What could have been

[sunteam_paul]

Makes you wonder why the PC Engine CD version was so terrible...

Same reason any port is less than optimal.

You can see in a direct comparison that they didn't have the original assets to work with and redrew everything.

I could have a more faithful job than that just using photographs and low quality VHS tapes of the arcade.

[Arkhan]

you could've done more if your only exposure to the game was a quick play of level 1 while high on ludes.

[fragmare]

the PCE CD version of Golden Axe is a trainwreck all around.  The only remotely redeeming quality is the arranged redbook soundtrack.  The graphics are horrible, the framerate is horrible, the gameplay is horrible, and sound effects are horrible.  I don't see why they didn't just use the sprites/tiles from the original game and use the PCE's 336x240 res mode.

[spenoza]

Well, going with the regular CD-ROM format and its limited memory probably didn't help. I'd love to see a community port for SCD or Hu. That'd be pretty fantastic.

[Black Tiger]

the PCE CD version of Golden Axe is a trainwreck all around.  The only remotely redeeming quality is the arranged redbook soundtrack.  The graphics are horrible, the framerate is horrible, the gameplay is horrible, and sound effects are horrible.  I don't see why they didn't just use the sprites/tiles from the original game and use the PCE's 336x240 res mode.

Even if they did a port like Altered Beast CD, at lower res, mid-stage loading and single player only, etc, it would have turned out alright.

[Black Tiger]

Makes you wonder why the PC Engine CD version was so terrible...

Same reason any port is less than optimal.

You can see in a direct comparison that they didn't have the original assets to work with and redrew everything.

I could have a more faithful job than that just using photographs and low quality VHS tapes of the arcade.

It's all fine and well to say that now, but it did turn out pretty close art-wise if they were simply recreating it from guesstimation. Many European computer games had to be ported that way and were similarly as accurate. Many 16-bit ports of arcade games are redrawn about as good as this and are considered a success because other aspects weren't lacking. If Golden Axe PCE wasn't letterboxed, ran at a properly scrolling 60fps and used better colors for the graphic art that is actually there... it'd still be disappointing that it's not a pixel-for-pixel port (most 16-bit console games aren't), but people wouldn't be nearly as upset over how it turned out. The sound effects don't help the overall presentation either. But it still plays well enough. Fans tend to hate on poor ports to overcompensate for the perception that it was somehow due to the hardware. Any game can be as bad as can be on any console.

[ccovell]

No.... it plays badly, too!

Case in point: A gap that you can jump over on the giant eagle in the arcade and MD versions becomes unjumpable in the PCE conversion.  I lost all my lives at that point just because I was so used to the MD (and arcade) version's controls.  In the PCE you have to get a running start and do a dash-jump.

Telenet was crap, but why did they have to give it to their even crappier RENO team?

[ParanoiaDragon]

I like Telenet, even their sub par games.  Yeah, Reno is probably at the bottom in alot of respects, though, I think they did give us the first Exile, which, while short & easy, it is a nice looking, sounding, & playing game.  There might be 1 or 2 other games Reno did that were pretty decent compared to their usual.

In regards to GA, well, maybe somebody will remedy the situation eventually, you never now. :-"

[ccovell]

In regards to GA, well, maybe somebody will remedy the situation eventually, you never now. :-"

Already happened; 10x more people bought Genesis systems than Turbos.

[sunteam_paul]

In regards to GA, well, maybe somebody will remedy the situation eventually, you never now. :-"

I want in on that.