PC Engine Street Fighter 2 Or SNES Steet Fighter 2

[8bitdude]

I was just wondering what you guys feel is the best 16 bit version close to the arcade (PC Engine SF2 CE or SNES SF2)?

I have played both and I feel that the PC Engine plays and looks closer to the Arcade. The SNES SF2 and Turbo, were both nice, but I never really liked SNES translation of music, it kind of like a casio sound and its like sped up. I actually preferred the Gensis version music rather than the SNES.

I also felt that the digitized sound effects were clearer on the PC Engine/TG-16 than the SNES versions. Genesis being last.

Anyway its just an opinion, and I was wondering what some of yall thoughts were on the PC Engine version compared to the SNES versions.

[zektor]

I prefer the PC Engine version as well. Amazing what they pulled off on that console. I remember when I first played it. I was not at all expecting it to be really good. I was floored at how good it really was!

[Vectorman0]

There is a great comparison video/review done by Retroware TV. You should check it out (and their other stuff too). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EBEdM6dXlM

[8bitdude]

Yea when playing this game on the PC Engine/Turbo Graphx 16, i was very impressed.

It really makes me feel if the TG-16 would have been pushed in the US, like the PC Engine was in Japan. Maybe the 16 bit war would have been more in there favor here in the US.

Playing this game at my friends house, (turbo Graphx 16 with adapter), really has me thinking the TG-16 maybe capable of doing more than the Genesis and even the SNES.

Pretty good for a system with a 8bit computer and 16 bit graphics chip.

[Aussie2B]

There's really no competition, if you ask me. The PC Engine version demolishes the SNES Street Fighter 2, and the Avenue Pad 6 is an infinitely better controller for the game than a standard SNES pad (not that the SNES controller isn't fabulous for other kinds of games, though).

[Gentlegamer]

Super Nintendo Street Fighter II Turbo.

[DreamTR]

The PC Engine version is Champion Edition. Super Street Fighter II only came out on Genesis and SNES. There is no comparison, SNES versions are way better.

[bangtango]

Never played the PC Engine version but I love the SNES versions. Every review I have ever read, both in magazines and online, which compares the various versions says the SNES ones are better. I suppose you could say I am biased since I cut my teeth on the Super NES versions but it is what it is.

[8bitdude]

Were talking about the PC Engine CE compared to the SNES SF2 WW and Turbo.

Not super sf2, if this helps some of you

I don't know what it is about the SNES music its like its compressed to much or something, it doesn't sound bad, but its casio/sound type or something.

dont get me wrong the SNES has superior digitized sound to the Genesis. But I see the PC Engine/TG-16 has the cleanest digitized sound, well in SF2, anyway.

[smokehouse]

Having all three (SNES, PCE, Genesis), I do agree with the video. The SNES version is still the best overall. All three have their strengths and weaknesses but I think the SNES one still comes out on top.

BTW…here’s a little comparison I did some time ago pulling shots from various consoles, I used the PS2 version for reference.

SFII PS2


SNES


PCE


Genesis

[8bitdude]

To me the sprites are larger on the PC Engine version.

[NE146]

It's kind of a sore spot for me since it frustrated me that when I bought PCE Street Fighter 2 I could only use 2 buttons. I DID buy a 6 button pad along with it, but when I brought it home I realized it didn't fit into my Turbografx-16.. or at least needed an adapter I was unaware of... sucked. So 2 buttons for Street Fighter 2 it was, and thus I never played it more than a handful of times.

[Rob2600]

To me the sprites are larger on the PC Engine version.

Based on the screen shots posted by smokehouse, the sprites are the exact same size in all three home versions. The sprites are a tiny bit larger in the PlayStation 2 version.

[Rob2600]

By the way, I just watched the RetrowareTV comparison video that Vectorman0 posted above. I'm impressed with the PC Engine version of Street Fighter II, but I agree with the hosts that the SNES version is still the best, especially in terms of audio. It sounds the fullest, has more bass, and has the best voice samples.

[klausien]

That Retroware TV spot really hit the mark on this (though they didn't mention that having a TurboDuo negates the need for any controller modifications or adapters). While the requisite "import-cred" and truly stunning technical achievement of the PCE port of SFII are tantalizing, there really is no doubt that the SNES version of Hyper Fighting is the best from that era. Period.

It is tough to see in those videos, great as they are, but outside of the necessary line-scrolling floor, the PCE version is completely devoid of any additional parallax scrolling. The character size is NOT larger than on the SNES. If anything, they are ever so slightly smaller. It does school the Genesis version though, lack of parallax notwithstanding, due to the color palette. The text under the lifebars is the most authentic on the PCE version, but it is blacked out under the score. To its credit, it also covers a bit more of the screen than the SNES version, which is letterboxed quite badly. It is more noticeable now than it was then for some reason. Also, it being the Champion Edition, there is obviously no Turbo speed in the PCE version. In all fairness, this fact shouldn't be held against it, but I wonder if they could have even had a Turbo mode without some serious slowdown. This game pushes the hardware to the absolute limit.

The PCE music and sound effects (not including voices) are of a much lower quality than either the SNES or Genesis versions. Very 8-bit sounding due to the fact that they are chip tunes. The designers were rumored to have been attempting a HuCard/CD combo for the game to circumvent the sound limitations, but that never panned out due to problems with synchronization between the two. That would have allowed for arcade-exact music on the PCE version, but alas, it wasn't to be. The PCE voices are indeed excellent, though still grainier than the SNES voices to my ear. At this point everyone is fully aware of the horror of the barely tolerable Genesis voice samples.

Everyone has mentioned "Casio-sound" in regard to the SNES version. I think this is a bit unfair as all three have the arcade music arranged to use the native synth voices of each hardware to their fullest. The Genesis music sounds like Genesis music, the SNES like a SNES game, and so on. Quality-wise they are all in the upper echelon for their respective systems when it comes to the music. They all lack that characteristic CPS cymbal crash sample that is so incredibly prevalent in SFII, though the SNES sample is close.

Control-wise, they really are all about the same. All of the ports have good timing, though experts may feel one is better than the others. I would never profess to be an expert in this arena. Needing a new controller is not an issue. All of the ports really need one to be more arcade-like, though the SNES version is the only one that has all 6 buttons available on the default controller. That said, getting a full PCE setup with 2 Avenue Pad 6's and a multitap, game converter or JP system aside, is a prohibitively expensive proposition when there are very close ports out there now on the PS2 & XBox for $20 or less.

There is one area where PCE version wins out unanimously though: the packaging. No contest. The double-thick HuCard packaged in a white double CD case is simply sublime.

[smokehouse]

That Retroware TV spot really hit the mark on this (though they didn't mention that having a TurboDuo negates the need for any controller modifications or adapters). While the requisite "import-cred" and truly stunning technical achievement of the PCE port of SFII are tantalizing, there really is no doubt that the SNES version of Hyper Fighting is the best from that era. Period.

It is tough to see in those videos, great as they are, but outside of the necessary line-scrolling floor, the PCE version is completely devoid of any additional parallax scrolling. The character size is NOT larger than on the SNES. If anything, they are ever so slightly smaller. It does school the Genesis version though, lack of parallax notwithstanding, due to the color palette. The text under the lifebars is the most authentic on the PCE version, but it is blacked out under the score. To its credit, it also covers a bit more of the screen than the SNES version, which is letterboxed quite badly. It is more noticeable now than it was then for some reason. Also, it being the Champion Edition, there is obviously no Turbo speed in the PCE version. In all fairness, this fact shouldn't be held against it, but I wonder if they could have even had a Turbo mode without some serious slowdown. This game pushes the hardware to the absolute limit.

The PCE music and sound effects (not including voices) are of a much lower quality than either the SNES or Genesis versions. Very 8-bit sounding due to the fact that they are chip tunes. The designers were rumored to have been attempting a HuCard/CD combo for the game to circumvent the sound limitations, but that never panned out due to problems with synchronization between the two. That would have allowed for arcade-exact music on the PCE version, but alas, it wasn't to be. The PCE voices are indeed excellent, though still grainier than the SNES voices to my ear. At this point everyone is fully aware of the horror of the barely tolerable Genesis voice samples.

Everyone has mentioned "Casio-sound" in regard to the SNES version. I think this is a bit unfair as all three have the arcade music arranged to use the native synth voices of each hardware to their fullest. The Genesis music sounds like Genesis music, the SNES like a SNES game, and so on. Quality-wise they are all in the upper echelon for their respective systems when it comes to the music. They all lack that characteristic CPS cymbal crash sample that is so incredibly prevalent in SFII, though the SNES sample is close.

Control-wise, they really are all about the same. All of the ports have good timing, though experts may feel one is better than the others. I would never profess to be an expert in this arena. Needing a new controller is not an issue. All of the ports really need one to be more arcade-like, though the SNES version is the only one that has all 6 buttons available on the default controller. That said, getting a full PCE setup with 2 Avenue Pad 6's and a multitap, game converter or JP system aside, is a prohibitively expensive proposition when there are very close ports out there now on the PS2 & XBox for $20 or less.

There is one area where PCE version wins out unanimously though: the packaging. No contest. The double-thick HuCard packaged in a white double CD case is simply sublime.

Nice write-up. I couldn’t agree more. For pure play quality, all three feel quite similar (not counting the PS2 version, I just used that for reference). All three are a blast and in the play category, none really seems to stand out father than the rest.

When it comes down to controllers, I have to side with the Genesis 6-button, it has a better “feel” than the PCE Avenue 6 pad and it beats the shoulder buttons found on the SNES to a pulp (although this is the controller I played with for years). Like many have said, playing SFII with a 2 button PCE or TG-16 pad is terrible, it COMPLETELY ruins the experience…wore than the shitty Genesis 3 button pad…but not by much. Now, add a good 3d party joystick in the mix and you have a different story altogether.

Packaging wise, I agree with klausien, the PCE version is the best by far. I happen to be one of the guys who despises the artwork on the SNES SFII titles…it’s complete crap. The Genesis version is not better. The artwork on the PCE title is great as is the packaging.

Having all three hooked up to my TV and using a A/V switch to go between them while in motion (not paused), the W goes to the SNES. It’s just a better package, it flows better (animation, background scrolling), has a deeper color pallet and by far the best music/voice of the three.

[Rob2600]

Packaging wise, I agree with klausien, the PCE version is the best by far. I happen to be one of the guys who despises the artwork on the SNES SFII titles…it’s complete crap. The Genesis version is not better. The artwork on the PCE title is great as is the packaging.

I agree. I've always disliked the SNES Street Fighter II box art, too.

Having all three hooked up to my TV and using a A/V switch to go between them while in motion (not paused), the W goes to the SNES. It’s just a better package, it flows better (animation, background scrolling), has a deeper color pallet and by far the best music/voice of the three.

Again, I agree, judging from the RetrowareTV video.

[Zebbe]

I think the voices are best in the PCE version and the music best in the Mega Drive version (its soundchip was closely related to the arcade one, so it's quite natural). I think the graphics are all good in their own way for each version.

[smokehouse]

I'm trying to find a site that I can upload and link simple .wmv or .mov audio file to. If I can find one I can do a direct rip (sort of) the audio from all three consoles and do a direct comparison of the three for all to listen to...

Any help?

[Trebuken]

If I recall correctly, the magazine reviews back in the day gave the nod to the PCE version, but they dissed it for not having a US release.

Me and my friends played it to death on the SNES for this reason. I have not managed to get a copy of the PCE version yet, or a six-button controller, but it is on the to-do list.