Genre by Genre: Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation worldwide libraries comparison

[MrSega]

COTA is awful on the PS1. Cuts and cuts and more cuts. Saturn version is the only serious attempt to port the arcade game and it's good for the time IMO.

WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game is better on the PS1, overall, but the Saturn version isn't abysmal IMO and it does have some advantages.
Some differences:
- PS1 version uses chip tunes for the character's theme, Saturn uses CDDA music.
- Saturn version plays the character theme prior to the fight, like in the arcade. PS1 version doesn't do that.
- PS1 version has shadows for the ring's ropes, Saturn's doesn't.
- PS1 version loading times are MUCH shorter than the Saturn version (actually, the Saturn version has an extra loading screen as well).
- Saturn version has a few additional narration samples compared to the PS1 (I think it still doesn't have all the arcade ones though).
- Saturn version lacks shadows for the fighters during the pre-entrance sequences.
- Saturn uses mesh/dithered shadows, unlike the PS1 version (which uses proper ones and looks better).
- PS1 version has better coloring, especially for the crowd.
- Pre-entrance sequence background is totally messed up in the Saturn version (some CPU fighters sprites are also mirrored during these sequences, WTF????).
- Saturn version has clearer sounding voices.
- Saturn's crowd sounds like crap and just goes silent in a buggy manner at times.
- PS1 version lacks Vince McMahon sitting at the table on the right side, Saturn version has him.

Well, yes, the PS1 version has many more advantages...

My brother and I rented both the Saturn and PS1 versions within a year of each other and did notice differences. Its what prompted him to rent WWF War Zone. The PS1 version of WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game just seemed better than the Saturn port.

[gamevet]

My brother and I rented both the Saturn and PS1 versions within a year of each other and did notice differences. Its what prompted him to rent WWF War Zone. The PS1 version of WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game just seemed better than the Saturn port.

I think the one thing that sets these 2 versions apart, is that the Playstation version seems to have better controller input. There seems to be some sort of lag with the controller inputs on the Saturn version. The PS version felt smooth while playing, while the Saturn version sort of infuriated me, because the moves didn't always work.

[MrSega]

I think the one thing that sets these 2 versions apart, is that the Playstation version seems to have better controller input. There seems to be some sort of lag with the controller inputs on the Saturn version. The PS version felt smooth while playing, while the Saturn version sort of infuriated me, because the moves didn't always work.

I guess it might have been that the developer understood the PS1 Standard interface controller alot more than Saturn's. The Saturn version felt...a bit cheap. The PS1 version felt like the game had been developed from scratch on its hardware and ran smoother and more balanced.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Your talking about SFA3 right? I agree, that the PS1 port doesn't deserve an honorable mention since the Dreamcast and Saturn versions are 10Xs better.

No he's talking about Marvel vs Capcom. You are still missing the point.

[Barone]

List for the PS1 (including the suggestions already done and much more):
Advanced V.G.
Advanced V.G. 2
Asuka 120% Excellent: Burning Fest. Excellent
Asuka 120% Final: Burning Fest. Final
Asuka 120% Special: Burning Fest Special
Bakumatsu Rouman: Gekka no Kenshi
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Super S: Shin Shuyaku Soudatsusen (borderline)
Capcom vs. SNK Pro
Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness (painful loading times, Saturn version is superior)
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
Darkstalkers 3
Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu
Gokuu Densetsu: Magic Beast Warriors (borderline, very bizarre but plays well)
Gouketuji Ichizoku 2: Chottodake Saikyou Densetsu
Guilty Gear
Gundam: Battle Assault
Gundam: Battle Assault 2
Gundam: The Battle Master
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
King of Fighters '96, The
King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends, The
King of Fighters '99, The
Makeruna! Makendou 2
Marvel vs. Capcom EX Edition (borderline)
Mortal Kombat II (borderline)
Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Pocket Fighter
Real Bout Garou Densetsu
Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind
Samurai Deeper Kyo
Samurai Spirits: Amakusa Kourin Special
Samurai Spirits: Kenkaku Yubinan Pack (Samurai Spirits & Samurai Spirits II)
Simple Characters 2000 Series Vol. 12: Kidou Butouden G Gundam: The Battle (borderline)
Simple Characters 2000 Series Vol. 13: Kidou Senki Gundam W: The Battle (borderline)
Street Fighter Collection
Street Fighter Collection 2
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter: The Movie (borderline)
Suiko Enbu: Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (borderline; the same for the US Saturn version)
Tatsunoko Fight

Any exclusions you people think we should make? (I will work on the Saturn's list organization while you comment about this)

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Pocket Fighter you might want to at least mention that the Saturn port has RAM cart support. And honestly if you are putting PS1 MKII in borderline you may as well put the Saturn one in there too. Yeah the PS1 version does have the pros you mentioned earlier, at the end of the day both ports are pretty crappy if you ask me. Not to mention the PS1 port is pretty rare if I remember correctly.

[Zz Badnusty]

Sorry if I missed this point in the first post or following discussion, but are we looking at these games as strictly "worth playing", or "worth owning?"
If it is the latter; I'd like to suggest Capcom Retro Game Collection Vol.5; while it is the same game as Street Fighter Collection 2, these later Japanese re-releases are packaged as collectible "books" which feature a mini 42-page strategy guide. At the very least, they are interesting and unique packaging. This is the case for all the Capcom Generations titles on Playstation, and a number of other games re-released as "Capcom Retro Books"

[sheath]

Just going from memory here, but I recall Street Fighter Alpha 1 being the impetus for "PS1 is no good at 2D" in the first place due to slowdown and poor animation compared to the Saturn game. I'm going on eighteen year old memory here though as I haven't played it since then. If I recall Alpha 2 was much closer to the excellent Saturn version than Alpha 1 was. Wasn't Alpha 2 the one that sparked the whole "PS1 version is more arcade accurate due to the blue shadows" Nick Rox fiasco?

-edit-

Nope, it was Alpha 1 that spawned that. I must be mistaken about the animation then too.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

I think we're leaning more towards worth playing.

Just going from memory here, but I recall Street Fighter Alpha 1 being the impetus for "PS1 is no good at 2D" in the first place due to slowdown and poor animation compared to the Saturn game. I'm going on eighteen year old memory here though as I haven't played it since then. If I recall Alpha 2 was much closer to the excellent Saturn version than Alpha 1 was. Wasn't Alpha 2 the one that sparked the whole "PS1 version is more arcade accurate due to the blue shadows" Nick Rox fiasco?

You're thinking of Alpha 2 with the slowdown and poor animation. Alpha 1 is pretty close to the Saturn port with just slightly smaller sprites and a tad more animation cuts. The blue shadows crap comes from the port of Alpha 1.

Alpha 2 on the Saturn is a substantial improvement over Alpha 1 with shorter loads, more animation, and more background details if I remember correctly. Alpha 2 on the PS1 doesn't improve on the PS1 port of Alpha 1 and actually adds new problems with slowdowns.

[Barone]

Pocket Fighter you might want to at least mention that the Saturn port has RAM cart support. And honestly if you are putting PS1 MKII in borderline you may as well put the Saturn one in there too. Yeah the PS1 version does have the pros you mentioned earlier, at the end of the day both ports are pretty crappy if you ask me. Not to mention the PS1 port is pretty rare if I remember correctly.

Yes, I will provide notes of RAM expansion support and other stuff like that.
MKII is mostly broken on the Saturn IMO. Sound system is completely buggy, many samples missing compared to the PS1 version and a very bad pixelation bug when you reach Shang Tsung. I really don't think it qualifies since it's clearly inferior to the PS1 port which isn't great already.
I'm not considering the price of the games to include them on the list (otherwise stuff like Super Tempo would have to be excluded later on and it would be an absurd IMO), but I think we should put a red mark/warning for games too expensive/rare or pointing which version is more common when we have such info.

Wasn't Alpha 1 the one that sparked the whole "PS1 version is more arcade accurate due to the blue shadows" Nick Rox fiasco?

HAHAHA! That was a funny proof of the reviewers "expertise" I would say...

I think we're leaning more towards worth playing.

Yep.
But price/collecting info is surely welcome.

Thanks, ZZ.

[j_factor]

That's a very harsh concept IMO. I'll not adopt it any time soon.

I don't think it's harsh at all. Why would I, you, or anyone go out of one's way to play inferior versions of games? I mean unless the differences are really minor.

Weren't you one of the guys who trashed me a few weeks ago when I said Daytona USA wasn't a Saturn exclusive anymore, among other titles??? I was asking for much less than you're asking here, I think...

I don't think so? Daytona USA isn't one of my favorites to begin with. But, I know a lot of people don't like the handling in the Dreamcast version, and prefer it on Saturn for that reason.

I'm not saying the PS1 version is the one to go, I'm not saying people should buy it, I'm not even putting it as a very good version or something... I'm simply saying it's a worth playing fighting game on the PS1, considering its hardware limitations as I'm doing with all games here.

Well, I disagree that it's a worth playing fighting game on the PS1.

In reality, not all people own all systems, not all people are interested on the Dreamcast,

Sure, but you're on a Sega board, not GameFAQs.

as well as not all people have a Neo Geo AES or a MVS consolized otherwise we would have to remove almost all SNK games from those lists...

I think we can exclude Neo Geo due to the massive expense involved. (As an aside, the Neo Geo version isn't always best anyway, but that's irrelevant.)

Or, even worse, remove all games present in those buggy PS2 compilations or Virtual console releases or PS3/XBox 360 compilations...

Why? They're not better.

I really don't see the need to exclude games this way since I thought it was pretty clear that we are analyzing this games considering the hardware limitations of each system and the generation of both consoles.

Well, I don't think that's a very good comparison. If you have an NES vs SMS thread and list a bunch of SMS games that are also on (and better on) Genesis, you'll be quickly accused of listing crap.

I hope you never recommend any Daytona USA on the Saturn anymore as well... The same for most of KOF games on the Dreamcast since they have improved versions on the PS2 and such.

Again, with Daytona, a lot of people prefer the handling on the Saturn, so that one's at least arguable, I think. I don't know enough about the version differences in King of Fighters to comment (though I thought I heard '99 was better on DC?), and I don't recall recommending them for Dreamcast.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

I do agree with the sound problems on Saturn MKII, but at the same time the PS1 has some pretty awful load times as well as loading while in actual gameplay if I remember correctly. In my book I'd say it's enough of a trade off to say they are both equally crappy for different reasons. In all honesty I might actually prefer the 32X version to both of those.

So I'd say put it as borderline for both systems but list the trade offs.

@j_factor
I think what Barone is trying to say is that we don't want to open that can of worms. By including Dreamcast ports in here to disqualify PS1 fighters we are pretty much opening the doors to later console rereleases as well as things like Neo Geo versions of SNK ports for both systems. It just makes things a mess. If we open door now whats to stop us from saying "Why bother with Daytona USA, Virtual On, and Virtua Fighter 2 on the Saturn when you can get better versions of them on XBLA?" That would deal a harsh death blow to the Saturn Library in this debate. Same with if we said "Why bother with Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid when you can get better remakes on the Gamecube?" It's just not fair for this discussion.

So for the sake of this thread, please stay within the scope of the Saturn and PS1 libraries only.

[sheath]

HAHAHA! That was a funny proof of the reviewers "expertise" I would say...

Yup, it is one of those perfect moments where gaming journalism exposes itself for what it really is.

[Barone]

I don't think it's harsh at all. Why would I, you, or anyone go out of one's way to play inferior versions of games? I mean unless the differences are really minor.

Maybe 'cause you like to play stuff in a specific platform, from one single era of gaming, like many people do here???

I don't think so? Daytona USA isn't one of my favorites to begin with. But, I know a lot of people don't like the handling in the Dreamcast version, and prefer it on Saturn for that reason.

I wasn't talking about the DC version. But about this:

Well, I disagree that it's a worth playing fighting game on the PS1.

It's a competent one on one fighting game. I think the problem is that they keep the game title unchanged, which is a nasty selling/marketing move IMO.

Sure, but you're on a Sega board, not GameFAQs.

We don't need to be biased due to that though... And we are in Insert Coin, which is supposed to be for general gaming discussion, at least as I see it.

I think we can exclude Neo Geo due to the massive expense involved. (As an aside, the Neo Geo version isn't always best anyway, but that's irrelevant.)

OK, not the best example but just showing we can include and exclude stuff using any arbitrary rules; yours aren't the only ones nor it's the best one I think.

Why? They're not better.

Some people use stuff like resolution and other attributes to say they are.

Well, I don't think that's a very good comparison.

So PS1 vs Saturn isn't a good comparison? But PS1 vs DC is? Oh, c'mon!

If you have an NES vs SMS thread and list a bunch of SMS games that are also on (and better on) Genesis, you'll be quickly accused of listing crap.

We might have read different threads then, 'cause see people doing it all the time, without being thrashed. Well, at least not when they are been favorable to the Sega consoles...

I do agree with the sound problems on Saturn MKII, but at the same time the PS1 has some pretty awful load times as well as loading while in actual gameplay if I remember correctly. In my book I'd say it's enough of a trade off to say they are both equally crappy for different reasons. In all honesty I might actually prefer the 32X version to both of those.

That's a point about the loading but the PS1 loadings are longer to include more samples. There are two settings in the PS1 version and even the one with less samples and shorter loadings has more samples than the Saturn version.
Also, you mixed up things a bit, is the Saturn version which loads during gameplay (freezes the game briefly to do it) the special moves sprites (thus why I'm not really concerned about the extra 3-4 seconds of loading prior to fight on the PS1). It's lame, lame...

@j_factor
I think what Barone is trying to say is that we don't want to open that can of worms. By including Dreamcast ports in here to disqualify PS1 fighters we are pretty much opening the doors to later console rereleases as well as things like Neo Geo versions of SNK ports for both systems. It just makes things a mess. If we open door now whats to stop us from saying "Why bother with Daytona USA, Virtual On, and Virtua Fighter 2 on the Saturn when you can get better versions of them on XBLA?" That would deal a harsh death blow to the Saturn Library in this debate. Same with if we said "Why bother with Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid when you can get better remakes on the Gamecube?" It's just not fair for this discussion.

So for the sake of this thread, please stay within the scope of the Saturn and PS1 libraries only.

Exactly. A can of worms, we don't want it opened, do we?

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Honestly, I'd be fine if we didn't mention Mortal Kombat II for either system, as at the end of the day neither port is redeeming factor for either console. In fact I'd say it's a blemish on both systems libraries.

So I'd say either don't include it for both systems, or include it for both and mention what's wrong with both. When there's good arguments for the 16-bit and 32X ports being preferred over both 32-bit ports, I'd say there's something wrong with the 32-bit ports.