Differences between Japanese & PAL Daytona USA

[tempest]

Has anyone compared the Japanese and PAL versions of the original Daytona USA? I was wondering whether the Japanese version is any better or not.

I used to own a copy of both, but being the PAL collector I am and not wanting to bulk up on doubles of games, I sold the Japanese version, thinking the PAL version would work on my Japanese Saturn and Action Replay cart. Unfortunately it doesn't - I get sound but no visuals.

I remember the borders weren't as big in the Japanese version, but I can't remember whether the Japanese game ran any faster or better than the poor PAL version. Can anyone help me out?

[termis]

Feb 1, 2009 14:36:33 GMT tempest said:

Has anyone compared the Japanese and PAL versions of the original Daytona USA? I was wondering whether the Japanese version is any better or not.

I used to own a copy of both, but being the PAL collector I am and not wanting to bulk up on doubles of games, I sold the Japanese version, thinking the PAL version would work on my Japanese Saturn and Action Replay cart. Unfortunately it doesn't - I get sound but no visuals.

I remember the borders weren't as big in the Japanese version, but I can't remember whether the Japanese game ran any faster or better than the poor PAL version. Can anyone help me out?

I don't have a copy of PAL Daytona, so I can't say from personal experience... But according to this list, Daytona wasn't PAL optimized, so it should've played identical to the JP version on the JP saturn (that is, full screen & at full-speed, assuming your TV takes 60Hz signals okay).

www.geocities.com/shining3master/titles.html

[tempest]

Thanks for that info. I tried the game again and it worked. I copied my save file off the action replay cart and it didn't work again. So obviously it was the Japanese save file not working correctly with the PAL version. This saves me from having to track down a Japanese version which is identical from memory.

The game runs faster at 60Hz and is almost full screen now. The races are now a lot more intense and it seems easier to powerslide somehow.