Let's talk game ports

[Nightingale]

Specifically... is there any out there that actually managed to both escape the "watered-down/butchered" reputation AND win you over as a gamer?

For me, there's one that, at first, looked like such a shameless cash-grab and that I thought in no way would it be able to remain faithful to the original: Jet Grind Radio (GBA).

Taking a look at its DC big brother, you'd be forgiven for thinking that in absolutely no way could a game with such amazing graphics, gameplay and sound design make it safely into the tiny Gameboy Advance... but no, they really pulled it off!

Sure, sacrifices needed to be made, but the game is actually beyond playable... and it's honestly really fun to do so as well (I beat it on GBA before I did it on DC, actually).

And you can call me crazy if you want, but I think the... rather forceful transition from CD to GBA sound chips really made the game stand out more. Kinda feels like listening to the radio as you are moving around at stupid speed, with all the static and echo (in other words, exactly what your character is doing).

So, what is your experience with this sort of thing?

[queenzelda]

I'd say a disappointing port for me would be the Chrono Trigger series. On the SNES it's perfect. On the PS1 load times for battles are horrible, the DS story makes no sense (cause the story was redone), the PC version is crap from what I've seen & I refuse to get the mobile version. <.<"

I was also disappointed with the port of LOZ: Twilight Princess to the WiiU, since I feel that the Wii version is SO MUCH BETTER.

A GOOD port was the older Metroid Prime titles over to the Wii using Wiimote controls. Now that was a smart move & I enjoyed replaying both very much on the Wii. :3

[Maniakkid25]

I remember a time where we ported N64 and PSX games onto the Game Boy Color. Hmm! Now that's a terrible idea if there ever was. Then again, Star Wars Episode 1 Racer was actually kinda fun, even if difficult to play simply because of how closed in the screen is. You basically have to memorize the track if you want to have any chance of winning.

Not so much a port, but Metroid Prime Hunters is a rough game to play, and that's purely due to the control scheme. See, rather than use tank controls, and make aiming be done by the face buttons on the DS (i.e. A, B, X, and Y), you use the stylus to aim the gun across the screen, and use standard strafing controls (which, you know, is only a complete departure from the controls on the original Gamecube, so that's not confusing at all!). I'm sorry, I'm sure the game is great, but I can't play the damn thing because those controls are so awful!

Meanwhile, in PSP land, the Midnight Club 3 port on PSP is basically a perfect recreation of the entire game. Cutscenes, gameplay, music, everything's the same. They didn't even remove the voice clips! It's a pretty impressive port, and showed the power of the system very well.

[macGamr]

The most disappointing one that I know of was Pit Fighter ported from Arcade, to the SNES. The irony of it is, the original wasn't any good itself apparently

[ShiraNoMai]

The most disappointing one that I know of was Pit Fighter ported from Arcade, to the SNES. The irony of it is, the original wasn't any good itself apparently

You have to question: Was it ever a good idea to do that port?

That Jet Set Radio one actually sounds really neat, I didn't know about that port at all. I'd be hard-pressed to not look into it myself, maybe as an emulation if I can't find the cart for it.
Queen and Maniak make good claims on some pretty bad ports. You'd think they'd do Chrono Trigger some justice with how well that game originally received. I have heard the DS one was pretty decent, but didn't realize they messed with the story at all to port it. Weird.

Speaking of PS2 to PSP, how about those awful vice-versa ports? Games built for mobile platform pushed onto a regular home console. Ugh. I'm not even sure what's at fault here: the original hardware from the PSP, the off-brand games themselves (they were usually not made by the original developer of the home console games), or the idea itself.

[macGamr]

You have to question: Was it ever a good idea to do that port?

Most likely not, but the developers weren't caring But there are far worse ports though... like anything to the Gameboy. Urgh

[Maniakkid25]

I've played the Jet Set Radio port, and it's brilliant...assuming you're using a controller of some kind. IDK how it handles on a keyboard, and I don't really wanna think about it. Still, I prefer the sequel/remake (every resource I can find says its a sequel, but the story setup is the exact same in both games, so...) Jet Set Radio Future. Trying to get a copy of that, though? Good luck. I'm really hoping they make that backwards compatible with the Xbone. I mean, they did it with Panzer Dragoon Orta...

[Moonface]

I've played a few bad ports, but there's been good ones (which I annoyingly can not remember...). Not that I've played it, but I'd say Tearaway transitioned well from Vita onto PS4.

[Nightingale]

I've played the Jet Set Radio port, and it's brilliant...assuming you're using a controller of some kind. IDK how it handles on a keyboard, and I don't really wanna think about it.

It handles really nicely in a keyboard, actually

[queenzelda]

Oh yea, another crappy port impo was LoZ: Wind Waker from the GC to the WiiU. Nintendo said they were stream lining it, but in reality they just made it way too easy to get through & beat. The Gamecube version is superior (impo) because you have to WORK FOR IT. :p

[Nightingale]

I remember beating Perfect Dark on the Gameboy. Really awkward, but fun... kinda like less-advanced Metal Slug.

And speaking of the GB, the leaked BETA for Resident Evil on it looks like such a mess, I'm glad Capcom pulled the plug on the whole thing.

Shame about Diablo, though. Really looked like it was gonna work.

[Maniakkid25]

Oh yea, another crappy port impo was LoZ: Wind Waker from the GC to the WiiU. Nintendo said they were stream lining it, but in reality they just made it way too easy to get through & beat.  The Gamecube version is superior (impo) because you have to WORK FOR IT. :p

You hear about Barrier Skip in Wind Waker HD? They managed to ADD IN a massive sequence break to the WiiU copy, to the delight of speedrunners the world over. Barrier Skip lets you get passed the magic barrier around old Hyrule, and let's you cut down over an hour to your time.

[Moonface]

I shall now port this thread into 2021 kicking and screaming with this discovery I just made about Resident Evil 4. So we all know that game has been ported onto just about everything, but I bet no one here knew it had been ported onto a system that was basically a slightly more powerful PS1/N64 called the Zeebo, which was a home console exclusively sold in Brazil and Mexico. It's pretty crazy to look at:

[Maniakkid25]

Sweet jesus, and I thought the PC port was janky. I've seen and played some janky games in my time, but this is impressive in both how faithful it is as a port and how horrible it looks to play.

[ShiraNoMai]

I can't tell if the capture of this has horrible audio or the tin can sounds coming from the game are actually from the port.... lord. I can't wait to see this run on a Samsung Fridge next.