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I own the PS1 port of Darkstone, and I like it. I'd like to know differences between the two versions as well as which one is better.
The PC version is superior in practically every way. The only real advantage that the Playstation version has is if playing with a controller is a high priority for you. Some notable differences that I remember off the top of my head (I have both versions, but spent way less time with the console version and it's been a while) are:

PC has network multiplayer, while Playstation is single player only.

Single player on PC allows you to control two characters, while on Playstation you can only have one.

The Playstation version is missing some content from the PC version. For example, the entire training area from the starting town was cut from the game.
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KillingMachine: The PC version is superior in practically every way. The only real advantage that the Playstation version has is if playing with a controller is a high priority for you. Some notable differences that I remember off the top of my head (I have both versions, but spent way less time with the console version and it's been a while) are:

PC has network multiplayer, while Playstation is single player only.

Single player on PC allows you to control two characters, while on Playstation you can only have one.

The Playstation version is missing some content from the PC version. For example, the entire training area from the starting town was cut from the game.
Really? Maybe I should get the PC version, and did you know that the creators of Darkstone also made Shaq Fu?
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KillingMachine: The PC version is superior in practically every way. The only real advantage that the Playstation version has is if playing with a controller is a high priority for you. Some notable differences that I remember off the top of my head (I have both versions, but spent way less time with the console version and it's been a while) are:

PC has network multiplayer, while Playstation is single player only.

Single player on PC allows you to control two characters, while on Playstation you can only have one.

The Playstation version is missing some content from the PC version. For example, the entire training area from the starting town was cut from the game.
Not to mention the skills your characters could learn, I.E. The Wizard could learn Lycanthropy in the PS1 version, but in PC only the Sorceress can learn it.
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Wakka66: I own the PS1 port of Darkstone, and I like it. I'd like to know differences between the two versions as well as which one is better.
It's a mixed bag, really. I played this game a LOT back on the PS1, and loved it - still own it, in fact - but thought I'd grab the PC version here due to the comments about additional features.

Personally, I found the second character tagging along with you to be an annoyance, and the mouse controls to be a pain after playing the console version - clicking on enemies just wasn't as satisying (for me) as having direct joypad control over your character's movement and attacks.

I also found the camera system annoying on PC. The PC version is, of course, click-to-move click-to-attack (Diablo-style) and the camera swings around automatically to try to stay behind the character, which can be disorienting when you're trying to keep a handle on where "North" is in the (frankly) samey-looking dungeons, and makes clicking on enemies aggravating because they're moving AND the camera is moving. On the PS1 you had full manual control over the camera (rotate and zoom) via the right analog stick, which was far more intuitive and made navigation and attacking a pleasure, IMHO.

On top of that, I experienced all sorts of glitches on PC (horrendous scenery clipping, chopped-off lines of speech, etc) none of which were present on the PS1 version. The suggested fixes (Z-buffer, etc) addressed some of the problems to some extent, but nothing completely cured them.

I note the PC version of "Darkstone" is now available on Steam and people there seem to be saying that the issues playing this game on modern PCs have been addressed, so maybe there will be a new patch here on GOG...?
I played it originally on PS1 a long time ago and really liked it, so I grabbed the PC version assuming better (cleaner) graphics, and more fluid control playing on a fairly modern computer. I couldn't get the videos to work and even had just a black screen with sound playing, but I remember getting "another" version to work in the past and it really did feel like a totally different game.

I do remember that tag-along feel which I didn't like personally, I also couldn't play Balder's Gate or a lot of dungeon crawlers that wanted me to control a whole party. I know that's a plus for some people, but I like having my one character to deal with, if I want another class or something, I'll make a new character. Mostly this just made me wish I had gotten the Playstation one off Amazon or something.
If you want to play multiplayer, I'd recommend getting the PC version. Otherwise, you've been there, done that.
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ghostgate2001: Personally, I found the second character tagging along with you to be an annoyance
PS1 version had a secondary character, as well, if you got a second player involved. People don't seem to realize that both versions allow for cooperative play. The PS1 version requires the two characters to stay within the same camera area, though, while the PC version gives each player their own camera. PC version does not allow you to play both characters on the same game instance and instead requires networking.
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ghostgate2001: the mouse controls to be a pain after playing the console version - clicking on enemies just wasn't as satisying (for me) as having direct joypad control over your character's movement and attacks.
I agree that the PC controls weren't nearly as 'satisfying' as the PS1 control scheme, but the PC controls weren't necessarily bad. I came to Darkstone from games like Diablo on PC, though, so I was already used to using a mouse.

PC version had chat features so you could chat with the other players on the network, but nowadays, it's better to just set up a voice chat tool or use your own chat solution.
I find that I personally enjoy the PS1 version best. First off, it's the first game I ever played (finally, after my kids grew up and left home), so it holds a very dear spot in my heart.

I personally preferred to play console games at first. They were easier for me. Now that I've been gaming for 13 years or so, I can easily play both.

The one thing that the PS1 game has that the PC game doesn't is the random quests. For the PS1, each time you go to a new area, you get a chance to play one of three different scenarios, whereas with the PC, you get 1 static quest in each area, and it's always that quest no matter how many times you play.

It's fun to clear an area and go into the next wondering which of three dungeon settings you'll be offered. Save often, kiddies!
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ghostgate2001: I also found the camera system annoying on PC. The PC version is, of course, click-to-move click-to-attack (Diablo-style) and the camera swings around automatically to try to stay behind the character, which can be disorienting when you're trying to keep a handle on where "North" is in the (frankly) samey-looking dungeons, and makes clicking on enemies aggravating because they're moving AND the camera is moving. On the PS1 you had full manual control over the camera (rotate and zoom) via the right analog stick, which was far more intuitive and made navigation and attacking a pleasure, IMHO.
I have no idea what you did with your PC version, but my PC version has a static camera that you move with the arrow keys. That includes both the original retail version and gog's version.
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Mythrilgirl.762: The one thing that the PS1 game has that the PC game doesn't is the random quests. For the PS1, each time you go to a new area, you get a chance to play one of three different scenarios, whereas with the PC, you get 1 static quest in each area, and it's always that quest no matter how many times you play.
Er. That is blatently false.
Did you even play the game on pc?
Additionally, if you only want to play with one character in singleplayer, either just "unlink" the second character, or start a local multiplayer game. Work essentially the same as singleplayer, only you play just one character.
Post edited June 10, 2015 by Naisharam
Ignore this post; wrong topic. My apologies.
Post edited May 12, 2017 by Shotgunner
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Wakka66: I own the PS1 port of Darkstone, and I like it. I'd like to know differences between the two versions as well as which one is better.
I know this is years late but as a hard fan and having played both versions a lot back in the day I still remember 4 things that stuck out that were very different, 1 is that on the PS1 version the map was different, 2 is that on the PS1 version there were some quests that the PC version did not have and 3 the PS1 version had this man which you could sell him quest items that you did not need anymore as antiques while the PC version did not have this NPC. And lastly the interface aka health bars inventory background and a cursor that pointed out monsters on the floor was not on the PC version while it was present on the PS1. I honestly liked the PS1 version more because it felt like and improved version of the PC version but it did not have the fluid graphics and fast loading times between floors like the PC version has and it also lacked multiplayer.
Post edited February 16, 2020 by kailoone