Battle of the Ports - Hook (フック) Show 442 - 60fps

[@RetroCore]

I had to change the music in the Mega Cd version. Good old Sony wasn't happy with me using John Williams score on the Mega CD footage.

[@kbxthegamemaster06]

Dont u just *HATE* when that happens

[@SomeOrangeCat]

It was John Williams himself, just waiting in the bushes outside your place "Mark better not! I'll copyright strike him!" You can't prove that didn't happen.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

Yeah, Sega don't like live streaming Yakuza cutscenes either Mark - Merry Christmas 🤠✌️

[@nekononiaow]

Damn, it's such a shame, especially when this corresponds perfectly to a fair use situation.

[@fukvu4748]

I have been watching you for years. It's been great. I think it's time for you to attack the Y's series. Lol. Have fun.

[@dougr.8653]

Happy Christmas to you all. I have fond memories playing Hook on my Super Nintendo way back in summer ‘92. Normally, Sonysoft was not a great publisher back then, but I enjoyed playing it.

[@RetroCore]

Happy Christmas to you, too! Glad the video could bring back some happy memories.

[@Akomander]

It always surprises me how many people don't know that you can RUN on this game... It makes everything a bit smoother and those jumps easier to reach ;)

[@RetroCore]

You can run? Did they map that to the L and R triggers or something? It doesn't help that no version of the game contains options 😢

[@sega_kid4288]

@@RetroCore you hold down whatever button you use to swing your knife/sword. You can also swim holding that button 👍🏾

[@Dreddtube]

I confirm, I didn't know that until now 😂 Maybe I should give the game another try.

[@DesertRainReads]

@@sega_kid4288 that would be the Y button on SNES. I knew this game like the back of my hand.

[@DesertRainReads]

@@Dreddtube I recall my brother's friend figuring out how to dash in the game, in the SNES version, you hold down Y / Attack button to do so. It makes things a million times easier and the game a joy to play through.

[@Dreddtube]

I would like to mention that many of former developers from CAPCOM have participated on this game creation. That's why the colors, de game design and even sound fonts ressemble games like Mickey's Magical Qu'est or even Super Ghouls'n Ghosts. This and Skyblazer were very beautiful games indeed.

[@RetroCore]

That explains why it has that Capcom platformer feeling.

[@Idelacio]

I had this on game gear, pretty good in a handheld format honestly despite the issues. Forgot the music was pretty faithful! Memoriiiies.

[@JFD62780]

John Williams: "I forced you to alter some music. Pray that I don't force you to alter it any further." Otherwise, good episode!

[@RetroCore]

Lol, indeed. I had a feeling that would happen.

[@freddiejohnson6137]

You can tell when a game started as a SNES game first and then later ported to the megadrive as those games usually took advantage of the colour pallete more. As opposed to muliplatforn games that were designed for both systems at the same time where similar colours are used on the SNES to what the Megadrive can do to make them look as close to each other as possible.

[@RetroCore]

I think they could have done better with the Mega Drive colour pallet since the Master System game looks closer to the original in some scenes.

[@turbinegraphics16]

And they heavily restrict the number of objects on screen

[@nekononiaow]

I agree, it really looks like either the palette conversion was done by an automatic process and was not retouched afterward or the artist responsible for it did not have access to a SNES to compare it with. In any case, probably a shoddy process.

[@GamayObera]

The music from SNES version makes Hook as if it was a Square JRPG or something similar. And then, you go on MD, and it sounds like MD Mickey Mania music. Likely the composer and sound driver are shared between two games.

[@WeskerSega]

I'm not sure about the SNES version, but it's indeed the case regarging the Mega Drive version, as it's handled by Matt Furniss using the Krisalis Software/Shaun Hollingworth sound driver, same as in Mickey Mania and many other Mega Drive games (mostly European developed games) which went with this , usually giving pretty good results. It's actually the same case with the Master System and Game Gear versions too, as they also had a variant sound driver also employed in many other games for both systems.

[@mole28]

Merry christmas! :😀

[@RetroCore]

Merry Christmas 🎄❄️

[@Awinnerwasyou]

Hope you and the family have a merry Christmas!

[@RetroCore]

Thanks. The boy and I are off to Universal Studios Japan, tomorrow. Looking forward TO super Nintendo Land.

[@Awinnerwasyou]

@@RetroCore Sounds awesome. Have a great time!

[@johnebbs3819]

Mark please do not fall asleep when cooking the turkey. Thank you and happy holidays to yours.

[@RetroCore]

Lol, no turkey here. Well be having Tacco this Christmas. 🍗😁

[@MrNightshade2010]

@@RetroCore tacos? cool

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hello Mark, Wishing you and your love ones a Merry Christmas kind sir. Always a pleasure seeing you doing what you do best and following your channel after all these years my good man. 8^) Anthony...

[@RetroCore]

A Merry Christmas to youh too, Anthony. Hope yoh have a wonderful time this year's holidays.

[@jojojoma3026]

While I find full-screen dithering effects on the MD for water lazy and garish, my main gripe with Hook on the Genesis is making Peter yellow so he blends into the background?! Ugh.

[@Valkian24]

I remember renting the Super Nintendo version a long time ago (or at least borrowed from a friend), was blown away on how it looked but did remember it being tricky and slow to play.

[@RetroCore]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I think many people will remember.

[@topofbones]

Merry Christmas Mark! The Master System version could be a very decent one. I'm going to look my Master System everdrive, perhaps there's the prototype inside...

[@SomeOrangeCat]

I vaguely remember a friend renting the SNES version. I thought the music was rather nice.

[@RetroCore]

It's very much like a RPG.

[@willrobinson7599]

Great video . Enjoyed on the snes Suprised the megadrive version had so much cut out as core done alot of great games on the megadrive The still waterfall looks terrible Happy Xmas to u too

[@madsceptictrooper6803]

I can't understand how Core couldn't have done the waterfall just by animating tiles and cycling color palette.

[@RetroCore]

They were being lazy for sure on this port.

[@jonathanharding5103]

Looks like they brightened the colors up a bit for the game gear version.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

Nice one, looks pretty good on the old SFC - Merry Christmas ✌️

[@RetroCore]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@MagisterHamid]

Now this is a game where Mega drive’s lacking colour range really shows compared to Super Famicom!

[@RetroCore]

Indeed it does. I'm sure they could have done better though.

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

@@RetroCore Especially since the 8-bit titles look better despite using less colors. But that was the Probe way. Decent play control, terrible graphics. Which, I suppose, is better than Tiertex sacrificing everything. Or all those Streetfighter 2 ports to British computers that only looked good until you played them.

[@brandonginsburg3120]

There were a surprising, since he wasn't an action star, number of 16-bit era video games based on movies starring Robin Williams.

[@RetroCore]

Sadly most were American developed and sucked big time. TOYS was one of those god awful games published by Absolute Entertainment. Basically anything with Absolute, Hi-Tec Expression or THQ was the stamp of shite and you knew to stay well clear 😁

[@brandonginsburg3120]

@@RetroCoreThank you for your reply. It also made me laugh twice. I appreciate the warning too.

[@thefurthestmanfromhome1148]

Roughly aware at the Mega CD version, as I was desperate for new software for the system, this didn't make anywhere near the use of the hardware I was looking for, so avoided it.

[@JustPeasant]

Merry Christmas, folks 🎄

[@RetroCore]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🎁🎄

[@cessnaace]

Merry Christmas. I have the Genesis , Sega CD, and Master System versions. The Master System version, as you stated, is an unfinished prototype, but its release was obviously cancelled very near completion as the game is very playable. My copy is a ROM dumped onto a Western NTSC cartridge, complete with case and artwork. No instructions though.

[@RetroCore]

Merry Christmas 🎁. Cool that you have a physical Master System copy. I fact, I've seen these on images and had to double check to make sure the game really was unreleased.

[@mightyfilm]

I know of these games, but I'm mostly familiar with the arcade one. That one had some weird choices in its design, especially since Captain Hook was the typical beat'em up freaking giant sprite. A giant character, towering over everything based on the famously short Dustin Hoffman.

[@CriminalCrimson]

I always thought this was a Capcom game lol Merry Christmas!!

[@RetroCore]

It sure has that Capcom look and sound. 🎄🎁🎅

[@DesertRainReads]

I remember getting this game, Christmas Day 1992, along with an SNES, the second SNES owned due to it being at my mom's house (my folks were divorced, and this one also belonged to my older brother, he got Top Gear that night), I have since played just about every version of the game. My vote for best version is still the SNES, yup, even over the Sega CD version. Even the soundtrack is simply magical on SNES. The original compositions fit the mood perfectly, especially for the winter plains (I believe that was level 5) level with all the pirates throwing snowballs at you and the like. Without a doubt this was a great game. Especially once you figured out how to dash (in the case of the SNES version, you hold down the Y / Attack button), which makes the game SO much easier to get through. Seriously though, the SNES version of Hook is the best one hands down! From its better color palette, having more songs than the Genny version and actually having them fit the mood, even more so than the Sega CD version which directly copied the John Williams movie score rather than having original compositions? No contest, this was an easy win.

[@RetroCore]

I had no idea a dash was even possible 🤣. Why map it to two buttons on the SNES version? They are buttons that do nothing on that game.

[@madsceptictrooper6803]

Despite being a flawed movie, Hook is really charming and an underrated gem. Robin Williams' portrayal of Peter Pan and Dante Basco are truly the highlights of Hook. I'm not sure do I want to play Hook on SNES or not. The slow pace of gameplay must be due to the crew at Ukiyotei not being familiar with programming on SNES. I can't understand why the button for running has to be same as the attack button. A or R button should have been used for running. The map scenes are quite unnecessarily and tediously long and could have been better with much faster speed and nice use of Mode 7. At least the graphics and music are great. Luckily the crew at Ukiyotei did become more familiar with SNES hardware when they worked on Skyblazer, which can be considered a spiritual successor of Hook, as Skyblazer is faster paced and has ambitious use of SNES hardware. Core should have relied on vibrant use of color and contrast to make up the limited color palette of Mega Drive. The HUD should have been smaller. Raining could have been done with having multiple sprites on screen and clever use of flickering. The changing of seasons seems to have been done by changing the color palette on SNES, so why didn't Core do the same on Mega Drive. Waterfalls could have been easily done by cycling the color palette and animating tiles. Did the crew at Core think Peter Pan looks to similar to Link and Disney's Peter Pan? I can't think any other reason why they changed the color of Peter's clothes. At least Matt Furniss did a great job with music.

[@austinwillcut4919]

Super Nintendo version gets the win for me, had the same gameplay as the others but still had the superior graphics as well. The Snes port is the whole package wrapped in one.

[@thepirategamerboy12]

idk, I think Genesis Hook sounds fairly good. I can tell it's Matt Furniss.

[@RetroCore]

It sure is him. I have a feeling he did the Master System and Game Gear audio too.

[@jessragan6714]

The eternal question... why the hell is Peter Pan yellow-tan in the Sega Genesis version? A better use of the Genesis' limited color palette would have addressed this, me thinks.

[@RetroCore]

I have a feeling he couldn't find a toilet in time.

[@CasperEgas]

I only have the Mega CD version. Perfectly servicable game. I don't know if that really is a compliment though.

[@RetroCore]

Lol, it's okay but it should have been on par with the SNES version.

[@Bloodreign1]

Picked up the SNES and Genesis versions in September, I figured since I have both consoles, I should get both. I noticed right away, not every song from the SNES version made it into the Genesis version, quite an oddity. Controls on both do take a little to get used to.

[@WeskerSega]

It seems the Mega Drive version was limited by cartridge size because it features a lot of cutbacks, most of which were fixed in the Mega CD version.

[@RetroCore]

Sadly they still didn't fix the lack of animation and weather effects. But at least 1 level was reinstated 😊

[@WeskerSega]

@@RetroCore Yeah, that static waterfall is very lazy and while they may blame the Mega Drive ROM size for that (but it's still lame when you consider what Spidersoft did with the 8 bit versions), it's absolutely inexcusable in the Mega CD version

[@WeskerSega]

@Benjamin Jagun It is. Same as the SNES version. But either the SNES version uses compression of some kind that the Mega Drive version doesn't, or simply Core Design couldn't optimize the available space in the Mega Drive version the same way Ukiyotei did in the SNES version.

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

The only ports I played were the SNES and Sega CD versions the game was good and the difficulty was upped more later in the game.

[@thrillington2008]

SNES is a steep learning curve but it will do. Genesis is serviceable offering. Sega CD is step up from Genesis. Master System is great. Game Gear is a cut back version of the Master System version. I remembered seeing Hook growing up with the zany antics of Robin Williams, Bob Hoskins, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts.

[@earlduran6419]

I wonder BOTP of Lemmings 2 will come out? Since the cancelled Master System and Game Gear versions of Lemmings 2 were also developed by Spidersoft

[@RetroCore]

Maybe in the future some time. I'll add it to the list of future shows.

[@williamhowe1]

Lookie lookie I got hookie!

[@Colin_Ames]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. I read this morning that Kentucky Fried Chicken is a very popular Christmas dinner in Japan. Is this true, and if so do you have it? I hope you answered no to the second part of this question 😀

[@RetroCore]

Yep, it's a Kentucky Christmas. That's the slogan for KFC around this time of year. We did the whole KFC thing last week because getting KFC on Christmas day is a right pain in the arse. You actually have to order it in advance!

[@Colin_Ames]

@@RetroCore Thanks for confirming this. It’s interesting that something so “ordinary” as KFC ended up being the Christmas meal of choice. I remember when I was in Tokyo, the best thing about the KFC near my hotel was the beer vending machine outside!

[@andy6576]

Happy Xmas to you and yours, Mark! Enjoy your KFC tomorrow. 🙂

[@RetroCore]

Lol, did the whole KFC thing last week. Today we're having Tacco.

[@andy6576]

@@RetroCore 😁Enjoy!

[@GlenLehane]

Any chance you could do a separate video/videos on the micro versions?

[@RetroCore]

I'm afraid not any time soon.

[@retrovideogamejunkie]

For some reason, the protagonist on those game it remind me big nose Capcom 3 wonders guys ... Something in the animation perhaps?

[@RetroCore]

Maybe the colour choice?

[@BeanoTubes]

There's a Hook arcade game isn't there? Not linked to these though hey. Have a happy new year 🎉 all the best 👍

[@RetroCore]

Yep, it's a scrolling fighter by Irem. Happy New year to you, too 🎊

[@lemmichi]

Whats the added level for hook on megacd ? can't find more info.

[@RetroCore]

I think it was a level missing from that cartridge version. The info came from Wikipedia if I remembered rightly.

[@kbxthegamemaster06]

was the SNES version the only one to get a JP release?

[@RetroCore]

I think so.

[@lorddalek]

Part II with the ocean dev'd games next?

[@RetroCore]

Nah, those games suck. I don't want to be put through the pain of having to play them.

[@lorddalek]

@@RetroCore You've played worse. ;-)

[@josephfrye7342]

i think the genesis that peter pan clothes was colored golden but due to the original mtn dew like green color it was some what swapped but pretty ok and decent port but we will get to the sega cd in a minute which sony should face the youtube culture algorithem facts. which might be a social media gaming all media controversy. but i don't know if i want to hear some john williams score though. i might think about it.but i'm just here for the megadrive genesis music of that though. since we know the super nintendo or super famicom music sound like since the original release. now we made it to the sega master system or game gear the original color of his clothes is restored.

[@RetroCore]

Surprised that the MASTER System colour pallet is closer to the SFC original that what the MD version is.

[@amerigocosta7452]

A bit too sluggish for my taste, I wonder what playing the PAL versions would have looked like.. In facts the Master System and Game Gear games seem to be moving at a relatively brisk pace, probably because the original Master System code was meant to reach the intended speed when at 50 Hz (it's safe to say that Master System games released at that point were most likely PAL exclusive), so as it is played here at 60hz it achieves a decent speed.

[@RetroCore]

You could be right about the Master System version being optimised for PAL but now plays faster on NTSC which I nnthis game's case is a good thing.

[@pancracio3188]

Master System version is top.

[@sobesons]

Feliz Navidad!

[@RetroCore]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@adventureFAN]

Why not Daze Before Christmas? xD

[@RetroCore]

Been done to death and too obvious 😊

[@adventureFAN]

@@RetroCore okey x] Merry Christmas to you and your Familiy =)

[@wongyc5585]

Why the NES version not featured?

[@freddiejohnson6137]

That's a completely different game to these. All of these ones even the Master System and Game Gear are actually pretty much based on the Super Famicom original where as the NES version plays nothing like it.

[@WeskerSega]

NES version is by Ocean and is akin to the Commodore 64 and Game Boy versions also developed by them. Fortunately, Ocean didn't care too much for Sega systems and Sony opted to make them akin to the SNES version instead.

[@RetroArcadeGuy]

Megadrive could've pulled all the stunts the SFC pulled in this game. That's lazy porting. But gotta admit the music doesn't sound as bad which shows they had to make sacrifices to not make it sound like utter garbage (I see you Turbo OutRun).

[@RetroCore]

It should have had all the same effects. Very lazy port.

[@bhirawamaylana466]

Well this is good but the Arcade beat'em up is much better.

[@RetroCore]

The Arcade game is indeed a good scrolling fighter.

[@AgentCodyBankz]

How was a yellow ass peter pan acceptable lol

[@ultemad15red]

I prefer the arcade because its a different game all together

[@ryzmaker11]

When looking side-by-side from here 8:29 the graphic difference is not as big as you make it out to be, yet the Mega Drive and Mega-CD ports could have still looked far nicer than that had they benefited from better color optimisation + took advantage of the extra resolution that is possible on Sega's consoles (320x224 meaning 25% more than the SNES version which runs in 256x224). This just shows how overrated the SNES is in regards to graphics since older systems such as the Mega Drive or Amiga can easily equal if not surpass it. Anyway I remember my brother renting this game a long time ago. We played it quite a bit but weren't... Hooked that much ;) Game is OK but indeed too sluggish.

[@ryzmaker11]

@Lucas Resolution is factually one of the most important aspects both graphically and gameplay-wise. Many multiplats look better on Mega Drive in huge part thanx to the higher resolution which provides crisper visuals and better aspect ratio. Notable examples of that are Puyo Puyo 1 and 2, Gods, Micro Machines 2 (since MM1 wasn't optimized for the Mega Drive higher resolution), Thunder Force 3 (vs the awful Thunder Spirits), FIFA, Mickey Mania or Prince of Persia. And the 25% extra field of view makes for a more pleasant gameplay experience. Also, what you mean by "tweaks" actually mean reducing the amount of pixels so as to somehow keep a good aspect ratio once stretched to 4:3 which in turn means worse details so it's not as easy and efficient as you make it out to be which is why most developers didn't bother. edit: Oh and, same for Amiga vs SNES. Less colors but higher resolution (Amiga) is just better as can be seen in The Chaos Engine for instance.

[@ryzmaker11]

@Lucas That's your opinion. Furthermore, the Mega Drive has several other graphical advantages over the SNES such as more flexible sprite handling or some unique hardware effects such as column scrolling. Not to mention that colors is 1° very subjective 2° any system prior to the Dreamcast is meant to be post-processed through CRT rendering, which attenuates the importance of colors. I've yet to see a SNES game as graphically crisp and lively, simply as satisfying to look at as Mega Drive games such as Sonic 2, Gunstar Heroes, Batman & Robin or Ecco 2 just to name a few. As for Sega, they indeed missed some big opportunities but that's not new.

[@googleboughtmee]

SNES music like that always sounds Christmassy to me for some reason 🤣

[@spacefractal]

While its a nice game for cover that one, im person is opposiste than you: Im think the story in the Adventure version is much better told over the platform version. While its taste in mind for sure with gameplay, its cool computer and console this time was in different genres. Not all like Point & Click game of course.

[@RetroCore]

Oh, I do like the point and click game on the PC and Amiga. I just didn't cover it as this version had more ports. The Ocean game on the C64, NES and GameBoy sucks though. No surprise there.

[@spacefractal]

actuelly im did not head about that Ocean platform version, only the adventure version (yep Ocean did that one too). Its far from the worst Ocean game im have seen. Btw im dont think there is much to say between the computer ports throught.

[@exitplanetduster]

On the MD version, the main character sprite is not even green! Such a lazy port.

[@RetroCore]

Yeah, that was a very odd choice.

[@ninjaalex-yf5io]

No arcade version?

[@koffieleut]

That's a whole other game isn't it? It's a great beat 'm up though don't get me wrong.

[@RetroCore]

Yep.

[@Bloodreign1]

Irem belt scrolling beat em up, completely different, yet still entertaining game.

[@JorgeAraujo97]

The Mega CD version looks a tad weird with the quality music not fitting very well the poor graphics. Other than that, I always thought this game was a SNES exclusive. I even remember reading about that in a games magazine back in 1992. Go figure. 😁

[@RetroCore]

Funny thing is I knew it was on the Mega CD but never knew about the Mega Drive version..

[@JorgeAraujo97]

@@RetroCore 😄 Oh, and Merry Christmas to you and your family. God bless you all.

[@bloodykenshiro8218]

Wow the MD port is really really poor when sitting side by side with the SNES. I know the SNES was the target platform, but gee, that's some low effort port there.

[@RetroCore]

Yeah, they really didn't bother with the MD version.

[@vix_in_japan]

I bought this based on internet opinion for the SFC. Sadly I just didn't like it. I completed it but it just has weird difficulty spikes due to bad enemy placement and pixel perfect jumps in a couple of spots and yet other spots were just a complete cake walk. Beautiful as you say but I was glad I didn't pay much for it, since sold it.

[@RetroCore]

You are absolutely right about the enemy placements. Some of them are just annoying.

[@net_news]

SNES rulz like always

[@euphorik3120]

never been interested in this game. dull for my liking

[@NoSpamForYou]

I wonder if anyone has done the audio mod for the SNES version of HOOK yet? (I forgot the name of the upgrade chip used...)

[@RetroCore]

Ah you mean the MS1 cart? I would have expected a music hack to exist for this.