Genesis REVIEWS Report: 20-11
In this report of the top 20-11 Genesis games according to Retro Sanctuary, I have reviewed four games, all of which I enjoyed, with Ecco: The Tides of Time and Beyond Oasis proving to be quite the nice surprises. Other than those games, all ten games with the possible exception of Pulseman deserve to be this high on the list, but Sonic the Hedgehog 2 obviously should have been in the first game's place here.
Surprisingly, this collection of ten games contains no Shmups, while having four Platformers. More surprisingly, seven games were published by Sega, which in hindsight is a clear indicator of the console's main weaknesses when compared to the dominant SNES. Regardless of these observations, this is still a solid list of games to play.
20- Sonic the Hedgehog (1992):
- Genre: Platformer.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Sega.
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 true.
19- Ecco: The Tides of Time (1994):
- Genre: Action-Adventure.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Novotrade International.
The two Ecco games are probably one of the most unique games on the Genesis. Water levels in other games are usually described as the weakest parts, but here is a game about dolphins composed entirely of water levels. It's also a game about a dolphin that looks like a real dolphin, not a cute mascot character.
It is a testament to the skills of its development team that Ecco not only manages to be a unique game, but also is actually fun and worth playing. Like dolphins, Ecco: The Tides of Time
is a game that is not afraid to swim against the current. As a result,
it managed somehow to become both an iconic and forgotten game at the
same time.
While it is easy to get lost, and the difficulty might
not provide a pay-off to everyone playing the game, it is simply worth it
to experience a unique game which was not imitated in any way since. It also
has some pretty sick tunes.
18- Pulsemsn (1995):
- Genre: Platformer.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Game Freak.
17- Rocket Knight Adventures (1993):
- Genre: Action Platformer.
- Publisher: Konami; Developer: Konami.
I admit that I didn't give Rocket Knight Adventures a fair chance when I originally played it in the middle of my Genesis REVIEWS blogging series. When considering the fact that I played and reviewed games like Decap Attack, it makes no sense that I didn't continue playing this simple but still charming Action Platformer by the designer of the Contra games.
Still, despite my regret at missing reviewing the game, I would still most likely find it a middling game within the genre, but with more charm that some of the other platformers on this list.
16- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (1993):
- Genre: Action.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Sega.
With the third Shinobi
on the Genesis, Sega is making a game on the back of a poorly conceived
Arcade port, and a well-loved game that is nonetheless overshadowed by
other Ninja-themed action games.
It is with Shinobi III that Sega cements the series as part of the Holy Ninja Triad of the 8- and 16-bit generations. It is the culmination of Sega's experience in both the genre and the
console. It manages to be one of the most mechanically satisfying Action
games in the system, as well as an obvious art production powerhouse.
It doesn't have the interesting lore and look of games like Castlevania or even Strider,
but it does make it up by being very good at what it does, and that's
being a very good Action-Shooter hybrid starring a Ninja named Joe.
15- Yu Yu Hakusho (1994): (Japan Only)
- Genre: Fighting.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Treasure.
Trasure could do no wrong in the Genesis era, and the Japan Only fighting game Yu Yu Hakusho was no difference. Not content with aping titans of the genre such as Street Fighter II and King of Fighters, Treasure actively innovated through its introduction of 4-players gameplay and multiple layers of fighting.
As a result, this was a game that both unique and brilliant at the same time. Yet, maybe due to the relative low sales of 4-player multitaps, the game was not ported to the West.
14- Dune II (1994):
- Genre: Real-Time Strategy.
- Publisher: Virgin Games; Developer: Westwood Studios.
This RTS game was one of the most well-renowned games in its time, and the Genesis port improved everything in the game except the controls (unless you had the right peripherals). Set in the world of Dune, you control one of three houses as you vie for control over the spice fields of Arrakis. By harvesting spice and selling it, you have enough resources to buy units with which you go to war with.
The game is seperated in multiple missions, each with their own goals and targets, eventually culminating in a large scale battle that would have been almost unfair if not for the rapid control abilities of some players. Note that the developer of the game are the same people who eventually made Command and Conquer, only to be bought and destroyed by EA later.
13- Streets of Rage 2 (1992):
- Genre: Beat 'em Up.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Sega.
I admit that I may have been overly harsh with Beat 'em Up games in the past, which is why I never tried to get into games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage 2, with special regret for this game since its considered the pinnacle of the genre at the time.
12- Beyond Oasis (1995):
- Genre: Action-Adventure.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Ancient.
In many ways, Beyond Oasis
is a typical example of the games released at the end of the 16-bit
generation. It manages to squeeze every ounce of the system's technical
capabilities, as well as learn from all the past games in the genre, and
yet is still ignored.
If it had been released a year or two earlier, Beyond Oasis
would have been hailed as a masterpiece. However, it was released when
the SNES was dominating the market, and Sega released the Saturn for
over a year, as well as the doomed 32X Genesis expansion.
As with many late games in both the SNES and Genesis life cycles, Beyond Oasis
could have been an instant classic if released earlier. Yet, we wonder
if any development team could get as much of the Genesis in an earlier
period.
Unfortunately, because it was released so late, this is
one game that was unfairly ignored by the masses, even if appreciated by
those who luckily played it at the time.
11- Wonder Boy in Monster World (1994):
- Genre: Action-Adventure, Platformer.
- Publisher: Sega; Developer: Westone.
Not playing this game was probably one of my Genesis REVIEWS biggest mistakes. After all, this series theoretically has many elements I love in video games. An expansive "search action" game with both platforming and RPG mechanics, what's not to love about the game.
Unfortunately, I was stupid enough to be turned off by the cutesy style of the game and so chose not to play it, especially since I heard its Japan only sequel was the pinnacle of the series. At least, it was the pinnacle of the series until the release of the rather underrated Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom in modern consoles, which I played and thoroughly enjoyed.
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.
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