I've become addicted to Mark of the Wolves since I installed it on my MAME cabinet and am looking to pick up the Dreamcast version now. Is there much difference between the US and Japanese versions? Other than the title everything I've found seems to be they are both the same. I have a DC-X so importing is not a big deal.
Dreamcast - Mark of the Wolves
- Thread starter Tecil
- Start date
Verythrax
OWES ROT MONEY!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2003
- Posts
- 4,553
Search for a Takumaji post where he 'reviews' all the SNK ports to DC.
It just have a little timing difference on combos and lag in the sound, but nothing that prejudices the gameplay
PERSONAL NOTE: I have a bootleg version of MOTW for DC (shame on me) and what Takumaji said is 100% correct. I hoped that it just was an issue due it being a bootleg, but it seems that these problems occurs at the original one too
It just have a little timing difference on combos and lag in the sound, but nothing that prejudices the gameplay
PERSONAL NOTE: I have a bootleg version of MOTW for DC (shame on me) and what Takumaji said is 100% correct. I hoped that it just was an issue due it being a bootleg, but it seems that these problems occurs at the original one too
It is almost as good as the Neo-Geo version, the only thing you do not get is the "Neo Feeling" while playing it on the Dreamcast. Playing Mark of the Wolves on Dreamcast is like playing Shenmue II on the Xbox if you get what I am saying. Same game in essense but not the same feeling...
mikace01 said:
I hear ya there. I like the feel of the clicky NEO GEO sticks, the no load times, and just the crispness of the presentation. That's why I will spend the extra $300 for the homecart
The analogy of Shenume II on DC vs. XBOX is an excellent example. That's why I try to stick to originals as much as possible and not teh INFERIOR PORTZ!
shirt
Andy's Clothes Designer
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2003
- Posts
- 3,333
I have an official US copy, still the greatest fighter ever. Tiny differences from mvs in the hit detection, but you gotta nitpick like hell to find them. Yeah, there's that voice lag too, I've learned to block it out. The mvs version is better overall though, feels, plays and sounds pure. I think they redid the music (not arranged, but different) and it actually just sounds a lot cooler to me on cart format.
You can't use a Neo kidney bean stick on your Dreamcast!
You can't use a Neo kidney bean stick on your Dreamcast!
msu89dawgs
Hardened Shock Trooper
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2004
- Posts
- 434
Of the four SNK ports I have on my DC (KOF 98, KOF 99, Last Blade 2, and MotW), MotW is definitely the most faithful to the original. However, since I picked up an MVS and MotW for it, I haven't touched the DC port (however, I am keeping it). The graphics from my consolized 2-slot just look better to me than the DC's (both using S-Video).
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2001
- Posts
- 13,454
I only play motw on DC when I'm too lazy to walk down a flight of stairs
and slap that shit in my supergun or arcade cabinet.
which happens more often than not.
DC isn't terrible but if your anal about perfection then yea, motw on DC is
nice but it isn't perfect. but then again. just about no port that I know of is.
and slap that shit in my supergun or arcade cabinet.
which happens more often than not.
DC isn't terrible but if your anal about perfection then yea, motw on DC is
nice but it isn't perfect. but then again. just about no port that I know of is.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2001
- Posts
- 20,464
Shirt in a Can said:You can't use a Neo kidney bean stick on your Dreamcast!
Yes you can, I have a modified DC pad with a 15-pin port underneath the vmu section to plug Neo sticks/pads in (the DC pad still functions), I play all the Neo ports (and some shmups) with my old style. MotW just doesn't deserve to be played with anything else...
I got this pad off of ebay two years ago, Arakon who visits the Tech forum from time to time could tell you more how to build one, it's actually not very difficult.
geekabilly
Mickey's Coach
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2002
- Posts
- 597
The DC ver. of MOTW is great.. Almost as good.. i also really like the soundtrack also and hey its on a lil' take it with you system that is now $30.
im sure we all dont pack up a AES + a $400. cart... or a cab.. or super gun.. big sticks a mother board ect... DC + MOTW =
im sure we all dont pack up a AES + a $400. cart... or a cab.. or super gun.. big sticks a mother board ect... DC + MOTW =
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Posts
- 24,310
there are a few problems with the DC version, the graphics have a blurred look to them, much like 3rd strike on the DC, it just looks strange, the sprites are also a lot smaller, the sound also seems more compressed than the neo version, and there is a strange delay for voice and sound effects (when you do a special move or hit someone, you'll hear the sound a second late) due to the fact they stream everything except the BGM off the CD real time as you play. other than that the gameplay is still there, and it's better than paying 450 for it on the neo....
msu89dawgs
Hardened Shock Trooper
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2004
- Posts
- 434
geekabilly said:The DC ver. of MOTW is great.. Almost as good.. i also really like the soundtrack also and hey its on a lil' take it with you system that is now $30.
im sure we all dont pack up a AES + a $400. cart... or a cab.. or super gun.. big sticks a mother board ect... DC + MOTW =
Ahhh!!! Gotta have the arcade sticks for fighters!!! I got NGCD pads with my consolized 2-slot, but have since built a couple of arcade sticks for it with Happ sticks and buttons. I haven't touched the CD pads since, and in fact just sold them. I use ASCII Saturn sticks with my DC, since I like them better than the Agetec sticks, and they were cheaper. Someday, I will probably hack a couple of spare DC controllers and build some CPS-2 layout sticks for the DC for the Capcom fighters and Soul Calibur and DOA2.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2013
- Posts
- 3,217
mikace01 said:
Shenmue II should be played on an Xbox. It's nearly unplayable on the DC due to MASSIVE slowdown.
shirt
Andy's Clothes Designer
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2003
- Posts
- 3,333
Takumaji said:Yes you can, I have a modified DC pad with a 15-pin port underneath the vmu section to plug Neo sticks/pads in (the DC pad still functions), I play all the Neo ports (and some shmups) with my old style. MotW just doesn't deserve to be played with anything else...
I got this pad off of ebay two years ago, Arakon who visits the Tech forum from time to time could tell you more how to build one, it's actually not very difficult.
HMM. This is absolutely incredible to hear. You have just sparked off an obsession in my mind that won't leave until I get this project done. Thank you, sir. I trust it will even exceed the performance of an Agetec?
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2001
- Posts
- 20,464
Shirt in a Can said:
I love the Agetec stick but only for shmups and a select number of fighters. For the Neo ports I just can't seem to get the grip with it, for ex. pulling off dragon punches during a combo is a pain for me with the Agetec while I can do 20 dp's in a row with the old style without fumbling. So yes, I'd prefer the old style over the Agetec for Neo ports any day of the week.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2003
- Posts
- 18,418
Takumaji said:
Same here. The agetec dc stick is great, but it just isn't as nice of a stick as the NGH OS for fighters. Personally, the looseness of the stick gives me problems sometimes when pulling of dp's (that's dragon punches, not double penetrations you sick fucks
).Anyway, the DC port of MOTW is okay .... but I really found the gameplay to be off. I wasn't really trying to nitpick either - the gameplay just isn't as responsive. Also, the sound wasn't quite the same, but that's not really a huge deal to me. I'm talking about the MOTW US DC version, maybe the JPN version fared a little better in the gameplay department.
syringe
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2003
- Posts
- 5,467
Only burned copies of MotW have significant lag related issues with the audio and gameplay. A genuine copy of the game from either region will still have minor problems with some of the voice tracks, but it's only really noticable if you've had the cart version for an extended amount of time and you make a point out of searching for it.
As far as the smaller sprites and slight blur that's accurate when using RCA on the dreamcast. Most 2D games looked horrible on the DC when using composite. But use s-video on your dreamcast and the blur related issues will vanish.
As far as the smaller sprites and slight blur that's accurate when using RCA on the dreamcast. Most 2D games looked horrible on the DC when using composite. But use s-video on your dreamcast and the blur related issues will vanish.
Last edited:
Actually, I'll agree that it doesn't play the same, but for just the opposite reason. Breaking is a LOT easier on the DC. With about 5 minute of practicing I got breaking down to about 90% -95% success rate, but I still only get it right about 15% -30% of the time on the MVS cart. The time window for breaking on the DC is huge...some might say its a plus...just be careful not to think you're tourney level until you try that stuff on MVS.galfordo said:
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2003
- Posts
- 18,418
Scanline said:
Well, the audio wasn't a real problem for me, although I liked the AES audio better. But I disagree with you on the gameplay - the looseness of the DC version was immediately apparent to me, and I'm neither a long-time MOTW fan nor someone who prides himself on finding tiny flaws.
syringe
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2003
- Posts
- 5,467
galfordo said:
I'm definitely not disputing the fact that the original is the superior version. It's that while the DC version is definitely little loose in terms of it's gameply, it's still a decent port. The main issue seems that many people are bashing it based on bootleg specific flaws, which doesn't really give a fair shake to genuine copies of the game, SNK, or the DC.
My advice is to locate an original copy of the port if you want to play it or better yet pick up the MVS version.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2013
- Posts
- 3,217
Scanline said:
You are most definitely mistaken. I've owned every single home release ever (OK, only JAP AES version) of Mark Of The Wolves, and all three Dreamcast releases had lag issues with the sound. The US version was the one that was most gentle towards my JAP DC.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2001
- Posts
- 20,464
Scanline said:
I have a first-run original JPN MotW and experience noticeable lags on my DC and any other one I've played it on. As I said, it's not really a problem but it's there, in either version, even more so in a boot because of bad medium quality, etc. Of course if you've never played the original it may not be too obvious at first but then, Rock's Rising Tackle sample (and most of Grant's) are way off, you can easily spot that without knowing the real thing on Neo.
Playing CD-R backups puts even more stress on the stepper motor so that's a no-no anyway if you want to enjoy the lil' white box for a long time.
Well, no big deal... better laggy sound than laggy gameplay I'd say.