Marvel Super Heroes SAT/PS1 Review... which is the best!?

[wip3outguy7]

Great comparison review! Very well written and thorough. I recall playing both versions for a short while when they were new. I do recall the PS1 version preforming better. I kind of thought it was odd at the time. I also played the PS1 version first. I chalked it up to the fact that I didn't bother to plug the ram cart in when playing the Saturn version. I was too busy playing SFA2 those days to explore it any further.

I would be very interested in seeing you compare the 3 versions of Street Fighter Alpha / Zero 3 from that era.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

In that case, the Dreamcast version is just better.

[CD AGES]

Great comparison review! Very well written and thorough. I recall playing both versions for a short while when they were new. I do recall the PS1 version preforming better. I kind of thought it was odd at the time. I also played the PS1 version first. I chalked it up to the fact that I didn't bother to plug the ram cart in when playing the Saturn version. I was too busy playing SFA2 those days to explore it any further.

Thank you. Ah Alpha 2. I put alot of time on that game as a kid on the Arcade, SNES, PS1, and SAT. SNES port was shouldn't have been made PS1 port was a fairly compromised port with lots of missing frames of animation and a sad recording of the attract intro sequence

I would be very interested in seeing you compare the 3 versions of Street Fighter Alpha / Zero 3 from that era.

Hope this helps a bit
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37811&start=30

[wip3outguy7]

In that case, the Dreamcast version is just better.

That's always the general consensus and why there should be a comparison.

I have played all three and I always felt the Saturn version was the best all around. The ram cart gave it an edge even over the Dreamcast version. The Dreamcast version may have been a port of the Naomi version, but the Dreamcast was still lacking the ram needed to include all of the animation and full sized sprites.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37811&start=30

Oh, I understand that the PS2 version is "definitive", but I was specifically talking about the ports on the PS1, Saturn and Dreamcast as they all came out around the same time.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

The Saturn had 2MB of main RAM (expanded to 6MB) and ~1.5 VRAM. The Dreamcast has 16MB of main RAM and 8MB VRAM. How could memory be an issue?

[wip3outguy7]

The Saturn had 2MB of main RAM (expanded to 6MB) and ~1.5 VRAM. The Dreamcast has 16MB of main RAM and 8MB VRAM. How could memory be an issue?

*shrug* Then I have no idea what I'm talking about. Sprites were bigger, seemed to be more animation, collision detection seemed closer to the arcade.

Edit: Here is a thread over at the Neo-Geo.com forums where they discuss the different versions of SFZ3:
CLICK ME

No real comparisons in gameplay, but the sprites are definitely larger and there are a few other bits of animation in there that even the Dreamcast version was missing.

SFA3 for the Dreamcast suffers from the same problem EVERY 2D fighting game Capcom made for the system suffers from. They drew the sprites small and scaled them to save RAM. This gives a very pixelated, ugly look to every character. I can kind of understand this approach with MvC2 because it has to have at least 6 characters loaded at one time, but why the hell did all the one-on-one fighting games need this? Compare Vampire Savior on the Saturn with Vampire Chronicle on the Dreamcast, it's ugly...

Maybe the Dreamcast's smaller sprites are just a lazy programing. Or maybe they reused the assets from the Playstation version (the sprites appear to be the same size) to get the game out the door.

Anyway, sorry for hijacking your review thread, CDAGES.

[CD AGES]

Oh, I understand that the PS2 version is "definitive", but I was specifically talking about the ports on the PS1, Saturn and Dreamcast as they all came out around the same time.

I supplied the link to show that i have had very little exposure to the Saturn release of Zero3 so i am not suited to do a comparison review much like you have requested. I'm sure it'll be a long while before i find a copy of the game on the Saturn.

Sprites were bigger, seemed to be more animation

I here this alot! If you recall from the review, I mentioned how the picture image on many Saturn 2D fighters are blown up so this could attribute to the larger sprites for sure. I've recalled hearing about how the Saturn version has exclusive frames of animation that cannot be seen in other port of the game (Hawk having a unique retreat animation if memory serves me right). Would you be able to confirm this particular circumstance and provide feedback?

Maybe the Dreamcast's smaller sprites are just a lazy programing. Or maybe they reused the assets from the Playstation version (the sprites appear to be the same size) to get the game out the door.

Anyway, sorry for hijacking your review thread, CDAGES.

Whatever became of the DC port was perhaps not so much of laziness but more a result of Capcom having a tight deadline to release the game (near the US launch date if i recall as well as dropping before the SAT version) and the simple fact that Capcom was still fairly new at converting their CPS2 titles to Dreamcast hardware with MVC1 being their only try prior to Zero 3. Capcom had plenty of experience under their belt with the Saturn hardware by that time.

No need to apologize. It's all within the subject matter of the topic at hand.

[AppleQueso]

Why? the ps2 will output this great 240p game in 480i! That not good for anybody. I´d say play on a ps1 with RGB scart cable or ps3 with hdmi upscaled to 1080p.

You can just use an RGB scart cable on the ps2. It'll output in 240p no problem... no clue where you got the idea that it'll force it into 480i...

Then there's the fact that you're apparently horrified by the idea of upscaling 240p to 480i, but are totally cool with upscaling it to 1080p...

Yeah I just have that problem that on my tv it show 240p as 480i when using component, sorry.
But upscaling ps1 games on the ps3 looks excellent. I just hate interlacing, but upscaling is ok.

Bolded the important bit.

If you're going to be using a component transcoder for RGB scart though... then using a Ps1 won't help you either.

[wip3outguy7]

Would you be able to confirm this particular circumstance and provide feedback?

I wish I could provide a more information regarding the Saturn port, but I actually gave my copy away years ago (yeah, that's right, gave away). So you could also say that my knowledge of the differences is about 10 years old. Even then, my friends and I played all three versions pretty regularly and the differences stick out in my mind.

Not quite as extreme as the differences between PSX Alpha 2 and Saturn Alpha 2, but different enough that we played Zero 3 on the Saturn most.

While I'm at it, Alpha 2 was the game that made me buy a Saturn in the first place. I had all but written the system off until Alpha 2 was released. The PSX version was laughable. I remember working at Software Etc and testing the game out in the store. A good chunk of the store's staff were pretty serious fighting game players. After the horrible FMV intro, massive slow down and mountains of missing animation, my boss suggested we pop in the Saturn version to see how it fared. 30 mins later I was picking up a Saturn from the Toys R' Us across the street for $50 (they were blowing out their stock as the system wasn't selling worth a damn).

I was surprised when the Saturn and PSX versions of Alpha 2' / Gold were practically the same. I would be willing to say the PSX port of ' / Gold is an edge above the Saturn one. The color pallet seems more vibrant and Super and Super Turbo on the 2nd disc were much better than their Saturn counterparts.

[CD AGES]

While I'm at it, Alpha 2 was the game that made me buy a Saturn in the first place. I had all but written the system off until Alpha 2 was released. The PSX version was laughable. I remember working at Software Etc and testing the game out in the store. A good chunk of the store's staff were pretty serious fighting game players. After the horrible FMV intro, massive slow down and mountains of missing animation, my boss suggested we pop in the Saturn version to see how it fared. 30 mins later I was picking up a Saturn from the Toys R' Us across the street for $50 (they were blowing out their stock as the system wasn't selling worth a damn).

I was surprised when the Saturn and PSX versions of Alpha 2' / Gold were practically the same. I would be willing to say the PSX port of ' / Gold is an edge above the Saturn one. The color pallet seems more vibrant and Super and Super Turbo on the 2nd disc were much better than their Saturn counterparts.

Yes Alpha 2 and Night Warriors on the Saturn were true testaments of the default hardware as these games were damn impressive arcade ports that didn't make any use of RAM cart expansions. These titles have a special place in collection (these 2 games are my favorite of their respective franchises in the arcade and it was real nice having a great port of these 2 on one console). I can't say the PS1 version having considerable slowdown worth mentioning but the game did suffer from copious amounts of animation frame loss and that embarrassing FMV intro.
Yes on SF Collection! I still firmly believe SSF2 Turbo (found on disc 1) is superior on the PSX! No contest in this regard.

Edit:

Saturn from the Toys R' Us across the street for $50 (they were blowing out their stock as the system wasn't selling worth a damn).

I just caught this! Damn, that must have been awesome! Granted i got my first 2 Saturns for free back in early 2000 but still. I gave one of those two to a good friend. Now he simply loves the Saturn.