Games that I feel have bad reps due to poor ports
Some games aren't looked upon fondly... sometimes for reasons that aren't their fault. Like being poorly represented on other systems. That people will assume the game's just like that in general. I will also tell you the best way to play the game.
Feel free to give out suggestions!
Feel free to give out suggestions!
13 Games
NES version done by Micronics. Enough said.
Best way to play: arcade version.
Best way to play: arcade version.
NES version ported by Micronics. Enough said.
Best way to play: arcade version, SNK 40th if you want QOL features.
Best way to play: arcade version, SNK 40th if you want QOL features.
The PC port is/was infamous for running like absolute shit, even on the most powerful of gaming rigs of the time. It was so bad, that it made Steam refunds as easy as they are now.
Best way to play: console versions, or the PC version on a modern gaming rig with some tweaking.
Best way to play: console versions, or the PC version on a modern gaming rig with some tweaking.
Most people think Dracula X is fine compared to this, for some ungodly reason. When it's a severely degraded port in a lot of ways.
Best version: Any way to play Rondo of Blood is decent, to my knowledge.
Best version: Any way to play Rondo of Blood is decent, to my knowledge.
This was a TOSE porting job. Jaleco's NES output unfortunately isn't looked upon fondly, either, and this didn't help.
Best way to play: arcade version.
Best way to play: arcade version.
Most of the infamous problems this game has technical-wise, was introduced in later ports, believe it or not.
Best way to play: Xbox 360, or modded PC version
Best way to play: Xbox 360, or modded PC version
Its a fine management game you guys are just mean... on the original computer platforms anyways. The NES version gets rid of what made it so fun.
Best way to play: anything but the NES version.
Best way to play: anything but the NES version.
NES version done by Micronics. Enough said.
The arcade version isn't as hard as people claim it is, either. It puts up a fight, but it's way more doable than the NES version. Which was intentionally and unintentionally made to be harder.
Best way to play: arcade version.
The arcade version isn't as hard as people claim it is, either. It puts up a fight, but it's way more doable than the NES version. Which was intentionally and unintentionally made to be harder.
Best way to play: arcade version.
The NES port is known for being a complete bastardization of what made the original PC88 version so great. And this was the only version that made it to America. Right when a little known game inspired by this game, The Legend of Zelda, was unleashed upon the world.
Best way to play: PC88 version.
Best way to play: PC88 version.
The NES port blows, and removes a lot of what made the arcade version so good. Was a TOSE porting job. Is also really painful with the NES d-pad.
Best way to play: arcade version with an 8-way joystick.
Best way to play: arcade version with an 8-way joystick.
The Famicom port not only came out after Super Mario Bros (whom was inpired by this game), but was a terrible porting effort even for this early in the system's life. A lot of folks have also only played this version.
Best way to play: arcade version, ACA version or the version on Namco Museum Vol. 4 if you're not a freak like me and prefer the original button-based controls.
Best way to play: arcade version, ACA version or the version on Namco Museum Vol. 4 if you're not a freak like me and prefer the original button-based controls.
Most people only played the HIGHLY watered down SNES and Genesis ports, which weren't great. Even in emulated collections, and even MAME as of this writing, still doesn't run and play correctly due to improperly emulated copy protection. So retrospectives aren't the best on this one, partly for those reasons.
Best way to play: aside from playing the arcade version on real hardware, the DOS port is generally reckoned to be the closet to the arcade version you'll get. Until MAME finally cracks the copy protection fully, at least.
Best way to play: aside from playing the arcade version on real hardware, the DOS port is generally reckoned to be the closet to the arcade version you'll get. Until MAME finally cracks the copy protection fully, at least.
Believe it or not, this game isn't nearly as buggy or broken as most claim it is. SADX brought on most of those problems, and only got worse when it got reported to PC and consoles.
Best way to play: Dreamcast, or modded PC version with Dreamcast restoration mods and fixes.
Best way to play: Dreamcast, or modded PC version with Dreamcast restoration mods and fixes.
14 Comments
surprised you didnt put down syvalion. didn't that get a snes release?
big shout out to 1942 also. fantastic inclusion. maybe the single greatest nes soundtrack ever composed
big shout out to 1942 also. fantastic inclusion. maybe the single greatest nes soundtrack ever composed
Micronics moment
BeachEpisode - Good one. I'll note that one down.
chandler - Yeah, but at least most people agree that the SNES port kinda blows and just (incorrectly) play the arcade port. And 1942 was the first thing I put on here, even.
chandler - Yeah, but at least most people agree that the SNES port kinda blows and just (incorrectly) play the arcade port. And 1942 was the first thing I put on here, even.
The Ys VIII port was so bad for the longest time. It finally got the necessary improvements though, and now I think it's considered the best version of the game.
I feel like Primal Rage deserves a bit of a shoutout, a ton of ports just completely butchered it's presentation and the arcade game is a lot more playable than people give it credit, but most people played the crappy Genesis/SNES ones. Even the one on Midway Arcade Treasures is apparently missing combos and suffers a ton of bugs.
GTA IV, a lot of the hate for the game comes from the infamously garbage PC port
Vee - Yeah, it still has similar issues in MAME today, too, due to uncracked copy protection. I'll note that one down.
Drax - Ehhh. I don't know much about Ys (though that will change one of these days), but didn't most people know to avoid that version for a bit, and stick with the console versions?
huss - Ehhh, not saying you're off the mark here, but to be fair, GTA4 runs like ass on everything, and this is coming from someone whose favorite GTA game is 4. It's a pick your poison situation with that game, really. Though the PC port could have been a LOT better.
Drax - Ehhh. I don't know much about Ys (though that will change one of these days), but didn't most people know to avoid that version for a bit, and stick with the console versions?
huss - Ehhh, not saying you're off the mark here, but to be fair, GTA4 runs like ass on everything, and this is coming from someone whose favorite GTA game is 4. It's a pick your poison situation with that game, really. Though the PC port could have been a LOT better.
to elaborate on ys viii: it wasn't a botched port but rather an awful localization. the game got rereleased with a proper translation but i don't think that's what you're going for with this list
but if it is, then you'll want to add breath of fire 2 as well for having an abysmal localization and only really getting any respect after being fantranslated
but if it is, then you'll want to add breath of fire 2 as well for having an abysmal localization and only really getting any respect after being fantranslated
Cipher - Rondo of Blood checks out. Added.
And yeah, localizations aren't the main point of the list, although it could go hand in hand with bad ports.
And yeah, localizations aren't the main point of the list, although it could go hand in hand with bad ports.
LobbyDob - Honestly a lot of Micronics ports can go here, come to think of it. lmao
Deadly Premonition gets a lot of flack for things that were primarily in the ports, i.e., framerate, crashes & bugs.
planet_struck - Great example! Added.
One of the best lists i've ever seem on this site, by a long shot!!! ❤
BeachEpisode
1 year ago