Favorite version of a game (other than the arcade version)?

[OldSchoolGamer]

So, I was thinking, we love and cherish so many classic arcade games. However, often our first experience with a specific title isn't with the original arcade version either becuase we were to young or simply never came across the arcade original. Because of this I would love to know WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VERSION OF AN ARCADE GAME OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL?

Answers can include ports, console versions, computer versions, PD, shareware, web browser flash game, hand held, portable, game & watch etc.

For the record, I ask this as over the years I have discovered many great games that I enjoyed more then the arcade original and am always interested to play a good version I might have missed.

[Tron 2.0]

Let me break this down far as console version that i favorite more then the arcade.

NES
Rush'n'Attack:2 players plus it has a catchy theme the arcade lacks.
Contra
Rygar:I realy perfer it's arpg style compare to the arcade original.

Genesis
Fatal Fury 2:Now i have a neo-geo but i like the combos that you can,pull off in that version so much simpler.
Gauntlet IV:Great music 4ps plus arcade and quest mode.
Final Fight CD:Mostly for it's arrange sound track.

Turbografx 16
R-Type
Ninja Spirit:Still the best port you can get of the arcade original.
Monster Lair:Arrange sound track and better colors.

Dreamcast
Soul Calibur:It out does the arcade version.

Sega Saturn
Sega Rally:Netlink edition offer online play.
Radiant Silvergun:Offering arcade and saturn modes of play beside the added cut scenes.

[o.pwuaioc]

Simple rules:

Genesis > Master System
Xbox generally better than PS2 which is almost always better than GameCube
SNES and Genesis are too different (usually) to compare
NES > 8 bit computer competitors

Saturn and PS1 is where it gets interesting. Also, randomly, Soul Calibur 2 for GameCube on account of Link!

[kedawa]

I preferred Double Dragon 2 on the NES. It's just much more fun and the music has more punch.

I like Arkanoid best on Amiga, mostly for the mouse control.

Super Street Fighter II for SNES and Genesis has variable game speed, while the arcade version is stuck on the slowest speed.

Shadow Dancer for Genesis is practically a sequel to the arcade game, and I find it superior in just about every way. The same could be said about E-SWAT.

U.N Squadron for SNES has a lot of added content and gives the player some control over the order of the missions.

[treismac]

I prefer Contra on the NES to the arcade any day.

The same with Punch-Out!

[understatement]

OutRun, in the Sega Ages compilation on Saturn for its “smooth mode” 60FPS. The new music is good too.

[Deadman]

Love Rip-Off for the Vectrex better than the arcade version mostly because when I got it as a kid in 1984 it was just mind-blowing how arcade-like it actually felt compared to the Atari and Intellivision of the day. Plus, we could play it all day for "free" vs. popping in quarter after quarter. I still play it today and love the controls and smooth graphics.

Another from the Vectrex is Star Castle which is so close to the real thing, that I preferred it because it was at home and not at my corner 7-11 store!

[TonyTheTiger]

I agree with the SNES U.N. Squadron over the arcade. Even though it's only single player the game expanded considerably.

[old man]

Double Dragon II (NES)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Contra (NES)
Super Contra/Super C (NES)
Iron Tank (NES) (TNK in the arcade)
MERCS (Genesis) (It has an arranged mode that is like a whole other game)

[retroman]

GoldenAxe for the Genesis was awsome..

[BlastProcessing402]

NES
Rygar:I realy perfer it's arpg style compare to the arcade original.

Yeah, when I first got the game, I was disappointed that it wasn't the arcade game. But after playing it for a weekend, it was quite obviously a much better game, and one of my all time faves.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I gotta go with TMNT IV: Turtles In Time for the SNES. It had better music and I loved the couple of bosses they changed from the arcade...

[Wraith Storm]

I'm going to have to go with Paperboy on the Atari Lynx.

Easily my favorite version of one of my favorite games. Excellent graphics, great sound, and most importantly the controls are perfect. You don't have to keep throttling your speed like in other versions and the paper throwing was fine tuned to perfection.

[Robocop2]

2600 Battlezone kicks arcade Battlezone's ass every time its turned on
As already mentioned I prefer Genesis Golden Axe to the arcade game.
Also: I love love love The version of Rampage that the lynx got, arcade was great and all but everything about the Lynx version made it better imo.

A tough one is Splatterhouse
I wouldn't really say I prefer TG 16 Splatterhouse to the arcade version, more that I see them as competent equals with their own respective strengths/weaknesses.

[Neb6]

Yep, I've been digging through the archives. Gotta' throw my favorites in on this most excellent topic:

Mr. Do's Castle - ColecoVision
Soul Calibur - Dreamcast
The Tandy Color Computer versions of Qix, Bump N' Jump, and Moon Patrol.
Bubble Bobble - Amiga
Turbo - ColecoVision
Asteroids - Atari 7800
Omega Race - Commodore VIC-20
Frogger - Tabletop (Coleco)
Donkey Kong Jr. - NES
Galaga - GBA
Defender - ColecoVision
Scramble - Vectrex
Pole Position - GBA
Commando - Commodore 64
Food Fight - Atari 7800
Double Dragon II - Amiga
Berzerk - Vectrex
Frenzy - ColecoVision
Mortal Kombat - SEGA Genesis
Marble Madness - Amiga
Venture - ColecoVision

I really like the arcade versions too. It's just that certain home versions are slightly different in a really cool way. I don't know what exactly it is. Maybe it's the timing or something. Anyway, the feel is a bit different and it's sort of like a really good remix of a great song; both are fun to play.

[sparf]

Ninja Gaiden: NES. I played the arcade and...just... no. Never liked it at all.

Ninja Warriors: SNES - This one is a little touchy given the differences in the games but the SNES version is awesome.

Atari 2600 Missile Command
Atari 7800 Centipede - Both of these traditionally had trackball controllers. I did not encounter these in the arcades until well after playing the home versions so the trackball was foreign to me. I got very good with joysticks.

[Tanooki]

I agree with stuff said already like dkjr, contra, tmnt4, and more. I'd like to add gradius 3 and tmnt2 to the mix. G3 slowdowns aside I think was well done, nice little thing so it and it had nasty arcade mode too. Tmnt2 as it was the arcade as advertised but then they go and add some badass stages and new bosses to the mix upping the awesome factor.

[FoxNtd]

After playing Gyruss on FDS I never even want to see the Arcade version again

[kupomogli]

I favor these more than the arcade versions.

NES

Double Dragon
Double Dragon 2
Strider
Ninja Gaiden
Contra

Genesis

Altered Beast

Playstation

Street Fighter Alpha 3 (or any version with World Tour mode.)
Ehrgeiz

Playstation 2

Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution

[Drixxel]

I'm quite partial to the SNES port of World Heroes 2, although it's something of a guilty pleasure. What's rather cool about this version, though, are the alternate controls accessed by choosing "SNES" under Button Set in the options screen whereby strong/weak attacks are each assigned to a button, unlike the arcade's pressure sensitive 2-button style.

Q*Bert on Game Boy is quite enjoyable. It's somewhat of an expanded version of the game, albeit with some unnecessary cutscenes and a less-than-faithful presentation (the white backdrop is thoroughly un-Q*Bert), but for accommodating the occasional Q*Bert craving, this tends to be my go-to for sheer convenience if nothing else. The same could be said for the Game Boy ports of Quarth and Qix that I've played, and enjoyed, more than any other versions.

I'd sooner play Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition on Genesis over any other non-arcade version. The Genesis 6-button controller is absolutely perfect for SFII.

Xenophobe on Lynx is one I've always had a soft spot for, it's unquestionably the best port of the game I've played. NES Xenophobe, for instance, is quite the poor effort by comparison.