Well, I'll have to give the SNES version a try plus replay Castle of Illusion for comparison and report back with my enlightened findings.
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Castle of Illusion vs. The Magical Quest?
- Thread starter Temtastic Muns
- Start date
Well, I'll have to give the SNES version a try plus replay Castle of Illusion for comparison and report back with my enlightened findings.
That's as much a Capcom issue as anything else, IMO--Capcom put out plenty of great SNES games with great music but the sound design and programming in general could be really shoddy.
It was also two years younger than the Genesis and also more expensive. I thought it was pretty well known fact that it was the technically superior console at almost everything.
No, there are several games that play in 512 mode during gameplay, such as RPM Racing, several Japanese sports games and RPGs.
I like the 8-Bit version of Castle of Illusion way better than the 16-bit one on SEGA Genesis (and subsequent titles Land and Legend of Illusion also got a pretty nice feel to play). But Magical Quest is consistently good across the whole trilogy imo; .. maybe the weakest was the first one, but still a good game. But it's not really super fair with World of Illusion, being a very primitive platformer in comparison too.
... Mickey games only tended to get better than the previous; Mickey Mania being one my favorites
... Mickey games only tended to get better than the previous; Mickey Mania being one my favorites
never had any issues with any of these factors; was still a hard game, but that was even part of the marketing. I have beaten the SNES version several times; I love the soundtrack too!
The only technical advvantages the SNES had over the MD was the number of colors on screen (256 vs 32) from a 32756 palette of colors (versus 512).
It also had some hardware rotation/zoom features through its fabled mode 7.
On the other hand it had a far weaker CPU, a different kind of sound processor (sample based versus FM synthesis so it's not a matter of one beeing stronger than the other but one beeing different with different kinds of programming) and heavily relied on coprocessors inside carts to do some heavy lifting for it
It also had a lower standard resolution (256*224 versus 320*240/256 depending on NTSC or PAL modes), worse srpites handling, worse paralax scroling abilities and till people knew a few tricks games were either slow or marred by slowdowns (Capcom and Konami games beeing at the forefront of those issues since they made the blunt of early arcade games).
One isn't heads and shoulders above the other one as you so adamantly claim because it's easy to find areas in which the SNES absolutely gets trounced by the Megadrive.
Now, are you done derailing?
SNES had a hi-res mode (512x448), not too many games used it, but it's there. It also had 5 graphic layers, transparencies, and 8 sound channels. Funny you left all that out.
The CPU wasn't "far weaker", it was slower, but more advanced. Relying on co-processors is not a bad thing, because at the end all you care is how the games look and they looked better 99.9% of the time.
But you're right, please stop derailing the thread.
Both systems had hi res modes that were barely used (Sonic 2 is a prime example). Adding those modes is rather pointless because they had their shortcomings which made them impractical in the end.
Menus is hardly taxing gameplay so that just leaves RPM Racing which sacrifices colours for it. Bringing up the rarely used SNES 512 mode (which has massive drawbacks outside of title screens and menus) in response to someone bringing up the superior resolution of many Mega Drive games is a bit misleading.
I like the two Genesis Illusion games, but I'm not the biggest fan of the games around; they're good, but other games are better. Compared to the Magical Quest series, though, Castle of Illusion's easily better! The Magical Quest games have great graphics, but I've never liked the gameplay anywhere near as much as the visuals; I don't know, they just feel kind of easy and bland, sort of like another SNES Capcom Disney game, Aladdin. I get bored playing Magical Quest games. I have all three of the Magical Quest games on SNES, and they're fine, above average games, but Castle of Illusion is better where it matters -- better controls, gameplay, and level designs. Castle of Illusion's a good classic platformer that's well worth playing. Magical Quest looks better, but doesn't play better. Oh, and I like World of Illusion more than the first game; it's probably the best Mickey game on either console. (Mickey Mania is pretty good too, particularly on Sega CD, but the Illusion games probably have slightly better gameplay.)
As for the 8-bit Illusion games, the first two are alright, average to good games, but the third I don't like much at all. It's typical Aspect stuff, and I don't like how most of their GG games play. Even just looking at the first two I like the Genesis games more, but sure, they're good.
Oh, and as for the Genesis's resolution advantage, it is quite real but whether it's important or not depends on the game. I mean, a game designed for the SNES isn't necesarially improved by going to the higher resolution of the Genesis. On the other hand, Genesis games ported to SNES often do lose something, as important things may be off screen...
It is tricky, though -- after all, one other thing about the SNES is that like the NES, it was designed for addon chips to be in carts to give games a boost over the base specs. The base SNES can do some really impressive things, but it does more with addon chips... but Sega took a different route, with games that almost never use addon chips but instead releasing hardware addons instead (Sega CD, 32X). The SNES did have one addon, the Satellaview, but that didn't have any graphical boosts in it, only streaming games and streaming live audio support. Comparing only base consoles, with no SNES addon chips, isn't really fair because the SNES was designed or addon chips and lots of games use them. But if that also counts hardware addons, the Sega CD and 32X added a lot to the Genesis, and their games can be pretty powerful -- both support hardware scaling and rotation on sprites, the 32X supports more colors than SNES, the 32X can do way more polygons than even the best SNES addon chip, etc.
So yeah, it's a tricky subject. They're so different it's not a question which will probably ever have a definite consensus answer.
As for the 8-bit Illusion games, the first two are alright, average to good games, but the third I don't like much at all. It's typical Aspect stuff, and I don't like how most of their GG games play. Even just looking at the first two I like the Genesis games more, but sure, they're good.
The SNES is a newer console than the Genesis, and while a case can be made for the Genesis to be as good as it in terms of hardware power, I think the SNES does clearly win out. I don't mean that in terms of game quality -- I like the two of them equally, they're both amazing -- and with its addons the Genesis arguably wins in power, but comparing just base consoles? Sure, the Genesis is a faster system with twice the CPU speed and a higher screen resolution, and yeah it has better sprite handling, but but the SNES's advantages, in its newer technology (more advanced chips), much larger color palette support, and something you don't mention but is quite important, transparency support, are pretty huge. Transparencies and color are a big deal! The SNES also can do fantastic parallax. When optimized properly SNES games can run plenty fast, too, and they often look better than Genesis games thanks to having more colors on screen and a much larger palette. And of course Mode 7 is a nice thing; you can get close to some aspects of Mode 7 with the Genesis, with clever programming, but it's not quite as good. Based only on the base consoles I do think the newer SNES wins out on graphics. As for sound, the SNES's sample-based sound chip was fairly new technology at the time, so it's a more advanced design than the simpler audio chip the Genesis uses. I do think the Genesis is usually better at some kinds of sound, such as techno-style electronic stuff (which I quite like), so choosing which is better is hard, but the SNES's is more technically advanced, at least.
Oh, and as for the Genesis's resolution advantage, it is quite real but whether it's important or not depends on the game. I mean, a game designed for the SNES isn't necesarially improved by going to the higher resolution of the Genesis. On the other hand, Genesis games ported to SNES often do lose something, as important things may be off screen...
It is tricky, though -- after all, one other thing about the SNES is that like the NES, it was designed for addon chips to be in carts to give games a boost over the base specs. The base SNES can do some really impressive things, but it does more with addon chips... but Sega took a different route, with games that almost never use addon chips but instead releasing hardware addons instead (Sega CD, 32X). The SNES did have one addon, the Satellaview, but that didn't have any graphical boosts in it, only streaming games and streaming live audio support. Comparing only base consoles, with no SNES addon chips, isn't really fair because the SNES was designed or addon chips and lots of games use them. But if that also counts hardware addons, the Sega CD and 32X added a lot to the Genesis, and their games can be pretty powerful -- both support hardware scaling and rotation on sprites, the 32X supports more colors than SNES, the 32X can do way more polygons than even the best SNES addon chip, etc.
So yeah, it's a tricky subject. They're so different it's not a question which will probably ever have a definite consensus answer.
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This is what a base Megadrive can do
This is the SFX based version (released on the same day)
As far as "raw" power goes.. well... So you see it's all about perspective, which kind of games are we talking about? which kind of rendering? The SNES was an amazing system, I own 3 different units, but so was the Megadrive.
As for sampling based sound processors, Paula was there 6 years before the SNES
Quite diff, mickey talks a lot and soundtrack is superior obviously.
Also a diff fight against Pete at the end
https://youtu.be/8vrYUc0Evco
Awww man, I love them both a LOT, but I'm gonna give this to Magical Quest just for having more variety and originality.
Castle of Illusion is still one of the best Mickey Mouse games in existence though.
Castle of Illusion is still one of the best Mickey Mouse games in existence though.
I loved World of Illusion but it's the only game that I have beaten the same evening I first played the game without even trying. Too easy for my taste.
They're both great but they pale in comparison to the Sega Master System Illusion games, which are roundly superior and among the best platform games of all time.
You forgot the superior Castle of Illusion Master System version!
A completely different game to the Mega Drive/Genesis version, it has more inspiration from titles like Ducktales and Rescue Rangers and it's brilliant!
I'd say it's between that or Magical Quest, both are great in their own way imo.
A completely different game to the Mega Drive/Genesis version, it has more inspiration from titles like Ducktales and Rescue Rangers and it's brilliant!
I'd say it's between that or Magical Quest, both are great in their own way imo.
Came to post this. The Master System version is superior to the Mega Drive/Genesis version.
Magical Quest was awesome in almost every regard. I got a real sense of adventure and progression that even the Mario games of that time didn't offer as much of.
Stopped by hoping to see someone post this and was not disappointed.
Out of the two in the poll it's clearly Castle of Illusion, but as a kid who grew up with a Mega Drive I might be biased.
I'm not super into into the 16 bit Castle of Illusion or Magical Quest all that much. Castle of Illusion is on the simple side, and desperately needed a gimmick and/or more interesting level design. The Magical Quest has both, but unfortunately it's arse-ache to play, and struggles to do interesting things with its mechanics. If I had to pick one of them, I'd go for the latter, but both kinda felt like they were made on auto-pilot.
Hell yeah. I love the Master System and Game Gear Mickey games. I also completely agree that they feel like the Ducktales and Rescue Rangers.
Hell yeah. I love the Master System and Game Gear Mickey games. I also completely agree that they feel like the Ducktales and Rescue Rangers.
Came here for this.
Master System / Game Gear Mickey is the best.
The whole apple shooting mechanic of the Megadrive version really spoils it, and the strong emphasis on picking up objects on MS/GG makes combat and puzzles feel unified.
I had both GG and MD at the time, and I always prefer the GG version. Such a great game.
World of Illusion is better than both. Quackshot was also really good. I really enjoyed Castle of Illusion though.
Was the 3DS game any good?
Was the 3DS game any good?
Luckily the Mega Drive Mini will get both Castle AND World of Illusion! :)
The PS360 2013 remake of Castle of Illusion was also great.
Castle of Illusion.
The Capcom game looks great but I always thought it played a little clunky. Not Fantasia clunky(!) but not as fluid as it could be.
The Capcom game looks great but I always thought it played a little clunky. Not Fantasia clunky(!) but not as fluid as it could be.
Both Castle of Illusion games are great. I remember liking Magical Quest a ton back when it first came out but I have never been able to get back into it. Something about it just bores me. It's pretty to look at, though. But then, so is Mickey Mania, and that's a steaming pile.
WordThis is the actual GOAT Sega 8-bit Disney game if you ask me
Easy as pie. Magical Quest and it's not a contest. I played Castle of Illusion when the (very good) remake came out and hoo boy, the inertia and collisions are something straight out of Ice Climber.
I remember liking Quackshot a lot, but generally speaking Capcom's Disney games had impeccable gameplay even when they were ridiculously easy (ie, almost every time). I'll take tight controls and pixel-perfect collisions over presentation every time. Genesis Mickey games often suffered from gameplay issues. CoI and Fantasia especially.
Yeah, Fantasia is ultimate trash unfortunately. What a waste of a license.
Magical Quest is a little too dull and stiff for me. I do like it a good deal, but not enough to replay them regularly like I do most SEGA Disney games. I am actually not even sure if I have ever beaten Magical Quest 3 honestly.
The REAL fight would be Quackshot vs DuckTales. That is one where I would seriously have trouble picking one.
Here is a pretty good comparison between the two versions of Magical Quest 2. I am honestly shocked how close they are.
I wish Capcom ported more of their games back then. Mega Man X would have been awesome on the Genesis, but imagine how intense a SEGA CD version might've been!
Magical Quest is a little too dull and stiff for me. I do like it a good deal, but not enough to replay them regularly like I do most SEGA Disney games. I am actually not even sure if I have ever beaten Magical Quest 3 honestly.
The REAL fight would be Quackshot vs DuckTales. That is one where I would seriously have trouble picking one.
Here is a pretty good comparison between the two versions of Magical Quest 2. I am honestly shocked how close they are.
I wish Capcom ported more of their games back then. Mega Man X would have been awesome on the Genesis, but imagine how intense a SEGA CD version might've been!
The only SNES Capcom Disney game I like is Goof Troop.
I tried to play through Magical Quest about a year ago and.... just thoroughly bored. Played through the Genesis version of Magical Quest 2 and Castle of Illusion in the last few days and... again, even Magical Quest 2 isn't as good.
I tried to play through Magical Quest about a year ago and.... just thoroughly bored. Played through the Genesis version of Magical Quest 2 and Castle of Illusion in the last few days and... again, even Magical Quest 2 isn't as good.
I really liked them both. In fact, it'd be a far easier choice for me if I could pick the Master System version of CoI; always enjoyed it so much more than the Mega Drive version for some reason. Even better than that, though, was...
This guy/gal gets it. Just a wonderful game with fantastically varied level design. Having to go back to previous levels was mindblowing to me at the time.
This guy/gal gets it. Just a wonderful game with fantastically varied level design. Having to go back to previous levels was mindblowing to me at the time.