Arcade Vs Master System - Hang-On

[@simon41978]

My first ever console game in 1988. I was very impressed when Sega put the arcade version on the Shenmue disc.

[@f.k.b.16]

That was awesome to play it on Shenmue!

[@RetroComparisons]

It's really cool that they used this as one of the arcade games in Shenmue. I've probably played it on there as much as I have any other way.

[@simon41978]

@@RetroComparisons Shenmue was mindblowing and is the daddy of open world games, imo. I had a lot of fun searching Shenmue II for the arcade games.

[@RetroComparisons]

@@simon41978 The fact that it technically came out in the 90s is insane to think about. Even though the Genesis was already out by 1990, a large percentage of console gamers were playing the NES or SMS at the start of the decade and by the end we had that masterpiece.

[@johnmp3828]

Hang on for one more day!

[@RetroComparisons]

Things will go your way.

[@themrzerohazor]

Always have to cheer on the old SMS! Beautiful game!

[@RetroComparisons]

The SMS had yet another impressive showing with this port.

[@themrzerohazor]

@RetroComparisons that's what I keep saying! 😉👍🏻

[@MKF30]

Nice i played this game in the arcade loved it. The MS version looks respectable and playable for sure. Good comparison.

[@RetroComparisons]

Thanks dude! The Master System port is pretty great for what it is and the original arcade version kicks ass.

[@MKF30]

@@RetroComparisons Yeah for sure! The speed is especially impressive with a lot of these MS And NES ports of arcades, sometimes they're slower but other times just as fast as the arcade which is impressive! You're welcome!

[@oldfan4049]

I'd go with the OG game 'cause it looked amazingly satisfying and had no such annoying sound of breaks when you're trying to turn your bike))

[@RetroComparisons]

The SMS port is really well done but the arcade original is a classic.

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

This was the kind of respectable arcade conversion that impresses more as an adult, with an adult's cynical awareness of what was a realistic outcome, than it ever inspired any of us as kids.

[@RetroComparisons]

Good point. As a kid it was normal to have those naive reactions of thinking that the home port should be just as good. This SMS port is pretty great for what it is.

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

@RetroComparisons I never expected it to be arcade perfect. My standards were more, how cool are the backgrounds? In Enduro on the 2600, the weather and time of day kept things interesting. Even in an afterthought like Pole Position II on 7800, I could see a miniature hot air balloon taking off in the distance. Someone cared. And Outrun on SMS tempted you with new turns in future playthroughs, and new challenges, new sights, and new endings. What does Hang-On on SMS do to inspire? Am I just nostalgic for the pixel art city scapes of the Rad Racer series, or is Hang-On on Master System the most polite golf clap pack-in title for that generation? I think I need to play it again, and find one thing my inner child likes that isn't high speed twitch gameplay. Because based on how he judged things, even Super Mario Bros was a way better racing game...

[@shotgunl]

The Master System version of Hang-On is certainly pared back from the extremely impressive arcade game at the time, but it is still an great attempt at bringing the game home. It looks and runs great and plays pretty well too. It's about as much as you can expect out the SMS, and of the few racing games I've tried on the system, it's probably my 2nd favorite behind Road Rash.

[@RetroComparisons]

Road Rash on the SMS is a whole other level of greatness on the SMS but this is also pretty damn impressive. It looks and plays great for something that was such a powerhouse of a game at the time on the arcade.

[@kurtangle83]

@@RetroComparisons That's a bit of an unfair comparison. If anything it makes Hang On even better seeing as it's almost 9 years older and only 32kb (was one of those few card releases) against Road Rash 512kb and all those years of SMS programming knowledge.

[@RetroComparisons]

@kurtangle83 Oh yeah no doubt. I think if grading on a curve with Hang On being an early release and smaller cartridge size it exceeds Road Rash and honestly may be the best racing game on the system in that case. Considering how impressive it already is I'd love to see how close to the arcade this port could get with the modern homebrew scene.

[@kurtangle83]

Hang On was the built in game on my SMS so it's technically the first (or second game depending on how you count) I ever owned. Many of hours have been spent playing it over the years. :) Edit: Also kind of funny how they sneaked in the Shell logo and Bridgestone on the Arcade game ;)

[@f.k.b.16]

The SMS version was fun for sure!

[@RetroComparisons]

Oh that's so cool! I didn't realize that this was one of the built in games. I always thought it was just Snail Maze. This is a great conversion for the time and while it obviously can't compete with the arcade original I can totally see why you would have spent so much time playing this. Haha I wonder if they got permission to use those logos?

[@RetroComparisons]

@@f.k.b.16 It's a great conversion.

[@kurtangle83]

@@RetroComparisons I have a feeling they didn't :P

[@scoochaside]

@@RetroComparisons The SMS edition I have, Snail Maze is built-in and in addition to the console it came with 2 controllers, the Light Phaser and one cartridge that had Hang-On and Safari Hunt.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Not a bad little conversion at all.

[@RetroComparisons]

It's pretty great for what it is.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

@@RetroComparisons Especially considering the game came built into some models of the Master System.

[@scoochaside]

The very first videogame that I ever owned, as a pack-in with the SMS

[@RetroComparisons]

@@scoochaside This is an awesome game to have started your Master System journey with.

[@mtshark7]

I'd go with the arcade. The sms port isn't too bad.

[@RetroComparisons]

The SMS port is really good for the limited hardware but the arcade version is so good.

[@ragintombo]

Hang on? I'm waiting ;)

[@RetroComparisons]

Ok, after burner I'll get to it.

[@gabrielepasquali5479]

The sms version could be a little btter if they used a cartridge with more memory insted of a card 256k

[@RetroComparisons]

It's already really good but had it come out a few years later they probably would have used a bigger cart and would have had more time to figure out the console. I would love to see what that would have been like.