My favorite Sega Genesis games from the past year

Hi, all. :) A little over a year ago I got my very first 16-bit console, the Sega Genesis!

Here's a list of all the games I got so far! I'll start with my favorite games, and then list the rest of the games I got, then the games I'd like to get someday.

Also I did buy a **Mega EverDrive X5** which has been wonderful to try games out, play modern homebrew games, and play romhacks.

**FAVORITES**

• **Aladdin** - It's an action platformer. This game is GORGEOUS and fun. The difficulty is good, in that every time I played it I got a little further, until my fourth play session when I was able to beat the game. Also it's extremely inexpensive and common to find.

• **Beyond Oasis** - This game is a top down, action adventure game. I didn't get into it the first time I tried it out. But once I sat down and gave it a shot I started to get into it. And after 20 or 30 minutes I got to the first boss and decided, holy crap I need to get a copy of this game! It's different from Zelda in that the character sprites are HUGE, the game has a map that tells you where to go next but still has some exploration, it's shorter than most Zelda games but has a lot of replayability (let me know if you want to know more about this), and the combat is less "sword plus special items" and more "sword plus kicking and jumpkicks and elemental companions". Also the puzzles are really different, and there were quite a few that gave me that wonderful AHA! moment.

• **Mickey Mania** - Another gorgeous sidescroller. Each stage is based on a different era of Mickey Mouse cartoons. The action has quite a bit of variety. It's fun and a spectacle! (especially that moose stage)

• **Ms. Pac-Man** - I kept seeing this pop up on "best of" lists and almost thought it was a joke... until I played it and, it's so much fun! And super cheap to buy a copy. Why is it so good? It's a great implementation of the original arcade game. It has "boost" made that makes the gameplay so much more fun and intense. It has additional new Large and Tiny maps. It also has new "Strange" maps that are fun. And it has MULTIPLAYER mode that is so much fun with a friend! One side note: I could NOT play this game with the standard 3 button or 6 button controllers because of all the false direction pad inputs. But I ended up getting the Sega arcade stick just for this game and it was absolutely worth it to me. It's so much fun! Another side note: This is one of the few games that is technically incompatible with a 6 button controller (the D-pad won't work correctly), so hold the Mode button when you turn on the console to use one.

• **QuackShot Starring Donald Duck** - Oddly this is the closest thing to an officially licensed metroidvania on the Sega Genesis. I wrote a review here: https://redd.it/1gi35pw

• **Ranger X** - HOLY CRAP I LOVE THIS GAME. You play as a mech with a ton of firepower that can also fly and also has another mech that follows you around that you can also control and ride on like a skateboard and then go inside and ride like a motorcycle *inhales* and it's awesome. Even so, there's a lot of strategy to the action. It doesn't play like any other sidescroller action game I've played before, and took me a bit to get used to. I put off playing this game for a long time because I heard how hard it is. But the reality? I was able to beat it on Normal mode after a few play sessions (there's also an Easy mode). Then the next weekend I beat it again. I had so much fun I then beat it again the next morning. And then I loaded it up AGAIN on Hard mode "just to check real quick how hard it really is" and ended up beating the game again. And there's another difficulty above that! Let me know if you want to know more about how to make the game easier to play, there's a bunch of little secrets and tips that can help. Also, the game is "playable" with a 3 button controller but it was intended to be played with a 6 button controller.

• **Rocket Knight Adventures** - A cute action sidescroller where you can blast around the stage with your rocket pack. I've only made it about halfway through the game but what I've played is so much fun! It's from Konami, and it really feels like a cute "Contra-lite" game, including the ridiculous bombastic set pieces. I'm currently trying to beat this game.

• **Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi** - I LOVE THIS GAME. You play as a ninja with a PET ATTACK DOG. It may look like a standard action game, but it's actually more of a strategy game. Every enemy is a new sort of "puzzle encounter" that you need to figure out. I recently beat it for the first time and loved it. The game is short, but there's plenty of opportunity for replayability. The difficulty levels present real differences in the stages. And you can turn off the throwable ninja weapons and play in sword-only mode which is a whole new layer of fun. AND DID I MENTION YOU GET A TACTICAL DOGGO???

• **Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master** - I haven't beat this game yet but I don't even care, because what I've played is incredible. The way you run, swing your sword, throw weapons, it all just looks and feels soooo good. The second stage literally took my breath away.

• **Sonic the Hedgehog 2** - I used to think Sonic the Hedgehog games were impossibly hard, but I was able to beat this game for the first time and loved it! I wrote a review here: https://redd.it/1gdry8u

• **Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist** - I loooooove this game. This is probably the game I've played and re-played the most on the console. You'll never find a review of this game that doesn't compare it to the SNES TMNT game, so here's my opinion: I will choose to play the Genesis game over the SNES game ANY time because that darn run button IS SO MUCH FUN. Seriously, it changes the gamplay completely compared to other scrolling beat 'em ups. Additionally, the Genesis game has better music (the SNES sounds muffled and compressed to me), the Genesis has more color gradients compared to the SNES game comic book look, and the Genesis game is longer (I'm serious, look up and compare any longplay). The Genesis game has a good story but the SNES game has a much better story, but I don't really plan Ninja Turtle games for the story. ;)

In summary, if I could only have three Sega Genesis games I'd choose **Sonic the Hedgehog 2**, **Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist**, and **Ranger X**.

**OTHERS**

• **Adventures of Batman & Robin, The** - An action game. It's know for its difficulty, incredible special effects, and great soundtrack.

• **Brutal: Paws of Fury** - A player vs player fighting game with furries. I got it because my friend had it growing up.

• **Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool** - A sort of crappy platformer that's nostalgic for me.

• **Clue** - The board game. I got it for my friend.

• **Comix Zone** - An action game that takes place in a comic. It needs to be seen, it's incredibly well implemented. The game will appear to be impossibly difficult if you play it as a straight beat 'em up instead of an exploration / strategy / action game. There are a ton of secrets, branching paths, and a TON of moves you can perform to help you through the game.

• **Decap Attack** - Another game my friend had. It's an action platformer that feels good to play. I've only made it about a quarter of the way through the game.

• **Earthworm Jim** - A goofy action sidescroller. I've played the 8-bit Game Boy version to death in the 90s and am excited to play the original 16-bit version. And for anyone who thinks the fishbowl stage is impossibly difficult: You ARE getting the hidden air refill halfway through the section, aren't you? ;)

• **Ecco the Dolphin** - A beautiful, unique, surreal, challenging game where you play as a dolphin. I can't believe how many tries it took me to beat the first stage after the intro! At least you get unlimited retries. Also there's a code to turn off the need to breathe oxygen so you can just focus on the action and the puzzles if you want.

• **Ecco Jr** - I love this game. Do you want a game that's as beautiful, unique, and surreal as Ecco the Dolphin but with zero stress? It's literally impossible to lose in this children's game. It was the PERFECT game to relax with a few weeks ago when I was home sick. It's just relaxing cute fun.

• **Flashback: The Quest for Identity** - Like a gorgeous futuristic Prince of Persia platformer. It's not for everyone but I love it. It took me a couple of Game Overs before I really felt comfortable with the controls though.

• **Ghouls 'n Ghosts** - I just got this game recently. I hear it's an outstanding platformer and, unlike other versions, this version is actually BEATABLE by the average person!

• **Instruments of Chaos starring Young Indiana Jones** - I bought this game as a joke. I consider it one of the top three worst games for the console.

• **Jurassic Park** - Bought for the nostalgia. To me, this game is more of a "vibe" than a "good" game.

• **Kawasaki Superbike Challenge** - A true 3D racing game. I got it to see the technical achievement.

• **Lion King** - Another beautiful Disney game. Yes, stage 2 is famously hard. So I played it for a few sessions and now I can beat stage 2 first try, no problems.

• **NHL '94** - I hear it's one of the best sports games for the console but I haven't played it yet.

• **Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Invention, The** - This game is short and easy (but also has harder difficulty modes), but it makes up for it with the most incredible attention to detail. If you're a fan of the cartoon like I am this game is fantastic.

• **Road Rash** - I got it as a gift. I love the Game Boy version.

• **Sonic Spinball** - I got it as a gift. It doesn't feel as polished as other pinball games I've played, but it's a lot more playable because of the way you control Sonic.

• **Sonic the Hedgehog** - A great game but the middle stages can be a slog.

• **Sonic the Hedgehog 3** - A great game but goes a little overboard with the gimmicks in my opinion.

• **Sonic & Knuckles** - (Likewise)

• **Streets of Rage 2** - And outstanding beat 'em up. The only reason it's not in the list of my favorites is because I don't think I've quite figured out how to play this game yet. And every time I turn it on I just think to myself, "Man. I just want to play more Ninja Turtles..." XD

• **Tommy Lasorda Baseball** - I bought it because I like the cover.

• **Toy Story** - Another common inexpensive game that is a technical marvel.

• **Triple Score: 3 Games in 1** - I got it to have Super Hang On (motorcycle racing) and Columns (like Tetris).

• **Vectorman** - An action platformer with great visuals and lots of pew pew pew.

• **Virtua Racing** - A true 3D port of the arcade game.

• **X-Men** - I got this with the hopes of getting to experience first hand one of the craziest gameplay ideas in video game history. If you know you know... ;)

• **Zero Tolerance** - I LOVE the Doom games, and this is the closest thing to a Doom style first person shooter for the console.

**WANT TO GET**

• **Blades of Vengeance** - A sword and magic action platformer.

• **Contra: Hard Corps** - One of the most incredible games in the Contra series. It's so much fun if you like these kinds of difficult action shooters.

• **Out Run** - A nice racing game.

Posted in: s/retrogaming

🐝 drcouzelis

Mar 08 · 2 months ago · 👍 tenno-seremel, TimeApart

3 Comments ↓

👻 darkghost · Mar 08 at 11:44:

Decapattack is one of my personal favorites.

Missing from your list is Toejam And Earl. A "dungeon crawler" that doesn't feel like one about two stranded aliens on Earth trying to reassemble their ship and get back home. Features a funky sound track. Collect presents that can aide you or hasten your defeat. You'll face maniacal dentists, imps, obnoxious ladies with shopping carts, the boogey man himself, and BEES among others. You'll meet unlikely allies like a wise man in a carrot costume, an opera lady, and Santa Claus with a jetpack. There's a predefined game or a randomly created one. It can run a bit slow at times but I think it is worth it.

🚀 TimeApart · Mar 26 at 15:22:

Shadow Dancer blew my mind when I discovered it a few years back and THAT SOUNDTRACK!

☕️ tenno-seremel · Mar 27 at 14:55:

Phantasy Star games were nice at the time, although I don’t remember much from the stories 😅