What did Genesis do better than SNES?

[sheath]

Most multiplatform games looked way better on the Genesis (partly because Nintendo opted for a zoomed-in aspect of the same game, which made them looked washed-out or stretched horizontally).

Examples of games that were better on the Genesis

Earthworm Jim (SNES counterpart is stretched horizontally and is incomplete)
All multiplatform Disney Games (They looked washed-out and the music is subpar compared to the Genesis)
Cool Spot (Look-up the best track in the game, Rave Dance Tune, and you'll see what I mean)
Disneys' Aladdin (The SNES' Aladdin is a good game, but Aladdin on the Genesis is outstanding!)
Mortal Kombat II (Not because of the blood, but because of the Genesis pad)
Shmups in general
The whole "Strike" series (which was awfully zoomed-in on the SNES).
Various Run N Guns

I would understand the slow-down in shmups and the like, but it's the subparity in graphics and sound in those multiplatform SNES games that gets me; particularly when it is in fact the graphics and sound department where the SNES usually reigned.

This is interesting, I'm pretty sure SNES fans feel the exact opposite on most of these. With the exception of Shooters and Run 'n Gun games, and the Strike Series, I'd say that SNES owners prefer these games on the SNES, sometimes going as far as to claim their version is far and away the best version. It doesn't help that most of these games favor the SNES' sample based sound chip and, being based on cartoons, benefit from the higher color palettes. More and higher quality digital audio samples and double to triple the colors on screen in multi-platform and licensed games is one of the few claims to fame the SNES actually has.

[RetromancerKeith]

I always thought the sound chip on the Genesis was super cool; something eerie about it in a good way.

[NeoVenom]

I really don't like fanboy'ism, it just sparks arguments of whose right and wrong. Like I owned a SNES years before I even picked up a Genesis. Does that mean I favor the SNES more? No cause both systems were unique in their own way. Why not just enjoy both? :D

[Parodius Duh!]

Genesis was $89 bucks new. SNES was what, $199? Genesis games were MAX $49.99, Snes games were what? I remember seeing Megaman X3 New in KB toys for like $74.99....Chrono Trigger was definitely $74.99, I remember my buddy Paul wanted a copy so bad and his mom would never get it for him. $74.99 was like $300 back in 1994.

I had a Genesis when I was a kid, never got a SNES until I was about 18 years old and could buy a used one from Funcoland for $50 bucks right around when PS1 was a year or two old....


Basically Genesis was reasonable for us lower middle class folk. Only the rich kids or kids that saved up a good amount of their allowance or the kid whos dad gets an awesome Xmas bonus had a SNES. Heck one of the SUPER Rich kids from my town had a Neo Geo AES! we use to love hanging out with him (his AES I mean).....

[wiggyx]

The Genesis launched at $200. Phantasy Star 3 was $75.

Price isn't something that either did "better". One launched earlier, and thus price drops came sooner. No different than every other generation of hardware.

[Parodius Duh!]

it was suggested retail $189 at launch, although it was typical of most places to have it priced at around $149... and it went down to $89.99 before the SNES release. Im talking about them competing with each other, so at the time of the SNES release it was $89.99 and hence forth. The Genesis price drops were sooner and quicker. Snes didnt have a discounted price for well over a year or two upon its initial release. They were competitors werent they or are Genesis and SNES considered different generations? Im pretty sure they are not.

Ok Phantasy Star and Shining Force II were probably expensive, thats only 2 games out of at least 20 snes titles priced at a ridiculous amount. Majority of Genny titles were no more than $49.99 where SNES stuff was all over the place from $29.99 to 79.99.

Genesis did prices and discounting better.

[sheath]

The Genesis went down to $150 and then $130 with Sonic around the SNES launch and through that Christmas season. By Christmas the SNES had been discounted to $180 already with two controllers and Mario World."Slasher Quan," "So You Want to Buy a 16-Bit System...," Gamepro, December 1991, 48. The TurboGrafx-16 was the first and only console to go to $99 that year.

[wiggyx]

it was suggested retail $189 at launch, although it was typical of most places to have it priced at around $149... and it went down to $89.99 before the SNES release. Im talking about them competing with each other, so at the time of the SNES release it was $89.99 and hence forth. The Genesis price drops were sooner and quicker. Snes didnt have a discounted price for well over a year or two upon its initial release. They were competitors werent they or are Genesis and SNES considered different generations? Im pretty sure they are not.

Ok Phantasy Star and Shining Force II were probably expensive, thats only 2 games out of at least 20 snes titles priced at a ridiculous amount. Majority of Genny titles were no more than $49.99 where SNES stuff was all over the place from $29.99 to 79.99.

Genesis did prices and discounting better.



The Genesis was 200 everywhere that I went when it launched. I still recall selling my 1st Genesis and taking note of the 199.99 K-B toys price sticker and laughing since I sold it for less than 1/4 of that. Either way, you're talking 10 bucks. Not exactly a huge advantage no matter how you spin it. Nobody sold it at 150 before SEGA officially dropped the price. That's just nonsense. Do you know what the typical markup on game consoles is? Less than 1%. That means retailer discounts only happen when they're trying to closeout inventory, or they're having some insane holiday sale (which usually means forced bundles to make up for the loss on the consoles). A ~25% discount would be really hard to make up for any retailer.


The Genesis was NOT dropped to 89 upon the launch of the SNES. 150 is what I recall the Sonic pack selling for, and I also recall it having only one controller included (please correct me if I'm mistaken about that).

I wasn't arguing that they were different generation. I was saying that the 1st consoles of each generation typically get price cuts first, as was the case with the Genesis. Neither system's price dropped in the 1st year on the market. That's a good thing because it means they both sold well. The poor TG-16 was sub-100 at most retailers within a relatively short amount of time and we all know how well it went for the TG.


Phantasy Star 4 was also about 70-75, Virtua Racing was 90 as I recall, etc. There weren't that many +$50 games for either system. Probably in the neighborhood of 10 for each. There's no "advantage" there either way. A handful of games that cost more than 50 bucks doesnt give anyone an edge up on the other.

Average MSRP of games for both were 50 bucks. How you can site the SNES as having 30 dollar games, while you claim the Genesis held at 50 almost without exception, and then give the advantage to the Genesis in terms of pricing is beyond me. Both consoles had discounted games. These were retailer discounts far more often than just low MSRP. It's no different than current gen games. A game is out for 6 months, sales slow to a crawl, retailers drop prices to make room for new stock and to make up as much of their cost is said dead titles before they're absolutely worthless.


There was no significant price advantage for either at launch of both consoles. Sure, the Genesis had a price reduction right before the SNES launched, but eventually the SNES' price dropped as well bringing the MSRP for both back to a very similar number. Neither went to sub-100 prices until the launch of next gen consoles was on the very near horizon.

[Parodius Duh!]

I honestly could give a crap. Genesis was cheaper all around. I stand by it.

......and it was *SUGGESTED* retail $189.99 at launch. Suggested means you can sell it for less, like what some mom and pop game stores around my area would do.... . Everywhere Ive looked for information states this including wikipedia and most Sega history sites. It is not Nonsense, pal.

Yeah the Sonic pack was $150, the base console pack with single controller (and I believe it came with NO hook ups that you had to buy separate) was $89.99

Okay Ill site the genesis now, Genesis had $19.99 games, $29.99 games, but the majority never surpassed $49.99. Average price for SNES games was $59.99-$79.99 In my area. Im only referring to games actually worth playing.

[Rob2600]

Genesis had $19.99 games, $29.99 games, but the majority never surpassed $49.99. Average price for SNES games was $59.99-$79.99 In my area.

You get what you pay for.

[tom]

this:
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/Alison123456789/megadrivepc-1.jpg

[j_factor]

You get what you pay for.

I didn't know you were a Neo Geo fan.

[substantial_snake]

I always thought the sound chip on the Genesis was super cool; something eerie about it in a good way.

I know exactly what you mean, something about the genesis sound always had a Cyberpunk/Post-apocalyptic vibe to it. I think it's the harsher and harder sound compared to the SNES's wide range but I loved it as a kid. Always think of Outlander's driving music whenever the Genesis sound it brought up for some reason.

There was a thread a while back that went over this but now that I've played them both, definitely perfer the Genesis's take on Contra and Castlevania then the SNES entries. Contra 3 and SC4 are both overall prettier and sound better then their genesis counterparts but I think Bloodlines and Hard Corps more fun to play. The SNES entries are way too easy and I can get fairly far in both despite being pretty bad at this style of game while the Genesis counterparts to each are much more challenging and as a result more rewarding to play.

Also tend to find more slowdown in SNES games in general.

[BlastProcessing402]

SNES had the looks, but Genesis had the personality.

[Robocop2]

Both of them have their high points. In retrospect, I definietly dig the sound of a Genesis over the SNES. Call me crazy but alot of the "ochestral" whatever seems to turn me off. I just prefer the gritty sound of the Genny now, I am speaking from the entrity of my personal experience with the Genesis being Non TMSS Model 1's so YMMV depending since I've heard the sound on later ones is less well liked.

I also think the Genesis had a better variety of games with them tending towards arcade ports which, at the time and today even, I really enjoy. The Genesis brought home the arcade experience in ways I don't really think the SNES did. Sure there are great games on both that much is fact and something I appreciate. I just feel the Genesis did arcade better.

Plus, I more fondly remember my days with the Genesis than the SNES so much so infact, that I sought out a Model 1 to replace the one I lost all those years ago. Even when I had a perfectly good SNES sitting in storage somewhere with a good collection of games.


The 16-bit battle between Sega and Nintendo was probably the greatest rivalry between two gaming companies ever.

Agreed. The modern rivalries are really quite tame in comparison. I shudder to think what it would have been like had the internet been around back during the Great Bit War