PCE, SNES and Genesis, screen comparison.

[sunteam_paul]

Unfortunately that's the trade-off for using sprites as opposed to BG tiles.

[sunteam_paul]

[_joshuaTurbo]

Pce boss fights                                snes boss fights










pce over head action                     snes over head action

Wow- this game for PCE is KazenoDensetsuXanadu II ?  It looks amazing!!  How well does it play?

[sunteam_paul]

Xanadu II is awesome.

[Joe Redifer]

Unfortunately that's the trade-off for using sprites as opposed to BG tiles.

Very true.  The comparisons are still very interesting.  More please.  MORE!  I would be interested in seeing how the graphics of the Haya-Oh boss compares on all 3 platforms... oh wait he only exists on the SMS version because only the SMS can handle 2 MEGA POWER!

[Tatsujin]

i don't like so much how the SMS sprites are mirrored (left/right side). the PCE and arcade ones are drawn completely independent and therefore feeling much more alive and natural.

[Joe Redifer]

I don't like how the rock in the arcade has part of the score graphic on it.  Makes it look like... not a real rock.  At least they cleared that up for the home versions.

[Tatsujin]

[esteban]

i don't like so much how the SMS sprites are mirrored (left/right side). the PCE and arcade ones are drawn completely independent and therefore feeling much more alive and natural.

That was exactly my point when I said that arcade/pce asymmetrical sprite design was superior to SMS's goofy symmetry.

I also will repeat myself and affirm that I prefer the svelte, skinny PCE sprites to the "husky" SMS sprites.

[Joe Redifer]

The SMS version has no sprites, other than the player and the shots fired.

[Tatsujin]

The SMS version has no sprites, other than the player and the shots fired.

and what are the enemies then?

[ccovell]

They're all part of the background, being shuffled around the BG map at an insane rate.

That was one of Yuji Naka's big accomplishments on the SMS/MkIII.

[Tatsujin]

very nice. thanks chris

[esteban]

The SMS version has no sprites, other than the player and the shots fired.

Since I'm talking about the sprite design, I'll call them sprites.

The technical shenanigans Naka pulled off are impressive, but irrelevant to the stout, stocky and husky attributes of the SMS design.

If you want me to try to spin this more positively, I will:

I give you permission to refer to the SMS design as "a revealing display of aesthetic girth".

Happy?

[Joe Redifer]

Golden Axe on the SMS does the same thing... no sprites, all BG.  There is absolutely no flicker as a result, but it is kind of choppy.  Still, it is very technically impressive to me.

SMS designs for Space Harrier are too fat.  PCE designs are too skinny.  The arcade is nearly arcade perfect.