, they are always Blue when you're an Angel, Green when you're a Devil). Remember, back then, we didn't exactly have the Internet in any modern sense of the word, including the Killer List Of Videogames website.

[Damaniel]

I can recall three games that I played the home versions of before playing the arcade versions -- Legendary Wings, Rygar and Trojan. The NES versions of these were three of my favorite games growing up, and at the time I wasn't even aware that arcade versions existed!

I ran into the arcade version of Rygar a couple of years after playing it on the NES, but in the case of Legendary Wings, I didn't see this one in the arcade until the mid 1990s. Even now, I still like the NES versions of both of these games more (especially Rygar -- I've never liked the arcade version of the game). The arcade versions were definitely nicer looking, but I was accustomed to how the NES versions played, so I preferred them, and still do even today. As for Trojan, I've never seen it in an actual arcade; my experience with the arcade version has been solely through MAME.

[heybtbm]

Bionic Commando.

I got the NES version in May of 1989 and played it to death. Two years later (in Italy of all places) I see a arcade cab of BC and try it out. Needless to say, it was a big letdown. It's because of that experience that I haven't bothered playing the arcade port yet on Capcom Classics Vol. 1.

[ccovell]

Here are two games that I never played the arcade version of until a few years after owning the NES versions.

Little Nemo, or Just "Nemo" in the arcade. Compared to the NES, the graphics are great, the music is great, but the animal transformations are nowhere to be seen...

Gyruss (on NES, or better yet, FDS) is a lot more varied and better-looking than the arcade version.

[Lerxstnj]

Was there ever a game that came out in arcade form later than the console version?

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

didn't come out first...but Blaster was actually developed and made for the Atari 8-bits before the project was cancelled and then completed for the arcade version. In this case...Blaster was designed and created for the home consoles/computers before the arcade game was made.

Oh! And wasn't Choplifter on the C64 and other home consoles before the Sega arcade version release?

[diskoboy]

Oh! And wasn't Choplifter on the C64 and other home consoles before the Sega arcade version release?


Yes!

Sega actually gives Dan Gorlin credit.

[Borman]

in the basement arcade of Dutchess Community College...

As in the NY one? Not too far from me if thats the case.

Anyway, one of the times that stands out the most is playing Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, then playing the far inferior arcade version while waiting for a ferry in Delaware, I think.

[diskoboy]

I always thought the NES Ninja Gaiden blew away the arcade version. It was 3 years before I ever saw a Ninja Gaiden machine, after the 1st NES game.

And I'm another perosn who thinks the NES Rygar blew away the arcade version. In all honesty, the arcade game was total shit.

And I think Cosmic Chasm was another home to arcade translation. Didn't it come out on the Vectrex before it came out in the arcades? And honestly, I saw Super Mario Bros. at home 2 years before I ever saw it in an arcade. And I liked the home version better.

And alot of Nintendo's own 1st generation NES games.... I'd never knew alot of those were also Vs. Unisystem games. The rarest game of all those early NES releases I ever saw in the arcade was Gumshoe. I played it once at a Pizza Hut in Atlanta. I own a Vs. Cabinet, and I've never even seen a Ballon Fight, Wrecking Crew, or Ice Climber kit. Not in a machine, not on ebay, not anywhere..

[Vinnysdad]

As in the NY one? Not too far from me if thats the case.

Anyway, one of the times that stands out the most is playing Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, then playing the far inferior arcade version while waiting for a ferry in Delaware, I think.


Exactly What I was going to say. I couldnt beleive how shitty the arcade version looked compared to the DC one.

[Damaramu]

I remember enjoying and playing Phelios and Alien Storm on the Genesis way before I knew about the arcade versions. And sadly, that was only recently via MAME.

[Mayhem]

Aside from Choplifter already mentioned (though that's a cheat slightly cos it was a computer game first), then Spy Hunter. I actually still prefer the C64 conversion, think the arcade is too hard to properly play!

Nice call on Bionic Commando, though I did get to play it before the conversions hit because one gaming show I was at had a machine there because the conversions were coming! Was also one of the few times I got to play Rainbow Islands as well...

[ccovell]

Was there ever a game that came out in arcade form later than the console version?

Yes, there were lots. Some notable ones:

Bonk / PC Genjin
Battletoads
Thunder Force II/III -> AC
Lemmings (unreleased in the arcade?)
Sonic, Alex Kidd (well, the franchise started on the consoles, at least)
Hang-On SMS -> Hang-On Jr.
Fantasy Zone II SMS -> arcade
...

Somebody else will have to fill in games from other generations.

[Pantechnicon]

Somebody else will have to fill in games from other generations.

Pitfall II - originally a home game - got the arcade treatment from Sega in 1985.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=P&game_id=9036

[Oobgarm]

Contra is the only one I can think of.

Wow, is the home version better. Glad I played it first.

[Mayhem]

Aside from Choplifter, Lode Runner was also made into several arcade machines in Japan.

[Aswald]

Yes, Choplifter was a computer game- it also appeared on the 5200 and CV- before the souped-up arcade version.

I also believe Cosmic Chasm was on the Vectrex first.

Several computer games, such as Boulder Dash, Flip and Flop, Astro Chase, and Bristles, were also made into arcade versions, which were pretty much like the originals.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=B&game_id=7198

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=F&game_id=7827

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=A&game_id=6944

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=B&game_id=7218


Two other such games for me were also ColecoVision games: Mousetrap and Frenzy. Except for the odd way of awarding bonus lives on Frenzy (one at 1,000 points and every 2,000 thereafter?!) I was not disappointed with either.

[idrougge]

Lode Runner
Boulder Dash
Megaphoenix
Pitfall from Sega
Puyo Puyo
Burai Fighter
Puzzle Bobble series?
Ninja Mission
Sidewinder
New York Warriors

[bangtango]

Asteroids, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man, Double Dragon and Galaga.

Before enjoying them in the arcade, I first played Asteroids and Pac Man on the 2600, Ms. Pac Man on the 7800 and both Double Dragon & Galaga on the NES.

[j_factor]

Was there ever a game that came out in arcade form later than the console version?

If you count Nintendo's Vs. line and Sega's Mega Tech/Play boards, then there's lots and lots.

Aside from those and the ones mentioned, I remember the arcade version of Crazy Taxi: High Roller coming out significantly after the Xbox version.

[diskoboy]

Oh - and Sega made an arcade version of Pitfall 2 a few years after all the console versions.

[Graham Mitchell]

Oh - and Sega made an arcade version of Pitfall 2 a few years after all the console versions.

The screenshots on KLOV make it look like the game is based on Pitfall I. I'll have to get the rom and check it out myself. Looks interesting.

I think Spelunker may have been a computer game before Irem gave it an arcade port. Am I correct on that?

[XianXi]

I did that with Contra, damn the arcade version is short.

[cityside75]

I just experienced this today with a current-gen game.

I had a lunch meeting at Dave & Busters today. I didn't really get to play any games, but I took a quick stroll through the game area just to see what was new. They had a game in there called "Paradise Lost" that was some kind of a light gun shooter, but I immediately recognized the guy from the cover of Far Cry Instincts on the marquee, as well as the Ubisoft logo.

As I briefly watched the demo it was clearly based off the Far Cry engine, but while I assumed it would be 360 quality or better, it was definitely of Xbox 1 quality (at best). I assume the game is pretty new as it wasn't there the last time I was at D&B about 6 months ago. It was packaged nice, with a big LCD monitor, but the graphics were a definite step down from the home version, as was the gameplay I assume.

Anyone familiar with this?