Finally Beat Revenge of Shinobi!

[Nu-Eclipse]

Actually, I just watched a video and the graphics on E-SWAT arcade are the same quality as the Mega Drives! Rose-tinted specs and all that.

Don't know if I'd go that far. E-SWAT isn't overly graphically impressive but it did have a certain form of SEGA arcade polish to it. The MD version is definitely a step down from it.

That said, I do believe that the MD could've handled a reasonable conversion of the original coin-op albeit with a few corners cut - same with Shadow Dancer. I guess the MD's limitations and/or developer inexperience with getting the best out of MD hardware early on led to those two games getting MD adaptations that differed from their arcade fathers.

Even then, that doesn't really make sense when you consider that the SMS versions of E-SWAT and Shadow Dancer were actual ports of their coin-op counterparts. Weird logic from SEGA there.

[QualityChimp]

Seriously, I've just watched walkthrough videos for both versions and the graphical differences are negligible.

I always thought Moonwalker was really graphically polished too, but having just seen that in action too, I'm convinced the MD could've handled it too.

[J0e Musashi]

...And I STILL don't understand why MD Shadow Dancer differed from the coin-op original whereas the SMS version ported the coin-op?

I've always wondered the same thing. The SMS version isn't actually that close to the arcade version though. It looks similar but there is a hell of a lot missing. The MD version being an entirely different game altogether is rather strange though, you'd have thought it'd have been the other way around.

[J0e Musashi]

Seriously, I've just watched walkthrough videos for both versions and the graphical differences are negligible.

I always thought Moonwalker was really graphically polished too, but having just seen that in action too, I'm convinced the MD could've handled it too.

The MD could never handle arcade Moonwalker. It could only do Mercs with single player. It would have been a similar story with Moonwalker.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Seriously, I've just watched walkthrough videos for both versions and the graphical differences are negligible.

I always thought Moonwalker was really graphically polished too, but having just seen that in action too, I'm convinced the MD could've handled it too.

Seriously, I've recently had both games running at home, coin-op via MAME and MD game via Emu. There is a difference. Not much, but there is one.

As for Arcade Moonwalker and MD Moonwalker, iirc they effectively run on different architecture so an MD port of that coin-op would've been much tougher to undertake.

[Nu-Eclipse]

It could only do Mercs with single player.

To be fair, the vast difference between coin-op Mercs and MD Mercs comes down to CPS-1, one of the all-time great pieces of arcade hardware. MD couldn't even properly replicate SEGA'S Mega-Tech work so no chance in hell does it replicate a game like Mercs.

[J0e Musashi]

To be fair, the vast difference between coin-op Mercs and MD Mercs comes down to CPS-1, one of the all-time great pieces of arcade hardware. MD couldn't even properly replicate SEGA'S System 16 work so no chance in hell does it replicate a game like Mercs.

Which is why I think they didn't even try to replicate arcade Moonwalker, as the MD could never have handled it. System 18 is slightly more powerful than CPS-1 iirc. Thinking about it, it is probably the same reason MD Shadow Dancer is not an arcade port too.

[ShadowDancer]

Shadow Dancer Arcade Graphics are absolutely beautiful. In general, I'm a fan of sega games on the Mega drive, graphically speaking. Stuff like streets of rage as an obvious answer is just beautiful. I love how the SNES & Megadrive are different, same as nes and sms, always room in my heart for both.

[Team Andromeda]

Which is why I think they didn't even try to replicate arcade Moonwalker, as the MD could never have handled it. .

The Mega Drive version of MERCS is very close port and most prob the best port of the game on the home 16 bit systems . Strider was a stunning port (for the time too) So the MD was more up to handling CP 1 ports . Most prob with a 8 Meg Cart and more time Mecrs could have had a 2 player mode on the MD

Which is why I think they didn't even try to replicate arcade Moonwalker, as the MD could never have handled it

I actually think the MD version is much better than the Arcade version . Shame SEGA didn't make a Mega CD version of the MD game with better graphics, music and samples

Thinking about it, it is probably the same reason MD Shadow Dancer is not an arcade port too.

Alien Storm was very close on the Mega Drive so I don't think that was it . More like the consumer Team just wanted to make the game a bit different for the home . If one looks at Shinobi III there's no reason why the MD couldn't handle a very decent port of Shadow Dancer (more with a bigger Cart)

[Nu-Eclipse]

Coin-op Moonwalker p1sses all over MD Moonwalker. It's simply not a contest.

[J0e Musashi]

There's no way MD could handle System 18 ports.

[Nu-Eclipse]

There's no way MD could handle System 18 ports.

Don't disagree with that at all.

But let's not pretend that MD Moonwalker was a great game. It wasn't. The coin-op shows that clearly.

[nakamura]

I've never been a big fan of RoS. I find it puts you in unfair situations and it's quite frustrating to play. Kudos for finishing it SD!

I adored Shadow Dancer in the arcade. Used to play it most days after school. Recently discovered Shinobi 3 and loving that also. Need to get the eshop version.

[J0e Musashi]

Arcade Moonwalker isn't even that good really. I used to play it most mornings before swimming. The MD game I've never been a fan of once the novelty of having it at home wore off.

Shinobi 3 is badass. It's quite easy though, if only because of all the moves Musashi has at his disposal.

[Baseley09]

Kujakuō 2 is where it's at really.