With a ton of collectors here, surely some people will have strong opinions on this. Lately instead of expanding I've been wanting to consolidate and tighten my collection. However, going through game by game trying to find the "best" version is quite a daunting task. So I come to you experts in hopes that maybe I can compile some definitive list of the best of ports. Maybe we can even order the ports from best to worst in case someone doesn't have the console for the best game, but does for the second or third best port. Also, please indicate if the game can be found outside of the 2nd/3rd gen, for example Frogger on the Genesis or Pac-Man on the many Namco collections.
I'll start with what I know best:
Galaga (1981)
NES > 7800 > MSX > SG-1000
Best compilation containing it: Namco 50th Anniversary (PS2, Xbox, GCN equally good)
Commentary: The NES version is the cleanest looking, although it differs from the arcade in that it doesn't have a "throbbing" swarm. The 7800 has worse graphics, although the enemy movement is closer to the original; the sound is, as usual with a 7800, not up to par, and yet somehow it's not utterly terrible. The MSX and SG-1000 are the simplest in terms of graphics and sound.
I've asked around on other forums, and have been collecting answers
here.