Which version of 2nd/3rd gen games is best?

[o.pwuaioc]

I made a thread (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/213089-which-version-of-2nd3rd-gen-games-is-best/) over at AtariAge that has since seemed to lose steam, but I figured there are enough 2nd/3rd gen enthusiasts here to get perhaps an even better idea. So, without further ado:

Lately instead of expanding I've been wanting to consolidate and tighten my collection. However, going through game by game trying to find the "best" version is quite a daunting task. So I come to you experts in hopes that maybe I can compile some definitive list of the best of ports. Maybe we can even order the ports from best to worst in case someone doesn't have the console for the best game, but does for the second or third best port. Also, please indicate if the game can be found outside of the 2nd/3rd gen, for example Frogger on the Genesis or Pac-Man on the many Namco collections.

I'll start with what I know best:

Galaga (1981)

NES > 7800 > MSX > SG-1000

Best compilation containing it: Namco 50th Anniversary (PS2, Xbox, GCN equally good)

Commentary: The NES version is the cleanest looking, although it differs from the arcade in that it doesn't have a "throbbing" swarm. The 7800 has worse graphics, although the enemy movement is closer to the original; the sound is, as usual with a 7800, not up to par, and yet somehow it's not utterly terrible. The MSX and SG-1000 are the simplest in terms of graphics and sound.

[PizzaKat]

Dokey Kong

NES<Colecovision<Atari 2600

Just from what I got. The 2600 is just ugly.

Space Harrier

TG16<32x< Master System

Just like the look of it a little more, I have the 3d version on the Master System so its not as great w/o the glasses and with it , its cool but it doesnt match with the others

[o.pwuaioc]

I'll add another:

7800 > C64 > ColecoVision > INTV > 2600

It's a close call between the 7800 and C64, but I think Atari edges it out slightly. Likewise, the CV edges out the INTV. Avoid the 2600 at all costs. It's as ugly as you'd expect it to be (think Pac-Man ugly). This game was released for a buttload of consoles, though, so help in filling this out would be awesome.

Speaking of Centipede, my wife and I are taking turns on the 7800 right now. :lovin:

[tom]

NES is 4th gen


1st = Magnavox and Pongs
2nd = Atari VCS, Intellivision, Fairchild, O2
3rd = Colecovision, Vectrex, 5200
4th NES, SMS, 7800

Wiki is wrong

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/Alison123456789/TelespieleReport84CBSColeco_zpsdc2e4001.jpg
http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/Alison123456789/atari5200thirdgen.jpg

Also, info can be found in EG and other magazines from the 80s, no idiot would put the Coleco and 5200 in the same gen.

[o.pwuaioc]

The 5200 came out in 1982, the ColecoVision in 1982, the Famicom in 1983. You really think these belong in different generations? :roll:

[tom]

The 5200 came out in 1982, the ColecoVision in 1982, the Famicom in 1983. You really think these belong in different generations? :roll:

You're right, the Colecovision is even nearer to Famicom than to 2600, so the Coleco NOT 2nd gen for sure, you say it should be in with the Famicom generation? I say not, 7800 (1984) and Famicom started a new gen.
This gen thing is more US based and the NES was released (showcased) in Jan 1984 in the US (it was called AVS).
5200, Vectrex and Coleco are not 2nd gen, they are 3rd gen, you can read this in many US gaming magazines from the time.

[o.pwuaioc]

You're right, the Colecovision is even nearer to Famicom than to 2600, so the Coleco NOT 2nd gen for sure, you say it should be in with the Famicom generation? I say not, 7800 (1984) and Famicom started a new gen.
This gen thing is more US based and the NES was released (showcased) in Jan 1984 in the US (it was called AVS).
5200, Vectrex and Coleco are not 2nd gen, they are 3rd gen, you can read this in many US gaming magazines from the time.

It's a rather silly point of debate. If it helps, mentally add "4th gen" to the parameter. The point is a comparison of earlier consoles and computers, not to define a generation. (Besides, who's to say that earlier commentators were right? After all, it's all a blurred and relative distinction.)

[BlastProcessing402]

I don't recall anyone ever bringing up numbered generations until wiki came along and just made it up.

Maybe it was different in germany or wherever those scans came from, but in america at the time, no one even thought of generations pre-crash, nor that coleco was in a different one from 2600, let alone 5200. We just thought "hey this system is better than that one" didn't matter when it came out.

After the crash, there were the pongs which only played built in games which most people barely even thought about so didn't bother calling a generation, every pre-crash cart based system lumped together into a generation(if you must give it a name it would've been Atari generation or early 8-bit gen), every post-crash system lumped together (Nintendo generation or late 8-bit), 16-bit generation, 32/64 bit generation, and then it was just current/next generation until wiki came along with it's (highly Original Research) numbered generations stuff.


Dokey Kong

NES<Colecovision<Atari 2600

Just from what I got. The 2600 is just ugly.


You can probably stick the Intellivision port of DK in there between Coleco and 2600. I'm not 100% about how it being worse than on Coleco (since I never played that one) but it's definitely far inferior to the NES port. The only real issue with the NES version is it's missing a board.

[goldenband]

You can probably stick the Intellivision port of DK in there between Coleco and 2600. I'm not 100% about how it being worse than on Coleco (since I never played that one) but it's definitely far inferior to the NES port. The only real issue with the NES version is it's missing a board.

The ColecoVision version of Donkey Kong is waaaaay ahead of the Atari 2600 version, which in turn is superior to the wretched Intellivision release. The Atari 2600 port may look ugly, but it plays reasonably well, which the Intellivision version emphatically does not.

OTOH, the Intellivision homebrew now known as "DK Arcade" is terrific, and the update "D2K Arcade" is even better.

[Atarileaf]

The best version of DK from that era has always been the Atari 8-bit version. All 4 levels, graphics are great, good difficulty and a lot of fun.

Of course this whole discussion is opinion and the idea of picking just one port from system that is the "best" is difficult and redundant. I can understand consolidation but discarding other ports from other systems because they are some how "inferior" just seems completely subjective. I mentioned before that bump n jump on the 2600, while graphically inferior to CV, intellivision or NES ports is still the most playable and fun.

Again, that's a subjective opinion on my part so it will be difficult for the OP to just go by what we say. The only opinion that matters in the end, is his.

[tom]

I don't recall anyone ever bringing up numbered generations until wiki came along and just made it up.
Maybe it was different in germany or wherever those scans came from, but in america at the time, no one even thought of generations pre-crash, nor that coleco was in a different one from 2600, let alone 5200. We just thought "hey this system is better than that one" didn't matter when it came out.

.

It was there, as it can be seen inside (Dec 1982) and on the cover of (Jan 83) EG, USAers were calling it more like 'waves', so 'third wave' (obviously the wave after VCS and Intellivision) is 3rd gen.
So yes, EG knew that Coleco and 5200 was 'different' than VCS

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/Alison123456789/eg82_zpsae0e84fc.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo12/Alison123456789/eg83_zps8dbd706d.jpg

Maybe Coleco, 5200 and Vectrex should be together with NES, SMS and 7800, call it 'third wave', '3rd gen', but a Coleco and 5200 are NOT in the same 2nd gen as VCS or Fairchild, as Wikipedia likes to put it. That is just plain wrong.

[Neb6]

Donkey Kong Jr. - NES > Colecovision (pretty close but the NES version is a bit better)
Pole Position - Atari 7800
Ms. Pac-Man - Atari 7800
Pac-Man - Atari 5200/800/400
Gyruss - Colecovision > NES (mainly because the NES version has been altered too much)
Time Pilot - Colecovision
Asteroids - Atari 7800
Mr. Do - Colecovision
Front Line - A tie between NES and Colecovision
Star Castle - Vectrex
Battlezone - TRS-80 Color Computer II (under the name Rommel 3D)
Mr. Do's Castle - Colecovision
Q*Bert - Tie between NES and Colecovision
Congo Bongo - Colecovision
Qix - Color Computer II
Frenzy - Colecovision
Donkey Kong - Color Computer III (homebrew)


And some slightly more modern systems:
Space Harrier - 32x > TG16
Bubble Bobble - Amiga
Gauntlet II - Amiga
Marble Madness - Amiga
Frogger - GBA
Pole Position - GBA
Galaga - GBA

[o.pwuaioc]

Bumping.

[sloan]

H.E.R.O. - Activision for VCS/Colecovision/5200/C64

While I have never played the C64 version, the VCS port ranks best to me based on controllers. 5200 and CV controllers are too hand cramping to make this game much fun, especially in longer sessions.


Beamrider - Activision for VCS/Intellivision/Colecovision/5200

Intellivision version is the original and rocks. VCS isn't bad, nor is 5200. I just prefer the INTV disc controller for this game. It overall feels better suited to Beamrider's play mechanics.

[Atarileaf]

nice to see the tandy coco getting some love considering it's games and ports are almost universally dissed by those outside the coco user base

[o.pwuaioc]

Bumping this thread again for more opinions on 8 bit games!