16-Bit Brawl: Sparkster SNES vs. Genesis

Welcome to 16-Bit Brawl, a collection the place we pit two Sega Genesis and Tremendous NES video games in opposition to each other to see which one comes out on high. This time, we’re going to check out everybody’s favourite jet pack carrying possum, Sparkster! Who had the higher sport? Let’s discover out. 

With Rocket Knight Adventures Re-Sparked out on this planet lastly giving gamers the prospect to expertise the sheer excellence of Rocket Knight Adventures on fashionable platforms, there appeared like no higher time to revisit the unusual case of its sequel, or ought to I say sequels, Sparkster. Each the Tremendous NES and Sega Genesis acquired video games with the identical title, similar field artwork, and even largely the identical music, known as Sparkster. However these two video games are literally fully completely different experiences with distinctive phases, gameplay components, and character controls. And though the music is identical, it reveals up in a very completely different order. It’s tremendous bizarre. Let’s meet the contestants.   

First up, we’ve got Sparkster for Sega Genesis. This sport is technically known as Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2, however that title would not seem on the precise sport field itself. This one can also be thought of the canonical sequel to Rocket Knight Adventures, in case you occur to be following the storyline. Nonetheless, of the 2, this one has probably the most completely different gameplay from the Genesis authentic. Sparkster’s jet pack expenses robotically, there’s a relentless slot machine mechanic operating all through the sport, and fight is now not projectile primarily based. Nonetheless, that is Konami working some severe magic in each the audio and visible departments. It’s acquired some points, nevertheless it’s additionally undeniably cool. 

Over on the Tremendous Nintendo, we’ve got Sparkster. This marks the primary time the character appeared on a non-Sega platform, and is taken into account extra of a side-story, which is bizarre as a result of this sport’s play fashion is way more according to the Genesis authentic. It’s important to manually cost your jetpack, and your sword shoots projectiles. It’s additionally Konami working the magic that they had been exhibiting on the Sega Genesis round this time on the Tremendous NES. It’s chock full of untamed visible tips that look tremendous cool. The music can also be spectacular, and like its Genesis counterpart, is undeniably cool.   

Now that we’ve taken a more in-depth take a look at the combatants, let’s see how they fare. 

Graphics (1 level)

Okay, let me begin by saying that these are each extraordinarily handsome video games. They’ve very comparable sprites for Sparkster himself and whereas neither of them are as fantastic because the pure perfection as his sprite within the authentic sport, they’re each fairly cool on their very own. However for as shut as it’s, I believe I’m going to have to present the nod to Tremendous NES right here. 

The Genesis sport isn’t fairly as interesting-looking total. It’s cool, for positive, however the SNES sport has the kind of wacky robotic designs that I liked concerning the authentic sport. IUt’s additionally chock filled with some actually neat results, just like the water in stage 1. I additionally assume the phases themselves, from a visible design perspective, are a bit extra fascinating on SNES. 

The one factor that actually offers me pause on this division is the slowdown. The Tremendous NES sport has some notoriously dreadful slowdown at any time when principally something even remotely difficult occurs on display. That is corrected within the new Re-Sparked assortment, however we’re speaking authentic recipe right here, in order that doesn’t rely. What’s particularly bizarre although is that the Genesis sport has slowdown too. Not practically as a lot because the SNES sport, however nonetheless. Genesis video games aren’t usually hampered by slowdown. 

Ultimately although, having simply performed these two video games again to again, I nonetheless assume the Tremendous NES wins right here. It’s shut, however I believe it’s a greater wanting sport throughout. 

Sparkster (Genesis) – 0

Sparkster (SNES) – 1

Sound (1 level)

Right here we’ve got one other class that’s extraordinarily shut. In truth, a lot of the songs themselves are literally the identical! This one all comes right down to instrumentation, and truthfully, I can’t select. After I hear the Genesis songs, I can’t assist however assume “yeah, that is nearly as good because it will get.” However then I hear the SNES variations they usually’re simply nearly as good, however for fully completely different causes. Each soundtracks use these compositions in ways in which play to the strengths of their explicit platforms. It’s actually fairly genius. 

That simply leaves sound results, and effectively, they’re fairly dang shut right here too. The Genesis ones are somewhat flatulent, as normal, however the SNES ones could possibly be sharper. Regardless of which platform you’re enjoying although, they’re tremendous efficient and enjoyable. These video games sound wonderful throughout the board. 

Appears prefer it’s a wash. They each excel on this division, to the diploma that I can’t select. This one’s a tie.   

Sparkster (Genesis) – 1

Sparkster (SNES) – 2

Gameplay (2 factors)

This one appears to be a class persons are typically cut up on, however for me, it’s a fairly easy name. See, Rocket Knight Adventures isn’t simply among the best video games on Sega Genesis, it’s my absolute favourite sport on the platform. It’s such a splendidly made sport, flaws and all, and I like it to bits. And of its sequels, just one performs like the unique, and that is Sparkster for Tremendous NES. 

I used to assume Sparkster on Genesis was an important however misunderstood sport, however I admittedly didn’t spend an entire lot of time with it. I liked its soundtrack, and I assumed it seemed nice, and I assumed I’d get round to correctly enjoying it sometime, and having gone by the primary degree or so, I figured I had sufficient of a deal with on it to maneuver ahead with the assumptions that I’d like it once I lastly performed by it. Now that I’ve gone by it on the Re-Sparked assortment, I can truthfully say that I don’t assume it’s all that good. 

The rocket pack’s a number of cost ranges are neat, and utilizing the corkscrew assault to resolve some rudimentary puzzles is a superb concept, however the fight isn’t rewarding in any respect. The sword swing modified kind a downward arc within the first sport to a sluggish ahead stab within the sequel. It’s not enjoyable to make use of. Sure, the hidden swords that may remodel you into Tremendous Sparkster is a neat concept, however nothing on this sport actually provides as much as being greater than the sum of its components. The robotic mech stage is an ideal instance. It’s cool on paper, however in observe it’s an train in tedium and frustration. It’s not an terrible sport, nevertheless it’s nowhere close to nearly as good as the primary one. 

The Tremendous NES sport although, effectively, is healthier, however nonetheless not nice. Having the projectile pictures with the sword is nice, and Sparkster generally feels much more like how he did within the first sport, particularly with the jet pack, and the roll transfer is sort of cool. It’s additionally acquired some enjoyable selection within the type of a enjoyable top-down shooter degree, although the boss of that stage is full rubbish that I’m satisfied it’s a must to be fortunate to be able to beat as a result of for the lifetime of me I can’t decide any kind of useful technique for that battle. 

The music is nice, the degrees look cool, nevertheless it’s within the precise degree design itself that the sport simply falls aside. It suffers from the identical drawback Bubsy does, in that the sport desires you to maneuver quick, however there’s a relentless barrage of issues simply off digital camera that may kill you. It is a sport the place the digital camera wanted to be panned out far more than it was, which wasn’t tremendous attainable on SNES, particularly not whereas having the sport look as cool because it does. It’s a irritating sport that simply so occurs to even be superior. After all the identical could possibly be stated concerning the authentic on Genesis, however that sport made it work with distinctive visible and audio design. It is shut, nevertheless it would not fairly stack up. 

However it does stack up a lot nearer than its Genesis counterpart. The Tremendous NES sport could also be irritating, however I had far more enjoyable working my manner by it than the opposite one. 

Sparkster (Genesis) – 1

Sparkster (SNES) – 4

And there you have got it. By utilizing my very scientific and by no means flawed system, we’ve got decided that the Tremendous NES sport is the champ. It’s acquired higher visuals, gameplay that’s each extra diversified and extra according to the unique, and sound that’s simply nearly as good as its competitors. It’s shut, for positive, however the reply is obvious. 

The winner is Sparkster for Tremendous NES. 

After all, the caveat being, neither followup can actually stack up in opposition to the unique Genesis sport. It’s simply Konami at its finest! Regardless, in case you’ve by no means performed this collection earlier than, decide up the Rocket Knight Adventures Re-Sparked assortment on the platform of your alternative and provides it a go. Should you’re a fan of Konami’s basic video games, this one will make your day. 

And that’s it for this version of 16-Bit Brawl. If in case you have a pair of video games you’d prefer to see us pit in opposition to each other, or simply genuinely disagree with my evaluation right here, tell us. See you subsequent time!