Lord Spencer's Gaming (and other stuff) Blog

In this report if the top 70-61 Genesis games according to Retro Sanctuary , I have reviewed three games, including two games in one of Sega's most important franchises. As usual, fans of Shmups will find several games that will satisfy them, such as  Super Fantasy Zone  and  Gaiares , and there are interesting oddities such as Light Crusader and  ToeJam & Earl . While I cannot vouch for the quality of most of these games, I think the library as a whole is starting to show some promise compared to the games before it, even though I don't regret dropping the games that I did. With that being said, here is a quick report on each game on this list. Please enjoy:- 70- Super Fantasy Zone (1992, 1993):  Genre: Scrolling Shooter. Publisher: Sunsoft, Sega; Developer: Sunsoft. This is a classic Sega scrolling shooter that is a little famous today, thanks to being included in the  Yakuza  series in-game Arcade. Unlike the many shooters of the day, this game ...

Without Sonic, there wouldn't have been a 16-bit console war. In a time when iconic cartoon characters managed the most sales, Sega needed the Blue Blur to compete. It needed Sonic to be both an iconic character, as well as have pretty solid gameplay about him. Since Sonic only started in 1991, Sega did not have the time to build him a legacy, as Nintendo did with Mario . Instead, they had to release the second game as fast as possible, culminating in the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 only a year after the first. It's good to say that, probably, a hectic schedule did not affect the quality of the game, because Sonic 2 is a continuation of the best parts of the first game, and then some. 61: Sonic the Hedgehog 2:- Year: 1992. Genre: Platformer. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.  

Few games are as defined by their main competition as Sonic the Hedgehog . Here is a game that was not formed naturally, but deliberately designed to compete with Nintendo’s Mario and provide Sega with its own mascot to rally behind. Knowing that, Sega was not in a position to halfheartedly make any game, but needed a sure hit. This was going to be a game that could compete with the most iconic character in video games, and it needed to be something special. The result was the first Sonic the Hedgehog game, a complete opposite to Mario in design and philosophy, which nevertheless managed to convince people it was in the same league. Even if we now find that illusion to be far-fetched, Sega actually fooled a generation of people into thinking that it was huge. 20: Sonic the Hedgehog:- Year: 1992. Genre: Platformer. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.  

Sometimes, a game can have all the right ingredients behind it, and yet still manage to be a complete disappointment simply because the programming experience wasn't there. Traysia is an RPG that could have been among the top in its genre, yet curious beginner mistakes and balancing issues relegate it to the footnotes of the Genesis library. R2: Traysia:- Year: 1992. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Renovation Products. Developer: Telenet Japan.  

The Phantasy Star series is nearly as old as the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy RPG series, and while it is held in high regard, it never reached the acclaim of those other two franchises. The second game in the series is the first on the Genesis, and is highly regarded by Genesis fans. Unfortunately, this is an example of an early JRPG that didn't age well. Still, there are glimpses of the brilliance that made gamers love it 26 years ago. 67: Phantasy Star II:- Year: 1990. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.    

Among Phantasy Star fans, the third game in the series is usually derided for being different than the rest, and is considered inferior to the second and the fourth game. Finding Phantasy Star II to be a terribly aged experience, I came into this game with some reservations. Anything that is considered "inferior" to that game would be damn near unplayable. Yet, I found a significantly better game in Phantasy Star III , one that, while retaining some of its predecessor's major faults, still manages to push the envelope of RPGs in general. Ironically, this game might feature one of the earliest misguided fanboy tantrums in videogame history. 79: Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom:- Year: 1991. Genre: JRPG. Publisher: Sega. Developer: Sega.