Console games worth having on your arcade cabinet

[TheManuel]

I would like to start this thread just for fun.  
If it does not generate enough interest, we'll just let it die peacefully.

The purpose is to identify PC or emulated console games that meet the following criteria:
1. Have an arcade counterpart that:
   has not been emulated yet
   or
   whose current emulation is preliminary or too slow on modern PC's
   or
   is inferior to the console or PC version
2 Is particularly suitable for arcade cabs because of the controls (fighters, for instance) or because of its arcade style play (a long continuable adventure game like Zelda would not be a good one for this)

I'll start with a few seeds below and will keep editing this post to add other games if suggestions start coming in.
Please identify the original console for which the best version of the game exists and the reason you picked it (from the criteria above)

I'll keep adding games as I research the subject and suggestions will be welcome.

Regards.


THE LIST:

Mortal Kombat 4 (PC)
   IGN regards it as better than the arcade original (with the official patch that enables improved resolution):
   "Here's a rarity: a PC game that's even better than its arcade counterpart."

Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)
   Widely regarded as being much better than the arcade version: IGN article

Soul Calibur II (PS2, Gamecube)
    PS2 based arcade board not emulated (Namco System 246), PS2 version can run through PCSX2, Gamecube port can run through Dolphin

Street Fighter IV (PC)
   - more playable characters than the arcade version
   - Arcade version not emulated/simulated (Taito Type X2 board)

Raiden Project (PS)
        Contains arcade ports of Raiden I & II, the latter of which is not emulated in MAME due to encryption issues

[nickynooch]

EDITED-Sorry, misread the idea of the thread.  Good idea.  Very unique idea for a list.

[TheManuel]

In my case, I removed most of my console emulation from my cab and just run through homebrew emulators on the Wii, so I am interested the few console games that would still be worthwhile having on my cab. 

Think of it as an effort to rope in all arcade games that have not yet been emulated to tide us in until they eventually are. 

Of course, it also aims to recognize those games whose home ports turned out better than the original.

[Osirus23]

The Raiden Project for PSX (for Raiden II).

[TheManuel]

Thanks.
Can you share what makes the PS port of the game a better alternative than running the originals in MAME?

[TheManuel]

No need to apologize.  All comments are welcome.

EDITED-Sorry, misread the idea of the thread.  Good idea.  Very unique idea for a list.

[Osirus23]

Thanks.
Can you share what makes the PS port of the game a better alternative than running the originals in MAME?

Raiden II is not yet emulated, something about the encryption used.

[opt2not]

I wish they released a PC version of Pacman:Champion Edition...

[TheManuel]

Thanks.
Can you share what makes the PS port of the game a better alternative than running the originals in MAME?

Raiden II is not yet emulated, something about the encryption used.

Thanks.  That's the kind of feedback I'm looking for.  I'll add it to the list.

[TheManuel]

I second that.
It would already be on this list.

I would love to see Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix as well

I wish they released a PC version of Pacman:Champion Edition...

[jimmy2x2x]

Are you only interested in ports, or games in an arcade series?

I was thinking of Gradius Gaiden on ps1 and Gradius V on ps2 - both are outstanding games in the Gradius series, I would go as far as to say they are the best Gradius games created.

[WhereEaglesDare]

There a lot of SNES games that play fantastic on an arcade.  Mario Kart for example.

Mortal Kombat Trilogy (PSX) is a perfect example of a game that never had an arcade equivalent, unless you count UMK3, but it's not the same.

[nitz]

NFL Blitz, NBA Showtime on NBC, and Gauntlet Legends are all games that come to mind. Not sure what the best console versions would be. Also not sure if you want to add them to the list because the arcade versions can be emulated on PCs I guess, but most of us don't have the horse power and will have to settle for the console versions.

[ratabase1]

If you have a steering wheel, what about some of the N64 games, such as Cruis'n Exotica, Cruis'n USA or Cruis'n World? Or Crazy Taxi for the Dreamcast?

[jimmy2x2x]

Crazy taxi 1 and 3 are on the PC too, very nice conversions

[BadMouth]

Crazy taxi 1 and 3 are on the PC too, very nice conversions

The music on the PC version wasn't as good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Taxi#Soundtracks
I'd vote for the Dreamcast version. 

There are versions of the PC game out there that will let you substitute your own music.

[ratabase1]

Also, what about some of the American Laser Game titles that were originally laser arcade games, that have been released on the PC and ps2, Wii, etc. by digital leisure? 

Like Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold , Crime Patrol, The Last Bounty Hunter, Crime Patrol 2 Drug Wars, Who Shot Johnny Rock, and Space Pirates?

http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuf_detail.php?manuf_id=1263&orig_game_id=8485

[TheManuel]

Are you only interested in ports, or games in an arcade series?

I was thinking of Gradius Gaiden on ps1 and Gradius V on ps2 - both are outstanding games in the Gradius series, I would go as far as to say they are the best Gradius games created.

I wanted to make this list "arcade-centric" by limiting the options to console or PC ports of arcade games that are not yet emulated, so that we can enjoy them in our machines the meantime.  I also opened it up to ports of emulated games that, for whatever reason, turned out better than the arcade originals, thus offering an alternative.

You've piqued my interest in those two games, though, as I already have all the arcade Gradius and R-Type games in my favorites list.

[TheManuel]

Will add, a soon as I log in from my destktop PC.  For some reason, when I try to modify my own post in this computer (running IE8), if the message is too long, the screen scrolls itself up and I can't see what I'm typing.

NFL Blitz, NBA Showtime on NBC, and Gauntlet Legends are all games that come to mind. Not sure what the best console versions would be. Also not sure if you want to add them to the list because the arcade versions can be emulated on PCs I guess, but most of us don't have the horse power and will have to settle for the console versions.