PCE, SNES and Genesis Screen Comparison.

Tatsujin · April 14, 2009, 10:21:36 PM

Quote from: guest on April 14, 2009, 09:35:54 PMthe Sega-CD version is still one of the best looking 16-bit console games.

so this makes the PCE version to the best looking 16/bit console game then?

esteban · April 15, 2009, 12:41:10 AM

Sega-CD rocks Popful Mail. Definitely.

nat · April 15, 2009, 01:14:32 AM

I dunno, I don't own any of them and right now I'm leaning towards finding the SNES version first based on those screens. Unfortunately, the Duo version looks like a distant third.

Joe Redifer · April 15, 2009, 02:06:24 AM

I agree about the PCE version being a distant 3rd, but I'd still like to see video of the animated cinemas. The SNES version looks really nice, but I think the Sega CD version just barely edges it out since things seem a bit bigger and it doesn't have the token Mode 7.

awack · April 15, 2009, 10:46:25 AM

Ill go with the sega cd popful mail as well.

The pce cutscenes do look better but i saw a video of the genesis version and if i remember correctly, it had more animation.

shubibiman · April 15, 2009, 01:01:20 PM

The Sega CD version is way ahead in this case. It is much more impressive when you see it animated.

Ceti Alpha · April 15, 2009, 01:03:16 PM

Quote from: shubibiman on April 15, 2009, 01:01:20 PMThe Sega CD version is way ahead in this case. It is much more impressive when you see it animated.

I agree. The Sega CD wins, with SNES coming in a close second and the PCE coming in a distant third.

nectarsis · April 15, 2009, 02:12:16 PM

Thw Sega cd ver does look damn nice, but I still enjoy the PCE version for what it is.

ParanoiaDragon · April 16, 2009, 04:03:56 AM

I own all 3, & I too enjoy the Sega CD one more. However, the PCE one is really fun. The bummer here, is that, NEC took the original Popful Mail for PC88, & just cleaned it up, (although the cinemas are really nice compared to the originals), while Sega remade the game entirely for Sega CD, & Falcom did the same for the SNES. Now, if NEC had put more effort graphically into the PCE version(which easily could've been done), then making it a port, it'd atleast trump the Sega CD version, if not both.

rag-time4 · April 16, 2009, 10:19:44 PM

Quote from: ceti alpha on April 15, 2009, 01:03:16 PM
Quote from: shubibiman on April 15, 2009, 01:01:20 PMThe Sega CD version is way ahead in this case. It is much more impressive when you see it animated.
I agree. The Sega CD wins, with SNES coming in a close second and the PCE coming in a distant third.

This is a game I actually heard about when it was released but have never played it. To be honest, I had forgotten about it!

I really like the PC-Engine version the best of the three from the screen shots. I love the way the colorful 8-bitty graphics come across. It seems like it has a lot of old school feel to it but with the added spice of the PC-Engine CD Rom (cinematics, music, voices) that make the Ys games so awesome.

TurboXray · April 17, 2009, 12:57:52 AM

Quote from: rag-time4 on April 16, 2009, 10:19:44 PM
Quote from: ceti alpha on April 15, 2009, 01:03:16 PM
Quote from: shubibiman on April 15, 2009, 01:01:20 PMThe Sega CD version is way ahead in this case. It is much more impressive when you see it animated.
I agree. The Sega CD wins, with SNES coming in a close second and the PCE coming in a distant third.
This is a game I actually heard about when it was released but have never played it. To be honest, I had forgotten about it!

I really like the PC-Engine version the best of the three from the screen shots. I love the way the colorful 8-bitty graphics come across. It seems like it has a lot of old school feel to it but with the added spice of the PC-Engine CD Rom (cinematics, music, voices) that make the Ys games so awesome.

It actually plays like Legacy of the Wizard (which is Dragon Slayer series game by Falcom ). I like it

rag-time4 · April 17, 2009, 01:12:35 AM

Quote from: Tom on April 17, 2009, 12:57:52 AMIt actually plays like Legacy of the Wizard (which is Dragon Slayer series game by Falcom ). I like it

Legacy of the Wizard is a NES game i really need to get. I haven't played it much at all!

boogiecat · April 17, 2009, 07:59:25 PM

Quote from: guest on April 15, 2009, 12:24:25 AM
Quote from: awack on April 14, 2009, 11:37:39 AMI'm only doing games i own, which means I'm not going to be able to do other games such as Popful mail, since i don't own the sega cd version, maybe some one else can do it, i would like to see that one myself.
Bump for Popful Mail before I fall asleep. I couldn't get Gens to detect my CD-ROM on this computer, so I stole the MCD pics from Classic CD RPGs-

PC ENGINE - SEGA-CD - SUPER FAMICOM

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Without getting into much detail...

The SFC version has very nice coloring and shading, like the Xanadu II boss fights. But the tiles are reused so frequently that it ruins the experience. That and the sprite art looks lame.

The Sega version has nice art in-game graphics art and the shading is alright, but they didn't do a good enough job (by Sega standards) with the color. The cinemas are nice and clean and smoothly animated, but extremely low color, with the three main characters sharing the same 3 main colors.

The PCE cinemas are also animated as well as a tv show, but are colorful and shaded like a top quality PCE cinema.

Wow great comparison there!!

awack · April 19, 2009, 01:15:28 PM

Dungeon Explorer II.


PC Engine	SNES

three cool action shots for the hell of it.

Ceti Alpha · April 19, 2009, 06:04:57 PM

Crystal Beans seems to lose a lot of the dark atmosphere of DEII, especially in the outside shots. In the outside comparison four down, the background on CB is all cheery and bright with colourful flowers, while DEII is dark and foreboding. I also don't like the Zelda/Neutopia style of character.

Quote from: guest on April 19, 2009, 05:57:06 PMI still prefer DE1 PSG though.

And who could blame you?

awack · April 19, 2009, 07:24:18 PM

Crystal beans is basically an abbreviated DE II with some alterations, there are areas completely missing as the pce DE II screens below show(desert and outside of tree are not in Crystal Beans), thats due in large part in how the games are set up, Crystal beans you click on a map to travel to a different area, DE II you have to travel from place to place on foot.

esteban · April 19, 2009, 08:03:21 PM

Quote from: awack on April 19, 2009, 07:24:18 PMCrystal beans is basically an abbreviated DE II with some alterations, there are areas completely missing as the pce DE II screens below show(desert and outside of tree are not in Crystal Beans), thats due in large part in how the games are set up, Crystal beans you click on a map to travel to a different area, DE II you have to travel from place to place on foot.

Thanks for the screenshots, it really is neat to see these comparisons

Quote from: ceti alpha on April 19, 2009, 06:04:57 PMCrystal Beans seems to lose a lot of the dark atmosphere of DEII, especially in the outside shots. In the outside comparison four down, the background on CB is all cheery and bright with colourful flowers, while DEII is dark and foreboding. I also don't like the Zelda/Neutopia style of character.

I concur. While I don't mind the CUTIE overworld in Crystal Beans, it certainly isn't nearly as neat as the consistent, dark, brooding atmosphere in DEII.

I am also in agreement with CrackTiger about the quality of the DE1's PSG tunes: they really hold their own. I love the Red Book in DEII, but DE1 stands firm.

Joe Redifer · April 19, 2009, 08:37:58 PM

The TurboGrafx-16 version is darker and that means it MUST be inferior. Brighter and more saturated is ALWAYS better. SNES wins, even if it is worse.

By the way, "Crystal Beans" is probably one of the worst names for a game evar.

Turbo D · April 19, 2009, 09:39:17 PM

Joe is right; Crystal Beans = Instant Fail for having such a gay name.

TR0N · April 20, 2009, 03:12:04 AM

Hmm i had no idea there was a snes DEII.The snes,DEII looks more colorful beside the bigger sprites but that's it i sure can't judge it's gameplay so dunno.Still i assume it won't beat the pce version on it's music

Tatsujin · April 20, 2009, 04:45:10 AM

the PCE DEII has one of the most terrible goosebumb giving intros. alone for that fact, it is far superior.

shubibiman · April 20, 2009, 09:04:58 AM

Quote from: TR0N on April 20, 2009, 03:12:04 AMHmm i had no idea there was a snes DEII.

Me neither

awack · April 21, 2009, 08:41:37 PM

PCE on the left, SNES and Genesis on bottom.

Fatal Fury 2.

pce snes

Ceti Alpha · April 21, 2009, 08:58:11 PM

No comparison. The PCE Fatal Fury looks like Fatal Fury, while the others do not.

TR0N · April 21, 2009, 11:32:57 PM

Quote from: ceti alpha on April 21, 2009, 08:58:11 PMNo comparison. The PCE Fatal Fury looks like Fatal Fury, while the others do not.

Graphics wise yeah the,PCE FF2 is but the loading times hurt and pulling of a move feels rather stiff.

awack · April 22, 2009, 02:18:55 AM

Fatal fury special. Duck King (disco stage) stands out for being More detailed on the snes port. Well, thats it for the neo geo ports.

PCE SNES

TR0N · April 22, 2009, 11:15:35 PM

No shots of the sega cd version of ffs to compare with ?

Joe Redifer · April 23, 2009, 01:50:34 PM

That was done pages and pages ago!

awack · April 23, 2009, 04:39:21 PM

The sega cd Fatal fury special is almost Golden axe pce bad, the game gear version is better game in my opinion.
I picked shots that i think shows it in its best light.

pce left, snes and sega cd on bottom.

Some Game Gear shots.

Joe Redifer · April 24, 2009, 11:51:12 AM

Since you posted the links, that saves me the hassle of merging threads. But I'll do one better and actually post the pics just so this thread can be mintcomplete.

Shadow of the Beast:

Below are some shots of the pce and genesis versions.

genesis pc engine

awack · April 24, 2009, 05:10:09 PM

Just to go over the differences of the ff 2/special ports, I'm amazed at how good the ACD version is, it has larger and much better animated sprites than the snes port, larger BG objects, greater variety in the scrolling stages(mai, terry and andy) breakable objects(baskets, barrels, or men on mopeds), opening scenes in some of the stages or objects scrolling across the screen and looks more colorful along with great music and voices...it have less parallax and poor impact sndfx though.

Here are some added shots with super sotb for the snes, which was never released as far as i know.

pce left, snes right and genesis bottom.

Joe Redifer · April 24, 2009, 11:05:14 PM

PCE version definitely does win. Better than the Amiga!

ParanoiaDragon · April 25, 2009, 12:06:48 AM

I love the clouds in the Gen version compared to the Turbo & SNES, the dungeon area looks like crap though compared to the Turbo's version with tables & chairs & ....stuff!

Tatsujin · April 25, 2009, 04:22:17 AM

the amiga version is grafically far far far superior to any other versions. the pce controlls better and the BGM is far far far superior to any other versions (but probably equal to the marty version, which i've never played nor heard so far).

Ceti Alpha · April 25, 2009, 03:52:55 PM

Quote from: guest on April 25, 2009, 03:17:12 PMI forget. Was this Shadow of the Beast comparison video on YouTube posted here previously?

Thanks!

awack · April 25, 2009, 07:19:20 PM

genesis US Genesis JP

AMIGA

Retro-Nerd · April 25, 2009, 08:54:22 PM

Quote from: guest on April 25, 2009, 07:17:18 PMThe controls are awful on the Amiga. Like most action games on the Amiga.

This is a NOT true. There are enough Amiga action games with decent controls. Too many to list them all. Sounds like a typical "console only" user, even if you said that you own an Amiga. I hate these broad-brush comments.

The PC-Engine CD version of Beast 1 has indeed a better playability, but no better graphics. Anyway, it's still a boring game. Beast III was the only good one in this series.

QuoteThere's a big difference between technically impressive and visually impressive. The Amiga SotB has drab boring colors mixed with worse art and shading style overall than the PCE, Gen and MD versions, various versions have improved details and the Amiga player sprite doesn't look nearly as nice as the SMS and PCE versions. I like the visuals of the PCE, Gen and MD more than the Amiga.

It's a matter of taste. I prefer the more "muddy" Amiga look over the bonbon PCE colors. It matches perfectly the great atmosphere of the Amiga version. The other version looks, sounds and plays different. That's normal.

The PCE-CD version has indeed a great playability (well balanced difficulty) and an awesome CD score. That's true.

bust3dstr8 · April 26, 2009, 12:02:55 AM

Quote from: guest on April 25, 2009, 03:17:12 PMI forget. Was this Shadow of the Beast comparison video on YouTube posted here previously?

Seems like Psygnosis used the same arranged soundtrack on the Marty and PCE.

Retro-Nerd · April 26, 2009, 12:16:38 AM

Quote from: bust3dstr8 on April 26, 2009, 12:02:55 AM
Quote from: guest on April 25, 2009, 03:17:12 PMI forget. Was this Shadow of the Beast comparison video on YouTube posted here previously?
Seems like Psygnosis used the same arranged soundtrack on the Marty and PCE.

That's true. The FM Towns Marty game was released a few month before the Japanese PC-Engine CD version. They used the same soundtrack.

btw: There are so many incompetent web reviews about retro games which makes me sick. This is a good example, especially this passage:

QuoteGet this only if you are very nostalgic for your Amiga or if you have an Amiga and Shadow of the Beast and for some bizarre reason like playing it but don't want to torture yourself with the 5-minute floppy load times. I'll tell you what this game did for my Amiga nostalgia: it killed it, and only for a ridiculous floppy-based system and its owners who were really starving for arcade-quality games could a game like this have been touted as being something so great. God bless cartridges, and hard drives, and companies that realized how lame it was to try to play a game with nothing but a floppy drive.

http://genesisreviews.tripod.com/reviews/beast.html

He criticses that the game was on Amiga Disk only? On a COMPUTER? The Amiga version was released in 1989 and harddrives were very expensive, especially the SCSI ones. Only a few people could afford these useful hardware at that time.

Typical console freak reviews, probably the NES generation. Without an open mind for other machines than consoles. I love all the old computer and console games, but i wouldn't write such shitty reviews. Honestly.

Today it's pretty easy to play the old Amiga games via IDE-CF card/harddrive. Just install WHDLoad and play the old classics. And YES, i'm a huge PC-Engine fan too. No doubt!!!

TurboXray · April 26, 2009, 03:09:00 AM

Pfft. The Amiga wasn't even powerful enough to handle proper game controls. Silly Amiga.

Retro-Nerd · April 26, 2009, 07:42:32 AM

Ermh. The games were written for JOYSTICKS with "up" for jumping and worked very good for that time. Later Amiga games had Joypad support. Games like BC KID, Apidya or Turrican 3 works fine with it.

QuotePfft. The Amiga wasn't even powerful enough to handle proper game controls. Silly Amiga.

Sarcasm? If not it's a pretty stupid comment. As i've said, console biased.

Tatsujin · April 26, 2009, 08:01:44 AM

the amiga was a great machine. unfortunately not used by the greatest peeps always. in western fields for sure the best HC ever made.

Retro-Nerd · April 26, 2009, 04:42:40 PM

I've expect an answer like that. I know that i'm on a US dominated board. At least Tatsujin is a bit more objective if it comes to any other than consoles. Sad but true. Fanboy? Who created this ugly word? I would really want to know it. Sounds more like kindergarden talk.

I've played computer and consolegames since the early 80s and i'm mainly objective. You will find hardcore fans of a specific gaming platform on any boards.

btw: Comparing games by watching screenshots or youtube videos is pretty fluffy. I've played the Genesis Beast version and Amiga version on real hardware. There's no clear winner, i.e. the parallax scrolling looks much better on the computer. On the other side: The PC-Engine Beast has a better/smoother running animation.

QuoteYou may not be able to perceive your own attitude, like Cartman or Kanye West, but you're the one spouting "broad-brush" rabid fanboy comments. All but the first of your handful of comments on this forum over two and a half years have been computer game based. You contribution to PCE discussion consists mainly of this line tacked on to the end of a random console-fan-hating post: "And YES, i'm a huge PC-Engine fan too. No doubt!!!".

What fanboy comments i've made? I said that there are of course enough Amiga action games with decent controls. I'm mainly reading here, that's ok. But these broad-brush rant comments about "shitty" computer game controls are pretty stupid. And i cleary said that i like the well balanced PCE-CD difficulty level and re-arranged CD soundtrack.

About the colors: A lot of people worldwide like the Psygnosis graphic style from the late 80s. I said it's a matter of taste and that i prefer it over the too much colored PCE, Genesis ports. That's all. It's OK if you like the brighter console graphic style, but there are other opinions too. Tolerate it or not.

QuoteThat was just a side note, listed down below the actual review. The review itself sounded bang on (but it wasn't positive). Yet you only posted that comment and not only dismissed him as a "console freak", but even presume that he's an NES lover... before saying that he lacks an open mind (for criticizing those with different opinions perhaps?).

This wasn't just a side note. He wanted to rant about a disk based gaming platform. Pretty obvious. There's no place in reviews for this, if he claim the objectivity for himself.

The review itself wasn't that bad, at least i share his summary. This game is boring, with all the dull ememy formations.

Yes, i know that you US guys grown up with consoles and joypads. A bit more objectivity, THAT's what i've meant. I have no problem with joysticks or joypads. Peace?

TurboXray · April 26, 2009, 05:20:12 PM

Quote from: Retro-Nerd on April 26, 2009, 07:42:32 AMErmh. The games were written for JOYSTICKS with "up" for jumping and worked very good for that time. Later Amiga games had Joypad support. Games like BC KID, Apidya or Turrican 3 works fine with it.

QuotePfft. The Amiga wasn't even powerful enough to handle proper game controls. Silly Amiga.
Sarcasm? If not it's a pretty stupid comment. As i've said, console biased.

I just felt the need to amusingly 'broad-brush' the Amiga in keeping with the spirit and celebration of things in the moment (that and your 'broad-brushing' assumption of Arkhan being a console only user - when you have NO idea of his background in all of this, to show how ridiculous that was.)

Also, painting with a 'broad-brush' is such a lame metaphor. Quick, someone pick some other one.

termis · April 26, 2009, 05:50:52 PM

Quote from: Tom on April 26, 2009, 05:20:12 PMAlso, painting with a 'broad-brush' is such a lame metaphor. Quick, someone pick some other one.

Let me have a go -- BT isn't from the U.S.

awack · April 26, 2009, 06:56:24 PM

I played the US version of SOTB for the Genesis and the Turbo Duo SOTB last night on hardware and will try to compare the two, visually at least.

Starting with the Bg gfx you obviously can tell that the genesis is closer to the Amiga, in the under ground section the turbo duo used a simple texture with some added detail such as large eyes that open and close, skulls, torches and creatures that pop in and out of holes, the foreground has been improved in the duo port, but lacks parallax scrolling.

The top section in the genesis port has wonderfully done tree trunks, clouds and details like the blimps, the duo version is a bit more lush look with more sprites on screen at once (with trees) with more color of course..47 vs 75.

I think most people would agree that the castle area in duo port is better much more detail and better coloring, but again lacks parallax scrolling.

The sprites in the duo port are larger and the player sprite is larger and has more frames of animation in his run...6 frames for genesis which is typical for 16 bit games and 11 frames for the duo game, which is similar to the Aladdin games.

Retro-Nerd · April 26, 2009, 07:25:34 PM

This is how it possibly looks on a real CRT TV with RGB. The Genesis version has more colors, but i wouldn't say that it looks better than the Amiga version. The prefer the Turbo Duo graphics over the Genesis port.

Amiga

Genesis (JP)

Amiga

Genesis (JP)

Amiga

Genesis (JP)

Joe Redifer · April 26, 2009, 10:04:32 PM

The JP Mega Drive version is significantly dimmer than the US Genesis version. I mostly prefer the Genesis version with the exception being the player sprite and maybe the clouds. However I think the sound may have been better on the JP version, but I can't recall.

Quote from: Retro NerdThis is how it possibly looks on a real CRT TV with RGB.

Not even close. Emulators never get the scanline filters right. The picture would never be that dim on a real RGB monitor or TV. The emulators don't take into account for video bloom which would decrease the effect of the scanlines (but they would still be noticeable) and the picture wouldn't be as dim as a result.

Retro-Nerd · April 26, 2009, 10:31:36 PM

Sure, you can't produce the real TV RGB scanlines with emulator filters. But not even close isn't 100% true. The Amiga has pretty strong scanlines. Well, the Genesis/Turbo Duo RGB image is much brighter, that's indeed true. At least you can see more details in my screenshot comparison. This single-pixel emulator shots are too small to see all the details.

Tatsujin · April 26, 2009, 11:13:29 PM

i still insist on my previous statement that the amiga version, in graphical terms of view is undisputable and by far the nicest version. the 1st pic above from retro speaks volumes.
the coloring, the details of the mountains and other obstacles, the whole ambience etc. is not even comparable with the flat and dull MD version.

this game was designed for the amiga and that's just what you can see.

we're talking here about the visuals of the game, and nothing else.

News:

PCE, SNES and Genesis Screen Comparison.