/vr/ - Retro Games

gun fights in the PS1 version feels like shit. There is no impact whatsoever. Saturn version as it best.

Stay away from EX... Let's put it like this:
- original Saturn game
- got recreated on a different engine on PS1 and already lost a lot in the translation. Still worth playing because of the different level design in 3-4 levels, but overall much worse; the only thing handled better was the Team Dolls which are completely optional
- EX is recreation of the PS1 version, a recreation of the recreation, loses even more in the process and adds new glitches etc

You can play the original game, or you can play the chinese bootleg version based on a recreation of that original game.

>>5309305
>From my very limited understanding, the PS1 version is much superior to the PC release.

It's a different game. The console and PC version are a different game sharing the same assets.

The PC version was made first but released second. It's a "Doom-like" in Build, if not with great gameplay, at least with great level design and atmosphere.
If you play it make sure you don't download the beta version of the game widely spread on warez sites and which has been plaguing the game since release. The date on the .exe should say Dec 04 1996 (Powerslave) or Mar 19 1997 (Exhumed). I wouldn't trust a version with a more recent date either, and you should have music.

Saturn version was released first. it uses a full 3D engine and has some adventure elements akin to Metroid. Pretty impressive game considering it was for the most part developped at the same time as Quake.

PS1 version was released last but that doesn't mean it's the best version if you ask me. It's a port of the Saturn version, but by a different programmer. Gunplay feels a lot less satisfying and they got rid of bomb jumping. It's still worth playing because 2-3 levels are completely different.
EX version is a recreation of the PS1 version that loses even more in the translation. it was also never finished and has a lot more glitches. Only people who have no idea what they're talking about and who jumped on the hype wagon and discovered the game through EX would recommend it.

tl;dr play DOS version if you're able to find it and set up DOSbox. Also play the Saturn version, it also works 100% accurately on emulators, even yabause. Only then if you care enough play the PS1 version for its differences.

I do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nfxUZqHWcw

>>4676964
>Ports that weren't really ports
>Powerslave for DOS,
>wonder why they ended up like this,

The DOS version of Powerslave isn't a port, it's the original version. The Saturn version was supposed to be the port. As for how and why:

Original Build game was being developped by Lobotomy Software to begin with, but at first it was being published by Apogee/3DRealms. It was called Ruins: Return of the Gods at the time, pic related.
Then, 3DRealms gave up on them; and when they found a new publisher, that new publisher said "okay, but only if there are console versions".

The initial plan was to port the DOS version to Saturn, but they quickly realized that, at the time, in 1995-1997, it was easier to have something like Build on PC, but easier to have something full 3D on console. Think of how awful the Saturn version of Doom is. PCs had better CPUs so things like Doom/Build which are 100% CPU bound was fitting, but console had dedicated 3D hardware which wasn't yet a norm yet on PC at the time.

So; they made a new Powerslave game using the same assets, one that would take full advantage of the 3D capabilities of the Saturn; and all this time the PC version was already 95%+ done; but ended up being released a
couple of months later anyway.

Source: interviews gathered on this blog
https://lobotomysoftware.wordpress.com/

>>4655406
Powerslave had a complicated development

It was initially being published by Apogee/3DRealms, at the same time as DN3D/SW/Blood started development, they outsourced PS (Ruins: Return of the Gods) and then gave up on publishing it; kinda like what happened with Blood.

Then Lobotomy Software had to find a new publisher. That new publisher said, okay, but you need to make console versions.

The PC version was about 90+% done and they had to make the console versions; they quickly found out that due to the different architecture of consoles had the time it was better to make a 3D game rather than simply porting the 2.5D game. Think of how bad Doom runs on Saturn.

So - they had to develop a new game, and in the meantime, the PC version got old, DN3D was released, Quake was released; and they were stuck with an older version of Build for their PC FPS.

It's just bad circumstances. Lobotomy was not a shit dev, like I said you need to consider that the Slavedriver engine was developped at the same time as Quake and only released a few months after, that should tell you these guys had vision and skill.

>>4580434
Although intially the game was called Ruins: Return of the Gods, back when it was still being published by 3Drealms

>>4414139
aaaaaaand I got the link wrong, so have a Powerslave beta screenshot

https://www.gog.com/forum/blood_series/make_blood_run_1280x1024_resolution_smooth_did_you_know/page1

>>4167523
>told me "okay, but you need to port it to console too"."

Huh sorry, told THEM. I'm not Lobotomy, just not fully woken up yet.

>>4166809
The PS1 version is a PORT of the Saturn version made by a different programmer. The PS1 version is far from being as smooth as the Saturn version, the shooting isn't as satisfying, they got rid of bomb jumping (like rocket jumping with handbombs which was in the saturn version) and other sequence breaking possibilities. That's why the Saturn version is better.
The PS1 version is still worth playing for its exclusive levels, but I like the Saturn ones better. The only thing that's clearly better on Saturn are the hidden Dolls.

>>4166914
>Why does someone making a stupid unfaithful recreation based his stuff on a stupid idea?

>>4167115
I love the Saturn and DOS versions just as much, but for different reasons. they're such different games anyway.
The DOS version benefits from god tier Doom like level design, some of the best of the era.

>>4061023
Play the DOS version. It's very underrated imo.

Watch out what you download. There are plenty of bad rips going on, including some glitchy beta ones which have plagued this game ever since release. So make sure you have a version with musics, and the date on the exe should be:
Powerslave: Dec 04 1996
Exhumed: Mar 19 1997

It's recommended to use Exhumed because it fixed a couple of glitches.

As for the console versions, play the Saturn version.
It works perfectly fine on emulators, I used Yabause and literaly the only difference was that the bg image was absent during loading times. Very minor. I've got the speedrun world record (only contestant) for the Saturn version on real hardware so I'd have noticed if there was any difference playing emulated in yabause, trust me, there isn't.

Then, play the PS1 version. It's a port of the Saturn version. If you ask me it's inferior in many ways, but it's still worth playing because it has many differences, including about 4 levels total which are completely changed and new.

>>3612236
>I found that the doods at Lobotomy Software had made a enhanced version of the Msdos game

Wow wow wow.
Hold your kamel.

For one thing, Lotobomy has nothing to do with Powerslave EX. Lobotomy went down not long after Powerslave was released (after they made their Saturn ports of DN3D and Quake).

Secondly, Powerslave EX isn't "an enhanced DOS version", it's a fan remake of the PS1 version. The console and DOS version are two completely different games sharing the same assets.

Finally, and if you ask me, Powerslave EX is terrible. All the gameplay behaviours are off, it plays nothing like the PS1 version it's based on. Besides, again if you ask me, the PS1 version which is a port of the Saturn version with its share of differences, was worse than the Saturn version to begin with. So that's like playing an inferior fan recreation of an inferior port.

It's good that you're interested in Powerslave. They are great games. Just play the DOS, Saturn and PS1 versions.

>>3596914
>>3595789
It is also worth noting that effort was put into the PAL conversion of the Saturn version.
It runs at the intended speed (only a few timing differences are present, which make the game slightly harder).
The PAL Playstation version however runs slower than its NTSC counterparts.

So if you live in PAL territory, Saturn is definitely the best choice.

>>3276218
>n Build games, as well as in Doom and many other 2.5D FPS, when strafing and going backwards at the same time, you go faster. About 20% depending on the game.

When I say strafing and going backwards at the same time, I mean forward or backwards. You should know this if you've played Doom or DN3D though.

Pic is an old beta screenshot of when the gamed was called Ruins: Return of the Gods