The Port/Remake That Blows The Original... (game edition)

[EXEXEX]

This thread is haven't even made in this forum though, so let me start!

The topic is exactly on the title, let's discuss.

[dink]

hmmm, thats a tuffie....yea..

[Stevens]

Childish humor incoming:

Blows it as in felates it, or is better than?

Cause if it's the former I got nothin', but if it's the latter there is one super obvious answer (imo):

Bionic Commado Rearmed. Took a great game from yesteryear and turned it into a masterpiece of platforming. EDIT - OK. Maybe masterpiece is a bit strong worded...Rearmed just feels tighter overall.

[neorichieb1971]

Sega Ages would be close based on threads i've read on here.

But honestly, its hard to blow the original away. The original version of anything always stays with you.

[Strikers1945guy]

I liked Zelda: A Link to the Past a lot more on the GBA that on the SNES. I felt the controls of the GBA were sharper, and having the Four Swords game work with the original was kind of cool. Extra dungeon and all that made it my favourite portable game ever probably. Not that the original was ever bad but I prefer it portable and with the extras.

[zinger]

I like Layer Section better than Rayforce, and MD Chelnov much more than the original arcade game. Both examles look and sound better than their original sources.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Thread title makes me think of Demolition Man. How's that damn three seashell thing work?

Resident Evil on Gamecube/Wii. Adds a tonne more content, brings the voice acting up to standard and puts the whole package on a par with Resi 2.

Mercs on Mega Drive. Original mode, nuff said.

[ZellSF]

There are two easy ones for ports: Odin Sphere and The Last of Us.

My four favorite remakes that I can think of now:

Fantasy Zone II DX
Metroid: Zero Mission
Persona 3 Portable
Ys I & II Chronicles+

[zinger]

Thread title makes me think of Demolition Man. How's that damn three seashell thing work?

http://youtu.be/4gDiSTtABuE

[Skykid]

Ocarina of Time is definitely superior on 3DS. The improved graphics, mechanical tightening, and banishing of fog coupled with a deft and very successful use of 3D made an already incredible piece of work that bit more perfect.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I like Layer Section better than Rayforce, and MD Chelnov much more than the original arcade game. Both examles look and sound better than their original sources.

You sure about that "sound" part? Listen to the music of arcade Chelnov again, then to the MD one's. I also like the arcade Chelnov's intro MUCH better.

[BIL]

Contra (AC) is decent. Contra (FC) is a classic sidescrolling action game. Meaningfully developed stage design and overhauled control let its best features - hectic runner RNG and genuine cooperative action - shine, with zero loss of arcade concision. It's a perfect example of a flawed, promising game realising its potential via home conversion.

[Squire Grooktook]

I liked Zelda: A Link to the Past a lot more on the GBA that on the SNES. I felt the controls of the GBA were sharper, and having the Four Swords game work with the original was kind of cool. Extra dungeon and all that made it my favourite portable game ever probably. Not that the original was ever bad but I prefer it portable and with the extras.

I think they control about the same, but I think I'd rather play the SNES version because of the more zoomed in screen due to the gba's lower resolution.

[CStarFlare]

Maybe controversial, but The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.

Tomb Raider Anniversary was a great update to the original.

And if you consider Akumajo X68000 a remake of the original, then that.

Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town was a fantastic downport of the PSX/64 version.

I haven't played multiple versions of them to confirm, but I suspect several of the Dragon Quest ports and remakes are better than the originals. The US version of DQ1 in particular is much more functional, and I suspect the SNES and GBC ports of DQ3 might be superior in many aspects. DQVII's DS remake is almost guaranteed to be more enjoyable. The Mother port added some good QoL fixes. Overall, I'd say RPG remakes and ports seem to be easier to do right - perhaps because things like control and mechanics are harder to cock up and are less important than in other genres in any case. Of course, the Mother 2 GBA port was pretty inferior, so...

[zinger]

I like Layer Section better than Rayforce, and MD Chelnov much more than the original arcade game. Both examles look and sound better than their original sources.

You sure about that "sound" part? Listen to the music of arcade Chelnov again, then to the MD one's. I also like the arcade Chelnov's intro MUCH better.

Hmm had a quick listen for the first time in ages, and the soundtracks (and everything else in the game!) are much more distinct than I remember them! I like some aspects of the MD version much more (like st 1 music for instance), but the arcade game certainly has a certain charm too! Pretty intrigued to play the arcade version some more now; even the graphics were much better than I remembered (although I think overall the vibrant colors of the MD version trumps the arcade in this department)! You are right, definitely not so sure anymore about which version I prefer!

[Gespenst]

Flatout: Ultimate Carnage if it wasn't because of the dreaded GFWL. Otherwise it's a superb all around improvement over the original Flatout 2, especially with the 3 extra racers on the track.
Burnout Legends is a nice remix version of Burnout 3.

The PSP version of Armored Cores (3 Portable, Silent Line Portable, Last Raven Portable), when you are able to figure how to get it running on emulator.

[soprano1]

Metroid Zero Mission.

[BrianC]

Contra (AC) is decent. Contra (FC) is a classic sidescrolling action game. Meaningfully developed stage design and overhauled control let its best features - hectic runner RNG and genuine cooperative action - shine, with zero loss of arcade concision. It's a perfect example of a flawed, promising game realising its potential via home conversion.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Double Dragon Advance. That remake is good stuff and a definite improvement over the original.

[soprano1]

Contra (AC) is decent. Contra (FC) is a classic sidescrolling action game. Meaningfully developed stage design and overhauled control let its best features - hectic runner RNG and genuine cooperative action - shine, with zero loss of arcade concision. It's a perfect example of a flawed, promising game realising its potential via home conversion.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Double Dragon Advance. That remake is good stuff and a definite improvement over the original.

Isn't it a new game?

[BrianC]

Contra (AC) is decent. Contra (FC) is a classic sidescrolling action game. Meaningfully developed stage design and overhauled control let its best features - hectic runner RNG and genuine cooperative action - shine, with zero loss of arcade concision. It's a perfect example of a flawed, promising game realising its potential via home conversion.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Double Dragon Advance. That remake is good stuff and a definite improvement over the original.

Isn't it a new game?

It's a remake. Most of the levels and enemies are from DD1, with some elements from SDD and DD2. A couple of the "new" levels are from SDD (and actually benefit from being shorter).

[BIL]

tbh Contra AC/FC is the only pair I know well enough to feel confident mentioning. Umechan Team's conversion is the epitome of better than arcade perfect.

DDA is an interesting one. It's technically a remake of arcade DD1, but cherry-picks mechanics, enemies and stages from the AC+FC sequels and even a few Kunio+Combatribe things. It's as much a tribute to the entire series and Technos beaters in general. And yeah it is utterly superb. Worth getting a GB Player for, easily.

[Hagane]

La Mulana is an easy pick, much better and polished in every way. Neo Turf Masters for the NCD is cool because it adds an extra course, Scotland.

The Tactics Ogre remake blows... it's terrible compared to the original. Such a dissapointment.
Anyone played the Star Ocean remakes for PSP? I'm very interested in the remake of the first mostly, which with 2's combat and some rebalancing could be my favorite in the saga.

[Harpuia]

If unofficial/fan remakes count, AM2R (Remake of Metroid II in the style of Zero Mission) is looking really nice so far, and Metroid II hasn't aged particularly well in my opinion.

[mamboFoxtrot]

Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
- 60 FPS (Dreamcast was 30)
- Improved models (though still not really on par with what the GC could do, but w/e)
- Improvements to the Chao system
- Added a thing or two to some of the levels, like being able to jump on the pumpkins in Sky Rail
- More multiplayer stuff unlocked from the get-go.
- Gamecube analogue stick is way better for this kind of game

Only downside is that they took out Big from both multiplayer and the in-level cameos, and that many of the playable characters are darker than they should be. I mean, with the muzzles on Knuckles/Rouge/Sonic/etc I thought it was just a stylistic choice, but then I noticed that Tails' white fur is now grey for some reason.

I don't have any personal experience with the HD port beyond a demo, but from what I can remember, they did something weird to the sound effects, made some of the icons really lame looking for some reason, and made the Battle content DLC.


Also, while I don't have the LoZ: Twilight Princess HD port, I hear it removed the stupid thing where the game stops the world to remind you what each Rupee is worth every time you boot up the game again. That alone makes it the best version. Now, if they can get that and a "no motion controls" option (or fix it so that it actually works right) for the inevitable Skyward Sword remake...

[BrianC]

Vs. Excitebike FDS is arguably better than the arcade with music during gameplay and 2p modes. I miss the original title screen, winning, and losing music, but the new music is very good.

Ocarina of Time is definitely superior on 3DS. The improved graphics, mechanical tightening, and banishing of fog coupled with a deft and very successful use of 3D made an already incredible piece of work that bit more perfect.

Master Quest also sounds like an improvement over the original with the mirrored layouts and increased player damage.

[Skykid]

Guevara FC is definitely superior to AC. Zoomed out, tactically rich, ten times pacier, action packed, the port is technically a new game and all the better for it.

[EmperorIng]

Valis II on the Sharp X68000 is far superior to any of the other versions, including the PC98 (?) original, MSX2 version, and the PC Engine CD remake. It's still not a great game (fantastic presentation notwithstanding), but it's the only version worth playing, if only once.

XZR: Toki no Hazama on the PC Engine CD is a significant upgrade from the PC88/MSX originals (as is to be expected). It is better than the MD/GEN port as well (though that one is neat if only to see the changes).

Life Force (AC) is much, much, much better than Salamander (AC) in my opinion. More fair, more balanced, better music, and a far better aesthetic.

[GaijinPunch]

Ocarina of Time is definitely superior on 3DS. The improved graphics, mechanical tightening, and banishing of fog coupled with a deft and very successful use of 3D made an already incredible piece of work that bit more perfect.

and a tiny screen to enjoy it on.

[Perikles]

Life Force (AC) is much, much, much better than Salamander (AC) in my opinion. More fair, more balanced, better music, and a far better aesthetic.

I agree that Life Force is a tad bit better than Salamander, but the PCE Salamander is so much better than both it should be considered its own game. Such a vast improvement over the unpolished, rushed arcade games! Other console ports of arcade shmups I consider to be better/at least equal/great in a different way: Cotton (PCE CD), Darius II (MD), Dragon Saber (PCE HuCard), Detana!! TwinBee (PCE HuCard), Forgotten Worlds (PCE CD), Gradius (PCE HuCard, but also the Famicom version, really), Gradius II (PCE CD), Gradius III (SFC), Gyruss (Famicom Disk System/NES), Kyuukyoku Tiger (MD), Parodius Da! (SFC), Side Arms (PCE - HuCard).

I also concur with CStarFlare in regards to the Dragon Quest series, particularly the Zenithian trilogy on the DS - DQ IV is the most well-balanced traditional JRPG I've ever played (in terms of buffs, debuffs, element, weapons in battles, protection to specific attacks and so on is concerned) and much better than the NES/Famicom version in my opinion. The SFC ports of the Erdrick trilogy are also much more enjoyable than their original counterparts due to the reduced grinding.

[Skykid]

Ocarina of Time is definitely superior on 3DS. The improved graphics, mechanical tightening, and banishing of fog coupled with a deft and very successful use of 3D made an already incredible piece of work that bit more perfect.

and a tiny screen to enjoy it on.

A 3DS XL with 3D at 85% made it a beautiful, absorbing thing, not to mention portable anywhere and the wonder of sleep mode. Honestly, it was one of the best gaming experiences since Ocarina of Time.

And if you consider Akumajo X68000 a remake of the original, then that.

Good one, although personally I consider it too different to qualify as a remake. It's got too much added and fundamentally changed. If anything it's a reimagining.