[Rob500]

Originally Posted by BeatleGod

The 32x was a bit of a disaster as well.

I agree, Sonic and Knuckles was the only good game on that, and even that flopped

Originally Posted by BeatleGod

Mario World is timeless. I don't think its aimed at any age group, and neither is Sonic.

Both the Megadrive AND SNES had awesome lineup of software.....but I think the MDs software trailed a bit from 1993, as Sega's thoughts were on developing the Saturn. The SNES had timeless classics throughout its life - games like Super Mario RPG being released in what, 1996? And another classic.

Sega's early Sonic games, Sega Rally on Saturn, Virtua Fighter 2 on Saturn and Shenmue on the DC is their legacy.

not forgeting shemue 2, virtual tennis, the 2k series, nights into dreams, super hang on, space harrier, after burner, out run, slex the kid, wonderboy, craxy taxi, golden axe, streets of rage.

i might be wrong, but those are sega titles made by sega, if i am wrong there isn't many in that list that segs didn't make.They have an anazing libary, and have, or i should say had, more range than nintendo.Sega deserves credit for competing in those early days considering how nintendo tryed to monopolise the industry at that time.

Originally Posted by mattshenton

having owned both consoles and having both systems on my pc with over 1800 games between them. My best gaming memorys are with sega and thats why i choose them

Mario did out perform sonic in sales, but sonic was a aimed at older kids, just like the megadrive was.

but when it came to gameplay Segas console delivered.

Its easy to get sucked into graphics or speed, but back in the day it was about gameplay.

I'd love to see sega do a new console, but some games will never be remade or equal the original titles.

won't happen now sadely.The public ain't as intrested in them as they was, no matter how good the machine is, the dc is proof of that, plus i think there miyamoto like men, that theres a few not there anymore.I think yu susuki might still be at sega though.

[Bill Fan]

Has anyone played the EA developed James Pond 3 on Mega Drive. That is possibly the single game on Mega Drive that can rival Mario World or Donkey Kong Country as they are both very similar games.
In case you were unsure, JP3 is nothing like its predecessor JP2 Robocod.

[BeatleGod]

Originally Posted by rufes

not forgeting shemue 2, virtual tennis, the 2k series, nights into dreams, super hang on, space harrier, after burner, out run, slex the kid, wonderboy, craxy taxi, golden axe, streets of rage.

i might be wrong, but those are sega titles made by sega, if i am wrong there isn't many in that list that segs didn't make.They have an anazing libary, and have, or i should say had, more range than nintendo.Sega deserves credit for competing in those early days considering how nintendo tryed to monopolise the industry at that time.

Shenmue 2 of course, but I mean't the "Shenmue" series.

Don't get me wrong, some of the Sega games you mention are not bad, some even quite good (aside from Alex Kidd, most Wonderboy games and super hang on - poor!), but they aren't Sega's premier titles like "Shenmue" or "Sonic", which really did set the world alight when released.

As for them having more range than Nintendo - quite possibly, and they have produced far superior "serious" games like Virtua Fighter series, Sega Rally and Shenmue.....where as Nintendo HAVE produced excellent beat-em ups and racers....they have had a lot less serious themes, ie Mario Kart, Smash Bros etc etc.

[wigsta]

There are waaaay more classic titles on the SNES than what the Megadrive had. And the SNES was a lot more superior technically. The only thing the MD had over the SNES, was the amount of sales.

[spankyplugs]

It had 20m less sales, apparently.

[Pr1s0n 13reak]

SNES whips most consoles asses. Gameplay is simple and loads of classic games.

[BeatleGod]

To the last 3 posts - SENSIBLE AND REALISTIC COMMENT AT LAST!!

The SNES sold sheds load more than the Megadrive (20m more), and had far better games. More crucially, its aged far better. I was playing "Altered Beast" last night on MD emu, and although the graphics are adequate....this game is very overrated, the playability is naff. Compare then something like Mystical Ninja - that game is magic.

Originally Posted by BeatleGod

To the last 3 posts - SENSIBLE AND REALISTIC COMMENT AT LAST!!

The SNES sold sheds load more than the Megadrive (20m more), and had far better games. More crucially, its aged far better. I was playing "Altered Beast" last night on MD emu, and although the graphics are adequate....this game is very overrated, the playability is naff. Compare then something like Mystical Ninja - that game is magic.

are you mad? there was only a few games that you could tell a majer diffance in the games, dokey kong country being the one.If mario 3 can age well, along with mario world im sure the best megadrive games could still hold up.I got the emulater a few months back, and the revenge of shinobi and streets of rage are still as playable today as they was back then, as is sonic.

Damn what planet do people live on?????????

[Dan27]

Sorry all. I think there is one definitive answer to this age old arguement..

Look at the IGN top 100 all time games and see how many of the two consoles games there are.. And theres about five Genesis and about 30 SNES entries. That says it all..

I had both consoles.. Played the SNES to death.. Sold the Megadrive after about a year (to fund an Amiga purchase). But I enjoyed the best Megadrive titles (Sonic series, Shinboi and Madden 92) while I had it.

[BeatleGod]

Originally Posted by DanVitale

Sorry all. I think there is one definitive answer to this age old arguement..

Look at the IGN top 100 all time games and see how many of the two consoles games there are.. And theres about five Genesis and about 30 SNES entries. That says it all..

I had both consoles.. Played the SNES to death.. Sold the Megadrive after about a year (to fund an Amiga purchase). But I enjoyed the best Megadrive titles (Sonic series, Shinboi and Madden 92) while I had it.

Nice reality check there - the SNES had the quantity of quality games that the Megadrive lacked.

The N64 is also fondly remembered, with Ocarina of Time, Goldeneye and Mario 64 showing they have stood the test of time.

[Bill Fan]

Originally Posted by Rob500

I agree, Sonic and Knuckles was the only good game on that, and even that flopped

Do you mean that Knuckles Chaotix game on 32X?

Sonic and Knuckles (aka the 2nd half of Sonic 3) was a Mega Drive game. I know that because I just played it a few hours ago

[Rob500]

Originally Posted by Bill Fan

Do you mean that Knuckles Chaotix game on 32X?

Sonic and Knuckles (aka the 2nd half of Sonic 3) was a Mega Drive game. I know that because I just played it a few hours ago

I mean Sonic and Knuckles (Mega Drive) but I remember playing it on the 32x - my mate back then had a homebrew adapter thingy that enhanced the graphics, but the amount of times the screen rolled and went fuzzy because it wasn't meant to run at 32x was unbelievable.

I still play Sonic and Knuckles on the PC emulator though That does run at 32x with no problems

[stuntmaster]

I'm going to bump this back up.

From my opinion:-

Megadrive had a decent audio engine, it was generated on the console itself. 5 FM channels, 1 FM/PCM... and a seperate texas instruments SN76489 for 4 channels PSG. Any game could utilize that at any given time, the mega CD also had the bonus of using stereo CD audio, as it read that straight from CD, and passed it through.

Now the SNES, actually had no audio whatsoever. it simply had a Sony SPC700, with a Sony DSP. all it did was process. the music had to be pre-rendered, and either uploaded into the DSP ram or streamed from the cart itself. As a result the SNES can have much better audio than the MD. you could fit your own audio mixing system on the cart, then dump/stream it to the DSP gear for extra effects.

However not every game does that.

Graphics wise though, the SNES over the MD could scale and rotate sprites. The mega CD however could but of course only games for that could do that. It shows it off during the BIOS screen. Resolution wise the MD could go upto 320×480 on pal.

Snes was max 512 × 239 on progressive, quite a jump.

im a megadrive fan through and through, the more arcadey feel suits me better.

[0lly]

I've always had both. While I do like the Megadrive a lot, the SNES is my all time favourite console, and for me had/has a much, much bigger selection of brilliant games, and a lot more "classics"

[Rich_L]

Return of a 5 year old thread!!

I had both so it didn't matter.

[stuntmaster]

Originally Posted by 0lly

I've always had both. While I do like the Megadrive a lot, the SNES is my all time favourite console, and for me had/has a much, much bigger selection of brilliant games, and a lot more "classics"

thats a good statement, Both had excellent classics that still thrive today.

in the sega camp we have sonic, that still makes a name for itself. Sega Rally although thats died somewhat. The excellent Virtua Tennis, NiGhts, super monkey ball, as well as some fresh remakes. Also not forgetting the excellent fantasy star.

Nintendo, however still having their own hardware, still pump out zelda, mario, mario kart, smash brothers, donkey kong, Yoshi, metroid, f-zero, etc

where nintendo scores, is also within the handheld market, both then and now. Sure sega had the GameGear but in reality it was merely a portable master system, and the nomad (not released in europe) really was a portable megadrive to the extent it took the same cartridges. the gameboy on the other hand were mini consoles in themselves, and grew in innovative features as they went along. Sony tried to stir the market up, but the PSP / vita are more novelty things than just games machine.

The DS did do better than the PSP despite the PSP offering more for the cash.

Interestingly, it is nice to see Sega co-operating with nintendo releasing software for it.

I would love to see sega make consoles again, however I fear this will never happen due to the stranglehold that Sony and microsoft ahve got. If the rumoured steambox does come, then it really will be the death of consoles.

It did sadden me when i saw the dreamcast die. I loved that console as much as my megadrive.

[JaiJai]

SNES for me!

Although the Megadrive did have some amazing games. Loved the Shinobi and Streets of Rage games and Sonic was always fun.

All my memories growing up during those days are filled with playing Mystical Ninja, Plok!, Super Castlevania, Super Contra, Axelay, Donkey Kong Country, Super Parodius, Super Star Wars trilogy, Secret of Mana, Super Aleste (awesome music), Mickeys Magical Quest, Earthbound (£90+ to import it!), Actraiser, Chrono Trigger, Cybernator

Not forgetting Nintendos own games - Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda, Metroid, Starfox, F Zero, Super Punch Out, Stunt Race FX, Super Tennis, Pilotwings, Yoshi's Island etc

What in incredible portfolio of games and these are just off the top of my head.

[MGS4SnakeRulez]

I had both and loved both but Megadrive was my favourite of the two.

[2Dshmuplover]

This has always been such a tough question, I love the MD for the shmups especially, the Sonic games, Streets of Rage (a series I've grown to love more and more), Treasure games, EA Sports, Road Rash I could go on of course.

The SNES I love for Metroid, Zelda, Star Fox and other Super FX game like Stunt Race FX and of course Mario. Street Fighter II was a big deal back then too and the SNES had much better versions.

They both offer such different things, my take on it is that the very best games on the MD cannot match up to what the SNES offers, which are generally deeper, more refined gameplay experiences (we are talking about Nintendo in their prime here), there was nothing to compete against the likes of Super Metroid or Zelda LttP, games like this were on another level. While the MD is more geared toward the arcade gamer, it's shmups are far better and games like NHLPA Hockey '93 were arguably the greatest multiplayer games of that generation.

Back when I was a kid I was a MD fan all the way. I got a JP import for Christmas before they were released over here and stuck with it for years despite my best mate owning a SNES and some very cool software, I was never swayed. MD has the cool factor! heh

[robo2]

why do these fanboy arguments always erupt, both were excellent consoles with many excellent games

the snes sold more than the megadrive and had better graphics but was often subject to slowdown issues which the megadrive did not have , the megadrive had better sound as well but the graphics often looked washed out compared to the snes which were much more colouful

in terms of games the snes had a greater depth of quality titles probably twice as many

the snes had many more quality rpgs than the megadrive
the megadrive had many more quality scrolling shooters than the snes

[2Dshmuplover]

Originally Posted by robo2

the snes sold more than the megadrive

Not here in the UK it didn't, nor Europe or even America.

Originally Posted by robo2

the megadrive had better sound as well

Technically it doesn't, imagine listening to the FF6, Terranigma or Chrono Trigger soundtrack though the Mega Drive's sound chip. It just doesn't stack up. But at the same time I can't see the SNES performing Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack in quite the same way. I guess they both offer such different sounds it's understandable why someone would take a preference in one over the other. I think I prefer the more gritty sound of the MD personally.

[stuntmaster]

Originally Posted by 2Dshmuplover

Not here in the UK it didn't, nor Europe or even America.



Technically it doesn't, imagine listening to the FF6, Terranigma or Chrono Trigger soundtrack though the Mega Drive's sound chip. It just doesn't stack up. But at the same time I can't see the SNES performing Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack in quite the same way. I guess they both offer such different sounds it's understandable why someone would take a preference in one over the other. I think I prefer the more gritty sound of the MD personally.

The snes clearly was the winner in the sound department. However its inbuilt sound CPU and DSP are nothing without the kit. it is upto the game itself to generate the music on board then feed it into the DSP for further effects.

It probably explains why the snes cartridges are much bigger. the fact most bits are on that cart. allows for a semi upgrade to the console without realising it.

The DSP can only handle 4 channels.... the MD has as stated previously 5 FM, 1 PCM, and 4 PSG, gaining 6 more...

it's really hard to tell. also remember the model 2 MD has sound issues.

[Ulysses777]

Originally Posted by stuntmaster

Snes was max 512 × 239 on progressive, quite a jump.

Except it could only show 20 background colours in the 512px horizontal modes(one 16-colour layer and one 4-colour layer), so almost no-one used it, and then only for menus/character selects etc.

I think the number of games which even slightly used the 512px graphics mode can be counted on one hand.