PCE, SNES and Genesis, screen comparison.

[touko]

I dont know why, but Ive never liked the graphical style in this game.

Perhaps, because is not looks like a japanese game, and it has more occidental style !!

PCE version take advantage of his large number of palettes .

[sunteam_paul]

I dont know why, but Ive never liked the graphical style in this game.

Perhaps, because is not looks like a japanese game, and it has more occidental style !!

I always found the western art style from around that era to be pretty horrible, although I appreciate it a bit more now than I did then. There was some impressive stuff though, Shadow of the Beast being the obvious one for stand-out graphics. But in general, the Japanese stuff looked more professional in those days until us in the west caught up with them.

[touko]

For me i prefer occidental for music, art is not bad, but games are genearly less poliched, less finished ...
Less coin-op style .

[Tom]

I dont know why, but Ive never liked the graphical style in this game.

Perhaps, because is not looks like a japanese game, and it has more occidental style !!

PCE version take advantage of his large number of palettes .

 Actually, it doesn't. I mean, considering what the PCE is capable subpalette wise. From the researching/debugging I did of the game last year - it was something like only 3 subpalettes for the whole BG per level. Which, if you think about the PCE being single plane, is even lower that it should be. Merging the BG layers for the single plane on the PCE should have yielded more subpalettes than a dual plane system. They did an "NES" style thing where the blocked off sections of the BG tiles from crossing over - but on the PCE this isn't a problem with such a huge amount of subpalettes. It looks ok, but... just un-optimal. Which leads me to something else. Of all the countries/regions, UK and EU were known for some serious crazy coders. I've seen stuff on C64, Speccy, SMS, Amiga, ST, even NES, etc. I know how almost all the FX are done and such, but with the very few titles that came out for the TG16/PCE from Euro teams, why this "trend/attitude" never ported over? I've coded for quite a few consoles, and it's not like the PCE is difficult. Everything it pretty straight forward, relatively speaking. Oh well...

 Touko: You've played the Amiga version? How does the controls compare? I guessing "up" is for jump, but besides that. On the PCE, it's almost like the control isn't finished - like a beta game. Enemies and player don't "fall" off the edge, they just appear on the next lower edge. It's weird. And some other weird gameplay mechanics about it. I need to try out the SNES and MD versions and see how they play. This game intrigues me, but mostly because of how rare UK/EU developed games are on the PCE/TG.

[touko]

Touko: You've played the Amiga version? How does the controls compare? I guessing "up" is for jump, but besides that. On the PCE, it's almost like the control isn't finished - like a beta game. Enemies and player don't "fall" off the edge, they just appear on the next lower edge. It's weird. And some other weird gameplay mechanics about it. I need to try out the SNES and MD versions and see how they play. This game intrigues me, but mostly because of how rare UK/EU developed games are on the PCE/TG.

Yes of course ..
Controls are classics,based on one button joystick, but are very good.
Yes you must go up for jump, not famous, and i think there is an option for 2 buttons padle (not tested).

  Of all the countries/regions, UK and EU were known for some serious crazy coders. I've seen stuff on C64, Speccy, SMS, Amiga, ST, even NES, etc. I know how almost all the FX are done and such, but with the very few titles that came out for the TG16/PCE from Euro teams, why this "trend/attitude" never ported over? I've coded for quite a few consoles, and it's not like the PCE is difficult. Everything it pretty straight forward, relatively speaking. Oh well...

I think this i because ,many of computers routines are made by demomakers, demo scene were very very important on home computers, but this not the case on video game consoles, witch are closed systems.

Japanese compagnies, sold her developpement kit at gold price (i don't know if this term exist in english !!), and some UK/EU compagnies cannot buy it ..

On home computers, it was easy to test a system,and to push it on his last retrenchment, not on a console.

[sunteam_paul]

One of the good things about the Amiga was that some games were programmed to work with Master System / Mega Drive pads, so you didn't have to use up to jump, which is just horrible. That was in the days where most joystick ports were the same shape of course.

[Necromancer]

Great comparisons awack and paul!

For Sorcerian, it's a toss up for me. Both versions look to have their own things about them that make them unique. I'd have to go with the Amiga on Jim Power. But yeah, the graphics on this game are all over the place.  lol

This, pretty much.  Sorcerian looks better overall on PCE, though the MD version has some nice spots (i.e. - using purple instead of hot pink for the cave background in the third set of pics, and the handsome, though repetitive, trees in the fourth set).  Jim Power certainly looks better and more detailed on the Amiga (dig that hanging skeleton), yet the PCE version does outshine it in a few spots, mostly with the various bits of extra color here and there and the 'hotter' looking lava in the second set of pics.  The PCE's greatest failure is in the backgrounds, or lack there of; just look at the last set of pics. 

[Joe Redifer]

Isn't Jim Power in 3D?  Kind of like the new smash hit movie Avatar?

[Tom]

I just tried out the Genesis version of Jim Power. My god, what a big difference in gameplay controls. It actually controls like a normal game. And get this, you can even shoot more that one bullet at a time! Man, the PCE port/version is even more shitter now.

[Arkhan]

If I get a chance later (Classes start soon today!), I will post some MSX2 Sorcerian screenshots for moar comparison

[esteban]

I just tried out the Genesis version of Jim Power. My god, what a big difference in gameplay controls. It actually controls like a normal game. And get this, you can even shoot more that one bullet at a time! Man, the PCE port/version is even more shitter now.

Wow. I want check out the Genny version*, if only to see how lame the PCE version truly is now.

*I never thought I'd ever say that about JIM friggin' POWER.

[awack]

I remember someone using Jim Power as an example of how a powerful 8bit system was no match for a true 16bit system, since the SNES and Genesis ports were better.

[Joe Redifer]

And they were right!  Jim Power is used to judge the true power of any game system, hence the word "Power" in its title.  Jesus, you should see Jim Power for the PS3!

[esteban]

Isn't Jim Power in 3D?  Kind of like the new smash hit movie Avatar?

You are correct!

I went to my old harddrive and found some scans I still need to upload:



Click for the full advertisement. You'll love the quotes from EGM and Die Hard!!!!!

[Joe Redifer]

That ad is awful.  You have to really look hard to even find the words "Jim Power".  No wonder the game sold only 3 copies.  I also like it's claim that it is the ONLY true 3D game.  I guess those 3D games on the Master System were fake 3D.