All the Metal Slugs coming out on GBA!

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

The GBA is still a souped up SNES.

[BrianC]

It's not a SNES it's a "slightly souped up SNES." The SNES had a version of DOOM but that didn't run perfectly because it wasn't souped up.

How come most SNES to GBA ports have something messed up?

For the most part, the only thing that gets "messed up" in most SNES ports is the sound and IMO, in many games, the sound is still well done. The view is slightly cut off in some games, but it's mostly from the top and bottom. Capcom and Nintendo have been very good with their SNES ports. Super Mario World has subtle differences from the original that actually make it better (IMO), Yoshi's Island runs just as well without a special chip on GBA, and Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a faithful port of the SNES version with some cool new stuff. BTW, Earthworm Jim, Contra Hard Spirits, Donkey Kong Country 1, and R-Type 3 aren't "most SNES ports". These ports were poorly done and not becuase of the GBA hardware.

[sethsez]

Yoshi's Island runs just as well without a special chip on GBA

The sound occasionally sounds like it's playing through a tin can, and the effects on Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy are really toned down. However, as you said, it doesn't have the benefit of a special chip like the SNES version had.

[BrianC]

Yoshi's Island runs just as well without a special chip on GBA

The sound occasionally sounds like it's playing through a tin can, and the effects on Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy are really toned down. However, as you said, it doesn't have the benefit of a special chip like the SNES version had.

Drat, I knew I was jumping the gun by mentioning that one. I really need to get that port. I hate to admit it, but I only played that one at an in store demo. I should have kept my mouth shut about that one, but it still sounds like a good port.

Anyway, a better example of what the GBA can do is Racing Gears Advance. That game runs smooth, even when there are a lot of cars on screen. It has a very good looking game engine too. I also recommend comparing Final Fight One to the SNES games. The SNES ones have better sound, but the GBA ones have more enemies on screen with very little, if any slowdown. The GBA Final Fight has six or seven enemies on screen at once, but the SNES versions had only about four enemies on screen at once. Also, Street Fighter Alpha 2 needed a special chip to run on SNES with toned down midi music and less animations than the GBA SFA3. SFA3 GBA runs faster and smoother than the SNES SFA2.

[dave4shmups]

How come most SNES to GBA ports have something messed up?

How come most classic compilations on the PS2, Gamecube and Xbox have things messed up despite being a MUCH larger leap then the one from SNES to GBA?

Poor programming, a lack of care put into the port, and inherant differences in the hardware that has an inevitable effect on the final product.

As a piece of hardware, the Atari 2600 is horribly awkward. The PS2 is superior in every possible way. However, an Atari collection on the PS2 is never going to be 100% "perfect" because that perfection relies on the game running on the original hardware. You can't judge hardware based on ports from older systems.

Agreed, but there are still Atari 2600's running strong today; how many PS2's or XBOX's, or any of the new consoles coming out do you think will still be running after over 20 years of use? Other then, perhaps, the Cube, probably none. The PS2 is superior graphically because it's a 128-bit console, whereas the 2600 is 4-bit. But in terms of actual construction, the 2600 was built to last a heck of a lot longer then the PS2.

Companies in general, not just console developers, do not make things as durable as they used to because they've figured out that they can make more money if you have to keep replacing what they sell you.