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So it looks like arcade ports?

Can you clarify a bit about what games would or wouldn't count? For example, does something like Double Dragon II on the Game Boy count (the game is in fact a rebranded Kunio-kun Game Boy game that never had an arcade version), or would that be ruled out since it isn't any kind of approximation of the arcade game? What about the NES port of Double Dragon II, which is itself still pretty distinct from the arcade experience?

I suppose it is fine to play lots of faithful arcade ports? Like, if I wanted to treat this month as a chance to play well-liked ports of games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, Strider, Gradius, R-Type, etc. would that be fine, or (per some of the wording in the OP) are you specifically looking for games that already had "two strikes" of poorly received outings?

Yeah, looks like 8/16-bit arcade wins the poll and will be March's theme!

Basically, the goal is to play home ports of arcade games, not new or modified games inspired by the arcade. It's to take a look and see what kinds of compromises home platforms had to make, but also what aspects of arcade titles rise above the hardware. I think all the NES Double Dragon ports would be excluded, sadly. But you could pick popular or unpopular titles. No limitation there.

The 2 strikes was reference to the fact that this theme didn't get selected last year, and due to finishing 2nd last year during its month, was included in the best-of-the-losers voting and also lost there.

Cool, thanks for clarifying. That's a huge range of options - probably a good 1/3 to 1/2 of the 8-bit and 16-bit libraries were arcade ports.

Speaking as someone who really really likes the lesser-loved systems of this era, if anyone has been looking for an excuse to play some Sega 32X or Atari 7800 games (or to finally try out these systems), this would be a great month to do it...many of their arcade ports are among their best offerings...

I think I might subject myself to some C64 games for this month. It's absolutely rife with arcade ports, legal or otherwise.

Sload Soap wrote:I think I might subject myself to some C64 games for this month. It's absolutely rife with arcade ports, legal or otherwise.

Hmm, that's not a "console" though...

Marurun, are computer ports cool?

dsheinem wrote:

Sload Soap wrote:I think I might subject myself to some C64 games for this month. It's absolutely rife with arcade ports, legal or otherwise.

Hmm, that's not a "console" though...

Marurun, are computer ports cool?

Computer ports weren't meant to be included, but I'll make an exception as long as a port of the game selected is ALSO sampled on a console for comparison. So computer ports are not OK by themselves unless paired with a console/handheld port to further a look at the game. Same goes for the arcade original. If you want an excuse to play the arcade original, do so, as long as you also play a console or handheld port to share a little comparison or analysis. This should be all about looking at what console devs wrestled with: good scrolling and sprite handling, but not as good as the arcades, paired with relatively limited memory, etc... What's compromised and what still works?

Dang it. Master System it is then.

If anyone wants to bounce any ideas off us looking forward to March, now's the time! There are lots of great titles worth trying out. If you have too many options, let us help narrow them down. If you don't have enough, we can make recommendations of items you can pick up before March is here.