Home ports that were better than their Arcade counterparts

[Synnae]

From what I could see so far, like 90% of the original arcade shmups are superior than their home versions. But sometimes the opposite happens: The home ports ends up better than the arcade originals. I can't name many examples due to my limited knowledge, but I remember reading somewhere that the PC Engine versions of Gradius II and Salamander are better than the Arcade ones.

Can you guys name other examples?

[EmperorIng]

In this case I think you have to look at the overall package.

Like, if it's just a bare-bones arcade port, is it really worth it? What justifies the port's existence when you can play it on MAME?

You have something like Raiden IV and Raiden Fighters Aces, which are very nice packages containing lots of content for the buyer.

Or something like the arranged modes found in Cave ports, like Akai Katana. Lots of folks here say the arranged modes for the game are arguably better than the original.

RayCrisis and RayStorm have extra features that make the ports excellent, imo: fun arrange modes with new enemy patterns/higher difficulty, soundtrack options, and RayCrisis even throws in Pocketstation support for those who actually have one. I mean, the caveat is that the games are not as good as RayForce, but they are good ports nonetheless.

And you can't forget Mars Matrix, which is like the king of extra content.

By the standards I am judging, these games are all better in their ports than their arcade originals.

[BIL]

Thunder Force AC on Saturn rectifies the travesty that is the PCB's lack of inbuilt autofire. Lack of autofire in a THUNDER FORCE game? *slap*

Hyper Duel's Saturn mode is superior to the PCB in both presentation and mechanics, and the disc includes an excellent port of the arcade version too.

[cave hermit]

I never actually tried the arrange modes for any of the Cave ports, and I own every region free disc they released! What arrange modes would you guys recommend trying?

[BIL]

And you can't forget Mars Matrix, which is like the king of extra content.

Also removes the arcade version's counterstop. I know skilled players like Rob endorse the DC one for this reason.

[cave hermit]

Also Ing, when you say RF aces has lots of content, what do you mean? Are you talking about all the different visual and DIP switch options? As far as I can tell there are no modes other than the arcade originals.

[CStarFlare]

I never actually tried the arrange modes for any of the Cave ports, and I own every region free disc they released! What arrange modes would you guys recommend trying?

Pink Sweets Arrange, Saidaioujou X360, Espgaluda II Black Label

I'll mention that the GC port of Ikaruga has Prototype mode and is very accurate; Radiant Silvergun's X360 release has the Saturn mode AND an Ikaruga mode. Both are better packages than the arcade versions.

[neorichieb1971]

I heard hellfire Genesis is better than arcade once upon time on these very forums.

I've got the Genesis port, but never played the arcade.

[EmperorIng]

Also Ing, when you say RF aces has lots of content, what do you mean? Are you talking about all the different visual and DIP switch options? As far as I can tell there are no modes other than the arcade originals.

I was talking about that, yeah, and that you got three of the best shooters around in an accurate format. Nothing as extravagant as Raiden IV's extra stages and modes, but I can overlook that on such a good package!

And you can't forget Mars Matrix, which is like the king of extra content.

Also removes the arcade version's counterstop. I know skilled players like Rob endorse the DC one for this reason.

Yeah; though since i've never come close to getting a good score in MM those details slip my mind!

[BIL]

I'd say M2's Fantasy Zone Complete Collection (NTSCJ PS2) would count as well, going by sheer content and loving presentation. There's enough Fantasy Zone on that disc to last a goddamn lifetime, including the arcade original and a genuine System 16 sequel developed expressly for the comp, plus the excellent Super Fantasy Zone (MD) and a ton of other home stuff. And it's all fully display/control customisable. Absolute geek pornography - 4 CHEAP too.

[trap15]

Pretty much every CAVE port on X360.

[Chaos Phoenixma]

IIRC, you have to own XBLA Ikaruga in order to play Ikaruga chaining style on Radiant Silvergun.

But after the second time I had my game freeze and having it wipe out my saves, I pretty much stopped playing that game.


Pink Sweets Arrange is better than the arcade game. ESPGaluda II Arrange is worth a try, plus the console version is the only way to play Black Label. original ESPGaluda Arrange and Ibara Arrange are generally considered decent, but I've never played those.


Raiden IV has extra stages in its console mode and also contains the arcade game.

Raiden Fighters Aces has 2 difficulties it considers valid for score attacking(Normal and the original Arcade, though there is easier and harder ones), Timed Score Attacks for all 3 games with even more secrets, and a Full Run Mode for Jet where you play every stage.


Gradius III is pretty arguable. I think both the SNES and Arcade versions are worth playing. PS2 version is also pretty good for practicing most things.

[Pretas]

Thunder Force AC on Saturn rectifies the travesty that is the PCB's lack of inbuilt autofire. Lack of autofire in a THUNDER FORCE game? *slap*

Also, TFIV on the Gold Pack 2 has all of the MD version's rampant slowdown removed.

Batsugun on Saturn also has zero slowdown, though it's more debatable whether that's an improvement.

IIRC, you have to own XBLA Ikaruga in order to play Ikaruga chaining style on Radiant Silvergun.

This seems to be a common misconception. All you need is the trial version of Ikaruga downloaded, you don't have to pay to unlock it.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Zero Wing on the Mega Drive, because you're not having seizures from all that flashing.

[ZacharyB]

Gyruss on NES.

[Strikers1945guy]

Pretty much every CAVE port on X360.

Because of the practice options and arrange modes?

[mastermx]

I remember reading an interview with the devs from gradius 3 saying they felt the console port was more solid than the arcade version.

[Synnae]

What is the best version of Air Buster/Aero Blasters? The Arcade, Mega Drive or PCE one?

Same thing for Hellfire: Arcade, Mega Drive or PCE?

[Special World]

Mars Matrix arcade only had one-button controls, right? Forget that, DC all the way.

[antron]

Same thing for Hellfire: Arcade, Mega Drive or PCE?

we did a side-by-side comparison between Arcade and MD over at one of Dave_K's meets once. I thing the consensus was that the Arcade was better. We starting thinking that people have been getting the MD confused with the PCE, and it's the one that is superior. Anyone?

[trap15]

Mars Matrix arcade only had one-button controls, right? Forget that, DC all the way.

The DC version has a delay when switching buttons so you're still better off using the single-button controls on DC.

[supergrafx77]

Pretty much every CAVE port on X360.

I don't understand.

[cave hermit]

Pretty much every CAVE port on X360.

I don't understand.

HD remastered sprites for most ports, leaderboards, practice modes, replays, and of course arrange modes. Those are just the features off the top of my head.

[system11]

I can't think of a single one aside from Thunderforce AC, in shmups. That's actually because TF3 has more content though.

Bloody Wolf on the PC Engine was better than the arcade though, the soundtrack was vastly improved and the rest of the game pretty much left alone.

[rjosal]

Gradius III is pretty arguable. I think both the SNES and Arcade versions are worth playing. PS2 version is also pretty good for practicing most things.

I read in an interview than Gradius III SNES was closer to the game it was meant to be. Gradius III was rushed to the arcade and has some incredibly difficult parts. I still prefer the technically superior arcade game that talks to you, though.

[LordHypnos]

Mars Matrix arcade only had one-button controls, right? Forget that, DC all the way.

The DC version has a delay when switching buttons so you're still better off using the single-button controls on DC.

I don't know that I totally agree with this. From a making-the-game-easier perspective, you can adapt pretty easily to the lag on the PC autofire, at least for some parts (I wouldn't recommend the normal shot autofire, though), and the added speed can help you take out enemies faster. However, there are a lot of parts where killing enemies slower is better for score (and some where faster is better). Of course, part of what makes MM unique is the "four weapons mapped to one button" thing. Personally, I used auto for most of the second and fourth stages, part of the first stage, and a few other specific places, and stuck to the one button everywhere else due mostly to the lag, and also to scoring. If you look at the video that Rob uploaded ages ago of the 1cc with 3 Trillion points, he's actually using the auto piercing cannon a lot more than I do, but in the more recent score attack videos he posted (earlier this year), he's using one button.

Other things to note about the port:
-Pretty cool looking arrange mode that seems harder than the original game
-Practice modes which were top notch back in 2000, but are somewhat questionable by modern standards (especially for arrange mode, unfortunately)
-lots of extra content like different ship color (does not work in arcade mode), new backgrounds (which are generally considered by the 1 or so people who have unlocked them to be kind of lame)
-image gallery
-slightly altered, though not inferior by any means, patterns in a couple places (I think it's all in stage 4 and 6), which would end up hindering you trying to practice the arcade game with the Dreamcast game, but in some cases might be interntional fixes, like for example the lack of an easy safespot on the second to last form of the final boss
-CG intro cutscene, which probably looked pretty impressive in 2000
-Higher point value for larger enemies
-Probably other stuff I'm forgetting

I think it still ends up coming out on top, mostly due to the lack of a counterstop. That was a nice touch. I suppose it doesn't technically affect me, but it will once I get 4,000,000+ experience, which probably isn't happening any time soon, since I haven't played the game for like a month.

[supergrafx77]

Pretty much every CAVE port on X360.

I don't understand.

HD remastered sprites for most ports, leaderboards, practice modes, replays, and of course arrange modes. Those are just the features off the top of my head.

I don't know man, the pcb(s) feel better to me, like the real deal. Maybe it's the accurate slowdown/running on the intended hardware, 15khz block pixels/skanlines,,, blah blah. The ports seem off somehow.

[gameoverDude]

I can't think of a single one aside from Thunderforce AC, in shmups. That's actually because TF3 has more content though.

Bloody Wolf on the PC Engine was better than the arcade though, the soundtrack was vastly improved and the rest of the game pretty much left alone.

The PC Engine version has better scrolling than the arcade one, thankfully. PCE Stage 4's BGM really gets you pumped up to go in and blow some terrorists to Hell.

If there is anything I miss in the TG-16 version, it's "You! Invaders! Get you the hot bullets of shotgun to die!" from the arcade.

[FerociousSwan]

I never actually tried the arrange modes for any of the Cave ports, and I own every region free disc they released! What arrange modes would you guys recommend trying?

DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label Arrange Mode, or Ketsui Pachi as it's sometimes known. My own personal favourite of any of the modes on any of the 360 Cave releases, arrange or standard.
Not exactly the hardest of them (Except the TLB) but it's great fun!

[Kollision]

Mars Matrix arcade only had one-button controls, right? Forget that, DC all the way.

The DC version has a delay when switching buttons so you're still better off using the single-button controls on DC.

No