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Same Name, Different Game: SNES vs. Genesis

In our most recent issue of Game Informer (with The Elder Scrolls MMO on the cover), I wrote a Classic GI piece that compared 16-bit games that feature the same names, but different gameplay. Most multiplatform games are nearly identical in 2012, but that wasn't always the case. In the days of Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, you'd sometimes find wholly different game experiences depending on which system you chose. Writing about these older titles made me interested in re-visiting them, so I grabbed fellow 16-bit enthusiast Tim Turi and headed down to the Replay room.

Watch below to see us cover numerous multiplatform games, from Aladdin to Mortal Kombat.

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Comments
  • Cool.
  • It's like a bonus Replay! Love the segment, guys. Personally, I was a Genesis kid. Didn't get a SNES until later. Very interesting to see the side-by-side comparisons. I totally forgot about Jurassic Park. Man, I ate that up.
  • I hope you guys look at not only the subtle differences but some of the games that were outright different entirely, like the Aladdin games for SNES and Genesis.

    Hot Damn! That's the very first one!
  • More this

  • You sure did alot of reasurch for this didn't you? Well good job dudes.
  • So Genesis was way better than SNES. Got it!
  • shouldn't this have been an article back in like 97' when the two systems were on their way out after the release of N64 and PS1? lol, im just messing this is very cool. totally remember console wars between snes and genesis especially mortal kombat!!
  • Super Mario World. SNES wins.
  • do more of this. please.

  • Awesome video!

  • SEGA.

  • Thank you so much for this video! I've actually been collecting SNES and Genesis games recently, but don't know which version of whatever game is usually better.
  • Genesis for Aladdin and Mortal Kombat all the way.
  • I remember being torn on which version to buy (as an MK arcade freak), the superior playing Genesis version with fatalities that looked and sounded like crap, or the beautiful looking SNES version with terrible gameplay and edited fatalities.
  • I remember being torn on which version to buy (as an MK arcade freak), the superior playing Genesis version with fatalities that looked and sounded like crap, or the beautiful looking SNES version with terrible gameplay and edited fatalities.
  • Mod

    Hands down aladdin on genesis is better.  But Sunset riders I'd take on Snes.  Who says we gamers can't be picky.

  • Sorry guys but Mortal Kombat looks and sounds like crap on the Genesis. You can really see the missing frames of animation. The blood and fatalities are better but I'd rather play the SNES one. Or Street Fighter.

    Just saw the whole video and I'm sooo glad I played more SNES than Genesis as a kid. You guys kept bringing up how superior genesis was for multiplatform games but the video doesn't lie. Aladdin was far better on Genesis I'll admit but Jurassic Park was a totally different game so It's an apples an oranges argument on that one.

    But Sunset Riders, Mortal Kombat (minus the fatalities but they were added in future sequels), NBA Jam, and Street Fighter looked more alive on the SNES and I'd never have the volume on if I played any of those on the genesis. I hate how all of their games sound. I don't know why Tim likes genesis music but I was recently playing Vectorman and wanted to rip my ears off.

    Entertaining video though I would have liked to see some Earthworm Jim comparison.
  • I only owned SNES back in the day. So I never experienced these Sega Genesis versions. Interesting look, thanks for the video guys.
  • I can't wait for ghost recon to be out, not because I'm excited for it, I mean I'll trudge through the campaign and play a couple hours online as long as I don't have to buy a pass. But what I'm really looking forward to is being able to watch a video on gameinformer without this damn add.

  • You know the answer is SNES because the music is almost always better.

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