50Hz game info goes here

[ICEknight]

After taking a look at the related article that's currently on Wikipedia, and seeing how the VC-reviews site doesn't tell if the games are optimized or not anymore, I think we, as VC users, should document all the stuff that might worry some people when selecting which games to download.


What needs to be done first is a general list with the emulation features and issues each system has (such as the washed out colors and screen size in NES, wiimote control issues in MegaDrive, general sound issues, better screen resolution in N64 games, etc) and then document the following specific stuff from each game (if they've just released the 60Hz version, much of the following info doesn't apply):

INFO FROM THE ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
-Speed optimization: If it actually runs slower or at the same speed than its 60Hz counterpart (some games might have used frameskipping to achieve this, but they might be few to none).
-Code sharing between regions: If it has exclusive differences to the NTSC version, or they share the same code. This code sharing happens in all TurboGrafx and NEO-GEO games, as well as some MegaDrive releases. These games would show no problems at all if the Virtual Console allowed to choose between 50Hz and 60Hz when starting them (TGX games already do it). This also means that it wouldn't be needed to download more than one ROM, in order to support both screen modes.
-Sound speed, sound pitch: If the sound is the same as in the NTSC version (it can be exactly the same, play slower, play at the same speed but with a different pìtch like in some NES games, etc).
-Other sound differences: If it has noticeable sound differences/issues (like MegaMan 1 and 2 on the NES).
-Screen size: If the game originally had a bigger field view than usual, to compensate the bigger PAL borders (this happens in the Streets of Rage series, for example)
-Localizations: If the game originally had different language releases in certain countries (Story of Thor, Soleil, etc).

INFO FROM THE WII VC RELEASE
-Screen modes it supports (50 and/or 60Hz).
-Component cable interlace support
-Screen stretch: If the screen has been artificially stretched for the Wii VC version, so the borders wouldn't be as noticeable in PAL systems (which leads to some tearing with vertical scrolling and blurry graphics, as happens in the VC version of Super Mario World). This should be differentiated from those games that originally had smaller borders, and thus still have the same aspect ratio but a bigger field view (Streets of Rage, etc).
-Missing localizations: If some language localizations haven't been released on the VC.
-Wii alterations: If the game has any differences with the original release (Wii and DS ads in Wave Race, removal of some light flashes in Donkey Kong Country, saving in Mach Rider, MB support in Pokémon Snap, etc).
-Emulation bugs: If the game has any bugs that weren't present in the original release, stuff that looks odd, etc (that scrolling bug that had to be fixed in Military Madness, etc).


So, if you notice a flaw that happens in every game of certain system, or just get a new game and can provide some or all of this info, please post about it here, as it will help a lot.
Just try not to assume or make up stuff. If you don't know something you can just put a "?" in there and somebody else might be able to provide the missing info, hopefully.

[ICEknight]

Here go each system's known differences (both improvements and flaws). If you notice more of these, please post them.

NES
-Washed out colors, compared to original PAL systems (might look like this on NTSC)
-Lack of extra PAL screen size on top of the screen.
-Rightmost screen limit is set a bit too early
-Lower sound sample rate

SNES

N64
-Higher screen resolution

MEGADRIVE
-Problems when holding buttons using the Wii Remote (and other controllers?)
-Colored borders don't extend to the sides and the top/bottom limits of the screen, as they should.
-Lower sound sample rate
-General sound inaccuracies
-Sound skips a bit each 5 seconds


TURBOGRAFX

NEO-GEO

[ICEknight]

NES

Kirby's Adventure
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: No
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: English, French, German
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: German
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

MEGA MAN
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: No
Sound speed: Slower
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: Different landing and firing sounds.
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Super Mario Bros. 3
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: No
Sound speed: Slightly faster
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: The bottom part of the screen (in-game counters, title screen floor) seems to be a bit more separated than it should.

[ICEknight]

MEGADRIVE

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Slower
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Altered Beast
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Slower
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Ghouls 'n' Ghosts
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Dynamite Headdy
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: USA and PAL
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Sonic The Hedgehog
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Slower
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 v.1
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Sonic The Hedgehog 3
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes (only one region-specific byte is different)
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Streets of Rage
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Taller
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

Streets of Rage 2
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Japan and PAL
Sound speed: Same
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Taller
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: Yes
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

ToeJam & Earl
ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: No
Code sharing between regions: Yes
Sound speed: Slower
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None
Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None
WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Component cable interlace: No
Screen stretch: No
Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Emulation bugs: None

[ICEknight]

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[ICEknight]

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[ICEknight]

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[ICEknight]

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[ICEknight]

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[ZueriHB]

Originally Posted by ICEknight

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

ORIGINAL PAL RELEASE
Speed optimization: Yes
Code sharing between regions: No

Sound speed: Slightly faster
Sound pitch: Same
Other sound differences: None

Screen size: Standard
Localizations: None


WII VC RELEASE
50Hz mode: Yes
60Hz mode: No
Interlace support: Yes
Screen stretch: No

Missing localizations: No
Wii alterations: None
Known bugs: The bottom part of the screen (in-game counters, title screen floor) seems to be a bit more separated than it should.

If I'm not mistaken, Super Mario Bros. 3 was optimised, as it was not slower in gameplay than the NTSC-Counterpart.

For Kirby's Adventure, you could state missing German localisation.

[ICEknight]

Originally Posted by ZueriHB

If I'm not mistaken, Super Mario Bros. 3 was optimised, as it was not slower in gameplay than the NTSC-Counterpart.

I've just checked and the PAL version does indeed run slower, making Mario's physics feel more floaty. I really doubt there's any NES (or MegaDrive) game with its speed optimized.

For Kirby's Adventure, you could state missing German localisation.

Also, there was a French version as well. Not sure if there were any others.

[ZueriHB]

Originally Posted by ICEknight

I've just checked and the PAL version does indeed run slower, making Mario's physics feel more floaty. I really doubt there's any NES (or MegaDrive) game with its speed optimized.

But it is faster than unoptimized PAL-Titles, isn't it?

Also, there was a French version as well. Not sure if there were any others.

But you can choose to download the English or the French version, a German is not given.

[ICEknight]

Originally Posted by ZueriHB

But it is faster than unoptimized PAL-Titles, isn't it?

Well, looks like it runs faster than the NTSC version put directly in a PAL system, but I'm not sure if this game's actually optimized. I'll have to compare how other optimized and unoptimized titles behave to make sure.

But you can choose to download the English or the French version, a German is not given.

Oh ok, I'll edit that into the post.

[ICEknight]

Just added Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Altered Beast, Ghouls 'n' Ghosts and ToeJam & Earl.

[ICEknight]

I've just compared my PAL Super Mario World with the Wii VC version and I've noticed the following things:

-Correct colors
-Correct sound sample rate
-Game runs sligthly slower than the original PAL version
-Music runs sligthly faster than the original PAL version
-Leftmost screen limit is sligthly shifted to the right
-Some screen lines are missing at the bottom

Funny how both the music and game went out of sync after like a minute or so, but for the opposite reason. Can anybody please check if this stuff happens with Rare's (Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2) or Konami's releases as well? It would be awesome if we could make a side-by-side comparison like in the SMB3 thread.

By the way, I think the last point was taken care of from one of the DKC updates, because it prevented a secret barrel to be shown, but I'm not sure if it was fixed for that game, only. =\

[Big A2]

Originally Posted by ICEknight

Here go each system's known differences (both improvements and flaws). If you notice more of these, please post them.

NES
-Washed out colors, compared to original PAL systems (might look like this on NTSC)
-Lack of extra PAL screen size on top of the screen.
-Rightmost screen limit is set a bit too early
-Lower sound sample rate

SNES

N64
-Higher screen resolution

MEGADRIVE
-Problems when holding buttons using the Wii Remote (and other controllers?)
-Colored borders don't extend to the sides and the top/bottom limits of the screen, as they should.
-Lower sound sample rate
-General sound inaccuracies
-Sound skips a bit each 5 seconds


TURBOGRAFX

NEO-GEO

Is this compared the the NTSC versions or the original PAL versions?

[sponge]

Originally Posted by Big A2

Is this compared the the NTSC versions or the original PAL versions?

this thread is 3 years old, i dont think he is going to answer you.

but it appears he was using PAL as a comparison.

[Big A2]

Originally Posted by sponge

this thread is 3 years old, i dont think he is going to answer you.

but it appears he was using PAL as a comparison.

I just realised that after I posted.