On paper, PAL had better resolution and color. In practice, for video games, it was a nightmare.
In theory, the PAL version should be easier. You have more milliseconds to dodge a ghost's lightning bolt. But the input lag on 50Hz (especially on a 90s CRT with a SCART adapter) was often worse than the 60Hz counterparts. Super Mario Kart -EU-
If you grew up in the 90s sipping a Fanta in the UK, Australia, or anywhere in mainland Europe, your memories of Super Mario Kart are technically lying to you. Not about the bananas, the red shells, or the sheer joy of hearing "Mario Circuit" for the hundredth time. But about speed. On paper, PAL had better resolution and color
It’s a reminder that "globalization" in the 16-bit era was a lie. We weren't all playing the same game. Europe played a cover version —slower, wider, and slightly melancholic. You have more milliseconds to dodge a ghost's lightning bolt
It’s not the "definitive" version. It’s not the fastest version. But it’s the one that taught a generation of Europeans that patience beats aggression.