Which Version of Q*Bert Should I Play?

[Blanka789]

I've been wanting to give Q*Bert a proper try on a home console, but there are quite a few different versions (surprise, surprise). I've been leaning towards picking up the NES version, Q*Bert 3 for SNES, and the PS1 remake. Am I missing one of the better ports out there?

[tom]

Atari 8 bit version is the best (XEGS plays carts :-).
Atari 5200 is second best.
Atari 2600 is third best

[Ro-J]

I can't speak too much to the Atari versions, but if you're looking for a traditional true to the arcade style port, the NES version is the way to go. It may take a little while to get use to the controls, but once you do the game plays very fluidly. Personally the NES version is my favorite.

The SNES version is also well made, but they played around too much with the puzzle layouts for my taste. I have fun playing it from time to time, but I prefer to pyramid style boards of the original much more.

[Jorpho]

I thought the TI-99 version looked pretty nice.

The nose of NES Q-bert is just disconcerting.

[Leo_A]

If you want as close to the coinop as possible, the PSN download for the PS3 is the way to go.

[Blanka789]

Glad to see that it got a PSN release, I'll definitely need to check that out.

Is there that much of a difference between the Atari 8-bit and NES versions? I'll probably pick up the NES cart, but I've been thinking about buying an XEGS recently. If I end up doing so, I'll make sure to pick up Q*Bert.

[Trebuken]

I prefer the Colecovision version.

It's the one I played as a kid, so perhaps it's my bias, but I stand by it.

[Jorpho]

I grew up with the ColecoVision version too. It's definitely very playable, but Q-Bert's hollow eyes just ain't right, and Slick (no Sam at all!) just looks incomprehensible.

[Kim Possible]

Be forewarned, the NES version is a cast-iron bitch. Hard as balls. Great version though.

I'm still partial to the VCS version, but for nostalgia reasons not because it is terribly faithful.

[Gameguy]

The original Gameboy version is pretty fun, but it's not arcade authentic. Pretty neat cut scenes between levels though.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

The Dreamcast and the PS1 have a remade version that isn't that bad, and I believe they both include the original arcade game.

[Leo_A]

The Dreamcast and the PS1 have a remade version that isn't that bad, and I believe they both include the original arcade game.

The original mode in those is basically a partial remake of the arcade game. Lots of significant differences compared to the arcade original.

The only arcade accurate version at home is the PSN download for the PS3.

[8bitgamer]

I like the PS1 version and Q3 for the SNES. I like how they change up the formula.

[j_factor]

I like the PS1 version

I already knew that from Wikipedia.

[Superman]

Are you looking for the just the best port, atm?

Although I do enjoy the nes version of Q*Bert, and have spent a good deal of time playing it, for me there is nothing like playing Q*Bert on an Atari system and using a joystick.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

The original mode in those is basically a partial remake of the arcade game. Lots of significant differences compared to the arcade original.

The only arcade accurate version at home is the PSN download for the PS3.

My bad. At the time I played it, it seemed to have everything I thought was in a Qbert game.

[Blanka789]

Are you looking for the just the best port, atm?

Although I do enjoy the nes version of Q*Bert, and have spent a good deal of time playing it, for me there is nothing like playing Q*Bert on an Atari system and using a joystick.

I'm looking for the best port, or anything with a twist-the PS1/DC game and Q*Bert 3, for instance.

I think at this point I'll probably be picking up Q*Bert NES, PS3, PS1 or DC, and Q*Bert 3. I'll probably pick up the 2600 version as well.

[Koa Zo]

the 5200 version has always been one of my favorites

And the Playstation remake is by far my favorite overall - true to the original but much larger playfields, and added "quests"

[8bitgamer]

I already knew that from Wikipedia.

How funny...

[Leo_A]

My bad. At the time I played it, it seemed to have everything I thought was in a Qbert game.

Gameplay seems intact and the layouts and such seem unchanged. So you're not remembering that incorrectly.

But the attract mode is gone, the graphics are redone (It's all done in polygons instead of sprites for example), the audio is different, different animations are there, etc. It's to Q-Bert what those Sega remakes on Sega Classics Collection for the PS2 are for games like Outrun.

If you want the original arcade game as close as possible at home, the PS3 release is the only way to go.

Edit - Apparantly it is running under emulation during gameplay. But they made the idiotic decision to have the screen graphics be re-interpreted by using the update's 3D engine without an option of selecting the original. So that's why you notice the gameplay and layouts being so intact, but at the same time, the original attract mode is gone, the audio is redone, and the graphics are redone as I noted.

"This was accomplished by having the emulator read the contents of the emulated game's screen, but rather than displaying them on your computer's or console's screen, the context of the data was interpreted to see what was going on the screen, and corresponding changes were made in the environment rendered by the 3D engine."

http://www.vavasour.ca/jeff/games.html#qbert