Different games with the same name (Genesis and SNES) [Archive]

View Full Version : Different games with the same name (Genesis and SNES)

Pages : [1] 2

Wraith Storm

08-17-2009, 04:31 AM

As the thread title states, I am trying to compile a list of games that were released on BOTH the Genesis and the Super NES that have identical titles but are different games.

This could be because the game had a different developer for the Genesis and Super NES versions, or maybe the developer had 2 different ideas and decided to give each system an exclusive take on the game. Here is what I have so far:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jurassic Park - The Genesis version was a side scrolling platformer developed by Sega and the SNES varsion was an overhead/FPS game developed by Ocean

Pirates of Dark Water - Both versions were developed by Sunsoft, but they are completely different games. The Genesis version is an action platformer while the SNES version is a Golden Axe style Beat em' up.

Aladdin - Just about everyone knows about this one, but they are both excellent platforming action games. The Genesis version was developed by Dave Perrys team before it was named Shiny, and the SNES version was developed by Capcom.

Batman Returns - Similar to Pirates of Dark Water, this sees the Sega developed Genesis version once again being the action platformer and the Konami SNES version being a Beat em' up.

Sunset Riders - Discussed a while back on these forums, Sunset riders are two completely different games. The Genesis version is an original game inspired by the arcade, while the Super NES version is an excellent port of the Arcade game.

Shadowrun - The Genesis version being developed by Bluesky Software and the SNES version by Beam Software turned out VERY different. With a different story and different missions, the Genesis version plays out in a traditional top down perspective while the SNES version takes an isometric approach.

Sparkster - Both versions were developed by Konami but they were very different games. The Snes version contained completely different graphics and levels than the Genesis version.

Beavis and Butthead - The Genesis version was developed by Radical Entertainment and played out much like a point and click adventure game while the Snes Realtime Associates developed version was a more traditional side scroller.

Adventures of Batman and Robin - The Genesis version was developed by Clockwork Tortoise (Who were these guys?) and was heavily inspired by Gunstar Heores. The Snes version, like Batman Returns, was developed by Konami. It was less like Final Fight this time around and more of a platformer.

Taz-Mania - The Genesis version developed by Sega, is a standard platformer. The SNES version developed by Visual Concepts, plays out like a racing game with Taz running against the clock.

Robocop vs Terminator - Both games are Run N' Gun Contra style but contain different graphics and levels. The Genesis version was developed by Virgin Games while the Snes treatment was given to us by Interplay.

Alien 3 - Probe developed both versions. While they play like Contra thrown into Metroid levels, the graphics and levels themselves are different between the two.

Scooby-Doo Mystery - The Genesis version was developed by Sunsoft and is a point and click adventure game. The Snes version was by Argonaut and more more of a platformer with some adventure bits like exploration and item management.

Animaniacs - Both versions were developed by Konami. The Genesis one is more of a platformer, while the SNES version is top-down beat-emup style.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything above here I either own, have played in the past or just recently played for the purpose of this thread. From this point on I have not played these games. I copied (and edited) some of what "A Black Falcon" had typed. I think he's pretty reliable when it comes to Genesis and Snes comparisons. ;)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bonkers - Completely different games. The Genesis one is a Kids Club game from Sega. The SNES one is one of Capcom's lesser-known Disney platformers on the system.

Street Racer - Both versions are developed by Vivid Image but are different games. The basics of the games are the same -- characters, etc -- but the game engines and play are completely different. On SNES it's Mode 7 and looks like Mario Kart. On Genesis, it's a more standard 'fake 3d behind the vehicle' racing game (because Genesis doesn't have Mode 7). Note that while the SNES one did get a US release, the Genesis one was Europe-only.

Spider-Man - This is a completely different game on both platforms. Sega on the Genesis, LJN on SNES.

TMNT: Tournament Fighters - Developed by Konami, these games are completely different on NES, SNES, and Genesis.

Hardball III - Genesis Hardball III is a straight port of the PC original. It's got battery save for your season in progress and you can also save a game in process, whenever you want. It also added voiced commentary from Al Michaels. Same as Hardball!, it doesn't have the MLB license, though (the PC version got it later as an addon, but this version did not). The SNES "Hardball III" came out in 1994, and is actually a port of Hardball '94, not Hardball III. However, there is one key difference between SNES Hardball III and Genesis Hardball '94 -- no save battery! On SNES, it's back to password only... and that's just for your season of course, forget about saving that game you're in the middle of. Don't bother!

There are other games that I am not sure if they should be included or not. The fighting game Brutal for instance is the same basic fighting game for both systems but a TON of the graphics were re-drawn for the SNES version. So they are visually VERY different games.

Gapporin

08-17-2009, 04:56 AM

IIRC, Shadowrun was a game that had distinct differences between the two consoles.

Wraith Storm

08-17-2009, 05:02 AM

Ahhh! I can't believe I forgot that one! :frustrated:

Thanx. I'll add it to the list!

Icarus Moonsight

08-17-2009, 05:22 AM

Sparkster is another one.

Wraith Storm

08-17-2009, 05:32 AM

Really?!

I never knew Sparkster was different between the two systems. @_@ That's awesome and thats one reason I am compiling this list!

Thanks and i'll add it to the main list later today... for now I must sleep...

exit

08-17-2009, 07:38 AM

Beavis and Butthead were completely different, the SNES version was a sidescroller while the Genesis version was kind of like an adventure game.

kupomogli

08-17-2009, 08:13 AM

Yeah. Sparkster for the Genesis just sucks compared to RKA and SNES Sparkster.

Anyways.

Adventures of Batman and Robin.

Genesis one is a sortof side scrolling platformer/shoot em up, while the SNES one is a side scroller action/platformer. The SNES one is far superior.

skaar

08-17-2009, 09:18 AM

Aladdin for the Genesis and SNES were both rather different games - I think most of the Disney games were.

aclbandit

08-17-2009, 09:40 AM

Aladdin for the Genesis and SNES were both rather different games - I think most of the Disney games were.

Lion King, at least, is very much the same for both.

ScourDX

08-17-2009, 09:49 AM

portnoyd

08-17-2009, 09:57 AM

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

Just check out the SNES version. The Genesis version was horrendous.

Gamereviewgod

08-17-2009, 10:28 AM

Just check out the SNES version. The Genesis version was horrendous.

Agreed. I don't know who in the hell programmed the AI in the Genesis version, but even on easy it is set to "mutilate the human bastard." Not sure I ever got past the second fight.

c2000

08-17-2009, 11:05 AM

Gameboy415

08-17-2009, 11:09 AM

TMNT 4: Turtles in Time on SNES and TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist were essentially the same game, but featured a few different bosses and stages, IIRC.

Also, each console had a unique Jurassic Park sequel:
Jurassic Park 2: The Chaos Continues for SNES - a surprisingly good Contra clone
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition for Genesis - just like the original SEGA game

Wraith Storm

08-17-2009, 03:13 PM

Beavis and Butthead were completely different, the SNES version was a sidescroller while the Genesis version was kind of like an adventure game.

Another one I can't believe that I forgot. I will add it to the list! Thanks.

Adventures of Batman and Robin.

Genesis one is a sortof side scrolling platformer/shoot em up, while the SNES one is a side scroller action/platformer. The SNES one is far superior.

Cool! I love the Genesis version. It's like a screen by screen Gunstar Heroes. I never realized that they made an Adventures of Batman and Robin for the Snes. I'll add it to the main list. Thanks.

TMNT 4: Turtles in Time on SNES and TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist were essentially the same game, but featured a few different bosses and stages, IIRC.

Also, each console had a unique Jurassic Park sequel:
Jurassic Park 2: The Chaos Continues for SNES - a surprisingly good Contra clone
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition for Genesis - just like the original SEGA game

All three of these games are good suggestions but they have a different name on both systems. Thus, suggesting that they are different games. I am trying to compile a list of games that have the same name but are different games.

Wraith Storm

08-17-2009, 03:16 PM

Ed Oscuro

08-17-2009, 03:37 PM

Adventures of Batman and Robin.

Genesis one is a sortof side scrolling platformer/shoot em up, while the SNES one is a side scroller action/platformer. The SNES one is far superior.
That said, the SNES one doesn't have a soundtrack by Jesper Kyd (which isn't really enjoyable listening on the Genesis, but it's still very interesting).

Lion King, at least, is very much the same for both.
Lion King's cheat codes are even similar (if not the same) across the Nintendo systems - with a level skip for various iterations, as mentioned in a '97 issue of NP.

There's also some minor differences between Sunset Riders on SNES and Genesis that add up to be rather major in my view - still the same game though. EDIT: Whoops, didn't see this one listed. Well, I'd go with what's in the OP over my memories.

Rickstilwell1

08-17-2009, 03:55 PM

Taz-Mania

The Genesis title is a sidescroller, the SNES title is a vertical scrolling game in 2.5D with Taz just spindriving forward.

sancoa

08-17-2009, 04:34 PM

Robocop vs Terminator is another one. I've only played the first 3 or 4 levels of both games, but from what I've seen they are fairly different. Both are the same style of sidescrolling platform/shooter game but the level design, weapons, graphics, music and some of the enemies are different. Also, the SNES version has comic book style cut scenes while the Genesis one doesn't.

Kim Possible

08-17-2009, 07:10 PM

I've been meaning to do a closer comparison, but I believe the are subtle differences in the two Lion King games. Level designs are similar, but there are variations (for instance the ostrich ride in "Can't Wait to be King" and the length of the Stampede in that level.

If I have time I'll do the do diligence and report back, if you are looking for differences to that degree of subtlety.

ubersaurus

08-17-2009, 07:22 PM

Just check out the SNES version. The Genesis version was horrendous.

Oh yeah. SNES one is a pretty good SF clone. The Genesis one is an abortion with a weird button configuration, weird cast, and poor gameplay. If I recall though it did have a better soundtrack...

sebastiankirchoff

08-17-2009, 07:30 PM

I believe that Toy Story has different title music, but is essentially the same game.

Samantha

08-17-2009, 07:39 PM

Hi, new person. The games I want to mention aren't VAST in difference, but enough to be noted. What about the Mortal Kombat series? The SNES version redid the fatalities for #1, the genesis version had codes the snes version didn't, etc. #2 approached closer.

I dunno if it counts as classic, but the n64/psx versions of trilogy had incredible differences.

MachineGex

08-17-2009, 07:52 PM

Take a look at Pac-Man 2: The New Adventure.
Not sure if the main game is the same, but the SNES & Genesis have different unlockable games.

SNES has Pacman & Ms. Pacman, while the Genesis has Pacman & Pac Jr.. Note that Pac Jr. is different from the arcade game(in name and gameplay).

Also, someone was saying the Mickey Mouse games are different. I guess Mickey Mania is really different. There is a post on DP with a youtube review to the genesis versions. Check out that thread: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135009

j_factor

08-17-2009, 10:37 PM

I believe that Toy Story has different title music, but is essentially the same game.

They're mostly the same, but a couple of levels are different. There's a first-person level exclusive to the Genesis version.

Prince of Persia is pretty different; the SNES version is almost twice as long, although half of it is essentially the same as the original (the Genesis version being a fairly straight port). They also have very different graphics and sound.

Not sure if this counts, but Dragon's Lair and Space Ace were both ported to Sega CD, with SNES games of the same title being completely different (and god-awful).

A Black Falcon

08-17-2009, 10:37 PM

Here are list of games to check out.

- Bonkers
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
- Spider-Man
- Scooby-Doo Mystery
- Hardball III
- Street Racer

Here are same gameplay but slightly different in cast & stage

- Super Wrestlemania (both different cast of characters)
- Royal Rumble (both different cast of characters)
- Saturday Night Slam Master (No 2 player co-op in Genesis but added death match instead)

Of those...

Bonkers -- Completely different games. The Genesis one is a Kids Club game from Sega, and isn't that good (like all Kids Club games). The SNES one is one of Capcom's lesser-known Disney platformers on the system, and is okay.

Street Racer -- Different games. The basics of the games are the same -- characters, etc -- but the game engines and play are completely different. On SNES it's Mode 7 and looks like Mario Kart. On Genesis, it's a more standard 'fake 3d behind the vehicle' racing game (because Genesis doesn't have Mode 7). The graphics of the Genesis game are quite good for the platform though, so both are definitely worth checking out... though note that while the SNES one did get a US release, the Genesis one was Europe-only.

Spider-Man is a completely different game on both platforms. Sega on the Genesis, LJN on SNES.

TMNT: Tournament Fighters is completely different on NES, SNES, and Genesis. Unfortunately the NES and Genesis ones are horrible. The SNES game, though, is a classic, one of the system's best fighting games for sure.

Scooby-Doo Mystery -- Completely different games. It's a Lucasarts-style graphic adventure on Genesis, but a much more traditional platformer (with just a little bit of adventure elements) on SNES.

Hardball III -- The first console Hardball game, Hardball!, was released on the Genesis in 1991. It was decent, but had only password save. Genesis Hardball III is a straight port of the PC original of the same name, released in 1993. It's a fantastic game, my favorite sports game ever as I have said on either platform. It's got battery save for your season in progress and you can also save a game in process, whenever you want (a first in console baseball games, perhaps, and still something you don't always see I think!). It also added voiced commentary from Al Michaels. Same as Hardball!, it doesn't have the MLB license, though (the PC version got it later as an addon, but this version did not). It had two console-exclusive sequels, Hardball '94 and Hardball '95, released in the years of their titles. They both have the same save options as Hardball III, but '94 dropped the voiced announcer, something that hurt a lot. Both do have the real MLB players however, but even so I like Hardball III Genesis a lot more than '94. '95 is quite good though... Anyway, the SNES "Hardball III" came out in 1994, and is actually a port of Hardball '94, not Hardball III. However, there is one key difference between SNES Hardball III and Genesis Hardball '94 -- no save battery! On SNES, it's back to password only... and that's just for your season of course, forget about saving that game you're in the middle of. Don't bother!

I've been meaning to do a closer comparison, but I believe the are subtle differences in the two Lion King games. Level designs are similar, but there are variations (for instance the ostrich ride in "Can't Wait to be King" and the length of the Stampede in that level.

This is true. They're all the same game, but there are some slight differences in level design between most of the versions... (NES, SMS, GG, GB, SNES, PC, Genesis)

Not enough to make them really different games I think, because of how similar they are overall, but yes, they aren't identical.

I believe that Toy Story has different title music, but is essentially the same game.

I think... even the Game Boy version is mostly the same, aside from things like removing the FPS level and stuff. I'm not certain if there are Lion King-like differences between the SNES and Genesis versions though... not that I'm going to investigate, I always hated that game, really (particularly the Game Boy version that I bought after the movie came out. I thought it was one of the worst games I had ever played...).

As for the Mickey Mouse games, the only one with the same title on both platforms is The Great Circus Mystery, which is 99% identical on both systems.

Robocop vs Terminator is another one. I've only played the first 3 or 4 levels of both games, but from what I've seen they are fairly different. Both are the same style of sidescrolling platform/shooter game but the level design, weapons, graphics, music and some of the enemies are different. Also, the SNES version has comic book style cut scenes while the Genesis one doesn't.

Yeah, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Robocop vs. Terminator are all always different games on every single system they were on. Often similar, but never the same...

Icarus Moonsight

08-17-2009, 11:38 PM

Yeah. Sparkster for the Genesis just sucks compared to RKA and SNES Sparkster.

Not really, they are both great games, just have strengths in different aspects. IMO, Genny version gets the nod for superior general playability (tighter controls, YMMV). SNES outdoes the Genny version on the sprite/effects front though. Both are equally high in desirability.

ScourDX

08-18-2009, 01:18 AM

Add King of the Monsters 2 to the list. The SNES feature Beat-em up while Genesis is fighting game.

A Black Falcon

08-18-2009, 01:42 AM

Add King of the Monsters 2 to the list. The SNES feature Beat-em up while Genesis is fighting game.

No, King of the Monsters 2 is the same basic game on both systems, as well as on the original Neo-Geo. The only differences between the three versions are which characters you can play as -- in the Neo-Geo and SNES versions you can only choose the three normal monsters, but on Genesis you can play as any of the six boss characters as well, which is pretty cool, but not enough to make it an entirely new game I think.

However, you're probably confusing the first and second games -- KotM 1 was a pure fighting-only game, while the second has beat 'em up sections as well as the fights. Both games were released on Neo-Geo, SNES, and Genesis; the second was on Neo-Geo CD as well.

Ed Oscuro

08-18-2009, 03:30 AM

Not really, they are both great games, just have strengths in different aspects. IMO, Genny version gets the nod for superior general playability (tighter controls, YMMV). SNES outdoes the Genny version on the sprite/effects front though. Both are equally high in desirability.
You're aware he's not talking about Rocket Knight Adventures? Load up "Sparkster" for Genesis. Instead of the castle on fire, you're just bouncing around on some stones in a field. Here's a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH8xfYaZBac) (sorry about the crap framerate, couldn't find a smooth-playing one in a hurry and the other vid I found will make you go blind). There's just nothing going on in there, and on top of it the first boss has a glitch, yay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es0Crlj1vkw).

No, King of the Monsters 2 is the same basic game on both systems, as well as on the original Neo-Geo.
No dude - he's right. The Genesis version of King of the Monsters 2 is a one-on-one versus fighter, whereas the SNES and Neo Geo incarnations are a scrolling beat-'em-up.

A Black Falcon

08-18-2009, 03:44 AM

No dude - he's right. The Genesis version of King of the Monsters 2 is a one-on-one versus fighter, whereas the SNES and Neo Geo incarnations are a scrolling beat-'em-up.

Wow, you're right, the Genesis version doesn't have the beat 'em up parts, just the fights, like the first game... interesting.

I would say though, those beat 'em up parts (in the SNES version) are a bit disappointing. I mean, not in that they aren't good, but in that the second half of the game they get shorter and shorter until the last level is just a series of bossfights, no beat 'em up parts at all I think... it's like they got tired of the beat 'em up idea partway through and abandoned it or something. Oh well... awesome game anyway, on SNES at least. Evidently I'll need to play the Genesis version too and see how it is. :)

Icarus Moonsight

08-18-2009, 04:27 AM

How does a youtube video demonstrate a flaw in my preference with Sparkster's controls in the Genesis game? I even stated that the SNES version was visually more stunning... Maybe I'm lost. We'll, one of us is. LOL

Plus, I own all three carts. I don't need to 'load it up'. Rather, I can pop it in and have often. :p

123►Genei-Jin

08-18-2009, 05:18 AM

Fatal Fury/Garou Densetsu has 2 different versions on the 16bit consoles.
The SNES version is missing plane shifting altogether but looks closer to the Neo-Geo version in terms of graphics and sounds and has all the characters.
The Genesis version has plane shifting but it's missing 2 CPU characters (Hwai Jai & Billy Kane). Both versions are missing the arcade bonus rounds (the SNES version has some alternate ones)

Samurai Shodown is another case of bad Neo-Geo conversions. The Genesis version is terrible since lots of the normal attack animations were completely replaced with recycled animations from other moves and is also missing 1 character (Earthquake).
The SNES version has all the characters and moves and plays very closely to the original but the graphics are all zoomed out all the time. The Sega CD version (if you wanna count that one in) is also missing Earthquake but has better overall graphics than both the SNES and Genesis versions.

Ed Oscuro

08-18-2009, 06:13 PM

How does a youtube video demonstrate a flaw in my preference with Sparkster's controls in the Genesis game?
I just saw a defense of the game which didn't really make sense - it's fine if you like the game, but there's good reasons Kupo said it was bad (in comparison, anyway). I didn't say boo about the controls, though I might as well. Both games have some slowdown. Charging on the SNES takes slightly longer (same as the first game), but the shoulder buttons are used for an air spin which is very useful. There's no waiting for a level two charge so you can do silly things like ram switches (why shouldn't you do that at level one?), which just slows down the Genesis version. You also still keep the flame-shooting sword of RKA in the SNES Sparkster; in the Genesis version it's gone for no apparent reason. So, on the controls front, the Genesis rev has some key controls from the very first game taken out entirely, and the only addition actually makes the game worse.

Here's why the controls make the game worse: I know what to do in the first stage (although it takes a while to figure out, in contrast to the easily grasped situations of the other Sparkster titles) but it drags on too long. You face either too little action and too much item collection (yawn) or finicky movement-based puzzles (same goes for the introduction fight) - that spinning plate-dropping machine (not the one with the screws, which is silly enough) is the dumbest thing I've seen in a Sparkster game so far - if you move or rocket bounce off to the left so you can no longer see it, the top two plates are no longer in place and just come down again. QUALITY. It does get a bit better, although dodging slimes that disable the jetpack (i.e. the whole reason for playing the game in the first place) is not my idea of good fun. The train stage would be a good level if it wasn't so hard just to fall down between two boxes (and also if that boss pattern could be understood).

The SNES Sparkster doesn't have bland maze levels and ridiculously inscrutable boss patterns, like the stupid tree miniboss, and even better yet the train boss as seen in the game demo. The bosses (I'm assuming there's more than one) that stick to the RKA formula, like the trampoline boss in the second stage, are far less difficult than others, mainly because they give better clues about how to be beaten.

The SNES Sparkster, instead, has far more interesting levels (I can't believe I'm calling a factory level more interesting than mossy castle ruins with windows nearly floating in space, and a castle made by Konami at that, but there you go) and an indispensable new move. The big drill-headed knight robot boss isn't easy, but I managed (just barely) to beat him the first time I reached him. The game does have instant death traps but I find them a lot more fun to deal with than the Genesis game.

It's a good thing the Genesis Sparkster got rid of the gigantic borderr on RKA, but the cost was apparently losing full-screen raster effects (i.e. the heat waves in RKA's castle, and similar effects seen in Castlevania Bloodlines), and large characters and background details are replaced by smaller ones.

It was obvious that they wanted the Genesis Sparkster to be far different from the other games, as they pulled the camera back (thus making everything smaller, but allowing us to see more of the world), but the balance between more stuff in the world and losing character is not so great.

kupomogli

08-18-2009, 07:51 PM

About Sparkster on Genesis against RKA and Sparkster for SNES, like Ed says, the level design just isn't there. It's apparent on the very first stage and most of the stages later on in the game.

You really have no(or barely any) platformer elements other than using the jetpack. Now yes, the game is based on the jetpack, but does every single part you are required to jump need to utilize the jetpack? It just feels that on Sparkster Genesis you really do nothing but charge up, boost, charge up, boost, charge up, boost, etc. It just becomes overly repetitive.

I mean if you look at the other Sparkster and RKA, there are platform parts you can actually jump over without the use of the jetpack. Quite frequently actually. Your sword is also more useful and you'll probably use it more often than just boosting through enemies repeatedly.

Sparkster Genesis isn't a terrible game though, it just sucks compared to the others as well as any other platformer with decent level structure and balance between gameplay elements.

BetaWolf47

08-18-2009, 08:02 PM

Gameguy

08-18-2009, 08:43 PM

Sonic 2 for the Genesis is different than the Game Gear version. Elevator Action for Gameboy is way different than the NES or arcade version.

Icarus Moonsight

08-18-2009, 08:47 PM

Of course Sparkster counts. They're completely different. Why else would three people be discussing those differences in this very thread? LOL

Ok, Ed and Kupo. I understand where you're coming from, and mostly, I'd have to agree. This has made me want to sit down and play the games back to back and get a fresh perspective though.

BetaWolf47

08-18-2009, 08:59 PM

Of course Sparkster counts. They're completely different. Why else would three people be discussing those differences in this very thread?

Their differences have nothing to do with my argument. This is about games with the same name. Sparkster and Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 are two different names.

Icarus Moonsight

08-18-2009, 09:02 PM

And a rose by any other name... Damn it, it's Sparkster! :p
http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/games/drg000/g024/g02426r5mlr.jpg

kupomogli

08-18-2009, 09:11 PM

The covers of both games are identical. If you start both games up, the title screen only shows Sparkster.

*edit*

Icarus beat me to it. I opened the thread and I was going to look for an image. But then I had to answer the phone and then came back to it. I also started both games to check the title screen as well though.

http://www.juegomania.org/Sparkster/fotos/snes/1/1858_c/Caratula%20Sparkster.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Sparkster_box_cover.JPG

Leo_A

08-18-2009, 09:13 PM

Can't believe nobody's mentioned Donkey Kong. The difference between the GB one and the Arcade one is tremendous.

There's also the games with confusing chronology:
Bubble Bobble 2, Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2, etc.

For the Sparkster games, I don't know if they count. One is surnamed Rocket Knight Adventure 2.

Did you actually even read the first post or the title of the topic? As far as I'm aware, none of that ever saw release on the Geneses besides your last example. And Donkey Kong certainly doesn't fit the topic, lol.

As for The Lion King, I have never spent much time with the Genesis version, but back in the day it was advertised as having an exclusive level not on the SuperNes version. The poor sound and graphics everytime I fire it up just makes me want to play the SuperNes version, so I've never bothered to look for the extra level.

Edit - No sign of one in a YouTube walkthrough, I just see the same levels as the SuperNes game unless I missed it. Perhaps I was remembering incorrectly.

Icarus Moonsight

08-18-2009, 09:15 PM

To be fair, you upstaged me. LOL The art is repeated on manuals and carts as well... How is a retro-hunter supposed to know both are unique just by looking at them? Thread purpose exposed and Sparkster validated. :rocker:

Enigmus

08-18-2009, 09:19 PM

Remember Doom? The 32X (Which probably counts because you plug the 32X into the MD like a cart) version had only 17 levels and lower quality FM music but smoother graphics scaling, and the SNES port had all of the levels with vastly better music, but choppy framerate and scaling.

kupomogli

08-18-2009, 09:22 PM

I decided just now to check and see maybe the PAL or NTSC J versions.

The PAL version is the same, just says MegaDrive. The Japanese version does actually say Sparkster Rocket Knight Adventures 2 though. I just looked that up right now.

http://www.gamingsanctuary.com/SparksterGenJPN.jpg

http://lamemoiredupad.123.fr/wp-content/img/box_sfc_sparkster.jpg

The cover art is still identical though, so even saying RKA2 on the Genesis one, you'd assume it's the same game. I would atleast.

MachineGex

08-18-2009, 09:27 PM

Someone(mayber the OP) should keep a running total of all the games and the differences.

BetaWolf47

08-18-2009, 09:57 PM

Did you actually even read the first post or the title of the topic? As far as I'm aware, none of that ever saw release on the Geneses besides your last example. And Donkey Kong certainly doesn't fit the topic, lol.

:embarrassed: Big whoops...

The cover art is still identical though, so even saying RKA2 on the Genesis one, you'd assume it's the same game. I would atleast.
That's really weird how that works. The US boxart is the same as well, aside from the Genesis one having a different aspect ratio.

If a more well-known regional difference was used as an example, however (i.e.: say there was a Genesis game named Mother 2), the title differences would've been duly noted in this thread.

Ed Oscuro

08-18-2009, 11:48 PM

http://www.gamingsanctuary.com/SparksterGenJPN.jpg
Ironically, the cover art seems better suited for the Genesis version, far as I can tell - the columns feature (a bit too) prominently in the first stage.

Kupo articulated what I was hating a bit better, although I would add that the repetitiveness of forced rocket jumping in that game is an additional insult on top of the others I delineated. Interestingly, this guy's review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq0Mqz5VQ3M&feature=related) (starting at 7 minutes) makes it clear that a lot of the reason he's fond of the game is due to the fact you can get along most of the time just using the sword - and not the flames, but just the blade. Very useful to know. Of course, there's another thing they &%!@ed up in the Genesis rev...

I'm ecstatic that this discussion happened - not so I could ramble on about the differences, but because I discovered the SNES version in the first place. I totally didn't know about it before this, and the Genesis version of Sparkster had totally disheartened me.

Gameguy

08-18-2009, 11:53 PM

Dracula X for the Japanese Turbo Duo is different than the US version for the SNES. They have the same cover art, so they would have been advertised as the same game but for different systems.

Ed Oscuro

08-19-2009, 12:06 AM

Dracula X for the Japanese Turbo Duo is different than the US version for the SNES. They have the same cover art, so they would have been advertised as the same game but for different systems.
Good point, although this would only have been a problem to import-savvy players and readers of the back pages of gaming mags. Drac X SNES is Drac XX SFC, of course.

Icarus Moonsight

08-19-2009, 12:08 AM

Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo = Castlevania Dracula X

Got it! ;)

Yes, different. But not totally different by intent. More that the SNES version was extremely watered down. They tried to fit what they could on a cart at the time which ment, skipping entire paths and segments of the game, removing enemies, bosses and enviroments/effects, no Maria mode, no saving the other maidens, axed the save system, related menus and such, no anime cutscenes and video intro or voiced audio (in Japanese and German too!). I think the differences in this instance are rather well known because Castlevania is fairly high profile. Up to the OP though.

/2 cents

j_factor

08-19-2009, 01:32 AM

Those two don't have the same title at all, though.

Ed Oscuro

08-19-2009, 02:19 AM

no saving the other maidens
Just two of them...that's good enough for a cartridge, isn't it?!

Those two don't have the same title at all, though.
There's a big "Dracula X" on the front of both - that would cause anybody to think the two games were equivalent. Dracula XX would seem to be a sequel in the Japanese market (plus they changed the cover art drastically, even reversing the hair colors of Dracula and Richter, oddly enough).

Of course, the SNES version seems to have been intended as a replacement for the PC-Engine CD ROM^2 game - same basic storyline, same "save the girls" idea, there's even a key item (slash weapon) in it.

Bad Atom

08-19-2009, 02:31 AM

Aladdin and Jurassic Park are also great examples of Genesis games that stomped all over their SNES counterparts. Yes, they're totally different games, but it's proof that the Genesis was more than a match for the SNES when it came to quality gameplay and graphics. System specs be damned!

j_factor

08-19-2009, 02:42 AM

There's a big "Dracula X" on the front of both - that would cause anybody to think the two games were equivalent.

http://bayimg.com/image/eadegaacf.jpg http://bayimg.com/image/eadehaacf.jpg

The cover art might, but I don't see how the title would. If I was just seeing a list of names, I would never think that "Castlevania: Dracula X" and "Akumajou Dracula X: Chi No Rondo" were the same game. They both contain the phrase "Dracula X" but in the former it's the subtitle, and in the latter it's part of the main/series title. And anyway I thought this thread was only for games with the exact same title.

A Black Falcon

08-19-2009, 03:00 AM

http://bayimg.com/image/eadegaacf.jpg http://bayimg.com/image/eadehaacf.jpg

The cover art might, but I don't see how the title would. If I was just seeing a list of names, I would never think that "Castlevania: Dracula X" and "Akumajou Dracula X: Chi No Rondo" were the same game. They both contain the phrase "Dracula X" but in the former it's the subtitle, and in the latter it's part of the main/series title. And anyway I thought this thread was only for games with the exact same title.

Yeah, particularly when the name for the Japanese version of the SNES game was Akamajou Dracula XX, adding a second X to mark the difference from the TG16 game. They just changed the title for the US because we hadn't gotten the first one, I think. It is kind of weird that the SNES one was so poor in comparison to the TG16 game, the original Super Castlevania IV was utterly amazing... Dracula XX wasn't even close to either SCIV or Dracula X. Bloodlines is probably even better...

Also, I think that the title in the US is weird... I mean, why "Castlevania DRACULA X"? The original title in Japan is Akamajou Dracula, in the US Castlevania. Shouldn't it just be Castlevania X?

Aladdin and Jurassic Park are also great examples of Genesis games that stomped all over their SNES counterparts. Yes, they're totally different games, but it's proof that the Genesis was more than a match for the SNES when it came to quality gameplay and graphics. System specs be damned!

Agreed about Aladdin, the SNES game is a fun platformer but the Genesis one is just amazing. Not sure about Jurassic Park though, I don't have the Genesis one and have only played it a little bit, and while I do have the SNES game (got it a few years ago), I've never gotten around to playing it...

j_factor

08-19-2009, 03:18 AM

Aladdin is at least fairly similar, but Jurassic Park isn't even really the same genre, so they're not comparable in the least bit. I do prefer the Genesis one a little, but neither are fantastic. The second SNES one, The Chaos Continues, was my favorite.

Ed Oscuro

08-19-2009, 04:09 AM

If I was just seeing a list of names, I would never think that "Castlevania: Dracula X" and "Akumajou Dracula X: Chi No Rondo" were the same game. They both contain the phrase "Dracula X" but in the former it's the subtitle, and in the latter it's part of the main/series title. And anyway I thought this thread was only for games with the exact same title.
Which of the words in "Akumajoh Dorakyura X: Chi no Rondo" is an American going to understand? There's the QED moment for yas. What's this about Dracula X being the "subtitle" of one, anyway? Chi no Rondo is the subtitle...

Also, Dracula X SNES / Dracula XX isn't a bad game. It's been a while since I played, though I don't think its reputation for brutal difficulty is really deserved either.

Haoie

08-19-2009, 04:23 AM

It's not like thesedays, where every game is the same, is it?

j_factor

08-19-2009, 04:41 AM

Which of the words in "Akumajoh Dorakyura X: Chi no Rondo" is an American going to understand?

It's not an American release, so who cares? The only Americans who've even heard of this game are those who are at least somewhat well-versed in the Castlevania series and know that the series is called Akumajou Dracula in Japan.

The only reason I'm arguing this point is because I had the exact opposite confusion -- my initial impression from the titles was that Castlevania: Dracula X was a completely original game that had nothing to do with the PC Engine CD game, other than being in the same series.

And for what it's worth, "Rondo" is an English word, and isn't part of the title of the SNES game in any territory.

What's this about Dracula X being the "subtitle" of one, anyway? Chi no Rondo is the subtitle...

Now you're just messing with me, right? Castlevania: Dracula X. The subtitle is the part after the colon.

Ed Oscuro

08-19-2009, 05:10 AM

It's not an American release, so who cares?
Well, there goes the neighborhood. I already listed some people who would have cared back in the day, though. Anyway, why do you care that I care?

The only reason I'm arguing this point is because I had the exact opposite confusion -- my initial impression from the titles was that Castlevania: Dracula X was a completely original game that had nothing to do with the PC Engine CD game, other than being in the same series.
It's a good thing we're here to assure you that this is not the case! p.s. aren't you glad somebody cares?

And for what it's worth, "Rondo" is an English word, and isn't part of the title of the SNES game in any territory.

Now you're just messing with me, right? Castlevania: Dracula X. The subtitle is the part after the colon.
Rondo is borrowed from French, actually (and they use some kind of German at the introductory cutscene on the PCE CD).

Thought you meant the PCE game, which is obvious if you note that I mention that game's subtitle specifically (I didn't hallucinate it on the SNES game's box). No, I have more entertaining things to do than mess with you, no worries there.

On the subtitle front, many of the game in Japan had the exact same title as the NES Castlevania's Japanese version, which certainly would bear out your earlier assumption that the game isn't related at all to the PCE game.

I have no idea why all this is worth discussing either, but one last thing: On the JPN title, you note that Akumajo Dracula is the series name, but "Castlevania X" would be silly - so they chopped up the JPN series title for "Dracula X." This is why I find it hard to call "Dracula X" a subtitle, though indeed it may be called one. Another example of the necessarily rather fragmented marketing Konami has employed for the series throughout its run.

Icarus Moonsight

08-19-2009, 05:31 AM

Guys, chill. Rondo isn't even a genesis game! *gasp* LOL

Ed Oscuro

08-19-2009, 05:32 AM

Getting some kind of vibes that there are questions being asked that I'm not supposed to attempt to answer... LOL

Anyway, somebody asks questions, I'll answer them, seems like a fair trade.

Wraith Storm

08-19-2009, 06:05 AM

Someone(mayber the OP) should keep a running total of all the games and the differences.

Yeah! That was the original point of this thread. As different games are brought up I will SLOWLY :p but surely add them to the main list. I have very little time during the work week.

I loved the idea of competing systems having the same franchises but different games to showcase them. Could you imagine if companies still did this. Games like GTA IV, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion or Fallout 3 being completely different original games on the 360 and PS3 respectively?

Guys, chill. Rondo isn't even a genesis game! *gasp* LOL

Thank you! It seems like this thread is starting to slide off track.

But thanks to everyone for the games they have listed so far. As I stated above they will be added to the main list this weekend.

Mark III

08-19-2009, 08:51 PM

They're not completely different games but Outlander on the genesis has an inside the car view during the terrible driving segments while the SNES version has a zoomed out view outside of the car during its terrible driving segments. I don't think you could fire your gun at other vehicles in the SNES one too, though I could be wrong. I seem to recall that the terrible action segments are identical though.

kupomogli

08-19-2009, 10:28 PM

Alien 3

The Genesis version is a stage based with being open world just in that stage.

The SNES version is stage based but during each stage there are computers which you'll go to in order to get different missions which you need to complete every mission to go to the next stage. Like save the hostages, destroy the incubation eggs, etc.

SNES version is better in every aspect. Genesis version is pretty good.

Gameguy

08-19-2009, 10:55 PM

Thank you! It seems like this thread is starting to slide off track.

But thanks to everyone for the games they have listed so far. As I stated above they will be added to the main list this weekend.
I don't know why, but I didn't seem to notice that you were only looking for differences between SNES and Genesis releases. I thought you were looking for any game for any system. I really don't know why I didn't notice when it's posted so clearly in the original post, sorry about that. I'll have to think of more games that were released for those consoles, pretty much all the differences I was aware of had already been mentioned.

MachineGex

08-20-2009, 12:17 AM

Yeah! That was the original point of this thread. As different games are brought up I will SLOWLY :p but surely add them to the main list. I have very little time during the work week.

I loved the idea of competing systems having the same franchises but different games to showcase them. Could you imagine if companies still did this.

That is an interesting point/idea(competing systems having the same franchises but different games to showcase). We are actually seeing the 360 & PS3 get one version and the Wii(and sometimes PS2) get a different one. The new Ghostbusters game is a good example.

Anyways, I would love to see a complete list, along with the differences and opinions on which plays better. Lets keep this up!

Famidrive-16

08-20-2009, 12:28 AM

The Great Circus Mystery has different levels in the SNES/Genesis comparisons. I remember because there was this one level when I rented the Genesis version that I could never get past. When I bought a copy of the SNES one, the level wasn't there, and there were some other alternate levels as well.

Animaniacs is another game with completely different versions. The Genesis one is more of a platformer, while the SNES version is top-down beat-emup style.

RASK1904

08-20-2009, 03:54 PM

My favorite example is Sunset Riders. A very good 2 player shooter, like Contra, in western times by Konami! Both good games, but different on each system.

Sunset Riders on the Genesis is crazy. Bullets everywhere and fling fast. There are only 4 or 5 levels. This is a very good game and the first of the two that I actually played.

Sunset riders on the Snes is better IMO. The bullets do not fly as fast and it is not as hectic. There are 4 extra levels plus the original ones from Genesis. You can pick from 4 different people. In between the stages there are mini game/bonus levels. Much better in every way.

Both are very good games and I would suggest picking them both up if you've never played them.

We also have disscused this before in another thread. Something about best or better versions of games or something. If you could find that post might be full of suggestions for your list.

Wraith Storm

08-23-2009, 05:26 AM

A Black Falcon

08-23-2009, 05:37 AM

Okay! I finally got the main list up to date... whew!

I tried to keep just the basic facts in there. So, despite that one version of a game might clearly be better than the other, i'll leave that to be discussed within this thread rather than posting opinion with facts in the OP.

Thanks again to everyone for their help. I'll continue to add them as people suggest them, but something tells me we have hit all the games that have major differences.

You missed The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, both of which, like Robocop vs. Terminator, have somewhat similar gameplay but completely different levels on each platform. (for The Terminator, the Sega CD game is the best, and is really quite good... for Terminator 2, none of the platformers are really that good. The light-gun game is good though... and that is also on SNES and Genesis, as T2: The Arcade Game. They are both ports of the same arcade game and are definitely not different games, but the SNES version came out several years later and is quite a bit better.)

Wraith Storm

08-23-2009, 04:19 PM

You missed The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, both of which, like Robocop vs. Terminator, have somewhat similar gameplay but completely different levels on each platform.

Your right! The Terminator is different on both systems and I can't believe I forgot to post that one. I'll add it later today.

Terminator 2 however, I have never played. But looking at the videos of both the Genesis and Snes versions on Youtube shows that Terminator 2 is the same game on both systems.

emceelokey

08-23-2009, 04:43 PM

The first thing that comes to my mind in this situation is Batman: The Animated Series games for the SNES and Genesis. Both were completely different game but this is one of those rare occasions where both were great games.

A lot of the licensed Konami games were like that at the time. Animainacs were two different games for each system.

I also remember Beavis and Butthead being completely different games on each system.

Paet

11-11-2009, 04:39 AM

Spider-man vs. Kingpin - Same title for Genesis and Sega CD, yet they're totally different games.

Sonic 3D Blast - Essentially the same game for Genesis and Saturn, only the Saturn version has way better bonus stages, not to mention superior graphics.