Better graphics then the NES verison? Yes! Much better, it even has polygons! Better music, another YES! Do you start all over again? From what I remember, I think there are checkpoints, so you don't start from the very begining again, but I could be mistaken, also, I'm not sure, there might be a way to return right on the spot, like in the later Star Soldiers, once again, I don't recall on that one either.