Just finished playing through the genesis version. They're both very different, and to be honest i'm not sure which one I like more. They both have pros/cons.
The genesis version obviously has less replayability with only two characters, but the mage proves to be the honourable choice anyways (Bithead1000,2008). And what I mean by that is the game is too easy with the other characters, so i'm glad the mage wasn't replaces by the ninja/priestess in the Genesis version.
Genesis you can fully see all your stats in the menu screen, huge plus. And the stores have accurate prices, as you can easily run out of money and have to grind for more. Like herbs in the TG16 were only 40, while they're 200 in the Genesis version. TurboGrafx version I felt like you always had too much money, and just had to spend it on life bells so it wasn't wasted. As well Genesis has continues! Just like in the arcade, and you can even buy more continues in a specific shop. But each time you buy one, the price goes up a ton. While in the TG16, after your herbs/elixirs run out you're just dead as shit.
The sounds/graphics are hard to compare because they're just on different hardware. Comparing the sound especially isn't fair, but they each had sound effects I could have lived without or would have liked to have on the other. Graphics also varied. Like the animation of the final boss on the Genesis was way better. His head graphically blows up, just like something you would see in Splatterhouse. But the TG16 had better animation for every other boss I thought, especially the fire demon. The zombies in the destroyed town looked much better on the TG16, as well as many other enemies. Some backgrounds on the Genesis look absolutely terrible, reminds me of a boring abstract portrait you would see at an arts studio.
TG16 had way better scaling I thought, as some areas on the Genesis are not consistent. You really notice this at the bandits hideout, which the layout/overall proportions reminded me of something like the Lion King game on the SNES/Genesis. So you feel really big in the bandits hideout, but the green area before the gnomes village makes you feel really small. Which didn't fit the layout of any other part of the game. So I thought the TG16 universally had consistent scaling; It's kind of hard to describe.
They took out the optional boss from the TG16 version too which was a little disappointing. Instead of rewarding you with an elixir, I believe they just "hid it" elsewhere in the level. But eh, the boss was too easy on the TG16 anyways. So not really a big deal.There was also a couple secrets I noticed them taking out of the Genesis, which was kind of disappointing.
Near the beginning of the game on the TG16, I found hitting enemies going downhill was a pain if they had shields. Didn't notice this to be a problem at all on the genesis, But found it interesting the enemies would chase you down a ladder if you were running away from them. While they did not do this on the TG16. Enemies in the last tower on the Genesis version had some problems spawning as well. Instead of them spawning when you entered a room, they were already there waiting for you to enter. Making it impossible to avoid getting hit. I understand why the devs made it this way, so you wouldn't have to wait each time you entered a staircase. But this wasn't a problem at all on the TG16.
The translation Working Designs did was pretty bad, the Genesis blows it out of the water. Each piece of dialogue makes sense, and has detail that the TG16 version did not have. The TG16 translation just feels rough and choppy, you almost read it anticipating mistakes. "I HOPE YOU SAVE THE TOWN. THANK YOU". << That's the type of sentences I would expect seeing.
But the end chick was way hotter on the TG16, so besides that who gives a f*ck about anything else haha
