Side by Side: Doom (32X vs. Saturn)

[Fonzie]

I think doom snes uses two super FX chip instead.
Anyway, the Snes game was recoded for snes while saturn & 32x were simple crappy *port* from the PC code (the 32x port could run 50% faster if properly ported and probably 150% faster if properly recoded).

[16-bit pwnage]

The music on the SNES Doom sounded much better than the 32x, but again SNES is also missing nearly all of the animation frames for the monsters (like 32x), and man does that port run slowly.

[Russman]

Heh, I gotta give some props to Genesis Knight for actually taking the time to compare two awful versions of Doom. That's dedication. Or just craziness. It was a good read though, and I learned some stuff about Saturn Doom in the process. I always read some horrible things about the Saturn game, but it's worse than I originally thought. Thanks for the comparisons!

If anyone is interested here's one of my favorite articles on a Doom comparison EGM did: http://www.ataritimes.com/article.php?showarticle=216

[kevinski]

I'm certainly not saying that the SNES port runs flawlessly, but it's an amazing port when you consider the hardware that it's on. And it only runs slowly in later levels. Much of the game runs quite respectably. My preferred means of playing DOOM is via nxDoom on Dreamcast, but the SNES version really isn't that bad. It's actually one of the more faithful ports as far as level layouts and feature sets go.

[evildragon]

I'm certainly not saying that the SNES port runs flawlessly, but it's an amazing port when you consider the hardware that it's on. And it only runs slowly in later levels. Much of the game runs quite respectably. My preferred means of playing DOOM is via nxDoom on Dreamcast, but the SNES version really isn't that bad. It's actually one of the more faithful ports as far as level layouts and feature sets go.

you do know that most of the game is played via the cartridge and not even the console, right? the cartridge has a processor of it's own on it, doing ALL of the rendering..

[kevinski]

I realize that. Nonetheless, it's still an impressive feat.

[Joe Redifer]

Ah, cool, you're gonna do Thunder Force III and both SNES and arcade versions of Thunder Spirits? Very good! Remember though, emulators KILL slowdown.

Still can't acquire Thunder Spirits for a reasonable amount.

[ThunderForce]

Still can't acquire Thunder Spirits for a reasonable amount.

Don't, it's a peice of shit.

[Melf]

Erm...Melf, if you're somehow implying that the 32X version is better than the SNES version, then you may want to rethink that.

Oh, I'm not implying that it's better at all. I was speaking strictly in technical terms.

That being said, there's no reason that comparison can't be done. Just because we used the 32X version here doesn't mean that it can't be used in an article with the SNES version.

Would it be "kosher" to have a 3 or 4-way Side by Side article? I'm not specifically referring to Doom, but any game that has multiple incarnations that could be compared.

I think we'd have to do them where they're applicable. Games like Wanderers from Ys would demand a 3-way comparison.

[GeckoYamori]

The 32x music is some of the laziest MIDI conversions I've ever heard. They didn't even bother making actual percussion sounds out of some of the non-tonal channels. The pitch-bending segments like the ones in E1M8 are horribly inaccurate, a common problem in format conversion.

The SNES music on the other hand is completely washed out in the dreaded tin-can reverb.

[ThunderForce]

I have a question, how's the PSX ports of Doom?

[system]

One thing I have to say for the Saturn version of Doom: the music's awesome, though IIRC the same score was used for the PSX version (which I haven't played). I've also been looking for the allegedly superior japanese version of Saturn Doom for what seems like an eternity, would be curious to see Doom on the Saturn done properly.

[Genesis Knight]

i think the ending IS in Doom 32X.. i faintly remember seeing it a couple years ago.

thing is, when you use ANY form of cheating, the ending is disabled until the system is power cycled.. you literally have to play the game through, on a hard level, without cheating, THEN you get the ending..

Also worth mentioning, if it's not already done so, is the lack of the BFG9000 in Doom 32X! It's there, but you need a CHEAT just to get it.. WTF!

The ending you're referring to is just like I mentioned in the article - a cast rundown of the enemies in the game. Check it out at VGmuseum. And yeah, I believe I also mentioned that the BFG is locked away.

I posted this in 2004 and was laughed and mocked by some. They asked me to give proof but at the time I had no means. In 2005 I discovered YouTube and those clips on the disclaimer... they belong to me. I'm AKA Kikko.

Hey, pleased to meetcha. I first learned about this by watching your videos, then had to find out myself. Good work - I just wish your videos were of a little higher quality.

If anyone is interested here's one of my favorite articles on a Doom comparison EGM did: http://www.ataritimes.com/article.php?showarticle=216

Hehe, I remember reading the original EGM 32X review and thinking WTF??? I don't know what the editors were smoking on that one. Looking back, EGM was quite lenient on all of the 32X games, and only really started the Sega-hating around the time of the Saturn.

And by the way, it's just craziness. Glad you liked the article.

Still can't acquire Thunder Spirits for a reasonable amount.

I agree with Fighter17 - but you probably know this already. Just for research purposes, right?

I have a question, how's the PSX ports of Doom?

Saturn Doom is a port of PSX Doom, so the games are nearly identical. The PSX version has better framerates and some colored lighting affects IIRC, but same music and everything.

I'm surprised y'all are having trouble finding JAP Doom for Saturn - when I checked there were a couple copies on eBay for...what...twenty bucks?

I'm glad everyone liked/read/disagreed with the article. Thanks for the compliments, guys.

[Joe Redifer]

I've rented Thunder Spirits before so I know how it is. But I just don't want to pay the above-$10 that I have seen it for. $1.99 or less would be perfect.

[Genesis Knight]

Right on, lol.