Master System vs Mega Drive

[Phil]

A lot of SMS games are available on the Mega Drive and in a lot of cases are better conversions. But what SMS ports do you prefer over its big brother?

Winter Olympics is an exception in terms of graphics, I think the 8 bit version looks 16 bit in some parts.

For me Castle of Illusion is a game I rarely play on the MD but love the SMS version. Its graphics and music are of a very high standard and shows even in 1990 what could be achieved on the system.

Techmo World Cup '93 although it's not a direct conversion of the MD game it plays a lot faster on the SMS and is far a superior game. Bigger sprites and stereo sound don't always make for a better game. The only thing which is annoying is the beeping sound when you're near the goal, which isn't present in the prototype '92 version.

Road Rash - well almost, if it had a 2 player split screen mode then I would say yeah every time. I can't stand the music EA churned out on the MD, so I prefer the music on the SMS version.

Out Run - maybe it's nostalgia for me, but I've always had a soft spot for the SMS version. I always felt disappointed with the MD version for some reason.

[playgeneration]

Castle of Illusion is definitely better on the SMS to me too. I don't think its just the fact I grew up on that version either. Graphically I think the SMS version looks a lot better, its much more bright and colourful than the Megadrive release, more suited to a Mickey Mouse world.

I'd suggest the first Sonic game too. The SMS version has more of the green hill zones than the 16bit version, which switched to slower paced (and less fun) levels quite early on. The beautiful Jungle levels don't make an appearance on the Megadrive either, and I do miss those. When it comes to Sonic 2 though the roles are reversed and there's no contest, the 16bit game is much better.

Ninja Gaiden, while unreleased (and still somewhat unfinished, but a playable ROM does exist) is a much more basic game on the Megadrive, the Master System game is far superior.

[ian]

I'd definitely agree that the Castle of Illusion and Sonic games are better on the SMS than the MD.

Games I prefer on the SMS but wouldn't necessarily say they were better include Out Run and E-Swat.

I don't think it's a port but I think you could make a good comparison between Black Belt (SMS) and Last Battle (MD), as they're both western ports of Fist of the North Star. And it's fair to say, Black Belt is wayyy better.

Is there a resource somewhere which lists all the games which have 8-bit and 16-bit versions?

[Transatlantic Foe]

There are a few that stand up to the 16 bit version too, even if they can't outright best it. Of the games I own... Desert Strike, Sagaia, Gain Ground, Lemmings, Robocop vs The Terminator

Alien Storm on SMS more closely matches the arcade version's stage layout... although it removes a stage and a character, and overall isn't a better game. Similar story with Shadow Dancer - it's a direct arcade port (with a load of stages removed) while the MD version is its own thing. Can't help but think that one went the wrong way round!

[ShadowAngel]

Sonic 1, i like the more "classic" plattform approach with finding the Crystals in the levels instead of some "all graphic, no substance" bonus level approch
Castle of Illusion, i was always one to say that the Master System version was a lot more creative and more fluid in the level design (hidden boxes, the tea/coffee cup)

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle has commonly be named a Miracle World Remake or Sequel, it sucks. I rather play Alex Kidd and the Lost Stars.

Lion King..the 16-bit version is crap, be it the Mega Drive, SNES or PC version it flat out sucks after 2 levels with it being a rather lazy job full of clipping, ai, level design errors. The MS version is toned down and better.
Same goes with Batman Returns. The MD game was...something, bad level design and everything, the MS version has different paths, some better design, i even take it over the SNES version which is like a bad copy of Streets of Rage (MD version)

[evo4123]

i definately agree with catle of illusion, for me i prefer sonic 1 on the sms moew than the megadrive, i prefer the platform style. also, this time being based purely on nostalgia, double dragon

[nearbythiscafe]

Another vote for castle of illusion, the MD version never captured my imagination like the SMS version did.

The MD console was my second console but when feeling nostalgic its always the SMS I go for.

[sidney]

Out Run is more enjoyable on the Master System, it came out around the time of the other 8bit versions and blew them all away, (it also showed up the Amiga and ST versions quite viciously too) and was around at the time when Out Run was THE game, by the time the MegaDrive version appeared it already seemed Retro (at least to early 90's gamers who wanted the next thing and not the last thing!) looking through 21st century retro tinged lenses when all versions of Out Run are retro the MD version is great but not better than the MS version which for me has all the warm nostalgia and excitement a true classic game should have. Whether it is actually better is open to debate but I know which version gets played regularly to this day!

Which brings me on to Thunderblade- A game that has mixed views from people but to me....I love it and always have, the MS version is enjoyable and plays nicely and again warm nostalgia ensues. The MD version.....I have tried to get into but I always struggle, cutting out the opening stage and calling it Super Thunderblade...hmmmm. Master System wins again as far as I'm concerned.

Afterburner- another in the trinity of late 80's Sega coin op classics I had to get on my MS and it's another game that has that essential indefinable something that the MD version is lacking, sure the MD version is fast, furious and better than pretty much any other version in existence but somehow I hardly play it when my MS is in view. The nostalgia gland starts going and the MS Wins again.

I have to say that games like ESwat and Castle of Illusion are in my view more enjoyable on the MD, when I first saw it and played it I had to have it. I appreciate the MS conversions are very good and particularly in the case of Mickey he looks great on the 8bit system but the MD wins here in my opinion. Sonic 1 is tied for me, Sonic 2 is no contest the MD wins every time no question.

[nearbythiscafe]

Ive never played sonic 2 on the megadrive.. I think ill have to give it a go! I always remember buying quackshot on the megadrive on a dual cart with castle of illusion and the graphics blew me away. I still prefer the sms mickey though..

[Transatlantic Foe]

Thunderblade? No-one wins there!

The top town bits are far better on the SMS but the 3D stages are so choppy they're borderline unplayable - going through the caverns is pure luck. The MD is more much better there (even if you're just going round the screen in circles because proper dodging is haphazard without the proper arcade scaling) and has a hover button to aid those caverns... but still is pretty horrible on the whole.

[playgeneration]

I don't think of the super scaling arcade games are that much better on the Megadrive as it doesn't have hardware sprite scaling to fully do them justice. They do look better, but the choppy frame rate is still there, not as bad as on the SMS obviously but not the leap ahead in quality it could/should have been.

[playgeneration]

Apr 18, 2017 16:09:27 GMT nearbythiscafe said:

Ive never played sonic 2 on the megadrive.. I think ill have to give it a go! I always remember buying quackshot on the megadrive on a dual cart with castle of illusion and the graphics blew me away. I still prefer the sms mickey though..

Thats a gaming oversight! Its such a great game, when Sonic was at its best before the ever increasing character roster and various gimmicks starting ruining things.

[nearbythiscafe]

Apr 18, 2017 17:07:00 GMT playgeneration said:

Apr 18, 2017 16:09:27 GMT nearbythiscafe said:

Ive never played sonic 2 on the megadrive.. I think ill have to give it a go! I always remember buying quackshot on the megadrive on a dual cart with castle of illusion and the graphics blew me away. I still prefer the sms mickey though..

Thats a gaming oversight! Its such a great game, when Sonic was at its best before the ever increasing character roster and various gimmicks starting ruining things.

Rectifying it right now

[Centrale]

Ghouls'n Ghosts is improved in various ways on the Master System. The MD/Genesis version is more faithful to the original, but I think the SMS version is adapted nicely as a home game, giving Sir Arthur a life bar so he can take more than a single hit and introducing shops where you can select some items.

I agree with Transatlantic Foe that the top-down segments of Thunder Blade are excellent on the SMS. The enemy patterns are so graceful, with smooth increases in speed along curving flight paths. I don't find the 3D sections unplayable but in discussing these types of games with people I find that I'm willing/able to "see through" the choppiness more than some. (On the other hand I do find the tunnel sections of Galaxy Force absolutely unplayable.)

But I think a larger issue is that Thunder Blade, the arcade game, is simply not a quite as much of a masterpiece as its brethren After Burner, Out Run, and Space Harrier. It was probably not a good selection for a launch title for the MD because it ends up highlighting what that hardware can't do more than what it can. I think at the time prior to the release of the Mega Drive we were all hoping that it would have scaling and it stung to realize that it did not.

[Centrale]

I could swear I've seen this guy somewhere before.