Best Resident Evil ports?

[Humor Tumor]

I find the NDS port of RE1 to be a pretty big upgrade graphically.

Which reminds me of another forum I go to, some guy keeps trying to convince me Capcom will be doing RE2 for the DS. I called bullshit naturally.

[Pikminister]

Checked again. The GameCube backgrounds are exactly the same as the PC backgrounds, and thus 640x480. There are some rare cases where the background resolution is 320x240, but those are 320x240 in the PC version as well. For example, the bar where you meet Brad (the following two images are extracted from the GameCube version):




I think there are some more (in the area with the final boss, if I remember right), but these really are very, very few cases. The overwhelming majority is 640x480.

Now, I can't imagine the Dreamcast port magically using 640x480 for those backgrounds all of a sudden when they are not available in any other version. I am more inclined to believe that this rumor with the superior Dreamcast backgrounds was spread by the RE2 and RE3 version differences guides from cvxfreak.



That's just wrong. RE2 backgrounds are 320x240 across all versions. And RE3 runs in 640x480 on GameCube, which should be the exact same resolution of the Dreamcast port.

I had a chance to play the Cube's version of RE3 on a HDTV set recently... and I agree that most of the BG's are not fuzzy or crap. You do see a lot more detail on an HDTV set. And I do believe that they were 640X480 screens... at least most of the time.

The times where the screens got a bit fuzzy happened when they would zoom-in the screen during a cutscene. And the BG's inside the Police Station were much inferior in quality than those from the rest of the game. Maybe because they recycled some of them from RE2 with some alterations here and there.

The FMV intro was a bit lousy though. that one was running at a low resolution. The other FMV's were fine.

[Zombie_X]

Yeah the Gamecube images backgrounds you posted look blurry and ill defined. I still prefer the Dreamcast posts by quite a bit.

No doubt my favorite version of Bio2 is still the Dreamcast version, but nothing can dethrone the original versions.

Question: how come in Bio3 on Dreamcast in the area where you first meat the Brain Sucker, there is a guy propped up against the wall when in the PSX version there isn't. Maybe just different versions?

You seem to know your shyte there, but has anyone got any background rips of the Dreamcast versions for a complete comparison? I know the Dreamcast games are GD-ROM, but it's still legal to own an ISO of the game if you have a respective copy of said game.

There probably is little difference if any if the raw background images from both versions of both games were put up against each other, just on the TV screens (both CRT and HD TV's), the Dreamcast version clearly looks better for me and I could imagine it looking more better with VGA (although it could look worse, lol).

It could just be the difference between the way the Gamecube and Dreamcast broadcast their signals to the TV, I have both using composite into Scart adapters.

This isn't going to be perfect, but I have a capture card and so I took these direct screen with no picture adjusting, both versions were capped with default settings. The PAL Dreamcast version has a 60Hz option, but the Gamcube version doesn't so I had to force it with AR codes, it doesn't look none to great either because it has horizontal lines going down the screen so you will have to ignore those.

Dreamcast 50Hz:

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Gamecube (50Hz):

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Dreamcast 60Hz:

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Gamecube (60Hz forced with AR):

Spoiler:

show spoiler

As expected, the Gamecube clearly has better looking models, but the Dreamcast version backgrounds have better contrast and look sharper, revealing more detail.

[Vixtro]

You seem to know your shyte there, but has anyone got any background rips of the Dreamcast versions for a complete comparison? I know the Dreamcast games are GD-ROM, but it's still legal to own an ISO of the game if you have a respective copy of said game.

There probably is little difference if any if the raw background images from both versions of both games were put up against each other, just on the TV screens (both CRT and HD TV's), the Dreamcast version clearly looks better for me and I could imagine it looking more better with VGA (although it could look worse, lol).

It could just be the difference between the way the Gamecube and Dreamcast broadcast their signals to the TV, I have both using composite into Scart adapters.

This isn't going to be perfect, but I have a capture card and so I took these direct screen with no picture adjusting, both versions were capped with default settings. The PAL Dreamcast version has a 60Hz option, but the Gamcube version doesn't so I had to force it with AR codes, it doesn't look none to great either because it has horizontal lines going down the screen so you will have to ignore those.

Dreamcast 50Hz:

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Gamecube (50Hz):

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Dreamcast 60Hz:

Spoiler:

show spoiler

Gamecube (60Hz forced with AR):

Spoiler:

show spoiler

As expected, the Gamecube clearly has better looking models, but the Dreamcast version backgrounds have better contrast and look sharper, revealing more detail.

If they are then I'm shocked because I never knew for certain myself, but I always just said that anyway cause it's an fairer, more constructive way to say that the Gamecube version RE3 backgrounds look awful, in comparison.

Checked again. The GameCube backgrounds are exactly the same as the PC backgrounds, and thus 640x480. There are some rare cases where the background resolution is 320x240, but those are 320x240 in the PC version as well. For example, the bar where you meet Brad (the following two images are extracted from the GameCube version):




I think there are some more (in the area with the final boss, if I remember right), but these really are very, very few cases. The overwhelming majority is 640x480.

Now, I can't imagine the Dreamcast port magically using 640x480 for those backgrounds all of a sudden when they are not available in any other version. I am more inclined to believe that this rumor with the superior Dreamcast backgrounds was spread by the RE2 and RE3 version differences guides from cvxfreak.

However, the background resolution is still lower than the Dreamcast version.

Graphically, the Dreamcast version comes at the highest resolution, while the GameCube version is stuck at PSone levels with a bit of a cleaner look.

That's just wrong. RE2 backgrounds are 320x240 across all versions. And RE3 runs in 640x480 on GameCube, which should be the exact same resolution of the Dreamcast port.

[Vixtro]

the GameCube version of RE3 definitely has 640x480 backgrounds, I don't know what anyone is talking about here...

If they are then I'm shocked because I never knew for certain myself, but I always just said that anyway cause it's an fairer, more constructive way to say that the Gamecube version RE3 backgrounds look awful, in comparison.

I like how the FMV's in Bio3 for the GC had about 29-30fps. Really nice video's indeed! Bio2 on DC still had the best FMV's of any other Bio2 port IMO.

I don't mind that the GC version of Bio3 had faster loading times, but the backgrounds look like poo! Super compressed.

• for a comparison of the FMVs of RE3 see here, and for RE2 see here
• the GameCube version of RE3 definitely has 640x480 backgrounds, I don't know what anyone is talking about here...

[Vixtro]

However, another advantage that I forgot to mention: the Cube doesn't make as much noise as the DC when it read data. You notice the noise especially with RE games since many parts are silent and lack BG music. And when playing at night, the noise can be annoying. Something to consider when deciding which version is best.

Ya, the Dreamcast always was a bit noisy, but I always seem to forget that when I play the games. I get too absorbed in them to notice such things.

The Gamecube is not that much better though anyway, it makes those loud "clank" noises which I guess is the lens sliding back quick to read.

It's a number of things that do the Dreamcast versions for me;

• A 60Hz option in the game without having to resort to AR codes, something that doesn't matter in NTSC territory's.
  
• Higher resolution backgrounds.
  
• VMU health display.
  
• Controller with a better d-pad, I prefer playing the old RE's with a d-pad, shame the Gamecube's d-pad is so small and badly placed for awkward constant control. REmake and RE0 play great with analogue though, not surprising because they were made when analogue was already the standard for control.
  
• The extra game features, not much there, but still a welcome bonus.
  
• VGA support, I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but many Dreamcast games support VGA for a pseudo-HD display and RE2&3 both support it. Something I have yet to try though since I don't have a VGA lead/box, but I'm going to look into it soon.

Some people would say the FMV's as well, but they're not important to me unless the quality is really terrible, I've seen them all before.

[Pikminister]

I fail to see how RE2&3 and CODE: Veronica for that matter, load any quicker on the Gamecube. Maybe in a few places like after a cut scene, but all the door transitions are still the same.

I think both the Dreamcast and Gamecube versions of RE2&3 could have had skip-able door transitions like Deadly Silence on the DS.

That you get faster loading times on SOME of the Cube ports is something speed runners have known for quite some time. Its not a huge difference, though.

However, another advantage that I forgot to mention: the Cube doesn't make as much noise as the DC when it read data. You notice the noise especially with RE games since many parts are silent and lack BG music. And when playing at night, the noise can be annoying. Something to consider when deciding which version is best.

[Zombie_X]

I like how the FMV's in Bio3 for the GC had about 29-30fps. Really nice video's indeed! Bio2 on DC still had the best FMV's of any other Bio2 port IMO.

I don't mind that the GC version of Bio3 had faster loading times, but the backgrounds look like poo! Super compressed.

[Vixtro]

And the quick loading times are tops on the CGN as well. But I agree that the DC version has more to love.

I fail to see how RE2&3 and CODE: Veronica for that matter, load any quicker on the Gamecube. Maybe in a few places like after a cut scene, but all the door transitions are still the same.

I think both the Dreamcast and Gamecube versions of RE2&3 could have had skip-able door transitions like Deadly Silence on the DS.

[Pikminister]

I have been playing the Dreamcast version of Biohazard 3 and have to say it's better than the Gamecube version. It has the 640X480 backgrounds, smooth models, arrange mode, more costumes.

The character models in the Cube version are fine. As good as the DC version. It's the backgrounds that are lower in resolution. And the quick loading times are tops on the CGN as well. But I agree that the DC version has more to love.

[randomwab]

If the GBC version of RE1 was released it would totally win this Failing that i'll say the DS version, simply because i think i've played through it more times than i have other ports.

Agreed. Deadly Silence is the best version of the first game in my opinion, balanced between the pretty hardcore (in retrospect) difficulty of the original and the additions made to future titles. That thing is just a damn joy to play. Plus, I can run through that game as both Chris and Jill Classic Mode on a single DS Lite battery charge.

[rewak]

If the GBC version of RE1 was released it would totally win this Failing that i'll say the DS version, simply because i think i've played through it more times than i have other ports.

[Vixtro]

I have been playing the Dreamcast version of Biohazard 3 and have to say it's better than the Gamecube version. It has the 640X480 backgrounds, smooth models, arrange mode, more costumes.

Ya, defiantly, I'm slightly peeved I didn't get the RE2&3 Dreamcast versions back in the day.

On the other hand, at least I there were still better versions of the games I already love to look forward too, something I really needed after the mediocre last couple of releases.