Throughout the history of 8- and 16-bit consoles, one of the most elusive achievements was to release a home port of a popular arcade game that did the original justice. Due to obstacles such as hardware requirements, licensing issues, and executive interference, producing an arcade port that wasn’t immediately panned by the gaming press was a rare feat, indeed, especially on 8-bit machines. But occasionally the stars aligned, and not only was an arcade port good, but it somehow outshone its arcade ancestor.
The Sega Master System was fortunate to receive an unusual number of successful arcade ports. Games like Shinobi, Gauntlet, and R-Type showed that, when programmed properly, the mighty 8-bit powerhouse could bring the arcade experience home. Of course, some developers weren’t satisfied with good enough and went a step or two further. Here are a few Sega Master System arcade ports that ended up being preferred to their arcade counterparts.
The Ninja (port of Sega Ninja)
The Ninja
Sega’s arcade game, Sega Ninja (originally Ninja Princess in Japan), was a top-down run-and-gun shooter, similar to Commando and Ikari Warriors. The player ran around each scrolling level, using throwing knives and shurikens to take out enemies, including bosses. The ninja also has the ability to turn invisible for a limited amount of time, allowing for a brief bit of invincibility in tough situations. While not particularly complex, Sega Ninja was nonetheless a fun time.
When the game was ported to the Sega Master System, it underwent several changes. Some of the changes were minor, some more significant, and a couple made the game notably better than the arcade original in many players’ eyes. The main protagonist was changed from the female Ninja Princess to a male ninja tasked with rescuing the Ninja Princess. The graphics were also revamped, swapping the cartoonish designs of the original with more realistic graphics.
The two changes singled out for improving the game over the arcade version are the scroll system and changes to projectile behavior. Instead of a simple run-and-gun, you now have to locate 5 green scrolls throughout the levels in order to enter the final level and defeat the boss. If you miss a scroll in a level, you will be taken back to near the location of the scroll to pick it up before leaving the level. Regarding projectiles, the game’s scrolling levels were adjusted so that projectiles are no longer affected by the scrolling, making it much easier to fire horizontally at enemies. These changes elevated the home port beyond the original.
Rastan
Rastan
Capitalizing on the fantasy warrior crazy of the ’80s, Rastan was an action platformer released to arcades by Taito in 1987. You play as the titular character, currently the king of his kingdom, as he regales those listening to his adventures in liberating the land of Ceim before ascending to the throne. Running and jumping through levels, you start out with a simple sword, and get opportunities to pick up more powerful, but time-limited, weapons on each level to take out the hordes of enemy creatures sent to stop you. Survive all five levels, and you will face off against the dragon. Defeat it, and you win the day, and your saga continues.
Rastan was ported to most of the 8-bit micros available at the time. The only console to receive a port of the game was the Master System. The Game Gear also received a version, but it was simply a port of the Master System version and was only available in Japan. While the graphics suffered a reduction in fidelity going to the less powerful home system, with fewer colors, lower resolution, and limited animation, they were still quite good for the system. Developers also changed up the enemy and boss abilities and tactics.
What makes the Master System version of Rastan better than the arcade version is the overall reduction in difficulty. The arcade original was punishingly difficult. This was in many ways informed by the need to keep players plunking quarters into the arcade cabinet. The more times a player dies (assuming they don’t simply get frustrated and quit), the more money they will spend to reach the end. In an attempt to make the game more palatable to the home audience, the levels were rearranged to slow down the arcade original’s relentless pacing. Many of the instant-death obstacles were also altered for the home version. This, along with an extra stage, makes for a package that many prefer to the arcade version.
Ghouls ’n Ghosts
Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Ghosts ‘n Goblins, by Capcom, is one of the defining adventure platform games of the ’80s. An absolute quarter-muncher that helped to shape many games that followed. So there was little surprise when Capcom decided to follow up with a direct sequel in the form of Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. While on the surface it may seem to be just more of the same, it is better in many ways. Improved graphics, an expanded roster of enemies to defeat, and smoother movement and overall gameplay all came together to make Ghouls ‘n Ghosts a superior sequel.
While the Master System never received a port of the original Ghosts ‘n Goblins, the sequel made an appearance on the console. While the 8-bit home system wasn’t nearly as powerful as the CPS board that powered the arcade original, the Master System did a very good job. The number of enemies on-screen was reduced, and the animation frames were decreased, but the overall feel of the arcade game remained intact. And the fact that the developers were able to keep all the original levels was a really big deal at a time when home versions were almost always cut down from the arcade version.
While simply releasing the game as-is would likely have produced a successful final product, the developers went a step further, which makes this version better than the arcade version. The Master System version of Ghouls ‘n Ghosts includes a persistent upgrade system. The player could enter shops on each level to purchase new armor parts. Each part of the armor (helmet, chest plate, and boots) would give players access to different weapons and spells, increase the damage they could sustain, and increase their character’s speed. Each shop only allows you to choose one of the three items to upgrade at a time, but the upgrades are permanent, even if you end up losing all of your lives and need to use a continue. It gives the game a bit of an RPG feel and really sets this version apart from the arcade original, making it the preferred version for many players.
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