Titles which appear on older systems and are better than later gen incarnations

[Emperor Megas]

What are some games that appear on older consoles that have better versions than the more modern ones? I'm not really talking about remakes on modern systems, but rather titles of the SAME game which appears on different systems.

An example is the game Scurge: Hive for the GBA and the DS. I've never played either (though I own both versions), but I've read the GBA version is better than the DS version. I don't know if it's true or not, but I've heard it from more than one source.

I suppose HD re-releases sort of count when applicable if they aren't reMAKES. The Silent Hill Collection titles for example are pretty buggy which makes for a worse experience than the original, IMO.

I think that Rez is better on the PS2 than the HD re-release on the XBOX360. I appreciate the HD upgrade, but they changed the music and I have no idea why they did because the changes they made were very minimalist, but what they DID remove was SUCH a wonderful part of the original experience. Like when you're fighting the end boss, Earth, of the first stage. In the PS2 (and probably the Dreamcast) version, when you attack the boss' core there's a drum beat that sounds with each shot that leads up to a loud, fantastic scream when you damage it's core ("AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"). It's an awesome sensory experience when your volume is turned up and you hear that sound. It literally makes me tingle when I get to that part and it was one of the moments that sold me on the game when I first played it...aaaand they took it out in the HD re-release. Why they did this I have NO idea. o_O

[celerystalker]

I prefer the SNES Final Fantasies over their PS1 re-releases. I like Warlords on Atari 2600 better than its arcade, compilation or remake versions for sure. Dreamcast Guilty Gear X I prefer over PS2, and I think a lot of people do for its VGA output on that system. Most Neo Geo games are superior on their old hardware... I'll have to think about more. I'm sure there are more from system generation crossovers.

[Leo_A]

I can't guarantee it, but I'd say with 99% certainty that arcade Warlords predates its VCS port. Thus, it doesn't truly qualify for this thread.

It was extremely rare for a console game to succeed so well that it was then brought to the arcade. Appearing in the arcade first was virtually a universal rule for many years. Then if it succeeded in that area, it was brought home to the console and/or computer audiences.

[o.pwuaioc]

I prefer HERO 2600 to any of its later incarnations, and maybe River Raid, but I haven't given other ports too much attention. I think Montezuma's Revenge is best on ColecoVision, too. I'm not so sure they're really the "same game", though, or if that counts to what you're asking. I do find the Neo Geo collections to be inferior to the actual games. Oh, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is better on Dreamcast than PS2.

Since I don't know your first example, I don't really know what else to include.

[Emperor Megas]

Oh, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is better on Dreamcast than PS2.Do you think it's better than the XBOX version too?

[Gameguy]

Is this a question of games with poor ports, or just about poor remakes?

[Emperor Megas]

Neither necessarily. Just about games that people might enjoy the legacy version of. Like if someone enjoyed the SMS version of Sonic the Hedgehog more than the Genesis one for whatever reason.

[o.pwuaioc]

Neither necessarily. Just about games that people might enjoy the legacy version of. Like if someone enjoyed the SMS version of Sonic the Hedgehog more than the Genesis one for whatever reason.

Those aren't really the same game, though.

I enjoy the NES versions of Super Mario Bros over the Super NES versions. In fact, I don't have any console game collections. I just enjoy it more on original hardware rather than what's usually some type of emulation. The Sega collections, the Activision collection, Metroid Prime Trilogy, all I skipped in favor of the originals.

[Emperor Megas]

Those aren't really the same game, though.

Well, no. I mean that's a given with one being a version released for a newer console, and one for an older console. This is mainly what I'm asking people about though.

[o.pwuaioc]

Well, no. I mean that's a given with one being a version released for a newer console, and one for an older console. This is mainly what I'm asking people about though.

For Sonic, though, they're not even close to being the same game. Same name and that's about it, really. It's not even an imitation, and I didn't notice any similarities in level design, really. That's a different ballgame, though.

[Edmond Dantes]

^ the deal with Sonic SMS vs Sonic Genesis is that they have the same name and similar play mechanics, but the levels and storyline are completely different. That's kinda like the situation with Ninja Gaiden SMS and Ninja Gaiden NES--both are side-scrollers but other than that, they're totally different games. The kind of game this thread is (as I understand) supposed to be about are cases like Super Mario Bros. vs its version on the Mario All-Stars cartridge, or Ninja Gaiden NES vs the compilation Ninja Gaiden Trilogy.

So anyway:

I've heard tell that the NES version of Might and Magic is substantially better than the later PC-Engine port. On that same note, none of the console ports of Might and Magic III were not as good as the original IBM PC version due to the interface not being at all reworked to make more sense on a console (unlike the first game, which was reworked to be more playable with an NES controller).

I've read from several sources that the NES versions of the Ninja Gaiden games (with the possible exception of Ninja Gaiden III due to some rebalanced difficulty) are far superior to the SNES compilation, Ninja Gaiden Trilogy.

On a personal note I find Ultima IV on PC to be better than the later NES port, even though the latter has some awesome music--little annoyances like how you can get into random battles even while standing still are, well, annoying.

In general, actually, I find most PC-originated RPGs are better on the PC. Usually because the transfer to consoles requires replacing the original keyboard controls with control pad support, which can make the games more tedious than they originally were, or else removing features and conveniences that I loved from the original (Pool of Radiance on NES is an example of both of these). Even when the port has music and updated graphics (such as Wizardry on NES) I still prefer the original for the fact that hitting a hotkey on a keyboard is far more fun than using a menu on a console.

It seems like there were many more, and I'll list them if I remember any.

[kupomogli]

Like Edmond Dantes stated, most PC to console ports are better to play on PC. Might and Magic 3 is unplayable on SNES due to how slow the game moves and the game wasn't ported to consoles to work well with a controller.

Diablo, Warcraft 2, and Warhammer Shadow of the Horned Rat on the PSX were really good and near identical to the PC versions, but the PC version has mouse support which made these games a little easier to control, although they were still able to be controlled on consoles very well.

Shadow of the Colossus on PS2 is better than the PS3 version because there are now additional frames for the character and now it's possible to become stuck in an infinite loop when the colossus tries to shake you off. This will happen on several colossus.

Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Collection on PS3 might not be 1080p, but it's the definitive edition if you don't want a patched game. On the PS4 version of Final Fantasy 10, the random number generator isn't so random,(it's not random at all) so if you save the game and then load the game after fighting a battle in one area, the exact same amount of steps and exact sameenemy group will be encountered and apparently all the enemies do the same attacks. Additionally, the music that plays on the field resets when you get out of combat rather than picking up where it left off.

Phantasy Star Collection on the GBA has some saving issues. I don't remember if it's only the first game or if it's all three games, but I do remember it being a hassle and you really want to save often because you might get the blue screen of death whenever you go to save. Plenty of times I lost so much progress in those games due to that issue.

A multitude of Vita ports, mostly the Sony ported ones have unplayable framerates.

Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate on 3DS is better than the console versions. Now the 360 version might have received a better port, but the PS3 version has noticeable framerate drops that really detract from gameplay. While console version has boss rush mode which I'm disappointed that the portable was lacking and also has better graphics, I think the jaw dropping 3D and the 3DS version having no steep frame drops saves it. Yes the 3DS version doesn't run at 30fps but runs at a consistent stable framerate in what's probably the low 20s so it doesn't ever have an instance where your controls don't work properly, unlike the console version. Amazing game despite the sub 30fps both console and portable.

[Tanooki]

Depending on your taste some would argue Duck Tales on NES is better than the remaster due to the added fluff and overkill intrusive cut scene yammering that happens far too often. Another would be the original SNES based Mario (and Yoshi) titles from Allstars and both mario world games vs the GBA re-releases. While those did have better saving routines they did various chops and edits making them notably easier in places and if you loathe obtrusive added collection crap that's unnecessary it had that too on gba with those annoying coins. Sometimes less is more and game companies tend to forget it.

The PC version of Wing Commander and it's addon operations pack are far better on there than the SNES and other spinoff releases. They display better in the native format, run smoother, joystick steer better, look and sound nicer too, and the PC game saves without a password.

[SparTonberry]

I've read from several sources that the NES versions of the Ninja Gaiden games (with the possible exception of Ninja Gaiden III due to some rebalanced difficulty) are far superior to the SNES compilation, Ninja Gaiden Trilogy.

The US NES version of Ninja Gaiden III had cheap difficulty inflation over the Japanese version (made Ryu take twice as much damage, removed the password save and gave limited continues, possibly other stuff). Unsure which difficulty NGT used.

[Tanooki]

NGT by my understanding restored it to the Japanese standard. I've not had the NES cart for years, but I do have the SNES game and a huge reason I kept it was passwords (due to the kid) and also because it didn't do as much damage as I recalled griping some years back how people were hating on the SNES game but then would admit that at least NG3 wasn't made worse on it.

[Gamevet]

Those aren't really the same game, though.

I enjoy the NES versions of Super Mario Bros over the Super NES versions. In fact, I don't have any console game collections. I just enjoy it more on original hardware rather than what's usually some type of emulation. The Sega collections, the Activision collection, Metroid Prime Trilogy, all I skipped in favor of the originals.

Ah, you beat me to it.

It wasn't just the controls that weren't as tight. There were slight changes in the music that was not for the better. I remember marveling at how good the kettle drums sounded in SMB3, and then wondering what went wrong with the SNES drums.

[Niku-Sama]

Marvel vs capcom and marvel super heroes on any old system over that odd psn version.

I don't know what they were trying to do with those titles on psn but they pretty much ruined them

[Zthun]

I'd add in that sonic adventure is vastly superior on the DC than its later counterparts. The ability to level and power up your chao pets using the vmu can't be replicated.

[goldenband]

I like the Smurfs games on Master System (The Smurfs & The Smurfs Travel the World) more than the respective Genesis versions.

[CDiablo]

I will probably think of more but Turtles In Time is much more enjoyable than Turtles In Time: Reshelled.

Edit 1:SNES version of Smash TV was much better than the latest release on the PS360 Midway compilation due to controls(dual analog vs 8 way pad & 4 buttons).

[Atarileaf]

I can't guarantee it, but I'd say with 99% certainty that arcade Warlords predates its VCS port. Thus, it doesn't truly qualify for this thread.



No, the 2600 port did indeed come first. From the wiki:


The version for the Atari 2600 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600) console was released in 1981.[4] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlords_%281980_video_game%29#cite_note-4) It features the use of paddle controllers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_%28game_controller%29) instead of joysticks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joystick). The 2600 version of Warlords is often cited as one of the more popular Atari 2600 titles by classic video gamers, and was voted the 25th greatest video game in the 100th issue of Game Informer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Informer) (August 2001 issue).[citation needed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)] The 2600 port was written by Carla Meninsky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Meninsky), one of the two female game designers to work for Atari in the early 1980s.[5] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlords_%281980_video_game%29#cite_note-Meninsky-5) According to Meninsky, the development of the 2600 version preceded development of the arcade version

[evildead2099]

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is better on Dreamcast than PS2.

How so? Back up your answer with reasons.

Many early PS2 games were inferior to the DC ports that came first, such as Crazy Taxi and Dead or Alive 2. (Both ports were graphically inferior on the PS2, IIRC.)

[bb_hood]

The US NES version of Ninja Gaiden III had cheap difficulty inflation over the Japanese version (made Ryu take twice as much damage, removed the password save and gave limited continues, possibly other stuff). Unsure which difficulty NGT used.

Personally I think the Famicon version of Ninja Gaiden III is too easy.

[The Adventurer]

Are we talking stuff like Metal Gear on MSX vs Metal Gear on NES?

[Berserker]

It seems like nearly any game where I get into it enough to want to check out multiple versions of it, I usually end up preferring the original. There's just something that's often lost when things are added and embellished, or changed.

Even for source ports of Doom engine games, it's probably a case where nostalgia trumps logic and reason. Here you can have the exact same content, at a higher framerate and resolution, and with more customization over the controls and graphical options. But once I found out a way to get the three things I always missed from the original dos versions - autorun, higher mouse sensitivity, and disabled forward/backward for vertical mouse movement - those are the ones I go to. They're lower res, lower framerate, but they just "feel" more like what the spirit of those games were to me.

[Tanooki]

I can agree with that.

Compare Final Fantasy Adventure (Seiken Densetsu) Gameboy to the remake 20 years later on the Gameboy Advance called Sword of Mana for us. Sure it looked nicer, sounded prettier, even got all PC with a boy or girl role to choose, a lot more yappy with the plot elements. All around it looks like the better game. But the problem is that the more is too much more to where it hurts. YOu end up plodding through lots of stupid unnecessary garbage text, animations, and added fluff areas the old GB just wouldn't or couldn't do and it makes the game drag. It's not bad, hell it's good, but since I knew the old one and can sit them side by side, the old game is the more precise and finer ride without the bloat.