SNES vs. Genesis: A Battle for the Ages! [Part 1 is over, platformers coming up next]

[A Black Falcon]

Didn't we go over this earlier in the thread?

Did we? Not really I think...

Multiplatform games are a wash since they're virtually similar.

I disagree, looking at multiplatform titles is a pretty good way of seeing the comparitive abilities of each system. For instance, Ys III was released on the SNES, Genesis, and Turbo CD; all three versions are the same game, but each differs slightly. There are various comparison pages on the web comparing the three versions. There aren't as many of those for games not in English, of course, but really, leaving out games that are playable just because other related games aren't makes no sense.

I mean, you're already doing that in a big way by not doing the TG16/CD, the #2 system that generation in Japan... you can't cover every single game unless you know Japanese. Just do the best you can. Ignoring one of the best side-scrolling action-RPGs ever, Popful Mail, just because it had another remake later on on the SNES that you can't play just doesn't make sense, I think. There are other similar cases, for instance how could you have reviewed LandStalker without playing LadyStalker? I know it's somewhat different, but it is sort of a sequel, and it's not in English...

I don't want to get into some big discussion about which version of the game is better or whether one has slightly better graphics or sound than the other. The sole purpose of this exercise is to look at the exclusives of each system and make some kind of determination on which is the better of the two.

Once I finish playing all the games from this genre that I want to, I'm going to give each system a number grade [probably the best of the two will get a 100 and the other will get some lower number, just to get a benchmark]. Each system will get a score for each genre based on how good the games are and how many of them there are and some subjective bit based on how much I enjoy the genre. At the end, I'll make a tally of all the numbers and come up with a winner.

The problem with Popful Mail is that in order to appreciate the differences between the two titles, I really need an English patch for the SNES version. But that doesn't exist. I tried playing it without one, but I didn't make it very far because I came across an instance where there was something I needed to do, but I couldn't figure out what [since it was all in Japanese].

So you shouldn't even start this thread, you can't do a perfect list until every single game on the SNES and Genesis are available in English... I mean, you're missing some important titles, how can you do a fair comparison with some games missing?

But oh come on, while true, logically that's a ridiculous argument. You can't expect every game to be in English.

I fixed it right after DJ pointed it out. And I fixed the Gun Hazard release date too. Not that either of you two would know that since you never click on my links!

I'm talking about your posts, not your links or whatever. You didn't fix the posts.

There is a good point that games with the same name but vastly different in most other respects shouldn't be counted as "multi-console" though.

Of course they shouldn't. It's completely bizarre that some people do things like calling Bionic Commando for the NES and Game Boy the same game, they're completely different! Names are not always an indicator of whether a game is similar or different.

Here's an example... the Wonder Boy series! Each of the first five games in the Wonder Boy series had at least two completely different versions, and some have a great deal of different names... here are the names that just the first one is known as. Note that yes, these are all the exact same game, just with graphical alterations depending on platform. The levels are the same everywhere. I did this list a while ago, so I'll just paste it in. :)

http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/w...derboy.htm

http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?...y%20Series

HG101 is more comprehensive, of course, but the other article is good too. For some reason I decided to make a complete list of the console versions...

Edit: This site is also great for names.
http://myrsten.nu/spel/wonderboy/

There are six Wonder Boy/Monster World games. Console releases:

(Bolded titles are out now on VC.)

#1: "Wonder Boy 1", released on: Arcade, Sega Master System, NES, Game Gear. Genre: Platform/Action
Arcade title: Wonder Boy
SMS title, US/Europe: Wonder Boy (announced for VC)
SMS title, Japan: Super Wonder Boy (announced for VC)
NES title, US: Adventure Island (with some altered graphics for rebranding for NES ver.)
NES title, Japan: Master Takahashi's Adventure Island (with same altered graphics for rebranding for NES ver.)
GG title, US: Revenge of Drancon
GG title, JP/EU: Wonder Boy

Also on: MSX (as Adventure Island), Sega SG-1000, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum (as Wonder Boy on all four)

#2: "Wonder Boy 2", "Monster World 1", released on: Arcade, SMS, Turbografx-16. Genre: SSARPG
Arcade title: Wonder Boy: Monster Land (unsure about if that is the exact title)
SMS title, US/EU: Wonder Boy in Monster Land (probable for VC)
SMS title, Japan: Super Wonder Boy: Monster World (probable for VC)
SMS title, Brazil: Turma da Monica no Castelo do Dragao (with altered graphics for rebranding (Monica franchise) for Brazilian SMS release)
Turbografx-16 title, Japan: Bikkuriman World (with altered graphics for rebranding (Bikkuriman franchise) for Turbografx-16 release)

Also on: Amiga (as Wonder Boy in Monster Land), Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC (as Super Wonder Boy in Monster Land on both)

#3: "Wonder Boy 3", released on: Arcade, Genesis, Turbo CD. Genre: Platform-Shooter
Arcade title: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Genesis title, Japan: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Genesis title, Europe: Monster Lair
Turbo CD title, Japan: Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Turbo CD title, US: Monster Lair

#4: "Wonder Boy 4", "Monster World 2", released on: SMS, Game Gear, Turbografx-16. Genre: SSARPG
SMS title, US/EU: Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (titled "III" because the actual Wonder Boy III wasn't out yet here at the time; note the Japanese version does not use that number)
SMS title, Brazil: Turma da Monica em O Resgate (with altered graphics for rebranding (Monica franchise) for Brazilian SMS release)
Game Gear title, Japan: Monster World II: Dragon's Curse
Game Gear title, Europe: Wonder Boy (III) : The Dragon's Trap
Turbografx-16 title, US: Dragon's Curse (with altered graphics for TG-16 release)
Turbografx-16 title, Japan: Adventure Island (with same altered graphics for TG-16 release)

#5: "Wonder Boy 5", "Monster World 3", released on: Genesis, Turbo CD, SMS. Genre: SSARPG
Genesis title, US: Wonder Boy in Monster World
Genesis title, Japan: Wonder Boy V: Monster World III
Turbo CD title, US: The Dynastic Hero (with altered graphics for TG-CD release)
Turbo CD title, Japan: Chou Eiyuu Densetsu: Dynastic Hero (unsure about if that is the exact title) (with same altered graphics for TG-CD release)
SMS title, Europe: Wonder Boy in Monster World
SMS title, Brazil: Turma da Monica na Terra dos Monstros (with altered graphics for rebranding (Monica franchise) for Brazilian SMS release)

#6: "Monster World 4", released on: Genesis. Genre: SSAPRG
Genesis title, Japan: Monster World IV (starring a female character, so it is not "Wonder Boy", obviously -- though Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair had both a male and female playable character and that one was called "Wonder Boy", so they could have anyway I guess. They just didn't.)

Whatever though, I never played Popful Mail. All I know about it is the name is bizarre.

You should (if you have a Sega CD that is), it's one of the system's best games. Great side-scrolling action-RPG with an amusing comedy fantasy anime theme. The US version was made harder than the Japanese version is, as usual with Working Designs games, but it's still a lot of fun... nice graphics, good gameplay, a reasonably long quest, three playable characters... :)