Arch Rivals is an interesting conundrum for me: it's a game I always *wanted* to love, but there was just something about how it feels to play that I don't love. I still enjoyed it. A skating rink in the town my uncle lived in had it, and that's where I first played it I think. Then, later on, a the bowling alley nearish to home got a machine. I had fun with it with my cousins, dad, and uncle. But...again, something about always knocked it down for me from being a favorite. There's just some magic missing from Arch Rivals that Mark Turmell managed to find with NBA Jam. But, Arch Rivals is still fun, and defnitely was pretty cool as a kid. My cousin got the NES version, so I've played this version a fair bit. It's not as good as the arcade, not anywhere close...but, it was fun: my 3rd favorite basketball game on the NES behind Hoops and Double Dribble. I even prefer it over the Genesis port of Arch Rivals in terms of gameplay feel (but, that might be all nostalgia: I didn't play the Genesis version until many many years later). And, for me, the Game Gear port was somewhere in between though I only played that a few years ago and not much. Today? If I'd never played the game, I'd probably try the arcade version because it controls uniquely which the home ports couldn't get quite right with d-pads versus the (or the one Midway's Arcade Treasures maybe even over that: I own it on PS2 and played a fair bit of that with a friend back in the day, and it does a good job with the sinistar-style joystick this uses). Yeah, neither the Arcade version nor the NES version are great, especially compared to NBA Jam, but I had fun with both. And, at least the NES port is more fun than Basketbrawl on the 7800 and Lynx (though Basketbrawl is a better-looking game...well, if you ignore the choppiness on the Lynx). But, yeah, NBA Jam, Jam TE, (Maximum) Hangtime, or even College Slam are much, much better games, so play them instead.
Oh, almost forgot this that I linked from a GMR vs RC video once: the coolest feature of Arch Rivals is the 'Hometown Heroes' dip-switch setting that lets you edit the teams etc: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gsHZfsPY46M.html
I could totally see this being a really cool game for its time but having played NBA Jam for years before trying this one out I personally can't get into it. I'm also torn on this one because as much as I don't enjoy it I am grateful it exists since it paved the way for NBA Jam. I think this game in any version would have been a hundred times better if it didn't have a cut to a cheerleader or the coach after every basket. The NES version is pretty impressive whereas the Genesis version is very underwhelming. I will say though that the NES port seemed unreasonably difficult for some reason. I had to pass almost immediately after getting the ball and resorted to shooting half court and trying to rebound otherwise I'd get wiped out. I have a large Atari video to do that's on my bucket list before I consider ending the channel and Basketbrawl is one I've been wanting to try for a while so that's disappointing to hear. I've never played the GG port of this and that's also going to be part of another bucket list video so I'm glad that's at least somewhat decent.
@@shotgunl I completely forgot about that. That is so freaking cool!! Also, funny you mention GMR because I'm going over Eric's tonight to record a few episodes for the long awaited Season 8. I think he's finally got the itch to start the channel back up.
Atari made Basketbrawl for the 7800 that looks like they were really making an effort to match the arcade version of Arch Rivals. Impressive that they could get so close lol The NES version of Arch Rivals is a decent arcade conversion.
I am yet to try out Basketbrawl and it's been on my list of games forever to try. Now I'm even more eager to see how it is along with its Lynx counterpart.
Haha i remember this game fun game. It was fun no doubt what inspired nba jam I'm sure.The nes version wasnt bad by any means the graphics werent quite as good snd smaller sprites but other than that a solid port i felt. Played it at my cousins house a bit. The arcade port was the best version but nes got the job done if thats all you had
You are so right, the arcade is totally the way to go but if you only had the NES port it was a great home conversion. I bet this game was pretty fun for its time but once NBA Jam came out it made this game pretty irrelevant.
NES wins with that slow mo dunk and simple but catchy music! Winner: Me for not playing any version of this game that I can remember. Not much to say other than the NES looked and played better than I expected! Good stuff sir!
You certainly won by not playing lol! I have to give kudos for this game for setting the stage for NBA Jam but that's where the praise ends. The NES version is so freaking hard but other than that it's a good conversion of a game I don't enjoy. I mean come on, did they really need a cut scene after after basket?
Outside of the increased difficulty the NES port is a great home conversion. I'm not a fan of the game but it's cool that the NES got something even close to NBA Jam.
@@RetroComparisons I was always curious what's the diference between "ports" and "conversions". I thought for a long time that you can call something a conversion if it's the same as the original i.e. almost like emulated (and thus the port is when you making the version from the ground up, like for example most of NES' ports of multiple arcade games), but I guess I was wrong, am I?^^)
@@oldfan4049 Hmm that's a great question. It may be one of those things where technically there's a difference but is mostly used interchangeably in most conversations.
The NES Port Is Literally The Most Flickering Mess And Both Combined With Solid Port I Ever Played, Graphics Look No Way Near As The Arcade, The Sound And Music Is 8 Bit Weak Versions Of The Original But Same Case As 780 Which Sound And Music Is Better, The Transitions Look Good For 8 Bits, And The Gameplay Is Flickering With Annoyance, I See That This Game Had Not Really A Good Home Console Port Which Is Sad Exept The Most Nearest Closes Port Which Is The Sega Genesis
