Does Castlevania count? The original game, Akumajo Dracula, was released on Famicom and MSX right around the same time, and you could think they're the same game, with only hardware differences, but they're not. They have the same story, the same basic level themes, but the layouts are totally different, and the MSX game has heavy emphasis on exploration. When it was released in Europe, it was called Vampire Killer, but even so, just to look at it, you could be forgiven for thinking it's the same game as Castlevania. A few years later there was an arcade game called Akumajo Dracula, again with the same story and some similar level themes, but again a totally different game, called Haunted Castle in the west. After that there was a Sharp X68000 game with the same title, again with the same story and many similar level themes, even some specific sections of levels that are clearly deliberately referencing the original game, but it's a different game with different layouts, called Castlevania Chronicles when it got a remake on PS1 like a decade later. And finally there was a Super Nintendo game called Akumajo Dracula, again with the same story and similar level themes, but again a different game, called Super Castlevania IV in the west. But in Japan they all have the same title, same story, same level themes. Surely Castlevania and Vampire Killer must count for this thread.
Also there was later a game called Vampire Killer for the Mega Drive. It's a sequel to Akumajo Dracula but doesn't have either of those words in its title. When released in the west it was called Castlevania: Bloodlines and Castlevania: The New Blood. I guess in each region there's still a max of one game called Vampire Killer, but I just wanted to point it out since it makes things extra confusing.
>>1082607
Didn't this game try to actually be an accurate adaptation, though? Being isometric of course changes things quite a bit, but it's the same levels with pretty similar designs, just a different camera angle. It might actually be a bit too close to the "main" version to qualify for this thread. But the Game Boy Color version would count, as that version is very different. Tony Hawk 1's Game Boy Color version is also very different.
>>1082621
It blew my mind when I realized the SNES version of Jurassic Park is sort of a spiritual sequel to Fester's Quest. But look at it. Not only is the main top-down exploration gunplay the same, but it even has the first person 3D mazes.
Don't forget that Jurassic Park was also on NES, Master System, Game Gear, 3DO, and DOS, and they were all totally different games. Taz-Mania also had Game Boy and Game Gear versions that were totally different games. The Game Gear version easily has the worst music I've ever heard in a video game. It's so bad it's impressive. It sounds like what I imagine dying sounds like, as your brain shuts down and your neurons misfire for the last time. Taz-Mania on Game Gear should be a much more well known game, even if only for that.
>>1082622
Garfield: Caught in The Act also has a Game Gear version, and while it uses similar level themes, it has different stage layouts, and some entirely new levels. Except they weren't entirely new. There was also a version of the Genesis game distributed exclusively through Sega Channel which apparently had exclusive levels, but apparently it's lost media, and some of the level themes actually were in the Game Gear version.
>>1082633
This game is legitimately impressive for its opening cutscene. Extremely impressive to hear voice acting of that quality in a Super Nintendo game.
>>1082635
>Sonic Colors
>Sonic Generations
>Sonic Unleashed
Colors and Generations' handheld versions are essentially sequels to Sonic Rush.
While you're at it, you should mention that Sonic 1 and 2 on Game Gear and Master System are totally different from the games of the same name on Genesis, which released right around the same time. At least Sonic 2 has significantly different boxart, which emphasizes its hang-glider gimmick, obviously not in the Genesis game.
Sonic 1 on Game Gear is often seen as being the same game as Sonic 1 on Master System, but actually the level designs are pretty significantly different. It has the same level themes, but the layouts, while sometimes similar, are sometimes very different, and even the final boss is different.
Sonic Jam on Game.com is a totally different game than Sonic Jam on Saturn. Both versions of Sonic Jam sell themselves as a collection of Sonic 1, 2, 3, and Knuckles. The Saturn version also has a cool 3D hub world. Obviously the Game.com version lacks the hub world, but also the sub-games it says are ports of Sonic 1, 2, 3, and Knuckles are ridiculously far from that. They're two acts each, one zone from each game, and obviously the layouts aren't the same. The music doesn't even match the right zones.
It was mentioned above, but Sonic Unleashed on Wii/PS2 is a different game than the 360/PS3 version. It has the same story, same basic gameplay, but is missing the 3D hub worlds and the level designs are all different. Interestingly, despite being the same stories, the bosses in the Wii/PS2 version seem to take place before the HD version, as in the HD version the bosses, while seemingly the same creatures (or whatever they are) act different, sometimes showing damage and stuff that would have been inflicted when you beat them in the Wii/PS2 version.
>>1082648
>I'm not sure I'd consider making a "play novel" of a game count as a port. It got "ported" into movies too, and those sure are different from the PlayStation game.
This raises a good question of what counts as a "port" for this thread. Does it need to be a game with the same title? I'd say obviously. But also obviously, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) is not a port of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) by any stretch of the imagination. But Sonic 1 for Game Gear could be considered to be. It's a different game, but it was essentially marketed as if it was the same game, and released right around the same time. So does it come down to marketing? Is it that the game has to be sold so that kids who buy it think they're getting the same game?