Comparing SNES and Sega Genesis

[PCXL-Fan]

This is a continuation of the discussion from another thread

Beginning of original conversation here->best videogame/videogame series ever made?

Last post made in previous thread about this discussion topic best videogame/videogame series ever made?

This post is taken from somewhere in the middle and is a direct reply to PsyMan's post here best videogame/videogame series ever made?

The Genesis was an awesome system, but I'm just saying the SNES was better.

Unfortunately Psyman your getting your facts mixed around. Overall the Super Nintendo boasted the superior sound capabilities with its Sony made sound chip. A fact that isn't even open to interpretations or personal opinions.

The sound on the Super Nintendo was revolutionary back in 1991. It impressed many players due to its ability to play back real instrument samples at good quality. The SNES can play samples at better quality than the Sega Genesis. The SNES' signal-to-noise ratio is also better and is a reason why its more crisp and clear than the Genesis. Voices on most SNES games generally sound fairly clear. However, some samples sound bad due to limited cartridge space and sound RAM. One minor downfall of the SNES sound chip is a lack of creativity; it has no built-in synthesizer (like in the Genesis). People had to find something to sample. However, with good quality samples, SNES music sounded great. One other very minor problem with the SNES' sound is the low-pass filter. It often made samples sound a little more dull than they should have, but it wasn't really an issue. On the whole, the sound chip made by Sony was a large leap in the console industry, and it proved to be better than the Z80/Yamaha chip running in the Sega Genesis. The SNES' even had better ADPCM sound capabilities than the so-called bigger and badder Neo Geo. However, the SNES' sound chip is kinda primitive compared to later systems.

The Sega Genesis uses an FM synthesis sound chip made by Yamaha, a well-known company of music, audio equipment, and motorcycles. The sound chip is labeled as YM2612. The sound chip has 6 FM channels with the ability to switch FM channel #6 to a PCM channel for 8-bit sample playback at a somewhat low samplerate. Additionally, the Genesis has a Texas Instruments PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) with 3 square wave channels and one noise channel (tones and white noise similar to some sounds on TG-16/PCE, GameBoy, NES, SMS) for extra parts of the music and sound effects. The 8-bit Z80 CPU at 3.58 Mhz controls the sound hardware.

Like the graphics, the Genesis' audio capabilities aren't very impressive. Many sound effects don't sound right because they are often FM synthesized. Voices and other sampled sound effects often sound somewhat grainy and scratchy because of memory limitations and space limitations. However, some games have relatively clear voices and digitized sound effects. The music, on the other hand, is usually good. The FM synthesizer, if programmed well, can produce really cool sounds as well as synthesizing most acoustic instruments fairly well. Basically, it was more creativity. The music in some games can be tinny at times and even sound more like NES music. On the other hand, when games are made for both Genesis and SNES, the SNES versions usually (but not always) has the better music. Overall, the sound capabilities of the Sega Genesis aren't bad at all, but they aren't that good either.

You know in snes you could actually save your games. Not have to use a password.
The Super Nintendo was able to display 256 colors on the screen at the same time and the Genesis could only display 64 so super nintendo games often looked better.
Genesis did had an advantage though in that it could display faster moving scenes and thus had the sonic titles.

Nintendo had better 3rd party support originating as a carry over from its NES days.

Sure the first Mortal Kombat was superior on Genesis because it was uncensored but that changed with Mortal Kombat II. The Snes version had a slightly better image quality with its larger color palette, higher quality music, higher quality voice recordings, and a controller that actually had enough buttons for all the inputs.

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Last edited by PCXL-Fan; June 12th, 2008 at 23:48..

[Kaiser Sigma]

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

Exodus & Taco, Super nintendo was hands down better. Even the controller for super nintendo was better. Plus it could have much better graphics than the genesis with the special chips. Compare Genesis's best: Vectorman and Sonic 3D to Killer Instinct and the Donkey Kong Country Series. Plus it had mode-7 graphics for some killer 3d games like Pilot Wings and F-Zero and Star Fox, and Doom.

Vectorman and Sonic 3D weren't Genesis best. Virtua Racing was and if you are going to even try to compare it to that retarded game with cars that had eyes on the Snes I'll lol irl. If the Snes had the games with special chipsets Genesis had the games on the Sega CD with badass effects: Silpheed, Thunderstrike, Mansion of the Lost Souls, Road Avenger, etc.

If you are going to argue that you had to pay extra (like you did about the gamepad) I'll say that what you paid as extra on 5 Snes Carts (games with the FX / C4 / other chip were goddamned expensive) pretty much covered a Sega CD system.

Btw, Pilot Wings, F-Zero and Star Fox were good. Doom was a piece of crap that should've never been ported because it was a poor port.

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

You could have played these great games that never came to the genesis including Super Metroid, FFIII(VI), FFVI, FFV, Chronotrigger, Killer Instinct, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Donkey Kong Country Series, F-Zero, Mega Man X (X2 & X3), Super Castlevania IV, Terranigma, Legend of Zelda, Super Mario RPG, Mario Kart, Secret of Mana, Breath of Fire (1 & 2), Star Fox, Contra III, Super Battle Toads, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4, Super Mario World, Super Mario Allstars.

You could have played these great games that never came to the Snes including Sonic 1, 2, 3, CD, Lunar TSS, Lunar EB, Vay, Popful Mail, Soleil, Shining Force I, Shining Force II, Wonderboy in Monster World, Thunderstrike, Silpheed, Contra HC, Castlevania Bloodlines, Virtua Racing, Streets of Rage I, II, III, Final Fight CD (2 players mode? zomg Nintendo), Phantasy Star II, IV, TNMT, Alisia Dragoon, Shinobi III, Splatterhouse 2, Splatterhouse 3, Alien Soldier, Ranger X, Toe Jam & Earl 1 and 2, Golden Axe I, II and III, Quackshot, Thunder Force II, III and IV, amongst others.

Now, look at that. I mentioned as many exclusive titles as you did, say it ain't so! Making my sardonic nature aside I'll just note that of the titles mentioned by me 40% are third party whereas on your list less than 40% were made by Nintendo. It's a no brainer, Nintendo had no support on their N64 and it sucked so bad the console was a complete disaster.

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

Sega was an awesome system, just not as awesome as the Super Nintendo. Problem is not only did nintendo win when comparing their libraries of 1st party titles, but they also won with all the triple A quality titles various exclusive 3rd party titles from such developers as Squaresoft, Konami and Capcom.

The Snes was more awesome than the Genesis if you were a RPG addict, otherwise it's arguable. However, saying that Nintendo's library of 1st party titles was superior to the one of the Genesis is a preposterous claim and the sole reason I'm replying to a two days old post. Nintendo as a first party developer always was so-so, the Nintendo 64 is the living proof of that. Snes got a crapload of RPGs during the golden age of RPGs for console gaming, when people were just discovering the genre, so much hype often make people forget that in the end the 1st party library of the Snes is made up of Links trying to save Princess Zelda (again) and Donkey Kong chasing bananas while looking nice. Nintendo wasn't revolutionary back then and it barely is nowadays.

Nothing wrong with that...until somebody says that Nintendo > all which, as a matter of fact, is not.

As for my favorite series..Sakura Taisen, of course~. =o

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Last edited by Kaiser Sigma; June 12th, 2008 at 14:21..

[MT]

Moved as requested by PCXL-Fan, since the subject deserve it's own thread.

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[Hard core Rikki]

Technically:
SNES > Megadrive

Game library:
SNES > Megadrive


Was there even anything to debate about, seriously ? Unless we're directing pitting the individual hardware components and specific games against each others (on and for both consoles)...

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[Carmofin]

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

You know in snes you could actually save your games. Not have to use a password.

whoa, snes is the win...

[ShendoXT]

Well you could also save your games on Genesis\Mega Drive too...
It all really depends on game cartridge containing SRAM.

Btw: I have Mega Drive II sitting next to me with Sonic 3 locked on Sonic&Knuckles and yes, you can save the game

[Exodus]

Since when do Genesis games not save? Other than my copy of NBA Jam. Piece of crap.

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[Carmofin]

you can save your game in NES games for heavens sake, just ignore this whole silly post. i dont give a damn which console is better, life would suck without either.

[fivefeet8]

I had both and enjoyed playing games on either systems. SNES had the RPGs, Genesis had the action games. Ranger X and Gunstar Heroes on the Genesis. Final Fantasy and Crono Trigger on the SNES. The genesis 6 button pad definately dominated my Street Fighter playing in those days.

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[PCXL-Fan]

Originally Posted by Carmofin

you can save your game in NES games for heavens sake, just ignore this whole silly post. i dont give a damn which console is better, life would suck without either.

why change your opinion so quickly from the previous post?

1 error. no reason to discount the entire thread.

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Originally Posted by Exodus

Yes, I like anime, Street Fighter, Japanese music and download video game music. Yes, I know... I've changed.

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[Kaiser Sigma]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Was there even anything to debate about, seriously ? Unless we're directing pitting the individual hardware components and specific games against each others (on and for both consoles)...

Ya, we were debating the fact that somebody made the dumb claim that the Snes first party lineup > Sega's. Reading comprehension for the lose, huh~?

Oh and goddamn FiveFeet, I had completely forgotten about Gunstar Heroes~. =o

[Hard core Rikki]

First lineups' ?

Sega's definitely owned at the beginning, that's for sure, but SNES later turned the odds around. No big suspense there, since Genesis mostly was outranking NES, which was still popular at that time.

As first parties, SEGA owned the arcades, but that's no experience that could've given it an advantage on the home gaming market. Replayability anyone? Games with none or little have no chances to impress after all.

Priorities...
Home gaming > arcades ;P

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[PCXL-Fan]

Originally Posted by Kaiser Sigma

Ya, we were debating the fact that somebody made the dumb claim that the Snes first party lineup > Sega's. Reading comprehension for the lose, huh~?

Oh and goddamn FiveFeet, I had completely forgotten about Gunstar Heroes~. =o

You seem quick to end this thread and are in no mood for a discussion on the subject. Before outright calling me dumb and dismissing what I say let me get a word in. Your replies to me are by no means bulletproof and both sides of the arguement can still continue.

my reply to your post is coming I was busy cleaning my apartment though . Hold your horses.

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Originally Posted by Exodus

Yes, I like anime, Street Fighter, Japanese music and download video game music. Yes, I know... I've changed.

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[Kaiser Sigma]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

First lineups' ?

Sega's definitely owned at the beginning, that's for sure, but SNES later turned the odds around. No big suspense there, since Genesis mostly was outranking NES, which was still popular at that time

First party...you know...just like there's third party lineup (games made by other companies) there's also first party lineup (games made by the company manufacturing the console and its subdivisions: ie Intelligent Systems).

The Snes had an amazing third party lineup. First party lineup...not at all~.

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

You seem quick to end this thread and are in no mood for a discussion on the subject. Before outright calling me dumb and dismissing what I say let me get a word in. Your replies to me are by no means bulletproof and both sides of the arguement can still continue.

I didn't call you dumb, just your claim. Big, subtle, difference~.

[22point8]

The Megadrive version of Desert Strike had far superior sound.
YouTube - Desert Strike intro (Mega Drive/Genesis) couldn't find SNES intro.

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[Exodus]

Originally Posted by Hard core Rikki

Replayability anyone? Games with none or little have no chances to impress after all.

Dunno. I replayed them plenty when I was a kid.

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[Carmofin]

Originally Posted by PCXL-Fan

why change your opinion so quickly from the previous post?

1 error. no reason to discount the entire thread.

because my previous post was emant to be sarcastic

[Lord Budweiser]

Originally Posted by 22point8

The Megadrive version of Desert Strike had far superior sound.
YouTube - Desert Strike intro (Mega Drive/Genesis) couldn't find SNES intro.

IMO, the Snes version intro hurts less my ears. And, let's face reality, neither of the versions had good sound! It is like comparing two slops to see which one is less smelly.

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[PCXL-Fan]

I liked how this thread was going. Lets try and keep it civil.

Originally Posted by Kaiser Sigma

Vectorman and Sonic 3D weren't Genesis best. Virtua Racing was and if you are going to even try to compare it to that retarded game with cars that had eyes on the Snes I'll lol irl. If the Snes had the games with special chipsets Genesis had the games on the Sega CD with badass effects: Silpheed, Thunderstrike, Mansion of the Lost Souls, Road Avenger, etc.

I never said they were the Genesis's best games. Simply that they arguably offered the system's best graphics. And they by no means competed with Donkey Kong Country or Killer Instinct.

As for Virtua Racing that game alone was one of the most expense titles in history of videogaming costing ~$100USD back in 1994 (back when $100 was quite a bit more money, thank inflation ) It also required the purchase of a 32x which was another $140-170 and way by all accounts an expensive waste of money and ended up flopping. Virtua racing, virtua fighter and 2 or 3 others were the only good games that came out for the 32x which itself was axed in less than 1.5 years.

If you are going to argue that you had to pay extra (like you did about the gamepad) I'll say that what you paid as extra on 5 Snes Carts (games with the FX / C4 / other chip were goddamned expensive) pretty much covered a Sega CD system.

If I mentioned? I already did and quite strongly I might add. best videogame/videogame series ever made? You'd have to buy $60 worth of extra controllers so you could play fighting games with a friend (thats what fighters were all about after all (playing against someone else not the computer A.I.)). And at that point in your ownership of the Genesis where Fighting games became prevailent you'd probably have already purchased a second 3 button controller earlier on, meaning you'd need to go out and buy an additional 2 controllers so each person could have a 6 button pad.

The snes titles with the added chips such as starfox were only ~10-$15 more expensive than genesis games. 5 x $10-15 = $50-75. $75 =/= $250 (cost of sega cd without even considering the purchase of any games). Christ man redo your math.

Sega CD was also consider in large to be a flop amongst people ion the gaming industry as most of its games sucked and were just cheap attempts to cash in on the consumer. The sega cd by no means cost just around $60-75 as you claim. More like around $250-300 back then.. That super high cost and low quantity of great titles by no means justified its really high price.

Btw, Pilot Wings, F-Zero and Star Fox were good. Doom was a piece of crap that should've never been ported because it was a poor port.

IMO Doom for the SNES was at least a decent game, as Cid Highwind attested in the previous thread. I borrowed it from a friend back in the day and did find it enjoyable myself.

You could have played these great games that never came to the Snes including Sonic 1, 2, 3, CD, Lunar TSS, Lunar EB, Vay, Popful Mail, Soleil, Shining Force I, Shining Force II, Wonderboy in Monster World, Thunderstrike, Silpheed, Contra HC, Castlevania Bloodlines, Virtua Racing, Streets of Rage I, II, III, Final Fight CD (2 players mode? zomg Nintendo), Phantasy Star II, IV, TNMT, Alisia Dragoon, Shinobi III, Splatterhouse 2, Splatterhouse 3, Alien Soldier, Ranger X, Toe Jam & Earl 1 and 2, Golden Axe I, II and III, Quackshot, Thunder Force II, III and IV, amongst others.

Now, look at that. I mentioned as many exclusive titles as you did, say it ain't so! Making my sardonic nature aside I'll just note that of the titles mentioned by me 40% are third party whereas on your list less than 40% were made by Nintendo. It's a no brainer, Nintendo had no support on their N64 and it sucked so bad the console was a complete disaster.[/img]
Hey where did I say N64 ranked up there with such great systems as the Supernintendo and Genesis. Your the first person to even mention N64. N64 was Nintendo's fall from no.1 spot, due in part to their choice to go with Cartidge ROM based storage, iirc higher royalty fees and the advent of the behemoth playstation.

Yes N64 had no 3rd party support but we aren't talking about N64 here, we are talking about Super Nintendo. They had hands down the most 3rd party support of any 16bit era console.

The Snes was more awesome than the Genesis if you were a RPG addict, otherwise it's arguable. However, saying that Nintendo's library of 1st party titles was superior to the one of the Genesis is a preposterous claim and the sole reason I'm replying to a two days old post. Nintendo as a first party developer always was so-so, the Nintendo 64 is the living proof of that. Snes got a crapload of RPGs during the golden age of RPGs for console gaming, when people were just discovering the genre, so much hype often make people forget that in the end the 1st party library of the Snes is made up of Links trying to save Princess Zelda (again) and Donkey Kong chasing bananas while looking nice. Nintendo wasn't revolutionary back then and it barely is nowadays.


Nothing wrong with that...until somebody says that Nintendo > all which, as a matter of fact, is not.

Poor 1st party support from nintendo itself? not really

F-Zero, Super Punchout, Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, Yoshi's Island, Link to the Past, Pilot Wings, Donkey Kong Country 1/2/3, Killer Instinct, Tetris Attacks, Super Mario World, Super Mario AllStars, Star Fox, Kirby's Dreamland 3, Kirby Superstar.

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Originally Posted by Exodus

Yes, I like anime, Street Fighter, Japanese music and download video game music. Yes, I know... I've changed.

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Last edited by PCXL-Fan; June 13th, 2008 at 02:30..

[Lord Budweiser]

Kirby and Earthbound are 2nd party, aren't they?

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