Games on multiple Consoles

[vysethebold]

I actually was thinking of starting a website based on system comparisons and which version of a game you should buy. Sometimes there can be many exceptions so it is hard to come up with a general rule as which to buy. The better version debate is highly debatable and does not apply to all games. This is what I think about which systems are better for what. Here is the GENERAL list from worst to best based on console systems based on graphics and sound since the 8-bit era:

8-bit era:

NES (lowest because of graphics but has console exclusives and easy to find)
SMS (better graphics of games that hit both NES and SMS but does not have variety or as common and controller has less buttons) evidence: Shinobi, Fantasy Zone, Double Dragon

16-bit era:

T16(great system but mainly for its exclusives so multi-system games don't usually hold and candle to Genesis and SNES)
Genesis (again great exclusives but SNES beats it in terms of better sound and graphics especially in Street Fighter games)
SNES (pretty much it is the best cart 16-bit system for multi-platform games with some exceptions)
Super Graphx (really only one game to compare but Ghouls 'n Ghosts is great)
Sega CD (great sound and graphics but only a few multi-platform games to do a comparison with such as Earthworm Jim, Flashback, and Final Fight though some drawback for load times)
Turbo CD/ Super CD/ Arcade CD in that order (great arcade conversions and RPG's with great sound that normally would not be possible on cartridge)
Neo Geo AES (the best system for arcade games in the era but few have the system because of its high cost)
Neo Geo CD (has special features on most conversions of AES games and it has the same cost problems)

Now we hit 32/64-bit era and things get complicated so this is not a worst to best:

Jaguar (just stay away from anything but Tempest 3000 and Alien vs Predator)
Saturn is best for 2D games especially arcade shooters and fighters
PSX is best for 3D games especially FPS's and platformers
N64 is best for multi-player but lacks CD quality sound as well as resolution that the other two have

Current era (back to worst to best):
PS2 (great selection but no anti-aliasing, mediocre sound chip, and overall worst graphics of the era)
DC (great graphics that hold up for being the eldest of the era though short life so less games)
GC (better graphics in most games and quicker load times but lacks selection of PS2)
XB (best graphics of the bunch but lacks selection of PS2)

Next Gen era is too early to determine so I'll comment on that later as there is actually a pretty heated debate over 360 and PS3 as to which has better graphics in the multi-platform games though Wii is clearly the worst graphics (of course the graphics here are not really the draw).

Again this is from what I've seen in MOST games and there are plenty exceptions like 2D fighting games on the GC being a general no-no because the controller is not suited for it. The controller can have a lot to do with which one that you choose which does not factor into this list. Also, sometimes it's up to personal preference (i.e., Soul Calibur II) and who handles the port for which version to get. Also, PC and arcade usually beat all of the console systems but not always. Feel free to debate but don't flame, just discuss and maybe I'll change my opinions.

[michiyoyoshiku]

the xbox and the 360's sound is pretty good.

[vysethebold]

Yeah, towards the end I kinda left out sound. I'll go back and fix it in a bit but you are right.

[michiyoyoshiku]

As far as 360 VS PS3 I'd say they're the same with some games looking better on 360 and some on ps3

The PS3 has on paper anyway a slightly faster graphics chip but the ram on the PS3 is garbled and the Cell Chip is a damned rubicks cube to figure out. While the 360 has a uniform tri core processor that actually works as 3 processors as apposed to 1 main processor with 8 core that need to be programed do to tasks. Also the 360 has more ram to work with.

that's just my 2 cents though in the end it comes down to games and with the PS3 costs being what they are it's gonna be the 360.

[brianc]

kyouki said:

The Xbox Shenmue II was improved over the DC version... better frame rate, really nice lighting effects, etc.

And a really bad dub. The framerate of the DC version never bothered me and it mostly slows down in towns with lots of people, which isn't as big of a problem as the first DC one since there is no forklift driving.

I didn't have any problems playing the PAL Shenmue II DC. It's 60 Hz and it played on all of the TVs I tried it on using the DC-X. All of these TVs were NTSC only and I live in the US. The DC-X can't be used on newer models, but, as far as I know, most of the DCs released in the US were the older model.

Again this is from what I've seen in MOST games and there are plenty exceptions like 2D fighting games on the GC being a general no-no because the controller is not suited for it. The controller can have a lot to do with which one that you choose which does not factor into this list.

The GCN doesn't have many 2D fighting games, but the controller isn't THAT much of an issue becuase it does have controllers like the Hori digital pad and the Hori joystick that are much better suited to fighting games. I'm a bit disappointed at how companies mostly make controllers based on the standard design of the system. There is a reason why systems have controller ports.

vysethebold said:

8-bit era:

NES (lowest because of graphics but has console exclusives and easy to find)
SMS (better graphics of games that hit both NES and SMS but does not have variety or as common and controller has less buttons) evidence: Shinobi, Fantasy Zone, Double Dragon

Only NES and SMS? Controller on SMS is lacking start and select, but it doesn't have that many fewer buttons. NES has inferior graphics to SMS, but it has better graphics than other 8-bit systems.

16-bit era:

T16(great system but mainly for its exclusives so multi-system
games don't usually hold and candle to Genesis and SNES)

There aren't many multisystem games, but I highly disagree. A few of the ones that it does have definatly hold a candle compared to Genesis and SNES versions. Raiden on TG-16 is superior to both the SNES and Genesis versions, Bomberman '94 is better on the TG-16, Valis III is very similar, Twin Cobra/Kyukyou Tiger is better on the TG-16, and there are others too.

Genesis (again great exclusives but SNES beats it in terms of better sound and graphics especially in Street Fighter games)

The sound chips are different. Some games have better sound on Genesis. As for the SFII games, they are weaker in sound, but superior in gameplay on the Genesis.

SNES (pretty much it is the best cart 16-bit system for multi-platform games with some exceptions)

I don't agree on this. Some multi-platform games are better on SNES, but many of them are better on Genesis.

Super Graphx (really only one game to compare but Ghouls 'n Ghosts is great)

Ghouls 'n Ghosts is great, but it's not all that much better than the Genesis version. Super Grafx only has a handful of games and even 1941 is on other systems now.

Turbo CD/ Super CD/ Arcade CD in that order (great arcade conversions and RPG's with great sound that normally would not be possible on cartridge)

Turbo CD has more than just great arcade conversions and RPGs. It has Dracula X and other great exclusives too. Oddly enough, many of the great arcade conversions don't require the ACD card and some of the ones that do pale in comparison to many SCD games.

Jaguar (just stay away from anything but Tempest 3000 and Alien vs Predator)

Disagree. Jaguar also has a nifty version of Rayman, though it is on a ton of other systems.

Saturn is best for 2D games especially arcade shooters and fighters
PSX is best for 3D games especially FPS's and platformers

PSX may have better 3D capabilities than Saturn and Saturn is generally better at 2D, but Saturn has plenty of fine 3D games and PSX has plenty of fine 2D games.

PSX has the better version of SoTN, Tomba, the better versions of Donpachi and Dodonpachi, Gradius Gaiden and some other great ones too. Saturn has Virtua Cop, Nights, Panzar Dragoon, Virtua Fighter 2, and plenty of other well done 3D games too. PSX doesn't have that many good FPS games and most of them aren't exclusives. PSX does have plenty of fine platformers, including some 2 1/2 and 2D, as well as 3D ones.

[kal]

I don't know whether it's fair to grade the PS2 below the DC especially on multiplatform games, sure the DC has AA but try the Unreal Tournement port for both systems for proof that it isn't all good.

[vysethebold]

Yeah, I need to add examples to justify my rankings and again these are based on graphics and sound of multi-platform games not gameplay, exclusives, and controller design. Exclusives I think are what make a system so I'm not attacking any system here just trying to make general buying guide.

I'm basing my DC placement mainly on Grandia II, Rez, Rayman 2, Quake III, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 plus some others I can't think of right now being better on DC than PS2.

Also, PSX had plenty of FPS's including the Medal of Honor Series, Quake II, Hexen, Doom, Dark Forces (as shitty as it was) and plenty others.

Honestly I shouldn't have even mentioned the controller issue due to so many different options for each console and it being such a personal taste issue. Of course there are plenty of exceptions but I find my assessment to be pretty accurate at least for my tastes. I realize the subject is very debated so I can see why people would disagree. I agree with some of what's been said but I stand by list.

I also need to add a couple of systems like 3DO and 32X but it's hard for me to rank them.

[brianc]

vysethebold said:

Also, PSX had plenty of FPS's including the Medal of Honor Series, Quake II, Hexen, Doom, Dark Forces (as shitty as it was) and plenty others.

I'm aware of those. Most of those are ports and only a few of the ports are good. However, now that I think about the PSX does have a lot of FPS games, just not many good ones (which is the point I was trying to make in the first place).

The MoH games are good, but not very original. A couple of the ports like Quake II and Doom are good, but most of them aren't. PSX does have the awesome Jumping Flash games, but I feel those are more platform than straight up FPS.

[vysethebold]

True, but I was just looking for an example of a genre that could help me with my point. Also, when I talk about 3D games, I mean any games that have 3D sprites and environments not just 3D gameplay. So 2 1/2 D games would be under the 3D label for my purposes.

[dartagnan1803]

When speaking about sound and music on ANY console,
it all boils down to the team that handles it.

Give an average musician control over the entire London Symphony Orchestra. . .
Then give Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi a Slide Whistle, Mouth Harp, and Harmonica (and maybe a Les Paul in case of emergency).

Once they get used to the notes available; the 3 dead guys would wipe the floor with the average guy (who still had the better hardware).


Nonetheless, I understand that on average the better hardware will offer more options for a talented team.

[kal]

There's also the issue of whether you say like the old chiptunes rather then a lot of CD audio that happens now..it's worth mentioning but I agree that sound is also relative.

Overall potential sound spectrum/quality is a mention though.