Name The Games That Were Better Than Arcade Versions

[ZEUSDAZ]

There have been tons of cases where home versions of arcade games ended up far weaker than the arcade parent which in most cases is understandable and yet we happily played them during our evenings during the week only to race down to the arcade at the weekend and play the arcade versions of those games.
However, in quite a few cases the home versions not only have been virtually arcade perfect but even surpassing them by being much more enjoyable, played and sounded far better than those arcade versions, can you name any

Let's kick it of:
Silkworm,
Double Dragon 3,
Double Dragon II (possibly),
Renegade (on the main 8-bits, not on Amiga or ST as they were YUK!).

Take it away chaps!.....................

[roondar]

I see you're feeling particularly brave today

Anyway, I've personally always found the Amiga version of Rod-Land to look better than the Arcade version. I know it has far fewer colours and the art is quite different, but I like the look of the Amiga version much better than the Arcade one.

Another one to add is the Mega Drive version of Golden Axe. It most definitely did not look or sound better, but it played very well and had a bonus stage that wasn't part of the arcade game.

[Gordon]

Goldenaxe. Gameplay balanced just right.


Not official but shout out to Donkey Kong. 5th level great.

[Solo Kazuki]

Rod-Land for Amiga is shorter than Arcade version, episode two is missing. More about it is written here.

[roondar]

Originally Posted by Solo Kazuki

Rod-Land for Amiga is shorter than Arcade version, episode two is missing. More about it is written here.

It still looks better though
(IMHO, don't kill me )

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Goldenaxe. Gameplay balanced just right.

Not sure how you can say this; the arcade version of Golden Axe is perfect and quite easy to finish in one credit.

None of the conversions are close to as good.

[CFou!]

Originally Posted by roondar

I see you're feeling particularly brave today

Anyway, I've personally always found the Amiga version of Rod-Land to look better than the Arcade version. I know it has far fewer colours and the art is quite different, but I like the look of the Amiga version much better than the Arcade one.

Another one to add is the Mega Drive version of Golden Axe. It most definitely did not look or sound better, but it played very well and had a bonus stage that wasn't part of the arcade game.

idem for Rodland but badly not epidod 2...

[dreadnought]

The port of Renegade on ZX Spectrum was amazing, but was it better than the arcade? Wouldn't go that far. And definitely not Golden Axe...

[saimon69]

I have the feeling that Motos on the ZX spectrum might be a better experience than the arcade itself

[jotd]

how can a port be better than the model it's trying to faithfully reproduce? This thread is about this, not about "ports that are very faithful to the arcade version".

Except if some classic gets revamped graphics on an AGA machine in the next years…

Silkworm stands out, as the helicopter fire system of the arcade is super hard. At least Amiga/ST version makes the game easier & playable.

[dreadnought]

Originally Posted by jotd

how can a port be better than the model it's trying to faithfully reproduce?

By having better gameplay and/or fx & some extras? Amiga had enough juice to do that with at least the older games, and the scope of this thread has now expanded to at least 16-bit consoles too.

[van_dammesque]

Originally Posted by jotd

how can a port be better than the model it's trying to faithfully reproduce? This thread is about this, not about "ports that are very faithful to the arcade version".

Except if some classic gets revamped graphics on an AGA machine in the next years…

Silkworm stands out, as the helicopter fire system of the arcade is super hard. At least Amiga/ST version makes the game easier & playable.

I think you answered your own question, that is sometimes in a conversion the essence of the game is there but it is not a coin muncher, effectively by making it slightly easier it becomes more enjoyable.

[ZEUSDAZ]

Originally Posted by saimon69

I have the feeling that Motos on the ZX spectrum might be a better experience than the arcade itself

Motos was BRILLIANT on the ZX Spectrum - 128k version

[Superman]

Pacmania

[Retro-Nerd]

Midnight Resistance! This 2-rotary stick on the arcade cabinet never worded. On computers it was finally playable.

[alexh]

The music on the Amiga version of escape from the planet of the robot monsters is better than the arcade version. I know I own one.

[Gardhul]

Can't remember a better arcade conversion that Rainbow Island on Amiga

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by Retro-Nerd

Midnight Resistance! This 2-rotary stick on the arcade cabinet never worded. On computers it was finally playable.

I love arcade games that use the rotary joystick; and with I could get one for home arcade joysticks

Some examples:

... Cal .50 - Caliber Fifty
... Heavy Barrel
... Midnight Resistance

[ZEUSDAZ]

What about Operation Thunderbolt?! That was a pretty damn good conversion from Ocean considering the power of the arcade original.

[PatmanQC]

Originally Posted by roondar

I see you're feeling particularly brave today

Anyway, I've personally always found the Amiga version of Rod-Land to look better than the Arcade version. I know it has far fewer colours and the art is quite different, but I like the look of the Amiga version much better than the Arcade one.

Another one to add is the Mega Drive version of Golden Axe. It most definitely did not look or sound better, but it played very well and had a bonus stage that wasn't part of the arcade game.

.
Rodland Fixed a couple of bugs that were in the arcade version.