Majority of level and sound design taken from Saturn version, why?

[DoctorAnubis]

I was expecting a "perfect blending of both the PlayStation & Saturn versions", so a mix of the best level and sound design from both games, but so far it seems this port is almost entirely based on the saturn version. I am sure that Lobotomy devs would largely have considered the PSX version to be the most refined in terms of level and sound design. Yes, some of the changes were due to limitations of the hardware, and some of the areas were indeed better on Saturn. But overall, the environments and level design was a lot cleaner and more refined on PSX because they had more time to perfect them.

I have just reached Set Palace, and so far, I feel that the free Powerslave Ex was superior to this. Set Palace and Amun Mines felt particularly short and weak here, a breeze to get through compared to Lobotomy's refined design.

In terms of sound design, why would the Amun Bomb be using the Saturn sound effect, rather than the superior PSX sound. I am sure there are more instances of this. Not sure if it's a bug, but the M60 sound effect is absolutely awful at the moment and does not loop how it is supposed to.

[DoctorAnubis]

Just noticed that the Amun Bomb doesn't set enemies on fire. Another feature that points to this being primarily a Saturn port. I don't understand how this is marketed as being the perfect blend, when very few of Lobotomy's refined Playstation details have been carried over?

[hip]

I mean don't you guys get it? How long until you understand? This is the only chance we get to properly experience the Saturn version on PC. That was always a goal with this release. Whats the point of replicating the PS1 version ONCE AGAIN when Powerslave Ex already exists? The developers are fully aware that Powerslave Ex exists.

Not only that but this remaster is still using the PS1 source code. It still has a lot of assets from the PS1 version and unfortunately it will never be a 100% replica of the Saturn version. There is no source code for the Saturn version anymore. Its gone forever. Nightdive had to went out of their way and rebuild the PS1 maps from scratch to achieve parity with the Saturn version in this release for us.

"Why?" Because there is no freaking way to play the Saturn version on PC other than emulating it. And the thing runs at 15 fps with no aiming in case you didn't know. Wanna play the PS1 version? Then launch Powerslave Ex its that simple. But i want to play the Saturn version on PC at 60 fps with mouse support and i've been wanting that for the past 20 years.

[Seamus]

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

The developers are fully aware that Powerslave Ex exists.

I should hope so considering they have the same lead dev.

[Virgile "VILE"]

I have a theory, as all levels of their PlayStation design exist in PowerSlaveEX, if they had sold us the exact same game, we would have seen the scam. To prove to us that they are selling us a product on which they have worked, they are doing the saturn levels this time. But basically we can make it short: PlayStation port: freeware, Saturn port: paying.

[Dominus Iniquitatis]

Originally posted by DoctorAnubis:

and some of the areas were indeed better on Saturn. But overall, the environments and level design was a lot cleaner and more refined on PSX

Pretty much agreed here.

Originally posted by DoctorAnubis:

Amun Mines felt particularly short and weak here

I thought the same. Although some locations are indeed bigger, but from the design perspective I liked them a lot less. Like the Sobek Pass, for example: these PS1 caves were so much more interesting to navigate. (Not that the size matters, eh?)

Originally posted by DoctorAnubis:

why would the Amun Bomb be using the Saturn sound effect, rather than the superior PSX sound

I also don't get it. Level design is one thing, but that explosion sound...

Originally posted by DoctorAnubis:

the M60 sound effect is absolutely awful at the moment and does not loop how it is supposed to

Definitely. Not sure about the Saturn version, but every other version (including the infamous PC port) doesn't have this problem. Not only the sound effect, though: it is the M60 firing timings overall.

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

The developers are fully aware that Powerslave Ex exists

I might be wrong, but isn't this version illegal?

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

Because there is no freaking way to play the Saturn version on PC

This remaster was promoted as a _blend_ between the PS1 and Saturn versions. And I'm being subjective here, sure, but some aspects of the Saturn port were inferior to the PS1 (like that explosion sound, for example). Why can't we take the best from both worlds (ideally, also with stuff from the PC port)?
(Also, in the perfect world we would have the PowerSlave Exhumed and two DLCs: one with content from the PS1 port, and another with content from the Saturn port. Oh well.)

[Samurai Snake]

Just so you know, this version has 2 levels from PSX (ones that were just different) as new levels, Well of Souls and Kilmaat Sanctuary.
And PSX wasn't the best version, it was just that - a version, a version limited by technology (that's why some levels were changed, PSX couldn't handle the original Cavern of Peril for example). It had no bomb jump, feature which made things easier and more interesting, for example, and some levels (like Ramses Tomb) were plain shorter.
Amun Mines make use of the better - i.e. more interesting - parts of both versions. Yeah, I miss the acid pool that was there, but still, it's the best of both worlds and not that much shorter than the original. It actually feels like a Mine for one thing.
And yet this version has the secrets from PSX version, Vulture mode (which was only on PSX), better looking water, blue scorpions and many visual options to change the look of the game.

And also - Saturn wasn't a *port*. It was the OG PowerSlave.
And if you compare it with PSX (which you call a better version), you'll see that the only things that changed for the better were doll locations (which are present here), Death Tank (which is missing and worth looking into, but I assume there are reasons why it's not there), sounds (which are subjective aside from M-60 cracking) and maybe that burning thing. Other than that it had downgrades for one thing (mentioned above bomb jump which warranted making Vulture mode just so you could get some dolls).
Also - levels (like Karnak Sanctuary) became somewhat smaller (the beginning of it comes to mind). Death lasers changed to death cannons that kill your years with constant obnoxious BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM (which you can still hear in Kilmaat Sanctuary, btw).

I've played the PS1 version to completion, played EX to compare and finished the new port. You are blowing thing out of proportion. It's not the most perfect port ever (fixes are coming I've heard), but it's a really good effort and it does bring the best of every version while still being based on the original Saturn edition which is considered superior still.

[Dominus Iniquitatis]

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

And PSX wasn't the best version

Sure. I haven't implied that the PS1 Powerslave was the best. Even the PC version had it strengths (and weaknesses).

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

a version, a version limited by technology (that's why some levels were changed, PSX couldn't handle the original Cavern of Peril for example).

Yep, I know. Still, sometimes limitations breed creativity, right?

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

Yeah, I miss the acid pool that was there

Exactly!

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

And also - Saturn wasn't a *port*.

Ah, sorry for my terminology choice. I was kinda tired of repeating "version" word in every sentence. (=

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

(which you call a better version)

I don't. There isn't really a "better" version. PS1 version also has its shortcomings.

Originally posted by Samurai Snake:

You are blowing thing out of proportion. It's not the most perfect port ever (fixes are coming I've heard), but it's a really good effort and it does bring the best of every version while still being based on the original Saturn edition which is considered superior still.

Yes, I do. I guess I'm kinda sensitive to the nuances and, you know, all these little things.
Still, I didn't mean that PSE is a bad port, quite the contrary: it's good, really good (aside from a few things I mentioned earlier, most of which are definitely subjective).

[Dae]

Anubis mob projectiles missing impact sounds. Corpses exploding into gibs instead of spawning actual corpses. Where are the player pain sounds too? I remember him screaming "Sunovabitch!" or something along those lines. They left out a bunch of the good stuff.

Easily the most annoying thing about it? The player hitboxes are absurd. I can't recall this being in the originals, it may have been, but if I'm in some tight hallway and an Anubis is spamming up ahead, its literally impossible to dodge. It gets even worse when you get to the alien maps with the grasshopper mobs.

Theres so much they could have improved on in this "improved" port.

[Samurai Snake]

Originally posted by Dae:

Corpses exploding into gibs instead of spawning actual corpses.

They do it sometimes (cat and aliens girls always gib, Anubis guys and mummies do it randomly, not just from explosions).

Originally posted by Dae:

Anubis mob projectiles missing impact sounds.

If I remember correctly, it was always the case. Or they were always that quiet.

Originally posted by Dae:

Where are the player pain sounds too? I remember him screaming "Sunovabitch!" or something along those lines. They left out a bunch of the good stuff.

Sounds are the same as PS1 and Saturn version (and he has pain sounds, don't know what are you talking about), protagonist talked on PC and on consoles has only 1 line in the end. If there was sunovabitch, I don't remember it (and I died a lot back in the day).

Hitboxes are a known issue and are being worked on.

[Dae]

Yeah, pain sounds are there but what I meant is he used to actually speak.

https://youtu.be/bJVznZhPwuQ?t=162

This bit here here at 2:40 is what I mean when he uses profanity when taking pain. I guess I just remember the PC version more.

EDIT: Watching that video above, the M60 sounds way better too.

[ZeppMan217]

At this point, I can't help but wonder if Nightdive wasn't allowed to use stuff from the DOS version.

[Samurai Snake]

Originally posted by Dae:

Yeah, pain sounds are there but what I meant is he used to actually speak.

Ah, so you did mean DOS version. I've heard they added MC's comments just because publisher wanted them in order to get Duke Nukem crowd, so it wasn't something devs had in mind originally.
But still, Nightdive did implement some sprites from PC and added checkpoint system from there.
The original idea was to bring the console version out and mix PSX/Saturn, not blend all 3 versions together (since it's not possible due to console's level design).

[hip]

Originally posted by Dominus Iniquitatis:

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

The developers are fully aware that Powerslave Ex exists

I might be wrong, but isn't this version illegal?

The lead designer of this remaster also created Powerslave Ex. I don't think Nightdive or Lobotomy even cares at this point.

Originally posted by Dae:

Yeah, pain sounds are there but what I meant is he used to actually speak.

https://youtu.be/bJVznZhPwuQ?t=162

Again this is not the PC version and it never wanted to be the PC version.

[Dae]

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

Again this is not the PC version and it never wanted to be the PC version.

No one is implying that, champ. Try reading.

The goal was to take the best of both, in this case sounds from PC version and put them into one was it not?

[hip]

Originally posted by Dae:

Originally posted by Hipocondria:

Again this is not the PC version and it never wanted to be the PC version.

No one is implying that, champ. Try reading.

The goal was to take the best of both, in this case sounds from PC version and put them into one was it not?

best of both as in Playstation & Saturn versions, not PC. Try reading the Store Page's description.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1678430/PowerSlave_Exhumed/