Hi, I am addicted to weird/"interesting" ports/versions of games. Let's look at some examples!

[Aomame]

I spent an embarrassing amount of time playing The Sims 2 on DS, for starters it isn't the usual life sim that the Sims is known for, rather, it's this weird adventure/management game hybrid where you're the manager of a hotel and have to keep your guests happy while also exploring Strangetown while trying to find ways to make more Simoleons. Eventually you could upgrade your hotel to have a casino and a "Ratcave" where you get a "ratsuit" that lets you attack the numerous threats that attack the town at some point (I'm just going off the top of my head here).

Also, if you turned your clock forward to cheat the money system, aliens invade the town.

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The mobile versions of The Sims games are all really interesting like this. All of The Urbz games were a departure from typical Sims titles, but the GBA version was a strange social adventure game centered around different rep groups (essentially cliques or gangs). It had a lot of charming dialogue imo.

I think the Game Boy versions of the early Harry Potter tie-in games were also pretty much 2D RPGs

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To me these games capture the books amazingly well. They're willing to depart from the movies and add stuff that was only in the books, like the Deathday Party in Chamber. They also play like dumbed-down Final Fantasy games.

The Harry Potter games in general are interesting cases in that there were pretty pronounced differences between the editions. Like the versions of Chamber of Secrets on the GBC, PS1, and PS2 are all completely different games.

 

[Android Sophia]

The PS1 version of DOOM deserves special mention. The differences in lighting combined with the different soundtrack, plus basically merging DOOM 1 and DOOM 2 together as one very long game, give it a different feel then other versions of DOOM. It's worthwhile to play even today, providing you can get past the lack of analog stick support.

 

[Platy]

There's a few from Capcom, both released and unreleased, that always interested me.

And then of course the Resident Evil Game Boy Color port, which never got released (officially) but is simultaneously awful and impressive

Dino Crisis was also on the cards but eventually cancelled

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Useless trivia: I played both for a gaming channel I have with some friends .. and since I played the GameCom also physically, when we went to use emulator to record for the video, I had to edit the footage to make it closer to the game because black and white without ghosting didn't not explained how BAD that port was

Here is an offscreen footage of the game from a random youtuber



And here is the edited footage of the emulator to make it closer to reality (warning : portuguese language)



And I still think our footage was too forgiving with the game =P

 

[Deleted member 21709]

Yeah, the Tony Hawk GBA games were solid ports as far as how well they translated the gameplay, but the view was always a little tough for me. The original GBA screen didn't help either.

The Tony Hawk DS offering, American Sk8land, did an amazing job at downsizing the American Wasteland game by using cell shaded graphics. It also let you voice your skater's wipe out and special trick reactions via the DS mic. That was a fun feature. Easily one of my most played DS games.

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The cel shading looks awesome here.

 

[Warrior of Light]

the PlayStation version cut a lot of stuff and changed it but had the original music and new stuff

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It's also the only version in which you can unlock the original playable 2D prototype for Rayman 2!

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (3DS) - camo scanning via camera, Stereo 3D, Yoshis to find, gyro aim

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Also terrible controls and the worst framerate of any version of that game.

 

[Jesse_and_the_rippers]

Ristar for the Game Gear

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I love this version. Actually more than the original.

 

[Sad marshmallow]

When I was young and the only console that I have was a GBA one of my favorite games was Crazy taxi,it was a surprise that the put one big city in a portable system and its the only title that I know that have loading times.

 

[Crushed]

Everyone has brought them up to some degree, but every console version of the original Doom has some super weird quirks that give each version its own personality.

Jaguar Doom runs smoothly, has less geometrically detailed maps and texture variety, and no music.

32X Doom runs smoothy, but has only half the levels (the game suddenly ends with a credits crawl after beating a normal level 2/3rds of the way through the main game), enemies only face forward, music is fucked up.

3DO Doom is the Jaguar version with abysmal framerate requiring a tiny window size, but with an amazing CD soundtrack. The producers had no idea how to make games and gave the actual developer no support while making impossible promises to the media.

SNES Doom runs on a custom engine but has no textured floors or ceilings, enemies only face forward, the resolution and framerate are really bad, but it's oddly more faithful geometry and texture wise to the original game than most other version and has most of the levels, and it actually supported XBAND for incredibly fucked up online multiplayer where it could only play so many sounds, so they chose... the music over the actual sound effects of gunfire or taking damage.

PSX Doom is practically a different game, with colored mood lighting and a completely different soundtrack, Doom II levels, and Doom II enemies actually appear in Doom 1 levels on higher difficulties.

Saturn Doom is PSX Doom but running at a way worse framerate and the fancy lighting effects gone.


Also like every version has a massive checklist where you can see which levels from the original got cut, which got replaced with console original levels, and which console original levels were exclusive to that console.

 

[Sub Boss]

 

[Crushed]

The NES versions of Ultima III and IV went from looking like classic CRPGs to becoming games with Dragon Quest/Final Fantasy style graphics and presentation of text and whatnot, and more traditional button based controls.

Ultima V got an isometric viewpoint for its NES port like the next two games in the series, but the game was stripped down dramatically in story and size:

Then Ultima VII on SNES had a similar weird conversion. VI got onto SNES fairly faithfully, but VII got stripped down from a party-based RPG in a massive world with a lot of system-driven gameplay, to a much more streamlined top down Zelda-ish action game with no party members or customization.

 

[Ecotic]

The Game Boy Advance was so ripe for this sort of thing. It was super popular and cheap to make games for, so lots of games were released. But it had a very uneven set of abilities, especially compared to the SNES. The GBA could do things the SNES couldn't dream of without fancy additional chips, but couldn't run a basic port like Donkey Kong Country without heavy sacrifices.

 

[capitalCORN]

The Gameboy Color Daikatana release is much better than the real thing apparently.

 

[Palmersaurusrex]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Tekken Advance yet.
It played surprisingly faithfully compared to console Tekken.

 

[Hailinel]

Battle Arena Toshinden on the Game Boy was, from what I remember, a fun time, and I regret no longer owning my copy:

 

[ned_ballad]

The GBA had really wacky "ports" (even if a ton of them were basically new games) that usually ended up being half way decent.

I remember Chu Chu Rocket GBA was pretty faithful to the Dreamcast game

 

[activepassive]

I spent an embarrassing amount of time playing The Sims 2 on DS, for starters it isn't the usual life sim that the Sims is known for, rather, it's this weird adventure/management game hybrid where you're the manager of a hotel and have to keep your guests happy while also exploring Strangetown while trying to find ways to make more Simoleons. Eventually you could upgrade your hotel to have a casino and a "Ratcave" where you get a "ratsuit" that lets you attack the numerous threats that attack the town at some point (I'm just going off the top of my head here).

Also, if you turned your clock forward to cheat the money system, aliens invade the town.

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Okay this looks amazing. I'm very tempted to track down a copy.

 

[Buddy]

Far Cry Vengeance Wii

Not a good game but a interesting version of far cry. I played it from start to finish and it is kinda fun in a trashy way

 

[EvoTech]

Azure Blue (PS1) to GBC
Quest 64 to GBC
Sniper Elite (PS2) to GBA

These are ones that I had and certainly thought they were something else.

Look into them OP.

 

[RedSwirl]

To me these games capture the books amazingly well. They're willing to depart from the movies and add stuff that was only in the books, like the Deathday Party in Chamber. They also play like dumbed-down Final Fantasy games.

The Harry Potter games in general are interesting cases in that there were pretty pronounced differences between the editions. Like the versions of Chamber of Secrets on the GBC, PS1, and PS2 are all completely different games.

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If I recall, the Harry Potter games weren't explicitly based on the movies until Order of the Phoenix. At least they didn't start using the actors' likenesses until Phoenix.

Also terrible controls and the worst framerate of any version of that game.

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It suffered from the lack of a 2nd analog stick, but at the same time it's the only version where they tried to add modern QOL features like a crouch-walk and a modern third person aiming system.

 

[clay_ghost]

Do you like Demakes and weird obscure ports?

I have the right engine for you : Java
As in "mobile games before smartphones"

Sonic Unleashed, Assassin's Creed 1/2/3 (actualy most ubisoft games =P), Prince of Persia, Lost Planet, Force Unleashed, God of War, The Sims 3, Sim City, Call of Duty, Far Cry, Turok, Need for Speed, Saint's Row ... even weird chinese versions of Diablo and WOW Wrath of the Lych King

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I always hoped that those games wil be port to the GBA /DS during those days, so much wasted opportunities.

 

[Warrior of Light]

It suffered from the lack of a 2nd analog stick, but at the same time it's the only version where they tried to add modern QOL features like a crouch-walk and a modern third person aiming system.

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Still the worst way to experience the game. Those improvements don't make up for the awful slideshow you'll experience at times.

 

[LionPride]

If I recall, the Harry Potter games weren't explicitly based on the movies until Order of the Phoenix. At least they didn't start using the actors' likenesses until Phoenix.



It suffered from the lack of a 2nd analog stick, but at the same time it's the only version where they tried to add modern QOL features like a crouch-walk and a modern third person aiming system.

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Prisoner of Azkaban

 

[RedSwirl]

Still the worst way to experience the game. Those improvements don't make up for the awful slideshow you'll experience at times.

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Probably, but I still wish later versions would incorporate those features. MGS3 is probably the one classic Metal Gear game that needs a new control scheme. MGS1 and 2 fit their old school-style controls but MGS3 has much more modern gameplay that's held back by the controls of the previous two games.

 

[Garlic]

Where is perfect dark gbc?

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That's not a remake, it's a completely original prequel

 

[Boiled Goose]

Remember the Wii versions of EA sports?

I have no idea why EA thought it was a good idea. The pandering to the wii Audience was so bizarre. Casual doesn't mean you need to be condescending.

 

[Funkallero]

Nec Avenue made some really good ports of Sega arcade games on the PC Engine, this is one of them :

 

[InfiniDragon]

Have never played it but I think the look of it works surprisingly well.

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It was actually really good. I was amazed at the time that a GBA was running it, still am actually.

That GBA SP was so damn amazing.

 

[Deleted member 721]

A link to the past NES

 

[ToddBonzalez]

I don't have anything particular to add, but just want say I think this is a great idea for a thread.

 

[Lenz]

Here's a weird one, hopefully this classifies.

Guilty Gear X port for the GBA.


So weird hearing all the classic GG tunes. I think the thing that truly sticks out to me is the fact that they even made approximations for a bunch of the sound effects, like the classic breath sound that happens when characters jump that has been a series staple.

 

[Crushed]

Super Mario Bros. Special, a Hudson-developed port of SMB1 for Japanese home computers, namely the NEC PC-8801 and the Sharp X1. Neither computer supported true scrolling, thus it breaks up each level into different screens. It also, strangely enough, includes items and enemies from Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. arcade.

PC-8801: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txcEMPakkPg

Sharp X1




Vampire Killer for MSX2. Similarly, the MSX also had problems with scrolling (most home computers of the time were not equipped with the hardware to do this, unlike dedicated consoles). So while making Castlevania on NES, Konami simultaneously developed an MSX version that uses most of the same graphics and music, but instead greatly changes the gameplay to be more exploration based, where you fought through individual rooms and looked for a key to move to the next area, along with things like upgrades and merchants.

 

[Crushed]

(split post for video limit)


The Nemesis series for MSX. Remember how the MSX had poor scrolling? Well for some reason that did not really deter Konami that much, who released a bunch of shmups on the system, including custom made conversions and original games in the Gradius series under the name Nemesis.

Nemesis? Basically a standard conversion of the first game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TB3j8rlQrU

Nemesis 2? A completely original MSX2 game separate from Gradius II, with a unique story and cutscenes. Yes, actual story in Gradius.



Nemesis 3: The Eve of Destruction is even weirder, as its intro implies that all of the Gradius games, Nemesis 2, and Lifeforce/Salamander are all canon and this is just set in the far off future of all of them.

 

[NubWizard]

Edit: This comment has been edited and removed by a privacy script.

 

[MrConbon210]

The mobile versions of The Sims games are all really interesting like this. All of The Urbz games were a departure from typical Sims titles, but the GBA version was a strange social adventure game centered around different rep groups (essentially cliques or gangs). It had a lot of charming dialogue imo.

To me these games capture the books amazingly well. They're willing to depart from the movies and add stuff that was only in the books, like the Deathday Party in Chamber. They also play like dumbed-down Final Fantasy games.

The Harry Potter games in general are interesting cases in that there were pretty pronounced differences between the editions. Like the versions of Chamber of Secrets on the GBC, PS1, and PS2 are all completely different games.

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Small nitpick but the deathday party was in sorcerer not chamber

 

[Opa-Pa]

Great idea for a thread! I'm a sucker for this kind of games too. I came to post about the awesome GBC Harry Potter RPGs but those were already covered so I'll give a small shout out to OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast PSP instead, a fantastic conversion of the home console ports of OutRun 2 that on top of being feature complete, it looks quite stunning for a portable racing game and had pretty much no downsides outside of lower framerate (which can be mitigated by overclocking your PSP with CFW) and obviously its visuals.

It's been one of my go to games for when I travel along with OutRun 3D ever since I bought it back in the day, so good

Another favorite of mine is Mighty Final Fight, a half demake, half parody, half its own different version of the original Final Fight, but this time released for the NES after the SNES port

The game has a distinct, chibi art style, a more comical presentation of the same story of the original and actually lets you play as all three characters instead of just two like the SNES port of FF. It added a leveling system too and generally it's low key the superior Final Fight, if you ask me.

Also I wanted to share Stop Skeletons From Fighting's awesome mini series called Punching Weight, where they talk about ambitious and technically impressive "odd" games, so naturally they cover a lot of weird ports and conversions like these

 

[Redcrayon]

The portables have got loads of these, some of them being pretty good. Where home consoles had 3D action games for Spider-man: Web of Shadows, Thor and Rabbids Go Home, the DS had a 2D Metroidvania, a 2D brawler and a 2D platform/puzzler respectively, all of which I much preferred to the home console iterations.

Also, Game Boy, just to list some of my favourites:
Bionic Commando- the NES game uses the same story and style as the arcade, but the GB game has a Japanese sci-fi aesthetic and is completely different.
Contra- while it was called 'Operation C' in the US, in Europe both the NES and GB games were called 'Probotector' despite being different games.
The Mega Man GB games are also famously different to the NES ones.

 

[MrCunningham]

I love this version. Actually more than the original.

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Ristar on the Game Gear was a damn good game.

Another great Game Gear version of a Genesis game, Road Rash...


This one was also on the Master System as well. The Game Gear version has nicer colour, while the Master System game has less screen crunch and a higher screen resolution. But otherwise, it is the exact same game across both of those platforms. This is a really faithful port of the Genesis/ Mega Drive game. It looks and sounds great.

I also thought that Streets of Rage II was pretty good on the Game Gear as well...


It was a good brawler for an 8-bit handheld from 1991. Interestingly enough the Master System version of Streets of Rage II is a totally different port and not just the same game with higher resolution graphics.

 

[Amiibola]

GBA is the campion of odd/impossible ports. I love the little machine just because it belongs to an era when developers still cared for dedicated portable gaming and jumped the leap and bounds necessary to put their games on it. My favorite odd port is precisely V-Rally 3 for GBA



Developed in Spain by VD-Dev, it's the only polygonal racing GBA game that runs at a playable framerate, and it can get quite addictive somehow.

Doom and Doom II are there too, but both have been already metioned.

 

[Kraid]

This thread makes me want Starcraft 64 haha. Dammit.

 

[MrCunningham]

This thread makes me want Starcraft 64 haha. Dammit.

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There was also a version of Command & Conquer released for the N64 around the same time too...

This one is interesting because it remakes the original game with polygon graphics....



It is an interesting port. I honestly played it quite a bit back in the day.

 

[sfortunato]

Densha de GO!, the train simulation game released originally on arcade and PS1, was also demade on Wonderswan and Game Boy Color; here you can see how all the versions compare. The GBC porting was actually pretty decent:



Densha de GO! 2 (again, arcade and PS1) was also ported to GBC and Neo Geo Pocket Color:

 

[sfortunato]

Back then, GB and GBC received a lot of demakes/portings of popular franchises. One of the best was Dance Dance Revolution with midi versions of popular songs (here, Butterfly):

 

[TheMoon]

Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands being a different game on the Wii vs the PS360 versions deserves a mention

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it's in the OP :D

 

[Ferrs]

For some weird reason Space Channel 5 had a GBA port

 

[TheMoon]

Do you perhaps mean Forgotten Sands here? Sands of Time was ported to Gamecube fully in tact as far as I can see.

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god damnit sands of sands forgotten time, I always mix these two titles up in my head...

To add some visuals to my games in the OP:

 

[Antony]

Not strictly what you're talking about (sorry!) but the sheer amount of ports Afterburner got and how vastly some differed from the arcade original was always fascinating:



The video features the Amiga, Atari, Commodore, Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad, C64, NES, MS-DOS, Master System, GBA, PC Engine, Saturn, Mega Drive, 32X and Arcade versions. It's kinda wild.
Makes me wonder which game has appeared on the most systems in the same form (ie not Tetris)...?

 

[ghostcrew]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Tekken Advance yet.
It played surprisingly faithfully compared to console Tekken.

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Yeah this one was actually pretty good!

 

[glebanych]

Metal Gear Solid on N-Gage 2.0 Phones

 

[samred]

Changed my mind, the thing I posted was a unique game, not a "demake" of an existing game.

 

[SirFritz]

Need for speed hot pursuit 2 was a different game afaik on ps2 compared to xbox/pc/gamecube.
The first 3 harry potter games on pc were different to the console versions (better too imo).