Porting Gameboy titles to the PCE question

[BigusSchmuck]

How hard would it be to port Gameboy titles to the PC Engine? Is it a similar language like the NES or would you have to start from scratch? If it's easily possible, Metroid 2 would be sweet in color.
Just a weird thought.

[elmer]

How hard would it be to port Gameboy titles to the PC Engine? Is it a similar language like the NES or would you have to start from scratch? If it's easily possible, Metroid 2 would be sweet in color.
Just a weird thought.

It's a totally different processor from the PCE's 6502-based architecture ... it's somewhere between an 8080 and a Z80.

The Gameboy hardware is pretty simple, but you're talking of a programming task that's more like the complexity of Aladar's Bubble Bobble port, or Old Rover's arcade ports ... or worse ... i.e. it'd have to be a real labor of love.

Oh ... and to make things even more obnoxious ... a lot of Gameboy games stored stuff compressed in ROM, which could add another layer of complexity onto everything.

Then you'd also need to find an artist willing to completely upgrade the graphics into color.

So ... it could happen, it just needs a programmer & artist who thinks that it'd be fun ... but don't hold your breath.

[BigusSchmuck]

How hard would it be to port Gameboy titles to the PC Engine? Is it a similar language like the NES or would you have to start from scratch? If it's easily possible, Metroid 2 would be sweet in color.
Just a weird thought.

It's a totally different processor from the PCE's 6502-based architecture ... it's somewhere between an 8080 and a Z80.

The Gameboy hardware is pretty simple, but you're talking of a programming task that's more like the complexity of Aladar's Bubble Bobble port, or Old Rover's arcade ports ... or worse ... i.e. it'd have to be a real labor of love.

Oh ... and to make things even more obnoxious ... a lot of Gameboy games stored stuff compressed in ROM, which could add another layer of complexity onto everything.

Then you'd also need to find an artist willing to completely upgrade the graphics into color.

So ... it could happen, it just needs a programmer & artist who thinks that it'd be fun ... but don't hold your breath.

That's kind of what I was afraid of. All things considering, it would be nice to have Metroid 2 in color on the PCE but if it's more of a hassle than what it's worth then meh. I would however, donate copious amounts of cash to get this project going if someone was willing to give it a shot..

[o.pwuaioc]

$40k?

[BigusSchmuck]

$40k?

Drop the extra three zeros and you got it.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I recall talking to Bonknuts several years ago about it.  I do remember him saying there would be difficulties, though, (don't quote me) I think he did have interest in a couple titles.  The first GB Batman I seem to recall talking about with him, as far as my memory serves.  Maybe it was a fairly simple game, I don't exactly recall.

[CrackTiger]

Metroid II would likely be easier to recreate through Tom's NES-to-PCE method, by expanding and upgrading the original NES Metroid.

[ClodBusted]

Well, there's already a fan-made remake of Metroid II in 16 bit style.

[BigusSchmuck]

Well, there's already a fan-made remake of Metroid II in 16 bit style.

Right, but it isn't on the PCE.

[CrackTiger]

I believe that the main Metroid II remake isn't even for consoles, let alone PCE.

[VenomMacbeth]

I would love to see a Metroid game on all the non-tendo 16-bit consoles. 

I've had the idea in my head for awhile for a Mega Drive Metroid, where all the sprites are pre-rendered & all the space bugs explode with gratuitous amounts of goo & gore.  Somewhere between Doom Troopers & Blackthorne 32x, only much better than both combined.

[BigusSchmuck]

I would love to see a Metroid game on all the non-tendo 16-bit consoles. 

I've had the idea in my head for awhile for a Mega Drive Metroid, where all the sprites are pre-rendered & all the space bugs explode with gratuitous amounts of goo & gore.  Somewhere between Doom Troopers & Blackthorne, only much better than both combined.

+1000000000
I love this idea

[esteban]

We don't need Metroid on PCE, we have Turrican on TG-16.

[Keith Courage]

Metroid is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better than Turrican.

[BigusSchmuck]

Metroid is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better than Turrican.

Uh yeah. There is a reason there are so many of them and only 6 Turricans. Not to say that they are bad games or anything but I tend to like Metroid a bit better. Just thought Metroid 2 would be a good candidate to be on the Turbo or maybe some other gameboy games?

[o.pwuaioc]

If I knew how to program for the PCE, I'd make a Super Metroid equivalent. There aren't enough games like Super Metroid, and the so-called Metroidvanias aren't as good, especially after SotN.

[Pokun]

Aria of Sorrow is comparable to SotN, IMHO.

[esteban]

In case anybody was confused: Turrican is superior to Metroid.

Fact.

[Dicer]

In case anybody was confused: Turrican is superior to Metroid.

Fact.

As much as I love me some Factor 5/Amiga Euro games, lol just no...

[esteban]

I can't even troll any more.

Metroid is a billion-zillion times better than Turrican.

METROID DOES WHAT TURRICAN'T

 

[SmokeMonster]

Well, there's already a fan-made remake of Metroid II in 16 bit style.

What is the remake called? I'd be interested in trying it.

[ClodBusted]

AM2R:
http://metroid2remake.blogspot.de/?m=0

If you encounter input lag, try turning V-Sync off ingame.

[BigusSchmuck]

AM2R:
http://metroid2remake.blogspot.de/?m=1

If you encounter input lag, try turning V-Sync off ingame.

Oh wow its for Windows. Still, we needs it on the PCE! I'm curious on what our programmers have to say on the prospects of even attempting this.

[_Paul]

Esteban wins the thread.

[ClodBusted]

AM2R:
http://metroid2remake.blogspot.de/?m=0

If you encounter input lag, try turning V-Sync off ingame.

Fix'd the link from mobile site to regular website with the demo download.

[BigusSchmuck]

I can't even troll any more.

Metroid is a billion-zillion times better than Turrican.

METROID DOES WHAT TURRICAN'T

 

I will admit that Turrican 2's music is legendary. Especially this mix:

[esteban]

Turrican's music is lovely. No complaints there.

I even love Hueselbeckinridge's PCE Red Book contributions more than I should (Jim Power).

[technozombie]

A PCE port of this game would be cool as I never beat it. Everything was too samey looking and I got frustrated with it. I was thinking that Metroid 2 was one of the games that had enhanced color when used on the gameboy color but I was wrong. I did find this interesting piece of info on the wiki though.

"Nintendo R&D1 was also involved in developing the Game Boy Color, an upgrade to the original Game Boy with a color screen. Nintendo of America's Dan Owsen noted that Nintendo R&D1 included a special "Metroid palette" in the Game Boy Color's hardware, which "makes Metroid II look really, really nice on Game Boy Color", remarking that this made the game's graphics comparable to the original Metroid on the Nintendo Entertainment System"

[ClodBusted]

I almost beat the game ten years ago, but couldn't get past the final boss due to a lack of missile and energy tanks.

With some emulators, you can take advantage of how the GBC handles player sprite, enemy sprite and background objects for monochrome GB games. This way you can create a 12 colour palette that all can be displayed at the same time, which helps Metroid II looking convincingly good if you choose colours wisely.

I wish there would have been a proper GBC release of Metroid II just as originally planned.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Yeah, there was a Metroid DX planned, not sure how far along it got though.

Another GB port that I think would be cool is Seiken Densetsu/Final Fantasy Adventure!  I know they did Sword of Mana on GBA which was more or less the same game, but it had it's short comings.

[Pokun]

Yeah it's a cool game but I much prefer the original Seiken Densetsu. I didn't like the changes to the story.

"Nintendo R&D1 was also involved in developing the Game Boy Color, an upgrade to the original Game Boy with a color screen. Nintendo of America's Dan Owsen noted that Nintendo R&D1 included a special "Metroid palette" in the Game Boy Color's hardware, which "makes Metroid II look really, really nice on Game Boy Color", remarking that this made the game's graphics comparable to the original Metroid on the Nintendo Entertainment System"

Super Gameboy also has all these palettes that GBC has. It makes Samus' armour have the correct colours with yellow and red on the correct places, but it also makes all rocks and other things that uses the same colour as the helmet, red. I wouldn't say it's comparable to the NES version.

[ClodBusted]

Super Mario Land's default color scheme on the SGB is very nice to look at since it works good with both foreground as well as background. But it will still provide only four colours simultaneously on screen for monochrome GB games. Unlike the GBC which can get 12 colours on screen for the same games. But unfortunately doesn't support SGB's fully customizable palettes (only a dozen or so presets are available), that's why some non-SGB enhanced monochrome GB games can surprisingly shine on emulators where you can have 12 colours and custom palettes combined.

SGB enhanced games are another story though, too bad there's no support for SGB enhancements on the GBC, GBA and GB Player attachment for the GameCube. Even the downloadable GB games for 3DS (e.g. Donkey Kong) have no SGB enhancements support.

[technozombie]

Gameboy and GBC games actually look really good on the PSP.