PC-Engine Vs. Megadrive

[Perikles]

The MD Forgotten Worlds also omits two stages which are present on the PCE. The only thing I dislike about the PCE is that horrible final boss, he's even worse here than on the arcade version which is saying something. Luckily there is an elegant exploit to take him out, otherwise this could've been quite disappointing (kinda like the final section & boss in the PCE Dragon Spirit, that also ruins a lot of the experience). I strongly agree that the PCE Forgotten Worlds is a fantastic port, although the MD conversion is not bad at all, either.

[pestro87]

Speaking of MD Forgotten Worlds and controls... if you plug-in a Hori Fighting Stick, start the game, press start on the title menu screen and then select "start", the intro music starts playing for a split second and then you get treated with the Game Over screen. Really weird...

[Tarma]

Speaking of MD Forgotten Worlds and controls... if you plug-in a Hori Fighting Stick, start the game, press start on the title menu screen and then select "start", the intro music starts playing for a split second and then you get treated with the Game Over screen. Really weird...

Does that count as a 1cc?

[BrianC]

Speaking of MD Forgotten Worlds and controls... if you plug-in a Hori Fighting Stick, start the game, press start on the title menu screen and then select "start", the intro music starts playing for a split second and then you get treated with the Game Over screen. Really weird...

It's a compatibility issue with 6 button controllers. Holding the mode button down until the Sega logo should fix the issue, though some controllers react differently than others.

[evil_ash_xero]

I don't know much about a lot of these games.

But Winds of Thunder on PCE is widely considered to be better. I have played the MD version, and I prefer the PCE one over it.

It's more colorful. The music is also different on each version, and I prefer the PCE version much more.

[Perikles]

I don't know much about a lot of these games.

But Winds of Thunder on PCE is widely considered to be better. I have played the MD version, and I prefer the PCE one over it.

It's more colorful. The music is also different on each version, and I prefer the PCE version much more.

The Mega CD version has an improved scoring system (crystals are no longer limited to 10,000), the sword attack is stronger and the difficulty settings work differently, whereas the PCE CD version certainly looks and sounds better. I personally think that both versions are about equivalent to each other, maybe even with a slight predominance towards the Mega CD (gameplay is more important, after all). It's not as crass a difference as people make it out to be, honestly.

[Kiken]

I don't know much about a lot of these games.

But Winds of Thunder on PCE is widely considered to be better. I have played the MD version, and I prefer the PCE one over it.

It's more colorful. The music is also different on each version, and I prefer the PCE version much more.

The Mega CD version has an improved scoring system (crystals are no longer limited to 10,000), the sword attack is stronger and the difficulty settings work differently, whereas the PCE CD version certainly looks and sounds better. I personally think that both versions are about equivalent to each other, maybe even with a slight predominance towards the Mega CD (gameplay is more important, after all). It's not as crass a difference as people make it out to be, honestly.

The Mega CD version adds some parallax scrolling to the backgrounds here and there. I guess the soundtrack is purely subjective... some people will prefer the original PC-E SCD, others the M-CD arrangements.

[Turrican]

I'm aiming to perfect my 16-Bit shmupping library, but as you probably know there's quite a bit of overlap between these two systems, so I'm interested in knowing which versions are preferable.

Here's a list of all shooters that were released on both platforms (to the best of my knowledge). If you have any info, additional info or disagreements on technical, gameplay and qualitative differences, please post them and I will insert them here.

Super Space Invaders, MD
Space Invaders - Fukkatsu No Hi, PCE
Space Invaders: The Original Game, PCE

Necrothreading this because I think it's funny that in 13 years no one commented on this particular couple above. So I'm curious, what's the consensus here, Fukkatsu no Hi or '90?

[EmperorIng]

IMO Space Invaders '90 has more weapons and more engaging level gimmicks. IIRC '90 has more levels, but don't quote me on that. I think in general the Genesis game is the more engaging version of Space Invaders - with a better soundtrack to boot. I think the best SI game is the one never ported (of course), Akkanvader aka Attack of the Lunar Loonies. Finally - some action and stage progression in a Space Invaders game!

Space Invaders: The Original Game is the purest form of a "waste of money." Just Space Invaders: But on CD! And with big anime girl backgrounds that get in the way. Have some dignity, Taito. It doesn't even have music like Fukkatsu no Hi. There's a reason almost no one ever mentions it. What's the point of the CD format?

Necrothreading this because I think it's funny that in 13 years no one commented on this particular couple above.

I was just thinking as I saw this thread "Ah, this is a great thread; I wonder why someone bumped it? Maybe some new info or insights!"

[Turrican]

IMO Space Invaders '90 has more weapons and more engaging level gimmicks. IIRC '90 has more levels, but don't quote me on that. I think in general the Genesis game is the more engaging version of Space Invaders - with a better soundtrack to boot.

I agree that the MD one sounds great, and the part with uneven terrain affecting your shooting is cool, but the PCE Fukkatsu also has some very cool looking powerups (that actually made me think to Infinity Gene).

I wonder why Fukkatsu and '90 were conceived to begin with, instead of attempting a Majestic 12 port. Something that Domark in the west basically did...

Yeah, the CD-Rom Original Game is precious, when you think that basically the same ROM has been snuggled as an extra into a Gameboy cartridge.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Personally, I prefer Fukkatsu but both games offer something the other lacks. It's a case of both games complimenting each other. I know it's only aesthetic but I do love the player sprite in Fukkatsu.

[Mortificator]

Without shields, Plus and 90 feel more basic than some of the earlier entries. You can do shieldless Space Invaders, but there has to be something more than just power-ups to compensate. They lack bosses as well, which I think every other post-Return Invaders has included.

[d0s]

weird I just ordered fukkatsu no hi on hucard like an hour before reading this thread to see people talking about it

e: I think the PCE is awesome for older arcade games and wish more got ported to it. taito were great for this with stuff like volfied and kiki kaikai and a great port of kyukyoku tiger among other things, also namco's absolutely spectacular pce library, some good irem titles, hudson's quality ports of other company's games, and a bunch of smaller arcade devs ports like rabio lepus and saint dragon, p-47 etc.