Disappointing coin-op conversions
- PeteProdge
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Disappointing coin-op conversions
Is it the sluggishness of Out Run or the absolutely ludicrous decision to apply flip-screen to Pac Land that made you the most disappointed? Or maybe it was one of those side-scrolling beat 'em ups - Double Dragon and Golden Axe - being pretty appalling?
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- Mike Davies
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I love Green Beret on the ZX Spectrum as a stand-alone game. I have a Wagon-wheels syndrome about Green Beret. I'm convinced I saw it in the Sun City arcade machine alley back in the late eighties, and the main character sprite was huge... like Dark Sceptre huge. But looking at the MAME version, the Spectrum port is fairly decent, and the sprites are not as huge as I remembered.
Flying Shark was better on the ZX Spectrum than it's arcade version, dropping the left-right scrolling is a definite plus.
I love Elevator Action on the ZX Spectrum, that's just as pleasing as the original coin-op, even though it's arcade skinny character, versus the Spectrum with the honk noses.
Flying Shark was better on the ZX Spectrum than it's arcade version, dropping the left-right scrolling is a definite plus.
I love Elevator Action on the ZX Spectrum, that's just as pleasing as the original coin-op, even though it's arcade skinny character, versus the Spectrum with the honk noses.
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Some bad conversions:
- Kung Fu Master
- Double Dragon
- Final Fight
- Eswat
- Mario Bros
Outrun actually isn't the worst. It's a bit slow but has decent graphics.
- Kung Fu Master
- Double Dragon
- Final Fight
- Eswat
- Mario Bros
Outrun actually isn't the worst. It's a bit slow but has decent graphics.
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Obviously I’ll say Double Dragon but it’s not as bad as it could have been I guess. Final Fight was very poor, actually there’s loads that could have been a lot better really.
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I quite liked Double Dragon back in the day playing with another player. Might not have been Target Renegade quality but it was the best beat em up I'd played up to that point. Whereas I completed DD3 first go which is a minor miracle as I'm generally dreadful at such games.
Pitfighter was atrocious but then the source material wasn't great either.
Pitfighter was atrocious but then the source material wasn't great either.
Another wonderfully irrelevant and inept post no doubt.
- Mike Davies
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I wonder how Outrun would have fared if they could have used the Chase HQ engine.
But, we know how Chase HQ turned out when it used the OutRun engine (Chase HQ 2).
But, we know how Chase HQ turned out when it used the OutRun engine (Chase HQ 2).
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Racing games were often a struggle. Here's another... Cisco Heat.Mike Davies wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:02 pm I wonder how Outrun would have fared if they could have used the Chase HQ engine.
But, we know how Chase HQ turned out when it used the OutRun engine (Chase HQ 2).
Another wonderfully irrelevant and inept post no doubt.
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Maybe I'm pervert but for me Pitfighter for Spectrum isn't that badPitfighter was atrocious but then the source material wasn't great either.
The graphics has feel of digitized photos but yet is clear. All persons are immediately recognizable. There is scaling of sprites, they become really big when close to the player. It's a feature of the arcade original which was missing in much more powerful platforms. See for example:
Zx Spectrum
Sega Master System
SNES
There are boxes, pills and other stuff from arcade. There is a bit of colour added, although causing clash. And yes, it's a bit slow but not as slow as Final Fight.
So it's "bad game that I weirdly like" category for me
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Makes me wonder why Ocean didn’t get the same team to work on Special Crime Investigation (Chase H.Q 2) after what was achieved with the first game.
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I didn't think Kung Fu Master was that bad. Quite enjoyed playing it.
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- Juan F. Ramirez
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Agree with Kung Fu Master. Having playing the arcade version first, the Spectrum version was very dissapointing. I think it could have been better.
Another was One on One. The C64 version was awesome and when I knew a friend lent me the Spectrum game, I was amazed! I only tried WS Basketball before and was a nice game, but I thought One on One was going to be better. What a dissapointment!
Another was One on One. The C64 version was awesome and when I knew a friend lent me the Spectrum game, I was amazed! I only tried WS Basketball before and was a nice game, but I thought One on One was going to be better. What a dissapointment!
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
These are all masterpieces, compared to the conversions we got in 1982. I challenge anyone to find one worse than Krazy Kong:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10570
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10570
- Juan F. Ramirez
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
The Spectrum was not lucky as to Donkey Kong clones, definitely!
- PeteProdge
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I didn't find this to be bad at all. A recent bash at it on MAME shows that it replicates the playability very well.
Of course, most folk think of Super Mario Bros when it comes to nostalgia, and the fact this game really isn't that, makes them scratch their head.
Super Mario Bros never did find its way officially to the Spectrum and I'm just speculating, but I'm sure nobody's bothered to make a knock off version? Given what we've seen with New Zealand Story and Rainbow Islands, a Spectrum SMB is technically feasible.
Reheated Pixels - a combination of retrogaming, comedy and factual musing, is here!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Krazy Kong, one of my guilty pleasures..!Rorthron wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:42 am These are all masterpieces, compared to the conversions we got in 1982. I challenge anyone to find one worse than Krazy Kong:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10570
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- Juan F. Ramirez
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
This was one of the first spectrum games I got, even back then I was shocked at how bad it was, put me off arcade conversions for a while...Rorthron wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:42 am These are all masterpieces, compared to the conversions we got in 1982. I challenge anyone to find one worse than Krazy Kong:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10570
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Its funny, because from those games, Kung Fu Master, and Double Dragon there are homebrew attempts to improve the originals. And Mario Bros has also its Homebrew medicine, much better, Pietro Bros
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I'm still hoping someone will take up the challenge of a decent Donkey Kong conversion. I remember someone (redballoon?) made some superb mock-ups a short while back. I'd love to see them made into a game.Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:32 pm The Spectrum was not lucky as to Donkey Kong clones, definitely!
I'm not volunteering, though! It's well beyond my capabilities.
- Mike Davies
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Is there something wrong with the Ocean's 1986 attempt?
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=1437
Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
Let me start. Hero with inverted graphics, incredibly small girl as they suddenly realize that they don't have space on screen, bad colour clash for legs...Is there something wrong with the Ocean's 1986 attempt?
It's better than earlier versions but still not really good.
Have a look here how it should look like
http://zxart.ee/eng/authors/z/zombi2/
I would also swear that there was another quality mockup but can't find it now.
- Juan F. Ramirez
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I'd add that it was 1986 and it was Ocean, the final work should have been far better.
I wouldn't call it crap, but very improvable, IMHO.
I wouldn't call it crap, but very improvable, IMHO.
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- Alessandro
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Re: Disappointing coin-op conversions
I once wrote an article for the Gamesark.it web magazine about the 15 worst and best coin-op conversions for the Spectrum.
Even if you don't understand Italian, you will surely recognize the titles I mentioned
http://www.gamesark.it/mostra_speciale. ... =0&f=1&s=1
Even if you don't understand Italian, you will surely recognize the titles I mentioned
http://www.gamesark.it/mostra_speciale. ... =0&f=1&s=1