The worst port ever!

[Ayce]

I thought the Sega CD had quite a few great games on their system. Popful Male was one of my favorites and I can't wait to see what its like on the PCE.

[Necromancer]

You might be disappointed, as it's very different.  The FEKA version is essentially a reboot, whereas the PCE game is more of a port of the original.  That's not to say that the PCE game sucks or anything, it's just a very different game.

[MrBroadway]

removed

[HailingTheThings]

I love Sonic CD. It was one of the last of the best Sonic games... I think the only fun sonic games were Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic CD. Just about everything after that was garbage.

No. I know that's just your opinion, but seriously, no. Sonic 3 & Knuckles, man, fun times. #butt

[Ayce]

Sonic and Knuckles was interesting but like Sonic 3 it was just staring to get boring to me. Both Knuckles and 3 seemed like the same game with exception to the "Lock on technology". I thought that was a really cool idea, and was the only thing I liked about Sonic and Knuckles. As a stand alone game I didn't feel that it was a very fun game... it didn't have the charm that the first two Sonic games had.

[reson8er]

From my experience the worst port I ever played was Pacman on the 2600. I remember playing it when it came out and was first confused, then angry. Ms. Pacman was so much better but Pacman was trash compared to the arcade or probably any other version.

Years later I found out why. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man_(Atari_2600))Pretty common story of game development from back then but amusing to know nonetheless.

[jeffhlewis]

From my experience the worst port I ever played was Pacman on the 2600. I remember playing it when it came out and was first confused, then angry. Ms. Pacman was so much better but Pacman was trash compared to the arcade or probably any other version.

Years later I found out why. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man_(Atari_2600))Pretty common story of game development from back then but amusing to know nonetheless.

Read the book Racing the Beam - it has a great section on the creation of that game and is an awesome deeply-technical look at the 2600.

[MrBroadway]

Sonic and Knuckles was interesting but like Sonic 3 it was just staring to get boring to me. Both Knuckles and 3 seemed like the same game with exception to the "Lock on technology". I thought that was a really cool idea, and was the only thing I liked about Sonic and Knuckles. As a stand alone game I didn't feel that it was a very fun game... it didn't have the charm that the first two Sonic games had.

They should have been the same game, or rather, one large game. Blame Sega for not doing that. That was the whole point of lock-on technology, to complete the picture. I thought that Sonic 3 + Knuckles was the pinnacle of the Sonic series. All downhill from there.

[fragmare]

Sonic CD is way overrated

You shut your whore mouth.  Sonic CD is amazing.

[reson8er]

From my experience the worst port I ever played was Pacman on the 2600. I remember playing it when it came out and was first confused, then angry. Ms. Pacman was so much better but Pacman was trash compared to the arcade or probably any other version.

Years later I found out why. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man_(Atari_2600))Pretty common story of game development from back then but amusing to know nonetheless.

Read the book Racing the Beam - it has a great section on the creation of that game and is an awesome deeply-technical look at the 2600.

Very cool, thanks for the suggestion!

[esteban]

Damn that's sad! I have Golden Axe on sega cd and it's awesome  Sad to hear our beloved obey didn't get a solid port.

But it too had the 2-player gameplay cut. The Genesis version is better as a game.

I've been thinking lately that there's very little reason to own a Sega CD, especially with a Turbo Duo. Are there any ports that are significantly better on the SCD than the TG/PCECD?

I know that you are unique in that you don't appreciate unique versions of games enough to play them. There are usually a few peopke like you in forums like this. Although I get that kind of perspective, I don't understand why people who insist that 16-bit ports of arcade games that have since been sold in emulated form are pointless to play... bother with real hardware at all. If there's such a thing as a "best" version and it makes others obsolete, whh not just stick to a PC and roms then?

Someone should make this into a Manifesto.

It is so common for folks to dismiss ports that are not "arcade perfect"....as if the only valid version of a game is the "original".

As if the only version of a game that is capable of providing entertainment is the "purest" one.

I love comparing different versions of the same/similar game(s).

In short, I don't have time nor do I have the inclination to explore inferior games, especially when it comes to RPGs, which are seriously time sinks. Do you, for example, play all the different ports of modern games, too? Skyrim on PS3, 360, and PC?

I read your entire post and indeed that you did a fine job explaining your philosophy towards various ports of the same game.

I won't fault your argument since it is reasonable and ultimately your approach is your prerogative.

I will add this as an aside, however: I am the crazy person that still plays the "inferior" and "lackluster" versions of games. 

I really love comparing/contrasting ports—it helps me appreciate the entire universe of video games.

Obviously, if a particular version is fundamentally broken, well...I'm not 100% masochistic (I'm only 60% masochistic).

[MrBroadway]

I read your entire post and indeed that you did a fine job explaining your philosophy towards various ports of the same game.

I won't fault your argument since it is reasonable and ultimately your approach is your prerogative.

I will add this as an aside, however: I am the crazy person that still plays the "inferior" and "lackluster" versions of games. 

I really love comparing/contrasting ports—it helps me appreciate the entire universe of video games.

Obviously, if a particular version is fundamentally broken, well...I'm not 100% masochistic (I'm only 60% masochistic).

I don't really think you're crazy. People have different priorities in life, and that's cool. I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for wanting "inferior" ports of all types of games, or every one.

Just not for me, that's all. I don't really think my position is "unique" either.

[toymachine78]

PCE Golden Axe is a turd for sure, but I'll play that any day over gunboat.

[Joe Redifer]

It is so common for folks to dismiss ports that are not "arcade perfect"....as if the only valid version of a game is the "original".

As if the only version of a game that is capable of providing entertainment is the "purest" one.

YES!!! I love having different versions of the same game. They are different enough to be unique to me. I have all of the versions of the original Out Run, for example. I have it on SMS, PCE, Genesis and Saturn. Hooray for different versions!

Also, Golden Axe on Sega CD is superior compared to the cartridge version if you don't have any friends over... or just don't have any friends period. It's got cooler sound effects. It also has the arcade music. Really not sure why they lopped off the two player mode. Streets of Rage on the same disc has a two-player mode but it loads the entire game into RAM whereas Golden Axe loads level by level. My guess is that maybe two different teams did the conversion to CD. Anyone have any insight or speculation on this?

[jeffhlewis]

It is so common for folks to dismiss ports that are not "arcade perfect"....as if the only valid version of a game is the "original".

As if the only version of a game that is capable of providing entertainment is the "purest" one.

YES!!! I love having different versions of the same game. They are different enough to be unique to me. I have all of the versions of the original Out Run, for example. I have it on SMS, PCE, Genesis and Saturn. Hooray for different versions!

Also, Golden Axe on Sega CD is superior compared to the cartridge version if you don't have any friends over... or just don't have any friends period. It's got cooler sound effects. It also has the arcade music. Really not sure why they lopped off the two player mode. Streets of Rage on the same disc has a two-player mode but it loads the entire game into RAM whereas Golden Axe loads level by level. My guess is that maybe two different teams did the conversion to CD. Anyone have any insight or speculation on this?

SOR on that disc also has the voices as a much higher sample rate than the cartridge version. That blew me away as a kid firing up that disc for the first time.