Prince of Persia - disappointing

[Arkhan]

Apple II code was released:

https://github.com/jmechner/Prince-of-Persia-Apple-II

he found his disks and recovered them.  It's one of the greatest gestures ever.

[spenoza]

Apple II code was released:

https://github.com/jmechner/Prince-of-Persia-Apple-II

he found his disks and recovered them.  It's one of the greatest gestures ever.

Yeah, that's part of what prompted me to do some poking around to learn about the various ports. From all accounts Mechner is a pretty hoopy frood. I'm really glad he's made the code available. Almost makes me want to aim for eventually doing a new PCE port  ; )

[Arkhan]

Well, porting from Apple II to PCE won't exactly be a walk in the park since the Apple II's display is radically different.

You'd be better off just "from scratch"ing it.

all the clever tricks and such used on the Apple II will be a lost cause on the PCE. 

[spenoza]

OK, after just a little playaround with the actual title, it does seem that the frame rate is too low on this port. There appear to be animation frames missing in some places (very noticeable when jumping - looks a little too much like teleporting). The falling floor and ceiling tiles flicker just a tad before the fall and seem to have no heft to them. Also, the sound effects should have been ADPCM samples (this is a frikkin CD game) instead of PSG effects. I dunno. I really think this was just a half-assed port. There's nothing in PoP that the PCE couldn't do well and I'm disappointed that this port is so lackluster. It seems to be the worst of the home console ports, and that shouldn't be the case. It looks just a hair better than the Sega CD port (when not in motion), but the Sega CD version has the right sound effects and the game seems just a tad more solid, for lack of a better descriptor. Even though the Sega CD version seems just a hair shy on frames as well, they flow together a hair better.

[Arkhan]

I think you only notice the flaws if you compare them side by side or something.

I've played every port of this game.   

I like the Apple II and the PCE versions the most.  The controls on the PCE one seem to jive better with me than the other console ports.   Everything feels more responsive.

The apple II one probably works the best since it is the original.  The C64 one was pretty spot-on too but never controls as nice for me.

I think the SNES one is the worst because of the stupid TRAINING!!123231!!1 shit they put in the game.

The intro is great though.

[spenoza]

I've played every port of this game.   

Not if the Mac version isn't at the top of your list  ; )

[Necromancer]

Not if the Mac version isn't at the top of your list  ; )

You must be special: "I like the Apple II and the PCE versions the most...... The apple II one probably works the best since it is the original."

[soop]

What about the Amiga version?  That was very good.

And I would have loved some training for the sword fights, I don't think I ever got past one as a kid.

[spenoza]

Not if the Mac version isn't at the top of your list  ; )

You must be special: "I like the Apple II and the PCE versions the most...... The apple II one probably works the best since it is the original."

The Mac version was specially redone. It was in a higher resolution, had redone artwork, and the control was spot on. It was the pinnacle of the original titles.

[SuperDeadite]

I have the X68000 version.  Very nice animation and music, though it's a port of the PC-9801 version.  There is also the FM Towns version which is the same game again, but redbook audio.

[Necromancer]

The Mac version was specially redone. It was in a higher resolution, had redone artwork, and the control was spot on. It was the pinnacle of the original titles.

Oh, I see.... I must be special.  :oops:

[jperryss]

What about the Amiga version?  That was very good.

And I would have loved some training for the sword fights, I don't think I ever got past one as a kid.

I decided to fire this one up again and played through it based on this thread.

At least on the turbob version, the swordfights are easy.  There are basically three enemies. The first one (mostly brown I think) you can just walk towards and keep stabbing. At most, he will block the first poke and you hit him on the second poke (don't use the turbo switches or try to hit the button rapidly, just hold it and it will auto-swing for you).

The second one (mostly blue) hold up to defend, as soon as he swings at you release and hit the swing button to hit him.

This pattern also works for the last two guys, as well as the fat guy you come across around (I think) stage 6, but sometimes they will block and you have to quickly defend again.

[spenoza]

The Mac version was specially redone. It was in a higher resolution, had redone artwork, and the control was spot on. It was the pinnacle of the original titles.

Oh, I see.... I must be special.  :oops:

I think we can both be special. And you missed the little grinny face at the end of my original post. But yes, the Mac version is widely regarded as the peak of the original PoP.

[Arkhan]

I prefer the jacked Apple II display and sound.  It's borderline creepy. 

and,the Mac version is too bright and cartoony for my tastes.  I don't feel creeped out while playing it because it looks like some Aladdin bullshit.

[spenoza]

I prefer the jacked Apple II display and sound.  It's borderline creepy. 

and,the Mac version is too bright and cartoony for my tastes.  I don't feel creeped out while playing it because it looks like some Aladdin bullshit.

I was never able to play it in color. I always played it in black and white, which actually looked pretty good, if simple, and was still really well animated. And most importantly, the control was really solid.