Agreed. looking at your list I totally forgot about MUSHA and Mega Turrican, and I was torn about not including Alien Soldier, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Shadow Dancer and Comix Zone. So yeah, top 5 is pretty much impossible for the Genesis lol.
Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe
- Thread starter IrishNinja
- Start date
Soltype
Member
I usually leave out Alien Soldier because it's so expensive, but it's my favorite game on the system.
graffix13
Member
Haha fair enough. Top 10 it is.
Shinobi 3 seems to be popular. I have Bloodlines (love it).
IrishNinja
Member
by the way, guy who made the FM powerbase is on sega-16 saying neither his nor the OG sega ones work through the 32X, as that (for whatever reason) kills SMS playthrough. startin to think ill just hook the 32X up from time to time, SMS library too skrong to sleep on
Shadow Hog
Member
Since nobody's explicitly stated this, the reason you can't use a Power Base Converter or play SMS ROMs on a flash cart through the 32X is because the pins that the PBC uses to signal to the Genesis "hey, I need you to run in SMS backwards compatibilty mode, bro" aren't connected to anything on the 32X. The required connection is physically not there.
While not a straight list of the "best" games on the system, racketboy's "games that defined" series is a pretty good starting point for Genesis games. It hits all the major players that I think many people associate with the system.
Here's a link if you want to check it out:
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/genesis/best-games-that-defined-sega-genesis-megadrive
Sadly, my parents didn't really like me playing video games that much as a kid, so my Genesis experience was mostly defined by the games contained on the 6-pack hah. Though those are pretty awesome in their own rights, quite an epic collection to start with. Also might be why I prefer Streets of Rage 1 to 2, just my own nostalgia goggles.
Here's a link if you want to check it out:
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/genesis/best-games-that-defined-sega-genesis-megadrive
Sadly, my parents didn't really like me playing video games that much as a kid, so my Genesis experience was mostly defined by the games contained on the 6-pack hah. Though those are pretty awesome in their own rights, quite an epic collection to start with. Also might be why I prefer Streets of Rage 1 to 2, just my own nostalgia goggles.
IrishNinja
Member
racketboy lists are thorough
ah, figured it was something like this...appreciate the clarification though
ah, figured it was something like this...appreciate the clarification though
Nah, it's a fun game. It's best in coop with someone who don't know much about videogames like a young kid or a girlfriend. Not very challenging on your own though, I'll give you that.
I won't order mine but I'll give you a few that I've got in my collection. Shining Force II, Truxton, X-Men 2: Clone Wars, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Shinobi (any, but preferrably 3), Gunstar Heroes and Contra: Hard Corps.
I have a repro with a really nice case and b/w manual that I no longer need since I waited until a seller accepted my "lowball" offer on eBay on the real thing. Anyone here that just wants to play the game is welcome to PM me and offer whatever they think it's worth; I am pretty easy to deal with.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Just 5?
I really can't, sorry. Gonna have to go with 10 like someone else said (even that is hard):1) Shining Force II
2) Phantasy Star IV
3) Shinobi III
4) Beyond Oasis
5) Ristar
6) Gunstar Heroes
7) Castlevania: Bloodlines
8) Vectorman
9) Sonic 3 + Knuckles
10) Wonder Boy in Monster World (aka Wonder Boy 5 aka Monster World 3)
Those are my favourite Genny games anyway. And that's leaving out Alien Soldier, Landstalker, Streets of Rage 2, Comix Zone, Contra: Hard Corps, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Sonic 2, Castle of Illusion, Rocket Knight Adventures, Alisia Dragoon, James Pond 2, Thunder Force III and IV, and many more...
sixteen-bit
Member
Gunstar ain't even a top 5 Treasure game for me.
Nice tech demo tho.
Nice tech demo tho.
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
Gunstar Heroes has fantastic bosses and a really well-made player character, but I don't think that really comes together in a way that makes it a truly great game in the end (largely because the stage design is really lacking). I still think it's really good but it doesn't quite compare to Alien Soldier if we're comparing it to other Treasure games.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
You can tell who games alone when Gunstar comes up in the discussion.
I usually prefer Alien Soldier or Hard Corps when i'm in Serious Business shooter mode myself, but Gunstar is a strong contender for top 5 co-op game across my whole collection. It never fails to impress.
I sort of feel the same way about World of Illusion. Not the most remarkable platformer in the Genesis library, but the way the stage layouts change so much in 2P mode and force you to use a variety of co-op techniques to clear them makes it more than worth a look.
I usually prefer Alien Soldier or Hard Corps when i'm in Serious Business shooter mode myself, but Gunstar is a strong contender for top 5 co-op game across my whole collection. It never fails to impress.
I sort of feel the same way about World of Illusion. Not the most remarkable platformer in the Genesis library, but the way the stage layouts change so much in 2P mode and force you to use a variety of co-op techniques to clear them makes it more than worth a look.
SuperCambot
Banned
Allow me to brag about a find I made a few years ago. I was going through my old Photobucket pictures and found this one...
This was a Craigslist find here in Houston. I responded to an ad placed by a woman who said the games were her boyfriend's/husband's. On the phone, she said they were mostly "wizard games." My interest was peaked. Anyway, I got to the house and (bad idea, I know) and the trash hillbilly husband says there were no games for sale and he didn't know about any Craigslist ad. I called the number I responded to originally right in front of him and the lady was like "OH, YES THEY ARE!!" He was really wishy-washy about selling them. I had to flash the $50 in his face and he let me in to look at them. There was a Sega Genesis/Sega CD in the box and these games piled on top:
Stupid and dangerous, I know, but I was single dumb and addicted to the hunt at the time.
This was a Craigslist find here in Houston. I responded to an ad placed by a woman who said the games were her boyfriend's/husband's. On the phone, she said they were mostly "wizard games." My interest was peaked. Anyway, I got to the house and (bad idea, I know) and the trash hillbilly husband says there were no games for sale and he didn't know about any Craigslist ad. I called the number I responded to originally right in front of him and the lady was like "OH, YES THEY ARE!!" He was really wishy-washy about selling them. I had to flash the $50 in his face and he let me in to look at them. There was a Sega Genesis/Sega CD in the box and these games piled on top:
Stupid and dangerous, I know, but I was single dumb and addicted to the hunt at the time.
Piston Hyundai
Member
The best part about Gunstar Heroes is how Konami saw it, went "alright Treasure, I see you, I see you" and then made the illest fucking run and gun of all time, Contra Hard Corps.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
So I've got a spare Genesis 1 VA6. Anyone willing to trade me for an older, non-TMSS model?
graffix13
Member
I played Contra on NES and then the Contra game on SNES back in the day. I never knew Genesis had a Contra game. So I just checked out Hard Corps gameplay on youtube.
You can play as a wolfman with a gatling gun grafted on your arm? Yes, please.
I must have this game.
sixteen-bit
Member
Nobuya Nakazato doing big things in the early to mid 90s
Certain weapon combos are over powered and game-breaking. But the music is pretty dope and there were some cool concepts in the game too.
For example, the board game portion and the shmup portion were examples of true ingenuity. The level with the cart and the transforming boss is also a highlight for me.
IrishNinja
Member
hew: almost too mintypreach
IronicSonic
Member
It might sound weird but that Sonic & Knuckles's cardboard box is all I want
IrishNinja
Member
really? S&K isnt too hard to find, its the others (Shining Force II, Batman & Robin etc) thatve given me trouble
Soltype
Member
I ended up buying a JPN copy around 5 years ago for about 100 dollars.
Yeah Konami really outdid themselves with Hard Corps, the game is pretty much perfect.
IronicSonic
Member
But the cardboard box man! I haven't found that anywhere. I own a copy of Sonic and Knuckles in very good condition, without the box tho
sixteen-bit
Member
I ended up making my own S&K cover with a clamshell
had to mutilate the inside to fit the cart tho
had to mutilate the inside to fit the cart tho
Piston Hyundai
Member
The Genesis has the best Contra game, man!
The wolfman is the hardest character to use, but with skill can be deadly.
Soltype
Member
I hate his slide but his charge beam (weapon D?) is ridiculous if you can use it correctly.
Hardcorps is another one of those games that just got swept into obscurity by the widespread dismissal of the Genesis in mainstream retro culture. I remember reading a huge retrospective on the Contra series in a big gaming magazine back when Shattered Soldier was new. The majority of that multi-page article was spent fawning over Contra 3 while Hardcorps was reduced to a mere footnote. It seems that in later years people have started to wise up to just how good Hardcorps is though.
Yes, I believe that's the one.
Hard Corps>Contra 3...one reason is that it doesn't have the shitty top down stages.
I remember S&K being the first Genesis game that had a cardboard box. I was pretty disappointed by the sudden change in packaging.
By the way, it was very hard to locate S&K back then if you didn't pick it up at launch. I asked my parents to grab it for my birthday about year after its release and we drove all over the NY area looking for it. It took us a few weeks (or months) to find it.
Looking back, I was lucky to have parents that cared so much. Games were much harder to track down in pre-internet days.
By the way, it was very hard to locate S&K back then if you didn't pick it up at launch. I asked my parents to grab it for my birthday about year after its release and we drove all over the NY area looking for it. It took us a few weeks (or months) to find it.
Looking back, I was lucky to have parents that cared so much. Games were much harder to track down in pre-internet days.
IrishNinja
Member
ahh see i always forget that, PS IV was one of my first cardboard box games but S&K did predate that...and i totally had it at launch, didn't know it was tricky to find for a bit though!
ResidentDante
Member
The S&K I picked up recently was fairly okay on the cardboard box exterior, if a little bent. The inside cardboard that held the cartridge on the other hand was a nasty ripped up affair. I fucking hate cardboard boxes for games.
Gunstarheroes
Member
I'd give Alien Soldier and possibly Sin And Punishment at best. I'm assuming for you Bangai-O and Guardian Heroes too, but after that, i have no idea.
If you really wanna get my motor running, tell me you prefer Light Crusader over it. I'll never understand how Treasure made that game. Probably my biggest letdown of any Sega Genesis game.
Why didnt I use Craigslist then? WHY?!
Cant complain now of course, but i'd have been in heaven at that find.
D.Lo
Member
Silvergun
I'd give Alien Soldier and possibly Sin And Punishment at best. I'm assuming for you Bangai-O and Guardian Heroes too, but after that, i have no idea.
If you really wanna get my motor running, tell me you prefer Light Crusader over it. I'll never understand how Treasure made that game. Probably my biggest letdown of any Sega Genesis game.
Gradius V
Mischief Makers
Astro Boy
Bangai-O DC
Alien Soldier
Sin and Punishment
Soltype
Member
Didn't know Treasure made this, might have to pick it up.
ZachzOOming
Member
My first ever console.. Games were super expensive back then.. My main motivation in elementary school - my dad will buy me a game after each major exam..
These are all my games and I seriously loved all of them
- Shining Force 2
- Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
- Crusader of Centy
- Streets of Rage 1 - 3
- Wonderboy in Monster Land
- Mini Toons Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure
- Mini Toons Adventures: ACME All Stars
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
- Altered Beasts
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
- Golden Axe
These are all my games and I seriously loved all of them
- Shining Force 2
- Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
- Crusader of Centy
- Streets of Rage 1 - 3
- Wonderboy in Monster Land
- Mini Toons Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure
- Mini Toons Adventures: ACME All Stars
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
- Altered Beasts
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
- Golden Axe
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
All of Fang's weapons are ridiculous. I think he's easily the most powerful character.
Gunstarheroes
Member
I mean, yeah, i can't argue with those.Astro Boy is honestly, secretly my favorite Treasure game outside of Gunstar. They are all so good though.
Anyways, back on Genesis, i'm finally close to done with Landstalker. I really wish this game hadn't been isometric, i feel i would have loved it so much more if it hadn't been.
Hey buddddddy.
Astor Boy Omega Factor is probably both my favorite Treasure game and Game Boy Advance game. So good.
I gave up on Landstalker about halfway about 2 years ago because the jumping puzzles were too much of a pain in isometric view. Funny though, I didn't have as much of an issue with Dark Savior on the Saturn which also had the same perspective.
Dark Savior allowed to turn the camera a bit, that helped immensely to understand if two platforms were aligned.
Fantastic thread guys. Just subbed and spent the last hour or so reading the OP and a few pages to try and catch up.
First many thanks to the OP for some excellent advice. I've just spent the last couple of weeks taking my first tentative steps back into retro gaming. I've been threatening to start a collection for a few years now and thought now was as good a time as any.
I managed to pick up:
Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap (MS)
Flashback
Toejam & earl
Desert Strike
Cosmic Spacehead
Italia 90
Decap Attack
Games Unboxed:
Road Rash
World Of Illusion
Super Kick Off
Mega Games 6
I live just off a street full of 2nd hand shops (Thrift stores) but I'm finding it difficult to pick up any bargains as the majority have deals set up with collecters/dealers who grab every retro piece going. I've been having to rely on ebay/amazon and retrogames.co.uk to buy games so if any of you know of anywhere I should be looking in the UK that would be much appreciated.
Also, after I grab all the games from my childhood I'm open to suggestions on the top games I should be looking for. I know Gunstar Heroes (already on my wanted list) and Shinobi 3 get a lot of love on here but are there any other I shouldn't miss out on?
First many thanks to the OP for some excellent advice. I've just spent the last couple of weeks taking my first tentative steps back into retro gaming. I've been threatening to start a collection for a few years now and thought now was as good a time as any.
I managed to pick up:
- Mega Drive 1 (the newer version not the HD one but I am planning on picking one up when I can) came with 3 controllers
- Sony CRT TV for pennies
- RGB Scart
- SMS converter
Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap (MS)
Flashback
Toejam & earl
Desert Strike
Cosmic Spacehead
Italia 90
Decap Attack
Games Unboxed:
Road Rash
World Of Illusion
Super Kick Off
Mega Games 6
I live just off a street full of 2nd hand shops (Thrift stores) but I'm finding it difficult to pick up any bargains as the majority have deals set up with collecters/dealers who grab every retro piece going. I've been having to rely on ebay/amazon and retrogames.co.uk to buy games so if any of you know of anywhere I should be looking in the UK that would be much appreciated.
Also, after I grab all the games from my childhood I'm open to suggestions on the top games I should be looking for. I know Gunstar Heroes (already on my wanted list) and Shinobi 3 get a lot of love on here but are there any other I shouldn't miss out on?
That's right! I enjoyed that game.