Games that differ by machine? Like Syndicate (I've heard)

I'm currently playing Syndicate on the XBox 360 (well, replaying it, as I got bored with it originally as it's apt to be dull), and I remember that lots of people didn't like it because it was a different genre to earlier games in the franchise. I also seem to recall that the game was different between the SNES and Megadrive versions (I mean very different, as in different gameplay, different map design, etc, so the two versions are actually two different games, not just two different versions of the same game, as Earthworm Jim on the SNES and Megadrive is, for example). And it made me wonder, which is the better game, the SNES version of the Megadrive? And how do they differ?

Also, what other games were released on different formats but as different games? I don't mean ports (such as Perfect Dark, which has some very minor alterations on the XBox 360 port), but where the game is different from the ground up? And I mean that were released at roughly the same time, so people could choose which version to buy, so Alien vs. Predator doesn't count, as the Atari Jaguar version and the 2000 PC version were released years apart. And wasn't the 2010 or so reboot also called Alien vs. Predator? I know it wasn't much good, the original PC version was much better. Anyway, AvP doesn't count, as the versions didn't compete commercially against each other.

I know that Dan Dare was a different game on the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, though I never played the latter, so I can't comment on it. And wasn't Scooby Doo on the fifth or six generation consoles also two (or more) different games by the same name? I can't think of any more offhand, but there must have been loads, especially where two different software houses were hired to create a game for a different platform from the other.

 

Would Sonic 1 and 2 on Master System/Game Gear and Genesis (Mega Drive) count? They have different levels.

 

San Francisco Rush N64 vs the PS. How fucking shit the PS version is..

 

I always remember the Iron Man game. It was a different game when you compared the PS2 version to the Xbox 360 version.
Weirdly and sadly the PC got the PS2 version.
Actually the first Iron Man game was quite good.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oydKa7x21d0&feature=player_detailpage#t=48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iNQCiKY3CU&feature=player_detailpage#t=76

I dunno, the maps look the same. All that's different is the menu systems and some of the graphics. I did read somewhere about the development process of the new FPS Syndicate game. From what I remember it was bounced around two or three different development companies, each blaming the other for the crappiness of it.

All they had to do was make a version that was more faithful to the original and they would have got much better reviews, even if the game was terrible. Good job there's Satellite Reign:
http://satellitereign.com/

 

Lots of games were very different platform to platform in the 8-bit home computer days, the EPYX games were generally awesome on C64 with lame 3rd party ports to other machines. Some of the fine monochrome graphics on the Spectrum just didn't translate well when ported to the C64 so the games were adapted to suit the system.Game companies would also generally use the dirty trick of using screen shots from the best looking version on the packaging for all formats. in fact there may even have been some legal action to do with that BITD.

One interesting case is that of Paradroid and Quazatron, essentially the same game concept, mechanics and gameplay, but graphically entirely different.

I never played the SNES or Megadrive Syndicate, but I had it on the Jaguar and it was dire, terrible to the point of being unplayable.

 

The home computer versions of Enduro Racer are crappy ports of the arcade game, but the Master System version is a completely different isometric game. The Mega Drive versions of E-Swat and Shadow Dancer are also completely different from the arcade versions, and Action Fighter on Master System is also not a direct port.

 

It was pretty common for SNES and Genesis versions of the same game to be made by different developers (I'm fairly sure EA did that, and Midway and Acclaim might have for Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam, respectively).

 

Shadowrun on Snes, Genesis, and Mega cd were all different, iirc. Then there was the fps Shadowrun on Windows/360 several years later.

 

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter is a good example of such.

 

Turok 2 and 3 on GBC and N64/PC come to mind. And Daikatana (I hear in this case the game boy release is actually the more enjoyable one). Or that Tom Clancy's End War title - on the DS it was round-based on a 2D hexgrid, on other systems it was real time and 3D.

 

TMNT Tournament Fighters for SNES and Genesis were two entirely different fighting games and only shared the name as well as some of the characters.

 

I think I have a perfect example for you: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. HM2 for the SNES was a completely different game for the Mega Drive/Genesis. Just like HM1 for the NES was a completely different game than HM1 for both the SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis. It's funny because HM2 for the NES is just a scaled down port of the SNES version.

http://0.tqn.com/d/classicgames/1/S/u/C/-/-/HomeAloneFinal.jpg

 

Rygar. Arcade and Lynx version are side scrolling adventure, NES version is like RPG wannabe with both overhead and side view. Not bashing either but both are different despite the title that doesn't make any distinction that NES version is different.

 

Thor was a similar boat, with the DS version apparently being the one good version and similar to Contra, which makes sense given Wayforward's involvement:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/18/thor-which-version-is-the-god-of-thunder

 

Rocket Power Beach Bandits for the PS2 and GBA come to my mind. The PS2 version was an awesome 3D game and the GBA version was a not-so-awesome 2D sidescroller. I do miss the PS2 version, it is one of my favorite games from my childhood.

 

Im assuming you've seen my Zero Gravity Zone video?

 

I remember hearing that the PS2/Gamecube/Xbox versions of King Kong were completely different from the 360 version. Supposedly the versions for the older systems were better. I've only played the 360 version, so I don't know what the other versions are like.

Another example is Jurassic Park. There were several games called "Jurassic Park" for several different systems which were all completely different. Ocean developed the versions for Nintendo consoles, and Blue Sky developed the Genesis version. There was also an arcade game on the System 32 called "Jurassic Park", which was completely different from any of the console versions.

I'm sure there are other examples of this, but that's all I can think of for now.

 

I have not seen your video until you showed it to me. I've also subbed to your channel.

It looks like it could have been good if it was finished. I wonder if someone would like to continue where the devs left off and finish the game. Maybe even get it officially licensed (or would it count as a relicense?) and ported to eight-gen consoles, steam, and heck, make a Vita and 3DS version too. I would buy it.

What about the Sega CD/Mega CD version?