The PC version looks poor compared to the Amiga CD32 version

[AwesamLinux]

As a fan of Chaos Engine I was really looking forward to the PC version. But after seeing the youtube videos of the PC port, it looks like no effort was put into this port.

Having played all Amiga versions of the game, the CD32 version was the best in my opinion.

The CD32 version had:
- Animated intro
see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24gK74om9uw

- CD Audio menu and select screen music
listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRSKyJ7aH8

- An instruction manual accessible within the game
see 1:43 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq8Nmwn4IQ0

- CD Audio ambient background sound effects.
listen for example at 7:30 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq8Nmwn4IQ0

And I don't know what they did with the PC versions graphics, but it just looks worse too.

And while I understand that some prefer the old ECS version. The developers could with not too much effort have included all Amiga versions of the games.

I mean if the budget was the issue, I'm sure a lot of people would have been willing to back a Kickstarter rather than seeing this half-baked attempts.

[Khablam]

People buy and play these games because of nostalgia; they want to play the original version they played, not a version 90% of people never saw or bothered with. I LOVED seeing the original intro after having not seen it for 18 years, and would have felt cheated if I saw that re-mastered nonsense from a few years after.

[Billcimus]

There should be an option to switch between AGA and OCS modes.

Even though I had an A1200, I owned the OCS version - can't remember why now, maybe it was cheaper, or maybe the AGA version came out later?

Anyway, I even at the time thought the colours were a bit off on the AGA; obviously they wanted to show off the extra colours but took it too far-- kind of like how they over-use any new graphical effect these days, remember the horrible drenched-in-bloom effect of a a couple of years back?

[ThunderPeel2001]

The sprites are identical to the AGA / AA versions of the game (CD32, A1200). Anything you're seeing differently is your own imagination.

[Billcimus]

ThunderPeel2001 の投稿を引用：

The sprites are identical to the AGA / AA versions of the game (CD32, A1200). Anything you're seeing differently is your own imagination.

Indeed. It's just a modern monitor will 'show up' the pixelation and other flaws so much more than an old blurry CRT monitor or TV, which add things like free aliasing; converseley though the blacks might have been deeper.

I would venture it's also a case of not quite remembering how it actually looked, especially as at the time the graphics were actually pretty damn good.

It's a shame there still doesn't seem to be any really convincing 'old video cables simulation mode', I actually can't remember how I connected my Amiga to the TV now... I don't recall having the three video cables but I suppose it must've been for the audio as well.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Connecting an Amiga to a TV was done through an RF lead (the normal arial where your TV comes in). You could also output to Composite and SCART if you had the connections.

[Billcimus]

ThunderPeel2001 の投稿を引用：

Connecting an Amiga to a TV was done through an RF lead (the normal arial where your TV comes in). You could also output to Composite and SCART if you had the connections.

Hard to imagine having to put up with the crappy RF signal. Fuzzy and bleeding colours all round; still, I suppose it has a kind of charm.

[ThunderPeel2001]

It's all we had at the time! :)

[Billcimus]

ThunderPeel2001 の投稿を引用：

It's all we had at the time! :)

Aye. But I always find it odd that without the advantage of comparison with modern tech, such glaringly obvious image quality shortcomings weren't really obviious.
I suppose it's the same effect as how cutting edge graphics at whatever time will always be impressive - and it's even difficult to remember thinking that way. I suppose, especially back in C64 days for example, I didn't really hold up realism as the standard for graphics-- rather just well drawn art.
It could be said even that considering how limited they were, it was pretty damn impressive wit some of the stuff they came up with; audio wise also-- Rob Hubbard's music springs to mind (anyone remember a title called Crazy Comets/Mega Apocalypse?); and the fantastic Theme Park from Last Ninja 2.

It'd be such a nostalgia fest to get an old small CRT and an Amiga and C64.

[ThunderPeel2001]

And a ZX Spectrum :)

[AwesamLinux]

Well I judged the graphics based on youtube videos, I have still not bought the game for PC, so haven't been able to judge properly first hand. Yea it might indeed look identical to the AGA version.

However I played all my Amiga games on an official Commodore and a NEC CRT monitor. So no color bleeding/fuzziness there, however scanlines can do magic to low resolutions.

[ThunderPeel2001]

harv の投稿を引用：

The PC version looks a lot like the MegaDrive version. Even the :floppy: Amiga version looks superior. Luckily I still have the original :floppy: on the Amiga 500+ so will stick with that.

The PC version is 100%, completely, IDENTICAL, down to the last pixel, to the Amiga AGA version. (Of course, like most people, I prefer the ECS version -- but the guys who made this version didn't do their homework.)

[Billcimus]

You can't argue with the fact that it IS the same graphics as the AGA. You just can't.

This isn't an opinion. It's like saying "Oh, in my opinion that cat is a dog."

If you run the Amiga 1200 version on the same TV alongside this version on a same TV (with the blur filters disabled of course); it will be the same graphics. What you may be seeing is some free-aliasing given away by poor the AF signal.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Also, just to respond to the OP: The CD32 version's opening was trashy, IMO. Sure it had extra animation, but the music and the presentation wasn't anywhere near as awesome as the original. Same goes for the MIDIfied menu music. They were right to stay true to the original, if you ask me.

Maybe they could have included it all as an optional extra, though!

[Billcimus]

One thing some people may have not noticed is they have isolated the excellent MOD music tracks, so they are no longer bound to the old channel restrictions of the Amiga sound chip. On the original a channel of the music would cut out when so many sound effects were playing at once - I actually distinctly remember finding it annoying even at the time, because the music was so great and to have it suddenly drop a channel wasn't the best.

They've fixed that.

I hope they release Xenon 2 as well, and do the same for that because if you have SFX and music both enabled you get the same channel dropping limitation.

[h3s]

The one I want is the 3 Player one shown on the Gamesmaster TV Program prior to release.

(Or just the 3 player mode. Don't think a small amount of effort is too much to ask. M2 Added 2 player to the first Streets of Rage recently for example).