PCE vs. MD

[Tatsujin]

This thread doesn't compare any hardware issues, only the soft counts, which was released on both systems. here's my rating:

Shooter/3D Shooter:

Air Buster/Aero Blaster – MD>PCE
After Burner II - PCE>MD
Atomic Robo Kid – PCE~MD (different)
Daisenpuu - MD>PCE
Darius II - MD~PCE (different)
Forgotten Worlds - PCE>MD
Heavy Unit - PCE>MD
Hellfire - MD>PCE
Kyuukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra) - PCE>MD
Raiden - PCE>MD
Tatsujin - PCE>MD
Winds of Thunder/Lords of Thunder - PCE>MCD
Zero Wing - PCE~MD

Adventure:

Snatcher CDROMantic - PCE~MCD

Beat ‘Em Up:

Street Fighter II' Champions Edition - PCE>MD
Fatal Fury 2 - PCE>MD
Fatal Fury Special - PCE>MCD
Art of Fighting - PCE>MD


Action/Jump ‘N Run:

Bonanza Bros – PCE>MD
Cadash - PCE>MD
Chiki Chiki Boys - PCE>MD
Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'N Ghosts) - SGFX>MD
Gain Ground – PCE>MD
Golden Axe - MD>PCE
Juuohki (Altered Beast) - MD>PCE
New Zealand Story - MD>PCE
Ninja Warriors - MCD>PCE
Prince of Persia – MCD>PCE
Rainbow Islands – PCE>MD
Rastan Saga II - PCE~MD (same shitty)
Shadow of the Beast – PCE~MD (Music only: PCE >>>>> MD)
Strider - MD>PCE
Turrican – PCE~MD (same shitty)
Valis III – PCE>MD
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - PCE>MD
Wonder Boy in Monster World/Dynastic Hero - PCE>MD

RPG/Action-Adventure/Strategie:

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes – MD>PCE
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II – MD>PCE
Dungeon Explorer – MCD>PCE
Exile – PCE>MD
Langrisser – PCE~MD
Popful Mail – MCD>PCE
Populous – PCE>MD
Shin Megami Tensei – MCD>PCE
Sorcerian – PCE>MD
Ys III – MD>PCE

Geschicklichkeit/Puzzle:

Bomberman '94/Mega Bomberman - PCE>MD
Columns – PCE>MD
Devil Crush – MD>PCE
Lemmings – PCE>MD
Puyo Puyo – MD>PCE
Puyo Puyo Tsuu – MD>PCE
Volfied - MD>PCE

Sport/Racing:

Dodge Danpei – PCE>MD
Hit The Ice – MD>PCE
Outrun – PCE>MD


result:

PCE: 28
MD: 19
Draw: 8


any other games to compare are welcome (if there're some others)

also everybodys own rating would be interessing

[Michael Helgeson]

Shooter/3D Shooter:

Air Buster/Aero Blaster – MD~PCE,each one has a slight edge in certain areas.
After Burner II - PCE>MD
Atomic Robo Kid – PCE~MD (different)
Daisenpuu - MD>PCE
Darius II - MD~PCE (different)
Forgotten Worlds - PCE>MD
Heavy Unit - PCE>MD
Hellfire - MD<PCE  Im a Hellfire nutt,there is no way Id say the Mega Drive version is better. It looks great and plays/sounds fine,but the PCE CD version has better music,real storyline,and better color usage.
Kyuukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra) - PCE>MD
Raiden - PCE>MD
Tatsujin - PCE>MD
Winds of Thunder/Lords of Thunder - PCE>MCD
Zero Wing - PCE>MD for same reasons as HellFire

Adventure:

Snatcher CDROMantic - PCE~MCD

Beat ‘Em Up:

Street Fighter II' Champions Edition - PCE>MD
Fatal Fury 2 - PCE>MD
Fatal Fury Special - PCE>MCD
Art of Fighting - PCE>MD


Action/Jump ‘N Run:

Bonanza Bros – PCE>MD
Cadash - PCE>MD
Chiki Chiki Boys - PCE>MD
Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'N Ghosts) - SGFX>MD
Gain Ground – PCE~MD each one has slight edge in diff areas over the other.
Golden Axe - MD>PCE
Juuohki (Altered Beast) - MD~PCE
New Zealand Story - MD>PCE
Ninja Warriors - MCD>PCE
Prince of Persia – MCD~PCE
Rainbow Islands – PCE>MD
Rastan Saga II - PCE~MD (I like Rastan 2)
Shadow of the Beast – PCE~MD (Music only: PCE >>>>> MD)
Strider - MD<PCE  The extras on PCE make up for other minor flaws to me. I will only own the PCE and PS1 versions.
Turrican – PCE~MD (same shitty)
Valis III – PCE~MD I had more fun on MD version since I can beat it,but other aspects keep the PCE and MD equal to me.
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - PCE>MD
Wonder Boy in Monster World/Dynastic Hero - PCE~MD

RPG/Action-Adventure/Strategie:

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes – MD>PCE
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II – MD>PCE
Dungeon Explorer – MCD<PCE Didn't enjoy it on Sega Cd as much.
Exile – PCE>MD
Langrisser – PCE~MD
Popful Mail – MCD>PCE
Populous – PCE>MD
Shin Megami Tensei – MCD>PCE
Sorcerian – PCE>MD
Ys III – MD>PCE

Geschicklichkeit/Puzzle:

Bomberman '94/Mega Bomberman - PCE>MD
Columns – PCE>MD
Devil Crush – MD>PCE MD version is def the better one,not by far,but in enough ways to notice.
Lemmings – PCE>MD
Puyo Puyo – MD>PCE
Puyo Puyo Tsuu – MD>PCE
Volfied - MD>PCE

Sport/Racing:

Dodge Danpei – PCE>MD
Hit The Ice – MD>PCE
Outrun – PCE~MD Each has different things to offer,neither blows the other away.

[nodtveidt]

No love for Turrican? For shame!

[Tatsujin]

love a lot, but amiga only^^

[Black Tiger]

Here are games that I either disagree with Tatsukin or just have something to say about them-


Shooter/3D Shooter:


Air Buster/Aero Blaster – MD<PCE -I prefer the Turbo version

Darius II - MD<PCE -the only difference I was able to percieve is that the MD version isn't the best port while the PCE version is as close to perfect as possible.

Hellfire - MD/PCE -I haven't directly compared the two, but have always heard that the only advantage the MD version had was layered bgs.

Kyuukyoku Tiger - PCE/MD -I didn't realize there was a MD port.



Adventure:


Snatcher CDROMantic - PCE/MCD -although I really prefer the PCE version, most non-PCE fans love the terrible acting and extra content.



Action/Jump ‘N Run:


Juuohki (Altered Beast) - MD/PCE -this is another one thats not so cut and dry. From what I've seen so far, the cart & card versions are more or less even.


Ninja Warriors - MCD/PCE -from what I've seen, the Mega-CD version looks WAY better.


Prince of Persia – MCD/PCE -from what I've seen, the MD cart version looks WAY better. The Mega-CD version however doesn't look so hot, just as the PCE version doesn't.


Wonder Boy in Monster World/Dynastic Hero - PCE~MD -again, the give and take between each version is more of a draw.



RPG/Action-Adventure/Strategie:


Dungeon Explorer – MCD/PCE -these aren't even remotely the same game and cannot be compared. If someone were to do a general game VS game comparison, it should be done with DEII, which is a CD game like the Sega version and was released much closer to the Sega-CD release.


Langrisser – PCE/MD -from what I've seen and heard, the PCE version is supposed to be better over all and is the version that the Saturn and PSX ported.


Popful Mail – MCD/PCE -I'd have to play through both japanese versions again. I'd definitely rate the PCE version over the ruined Sega-CD version, but the original Mega-CD may be better overall as a game. After recently trying both, I found the Sega-CD visuals much more impressive than I had remembered.


Ys III – MD>PCE -although I also prefer the PCE version and probably even the Famicom version over the MD port, many people would give the upperhand to the MD game.

[runinruder]

On Darius II - The PCE version has excellent graphics, but its gameplay suffers a bit because everything is cramped.  The MD version is less impressive visually with everything shrunken down, but plays Thunder-Force-style smooth.  They feel very different.  But I've played the crud out of both of them, and they're both very good. 

On Hellfire - I've played only the PCE version, but it has an excellent soundtrack by T's Music that I'm pretty sure the MD one can't match, and it doesn't send you back to dumb/unfair checkpoints, which I've heard the MD one does.  Sounds like a clear PCE victory. 

On Altered Beast - I definitely prefer the HuCard for its colors, music, and (especially) challenge.

On New Zealand Story - I like the PCE version, but I have issues with its music, colors, and gameplay.  I haven't tried the MD version, but I bet it's better.

On Cadash - I've played only the PCE version, but the MD one has fewer characters, correct?  And I haven't been too impressed with screens I've seen from the MD one, while I like the PCE version's visuals.  Sounds like an easy PCE win. 

On Valis III - Again, I've played only the PCE one, but from what I hear, the MD one left out some of the best stages.  And I assume the MD one has inferior music. 

On Langrisser - Once again, I've played only the PCE one.  But I don't like this game; the only thing I really dug was the CD soundtrack, so unless the MD version miraculously has better audio, I'd probably prefer the PCE game. 

On Ys III - Yet again, played only the PCE one.  Everything else being equal, I care more about music than I do about scrolling in an Ys game, so I'd probably prefer the PCE game. 

[SignOfZeta]

I don't see how you can say the PCE version of SFII' is better than the MD one when they are such massively different games. On MD the game is only called Champion Edition because of some bullshit contractual stuff with Nintendo and Capcom, its actually SFII'Turbo, a separate release in the arcades, and because of this I'd rather play it on MD because SFII'Turbo is much better than SFII', even if the sound and color are a bit dull.

Of course I'd much rather just play the SNES version, or at this point one of several since released ports on newer systems, or more than likely the CPS board witch is probably about $20 on eBay.

[nat]

Air Buster/Aero Blasters - PCE>MD - How could you think otherwise?

Altered Beast - PCE>MD - See runinruder's comments.

Dungeon Explorer - PCE>MD - Black Tiger got it right when he said it's tough to compare these since they're different games. But the Turbo/PCE version is a downright classic. Can't be beat. End of story.

Ys III - PCE>MD - Despite horrific scrolling, this game just rules. And is still better than Genny version.

Zero Wing - MD>PCE - One word: Intro.

[Black Tiger]

On Valis III - Again, I've played only the PCE one, but from what I hear, the MD one left out some of the best stages.  And I assume the MD one has inferior music. 

Its been a while since I played through either, but from what I remember, each version has only one unique stage. The graveyard on the PCE version and a completely out of place Megaman X'ish computer level on Genesis. I remember the Genesis version being easier to play through and the PCE version having some cheap spots.

Also, the in-game graphics might be better overall on Genesis and it retains most of the cinemas, using very cool tones for the 'voices'.

[ceti alpha]

I was thinking of getting another Valis game. I have Valis II, but I'd like a SuperCD version of Valis. Is Valis IV CDROM2 or SuperCDROM2? 

[awack]

These are all pc engine cd games, i might do hucards later.

lords of thunder pce>gen: better sound, color, and detail.

Valis III pce>gen: better sound, cutscenes, color, more detail (water level pce has good detail) and more levels but allot of people will like the parallax in the gen version.

super darius II/sagaia (darius II) pce>gen: same game except the pce looks and sounds a lot better.

shadow of the beast pce>gen: this is the biggest beat down in favor of the pce, it plays a hell of allot better, it has more colorful, detailed graphics, better animation and awesome cutscenes, it also has better music and sound fx, from an artistic stand point the gen version stays truer to the original, some people might prefer that, it also uses duel bg screens for two areas where the pce does not.

golden axe gen>pce: this is the biggest beat down in favor of the genesis, the hit detection is off on the pce, it has better animated as well as better looking sprites, the special attacks also look better from what i remember, the one thing i like about the pce version are the backgrounds.

valis 1 pce>gen: this game is not exactly the same but close enough.

forgotten worlds pce>gen: i think most know the differences between these games.

fatal fury2 pce>gen
fatal fury special pce>gen
art of fighting pce>gen

strider gen>pce: the gameplay for the gen feels tighter to me, there are some parts of the game that look better and there are some that look worst, the pce has better music and cool cutscenes.

chiki chiki boys pce>gen: this is one of the best arcade ports on the pce, every thing is bigger and more colorful in the pce version, i like the music and sound fx better too, there are some things i like about the gen version as well such as purchasing weapons and armor.

gain ground this one i don't know because while i own the pce game i have only played a little of the gen version through emulation, from what i have read the genesis game has more levels but the does look and sound better.

double dragon II pce>gen: i believe the genesis game is based on arcade and the the pce on the nes DD II but are close enough to compare.

exile pce>gen

monster lair pce>gen

monster world/dynastic hero This one is close, the gensis has parallax, the pce has slightly more colors but, since the pce in my opinion has far better music, i have to go with the pce version.

super raiden/raiden pce>gen

[awack]

I have Valis II, but I'd like a SuperCD version of Valis. Is Valis IV CDROM2 or SuperCDROM2? 

Yea, Valis IV is a CDROM2 game, but Valis I is a super CD game.

[Black Tiger]

I have Valis II, but I'd like a SuperCD version of Valis. Is Valis IV CDROM2 or SuperCDROM2? 

Yea, Valis IV is a CDROM2 game, but Valis I is a super CD game.

Valis I may be a Super CD game, but its nothing that couldn't have been done on CD2 and is pretty mediocre.

[ceti alpha]

Valis I may be a Super CD game, but its nothing that couldn't have been done on CD2 and is pretty mediocre.

Yeah, I actually find that graphically the Valis series, for the most part, could have been done on HuCARD format. Though obviously the music and cutscenes would not have been as good.

[awack]

I find that Valis I has more colorful and lush graphics as well as better sound fx and animation than the other valis games but i also agree that it looks like a cd rom2 game.