Ghouls'n Ghosts ARCADE EDITION for the SEGA MegaDrive - STAGE 2
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 лис 2023
- I finally managed to complete the restoration of the third and last part of Stage 2 for my hack. This has entailed dealing with a crazy amount of missing animation frames for the enemy sprites (entirely redrawn, as usual) and for the backgrounds. All those flames everywhere... a lot of care has been put in designing the animation routines so as to avoid slowdown as much as possible.
Here's a comparison video for the whole stage. I am preparing another video to discuss the usual behind-the-scenes details of the hacking process - for those that are interested - and what comes next.
Looking forward to receiving your comments and suggestions.
![[Hack] Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (Arcade vs Sega Genesis) Side by Side Comparison - Dual Longplay](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bnUlFwz_EBQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Hack] Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (Arcade vs Sega Genesis) Side by Side Comparison - Dual Longplay](/img/tr.png)
![[TAS] Arcade Ghouls 'n Ghosts by Xipo in 13:18.18](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k_4JozDQH-g/mqdefault.jpg)
This work is incredible and very faithful to the arcade. The small disparities don't affect the integrity of the work and, in some respects, are better than those in the arcade, as they are more aesthetically pleasing additions than those chosen at the time. It's not even a question of the use of hardware, but of observing how to make the most of what you have. It's lovely to see the Mega Drive still causing such positive surprises.
Absolutely amazing job. If you do not put them side by side, it seems like a pixel perfect conversion. Congratulations!!
You are not allowed to make it look better than the arcade! 🤣 Seriously, some parts do look better. Like the buildings at 2:30 and the water at 3:23... The contrast and color choices are great! Amazing work!
Sega genesis was always better then the arcade🤣
@@damin9913 Not even close. The Arcade machines have vastly superior Hardware to the Genesis.. which is why its very difficult for a faithful Arcade accurate conversion.
Even though this was said somewhat jokingly I do believe that many Sega Genesis arcade conversions were better than the arcade. Graphics are important but gameplay and extra features often made the home versions more fun and all around better games. Atomic Runner was actually graphically superior to it's arcade source. Altered Beast, although color-reduced, had an extra scrolling foreground layer of graphics missing from the arcade and more options for players. Golden Axe had extra levels and played arguably better. Graphics aren't everything and getting to play a game whenever you want and having extra gameplay options made many arcade ports superior!@@damin9913
Yes I prefer the Megadrives more stark pronounced graphics over the arcade. They're more pleasing to my eye.
The original port on the genesis was already an amazing port. This one is even more amazing. If you would have put that on an arcade machine back in the day then no one would have known it wasn't an actual arcade board.
Fantastic work. Please stay motivated as you’re doing an unbelievably job. I had a Megadrive in 1990 and at the time was blown away by sega’s version- this is on another level . What is the file size like…?
The file size is currently at around 6 Mbits, but it's full of blank space, and I'm not overwriting the original assets.
Wow! Not only is it a huge improvement over the Genesis original, it even looks better than the Arcade version. Awesome job! 👍
That's a bit of an exaggeration. As amazing as the MD has, and it is, the arcade has more colors, more details, more frames, and is higher res.
@@TurboXray, Yes, he may have exaggerated the statement, but in this comparison shown, some details are more interesting in the mega drive.
@@TurboXray More colors and a higher resolution don't automatically make something look better. Some of the MD color choices look better to me, like at 2:30. The MD colors are also more contrasted, which make things more readable to me. In the end, it's a matter of tastes.
@@TurboXraySomeone has to say "Whoa there now" when enthusiasts start getting carried away. Thank you for your service.
@@TurboXray My comment was based on the second side by side comparison shown in this video, which shows this version beside the arcade version. While the arcade hardware is unquestionably more powerful than the MD, in my opinion, this new MD version looks better than the arcade version.
Maravilloso como siempre!!!! Un trabajo totalmente artesanal y lleno de cariño!!!! Enhorabuena!!!
Damn, this just keeps looking better and better!
Any chance of a demo ROM, please? 😊🙏🏻
Very interesting to see the compromises in the visuals that still had to be made due to Genesis being weaker than arcade. (smoke stacks, extra background details, the color pallete) But it is done incredibly well and still feels quite "Arcade Perfect" so to speak.
Incredible work! You're making a dream come true.
It was the holy grail of arcade conversions in the late 80’s. I had the megadrive back in 89, it was never arcade perfect although everyone thought it was at the time. This is amazing
Oh damn, one of my favourite games on the Megadrive, which I ended up still overall preferring compared to arcade just based on game feel alone, always looked a lil bit dated due to its time of release.
But this is just such super impressive work so far!
Wow! Isn't this amazing? Has been waiting for your video for so long and this totally worth the wait. If not put side-by-side with the arcade I can't tell the difference. When played next to the original MD version, it looks like a comparison between MD and arcade.
Lad that is looking trully awesome just love your work and dedication wishes ima could have learned how to create games in life nevermind something ima be starting soon but 8bit with the Commodore 64 as love that SID music yet the MegaDrive stole my heart from the Commodore 64 and AMIGA back in the early 90's even now Ima just love retro gaming can not wait to play your finished work you are truly AWESOME keep up the great work countless must be dying to play your vamped up version it is so close to the Arcade a few wee things missing like skulls and burning buildings but who cares it is EPIC can not wait totally inspiring
It's a great time to be a GNG fan, first the NewWaveToys Replicade and now this awesome conversion! God Speed!
Return that CPS1 to the arcades and stop pretending it is a Megadrive, final warning.
One of the all-time greats, better than the original?! Amazing stuff, keep up the great work!
Just fantastic I can't wait to see how you complete the other stages.
I just have to tell you how impressed I am with your work
Best of luck for the rest
Gg
I always considered the second level the worst in terms of backgrounds in the SEGA edition of the game. You finally gave justice to this beautiful level, so close to the arcade and perfectly fitting colors. What an amazing job!
Genesis does what nintendont!
Just wow. I thought level one was a big step up. This may be even better. I wondered how the flames would look near the end as they were a bit weak in the MD original but now they look superb. Keep up the great work!
Excellent work, as usual !
A new way to experience a game I played to death as a kid. I love it.
God bless aMaru! He´s back!!!
Amazing, even better than arcade ! More contrast and details. Happy to see you back. Thanks aMaru !
A real visual delight for the eyes, I can't wait to watch the "behind-the-scenes details of the hacking process". =)
I'd never noticed that the boss wasn't positioned at the same height on the ground in the arcade version and the MD one. And for once I think the MD adaptation makes more sense. It almost looks like he's floating just above the ground when he's supposed to have all four legs touching the ground (2:02). It's a disturbing perspective, what do you think about it?
Actually the MD version didn't change the position of the boss, it simply made the pavement a bit higher. I agree with you that it is super annoying to see Cerberus almost floating in midair, but faithfulness to the arcade is still my main goal. I considered for a short while to change the position of the boss, but this would also alter the gameplay, which is not what I want.
Only thing missing is the snoke on the windmills! Everything else looks amazing!!
Brilliant work💕. Looks amazing
WOW youre still doing this project i remember this a while back..... Great job :) hope youre able to complete this and its overall harder then the original.
Vous avez réalisé un travail impressionnant, merci pour le temps et la passion que vous investissez dans cet incroyable projet.
What a beautiful work, I've been following it since the beginning. Please continue, your hack is almost a new port.
Almost? Yes, it is.
It's looking amazing so far, I look forward to when you finish this! **I want play this so much!**
Good to see project is still going on. Can't wait to see it finalized.
Wow incredible just amazing with what you have done looks great love it 👍
Amazing work! In total shock by just how much you've changed via a hack!
This is amazing and super well done, thank you. Amazing job!
Please, dont stop and continue working!
This is the coolest Genesis project I ever saw. It looks better than the Arcade!
An Update. Thank You!!! And it looks incredible!!!
This is beyond words. Amazing
This looks amazing, you are doing a great job. Thank you
Beautiful, wonderful work!
Impressive! Looks great, very close to arcade. Congratulations!
You possess a great deal of skill. Beautiful work.
This and RTYPE are my most anticipated projects! I wonder if anyone has tried remixing the soundtrack for a bit more oomph.
wow this looks really impressive. nice work!
The most impressive thing about this is that your choice in colours are superior to the arcade version, even with the limited onscreen colour palette. I do think you need to increase Arthur's animations matching the arcade so he looks more fluid.
Thank you, improving Arthur's appearance (detail/color) and animation is definitely something I'll have to focus on at some point. This will entail a major rearragement of the use of the first two palettes, though, so it will take a lot of careful planning (as usual, improving one aspect requires sacrifing something else).
@@amaru1818 I would have also suggested increasing the enemy explosion animations, but I don't know if you will have enough vram to do it.
It's coming along nicely. I can't wait to own this.
Wonderfull work my friend💕
Best hack ever, I hope you follow through, my suggestion is simple. Keep going, the result is amazing!!
fantastico!!!!
That looks awesome. I was wondering how this project is going. Great stuff!
incredible. keep up the great work, its appreciated. All that detail...Out of curiosity, what's the file size of the game for just level one and two now?
It's currently around 1 extra megabit for stages 1+2. I am not reusing ROM space for the original graphics assets, thought.
IMO the aMaru mod pops more than the original Arcade version; sure some details are lost but it seems sharper and with more vibrant colours. Outstanding work !!!
Fantastic work!
This is sorcery!!! Awesome
Fantastic job !!!
BRUTAL!
wonderful!!!
Great job!
This is looking amazing. :)
Fantastic Job. The only thing I recommend fixing... is to put the missing light-blue "Highlight" dots on the blue slime, that is under the mountains of skulls (3:18). Its the highlights that make the stuff look round and gelatinous. I like the red hue shift in the skulls / stage. It looks better...
The Salmon (pinkish) colors of the Rock wall at (3:51) sort of clashes with the colors of the Wooden top beams. In the Arcade version, the colors chosen for the wall, are closer to the colors of the wood, and the rest of the structures.
Overall, excellent work !
How difficult would it be, to make a Level Editor ? It would be wild, to have a few new stages...
i understand what you mean about the highlight. I wanna learn how to change the sprite just so I can add the highlight for the main characters in Altered Beast.
@@abcmaya You can see the highlights, on time-mark 0:11 and other places on that level.
@@johndough8115 you're right! sharp eye. glad you noticed.
You're absolutely right, it would be a lot better if I could restore the light blue highlights to the blue slime. Unfortunately I don't have that extra slot in my palettes. Reintroducing that would mean sacrificing something else in the backgrounds.
Concerning the rock walls, I actually like that pinkish shade because it contrasts with the overall yellowish tone of the stage. I might play around with a colors a bit more, though. Thank you for the suggestions.
Glorious - better color choices than the arcade! I love how it pops.
Impressionante!!
Wow, your work is fantastic .
the hack looks AMAZING. I think the game design team for the original GEnesis game can probably do the same but the stipulation is probably the time but more realistically the size of the ROM cart to get all the high quality contents in. the originally cart size 4megabits. with all the extra contents of the Hack I"m thinking it may be 12megabits? at that time 1989 that would probably run $150 for that amount of ROM chip memory. thats just as guest as Strider was released at about hte same time at 8megabits and I seen it for $69.
I don't think we could have seen this type of graphics back then. Limited ROM size (5Mbit) is for sure part of the reason why, but not the main culprit in my view. I'm planning on doing a video to explain this.
Here's an idea: A Remix mode that places / re arranges enemies in new spots in a (even) more challenging manner. (Pig Goblins on the level 1 raining grasslands, Two Red Arremers on the bone pile section, alternate / increased 'flaming flyer' spawn points on the inferno section.) Just ideas that fit in with what's already loading into ram.
Lots of praises for your work on the conversion to near arcade-like graphics as its supposed to be.
Personally, I have no criticism on the whole aspect on what you've done so far especially the last section which are a massive improvement and who would've thought tile swapping could do great effects on flickering flames, but based on your description and your previous video post regarding the small details such as the smoke and skeletons, will there be a revisit to add these if it doesn't affect the performance as seeing so much happening in the last section could've created a major slowdown?
Adding smoke columns and horse skeletons is still in my TODO list and definitely feasible.
Great Job, I can't wait to test it on my channel. true megadrive wizard.
Just Impressive!
Hi aMaru, awesome work!
I hope one day you can make a original version of rainbow islands from the extra version
I always knew with more memory and effort from the programmers Genesis version could have done this too!
Wow! Ghouls is my fav game on Megadrive. The MD version plays better than the arcade & Supergrafx version.
This looks amazing!
Hopefully you can release a demo like Mega R-type...maybe lol!
Awesome work!
Can't wait for this, I hope it gets finished. I wish I could help. Put down the list of what you need to get it done.
I really hope you're able to finish this. It's coming along really well. Maybe you should put up a Patreon or something like that to keep ya motivated. ;p Seriously though... I'd donate. This looks awesome.
This is awesome.
🤩
Awesome job.
Amazing!!
Wow awesome job!!!
Your colors are better than the ones from the arcade version. Impressive.
aMaru... GO GO GO! BTW, there is a bit of garbage (aka wrong sprites) forming the Red Arremer, for a second, wen it starts moving from the skull pile, on the second 0:57.
This hack is amazing! Keep up the good work!
I'm glad you noticed, you're definitely right. This is due to the fact that the whole tileset for the Arremer is too large, so I decided to split it in two parts. The first part is loaded initially for its idling pose, then when Arthur walks beyond its sitting place I overwrite the first tileset with the second. The first of the frames used for the flight animation uses tiles that are not loaded fast enough, and thus we see the garbage. This can be fixed, and I will do it at some point.
If I had this version as a kid i would have lost my shit old one was good but DAM!! this one is a masterpiece!!! I would defiantly buy this game!!!!
How did i miss this 4 months ago? Amazing work my man, keep it up!!
That's incredible...but on this video I see a trick ti defeat "the Devil"...After he lanched a skull from the mountain, wait a moment ad he comes by the ground and Arthur is free to shoot him....
WooooooW....I'm waiting for 30years!!!!!
WooooooW
Subscribes just for this
Brrrrrr this is awesome. Capcom, what are u waiting to give this guy a license a sold game yourself?
It's great 🤩
Way better then the Arcade!
Amazing and beautiful. Very good work aMaru !!!!
If there is a way to support you (by donation, patreon, something else...), please, let us know.
Keep up the good work. =)
Very cool, looking forward to the finished results. I have a question though, how are you editing the sprites and backgrounds? Is it YYCHR or some other program, cuz I can't seem to get this game's sprites to show up correctly in YYCHR. I only ask because I want to do a simple sprite swap for Arthur, nothing crazy.
Amazing work, outstanding.... just one question: there are quite a few colours changes respect to the arcade counterpart, both in sprites and background, it's due to MD palette costraints or artistic choices ?
I used to believe that the 4-palette limit of the Megadrive was a huge handicap for the system especially when it comes to arcade and other such ports, but it really _isn't_. Case in point, go take a look at the current attempt to port Symphony of the Night to the Megadrive. By taking the effort to implement a smart application of a limited color set, the difference isn't as drastic as you'd think.
@@CplEthane I agree....especially when you have a genius art helper like Pyron ;-)
I like the freedom he had with some colors, "copying" the same color scheme from the arcade isn't always the best way, and the amount of colors that Mega has is enough to work with, just use your creativity.
Indeed, whenever there's a strong difference wrt the arcade this means we hit the MD color limitations, and so I had to come up with an alternative color scheme.
Hi MASTER! How are you doing? Any update coming soon?
This is simply awesome man!! I'm really excited about this project!! I hope you finish it soon! Keep up the good work!!
PD: Are you also editing the music??
I am also editing the music, but I haven't reached any result that is worth sharing yet.
@@amaru1818That's nice to know! I'm sure it'll be incredible too!!
@@amaru1818Diggo Silva have done an AMAZING job remaking street fighter music for megadrive.
Maybe you can ask him for some help if you need It. Take a look at his chanel. He could be the key.
Looking absolutely phenomenal! Can't believe how much better this looks!
I wonder though - would it be possible to restore the arcade intro sequence, or is this WAY outside of the scope of this hack?
This is something I'd really like to do, which means that at some point I will focus on studying how this could be done.
we need this with the arcade music as bin cue to read on mega cd
If you do manage to complete all the new level design it would be nice to see how much extra memory it has over the original.
marvellous !!!!!!!!!!
GRANDE aMaru! I was waiting for this update. Amazing job.
Just a question, could be possible to add the smoke on the buildings and the skeleton by the windmill, as you said in a previous video?
Thank you so much.
Yes, it's definitely possible and definitely something I plan to add.
@@amaru1818 Thank you so much for your answer.
What do you think about moving the blue bubbles on the ground (before the blue stone at the beginning of the stage) to the foreground, making the stage view deeper, like the arcade and the original megadrive version. I Know the sprites are limited, but maybe changing the location of some sprites you already have, could make the stage "more filling"
Keep on rocking, MASTER!!!!