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Screenshot comparisons… RPG/ ACTION-RPG

Are you curious about a game that has appeared on more than one console and/or platform? Enjoy. (1) Thank you! (2) Disclaimer (read me).

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NOTE: Click on the "(+)" to view the original discussion at pcenginefx.com. If you notice any errors, please contact us!

CREDIT: A great big Thank You! goes out to awack for starting this project years ago and contributing hundreds (over 1,500 in total!) of in-game screenshots. To see how this project evolved (and instigated many arguments) read the original "PCE, SNES and Genesis Screenshot Comparison" discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

DISCLAIMER: These comparisons can help us appreciate the technical/artistic prowess (or lack thereof) exhibited in some games from yesteryear. Of course, screenshots alone cannot reveal a specific game's overall worth, nor should it be the sole criterion for determining the superiority/inferiority of a particular port. Indeed, many games look gorgeous in static screenshots, but suffer from choppy scrolling, poorly implemented controls, butchered music, missing content, etc.

In other words… Don't judge a game by its screenshot, you heathen.

Bikkuriman World (1987, PCE) vs. Wonderboy in Monster Land (1988, SMS)

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NOTE: The PCE port (1987) re-brands the classic Sega arcade game released that year (1987). The following year, in 1988, Wonderboy in Monster Land was ported to the SMS.

PC-Engine (1987) Master System (SMS) (1988)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MARK III (SMS)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Brandish: PCE (1994, SCD) vs. SFC (1994)

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NOTE: XXX.

PC-Engine (PCE) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Burai (1991): PCE vs. SFC vs. MD

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Dragon Slayer: Legend of Heroes (1992): PCE vs. SFC vs. MD

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Dungeon Explorer II (1993, PCE SCD) vs. Crystal Beans (1995, SFC)

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NOTE: Crystal Beans From Dungeon Explorer is the complete title for the Super Famicom release.

 Tree Exterior (only in PCE version)  Desert (only in PCE version)

ABRIDGED: Crystal Beans is an abbreviated version of PC-Engine's Dungeon Explorer II. Some areas from PC-Engine DE II are completely missing from the Super Famicom version (e.g., the desert and tree exterior, pictured above, are absent from Crystal Beans). These omissions are attributable to different structures/mechanics: in Crystal Beans you click on a map to travel to a different areas, whereas in DE II you have to travel from place to place on foot.


PC-Engine (PCE) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Dynastic Hero (1994, PCE SCD) vs. Wonderboy in Monster World (1991, MD)

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NOTE: Keeping track of the Wonderboy series, and its spin-offs, can be confusing. Suffice it to say...Dynastic Hero (PCE) is a re-branded version of Wonderboy in Monster World (known in Japan as Wonderboy V: Monster World III), which was released on both Mega Drive and Sega Master System.

PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD, Genesis) Mark III/Master System (SMS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  MARK III (SMS)

VERDICT: Although I love the SMS port of Wonderboy in Monster World, I suggest starting with the PCE and/or MD version (below) if you are new to the Wonderboy series.

PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD, Genesis)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Emerald Dragon (1994): PCE (SCD) vs. SFC

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PC-Engine (PCE) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Exile (1991): PCE (CD) vs. MD

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD, Genesis)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Langrisser (Warsong): PCE (1993) vs. MD (1991)

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD, Genesis)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Might & Magic III (1992): PCE (CD) vs. SFC

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PC-Engine (PCE) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Popful Mail (1992): PCE (SCD) vs. SFC vs. MD

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Quest of the Jongmaster: PCE (1995, ACD) vs. ARCADE (1994)

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NOTE: The full title of the game is Jong Shin Densetsu: Quest of the Jongmaster; it represents one of the few ACD (Arcade CD-ROM) titles released for the PCE.

PC-Engine (1995) Arcade (1994)
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO
 PCE (TG-16)  NEO GEO


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (1991): PCE vs. SFC vs. MD

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PC-Engine (PCE) Mega Drive (MD) Super Famicom (SFC)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)
 PCE (TG-16)  MD (GENESIS)  SFC (SNES)


View the original discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums.

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This page is a WORK IN PROGRESS…

For the most up-to-date info, please consult the original "PCE, SNES and Genesis Screen Comparison" discussion at the pcenginefx.com forums. Thank you for visiting!