How do you choose 'em?

[Duncan]

Okay, RULE ONE: This will NOT become a debate over "Console X kicks Console Y's tail", or I'll politely request that the mods close it. All consoles have their good and bad points - and that's exactly what I'm wanting to hear.

Thus, the question is simple. For games that appear on two or more consoles, which console do you prefer to play on?

For this one, we'll need specific examples of why you prefer one system over the other - is it the controller, the graphics, the sound, a better port job, what? Please be reasonable in your comparisons - don't compare Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (a 32/64-bit title) to classic Pitfall! (an 8-bit title).

I'll start off with a few 16-bit favorites...

* Desert Strike (Genesis, SNES). This is a really well-done game on both platforms, but I've gotta give the SNES version the edge for its slightly better sound effects - when that Hydra lights off, you feel it.

* Disney's Aladdin (Genesis, SNES - and 8-bit systems in Europe!). Again, I tend to prefer the SNES version for better sound and music. With other Disney games on 16-bitters, the differences oddly don't seem as pronounced (Lion King, for instance, is pretty well-rounded either way).

* After Burner (SMS, NES). None of the home versions really matches the feel of the arcade cabinet (what with its cockpit enclosure and chunky control-stick), but the Master System port comes much closer to matching the big machine's graphics. The NES version is decent (and more fun than Top Gun on the same system), but...eh.

* Soul Calibur 2 (PS2, Xbox, Cube). I like the Cube model mainly for its inclusion of Link, though I'll concede that the PS2's controller is probably better for a fighter. (And no, I'm not buying one of those silly adapters.)

That should start it off. And remember, I haven't even discussed sports games yet...

[Daria]

Snes vs Genesis?

Genny all the way. One for nostalgic reasons, I have a genesis growing up and 2 for the packaging, it's so much easier to have a complete nice looking genny game then it is to track down a complete snes game. And cheaper too.

Exceptions: Offhand I know gemfire for the SNES was a lot prettier then it's genesis couter part, but other then that I couldn't say. I know I have New Horizons which was also an snes title, but the two ports look almost idenitcal. Sound issues... geez I dunno, I'm not very auraly oriented I suppose. I can never tell the difference.

Aladdin and Lion King? I thought they were actually different games on the SNES as opposed to straight ports. Either way I love the genny versions.

xbox vs ps2 vs gamecube

If there's a choice I'll go with the XboX version, usually because it has special feature normally lacking in the ps2 version and the graphics are better. Gamecube's generally on par with the xbox but it's rare I want a game released for all three platforms.

Exceptions: Soul Calibur 2. Had to have Link. (:

[Kroogah]

Multi-platform among the current systems in my collection and reasons why:

Def Jam Vendetta - PS2 - Better controller
Manhunt - PS2 - Xbox version is glitchy as Hell
NBA Street Volume 2 - PS2 - Better controller
THUG - PS2 - Online on PS2 only
Splinter Cell - Xbox - It's purtier
Timesplitters 2 - Xbox - SYSTEM LINK!
THPS games - Xbox - Custom soundtrack
Capcom Vs. SNK 2 - Xbox - Online play! Someone here knows!

[Avenger]

When it comes to Xbox vs Ps2 vs Gamecube this is how i decide...

If the game is exclusive to the system, then duh im gettin it for that one

if the game is out for all 3 systems ill get it for the system that has the most features (most of the time this is xbox due to Xbox live)

if there are no bonus features i will get it first for xbox for better graphics, if its not out of xbox ill get it for Gamecube becuz i prefer the Cube 100 times over PS2....

needless to say i only ever buy PS2 games if they are exclusive, or they have onine support which Xbox doesnt have for the game (EA :angry: )

[Nez]

Choosing is easy for me.

If its on xbox and ps2 ill buy it for xbox becouse well my xbox doesnt do all that much. So the larger the library the better chance it has getting used.

But as far as older systems go, I choose by thinking wich controller setup best suits the game.

[anagrama]

I'll usually go for the system that a game originally appreared on, unless there's a vast difference in gameplay.
When it was released at the same time on several systems, it depends on which one 'feels' better. A few examples:

SNES/Megadrive beat 'em ups - For SF2 & it's sequels and MK2, I'll always pick the SNES version over the MD one because I prefer the SNES pads for fighting games, even over the 6-button MD pad. It's probably down to the fact that I'm much more familiar playing them on the SNES.

SNES/MD Sunset Riders - SNES every time, 'cos it's hands down a better game.

SNES/MD Desert/Jungle/Urban Strike - MD everytime for this, since like I said, it was originally a MD game, and just 'feels' better on it's home machine.

Soul Calibur 2 - it's gotta be the GC. I haven't played the Xbox version, and have only played the PS2 one breifly, but I was amazed at how natural this felt with a GC pad, and couldn't imagine playing it otherwise now. Plus Link is always a bonus :)

Tempest 2000 - well, I've gotta have at least one reason to keep ahold of my Jag :)

[Querjek]

With the current consoles, I tend to buy games in this order:
-Gamecube
-Xbox
-PS2
And considering that most games aren't out on the GCN, I tend (Or at least ry) to buy more Xbox games.

PS2 games feel very cheap to me most of the time. I'm not sure sure exactly what it is, but they never feel like a lot of work was put into them (I am only talking of ported games and such--console exclusives do NOT count).

[christianscott27]

for modern consoles where the graphical differences are pretty much non-existant i go by load time and controller. certain games just have to have certain controllers, i just cant imagine playing medal of honor on anything but a dualshock. for defunct systems i collect everything so the choice of which to play is usually based on which system is hooked up at the time.

[le geek]

Earthworm Jim -> Genesis, better control extra level

Earthworm Jim 2 -> SNES, control fixed can switch weapons better graphics

Modern Consoles -> I read the IGN Head to Head and pick between the Cube and PS2 as I don't have a Box yet.

Atari 5200 -> 2600 probably interested in both

Pengo -> Prefer 2600 to 5200 version!

Cheers,
Ben

[NintendoMan]

ALADDIN on Gen/SNES - I pick SNES. The game is just much funner on the SNES. Better sound and picture. Even though the games are really nothing alike.

Battletoads/DD on GEN/SNES - I pick Genesis. I feel more comfortable playing that game proabably because of the gene controller.

Zombies at my Neighbors on GEN/SNES - I pick SNES. Game had better picture to me and sound. No fuzzy moments.

Super Ghouls Ghost on GEN/SNES - I pick SNES. Again better picture and sound. Even though I love both versions alot, the snes one takes the cake.

[Cmosfm]

well, when it comes to next gen games, I always pick PS2 becuase I like to see my collection (now at 207 PS2 games) grow. If I can get the same game for each console cheap I will, Im talking about around 5.00 each or less, that's why I have Robotech Battlecry for each system.

As for older systems, I just buy what I dont have, if I have Lion King for Genesis then I need it for SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy, etc also.

[skittles]

Zombies at my Neighbors on GEN/SNES - I pick SNES. Game had better picture to me and sound. No fuzzy moments.


Not to mention the SNES controller has 4 buttons which means you don't have to hold down 2 buttons to scroll through your items/inventory as opposed to playing the Genesis version with a 3 Button controller (I never liked the other 6 button controllers or arcade sticks for the Genesis for some weird reason).

As for current Gen systems I will use THPS4/Tony Hawk's Underground for my comparison. Extreme sports games like this, I find, are just as good on any system in terms of controls because I always use the d-pad to control character movement. That said, I will usually go for the version that has the best secret characters or the most unlockable extras.

I too went for Soul Calibur II on the Gamecube because Link was included in it. 8-)

[Jibbajaba]

Street Fighter II CE: SNES/Gen I pick Genesis because the configuration of the six button controller did a better job of mirroring the layout of the arcade machine. The game is graphically better on the SNES though, so if I had a SNES arcade stick then I would play it on that machine.

[Push Upstairs]

Rampage SMS/NES: No contest here...Master System. 2-player, better graphics

Ninja Turtles SNES/Gen: Turtles in Time wins. I like Hyperstone Heist, but it will always seem like a generic "Turtles In Time" game. Plus i'd miss tossing foot soldiers at the screen.

[Jasoco]

My priorities are Xbox first, Cube second, PS2 last.

If the game is exclusive, obviously I choose what it goes to. Unless they decide to eventually port it over to another system, in this case, GTA, I go with the port if it's on a higher priority system.

If it's on two or three of the systems, I go with Xbox or Cube depending on features. PS2 does not get a choice in this case even if it is superior over the other systems. For this matter, I went with the Cube version of Serious Sam: Next Encounter. To me, the PS2 is not even a worthy system for the controller alone. I'll leave it at that and say personal preference. So Mr. Cube got the lucky choice of playing Sam 1 1/2 in my house.

For this matter, I have a bigger library on my Xbox than I do on my Cube. Though many of my games are Xbox exclusives and Cube exclusives, so that's another deciding factor. Actually, out of the 15 Cube games I have, only 3 are multi-console. But on my Xbox, most of them are multi-console. So it's basically switched there.

[mregashu]

I have a rather bizaare method that has to do with how I collect and probably only makes sense to me.

I like games that are in a series to tie together as neatly as possible. For example, Metal Gear Solid 2 is something for the PS2 because MGS was on PSX.

The X-Box to me is such a strong kin to Sega and Dreamcast that it is the home to any non-exclusive Sega titles. Sega Sports, Sonic Heroes - by having them all on one system I can almost trick myself into thinking Sega never left the hardware business.

If it's a totally new game on all three consoles, I just make a judgement call. For example, I got Beyond Good & Evil for X-Box, mainly b/c gameplay is similar to Zelda and I already had that on the Cube. It just seemed to fit. Don't ask me why.

[DasCrewShtool]

I just put them in a pile and roll around on them til I find one to bless.

[Spartacus]

I would start off by saying I've never owned a system I didn't like. Each has titles that are unique only to them and if you like that title, I don't understand not liking the console that let's you play it. On the other hand I've only recently purchased some consoles I've never owned before. Namely the Dreamcast and Saturn systems. My dilemma is, I'm starting to wonder if titles I already own on some of my previous consoles would be better played on any of the systems I've just acquired. The games in question are ones that I haven't gotten around to playing yet, or have played and enjoyed so much if there was a version with say, better graphics, I wouldn't hesitate buying it again for another system. All of these titles are for the Playstation except for Lost Vikings 2, which I have the SNES version. Those that I wonder about are....

For the Sega Saturn:
Die Hard Trilogy
In the Hunt
Norse by Norsewest: The Lost Vikings 2
Rayman
Soviet Strike
Shell Shock

For the Dreamcast:
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Worms Armageddon
Resident Evil 2 & 3

Now mind you, I only play the Playstation games on a PS2. So if that gives them an extra boost, I would need to factor that into my decision.
If anyone has an opinion on which version of these titles I might prefer best, I would be grateful for their personal experience.

Ohhh, and to keep this on topic with the original intent of this thread. I have Defender for the PS2 and Xbox. The Xbox (and Gamecube) version gives you an extra mission the PS2 game doesn't. I find this happens often for the Xbox. Xbox titles, though released later, often have a little something extra thrown in for good measure. I also have Zombies Ate My Neighbors on the Genny and SNES. The SNES graphics seem a little better to me. That's a common refrain I've heard many claim. Still, I love the Genny anyway.

[ManekiNeko]

I'm one of the oddballs who actually prefer some Genesis games to their Super NES counterparts. Here are a few examples...

Street Fighter II Championship Edition: I was worried from the early pictures in EGM that the game would be vastly inferior to its Super NES counterpart, but Capcom killed the early version of the game and completely redesigned it. The result was a game that looked nearly as nice as the Super NES version (seriously, a friend and I compared the two games and noticed little difference between the two) and played a whole lot better with a six button controller. Yes, the voices are hoarse and a little annoying, but that alone isn't enough to ruin the conversion.

Fatal Fury: Since the Genesis runs on hardware similar to that of the Neo-Geo, it's only logical that the Genesis version of Fatal Fury would look, sound, and feel more like the Neo-Geo game... and it does. Even without two of the enemies, the game is a more accurate conversion than its Super NES counterpart, without the silly bonus rounds or the heinous access time (on a CARTRIDGE?! What the heck...?).

Of course, there were instances where the Genesis version of a game was designed as an afterthought, and sucked mightily in comparison to the painstakingly designed Super NES game. These games include nearly everything by Konami and Acclaim/Flying Edge. Smash TV in particular was an embarassment on the Genesis... it was very unprofessionally designed, and the sloppy control scheme gave the game an even more watered down feel. After playing substandard Genesis games like this one and Arch Rivals, that's when I decided that Acclaim sucked. It's a shame that it took so long for everyone else to come to the same conclusion.

JR