AwesomeMonstar wrote:WROOONG!Mod_Man_Extreme wrote:Wrong.Mr.White555 wrote:Also the Earthworm Jim was better for snes. In the snes version you can switch weapons... genesis you can't.
Earthworm Jim runs at a higher resolution, has a higher frame rate, has better music and showcases more graphical effects on the Genesis.
It was originally designed for the Genesis and was only re-released for the SNES later after the Genesis version had become a hit and that says something of the SNES port's lousy quality (Missing music, missing effects, lower resolution etc... etc...) when compared to the original genesis version.
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/earthw ... ormjim.htmI actually kind of like the color palette more on the genesis version, but still, this one might be up to opinion.Earthworm Jim was initially released on the Genesis and Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo version has better graphics, with more defined colors and lots of extra special effects, and nearly all of the stages have an extra level of background scrolling. The Genesis version isn't quite as nice, as the backgrounds have a dithered look to them, but it still looks pretty excellent, plus it has one extra stage, Intestinal Distress. The explanation behind this was that the Genesis version was more easily compressed and had the room for the bonus level. Both versions also have different sound synth, and while the SNES version has better (and in some cases, different) digitized samples, the difference in the soundtrack is more a matter of taste.
EWJ2 definitely looks better on the snes though.
@AwesomeMonster - not to tread on any credibility in your quote of that article. A few things.
Mod_Man says that the genny ran at higher resolution, the article does not touch on this in any manner. Lower resolution can still have more colours and less dithered effects. They are independent of each other.
Mod_Man brings up framerate which again that article does not touch on in any way.
Mod_Man says genny has better music. But as your quoted article even states, that's a matter of taste. Doesn't make Mod_Man right, but it doesn't destroy mod_man's statement.
Mod_Man also states extra graphical effects. Now this your quoted article does stand against with its statements about special effects. But also your article brings up that the genny had more levels (intestinal distress namely). Mod_Man didn't quite specifically state what these extra graphics were, so it's more of a fence statement.
The SNES does have missing music (namely music for areas that don't exist, or changed sound tracks... this can be considered missing). It does have missing graphics and effects, namely an entire missing level. I have no proof of lower resolution or higher, I do know the SNES is capable of higher resolutions then the genny, but that doesn't mean it uses said resolutions. I can't say one way or the other (anyone with tech specs of EWJ1 on SNES and on Genny, I would be grateful).
In conclussion though, I agree, it's all a matter of taste and opinion. With that said, that does not make Mod_Man any more "WROOONG!" then you are for stating your own opinion as well. I am not saying Mod_Man was right either... and I am not siding with him on his statements.
I prefer the Sega CD version personally. I played the shit out of the Genny and SCD version (never actually even seen the SNES version). My choice is just that opinion... it's what I played, and damn shit I prefer it. And I don't care WHAT the SNES does with the game, no version beats the Sega CD version except the PC version, which is basically the Sega CD version with better colour palettes. That's a given, as from a technical standpoint it obviousily stacks up better in that amount of extra content and superb soundtrack. Even in the sequel Sega got the better version with the Saturn release, but that's neither here nor there as the thread is about Genny and SNES.
[EDIT]
a return, as I pulled up my emulators to compare the SNES version, and my reaction to it is as follows. First off I ran these at the base graphical settings, so that they appeared on screen with no filters and at the resolutions set in game.
Resolution - The Genny version certainly has a higher dpi. The vertical resolution is about the same, with the genny being a little shorter, but it certainly has a larger horizontal resolution. Which would lead to a higher dpi.
Colour - the SNES should be the clear winner here. But it doesn't pan out as that drastic a difference. Now of course this runs from the fact it was originally designed for the Genny, so the original palette it was based on fits into the genny. In such not a lot of colour depth was added to the SNES version. Furthermore due to such lack of extra colour depth, it makes it look more like it belongs on the Genny... the darkness comes out and sets the normal EWJ mood I remember fondly.
Saturation, Contrast, other shit outside of colour depth itself - now here the SNES certainly does show itself as being superbly better. The dithered effect in the Genny version is quite obvious in comparison. There's nothing I have to say here really, SNES is the clear winner in this respect.
Controls - I don't, the genny one just seems much tighter and more responsive. We're certainly dealing with an engine that control wise wasn't really optimized (lots of buggy situations), but in the end it ties in better on the Genny... as if porting said engine to the SNES created just a couple more little bugs to appear. It's close, but I give this to Genny.
Background Effects - the scrolling backgrounds are pretty much identical in the number of them... there is nothing extra here. What IS added is the SNES added in several little extra effects in the background. Like a solar flare in the first level here. With the graphics being smoothed out and these added little bling... this goes to SNES really.
Foreground effects and animation - I really see no difference, nothing to special going in between the two. And I'm not surprised, EWJ was hand drawn and then scanned in... to add any extras they'd have to redraw it for the SNES, and they probably didn't want to bother with that whole process. Tie...
Music - the controversial one... and I want to approach this as objectively as I can.
My sound system is a Denon AVR-3803 with very good quality Polk sound set up. This is all fed by the optical out of a Auzentech X-Plosion DTS sound card. Audio is being played in Stereo mode (both versions are stereo, only fitting to keep it as such).
A cue to that I'm not playing this through garbage:
The results for me?
first and foremost, they are VERY different in content. The soundtracks are very retooled for the SNES. The actual sound effects and music themselves from a content point of view is complete bias and I don't want to rate such. So personally taste of soundtrack is not in question here, it's quality of sound coming out of my speakers.
Bass/lows - the SNES has none. My bass doesn't ripple once... the Genny ripples with great ambient bass.
Mids - The SNES is flat. There is very little depth in the mids. One thing SEGA did well back in the day was despite not having the most clear and real quality sound... they knew how to make a chip that made what sound they were pumping sound good. Most soundtracks could create great depth and 3 dimensional feeling with the stereo sound... though extremely synth, the mids feel like they're coming in multiple layers at you. The mids in the SNES feel like they stand in one mid layer that spans ahead of me... and this in contrast with the highs make for a horrible combination for my experience.
Highs - SNES seemed to of placed all the sound effects (jumping, whips, landing, etc) in the highs. Much sharper and more in front then the music. It does not blend well with the background music. To be 100% sure, I tested this will multiple emulators, including a Linux exclussive version that was designed specifically for exact replication (which has the downside of requiring tons of resources). The sound effects leap out in front of the music causing them to sound forced. The Genny sound effects in turn blend in with it creating much better ambience and general all around inclussion into the mix.
Use of the hardware available - The SNES version, even in retooling the soundtrack, doesn't even scrape the surface of the capabilities of the SNES's sound chip. This isn't really SNES's fault, the developers of the game were used to the Genesis hardware (Shiny and Perry worked exclusively on the Genny for a long time already). But still they didn't, and as an end product it suffers for it. Where as the sound in the Genny one uses the full potential of the Genny sound chip. Though this means a much lower roof, they still fill the room up with all the sound they possibly can... and really push it hard. You can tell in the SNES version they went for the same 'synth' sound, which the hardware just doesn't do as well... yeah the synth sound in general is a lower standard then the SNES, but when a synth sound is what you're attempting, then the SNES chip is useless.
It's like consider if you were attempting to emulate the sound of a record player, the record player itself is going to be more accurate in recreating the experience... because that's the experience you are trying to create! The record player is much lower quality then say a CD, but when you want record player quality, that's where you go! You don't attempt to emulate it with other stuff... if you do the experience is going to diminish for it.
Quality of the sound being replicated... the SNES does show through here. Though the sounds themselves come out flat in the mids, or forced in the highs. They in themselves are much clearer, the SNES is much better at doing such a thing! The voice overs of Jim sound more accurate, the whips and helicoptering SFX sound like what they are supposed to be. What the SNES is trying to say it says clear... but it says it in a boring flat and forced manner.
In the end, from what I attempt to be an objectional tally of the sound. I want to give it to the genny. Preference in the actual soundtrack (the essence of the song), that's completely subjective. But the quality at which said sound is played back, the genny, for its lower capabilities, shines ahead because the sound track takes full advantage of what the genny has to offer.
My main point is the utter LACK of any lows/bass in the SNES version is really the killer for me. It leaves an attrocious audio experience in my book. You get what sounds like two layers of sound, one mid filled with all the music, and the other high filled with what sounds like forced sound effects. Where as the genny version blends multiple layers of sound together. It's sad the SNES version didn't do more with it, because the hardware of the SNES is quite obviousily capable of so much more! But alas they didn't.
So over all that's:
2 clear wins for the Genny
2 clear wins for the SNES
a couple ties... the colour is to close for me to call, atmosphere compared to a little better gradient scaling... meh
and the music, well, to remain objectional... I'm not giving it to either.
Overall a tie, it boils all down to which you prefer... better visual graphics... or better controls and overall ambient atmosphere. The game was designed for the genny, and it fits into the genny so much smoother. You can just tell that is what it was designed for. The SNES one just left me sitting there asking myself why? The extra effects in the background just contrasted the feelings more... I was like, "WHY, WHY have that but then not push the sound chip as far as it can!? Why have that and not tighten the controls? Why have that and not add some better colours to the mix... this thing can do all these things 10,000 times better, and yet you don't." Especially considering the call I took with the Sound/Music... I personally feel, in the most objectional light I can cast, that the genny really does prove out as being better. It is really why my opinion falls on the genny in the end. But still due to the controversy of the sound between the SNES and Genny AND the fact that they are completely retooled... I can't conscientiously give it to the genny and not expect tons of backlash.
So no I give it a tie... a tie that tilts a bit towards the genny. And I'm going to suspect that slight tilt is my bias push its little finger on it. I can easily say though that if you owned both the genny and the SNES... you'll enjoy the Genny version more. But to go out and get a genny for that version? No... the SNES stands up extremely well against the genny version, and will give nearly all the experience you would expect from the game.
[edit2]
Oh I completely forgot! That objectional review was from a technical stand point.
But I left out the missing level!!! Gotta say, no matter what extra little 'bling' you add does NOT make up for a missing level (an awesome level at that)... yes there's a reason the level isn't in the SNES, but that's not an excuse!
this changes it all together.
Winner is clearly the genny from the most objectional view point I can make.
