From what I've read of various people's
Ghouls 'N Ghosts MD/SGX/Arcade comments online, it seems that (
as in other PCE vs MD audio discussions/debates) people who trash the SGX Daimakaimura sound either never played it, never really listened/compared or just outright made up their mind beforehand based on preconceived notions about PCE sound in general.
AirRaidX summed up this kind of thinking best with this comment-
the CPS arcade version is unquestionably TECHNICALLY the best.
I personally PREFER / LIKE / ENJOY the Genesis music the most, even though it's technically inferior to the arcade.
the Super Grafx music is shit because the audio chip is the same as in the original PC-Engine/TurboGrafx, and therefore worse than the Arcade and Genesis.
But if you actually listen to the
music of each version together, it turns out that the SuperGrafx version's
sound, as well as the actual music, is very similar to the CPS FM sound/music(
especially when compared to the Genesis sound/music).
So those who think that the SGX port's sound is garbage should also hate the arcade sound too.
I think that all 3 are well done and ranking them all depends on personal taste, but that none are extremely superior to any other. Personally, some of the sounds of the Genesis version literally hurt my ears, even on a model 1 system.
As for the visuals, I believe that the Genesis version, like its Strider port, had (almost?)all of the graphics completely redrawn. The SuperGrafx version looks more like the arcade because it actually uses a fair bit of the arcade artwork(
mainly the sprites?).
I think that the SuperGrafx version, although still a decent game, is a pretty sloppy port visually. Not simply because
'it could always be done better', but because it actually looks like the developer didn't put much effort into it.
Much of the SGX port's graphics look like they were transfered over without being touched up and overall, some very poor choices in color were used. Its actually very similar to the Arcade CD Strider in this way. But its more of a mixed bag with the SGX GnG visuals, which are randomly great and not-so-good/peculiar looking in places, often hit and miss within the same screen.
Malducci is probably right about the 8 color thing, because the SuperGrafx version looks like its running on palette and/or colors-on-screen challenged hardware, which the SuperGrafx/PC Engine is not.
Although the Genesis version's visuals have been simplified, like the Genesis Strider port the colors are either more arcade faithful or simply better/more complimentary overall. I would have preferred more consistant visuals with the SGX version.
I prefer the overall gameplay of the Genesis version simply because of the less cheap (
or more arcade-unfaithful to the AirRaidX level of obsessors ) difficulty(
even the japanese version).
I also like being able to play GnG in my Nomad and the more reasonable "difficulty" level increases it's value here.
I seem to have the opposite view of the game than the reputation its carried over the years, since I find the visuals
overrated and the sound
underrated.
As for
Air Zonk's music, I think that many people get hooked by the unique sound and the tecnical level of the music using so many samples so well. The actual music itself certainly isn't the best on Turbo/PCE, but its still very good overall and has quantity in its favor too.
I also hate picking favorites, but I'd probably rate
Dungeon Explorer as either the best or my favorite chip tunes.