Side by Side: Final Fight (SNES vs. Sega CD)

[Melf]

Final Fight is a bona fide classic, no doubt. Capcom's brought it home several time, and each port has been...lacking in certain areas. Both Genesis and SNES fans enjoyed versions during the 16-bit era, and Sega-16 has played both extensively to see how they compare. Have a gander at the latest installment (http://www.sega-16.com/Feature-%20Side%20by%20Side%20Final%20Fight.htm) of Side by Side for the results.

[Joe Redifer]

Great comparison. I wish the magazines had done this back in the day. Personally I prefer the Sega CD version over the arcade version due to the sound alone. The sound and music in the arcade is bad enough to make your ears bleed, just like the SNES version, maybe worse! Capcom arcade games rarely sounded good (UN Squadron anyone?) with only a few exceptions like Ghouls N' Ghosts. I can't stand the patented "Capcom Synthesized Guitar".

[GeckoYamori]

Most of Capcom's first SNES titles sounded awful. If you think Final Fight was bad, play Captain Commando and prepare to weep.

[Obviously]

Let's just be happy Capcom learned the ins and outs of the Super Nintendo's sound hardware in time for games like Megaman X though in retrospect their crazy synth guitar makes a lot more sense in the Megaman games.

Interesting article, the side by side comparisons are always fun to read.

[ary incorparated]

Yeah Yeah,i never heard good guitar in any snes megaman game,Good music yes.One point the sega cd version gets in my uppinion is the grphics,Their defnitly not the same as snes,mega cd had more characters in screen and Like the characters Cody snes vs Cody mega cd,Cody looks more dedicated to the arcade on the MCD,on the snes he is to skinny.The music is awesome in the mega cd version,BTW never nticed any synth guitar in any capcom game.The GBA port isnt that good,its almost the same one as the snes only pumped with extra,s.Sore that mega cd wasnt Presenting.while it has the quality and a few damn good games.the snes colour pallete was only maxed in DK country games and Ki.i know a pretty fine instalment,Vectorman vs Donkey kong country,just a idea. :D I like these comparasing instalments.Maybe Aladin is a good one two or contra on snes vs contra HC etc,anyways good work and i love these kind of reviews. :D

[16bitter]

Final Fight on SNES is close to worthless, isn't it?

Granted, I still would have preferred it to that copy of Ultra Man I bought around the same time. :cry:

[Melf]

Granted, I still would have preferred it to that copy of Ultra Man I bought around the same time. :cry:


Ouch.

[ary incorparated]

Ectually its so unfinished,I loved Final fight 3 the most of the 3.the Final Fight serie on the snes hasnt got the power that streets of rage has.Rival turf and some other games on snes where good alternatives,Oooh yeah and not forget Batman returns,Snes does good with such titles.I like snes but not final fight on the snes,But i find it a bit frustrating game in difficulty,just 2 buttons to do youre tricks and there are more enemys in the MDCD which makes it a bit difficult,MDCD is a fine console for such games,I like this version more then in the arcade tough,Luckely i own a Multimega hehehe.If you have a CDX,Multimega,youve got a simple and Damn fine machine,and mega cd Does feature scalling and rotation much so Graphically the systems total is a good counter for the snes,since mega cd shows some very clean and sharp graphics while it has its top games,Sonic CD Snatcher etc,Pump a 32x on youre CDX and youve got a freaking relaxt machine,Or Mastersystem converter,sega did make it easier for the Gamer even with their Flopped Add ons who are still good in their own way.I think Maybe the Final fight serie would have made a better presentation on the mega Cd. :D 16Bitter did you have ultramen,i know a gameshow that is coming soon in the dutch that does a Comical part with that game,someone is going to be sucked into that game because of saying that it sucks just to hard,and that person becomes Game Man,Strange story but anyways,if youre a bit formiliar in the dutch languich check this site. www.play-tv.nl at least its fun to watch. :D

[j_factor]

It's too bad they didn't make a Sega CD version of Final Fight 2. In terms of gameplay it's a good step up from the original IMO.

[Mendicant]

...um... The japanese X68000 port of Final Fight was supposed to be closest-to-arcade version, back in the days.

[Drixxel]

To be honest... Final Fight reallly isn't anything special in terms of beat-em-ups. I recently played through it via the Capcom Classics Collection a few weekends ago, and it wasn't the game I once thought it to be. Obviously this is all opinion, but it's rather a shallow beat-em-up considering it's development date, and doesn't nearly match its contemporaries like Golden Axe. Mike Haggar is one cool dude, but shit, what a repetitive game.

[GeckoYamori]

Wasn't it the first 'new school' beat em up?

[ary incorparated]

double Dragon was first,and even Golden axe was earlier,and Yes the sharp 6800 version was the closest to the arcade,but then the mega cd version is better then the arcade sinds the music is nicer,so the mega cd version stays best because of it expension of good suspension of the oevral game. :D

[Rammykun]

I liked it. I was worried that you went going to mention my 2nd faivorite port of Final Fight (Final Fight One on GBA, the Sega CD been the best one IMHO), but you did. You did also mention Final Fight Guy as well, witch has become sort of a Legend now due to it.

none the less, the Sega CD is the clear cut winner here and it shines.

[Melf]

...um... The japanese X68000 port of Final Fight was supposed to be closest-to-arcade version, back in the days.

Yeah, but not many American console owners had one. ;)

[David J.]

I wish I could spend more time with my Genesis and Sega CD. But work and school is a killer.

[16bitter]

...um... The japanese X68000 port of Final Fight was supposed to be closest-to-arcade version, back in the days.

Yeah, but not many American console owners had one. ;)

Which means it doesn't count.

[Joe Redifer]

What were the specs of the Sharp X68000? It sure had a FANTASTIC name! I know that a lot of games like Granada and whatnot originated on that system. I have heard the soundtracks from those games and they do not sound as god as a real Sega Genesis.

[16bitter]

X68000 Specs

CPU + Clock
Motorola 68000 (10MHz) - XVI 16MHz – X68030 25MHz

ROM
128KB BIOS
768KB Character Generator (16x16, 8x16, 8x8 - JIS 1 + 2)

RAM
1-4MB stock, expandable
512KB Text VRAM
512KB Graphic VRAM
32KB Sprite VRAM
16KB Static RAM

Screen Resolutions
1024x1024 Max, 256 x 256 Min

Colours
65,536 Palette. 256 Max onscreen

Sprites
16x16 pixels, 16 colours / sprite
128 sprites / screen, 16 sprites / line

Graphics Hardware
Hardware scrolling, priority control, super-impose

Sound
2ch FM Synth, 8 Octave, 8 Voice
ADPCM

HDD + FDD
Varies by model, see below

Ports
See below

Expansion
2 card slots (4 on Pro models)

OS
Human68k (MS DOS-alike developed by Hudson), SX-Windows GUI

Power Input:
AC 100v, 50/60Hz

Weight
~8kg (~10kg Pro)


I think I played FF on it through emu. I had trouble telling the difference between it and the original.

[Melf]

Which means it doesn't count.

For comparing the most popular versions of games released on worldwide consoles, nope. I'm sure the X68000 version of Final Fight was the best version out there, but when you compare how many people worldwide had one to the amount of SNES and Sega CDs sold, it really doesn't make sense to include it.

FF came out on the SNES in all territories, but the X68000 was only released in Japan, and wasn't technically a "console."

[16bitter]

Which means it doesn't count.

For comparing the most popular versions of games released on worldwide consoles, nope. I'm sure the X68000 version of Final Fight was the best version out there, but when you compare how many people worldwide had one to the amount of SNES and Sega CDs sold, it really doesn't make sense to include it.

FF came out on the SNES in all territories, but the X68000 was only released in Japan, and wasn't technically a "console."

Hey, I said it didn't count. I meant it. :D

[Melf]

Lol, I......I knew that! Yeah....I knew that! I just wanted to see if you knew that I knew that!


*Runs*

[Flash1087]

To be honest... Final Fight reallly isn't anything special in terms of beat-em-ups. I recently played through it via the Capcom Classics Collection a few weekends ago, and it wasn't the game I once thought it to be. Obviously this is all opinion, but it's rather a shallow beat-em-up considering it's development date, and doesn't nearly match its contemporaries like Golden Axe. Mike Haggar is one cool dude, but shit, what a repetitive game.

Short, too. I felt the same way when I beat the CCC port.

[JFLY]

Great read! To this day, I have a buddy who still swears that the SNES Final Fight is better than the Sega CD version.

[ittox]

Melf,

As you well know the music are the best in sega cd (Abigail stage) ala Tallarico-mulo or whoever made these musics. The graphics are pretty much the same as SNES but these tracks really made the game a lot different from other versions and you can use guy in the cd ver (although cody is a better character and i like Hagar pile-driver)

[ary incorparated]

Yup i dont like haggar to,slow and big character that has dumb moves,how in hell can you hype such a character.Sharp 68000 version better Bullox,Graphics aint everything and which cartridge console offers you better music then a Cd console,None.And did you have the extra options in the Sharp version Nooo,And did you have time Attack mode in the sharp version,Nope.Is it just me or is Capcom more dedicated to sega then to any compenie,I think that sega always had the best versions of capcom games,For instance,Street fighter alpha:the playstayion had smaller characters and had synth music,Whil the saturn version had guitar music and bigger and sharper characters,Street fighter vs x men,same story,Some saturn ports of capcom games are most dedicated to the arcade versions,The dreamcast versions of street fighter games are almost arcade perfect,sony and microsoft fail in delivering such clean 2D graphics as sega did whit their aged consoles.

[ThunderForce]

I hated the SNES port of Final Fight!

My friend who played and loved the SNES version finally played the Sega CD version two weeks ago (at my house), and he was completely blown away. The only thing he hated about the Sega CD port was that there was not enough continues. :)

[Joe Redifer]

The Genesis can't handle a bunch of continues. It is too weak. The powerful SNES can do way more continues. :)

[ary incorparated]

Joe its mega cd ehy,Has more memory to upload continiues,I liked to see that it was just a bit less stifr,Thje only complaint about final fight cd is that it plays stiff and that there are not much moves to really defend you,Maybe youlle even get angry because there is only a kick and a punch move,and a few more,while like 5 enemys are trying to Ram you down.But why can the mega cd do more enemys on screen,Underestimated genesis,with sprites snes has way more sprites,and you can store much on a CD,even some more continiues,never seen pulseman,that one uses more continieus,I think its possible on MDCD more memory to upload ehy.Somethimes genny proves snes wrong,Like Final fight cd having more sprites then the more capable snes.

[Melf]

But those problems are inherent to the game itself, regardless of platform. IIRC, that was one of Sega's big pushes for SoR. They really flaunted how many moves it had.

[ary incorparated]

Yup indeed Streets of rage won if you ask me,Thats why streets of rage may be one of the most memorable Beat em ups(if it isnt the most remorable)I think streets of rage deserves a spot in the Top 100 games of all time,Yes Fianl fight couldnt match streets of rage in Funfactor and Playability,Okay S.O.R may be much of the same in that genre while it actually doesnt,And streets of rage has very many moves,look at S.o.R 3(which is beeing Downrated if you ask me)Yes streets of rage 3 is so Low rated that it makes me cry,it scores a 6 or decent 7 while the game is stil faforite with some retro gamers and it is better then Final fight 3,Oooh yeah i get it it is the Music ahh yes the music is to decent for most gamers.Music can be tuned down and it isnt that worse its just decent because some Themes sound Damn ugly and slow while some Themes stil have the Famous uppbeat.But yes streets of rage is arcade play which makes it very nice and the Themes fit the music and the admostphere is good.

[parallaxscroll]

Here's a comparison that focuses in on something that some people don't realize about the SegaCD version (even though it was so much better than the SNES versions), the graphic detail in the backgrounds. Most people know the amount of color on screen was severely reduced from the arcade and even the SNES versions, but the background detail was reduced also.

While there is more & better background detail than the Nintendo versions (FF, FF Guy, FF One), the SegaCD version is not as detailed as the arcade original or the X68000 port.


A quick look at one specific part in Final Fight, across all major versions of the game, the wood railing leading to the basement in lv1.

Super Famicom/SNES vs Arcade CPS1
http://finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/FFsnesarcade4.PNG
the wood railing is totally missing in Nintendo's ver

GBA Final Fight One
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/screenshots/gba/ff/finalfightone_screen001.jpg
basicly same as SFC/SNES, not there, thus no Nintendo version has the railing.

MegaCD/SegaCD vs Arcade CPS1
http://finalfight.classicgaming.gamespy.com/FFsegacomparison5.PNG
wood railing is present in Sega FFCD, in reduced color. Yet also what many people didn't realize, it's reduced in *detail* too, not just less color. Look closely, the railing is much simpler.

X68000
http://www.imagepup.com/up/f18T_1207458127_FFX68k1.jpg
Now notice the X68K version has arcade level of color & detail.

Arcade CPS1 vs X68000
http://nfggames.com/games/x68k_gallery/final4.png


This one example of reduced detail (as well as color) in the backgrounds is repeated everywhere in just about everything, in the highly-thought-of MegaCD/SegaCD FF.

The X68K has everything in pixel for pixel arcade-quality detail.

[dragonboy]

slightly more acurate screenshots due to aspect ratio

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6484/comparisonou2.png

top: Snes
bottom Arcade

Anybody know why so many Arcade to Snes ports have a black bar on top and bottom of the screen?

[Aarzak]

Intentional cropping on the developers' part? Perhaps not even in its full, default resolution could the SNES efficiently handle some arcade ports, so developers took further shortcuts then they already did in translating the games to console. All the SNES SF2 ports also contain cropping.

[Joe Redifer]

All the home Street Fighter 2 ports contain cropping since they are all based off of the SNES version of the graphics.

[Aarzak]

Yha.

[Zebbe]

What is cropping?

[dragonboy]

Intentional cropping on the developers' part? Perhaps not even in its full, default resolution could the SNES efficiently handle some arcade ports, so developers took further shortcuts then they already did in translating the games to console. All the SNES SF2 ports also contain cropping.

I can't understand what your trying to say? Weren't all games displayed in a 3:4 aspect ratio nomatter what resolution was?

[Joe Redifer]

Cropping would be the cutting off of existing visual information (making a stage smaller or shorter, etc, by removing detail that used to be where the black areas are in the arcade). Not sure if that is the case here. Perhaps "letterboxing" would be the best word.

[Aarzak]

Yha, what he said. I'm unsurprinsingly inept at terms like this. Ignore me, carry on. :(

[dragonboy]

It looks like Capcom took a lot of colors out of the Cody sprite in the SNES version.

[JFLY]

I always thought cropping was cheap way for developers to save on memory and keep a fast frame rate.

[dragonboy]

I always thought cropping was cheap way for developers to save on memory and keep a fast frame rate.

cropping off gives more time for CPU to GPU exchanging so you can reload more and/or bigger animation frames at a time, (Don't know if Capcom utilized this or just used it for a precaution) but it doesn't effect the actual time it takes to process the each frame. Having your graphic exchanging time overloaded does not result in a slowdown but it will corrupt the graphics, since new data is being loaded into the V-RAM at the same time V-RAM is being read from.

It wouldn't save a whole lot of memory, because it's tile based and you can see almost all the bricks have the same pixels. The only memory it can save is the tile-map attribute tables of the top and bottom rows.

[j_factor]

All the home Street Fighter 2 ports contain cropping since they are all based off of the SNES version of the graphics.

Even Capcom Generation 5 / Street Fighter Collection 2?

[Aarzak]

All the 16-BIT home ports.

Speaking of "Capcom Generations Vol. 5", the loading time present in the PS1 version and the port of this compilation in "Capcom Classics Collection" really sucks kiss. A real buzzkiller.

[vintagegamecrazy]

What happened to the actual article, it says page can not be displayed.

[dragonboy]

try clicking your mouse harder.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Still says cannot be found, maybe my laptop's settings are messed up. any guesses?

[dragonboy]

Melf always deletes his reviews when he makes a new one.

[Zebbe]

They made some website/database updates which forced new link addresses. That one in the post must be an old one, try searching on the main site. Or just click on this (http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=45&title=Side%20by%20Side:%20Final%20Fight%20(SNES%20 vs.%20Sega%20CD)) link.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Good read, the article says that there wasn't a options menu in the SNES accessible by holding the R button down, however I didn't see any difference in the game play after the options were changed.