Episode 33 – This week on the show we take a look back at Shinobi on the Sega Master System, after covering The Revenge of Shinobi on last month’s “The Genesis in 1989” retrospective. This game is probably best known for the first-person shuriken-throwing bonus stages, but it’s an excellent side-scrolling action game that any … Read more
This just arrived in the CGQ offices this week. An s-video modded Sega Master System with a Master Everdrive. I can’t really remember the last time I was this excited about a new arrival. Maybe when I got my Neo-Geo? Maybe not even then… If my memory serves me (and it often doesn’t at my … Read more
Episode 29 – This week on the show, I take a look at the newest product in the Everdrive line for the Sega Genesis and Megadrive, the Mega Everdrive version 2. This product allows you to load games directly from an SD card, so that you can play ROMs without using an emulator. This product … Read more
Episode 23 – This week on the show, I review Gunlord for the Neo-Geo MVS, AES, and Sega Dreamcast. I’m playing the MVS version in this video, but I also have the Dreamcast version and it is almost identical. The Dreamcast version is much cheaper, but is permanently out-of-print, so the best time to buy … Read more
Released in Japan as a licensed game based on “Fist of the North Star,” Last Battle is the weakest link in the Sega Genesis launch line-up. A side-scrolling punch-and-kick action game, it’s similarity and inferiority to Altered Beast leave it out in the cold. The game has some sort of plot, but the introductory text … Read more
As a launch title on the Sega Genesis, Tommy Lasorda Baseball has the distinction of being the first sports game on a system known for its sports games. It was also the first example of Sega paying big bucks for a celebrity endorsement, as they later did with Pat Riley Basketball, Joe Montana Football, and … Read more
Clearly the best game available on launch day for the Sega Genesis, Thunder Force II is a shooter that was ported over from the Japan-only Sharp X68000. While the original Thunder Force, which was only released in Japan on a variety of home computer platforms, was comprised solely of free-roaming levels, Thunder Force II oscillates … Read more
Another Sega Genesis launch title, Super Thunder Blade is a poorly-executed port of a decent arcade shooter. Combining both rail-style and vertically-scrolling levels, you pilot a helicopter while shooting at and avoiding fire from both air and ground-based enemies. While this may sound awesome in theory, the game loses it in the execution. The controls … Read more
Created by prolific Sega game designer Yu Suzuki, Space Harrier II was one of six Sega Genesis launch titles, and was a port of a popular arcade title of the day. The game is a rail shooter and feels like a combination of 3D Worldrunner (NES) and Panzer Dragoon (Sega Saturn). Your job is to … Read more
Episode 12 – This week, I take a look at the Super Monaco GP series on the Sega Genesis and Megadrive, which includes both Super Monaco GP and Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco GP II. These are both awesomely fun racing games on the Genesis. The audio in the opening sequence is Galvao Bueno of Brazil’s … Read more
Episode 10 – This week I take a look back at the entire Streets of Rage franchise for the Sega Genesis and Megadrive. These are some of the best games of the 16-bit Generation, with amazing soundtracks by Yuzo Koshiro.
Manx TT Superbike for the Sega Saturn can best be described as “Daytona USA with motorcycles.” “Manx” is the demonym for someone or something coming from the Isle of Man, which is where this game takes place as it’s based on the actual motorcycle race that takes place there annually (the International Isle of Man … Read more
Although not a launch title, Pat Riley Basketball does hold the distinction of being the first hoops game on the Genesis. As was the case with other early Sega sports games, PRB has no license and used the notoriety of one name to help sell cartridges. The game features 2 modes, a single exhibition game … Read more
Although it had previously appeared on various home computer systems, the Genesis version of John Madden Football marked the first appearance of the franchise on a home console. While other football games like the Tecmo Bowl series and Joe Montana Football were taking the arcade-style approach with bigger plays and more scoring, the Madden series … Read more
While the original Streets of Rage was certainly an excellent game in it’s own right, this sequel was not only the pinnacle of the series, but one of the best games on the Sega Genesis. Streets of Rage 2 maintains the same basic feel as the original, but every aspect of the game has been … Read more
When I was a kid, the word on the playground was that while the Super Nintendo could display more colors, the Genesis had better sound. Few games demonstrate the console’s superiority in that category better than Streets of Rage. With a brilliant techno soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro, also known for scoring ActRaiser, The Revenge of … Read more
Golden Axe is one of my favorite games both on the Genesis and in the arcade, so I already knew that I was going to hold this PC Engine CD version to a high standard. The game starts off well enough; an animated cutscene complete with voice over, a title screen than looks more colorful … Read more
When reviewing Mega Turrican, the obvious comparisons to be made are between this game and both the original Turrican and Contra: Hard Corps. Mega Turrican is what the first Turrican should have been. The game is actually the third in the series, as Turrican II was only released on select home computer systems. The game … Read more
Turrican is a run-and-gun shooter in the vein of Contra or Gunstar Heroes, that was ported over from the Commodore Amiga. The game has a plot, but (as is usually the case) it isn’t important. Your character is a bio-engineered life form that looks a lot more like an android, or at least like Robocop. … Read more
Caesars Palace is a casino/gambling game that features 8 games – scratchers (more on those later), slot machines, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, and horse racing. The horse racing game immediately caught my eye because you don’t normally see that in a casino-based video game. You can look at the stats for each horse … Read more
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