PCE vs. MD

[nat]

One thing I've always wondered: does Valis I have parallax scrolling like Valis IV?

[awack]

One thing I've always wondered: does Valis I have parallax scrolling like Valis IV?

No, but it does have different types of background animations like the sky in first level or lava in one of the later levels.

[Kitsunexus]

SNES > everything.

[nat]

The troll of the year is at it again!

[termis]

I just played through Valis I.  It's not bad IMO -- I'm going back on my words how others besides part III left me underwhelmed.  I thought the balance issue was a bit off (I spent probably 2x time on the last stage than the rest of the game combined), it's not a terrible way to spend an afternoon.

Part II, however, really isn't all that good no matter how many times I try it.

I still haven't given IV a fair chance yet.  We'll see.

I think the general consensus is that part III is the best of the lot, but I dunno if that's really accurate.

[Black Tiger]

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.

Although in theory most CD games could be done on HuCard, the quality of the MD Valis III shows just how well the Valis series could've faired.

[Keranu]

Phew, and I thought this was going to be another hardware vs thread like we've had so many times in the past. This is better .

Air Buster/Aero Blaster – Not sure, really about equal to me. I'd probably prefer the PCE one though if I went back to compare.
After Burner II - PCE
Atomic Robo Kid – Are Atomic Robo Kid (MD) and Atomic Robo Kid Special (PCE) different games or what? I haven't played both enough to see if they have the same levels and stuff, but they always seemed different to me. I'd probably give Genesis the upper hand on this since I remember really liking that version, but I like Special too.
Forgotten Worlds - Another tough call since I've barely played the PCE one. Graphics and sound are no doubt better in the PCE one, but it's lack of true two-player support hurts it in my opinion. I'll give it equals for now.
Raiden - PCE easily.
Winds of Thunder/Lords of Thunder - PCE easily.

Snatcher CDROMantic - Well I think the PCE one is a better game overall, but since I don't know Japanese, it brings it down some notches (though I was still able to understand it pretty well since I beat the Sega CD one before). I'll give the hand to Sega CD since understanding the story is more important, but PCE would win if it was A. ) In English, B. ) If I knew Japanese .

Street Fighter II' Champions Edition - There's just some really appealing about that thick HuCard for the PCE one   . I prefer the PCE one overall for it's sharper graphics and sound (for the most part). To give the Genesis one credit, it did have that extra "KoF-style" mode, but I never use that mode anyways since it's not true three-on-three gameplay. It also had that cooler opening with the street fight.
Fatal Fury 2 - PCE easily. All SNK fighter ports are better on PCE .
Fatal Fury Special - PCE.
Art of Fighting - PCE.

Cadash - PCE easily.
Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'N Ghosts) - Super Grafx. Never really found anything better about the Genesis version, except the fact that it made the console more appealing for it's time.
Golden Axe - Never played the PCE one, but I think it goes without saying that the Genesis one is better!
Juuohki (Altered Beast) - Genesis easily. Graphically I do prefer the PCE one, but the sound effects and better controls make the Genesis version an easy win .
Shadow of the Beast – PCE easily, for the music reason Tat stated.
Valis III – PCE. Music wise is up for debate, but the lack of levels in the Genesis version is the killer. PCE also had tigher graphics and cinemas.

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - PCE easily. Genesis verson was a dithered mess and the sound just couldn't compare to futuristic CD technology!
Wonder Boy in Monster World/Dynastic Hero - Very close, but I do prefer the PCE overall for the little better color and music (plus opening cinema).

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes – I'm not sure why Tat preferred the MD version, but I definitely prefer the Turbo version much more. Way better music and graphics (I prefer the cutesy colorful graphics, over bigger darker graphics), plus it had, albeit few, awesome cinemas.
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II – I never really played much of either, but it seems to be the same case scenario as the first DS game.
Exile – PCE definitely.
Popful Mail – A true ball buster decision! I vote them equally because they both have their own qualities.
Ys III – PCE in my opinion. The crappy parallax does hurt the PCE pretty significantly, but overall I prefer the PCE version much more. Check out my comparison here for more info (SNES verson included too).

Bomberman '94/Mega Bomberman - PCE easily.
Columns – Ehh, haven't really compared. I'll just say equal.
Devil Crush – PCE overall for me.

Dodge Danpei – I don't really think this is a fair comparison as they are different games from what I remember. Either way, the PCE game was way cooler and more fun.
Outrun – PCE overall, I liked the graphics more.

I've always thought that PCE had better ports in general.

[guyjin]

Just listened to the music for PCE columns, and I must pick it up.

I cannot stand the Genesis version. Gameplay and graphics wise, it's awesome (though I wish you could pick block types like in the Game Gear version) but the music literally gives me headaches. I don't know why; I can't hear anything obviously wrong with it, but there it is. the Game Gear version never had that effect on me.

[Michael Helgeson]

SNES > everything.

Only pedos would think thoughts like this.Change your thinking ways fast Kits before you too also become  a pedo.

[Kitsunexus]

SNES > everything.

Only pedos would think thoughts like this.Change your thinking ways fast Kits before you too also become  a pedo.

CHIBI USAGI IS HOT, IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME..... J/K

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, I actually find that graphically the Valis series, for the most part, could have been done on HuCARD format.

Any graphics that can be done in any PCE CD-ROM game can be done on HuCard.  The CD-ROM does not add any graphics capabilities.

Anyway:

Air Buster/Aero Blaster – PCE > MD - The controls feel slightly better and stage 2 has better music.  However the graphics are smaller since the PCE is such a pussy system and doesn't have the raw power needed to create giant awe-inspiring sprites drawn by the one tr00 God Hisself (rumor has it that God farmed out the graphics in the Turbo version to His tr00 son Jesus).

After Burner II - PCE>MD, but 32X >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PCE

Forgotten Worlds - PCE>MD - Done very well for the most part, but this was created late in the PCE's life and we are comparing it to a game created extremely early in the MD's life.  Not tremendously fair, but oh well.

Lords of Thunder - PCE>MCD - Yeah, the Sega CD version is an extremely sloppy port. 

Zero Wing - PCE~MD - To be honest I actually prefer the music in the MD version, but the PCE version has great music as well.

Snatcher - MCD > PCE - What's with all of this ultra-gay "CDROMantic" gibberish?  That is extremely retarded and that right there brings the PCE version down a notch.  Anyway the SCD version is in English and that makes it 100x better than the Japanese version which relies on a clearly inferior language.  I don't like the shooting scenes, they should be removed from both versions because they are super gay... but at least the SCD version has the power to let you use the light gun.  PCE was not powerful enough for a light gun.

Street Fighter II' Champions Edition - PCE~MD - I like the MD controller a hell of a lot better than the PCE controller, but the PCE does have better graphics and voices (but shittier scrolling).

Altered Beast - MD>PCE - At least the MD version is playable.

Rastan Saga II - MD>PCE - They both suck, but at least the MD version offers layered scrolling which gives it the edge.

Shadow of the Beast – PCE>>>>>>>>>>>>>MD - The Genesis version just doesn't compare!

Strider - MD>PCE - Sloppy, loose controls and ugly graphics that will make your eyeballs bleed hurt the PCE version.

Valis III – MD>PCE - The MD version is more playable.  The PCE version has super shitty music so I don't think you can give the music advantage to one or the other.  Also the TG-16 has a really ugly guy on the cover... I think it's supposed to be Yuko!

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - PCE>MD - Not a great game by any means on any platform... only OK.

Wonder Boy in Monster World/Dynastic Hero - MD>PCE - The MD may have a few less colors, but it does offer layered scrolling which looks cool.  Also I'd rather play as Wonder Boy instead of some generic no-name f*ck.

Exile – PCE>MD - PCE wins, though not by a landslide.

Popful Mail – MCD>PCE - See the English argument about Snatcher.  Plus the MCD is just better all around.

Ys III – MD~PCE - This is really tough because the Genesis version is smoother and plays so much better, but it has a bitch of a final boss and inferior music.

Devil Crush – PCE>MD - While the Genesis version clearly has waaaaaaaaay better bonus stages due to the extreme unlimited power of the system (which still has never been matched even by the PS3), the main board looks like ass compared to the Turbo version.  The higher resolution actually hurts the Genesis version as it squeezes the board instead of having it full screen.  Also the music sounds better on the Turbo.  The Genesis version is definitely Technosoft's worst sound driver/library (ie: it is their worst sounding game EVAR).

[ceti alpha]

As for YsIII, I have to say, judging from Keranu's site, say that the PCE version is better.

Any graphics that can be done in any PCE CD-ROM game can be done on HuCard.  The CD-ROM does not add any graphics capabilities.

Yeah, I think I already answered myself in my previous post.  :-" What the CD does allow is more memory, which in turn, allows for additional space for graphics. At least that's what makes sense to me. So really my comment was pointless. lol 

[Tatsujin]

it's very funny to see, how the opinions differ..hehe
but it clearly seems, the pce is the superior system when it comes to the soft line up comparison.

when i have time at night, i will re-answer to some valuations.

[Keranu]

After Burner II - PCE>MD, but 32X >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PCE

This sparks the question: If CD and Super Grafx games are allowed for PCE, then are CD and 32X games allowed for Genesis for this thread? Personally I think so since ports aren't just based on graphics.

Lords of Thunder - PCE>MCD - Yeah, the Sega CD version is an extremely sloppy port.

Actually I think as a port in terms of being indentical, it put a lot of effort in trying to, but they should've probably focused on trying to make it better than identicle, if you know what I mean. Black_Tiger can fill in more on this.

Snatcher - MCD > PCE - What's with all of this ultra-gay "CDROMantic" gibberish?  That is extremely retarded and that right there brings the PCE version down a notch.  Anyway the SCD version is in English and that makes it 100x better than the Japanese version which relies on a clearly inferior language.  I don't like the shooting scenes, they should be removed from both versions because they are super gay... but at least the SCD version has the power to let you use the light gun.  PCE was not powerful enough for a light gun.

As much as I agree with your other points, I just have to ask regarding the bolded section above: Have you ever played Sega CD Snatcher with the Justifier?  If anything that feature should bring the Sega CD version down a notch!

Street Fighter II' Champions Edition - PCE~MD - I like the MD controller a hell of a lot better than the PCE controller, but the PCE does have better graphics and voices (but shittier scrolling).

This sparks yet another topic: should controllers count in situations like these? When you say MD controller, I assume you're referring to the six button controller released later, which is essential for playing SF2 with! Don't forget that PCE had six button controllers and joysticks too though, so it's a matter of preference of what six button set up you prefer.

Valis III – MD>PCE - The MD version is more playable.  The PCE version has super shitty music so I don't think you can give the music advantage to one or the other.  Also the TG-16 has a really ugly guy on the cover... I think it's supposed to be Yuko!

. I think maybe she/he was supposed to be on the John Madden DUO CD FOOTBALL cover instead!

Ys III – MD~PCE - This is really tough because the Genesis version is smoother and plays so much better, but it has a bitch of a final boss and inferior music.

What makes the Genesis version play better? I haven't played far into it, but I didn't see any difference really control wise.

[ParanoiaDragon]

All I have to say, is that Heavy Unit is terrible on the Turbo, but excellent on the Genesis!