Doom Port Comparison: Saturn and 32x (With Codes!)

[cptfishstick]

Hey, So I just recently acquired a 32x, and I have been frantically acquiring games for it. My most recent acquisition was Doom. I decided that I was going to compare both the 32x and Saturn versions of the game since they are both relatively Infamous in the Port world.

32x: One of the first things you notice when starting this game is that the viewable window is rather small, smaller than is necessary considering the already low resolution of the 32x output. Although this is an initially jarring problem, it is easy to overcome after a few minutes of play. The first level is missing several of the elements present in the PC original, including aesthetic elements (such as the missing electric columns in the left room), as well as missing secret areas. Despite this, the game play remains largely intact. The game runs decently smooth, and the action remains fast paced.
The controls, however, leave something to be desired. The menu allows you to customize the A, B, and C buttons to either Shoot, Run, or Use. However, if you use a 6 button controller, the x,y, and z buttons also have functions, which are not customizable. The Use button serves the dual function of Strafe modifier, which is problematic.
The sound is the most often demonized aspect of this port. I will admit, it is definitely the worst sounding port of them all. However, The essence of the tunes are preserved, and the music serves its purpose. It is obvious that no real time was spent trying to utilize the 32x sound hardware.
To me, the biggest problem with this version of the game is that their is no save or password feature. They attempted to work around this problem by letting you start on any level you choose from the menu. This has 2 major problems. The first is that you start on these levels with only a pistol, making it far more challenging than if you were continuing a previous game. Worse still is that If you use this skip method, You cant actually finish the game. Its true. You can only play the final level if you play the entire game from start to finish without using the skip. Otherwise your game plays the credits early, and freezes on a command prompt.
There are only 17 levels in this version of Doom. 16 Main levels, and 1 secret level, accessed from level 3. This is short, and I beat this game in about 2 hours straight. Some of the later levels run a bit slower, but are still very playable. Its sad that the system limitations (and cart limits as well) mean that not all of the villains are playable,a nd that their aren't more levels.
Pros: Very playable, the levels included are quite faithful
Cons: No Save/Password feature, Very Short, Small Screen Size
Nitpicks: Wish the sound was better, wish there was deathmatch, can't kill "our hero" at end cast segment.

Saturn: Anyone who has played, or even read about the Saturn port of Doom is used to hearing bad things... and there is a reason for that.Allegedly a straight port of the PSX version, the Saturn version of Doom contains ports of both Doom I, and Doom II, as well as the updated "CD Soundtrack". Booting this game up brings a nice Logo animation, with the word "Doom" rising out of a procedurally rendered Fire. A nice touch, and it looks quite good. Plenty of menu options, including an out of the way password option. It allows you to start on either the First Doom, or the Second Doom.
When I fired up this game, my initial impression was that the load time was short, and the display resolution was respectably high, perfect for doom. However, once you start to move it shows its true colors. This game runs really slow, in the range of sub 20fps on average, and often much lower. Anyone who claims its not that bad has not actally played very far into this game. As someone who has beaten the saturn port, let me assure you that the Frame rate drops further and further the later in the game you are. Some of the last levels have areas that run at under 5 fps. I am not exaggerating, and these areas were almost impossible to beat due simply to player confusion. Every now and then you get into a small corridor and find that the game speeds quite a bit, to the point of being fast. However, these moments are mere seconds long, and often make you realize how bad the rest of the game is even more. I can't stress enough how bad the frame rate is, it makes the game unbearable. Thanks to the Password feature, I was allowed to take breaks from playing it. It took me over a month of on and off play to beat this game because of frustration alone.
I would also like to note real quick that people often bring up the Quake Comparison. This is the argument that the Saturn could have ran Doom because It ran Quake so well. This is a null argument because they use completely different Engines that use different methods for rendering. However, The Hexen argument is valid, since they use nearly identical engines. Hexen ran well enough on the Saturn, so Doom Should too.
All of that isn't to say that there aren't good things about this version. The controls are extremely solid. With Bumper strafing, and a high level of responsiveness, it is easy to control your character as long as the frames keep rolling out. The map function is top notch, and the frame rate skyrockets in this mode. I often played the game partially in map mode so that I could move across the map more quickly. The new soundtrack that is unique to the PSX and Saturn versions is actually really good. Its got a very creepy ambience, and Is a good change for seasoned Doom Fans like myself. However, I can't deny that there is something sad about missing the classic Doom Soundtrack. It would have been nice to have a menu option offering a choice between the music. Another pluss, in lieu of the poor frame rate, is that this game is rather long. It has the same number of levels as the playstation version: 59. Many of them are really faithful to the PC version, and lots of them are heavily adjusted or completley New. The most notable additions are the secret levels Club Doom and the Mansion. These are quality levels, and worth a look for any Doom Fan out there. The final level of Doom 2 is extremely disappointing, and an embarrassment to the efforts put forth by the player.
Despite some of these quality elements, the Frame rate makes this game virtually unplayable (at least without excessive frustration). Plus, the Saturn and PSX versions were both running on capable hardware, so I don't know why all of the enemies weren't present in this version. It makes no sense.

Pros: Responsive Controls, Cool Soundtrack, Some good New Levels
Cons: Worst Frame rate Ever, Missing all of the enemies from original, terrible last level
Nitpicks:No Deathmatch, no original soundtrack option, No apology in the manual.


Despite being short and requiring a single sitting play through to get the last level, the 32x version is really the only port worth owning on a Sega system. It may have its problems, but it is still very playable, and most importantly, Enjoyable. The Saturn one is just embarrassing. Its very hard to play due to the poor fps. Only completists should try for this game.

For those of you that own the Saturn version of Doom, let me help you out. Here are some passwords from my personal game that allow you to see some of the milestones in the game without suffering through the majority of it:
bv035mmsmp - Cyberdemon Level
rm71x!jhbd - Final Level Of Doom 1 segment - Threshold of Pain
1dkmmf5w64 - Doom 2 first level, but with all the weapons from beating Doom 1
j6tg8wndxv - Suburbs - Level with access to Mansion secret level
p8mkk2d9z1 - Mansion Secret Level, has access to Club Secret Level
mtpdgn1c1z - Club Secret Level, really funny
j1dhq8c3!8 - Final Level of Doom 2 - Redemption Denied


-CptFishStick

[BananaXX]

Very well written comparisons, I agree 100% on the 32x version (never played the Saturn one). I still love playing the 32x version from time to time as it was the first version I ever played of Doom. Though both have their short comings, do you prefer a version out of the two?

[nightrnr]

I've always enjoyed the 32x port of the game. It gives Doom a more classic feel to it because you have to start at the beginning every time. It just changes the purpose of the game for me (in a good way); makes the fight for survival all the more intense.

I always wanted the Satrun port for the collection. But I just can't justify spending too much on it. Plus, I ask myself, how many versions of the game do I really need?