Genesis REVIEWS Report: 60-51

In this report of the top 60-51 Genesis games according to Retro Sanctuary, I have reviewed only one game, which is curiously the first game in Sega's famous Shinobi series that is featured in this list. From what I have seen, I think that this list of 10 is actually of lower quality than the 10 that preceded it.

With that being said, here is a quick report on each game on this list.

Please enjoy:-

60- Mega Bomberman (1995): 

• Genre: Action.
• Publisher: Sega; Developer: Hudson Soft, Westone.

Of course, a Bomberman game will feature in this list. Although not as good as any of the Super Bomberman games on the SNES, this title did provide a taste of the hectic multiplayer action that made the series such a 16-bit classic in its heyday.

 

59- ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1993): 

• Genre: Platformer.
• Publisher: Sega; Developer: Johnson Voorsanger Productions.

Fully changing the genre from the first ToeJam & Earl game, this game throws out all the experimental stuff and opts for a straightforward Platformer game. Yet, other than some eye-catching art direction and graphics, this is yet another middling Genesis platformer that has a questionable place in this list.

58- Elemental Master (1990):

• Genre: Shmup.
• Publisher: Technosoft, Renovation Products; Developer: Technosoft.

No, the screenshot is not tricking your eyes. This is the rare Shmup that stars a person instead of some form of flying machine. As the "Elemental Master", you scroll through the battlefield utilizing your magic to shoot instead of the typical bullets in a Shmup. Still, mechanically, the game is not different from other games in the genre (along with having a brilliant soundtrack) despite being considered a bit on the easy side.

57- Shadow Dancer: Secret of Shinobi (1991):

• Genre: Action.
• Publisher: Sega; Developer: Sega.

Ninja themed Action Platformer games were surely common in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, and the Shinobi franchise was considered among the top in that genre.

Like with Shadow Dancer here, the games had good graphics, good animation, and solid gameplay. However, as we can see from a better franchise, the Ninja Gaiden series, this Shinobi game is lacking in comparison.

 

In its day, Shadow Dancer would have been seen as a great-looking game that was worth playing just because of that. However, as games age, it's their gameplay that keeps them fresh and memorable.

In that regard, Shadow Dancer just doesn't cut it, no matter how many shurikens it throws. 

56- The Addams Family (1993):

• Genre: Platformer.
• Publisher: Ocean Software, Acclaim Entertainment; Developer: Ocean Software.

I read somewhere that The Addams Family plays like an evil twin version of Super Mario. I suppose that would be correct if that twin were a half-aborted corpse that never had viable life. Making a competent platformer is not as simple as applying a coat of paint over any jumping game. It requires careful balancing, impeccable level design, and levels of care that none of these Genesis "platformers", other than Sonic was remotely close to reaching. 

 

55- TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist  (1992):

• Genre: Beat 'em Up.
• Publisher: Konami; Developer: Konami.

This is another game with a vastly superior SNES counterpart, but it is nonetheless a worthy game in the franchise. While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT): The Hyperstone Heist is not nearly as beloved or regarded as TMNT: Turtles in Time, it was still considered a brilliant Beat 'em up game.

54- Samurai Shodown (1994):

• Genre: Fighting.
• Publisher: SNK Developer: SNK.

This was the first game in the now classic weapons-based SNK Fighting game franchise, and it was ported to almost every console at the time. Unlike other ports of fighting games, this one was competently made and managed to deliver the same brilliant experience as other consoles without much compromise.

53- Comix Zone (1995):

• Genre: Beat 'em Up.
• Publisher: Sega; Developer: Sega.

In a genre that was starting to become a bit stale, Comix Zone roared into the scene with vengeance. Considered one of the most innovative games in the Beat 'em Up genre at the time, it introduced more focus on style (with its use of comic book-style panel elements) and story than other games. With branching paths and light puzzle-solving elements, it felt like an evolution of the genre that would later be picked up by games like Guardian Heroes. 

 

52- Lost Vikings (1994):

• Genre: Puzzle-Platformer.
• Publisher: Interplay Productions; Developer: Silicon & Synapse.

This is the weird port case in which the Genesis port is both better and worse than its SNES counterpart. While the game's graphics and music get a hit, this is the only version of the game that allows three players to play simultaneously, which is actually very cool for this title featuring three, well, Lost Vikings. I originally reviewed this game for the SNES, which is why I didn't review it for the Genesis, and I found it decent and charming enough.

51- Battle Mania: Daiginjo (1993): (Japan Only)

• Genre: Shooter.
• Publisher: Vic Tokai; Developer: Vic Tokai.

Unlike the Sega Saturn list, very few games in Retro Sanctuary's Genesis list were not released west, and this Shooter by Vic Tokai is one of those few. Still, looking at the game, I am surprised that it ranks higher than some of the Shmups and Shooters that preceded it. 

 

This report is a consolidated review of the top 100 list by Retro Sanctuary. It features the reviews I made for the list, but also has a brief paragraph about each game in the list that I didn't review. For games without an official review, the opinions I express are purely based on general research about the game and its reception at the time.