Summary
Porting video games to different consoles is never an easy task. Complications can arise, resulting in some notable cuts and changes being made. That being said, however, some ported titles have received exclusive content or completely reworked mechanics.
These days, it’s not so common to find unique console ports, but it was definitely prevalent in the past. It all depended on the hardware and memory available. This list is made up of some of the most intriguing specimens, which either contain totally new features not seen in the original, or unexpected twists that make them feel like a completely different game altogether.
Fitting so many zombies on-screen in an expansive, fully explorable mall just wasn’t going to cut it for the Wii, so Capcom decided to give their port ofDead Risinga new twist while trying to remain faithful to the zombie-blasting, object-swinging fun of the original.
Dead Rising: Chop ‘Till You Dropplays more likeResident Evil 4,even reusing the same aiming system and weapons as well. Areas of the mall were closed off, and the story was made much more linear, while some of the bosses were turned either into allies or special zombie types. More interestingly, it had motion controls for swinging weapons, a unique batch of challenges and boss battles, and reworked side missions for rescuing other survivors.
2Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PlayStation)
Porting overCommand & Conquer: Red Alertto the PlayStation seemed like a no-brainer. Even though it lacked the ability to save in betweenbase-constricting and commanding armiesto blow up one another, this port brought a few neat tricks up its sleeve, while retaining all the cutscenes, custom multiplayer matches against the AI, and a majority of the original’s missions.
Not only did it have a password feature, but it also had console-exclusive cheats that could give players cash, turn ore into beer, and more. The music was more like a mixtape of tunes from the main game and the expansion packs from the PC, too. In fact, the missions from the add-ons were released asCommand & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation, containing fresh remixes and brand new FMV cutscenes that the series was famous for.
3Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color)
Bringing anall-time classic platformerlikeSuper Mario Bros.to the Game Boy Color could’ve been a simple, lazy port. Not so withSuper Mario Bros. Deluxe. Tonnes of exclusive content were packed onto its cartridge.
There was a save feature, 2-player co-op mode, challenges, a world map where you can even switch to Luigi, balancing tweaks and glitch patches, a toy box with unlockables, a calendar, awards, printable images with the Game Boy Printer, and so much more. Of course, it still played just like the original, albeit with a smaller screen. Nevertheless, this is a really unique example of a remixedMariogame.
Batman: Arkham Cityreceived a lot of acclaim on release. Addictive combat, clever mechanics, a gripping story, and stellar visuals were just some of the things it was praised for. When an exclusive Wii U port was announced, there was some speculation about whether the console could handle such a title.
Thankfully, it did.Batman: Arkham City Armored Editioncontained new and exclusive features, likenew suits for Batmanand Catwoman and B.A.T. Mode for a boost of strength in fights. The coolest thing is the GamePad serves as a Batcomputer for checking maps, fiddling with gadgets, hacking, and the like during gameplay. It was very clever and immersive stuff.
5Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (Nintendo DS)
What was special about the DS port of thesurvival horror classicResident Evilwas that it didn’t just carry over the original game with its tank controls, scarce supplies, oodles of puzzles, and cheesy voice acting galore all intact. It also had a brand new ‘Rebirth Mode’ as well.
Puzzles were redesigned to complement the dual screens of the DS. Touch-screen controls could be used to fiddle with clocks and shift blocks, not to mention swing a knife in close-quarters combat. It was the first-ever entry in the series to implement local co-op multiplayer on a portable console with a selection of different S.T.A.R.S. team members, including Barry and Wesker.Resident Evil: Deadly Silencewas a port like none other.
PortingQuake 2to the Nintendo 64 was not technically possible due to memory limitations. Rather than gimping the entire game to make it fit, Midway Games decided to carry over the weapons and enemies of the original and implement them in a set of newly designed levels.
Instead of having to go back and forth between missions to complete objectives, it played much more like the firstQuakewhere finding the exit was required to progress. Its soundtrack was not filled with shredding guitars, but a moody ambiance for a more unsettling feel, and dynamic lighting bathed areas in murky colors.It very much looked and played likeQuake II, but, at the same time, it was its own standalone experience - and a great one at that. Thankfully, it’s recently been implemented in the remastered edition ofQuake 2.
7Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS)
Super Mario 64was the Nintendo 64’s best-selling title of all time and was nothing short of revolutionary. Fully 3D missions for Mario to explore? Mind-boggling! It wasported to the DS in 2004, albeit with enough changes to really shake things up.
Alongside Mario are Luigi, Yoshi, and even Wario as playable characters, each with their own special abilities. All the missions from the original are present, along with unlockable mini-games, exclusive boss battles, and a hefty number of changes that polish the overall experience while still retaining the whimsical fun factor of the original.
8Half-Life 2: Survivor (Arcade)
Half-Life 2, one of thebest and most influential first-person shootersof all time, was indeed transformed into a Japanese-exclusive arcade game. Clever modders have uploaded this version online for fans to play for free. Still, it feels like a wasted opportunity to not have these machines brought over to the West…
Developed by Taito and released in 2006, Half-Life 2: Survivorwas controlled via two joysticks and pedals. While it featured a trimmed-down version of the campaign, it also contained cooperative and competitive modes. Up to 8 players could duke it out in class-based deathmatches, or complete challenging objectives together.
DOOMfor the PlayStation is a very interesting specimen and was even considered by co-creator John Romero to be the best console version of the game for the time. It combined levels from bothThe Ultimate DOOMandDOOM 2, mixing in enemies from the sequel into the first game, while making layout changes, implementing colored lights, implementing new sound effects, tossing in some exclusive maps, etc.
What really transforms the action-packed original into something more akin to a horror game is the soundtrack by Aubrey Hodges. The MIDI riffs were replaced with unsettling soundscapes, made up of manipulated sounds like a bee in a drink can, and the distorted cries of babies. Even to this day, this version ofDOOMis highly acclaimed by fans of the series.
