When the ports are better than the originals..Which to Play?

[Anthony1]

Have you ever encountered this situation? There is a game for a particular system, that came out relatively early in that systems life, and the game was one of the benchmark games on that system. One of the system defining games.

But then, years pass by, and new systems are released. This game happens to be ported over to the new systems, and is actually better on the new systems.

Possibly better graphics, better sounds, the game happens to flow better. Whatever.

What do you do? Do you play the original game on the system that it first appeared on? Or do you play the best version of that game on whatever system it happens to be on?

For example, take the game Gex for the 3DO system. Gex was one of the games that defined the original 3DO during it's early years. It's still considered to be one of the 10 or so best 3DO games ever to come down the pipe.

But the Saturn and Playstation versions of Gex are slightly better. They flow a little better, control a little better, and look and sound a little better.

You have the desire to play Gex again from beginning to end. So do you play the Playstation or Saturn version, or do you play the somewhat inferior original version on the 3DO?

It's an interesting question.


I think for me, I'm going to have to go with the original game on the original system, especially if it happens to be one of that systems best games ever. If that system had tons and tons and tons of great games, and this particular game didn't really define that system in any way, then maybe I would just go with the best overall version, regardless of what system it came out on.

What do you guys think?

[Anthony1]

Come on guys!


I know you must know of some games where the ports of the game are much better than the original game that it was ported from.

In those cases, do you play the original, or play the port?

Why?

[The Manimal]

If it helps any, I play the original Mario and Ninja Gaiden games more than I play "Mario All-Stars" or "Ninja Gaiden Trilogy", which I played each a few times and never touched again.

[Raccoon Lad]

Sega's done a few home ports that are better than the arcade versions:
Chack'n Pop and Captain Silver (referring to the Jap/UK versions, not the butchered US version)

Of course, these were originally developed by companies other than Sega.

[rbudrick]

I always thought Double Dragon on NES was better than the arcade version...not in graphics, but in everything else.

-Rob

[Lady Jaye]

It depends on the game. For instance, I appreciate Super Mario All-Stars, but I have to admit that the original NES version is the toughest of all 3 versions (the GBA port being the easiest).

Otherwise, if the gameplay of the port is up to it, then I don't care which platform I play the game on. Heck, I have many, many versions of Defender/Stargate (I have both Defender and Stargate for the 2600, Defender II for the NES, both games in Midway's Arcade Treasures, I even had the Midway Greatest Hits version of Defender on GBA (the only port I had that I've hated), as well as the Entex version of Defender.) That's quite a few ports there and, as I've just said, I like every version except the GBA Midway Greatest Hits version (for reasons that are obvious to anyone who's ever played this compilation).

[NintendoMan]

That's a good question. I play my ORIGINAL copies of my games, that were later ported to the GBA like Mario World, Mario World 2, Link, DC Country1, etc.) When there ported to the GBA I still buy them, but usually always have the original copy at home.
Now when it comes to games proted to the Gamecube, (The only one I can speak for is Sonic Mega Collection), I like playing that over my original copies for the genesis.

When games are ported to the gba they are alright, but when ported to the cube, there better in sound, picture, quality, etc. To me anyways.

[ubersaurus]

I know as far as fighter games go, generally people prefer to play the arcade original, no matter what may have been added or changed to the home versions. If they do play the home, they probably play it arcade style, if nothing else.

[farfel]

Come on guys!

Depends. I like 2600 games better than Commodore 64 or Nintendo ports because I think the solid graphics of 2600 look cleaner. example: Hero 2600 I prefer over Hero C64 or Pitfall 2600 over Pitfall C64

But prefer Mario All-Stars over the originals.

And Pole Position 2 on 7800 over the version on 2600.



Space Invaders on 2600 is more fun than the arcade IMHO