Ceph wrote:When I was playing R-Types (JP) the other day I noticed that it was running too fast when compared with the PCE version or the original PCB (which is running at a pretty weird frequency, 55Hz).
Then I remembered that I had owned the PAL release of R-Types for years and decided to give it a try, and guess what: It's actually much better than the NTSC release, and not just speed-wise. The NTSC release superimposes the beam bar onto the playing field and also cuts off a few lines, whereas the PAL release actually features the full arcade screen.
Ah, I'm not sure about that Ceph. Here's a little comparison:
These are R-Type and R-Type II, as featured in the Japanese R-Types:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6431 ... jpnsl8.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6862 ... jpnfx9.jpg
You basically are given two display modes: "fixed" (set screen to normal) and "wobble" (set screen to scroll).
If you play in wobble mode, the "adjustment" option cannot be altered. and you'll scroll up and down for the screen for a good 3 centimeters (roughly, I haven't measured them). In wobble mode the beam bar is on a black background, just as in R-Types PAL.
If you decide to play "normal", then you can adjust the screen up or down and you are also given the possibility to set the beam bar on the top of the screen or at the bottom. The beam bar is semi-transparent in this mode.
Now let's have a look at the games as featured in the PAL version of R-Types:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7428 ... palhu9.jpg
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/5238 ... paljr3.jpg
What have they done? Basically they removed the wobble mode altogether, and decided to go for a fixed mode that uses the non-superimposed beam bar of Japanese's wobble mode.
However, the menu still has a vertical adjustment option, and even an horizontal one now. Thus:
Ceph wrote:whereas the PAL release actually features the full arcade screen.
is incorrect. Both fixed modes cannot display the full arcade screen at once. Sure the Pal one shows a little more lines, but still not enough to be completely full screen. And it does this at the expense of the usual Pal problem: stretched graphics.
So, what version is the best? Since wobble mode isn't a great feature to begin with, they could be considered even, although the Japanese version offers more options. However, have a close look at the R-9 and R-9c ships in the PAL version: the graphics are noticeably squatted. Whereas, goes without saying, graphics keep their original ratio in the Japanese version, regardless of fixed or scroll.
Here, I've taken a couple of screenshots of R-Type II JPN, to show the cockpit adjustment (interestingly the beam bar can be basically omitted if you set the bar to "top").
Beam bar "top", beam hidden:
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/2474 ... tchlx1.jpg
Beam bar "bottom":
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8221 ... ch2ss1.jpg
In these two photos, I've set my 4:3 television to 16:9 mode, so you can see how close the R-9c PAL looks to an unnaturally stretched R-9c Jpn.
About the .hz, I won't comment. Although of course it would be best to compare speed with the original, instead of the DUO port.
Bottom line: I'd go for the Japanese one. It has the R Museum too.
