Author Topic: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports  (Read 489 times)

nat

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Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« on: December 02, 2006, 12:10:40 PM »
So I just received an Arcade Card along with Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special and World Heroes 2 from a friend in Japan.

This is the first time in my life I've played the Arcade card games. I've never played a Neo Geo, nor the SNES/Genesis ports of these games. So I'm wondering.... How do our Arcade card versions stack up against the SNES and Genesis ports of the same? And compared to the original Neo Geo versions?

Looking at screenshots online, it looks like resolution on the Neo Geo versions is slightly better. Colors look comparable, though. I'm sure the audio on our versions beats the Genesis and SNES ports hands-down. Which ports are the most faithful to the original? Anyone?

So far I'm really liking FFS and WH2. I wish the backgrounds in WH2 were multi-layered, though.

Keranu

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2006, 12:23:42 PM »
I haven't played World Heroes 2 on PCE (never really cared for the original to begin with), but I can tell you that the PCE version of Fatal Fury 2 and Special smoke the Genesis and SNES versions away. It's not quite as graphical as good as the Neo Geo version, though it still looks damn nice and it plays nearly the same from what I can tell (plus it sets some macro buttons, so you just have to push one button to switch planes). The real nice thing about the PCE version is the music, which is outstanding and easily has the best soundtrack out of all the versions, in my opinion. The only bad thing I can really say about the PCE version is that the loading times and be pretty slow sometimes, but it's worth it I'd say.
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Joe Redifer

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2006, 02:07:33 PM »
On the PCE version of Fatal Fury 2, the characters scale (grow larger and smaller) as they jump in and ou tof the background.  I don't believe the Sega or Nintendo versions do that.  Of course the music is much better and in my opinion, so is the control (though the control on the Sega version of FF2 is supposed to be exquisite).  I have the real Neo Geo version and I like the PCE version better.  It just plays better, in my opinion.  I like how when the next fight is in a country only a couple hundred miles away, the plane flies around the world to get there.  Yeah, the loading times aren't great.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2006, 02:09:09 PM by Joe Redifer »

SignOfZeta

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2006, 04:19:18 PM »
The Fatal Fury ports on PC Engine are really really great. Much better than the other console ports. I have the SNES version of Fatal Fury Special and its nowhere near as good. The Sega CD version just sucks.

In some ways the PCE version of Fatal Fury 2/Special is the best of all, even compared to the Geo since it has the arranged music of the Neo CD, but much better load times. The greatness of these ports probably has to do with Hudson. The Sega/Nintendo ports were all done by Takara.

I've never played World Heroes on PCE. I have played Art of Fighting. Its nice and all, but really lacks compared to the Geo in so many ways. Its not just the scaling. That's not such a loss though since Art of Fighting isn't that great in the first place.

Keranu

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2006, 04:36:10 PM »
In some ways the PCE version of Fatal Fury 2/Special is the best of all, even compared to the Geo since it has the arranged music of the Neo CD, but much better load times. The greatness of these ports probably has to do with Hudson. The Sega/Nintendo ports were all done by Takara.
I wasn't aware that the Neo Geo CD version had the same soundtrack as the PCE version, is that true? Also, which came first? It's a fantastic soundtrack.

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I've never played World Heroes on PCE. I have played Art of Fighting. Its nice and all, but really lacks compared to the Geo in so many ways. Its not just the scaling. That's not such a loss though since Art of Fighting isn't that great in the first place.
I haven't played Art of Fighting for PCE, though I have been really curious about it. I agree that the original game wasn't that great in the first place, I just enjoyed it for it's sweet 70's storyline. I have heard a few music tracks for the PCE version and they sound great.
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Adding PCE console specific layer on top of that, makes for an interesting challenge (no, not a reference to Ys II).

termis

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2006, 05:54:29 PM »
Yeah, I do agree that the ACD FF games were probably the best ones other than the NG originals.   As far as WH2 goes, it doesn't seem to lack all that much, but to be honest, I don't clearly recall the NG version myself, nor have I played the other versions.

I haven't played Art of Fighting for PCE, though I have been really curious about it. I agree that the original game wasn't that great in the first place, I just enjoyed it for it's sweet 70's storyline. I have heard a few music tracks for the PCE version and they sound great.

Compared to the other NG fighter ports, this one was basically impossible to do faithfully on the PCE.  With the character sprites that almost filled half the screen and with all the zooming and all that going on in the NG version, I don't see how that could've been done on the PCE.  Other than those two points, it seems to play just as well as the original, which is to say not all that great.  And the loading time is pretty horrible on this game too.  Though I had an okay time in the arcade with this game, it just didn't stand the test of time.

nodtveidt

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2006, 06:31:48 PM »
A lot of those old Neo Geo fighters didn't really age well...the Fatal Fury series in particular. I think the only game from that era that's really "okay" in this day and age is RBFFS, but that's just opinion. :) WH2 on the PCE is definately better than the SNES port (I never played a Genesis port of it, never knew/cared it existed) but the game itself was pretty crap anyways imo, even back in the day.

Keranu

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2006, 08:57:08 PM »
A lot of those old Neo Geo fighters didn't really age well...the Fatal Fury series in particular. I think the only game from that era that's really "okay" in this day and age is RBFFS, but that's just opinion. :) WH2 on the PCE is definately better than the SNES port (I never played a Genesis port of it, never knew/cared it existed) but the game itself was pretty crap anyways imo, even back in the day.
I basically agree, except I think Fatal Fury Special is still a great game these days. I was never into the Samurai Shodown series, but I suppose others would think that game has aged well.
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Adding PCE console specific layer on top of that, makes for an interesting challenge (no, not a reference to Ys II).

Tatsujin

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2006, 09:13:15 PM »
I haven't played Art of Fighting for PCE, though I have been really curious about it. I agree that the original game wasn't that great in the first place, I just enjoyed it for it's sweet 70's storyline. I have heard a few music tracks for the PCE version and they sound great.

Compared to the other NG fighter ports, this one was basically impossible to do faithfully on the PCE.  With the character sprites that almost filled half the screen and with all the zooming and all that going on in the NG version, I don't see how that could've been done on the PCE.  Other than those two points, it seems to play just as well as the original, which is to say not all that great.  And the loading time is pretty horrible on this game too.  Though I had an okay time in the arcade with this game, it just didn't stand the test of time.
i don't really think, AOF does a bad figure on the PCE. the sprites are huge as in the original. the screen and sprite scaling was done by a simple trick of changing the scree-resolution, which can't get close to the smooth zoomin' of the NG-original. but beside of that, this game looks almost as equal to its original as the other ports do. not to mention the horrible loading time again.
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SignOfZeta

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2006, 09:59:43 PM »
In some ways the PCE version of Fatal Fury 2/Special is the best of all, even compared to the Geo since it has the arranged music of the Neo CD, but much better load times. The greatness of these ports probably has to do with Hudson. The Sega/Nintendo ports were all done by Takara.
I wasn't aware that the Neo Geo CD version had the same soundtrack as the PCE version, is that true? Also, which came first? It's a fantastic soundtrack.

To be honest, I don't actually know if this is the truth. :) I just assume it is true. The music probably came from the arrange CDs Scitron was releasing at the time, same as with JVCs port for Sega CD. It would be nice if someone could confirm all of this.

ParanoiaDragon

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #10 on: December 03, 2006, 10:49:04 AM »
Hmm, I don't have the Geo CD versions of these, although, I might have rips of them on my comp, I'll have to see if the music is the same.

Anyways, the ports are great in comparison to the SNES/Gen versions.  No doubt.  And I still enjoy these games!  And I really do like the effect they used in Art of Fighting, since they couldn't pull off the scaling.  I do still wish they could've tried their hand at Samurai Showdown though, that's one of my favorite fighting series ever!

Black Tiger

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2006, 03:10:56 PM »
Yeah, I do agree that the ACD FF games were probably the best ones other than the NG originals.   As far as WH2 goes, it doesn't seem to lack all that much, but to be honest, I don't clearly recall the NG version myself, nor have I played the other versions.

I haven't played Art of Fighting for PCE, though I have been really curious about it. I agree that the original game wasn't that great in the first place, I just enjoyed it for it's sweet 70's storyline. I have heard a few music tracks for the PCE version and they sound great.

Compared to the other NG fighter ports, this one was basically impossible to do faithfully on the PCE.  With the character sprites that almost filled half the screen and with all the zooming and all that going on in the NG version, I don't see how that could've been done on the PCE.  Other than those two points, it seems to play just as well as the original, which is to say not all that great.  And the loading time is pretty horrible on this game too.  Though I had an okay time in the arcade with this game, it just didn't stand the test of time.


I always thought that Art Of Fighting was the best Neo to PCE port of the bunch. Other than the lack of scaling, which I prefer, and any seperately scrolling bg's the original might've had.
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Michael Helgeson

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2006, 06:41:33 PM »
I think we discussed this when I originally joined up.

World Heroes 2 is extremely close to the Neo Geo version,chatacter size is comparable,audio is intact,not as clear,but def intact,as is the intro,bonus stages,and Capt Kidds ugly bird. The thudd is even there that causes the cat to make a noise and try to climb the wall for a second. The loading time isnt really all that bad,IF you have a good drive.
If you have a old drive or  a faulty one,it will get a read error sometimes and have to re-read data.
The screen size isnt cropped to downsize everything,unlike the snes version which was shrunk to letterbox,however they did blackout the energy bar area,but you dont notice because the characters and everything are still about full neogeo size.
Snes has not only cropped letterbox screen,but missing details,sounds,intro,bonus rounds,ect ect. Still no matter ho wmany negative sit has, I still have to say this was one of the better neo ports to Snes,for what it did keep was nice. For Snes,its a good fighter,but if you can get Neo or Pc Engine version,then youll no longer want the Snes one.

Art of Fighting. Kept about everything 90-95 percent intact. Audio is about all there,music is great,characters are near full neogeo size,animatations are all there,beat up damage is intact,ending is the neogeo one,inbetween round cenimas are intact. Intro is intact.
Most of the above is missing from the snes or is of a poor quality. Takara only used 16 megs for the Snes version.
The Genesis version has greater detail then the snes,but horrible audio,missing moves,no zoom,any of the character damage that occured was COMPLETELY removed.

Fatal Fury Special. Again just as the above other ports,90-95 percent intact in about all areas. large characters,excellent animations,great audio,fairly good load times,not horrible,very good coloring,great detailed stages ect ect. Intro is intact.
Snes version is cropped letterbox,missing animations ect ect. Characters do get large in foreground somewhat like the Neo and Pc Engine versions. Supposedly supported Dolby,personally id rather have the cd audio Roland Sound from the PcEngine version though.

Sega Cd version. Murdered more then the other versions. Characters are large,however coloring in every area is lacking. Cd audio is completely horrible,in some stages it sounds so busted and tiny it lacks any depth,making the Snes version sound way better even. JVC had  a bug in this game to where on Sega Cd 2 decks on the character select screen if you let the game sit there and dont choose a character,the music track will only play once,and will not repeate. If you let this occur it actually causes the cd-drive to shut down so when you select your character finally the game just freezes up instead of loading a round. The only way to get the game and cd drive going again is to open the cd drive door. There is a trick that you can do to avoid this as it will cause scratches on the disc. Wire up a toggle switch to the cd drive doors switch sensor. Then tape the sensor back so it never touches the door. Then all you have to do is flip the toggle switch back and forth to make the system think the door has been opened and closed. This will start the laser eye to start reading the disc again.

Should also be noted the above bug also affects Samurai Showdown for Sega Cd also. On Amakusa,on the first round with the large stone before it burst open,the music track is just taht normal drum beat if I remeber right. Anyway,if you dotn beat him before the cd track ends the music will stop and the drive eye will shut down,just liek in FF Special on the character select. This means that after you beat Amakusa the next round data with the stone busting open cant be loaded unless the door trick is done again.

I do not know if these bugs also occur on Sega Cd 1 or CDX  or Xeye decks,but I have confirmed them on about 6 diff Sega Cd Model 2 decks with 4 or 5 diff retail copies of FF Special and Samurai Showdown for Sega cd. If they occur on CDX  it would be easy fix,no modding required because opening the door as the disc spins wont cause scratches to the disc because the spindal is a clamp type like PS1 and Saturn. Xeye would have to be modded like the Model 2 deck to keep from damaging the disc as the door opens. If it occurs on Sega Cd 1 decks Im guessing your just screwed. Thank JVC for that.

I pretty much am going to say this. I liked the Arcade card pro ports enough that if I couldnt play the Neo originals anymore as of today but could play the Arcade Card ports anytime I wanted to id be about as happy as it gets.
These were far better ports of NeoGeo games then  NeoGeo games ported to PS1 were with the exception of KOF 95 and Metal Slug 1 for import PS1. I dont want anyone to mettion Samurai Spirits 1&2 collection for import PS1. I had it,and something felt seriously wrong with it. I couldnt pinpoint it,but there was just something wrong with it all around. Wasnt horrible,but I didnt like the way it played or felt. Felt like a stiff awkward port of the 2 games.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2006, 07:01:07 PM by Michael Helgeson »

Michael Helgeson

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2006, 07:44:16 AM »
Anyone have anything to add to this?

Black Tiger

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Re: Arcade Card SNK games vs. SNES/SEGA ports
« Reply #14 on: December 16, 2006, 09:37:31 AM »
Anyone have anything to add to this?

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