8/16-bit arcade ports that were better than the originals

Turtles in Time (SNES): Had better bosses, like a Rocksteady & Bepop fight and the surf/hoverboard levels worked much better as "bonus stages".

Commando (C64): The controls felt more responsive, and of course the music was awesome.

Rygar (NES): Actually, this may not count as an arcade port since it was more like a different game with the same title, but the arcade game was boring and repetitive, while the NES one was more like a Zelda clone and had some variety.

Contra (NES): Always preferred the "feel" of this version to the arcade one.

Super Hang-On (MD): You could buy upgrades for your bike between races.

Super Monaco GP (MD): There was a whole new World Championship mode..

 

Area 88 SFC > Area 88 AC

But I have to disagree with your Super Hang on and Super Monaco GP. The arcade ones were so much better than the wimpy MD ports.

 

The obvious examples: games like Bionic Commando and Ninja Gaiden, that more than ports were well done adaptations that changed them from cool arcade games into cool console games.

 

How?

ESPGaluda: Perfect port + arcade hardware bug not-present + best arrange mode of any game evar!

 

How did Area 88 for the arcade suck compared to the SNES? I thought it had coop mode which was awesome?

 

Man, Commando on the C64! Now THAT brings back memories. And yes, the music sounded much, MUCH better on the C64 - it had more... drama, to it.

I loved that one.

Doesn't Area 88 sound better on the SFC too?

 

Area 88 on the Arcade is just a linear and kinda boring h-shooter, which you will play through in almost no time (beaten it in the hey arcade with a 1cc, 1st try), WHILE Area 88 on the SFC in contrary is kinda very cool "strategic" h-shooter with lots of variations to fight your way through it, which makes it a quite unique programm in this genre.

The graphics are fantastic and technically it can hold-up quite well, regarding due the fact that it is one of the SFCs 1st programm release.

 

Scratch my ESPGaluda entry. Forgot the 8/16-bit thingy.

 

Mercs MD. No 2-3 player option sadly, but everything else is spot on and a great arcade conversion. Add in the 'original' mode, which is longer than the arcade mode, has a basic weapon / character upgrade system and a few secrets dotted around the levels and you have a winner (imo).

I rate Golden Axe MD on a par with the arcade (so not techinically one for this thread I admit). What little it lacks in the conversion it makes up with the changes (extra level / ending / duel mode).

 

I agree on the Mega Drive port of Mercs. A fantastic conversion with the bonus mode that really made it in to a packed value cartridge.

 

Super Contra (or Super C). I think the playability has increased as a result of the conversion to the Famicom/NES.

Slap Fight MD - enhanced port of the arcade original

VV/Grindstormer - contains both versions and the port is technically quite well done and close to the original

 

Yeah, Area 88, absolutely, I just forgot it in my original post. The only complaint I have is that one cave level, which is really hard to beat without the diagonal shot.

Just like Rygar, dunno if those actually count as arcade ports, more like completely different games with the same name, especially since wasn't the Ninja Gaiden arcade more of a beat 'em up than platformer? They are better than the arcade versions, though.

 

I liked Area 88/UN Squadron for the arcade MUCH better, it was full-speed where-as the SNES version seemed kinda 'laggy'. Plus the arcade has a sequal which the SNES doesn't.

 

Some games like Ninja Gaiden (and Strider) were NOT ports because they were either developed in parallel by separate teams, or the arcade release was after the home release (in Ninja Gaiden's case.)

 

the ninja warriors
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ninjawarriors/ninjawarriors.htm

 

You must mean "The Ninjawarriors Again" (SNES) is better, since the home "Ninjawarriors" were all seriously downgraded from the arcade game.

 

Master system Shinobi

 

That you can say loudly.

 

And where's the explanation for?

 

The master system shinobi had a different way to get Ninja Magic and use said ninja magic