I have a hard time playing games back in 4:3...

[Ikagura]

...when I have the option to play in (a non-stretched obviously) 16:9 either via a cheat code, a romhack patch or a decompilation (bless those).

Playing in 4:3 on a LCD screen feels like you're getting tunnel vision, panoramic vision impairment and is feeling claustrophobic when the game is supposed to be set in a wide world. It works better on CRTs as you can see the scanlines and rounded edges.

The only exception for the rule are horror games since they're meant to be claustrophobic but for any other genre I prefer wide screen.

F-zero X with that patch already feels like an entirely new game (who needs a remaster?)

Even 2D games with that option are feeling much better for readability

Sonic in WS is better to see enemies coming when going fast

 

[Jdan-S]

For PS1 and above, I apply widescreen patches when available. Otherwise, I get creative with overlays to deal with empty space.

Most of my handhelds of have 4:3 screens, so there's no wasted space most of the time. But for systems like GB(C)/GBA, I would either have to stretch or deal with black bars. Instead, I still apply custom overlays and shaders when possible.

 

[Kobu]

I personally do not find it difficult to go back to 4:3 if needed but I do concede how gorgeous old games look that way. The only exception for me is the classic Sonic games. Its just handicapping yourself to not play in 16:9. You can see everything coming at you much better.

 

[Ikagura]

For PS1 and above, I apply widescreen patches when available. Otherwise, I get creative with overlays to deal with empty space.
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Most of my handhelds of have 4:3 screens, so there's no wasted space most of the time. But for systems like GB(C)/GBA, I would either have to stretch or deal with black bars. Instead, I still apply custom overlays and shaders when possible.
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I love how gorgeous those overlays are in RetroArch and other emulators but this isn't exactly the subject.

I like the LCD filter on Zelda LA and Gamegear games. At least Zelda has the "block per block" screen structure but I also like the fanmade HD port on PC which bypasses that for a seamless transition between areas.

Fighting games can be fine if the mechanics are based on how close characters are. I do like the wide screen mode for SFIII 2nd Impact.

I personally do not find it difficult to go back to 4:3 if needed but I do concede how gorgeous old games look that way. The only exception for me is the classic Sonic games. Its just handicapping yourself to not play in 16:9. You can see everything coming at you much better.

Some games adapted the gameplay for the screen it was made for (although I do like Mega Man Again having wide screen to better see the upcoming enemies and obstacles.

Except Sonic CD due to the vertical nature of the level design and how it had an emphasis on searching for the time gates I agree that Sonic 2 Absolute and Sonic 3 AIR are objectively better than playing them on the Genesis (although Sonic 3 Complete has so many features it compensates it).

 

[contrail_]

widescreen patches make some old 2d games look a bit like indieslop...

 

[Kobu]

widescreen patches make some old 2d games look a bit like indieslop...

A New Challenger Approaches lol

I never thought about it that way. Which did you have in mind?

 

[Ikagura]

Widescreen patches make some old 2d games look a bit like indieslop...

indie... slop? Not that there aren't mediocre indie games but I don't see how they are suddenly becoming slop because of a patch.

I still appreciate when an indie game allows 4:3 resolution as an option (like Ex-Zodiac) alongside low internal res and low FPS for the full retro experience but I also like when they let the players choose higher res and ultra wide if possible.

 

[Siors]

I pretty much always play games in whatever aspect ratio they were originally released with. I tend to avoid altering things from their original context  too much, so much so that I really dont like upscaling games either, as it leads to a certain incongruence in the visuals. In the case of changing the aspect ratio, in 3d games I've often found that objects/parts of the environment glitch out a bit at the extreme edges as they weren't expected to be seen.

That being said, its fun to play around with that kind of thing and I don't begrudge anyone who prefers it that way!

 

[Scotty Scotty]

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of widescreen patches. They just look ugly most of the time. I always try to play games in their original aspect ratio.

 

[Ikagura]

I pretty much always play games in whatever aspect ratio they were originally released with. I tend to avoid altering things from their original context  too much, so much so that I really dont like upscaling games either, as it leads to a certain incongruence in the visuals. In the case of changing the aspect ratio, in 3d games I've often found that objects/parts of the environment glitch out a bit at the extreme edges as they weren't expected to be seen.

I get what you mean, like FF7's portraits being made for CRT or how you're not supposed to see beyond the fog in Silent Hills.

Yeah, this is why Super Mario Bros. 3 has some pixel artifacts on the screen's edges because older TVs covered it.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

I have heard many people say that, but it personally feels like home to me.

I have done most of my gaming on CRTs, DOS and early Windows.

 

[dkpopman]

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of widescreen patches. They just look ugly most of the time. I always try to play games in their original aspect ratio.

I agree, I think it"s best to try and play a game closest to its intended way, at least for your first time through.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

I don't have any problems with it. Rarely had the opportunity of playing something in a resolution higher than their original one.

 

[Burzuru Burzuru]

if the game was made for 4:3 then im going play it in 4:3. i've quit using wide screen hacks because i've always found something off.

 

[ZombieFish]

I do most of my retro gaming on an iPad, so 4:3 is the default. I prefer it even for modern stuff like new Doom mods. CRTs were standard till I was in my 20s, though, so my brain was trained on 4:3. It just feels right to me for games pre 360 era.

 

[shaggi]

While i like widescreen, some games looks better in 4:3. I have no problem with it as my first gaming experiences were on CRT screen.