What's a clone you enjoy more than the game it's copying?

[trickybus]

I tried out the 2005 God of War a few years back and while I recognized how well it had aged, both graphically and gameplay-wise, it just wasn't for me. When I tried Dante's Inferno a few years later, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that game despite it being an obvious GoW clone. The melodrama surrounding a Warrior of God delving into the deepest pits of Hell to save the woman he loves combined with graphic, over-the-top depictions of the deadly sins sucked me into a narrative that was fascinating even when I couldn't always take it seriously. The unintended comedy of Satan taunting your character about raw-dogging his beloved is still some of the funniest nonsense I've encountered in gaming.

I have to give credit to the monster designers as well: the could have gone the lazy route with the lust monsters but these folks went above and beyond, creating creatures that are simultaneously grotesque and titillating. Well, except the vagina monsters; those are just horrifying

 

[moonbits]

I prefer Star Ocean to Tales Of. Does that count?

 

[Tonberry]

I like the Nightmare Before Christmas Devil May Cry game more than the Devil May Cry Devil May Cry game.

 

[Luz de Luna Luz de Luna Luz de Luna's icon]

I like Giana Sisters just as much as SMB (but not more).

 

[Elwiwi]

I prefer Bayonetta more than woohoo pizza man game

 

[Lweo4]

I find Nioh more fun than Dark Souls Games, even though I love them (minus the stupid loot system)

 

[Aziamuth]

For me it's Dragon Quest Builders 2. The existence of proper furniture makes it more appealing than Minecarft

 

[iamthemilkman]

Saints Row was more fun than GTA IV. While I liked the technology, characters, story, etc., in GTA IV (it's one of my favorite GTA's for those reasons), the actual controls and gameplay during combat could be quite frustrating. I also preferred Sleeping Dogs to GTA V.

I quite liked Two Worlds. I'm not sure if I liked it more than Oblivion since it was very unpolished, but it's magic system was vastly superior to Oblivion's.

Also prefer Bayonetta to DMC and Dante's Inferno to God of War. I liked the Darksiders games more than God of War and some of the Zelda games, too.

 

[Bakuma1997]

I play most Souls-like Metroidvanias rather than the saga itself, the Soulsborne series may have cool concepts and mechanics but the games are too obtuse for me, not helped by the controls being confusing and a lack of a pause button (and when i ask about a substitute, i am just told to Git Gud... Y?)

 

[skramz]

saints row? i hate the term gta clone with a passion but man do i love some protect tha pimp at 3 am

 

[RETRO-VETRO RETRO-VETRO]

Rip-off of PaRappa the Rapper

(I don't like this more than parappa but it's a rip-off, a good one.)

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

I agree with: Saints Row over GTA, Bayonetta over DMC, Dragon Quest Builders over Minecraft.

If we count spiritual successors, then I also really like Wargroove way more than Advance Wars

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I'll agree with liking Saints Row more than GTA (or at least pre-reboot Saints Row)

Does Metal Slug count as a Contra clone? I love me some Metal Slug, but it might be too different to count.

 

[Bonkers225]

Fatal Fury over Street Fighter

 

[NotReallyHere]

Hexen over Doom

EDIT: Alien Trilogy over Doom, too!

 

[GamingWarthog]

Also chiming in to say I like Dragon Quest Builders better than Minecraft. I generally need some kind of goal to work towards, Minecraft is too directionless for me, too much of a blank slate. DQB2 especially got me hooked enough to actually want to build things on my own just for the sake of it.

 

[Kremiso]

loved Quantum Redshift on OGXbox back then
imo amazing Wipeout clone

 

[Sumea]

I am sure I can come up with more but for now:
7 Days to Die to Minecraft. 7D is just way more mechanically rich and few tweaks make it much more engaging to play. While "survival games" is more of a genre, 7 days is very close to Minecraft with it's blocked building system making it a very close relation.

 

[RageBurner]

It doesn't exactly qualify, since I don't like it more than the game its copying, but I still consider it the best attempt that nevertheless tries its best to be its own thing, and that would be Soul Sacrifice Delta.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

I prefer Star Ocean to Tales Of. Does that count?

Yes it kinda does, the guy who worked on Tales of Phantasia)forgot his name) went to Enix and make the first Star Ocean.

As for me I prefer Dead or Alive over Virtua Fighter.

 

[Captain Murphy]

I tried out the 2005 God of War a few years back and while I recognized how well it had aged, both graphically and gameplay-wise, it just wasn't for me. When I tried Dante's Inferno a few years later, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that game despite it being an obvious GoW clone. The melodrama surrounding a Warrior of God delving into the deepest pits of Hell to save the woman he loves combined with graphic, over-the-top depictions of the deadly sins sucked me into a narrative that was fascinating even when I couldn't always take it seriously. The unintended comedy of Satan taunting your character about raw-dogging his beloved is still some of the funniest nonsense I've encountered in gaming.

I have to give credit to the monster designers as well: the could have gone the lazy route with the lust monsters but these folks went above and beyond, creating creatures that are simultaneously grotesque and titillating. Well, except the vagina monsters; those are just horrifying

Couldn't agree with this more. Dantes inferno was creative, well-designed and way more interesting than God of war but this is EA we are talking about. They barely promoted it and when it didn't sell 10 trillion copies they dissolved any hopes for a sequel.

 

[Bakuma1997]

Recently got Bug Fables on Epic, suffice to say, the REAL Paper Mario 4

 

[Solivan The Soul]

Ms. Pac-Man is the one for me, if it counts as a clone.
Her speed-up feature gives the game higher spirit.
Though strangely, the game does not behave as intended when the controller bears six buttons... at least, within Genesis realms.