Duke 3D: A Saturn/XBLA Comparison
Sept 27, 2008 10:25:33 GMT
Post by Dr Greenrinse on Sept 27, 2008 10:25:33 GMT
I have recently been playing the XBLA release of Duke 3D and I have had an urge to go back and play the Saturn version at the same time to compare the two.
Now obviously there is a big difference in the resolution between the 2 games but the Saturn version has a lot going for it in my opinion.
I have decided to play through both versions together and so far have only completed the first couple of levels but I thought id share my thoughts so far.
Right at the start, on the rooftop the first thing that you’ll notice is how much more dramatic the lighting is – much richer than the clinical looks of the XBLA version. Shooting the gas canisters by the vent only enhances this with some very smart lighting effects on the floor and walls; this is something of a Lobotomy trademark in their Saturn shooters.
The next thing you notice is the quality of the music. The XBLA version is using the midi tracks as created for the PC version whereas the Saturn is using a proper Redbook audio soundtrack playing direct off the CD. The midi tracks were re-recorded using proper instruments and the result is very noticeable giving the Saturn soundtrack a much higher feeling of quality.
In the street outside the cinema it’s clear that the Saturn versions buildings are nowhere near as tall as their XBLA versions.
At this point I should explain that the Saturn version was not a port of the PC original it was completely rebuilt using Lobotomy’s slave driver engine originally created for Exhumed / Powerslave. This means that the environments’ are rendered in full 3d rather than using the PC versions so called 2.5d strip engine. As a result of this some of the finer details of the PC version are left out (The biggest thing probably being the working subway in the Rabid Transit level). However these bits that are missing don’t detract from what is an extremely fun game. Also it’s worth noting that there simply wouldn’t have been anywhere near enough time to include every last thing from the PC original – Hence why the RPG on the ledge opposite the cinema doesn’t appear out of a lift type mechanism. It doesn’t need to so why waste time on such things? Far better to make the game play as well as it can.
The bonus of the change in engine really shows when you consider smoothly this game plays and how good it actually looks. If Duke was a film then the Saturn production team decided to hire a fantastic Cinematographer someone like the late John A. Alonzo (Say what you like about Star Trek Generations but it was easily the best looking of all the films).
Another cause for smugness that we Saturn owners had was the fact that until now we had the only console based version of Duke that actually had working mirrors! A minor point perhaps but the fact remains that the developers of the PS and N64 versions couldn’t manage such a feat despite the fact that they were only porting the game.
A common criticism of the Saturn version is the lack of normal hinged doors instead most doors are sliding “Star Trek” types but when you make you way into the toilets you find that the cubicles have no doors at all. Obviously the XBLA version wins hands down here but one has to wonder how Lobotomy would have gone about adding such a feature to their engine and would it even have been possible given the dynamic differences?
One thing I will say (being someone who spend a great deal of time building duke maps on the PC using the Build editor) is that even with that engine getting a sector to rotate properly as a door was a right pain!
Moving on to the Red Light District one thing that caught my eye was that the condemned building now has another building to its left. It becomes clear why this was created when you destroy it (just swipe your card this time no messing about with button combinations). The building itself doesn’t actually fall down like in the XBLA version but infact just a small portion representing the front wall falls down. This is evidenced by the discolouration of the walls and the ground where it fell and the fact you can just see behind it if you stand in just the right angle to the left of the building before you blow it up, you can see the destroyed remains behind.
It became obvious to me that such a time saving trick might well have been necessary when I was descending through the manhole into the sewer. The sewer really is under the condemned building in the Saturn version. A quick check of the map confirmed this. When you descent through the manhole in the XBLA version you are transported to another section of the map thus making it easier to have a 3 dimensional effect in a game engine that wasn’t really 3D but the Saturn version really is 3D! I was very impressed at how the sewer section had been ever so slightly altered to enable a directly linked run between the manhole and the toilets in the club.
The remainder of this level is more or less identical to the XBLA version a few minor details missing (I did miss the Duke Nukem Must Die sign) but again it’s nothing really important.
So far then the XBLA version is the more polished but the Saturn version looks prettier, plays better - especially if you use the analogue pad and activate Jevons control mode (activate by pausing and press: YY, ZZ, XX, Y, X, Z.) and sounds soooo much better.
Anyways that’s it for now if there’s any interest in this post I’ll update it with my thoughts on the later levels on the two versions. If not then just put this down to someone stuck at work who felt like shouting about one of his favourite games!!
Now obviously there is a big difference in the resolution between the 2 games but the Saturn version has a lot going for it in my opinion.
I have decided to play through both versions together and so far have only completed the first couple of levels but I thought id share my thoughts so far.
Right at the start, on the rooftop the first thing that you’ll notice is how much more dramatic the lighting is – much richer than the clinical looks of the XBLA version. Shooting the gas canisters by the vent only enhances this with some very smart lighting effects on the floor and walls; this is something of a Lobotomy trademark in their Saturn shooters.
The next thing you notice is the quality of the music. The XBLA version is using the midi tracks as created for the PC version whereas the Saturn is using a proper Redbook audio soundtrack playing direct off the CD. The midi tracks were re-recorded using proper instruments and the result is very noticeable giving the Saturn soundtrack a much higher feeling of quality.
In the street outside the cinema it’s clear that the Saturn versions buildings are nowhere near as tall as their XBLA versions.
At this point I should explain that the Saturn version was not a port of the PC original it was completely rebuilt using Lobotomy’s slave driver engine originally created for Exhumed / Powerslave. This means that the environments’ are rendered in full 3d rather than using the PC versions so called 2.5d strip engine. As a result of this some of the finer details of the PC version are left out (The biggest thing probably being the working subway in the Rabid Transit level). However these bits that are missing don’t detract from what is an extremely fun game. Also it’s worth noting that there simply wouldn’t have been anywhere near enough time to include every last thing from the PC original – Hence why the RPG on the ledge opposite the cinema doesn’t appear out of a lift type mechanism. It doesn’t need to so why waste time on such things? Far better to make the game play as well as it can.
The bonus of the change in engine really shows when you consider smoothly this game plays and how good it actually looks. If Duke was a film then the Saturn production team decided to hire a fantastic Cinematographer someone like the late John A. Alonzo (Say what you like about Star Trek Generations but it was easily the best looking of all the films).
Another cause for smugness that we Saturn owners had was the fact that until now we had the only console based version of Duke that actually had working mirrors! A minor point perhaps but the fact remains that the developers of the PS and N64 versions couldn’t manage such a feat despite the fact that they were only porting the game.
A common criticism of the Saturn version is the lack of normal hinged doors instead most doors are sliding “Star Trek” types but when you make you way into the toilets you find that the cubicles have no doors at all. Obviously the XBLA version wins hands down here but one has to wonder how Lobotomy would have gone about adding such a feature to their engine and would it even have been possible given the dynamic differences?
One thing I will say (being someone who spend a great deal of time building duke maps on the PC using the Build editor) is that even with that engine getting a sector to rotate properly as a door was a right pain!
Moving on to the Red Light District one thing that caught my eye was that the condemned building now has another building to its left. It becomes clear why this was created when you destroy it (just swipe your card this time no messing about with button combinations). The building itself doesn’t actually fall down like in the XBLA version but infact just a small portion representing the front wall falls down. This is evidenced by the discolouration of the walls and the ground where it fell and the fact you can just see behind it if you stand in just the right angle to the left of the building before you blow it up, you can see the destroyed remains behind.
It became obvious to me that such a time saving trick might well have been necessary when I was descending through the manhole into the sewer. The sewer really is under the condemned building in the Saturn version. A quick check of the map confirmed this. When you descent through the manhole in the XBLA version you are transported to another section of the map thus making it easier to have a 3 dimensional effect in a game engine that wasn’t really 3D but the Saturn version really is 3D! I was very impressed at how the sewer section had been ever so slightly altered to enable a directly linked run between the manhole and the toilets in the club.
The remainder of this level is more or less identical to the XBLA version a few minor details missing (I did miss the Duke Nukem Must Die sign) but again it’s nothing really important.
So far then the XBLA version is the more polished but the Saturn version looks prettier, plays better - especially if you use the analogue pad and activate Jevons control mode (activate by pausing and press: YY, ZZ, XX, Y, X, Z.) and sounds soooo much better.
Anyways that’s it for now if there’s any interest in this post I’ll update it with my thoughts on the later levels on the two versions. If not then just put this down to someone stuck at work who felt like shouting about one of his favourite games!!
