Console Wars: Doom SNES vs 32X

[amackert]

On 2/13/2020 at 1:34 PM, famicommander said:

There's no reason to play any of the old console versions except Jag and PS1.

 

3DO, 32X, Saturn, and SNES ports are unplayable in 2020. And this is coming from a guy who still plays Atari 2600 regularly.

 

 

If the Jaguar version is "playable", then the 32X version is by default playable as well. Its framerate is very similar and it actually controls snappier than the Jaguar version.

[VGA]

32X has missing rotations for monsters, you are fighting billboards! Also, the controls feel responsive because somehow in that engine when the game slows down, it affects the monsters but not the player. You just keep pumping that shotgun while the poor geriatric demons try to get to you through the llaaagggg

[Doomkid]

17 hours ago, amackert said:

If the Jaguar version is "playable", then the 32X version is by default playable as well. Its framerate is very similar and it actually controls snappier than the Jaguar version.

Not to speak for him, but maybe he's talking about the sheer amount of cut content and the awful music being unacceptable in this era of multiple better Doom ports, rather than the actual smoothness of the gameplay itself. In that regard, I would agree that 32x was one of the better 90's ports.

[roboticmehdi2]

I totally enjoy playing every doom port from 90s except 3do and saturn.

 

Every one of them has a different flavor to it.

 

It's like trying different ice creams, except 3do and saturn are made by an awful ice cream maker.

 

And vanilla doom is invented by ice cream maker Carmack.

[amackert]

4 hours ago, Doomkid said:

Not to speak for him, but maybe he's talking about the sheer amount of cut content and the awful music being unacceptable in this era of multiple better Doom ports, rather than the actual smoothness of the gameplay itself. In that regard, I would agree that 32x was one of the better 90's ports.

 

Yeah, I know what you mean. For me the core gameplay itself is the most important part. If that works, then the game is, for all intents and purposes, "playable". This is going to vary from person to person, but I can let imperfect aesthetics slide if the gameplay itself is solid and fun.

[famicommander]

On 3/2/2020 at 1:43 AM, amackert said:

 

If the Jaguar version is "playable", then the 32X version is by default playable as well. Its framerate is very similar and it actually controls snappier than the Jaguar version.

The Jaguar version runs better and it does it full screen and while looking significantly better. And the controls on Jag Doom are far, far superior. The keypad is useless for the majority of games, but for a game like Doom it's a godsend:

Instantly swap between any weapons or bring up the map.

 

The music in the 32X is also a serious, serious detriment to its enjoyability. Not to mention the Jaguar version has so much more content, including system link.

I still have a 32X and a Jaguar hooked up and in regular use. There is absolutely, positively, no reason to play the 32X version of Doom in 2020. The Jaguar version is unique, which makes it worthwhile even if it has been surpassed by the PS1 version. It does things no other console version of Doom does. 32X Doom is obsolete in every sense of the word.

[VGA]

32X Doom runs at 320x224 but it has a big border, the real gameplay area is 256x144. But it is using pixel doubling on the horizontal axis so it is actually ... 128x144.

 

Jaguar is using horizontal pixel doubling, too, I think. Does anyone know what the resolution of the gameplay area is for that one?

 

Also, here is the back cover of the 32X Doom, notice anything interesting?

 

https://www.mobygames.com/game/sega-32x/doom/cover-art/gameCoverId,14370/

[KainXavier]

@famicommander

DOOM and Wolfenstein 3D were awesome to play on the Jaguar.  That said, I'm going to have to disagree with you on the 32x version of DOOM.  I love how grungy and lo-fi its soundtrack is.

@VGA

Back sprites. :)

[taufan99]

Why were the 32X port's rotation sprites removed altogether (except code-wise, as they can still "sleep" and infight)? Sega must've been so rushed to make poor id Software take those sprites down!

[seed]

3 hours ago, InDOOMnesia said:

Why were the 32X port's rotation sprites removed altogether (except code-wise, as they can still "sleep" and infight)? Sega must've been so rushed to make poor id Software take those sprites down!

 

Well, that's indeed why, probably. And maybe space limitations.

[amackert]

10 hours ago, famicommander said:

The Jaguar version runs better and it does it full screen and while looking significantly better. And the controls on Jag Doom are far, far superior. The keypad is useless for the majority of games, but for a game like Doom it's a godsend:

Instantly swap between any weapons or bring up the map.

 

The music in the 32X is also a serious, serious detriment to its enjoyability. Not to mention the Jaguar version has so much more content, including system link.

I still have a 32X and a Jaguar hooked up and in regular use. There is absolutely, positively, no reason to play the 32X version of Doom in 2020. The Jaguar version is unique, which makes it worthwhile even if it has been surpassed by the PS1 version. It does things no other console version of Doom does. 32X Doom is obsolete in every sense of the word.

 

By that logic, there's positively zero reason to play the Jaguar version of DOOM in 2020.

[VGA]

6 hours ago, InDOOMnesia said:

Why were the 32X port's rotation sprites removed altogether (except code-wise, as they can still "sleep" and infight)? Sega must've been so rushed to make poor id Software take those sprites down!

It wasn't iD Software that developed it. The reason sprite rotations were removed is probably the ridiculous VRAM limitations of the 32X. The port also has only 17 maps and these maps are butchered badly. It is also missing many enemies, powerups and the BFG is only available with a cheat. But I think using cheats prevents you from finishing the game properly.

[famicommander]

5 hours ago, amackert said:

 

By that logic, there's positively zero reason to play the Jaguar version of DOOM in 2020.

Did you read the post you quoted?

Jaguar Doom does things that no other version of Doom does. That along makes it a curiosity worth exploring.

 

32X Doom does absolutely NOTHING well compared to Jaguar Doom, and it does absolutely NOTHING that you can't find in the better contemporary ports like Jaguar or PS1.

 

32X Doom is literally just a bad port of Jaguar Doom.

[cybdmn]

On 3/14/2020 at 8:21 AM, KainXavier said:

DOOM and Wolfenstein 3D were awesome to play on the Jaguar.

 

Wolfenstein 3D on the 3DO is actually better.

[VGA]

The 3DO has one of the best Wolf3D ports and the worst Doom port.

[famicommander]

4 hours ago, cybdmn said:

Wolfenstein 3D on the 3DO is actually better.

This is true.

 

The Jaguar port is still fantastic (smooth 60 FPS, bright and crisp graphics, snappy controls) but the 3DO version is tops.

 

On 3DO it includes the original 60 PC maps as well as the 30 Jag/Mac version maps, it runs at 60 FPS as well, it has shoulder button strafing, and it has great music and sound effects. It's my favorite version of the game. Even more than the (vanilla, at least) PC original.

[amackert]

On 3/14/2020 at 12:23 PM, famicommander said:

Did you read the post you quoted?

Jaguar Doom does things that no other version of Doom does. That along makes it a curiosity worth exploring.

 

False. You have the quick weapon switching just like you do in the Jaguar version. You hold down the mode key on a six button controller, then all the weapons are mapped to each of the face buttons. Mode + Start is the fist/chainsaw, for instance. Mode + X is the rocket launcher, etc. The other benefit this version has over the Jag one is you're not taking your thumb off the action keys to switch weapons.

 

The 32X version, despite running a couple of frames slower, still controls more responsively, making for a more enjoyable gameplay experience. The Genesis six-button is also infinitely more comfortable and easy on the hands than a Jaguar controller, with its bulky design, mushy buttons and stiff d-pad (I openly admit this as a fan of the Jaguar controller).

 

The 32X version is not the trash port you're making it out to be. It also costs significantly less for owners of the hardware, compared to the Jaguar version. Sure, it would be far from my first pick from that generation, but for what you pay, and the hardware it's running on, it's still a fun version of Doom.

Edited March 16, 2020 by amackert

[VGA]

Their point was (I think) that it's not worth to play it today over other versions of the game because it is not unique enough to offset all the huge drawbacks like the missing sprite rotations.

[KainXavier]

12 hours ago, famicommander said:

On 3DO it includes the original 60 PC maps as well as the 30 Jag/Mac version maps, it runs at 60 FPS as well, it has shoulder button strafing, and it has great music and sound effects. It's my favorite version of the game. Even more than the (vanilla, at least) PC original.

Oh wow, I forgot about that!  And what's worse, I forgot I owned the 3DO version too! haha

Can you quick-save and quick-load on the 3DO?  That is one thing that's really nice about the Jaguar version.

And to get back on topic, I like both the SNES and 32x versions of DOOM equally.  The 32x has less levels but for better or worse its soundtrack stands out.  It was also developed for a platform that was extremely short-lived and had its own host of issues.  Really, the SNES, 32x, and 3DO ports all have very interesting development stories. They also have interesting differences and concessions.  I think they're all worth playing.

As for the Jaguar version, I'm kind of indifferent to it.  It plays well but I think both the Playstation and GBA versions make for more interesting ports.  I am grateful that its source code was released, however.

[Boaby Kenobi]

I was playing the 32X version of Doom last night. It's not that bad. Controls could be better and the music is atrocious but the sound effects are okay and the framerate is not as bad as I thought it would be.

 

 

[Gregory Stephens]

This is something very rarely touched upon. It's not an official thing but it's too cool not to mention.

 

I own an actual cart of SNES Doom and ran it on real hardware, it's a massive trip to play. I remember just being sick, laying in my bed, playing through it, struggling to get through the game, but I couldn't bring myself to hate it.

[VGA]

Ah, yeah the multiplayer. It struck me as interesting that you said it wasn't official and I searched for the backcover, it isn't mentioned anywhere...

 

 

But they did mention the "screaming fast real time, 3D graphics"!!

[4everDoomed]

Found another big Doom review, comparing Jaguar- 32x- 486 and stuff,- only 26 years old. Quality is poor though, probably a copy of a copy of a copy or whatever. Still, it's interesting to read these articles nowadays. 

 

doom review.zip

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by 4everDoomed