Ys III: Wanderers From Ys HYPER DUEL
Turbo Grafx 16 CD vs Super Nintendo Entertainment System vs Sega Genesis
So you have a Turbo Grafx 16 with CD attachment, a Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and a Sega Genesis and you don't know what console to buy Ys III for? Or maybe out of these three versions of Ys III you are responsible for recommending just one version to a friend and you haven't even played the games? Or perhaps you are just a hardcore gamer and you want to find out which version is best from me? Do not worry, I, Keranu, will settle this big bout between which version of Ys III is better between the Turbo Grafx 16 CD, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Sega Genesis. LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE - Ys Style!
Turbo Grafx 16 CD
The Good: The graphics in this version seem to have more colorful and vibrant colors, especially among the sprites. Since this version is more based off the original version, it still has the original Ys-style border which is props to the fans. Also I found in some spots that this version had some nicer looking backgrounds with nicer detail, especially in the first dungeon at parts. One very convent thing in graphics for the Turbo CD version is that the overview is much more nicely laid out with the life bars and statistics perfectly enclosed in the border. The menus also look nice and are well organized. Another nice addition in the graphics is that the load game screen has a nice piece of artwork of Adol, Dogi, and Elena. The strongest point in graphics for the Turbo CD version is that it has CD cinemas which are new and not found in any other version and they certainly look better than the SNES and especially the Genesis version.
The Bad: In some parts of the game, the Turbo CD version has a few odd and ugly sprites. The best (well and only) situation I can think of this is in the first dungeon right when you walk in and there are these bug things running around that look a bit like ants (Look at the screenshots on the bottom of the page.) The Turbo CD version has some ugly little creatures here that look like a dark purple block with stick legs which unlike in the SNES and Genesis version have more detail and look like bugs. I don't know if it was like that in the original PC-88 version or not, but they could've still cleaned that up regardless! However the other sprites in the game can look the best out of the versions and have the same amount of animation. This is not the worst part in the graphic department though. The worst of course is the parallax scrolling! Good lord is it choppy! Since the system only had one sprite and one background layer, parallax scrolling had to be done in the programming and Ys III shows a bad example of parallax.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Good: This version also has a new opening not found in any version and it looks quite nice and explains some stuff which is useful for the gamer. The sprites use some nice shades of color and look more cutesy in a way, but I don't think they look as good as the Turbo CD version. Also compared to the other versions, the SNES version seems to smooth the graphics.
The Bad: The border in this version is hideous and totally not Ys-like at all. The graphics in general in this game appear to be dark and smudgy which doesn't really comply as eye candy. With SNES hardware, they really could've done a better job, not to mention there are a couple uses of mode seven in the opening!
Sega Genesis
The Good: Parallax scrolling seems to be the best in this version. In some spots the use of colors are nicely done... only in some spots though. Another nice thing is that the screen layout and menus are decently organized, but not quite as nice as the Turbo CD version still. Probably the best part about the graphics in this version is that when you kill enemies. They do this cool explosion and whenever you get hit, this light on the top of the border flashes, but that can get a little annoying after awhile.
The Bad: The graphics are pretty dirty in different spots of this game. One especially ugly spot is the map where it looks like a kid playing in turds compared to the other versions. Lastly this game does have a new and different opening than the others, but it's only pictures with text which is pretty damn boring compared to the Turbo CD and SNES. Oh and why on Earth did Adol had to have BROWN hair in this version!?
WINNER: Turbo CD. As bad as the parallax is, it can be ignored after playing it for awhile and the graphics in general besides that are nicer than the other versions. The cinemas, layout, and original Ys-style graphics really bring up the value as well.
LOSER: Genesis. The SNES almost deserves loser, but since the Genesis version has a crappy opening, some pretty ugly spots like the map, and since Adol has brown hair, the Genesis has to be the unfortunate loser in graphics.
Turbo Grafx 16 CD
The Good: Well considering this version is on a CD-ROM , it easily has an unfair advantage. The PSG tracks in this game also sound pretty nice. The new opening features a brand new track and it's quite awesome. Another advantage from the CD-ROM capability was that the Turbo CD version had voice acting unlike the others. Though it was bad and cheesy voice acting, it was hilarious and entertaining!
The Bad: Nothing really since its CD. I guess I could say beyond a couple of traditional Ys sounds, the sound effects don't stick out. Also the PSG tracks don't sound quite as nice as the Genesis FM chip tracks.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Good: The new opening has two new songs that weren't in the other versions and they sound quite nice actually.
The Bad: The sound quality doesn't sound very great and it doesn't live up as much as the other versions. The SNES is famous for its soundchip, but they failed to use its full power in this game.
Sega Genesis
The Good: Even though it's not CD, it sounds great, especially for a Genesis game. The music sounds a lot better than the SNES version, which is usually the other way around. The sound effects aren't too bad as well.
The Bad: Nothing much really except that it doesn't even compare to the Turbo CD sound.
WINNER: Turbo CD. I think everyone saw this coming since it's a CD game. However if this version was a HuCard and not a CD, there could be a chance that the Genesis version might take the cake for sound considering how well done it was for a Genesis game.
LOSER: SNES. It just really doesn't stick out as much as the Turbo CD and Genesis versions.
Turbo Grafx 16 CD
The Good: Gameplay is smooth and crisp. This version can also provide some challenge.
The Bad: It doesn't exactly follow real physics since the jump is pretty high and has a feeling of low gravity, but then again that can be a good thing.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Good: Almost as good as gameplay as the other versions.
The Bad: The jump is a lot lower in this version which just isn't as fun. Not only that, but the only way to slash downwards in air is to hold down the attack button. In the other versions, you can hold down the down button while you jump to do a downward slash or you could hold down the attack button. This game is also the easiest out of the other versions and there is even a spot in the second dungeon where these owls keep coming down at you and it's very easy to level up all the way in that spot. I'm not sure if that's in the Genesis version or not, but I don't think so. I know it's not in the Turbo CD version.
Sega Genesis
The Good: The controls are practically the same as the Turbo CD version, except this version is the hardest out of all three.
The Bad: When I say it's the hardest, it's sort of in a cheap way. In order to live through dungeons, you need to be leveled up just like in most games. Except in this one you have to receive a ridiculous amount of experience points just to level up.
WINNER: Tie between Turbo CD and the Genesis.
LOSER: SNES.
It's a very close battle, but the Turbo Grafx 16 CD version of Ys III: Wanderers From Ys remains standing in the dust after the battle between the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis versions. Its main source of winning was from the advantage of the CD-ROM. The CD-ROM provided excellent sound quality which was the Turbo's strongest offering out of the three, along with the well done cinemas and entertaining voice acting. If Ys III was on a HuCard instead of a CD, the Genesis version just might have won since the HuCard wouldn't have CD audio tracks and cinemas.
Though the SNES version is still a pretty good conversion of Ys III, it lacks in sound and gameplay the most compared to the other two conversions and almost in graphics. However the SNES version did have a better and closer English translation than the other two versions.
That's a wrap. So if you are the kid who can't decide on which version to buy for his console or if you're the man that doesn't know which one to recommend or if you are just a hardcore gamer wanting my hardcore opinion, then the Turbo Grafx 16 CD version of Ys III: Wanderers From Ys is the one. GOODBYE!
-Keranu, May 28th, 2005
