Which games are absolutely a must have for genesis owners?
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Which games are absolutely a must have for genesis owners?
Adventures of Batman and Robin (Run 'N Gun)
Alisia Dragoon (Action Platformer)
Alien Soldier (Run 'N Gun) *
Air Buster (Shmup)
Arcus Odyssey (Action RPG)
Atomic Runner (Run 'N Gun)
Battletech (Action Strategy)
Beyond Oasis (Action RPG)
Batman (Action Platformer)
Bio-Hazard Battle (Shmup)
Blaster Master 2 (Action Platformer)
Bubsy (Platformer)
Castlevania: Bloodlines (Action Platformer)
Contra: Hard Corps (Run 'N Gun)
Cool Spot (Platformer)
Comix Zone (Action)
Desert Strike (Action Strategy)
Dragon's Fury (Pinball)
Dune: The Battle for Arrakis (Real-Time Strategy)
Earthworm Jim (Action)
Earthworm Jim 2 (Action)
Ecco the Dolphin (Action Puzzler)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Action Puzzler)
El Viento (Action)
Elemental Master (Shmup)
Eliminate Down (Shmup) *
Fire Shark (Shmup)
Forgotten Worlds (Shmup)
Gaiares (Shmup)
Gargoyles (Action Platformer)
Gauntlet IV (Action)
Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Action Platfomer)
Gley Lancer (Shmup) *
Gods (Action)
Golden Axe (Hack 'N Slash)
Golden Axe 2 (Hack 'N Slash)
Granada (Shmup)
Gunstar Heroes (Run 'N Gun)
Hellfire (Shmup)
Herzog Zwei (Real-Time Strategy Shmup)
The Immortal (Action Puzzler)
Jungle Strike (Action Strategy)
Kid Chameleon (Platformer)
Landstalker (Action RPG)
Light Crusader (Action RPG)
The Lion King (Action Platformer)
M.U.S.H.A. (Shmup)
Master of Monsters (Turn-Based Strategy)
Mazin Saga (Action Fighter)
Mega Turrican (Action Platformer)
Mercs (Run 'N Gun)
Midnight Resistance (Run 'N Gun)
Monster World IV * (Action Platformer RPG)
Mystic Defender (Action Platformer)
Outlander (Action Driver)
Phantasy Star II (RPG)
Phantasy Star III (RPG)
Phantasy Star IV 9RPG)
Phelios (Shmup)
Pier Solar (aka Polo Solo) (RPG)
Puggsy (Action Puzzler)
Pulseman (Action Platformer) *
Raiden Trad (Action)
Ranger-X (Action)
Red Zone (Action)
The Revenge of Shinobi (Action Platformer)
Ristar (Platformer)
Robocop vs The Terminator (Action)
Rocket Knight Adventures (Action Platformer)
Sagaia (Shmup)
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (Action Platformer)
Shining Force (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Shining Force (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Shining in the Darkness (Dungeon Crawling RPG)
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Action Platformer)
Skeleton Krew (Action)
Sol-Deace (Shmup)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Platformer)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Platformer)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Platformer)
Sonic and Knuckles (Platformer)
Sonic 3D Blast (Action)
Sparkster (Action Platformer)
Splatterhouse 2 (Action)
Splatterhouse 3 (Action)
Spot Goes to Hollywood (Platformer)
Star Control (Action RPG)
Streets of Rage (Beat'em Up)
Streets of Rage 2 (Beat'em Up)
Streets of Rage 3 (Bare Knuckle 3 for unedited Japanese version) (Beat'em Up)
Steel Empire (Shmup)
Strider (Action Platformer)
Subterrania (Shmup)
Super Fantasy Zone (Shmup) *
Sword of Vermillion (Action RPG)
Target Earth (Action)
Task Force Harrier (Shmup)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Hack 'N Slash)
Thunder Force II (Shmup)
Thunder Force III (Shmup)
Thunder Force IV * (aka Lightening Force in the US) (Shmup)
Tinhead (Platformer)
ToeJam and Earl (Action)
ToeJam and Earl: Panic of Funkotron (Action Platformer)
Traysia (RPG)
Turrican (Action Platformer)
Twin Cobra (Shmup)
Twin Hawk (Shmup) *
Undead Line (Shmup) *
Urban Strike (Action Strategy)
Valis III (Action Platformer)
Vapor Trail (Shmup)
Vectorman (Action Platformer)
Vectorman 2 (Action Platformer)
Verytex (Shmup) *
Viewpoint (Shmup)
Warsong (Turn-Based Strategy)
Whip Rush (Shmup)
Wings of Wor (Shmup)
Wonder Boy in Monster World (Action RPG)
Zero Wing (PAL version) (Shmup)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (Action)
Sonics 1 to 3 plus Sonic and Knuckles
Comix Zone
Phantasy Star IV
Contra Hard Corps
Vectorman
X-Men 2 Clone Wars
Streets of Rage 2
Ranger X
Ristar
... just to name a few big ones
I'd give you the basics, but there are just too many great, fun titles for the Genesis. There are other threads on this:
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...+genesis+games
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...+genesis+games
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...+genesis+games
and of course:
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...enesis%20games
I'm even still working on that old top-250 Genesis games. It's not that I can't find 250 awesome, must-have Genesis games, it's just that it's hard to break it down to 250. I can think of at least 500 games I want to play on the system.
Only top of the line stuff:
Platformers:
Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic 3&K
Sonic CD (CD duh)
Pulseman
Ristar
Rocket Knight Adventures
Aladdin
Lion King
Castle of Illusion
World of Illusion
Mickey Mania (Go for the SCD version if you can)
Quackshot
Dynamite Headdy (JP)
Puggsy (CD version has the worst boss of all time, go for the MD one, has cooler music too)
Flink (CD, but there's a shittier MD version)
Beat 'em Up:
TMNT Hyperstone Heist
Splatterhouse 3
Streets of Rage 2
Bare Knuckle 3
Comix Zone
Golden Axe 2
Shui Hu Feng Yun Zhuan
Final Fight (CD)
Run 'n' Gun:
Twinkle Tale
Mega Turrican
Earthworm Jim
Soldiers of Fortune
Gunstar Heroes
Alien Soldier
Contra Hard Corps
Ranger-X
Adventures of Batman and Robin
Atomic Runner
Vectorman 1/2
Adventure:
Ecco The Dolphin
Ecco The Tides of Time
Beyond Oasis
Crusader of Centy
Landstalker
Wonderboy in Monter World
Monster World 4
Flashback
Popful Mail (CD)
Heart of the Alien (CD)
Shooter:
Panorama Cotton
Burning Force
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Super Fantasy Zone
Thunderforce III
Thunderforce IV
Elemental Master
Gleylancer
Gaiares
MUSHA
Zero Wing
Robo Aleste (CD)
Android Assault (CD)
Silpheed (CD)
Soul Star (CD)
RPG:
Phantasy Star IV
Surging Aura
Lunar 2 (CD)
Pier Solar
Beggar Prince
Brave Battle Saga
Fighter:
Samurai Shodown
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyo Touitsusen
Street Fighter 2
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Strategy:
Shining Force
Shining Force 2
Langrisser 2
Vixen 357
Action:
X-Men 2 - Clone Wars
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Castlevania Bloodlines
Alisia Dragoon
Revenge of Shinobi
Shinobi 3
Strider
Other:
Sonic 3D
Devil Crash
Body Count
Herzog Zwei
Mega Bomberman
Shining in the Darkness
Subterrania
Wiz 'n' Liz
Snatcher (CD)
Ok, this should be it. El Viento and Lunar 1 were out since they aged like rotten cheese.
Legit man, but where is Castle of Illusion?
Here's my take:
ACTION
Alisia Dragoon
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Comix Zone
Dynamite Headdy (Japanese version, since it has all dialogue intact)
Gauntlet IV
Mega Turrican
Pulseman (Import)
Revenge of Shinobi
Rocket Knight Adventures
Rolling Thunder 2, 3
Shadow Dancer
Shinobi III
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll (Import)
Strider
Vectorman
X-Men 2: Clone Wars
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
ADVENTURE
Beyond Oasis
Ecco The Dolphin 1, 2
Landstalker
Monster World IV (Import)
Toejam & Earl
Wonder Boy in Monster World
BEAT 'M UP
Bare Knuckle III (Import)
Golden Axe 1, 2, 3 (Import)
Streets of Rage 1, 2
TMNT: Hyperstone Heist
FIGHTING
Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Makyou Toitsusen (Import)
Honestly, all other fighting games are butchered ports available on a million other consoles.
PLATFORMING
Bubba N Stix
Castle of Illusion
Earthworm Jim 1, 2
Flashback
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Kid Chameleon
Lost Vikings
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Mickey Mania (SCD version has much better sound)
Out of this World
Quack Shot
Ristar
Sonic 1, 2, 3, Knuckles
Toejam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
World of Illusion
PUZZLE
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Ichidant R (Import)
Tanto R (Import)
RACING
Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II
OutRun
Road Rash 1, 2
Skitchin'
Micro Machines Turbo Tournament, Turbo Tournament '96 (Import)
Role Playing
Beggar Prince
King Colossus (Import)
Phantasy Star IV
Pier Solar
Surging Aura (Import)
RUN 'N GUN
Adventures of Batman and Robin
Alien Soldier (Import)
Contra: Hard Corps
Gunstar Heroes
Ranger-X
SHOOT 'M UP
Air Buster
Battle Mania Daiginjou (Import)
Elemental Master
Eliminate Down (Import)
Fire Shark
Forgotten Worlds
Gaiares
Gley Lancer (Import)
Granada
Mercs
MUSHA
Steel Empire
Super Fantasy Zone (Import)
Thunder Force III, IV
True Lies
Twinkle Tale (Import)
Undeadline (Import)
SPORTS
Acme All-Stars
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe (Import)
NBA Jam TE
NHL 94
Sensible Soccer
STRATEGY
Dune
Gain Ground
General Chaos
Herzog Zwei
Langrisser II (Import)
Shining Force 1, 2
Vixen 357 (Import)
OTHER
Devil Crash MD (Import)
Mega Bomberman
Pengo (Import)
Psycho Pinball
True Lies and Steel Empire are kinda shitty.
Surely better than Burning Force, Panorama Cotton, Sonic 3D or Sub-Terrania? :p
Not sure why everybody thinks True Lies is a shitty game.
Nope. Steel Empire has lame weapons and unexplainable slowdown.
True Lies commits a severe game design crime, enemies can shoot fast bullets at you in any direction while your character has a really tough time aiming. Plus the graphics and music are both mediocre.
Burning Force is a really competent port of a pretty fun arcade game, Panorama Cotton has a few issues but is a masterpiece in visuals and audio, Sonic 3D blast's only problem is that it's a sonic game (if it was anything else people would love it) and Sub-Terrania's only problem is that it's brutally hard (no more than AoB&R).
Adventures of Batman and Robin (Run 'N Gun/Beat'em Up)
After Burner II (Action/Flight/Shooter)
Air Buster/Aero Blasters (Shooter)
Aladdin (Action Platformer)
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (Action Platformer)
Alien 3 (Action Platformer)
Alien Soldier (Run 'N Gun) *
Altered Beast/Juu-Ou-Ki (Action/Beat'em Up)
Arcus Odyssey (Action RPG)
Beyond Oasis (Action RPG)
Battletoads and Double Dragon (Beat'em Up)
Batman (Action Platformer)
Bio-Hazard Battle (Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this in 2P mode)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Beat'em Up)
Body Count (Light Gun)
Bonanza Bros. (Action)
Boogie Woogie Bowling (Bowling)
Burning Force (Shooter/Action/Pseudo-3D) (Avoid Space Harrier and go for this game.)
Castle of Illusion (Action Platformer)
Championship Pro-Am (Racing)
Chaos Engine, The (Action/Shooter)
Chase H.Q. II (Racing) (I *only* recommend this one if you have an overclocked Genesis; slowdown is massive in stock Genesis in the most important action moments)
Chelnov (Action)
Chiki Chiki Boys (Action Platformer)
Contra: Hard Corps (Run 'N Gun)
Cool Spot (Platformer)
Comix Zone (Action)
Crack Down (Action) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Crusader of Centy/Soleil (Action RPG) (The European version, Soleil, has better dialogue IMO but this is controversial)
Dangerous Seed (Shooter)
Darwin 4081 (Shooter) (Arcade "perfect")
Demolition Man (Action)
Desert Demolition (Action Platformer)
Dick Tracy (Action)
Donald in Maui Mallard (Action Platformer)
Doraemon - Yume Dorobouto 7 Nin No Gozansu (Action Platformer)
Dragon's FuryDevil Crash MD (Pinball)
Dynamite Headdy (Action) (JP version for full content)
Earthworm Jim (Action)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Action Puzzler)
El Viento (Action)
Elemental Master (Shooter)
Eliminate Down (Shooter) *
ESWAT - City Under Siege (Action)
Fantastic Dizzy (Action Puzzler/Platformer)
Fastest 1 (Racing/Simulation) (By far, the best F1 game on the Genesis. JP release only, but inexpensive in auctions. Sold for USD0.01 recently.)
Fire Shark (Shooter)
Flashback - The Quest for Identity (Action/Mind-Blowing :p)*
Forgotten Worlds (Shooter)
G-LOC Air Battle (Flight/Shooter)
Gaiares (Shooter)
Gargoyles (Action Platformer)
Gauntlet IV (Action)*
Ghostbusters (Action Platformer)
Ghouls 'N Ghosts (Action Platfomer)
Gley Lancer (Shooter) *
Golden Axe 3 (Hack 'N Slash)
Granada (Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Greatest Heavyweights Of The Ring (Fighting/Boxing)
Gunstar Heroes (Run 'N Gun)
Hellfire (Shooter)
Herzog Zwei (Real-Time Strategy Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
The Immortal (Action Puzzler)*
Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker (3D Snooker/Simulation)
Jurassic Park 2 - The Lost World (Action)
Landstalker (Action RPG)
Legend of Galahad, The (Action Platfomer)
Lemmings (Puzzler)
Light Crusader (Action RPG)
Lion King, The (Action Platformer)
Lost Vikings, The (Action Puzzler)
M.U.S.H.A. (Shooter)
Magical * Taruruto-kun (Action Platformer)
Mamono Hunter Yohko - Makai Kara no Tenkosei (Action Platformer)
Marble Madness (Japonese Tengen version; avoid the EA version at all costs)
Marvel Land (Platformer)
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure (Platformer)
Mega Turrican (Action Platformer)
Metal Fangs (Racing) (JP-only release; very unique game, overlooked/unknown/underrated. Very short but a valuable experience for a low price)
Mickey Mania (Action Platformer)
Micro Machines - Turbo Tournament '96 (Racing) (Go always for the J-Cart version to be able to play it with more players)
Minnesota Fats Pool Legend (Snooker/Parlor)
Misadventures of Flink, The (Action Platformer/RPG)
Moonwalker (Action Platformer) (much better chances to get the non-censored version buying the Japanese one; it has Thriller hidden in stage 3 part 1)
Monster World IV * (Action Platformer RPG)
Mystic Defender/Kujaku Ou 2 (Action Platformer) (Japanese version for better chances of getting nudity)
NBA Jam Tournament Edition (Basketball)
New Zealand Story, The (Action Platformer)
Panorama Cotton (Shooter/Pseudo-3D)
Pengo (Puzzler Action)
Phantasy Star II (RPG)
Phantasy Star III (RPG)
Phantasy Star IV (RPG)
Phantom 2040 (Action Puzzler/Platformer)
Phelios (Shooter)
Pier Solar (aka Polo Solo) (RPG)
Pitfall - The Mayan Adventure (Action Platformer) (Better on the Sega CD)
Psycho Pinball (Pinball)
Pulseman (Action Platformer) * (I recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Puyo Puyo Tsu (Puyo Puyo 2) (Puzzle)
Quackshot (Action Platformer)
Rampart (Action/Strategy)
Ranger-X (Action)
Red Zone (Action)
Rolling Thunder 2 (Action)
Rolling Thunder 3 (Action)
The Revenge of ShinobiSuper Shinobi (Action Platformer) (much better chances to get the non-censored version buying the Japanese one)
Ristar (Platformer)
Roadblasters (Racing) (Very good port and an awesome game!)
Robocop vs The Terminator (Action)
Rocket Knight Adventures (Action Platformer)
Sensible Soccer - International Edition (Soccer)
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (Action Platformer)
Shadowrun (Action RPG)
Shining Force (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Shining Force II (Turn-Based Strategy RPG)
Shining in the Darkness (Dungeon Crawling RPG)
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Action Platformer)
Skeleton Krew (Action/Isometric)*
Slap Fight MD (Shooter)
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll (Action Platformer/Puzzle/Isometric)
Snow Bros. - Nick & Tom (Puzzle Platformer)
Socket (I *only* recommend this one if you have an overclocked Genesis)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Platformer)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Platformer)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Platformer)
Sonic and Knuckles (Platformer)
Sonic 3D Blast (Platformer/Isometric)
Speedball 2 (Futuristic/Sports) (AVOID the US version at all costs! The US version was released earlier with horrible music and sfx. EU and JP versions use a far superior sound engine) (The JP version is rare but inexpensive when it appears on auction)
Splatterhouse 2 (Action)
Splatterhouse 3 (Action)*
Spot Goes to Hollywood (Platformer)
Steel Empire (Shooter) * (I recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Street Racer (Racing) (Up to 4 players; no slowdowns, fantastic graphics...)
Streets of Rage 2 (EU or JP version for non edited "sexy" sprites) (Beat'em Up)
Streets of Rage 3Bare Knuckle 3 (Beat'em Up)
StriderStrider Hyriu (Action Platformer) (Several samples missing in the US version)
Subterrania (Shooter)
Super Fantasy Zone (Shooter) *
Super Hang-On (Racing) (I *only* recommend this one if you have an overclocked Genesis; get the JP version to be able to play it at 30fps)
Super Skidmarks (Racing) (J-Cart version allows 6 players simultaneously)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Beat'em Up)
Thunder Force II (Shooter)
Thunder Force III (Shooter)
Thunder Force IV * (aka Lightening Force in the US) (Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Tinhead (Platformer)
Tiny Toon Adventures - Buster's Hidden Treasure (Platformer)
Toy Story (Action Platformer)
Truxton (Shooter)
Twinkle Tale (Action/Shooter)
Two Crude Dudes (Beat'em Up/Action)
Undead Line (Shooter) *
Valis III (Action Platformer)
Vapor Trail (Shooter)
Verytex (Shooter) *
Viewpoint (Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Virtua Racing (Racing)
Warsong (Turn-Based Strategy)
Wani Wani World (Puzzle Platformer)
Wings of Wor (Shooter)
Wiz 'n' Liz - The Frantic Wabbit Wescue (Action Platformer)
Wonder Boy in Monster World (Action RPG)
World of Illusion (Action Platformer)
WWF Wrestlemania Arcade (Fighting) (Overclock == Full glory)
Uchuu Senkan Gomora (Shooter) (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Fighting)
X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Action/Beat'em Up)
Ys III - Wanderers from Ys (Action RPG)
Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Makyo Toitsusen (Fighting) (Up to 4 simultaneous players)
Zero Tolerance (FPS) * (I strongly recommend an overclock to properly play this one)
Zero Wing (Shooter) (PAL version)
*Overclock mod*: Pay/Steal/Kill for it, but do it! I use a 12MHz overclock with a VA5 JP Mega Drive and it allowed me to enjoy the library MUCH more than before. 10MHz is a the more common overclock and "compatible" with most of the models (VA5/VA6 model 1 Genesis/Mega Drive are the best models for overclock). 12MHz works flawless for me in 99% of the games and I don't need to switch the clock at all; will boot and play perfectly (in fact, it also flashes the Everdrive MD with no problem). If you are not in electronics, pay some good modder to do it for you, you won't regret. Game like Granada have some really crawling moments and being able to play Alien Soldier without slowdown in boss fights is just mind-blowing.
*Region mod*: Again, do whatever you need but get it. Easier to do than the overclock one but very useful and will allow you to enjoy all games you want and also save money going for the cheaper versions without having to worry about region lock.
*S-Video Mod/Scart cable + Scart-to-Component converter*: The former is not so easy to do and the later is much more expensive but doesn't require modding. Improves a lot the Image quality, especially for some games. Several games are still better played using composite, be aware.
Some accessories/controllers:
Sega 6B Arcade Pad (AVOID the Majesto version. People say that it's good but not even comes close to the original.)
Multitap (A must if you have several friends to play with.)
Far from the only shmup with slowdown on these lists. Lame weapons? It's a steampunk game and one of the only ones available. Its weapons fit the setting perfectly. Aside from this, it's a brilliant hori-shmup and criminally underrated.
Its controls give several ways to help you aim at enemies (one of them being able to strafe), and the graphics and sounds are definitely above average.
It's probably the best rail shmup on the system, but somehow that isn't saying much. I guess if you must have at least one game of each sub-genre on here, then this game deserves its spot.
Panorama Cotton is an audiovisual showcase and beyond that a very dull game. If these two things were the only requirement to land a spot on a must-have list, then where is Red Zone? Or Toy Story for that matter.
I agree, but it's still a Sonic game.
I agree, but ST's difficulty comes from lack of control and frustrating search and rescue elements. This is one of those few games that would've been a lot better off with analog controls (and a freaking map).
Those 2 games have 1 critical difference to panorama cotton, although they both have rather nice special effects, they honestly look like crap. And Panorama Cotton is a lot more fun than both.
I can't complain about the control since it's the way it is in all those thrust based games. The map is a problem, but not enough to take it out of the list.
I probably just really dislike rail shmups for whatever reason. Maybe it's an acquired taste.
Nontheless, there is like a 95% overlap in our lists, enough for OP to make up his mind.
What makes this game better than Ayrton Senna's? I haven't really played this one, so I can't say.
I knew there was something up with this game.
It looks like a fun little game (gotta love cyberpunk), but I have no idea WTF I'm supposed to do.
Needless to say that I'm a big Senna's fan, OK?
Well, at first Fastest 1 looks like a SMS game with only 30% of screen dedicated to the gameplay area. Almost no trackside objects. All menus and text seems to be in English, but they are in Engrish... The Championship mode is confusing at first, doesn't allow you to select all teams/cars and you'll NOT race if you fail to qualify and will be obligated to WATCH the full race. Steering options are hard to understand and will probably make you set it wrong and you'll have a hard time trying to make the car stay on the track.;)
All that explains the USD0.01 quotation.
But:
The game engine is superb. Actually an improved and upgraded version of F1 Triple Battle for the PCE. They look identical at first, but they aren't... Several details were improved/included for the MD version.
You have:
-Realistic weather (with much better effects than on the PCE version).
-Realistic track course (very closed turns like you'll hardly find in any other racing game using line scrolling) (elevation changes are very very close to the real tracks) (scrolling is significantly smoother than on the PCE).
-Realistic tire grip & consumption (for each tire compound you have really different grip and durability) (all the F1 drama is here when your tires get worn at the end of the race and you don't have enough advantage to do a pit stop and return in the same position; the car gets REALLY difficult to drive in extreme situations) (the grip reducing is not exactly linear, very realistic) (your driving style and car setup directly influences the tire consumption).
-Different handling and aerodynamic efficiency for each team's cars.
-Each engine model has the exactly same horsepower that it had in the real F1.
-Each engine sounds a bit different.
-Each team has an "organization" grade which means that the pit-stop time varies (randomly) inside a specific range. Like: "A"== 7.0-8.5 seconds for a tire changing pit-stop. "C" == 8.5-9.5 seconds; something like that.
-Championship mode is actually a career mode and you'll only be able to move to better team in the next season if you did very well in the last one. You'll be evaluated not only in terms of championship points but in other stuff like "Number of Poles" "Number of finished races" "Number of wins" "Number of successful qualifyings"...
-The tracks have almost no trackside objects (this look horrible in places like Monaco) but the background layer on the horizon is a small but detailed image representing the landscape of the real circuits. Example: in Imola you'll see some small houses in a forest with a unique design; exactly like the ones that surround the real track in those years.
-Each team has a different painting on the cars, unlike in Senna's SMGPII.
-The car animation is neat and the opponents' cars have as much details as yours.
-Very simple graphics but no flickering and slowdown.
...
The engine noise isn't great but it is surely much less annoying than on Senna's game.
Controls are MUCH better and really perfect IMO. You have to use always the first steering option ("I.A.S." or something like that) when you are still learning how to control the car. It's like a automatically progressive steering, so you have to break before the turns or you'll get out off the track all the time. The other options are for "advanced" driving. You can steer as much as you want, but if you do it wrongly the car will spin off the track. This mode is much harder to use and was, indeed, developed to use with the XE-1AP analog stick controller that this game supports (Senna's also supports it but it doesn't change much
your driving).
My hint to qualify is: select the car with better horse power/handling pair that you can get at first, than train using the "free run" mode until you feel that you can easily finish a lap without mistakes. Qualify and go to the race. You'll love the game after 2 races. You won't miss Senna's anymore.
The Engrish is really bad and the menus have some stupid navigation mechanism. I have a hack on the way for this game, 80% of the text is already corrected and using the real names of teams, drivers, engines... I might release a version in the next few weeks. But the original version is totally playable once you have tried the menus and learned what they really mean (the Engrish can leads you to some very wrong assumptions).
Yep, it's a cyberpunk game. What you have is a "on rails" futuristic racing game.
In 1P mode you have to select 4 drivers to be your team.
The main menu means something like(all you need to know is this) (--> means select):
1)Team's Drivers actual stats-->Driver names list--> Stats (1-Car model | 2-Armor Level | 3-IDK what this crap is, but I think it affects the handling | 4-AI: the amount of IQ that your driver has. It will affect his actions (attack/defense) and driving during the races while you're not controlling his car | 5-Weapons and quantity of them)
2)Buy Items-->Driver names list-->Item category list-->Items lists (excepts for weapons, when you buy the strongest/best/more expensive item of each category the list will be upgraded with new and better items of the same type)
3)Go to Race-->Race Menu-->Select the players that will race and in which order (the first that you select is the one that you'll be controlling in the beginning of the race) (use button A to change the controlled car during the race; the sequence of alternation will be your selection sequence in the race menu) (in the first "HALF" of each "HEAT" (Challenge) you will have 4 cars and the other team only 3, so all your drivers will run. In the last half you'll have to exclude one of your drivers since you'll only have 3 cars and your opponent will have 4; select the last fucked up ones).
4)Password for your current moment in the game
2P mode kinda sucks since only one player has the control in each half and you have to select default teams. No upgrades and other stuff like in the 1P mode (unless I'm missing some hidden option).
In game controls:
Button A: Changes the player car.
Button B: I can't remember.
Button C: Weapon.
UP: Increases speed.
Down: Reduces speed.
Left/Right: Driving (not needed since it's kinda on rails but you'll want to make use of it to avoid some enemies attacks or to attack; or to control better a car that is being driven by a stupid driver (low IQ)).
Game:
-Team that scores more points in the heat is the winner.
-You score point by completing laps, killing opponents and some other stuff that IDK.
-If you have less cars running than your opponent you need to destroy some of them, otherwise he'll score more and more points each lap.
-The HUD indicates your car damage, the car selected and the weapons that it has. Full red car icon==death.
Hints:
-Try to alternate to the car that you see that is losing energy for some reason, he's probably being heavily attacked.
-Initiate the races controlling your worst car.
Some races are very exciting, too bad that the game is so short and had no sequels.
Ah wow, that sounds like a hardcore F1 sim. Enthusiasts only. Nontheless, I think I'll have to check it out.
Thanks for the explanation regarding Metal Fangs. I might be able to actually play the game now, lol.
Marvel Land is all I wanted to mention. Glad to see it was listed already!
These are some seriously long lists for "essential":) Here's my boiled down list:
Sonic 1 & 2
Comix Zone
Thunder Force 3
Streets of Rage 1, 2 & 3
Contra Hard Corps
Castlevania Bloodlines
There are a ton of great games on the Genesis, but I think these should be in everybody Genesis owner's library. I left some of my favorites off the list because even though I love them, the might not be universally loved. I think these games should appeal to just about any Genesis gamer (and they're classics).
Shinobi should probably be on this list, but I don't like any of the Shinobi games outside of Shadow Dancer. I know that's the one Shinobi game that's polarizing, so I can't consider it a "must have" even though it's one of my top five games. I can't list the other Shinobi games in good conscience because even though they should be there, as they are pretty universally loved, I can't recommend games I don't actually like that much (they're not bad, but they're not great IMHO).
The next tier down from "must have" for me would be "great games that I would recommend to every Genesis owner", and that would be a pretty long list:)
Mega Drive/Genesis library has something around 900 games IIRC, so recommending 150 games doesn't seem to be an exaggeration.
More important than that, IDK what are the preferences of the OP, so he can pick the ones from the genres that he likes most from my list or from the other "long" ones; surely it will not reach 100 games, maybe not even 50.
That's kinda what I did... and I think what most people are doing is "here's all the really good games".
You're right, we're kinda missing the point of the thread.
Here's my second take:
Sonic 3&K - It's the best sonic, though 1&2 are the real classics.
Thunderforce 4 - While 3 is very good, this one is just as good, plus better graphics and music.
Streets of Rage 2 - The best beat'em up of the generation. 3 has improved gameplay mechanics (besides the weapons), but it's completely uninspired.
Gunstar Heroes - Want to show off the genesis in all areas (gameplay, graphics and sound)? Use this. Only Metal Slug is a better run'n'gun than this.
Comix Zone - One of the most unique games of the generation.
Shinobi 3 - The best action game of the generation (booooo sketch)
Shining Force 2 - The best strategy game of the generation.
Langrisser 2 - The third best strategy game of the generation.
Mickey Mania - The best mickey game, specially the Sega-CD version.
Ristar - Could easily be considered the best platformer of the generation.
Aladdin - Another must own disney game, the animation is incredible.
Contra Hard Corps - The best contra game ever made.
Alien Soldier - A saturn game that was mistakenly made on the genesis, too awesome.
Ranger-X - Probably the one action game on the genesis that tries to have some kind of depth.
Beyond Oasis - Adventure + Beat'em up, best mix ever (even if the game isn't as good as it should be)
Ecco The Tides of Time - This game is an experience unlike any other.
Monster World 4 - Easily one of the best games of the generation.
MUSHA - One of the best vertical shmups ever.
Phantasy Star 4 - The best RPG on the genesis.
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyo Touitsusen - 4 player fighting game based on Yu Yu Hakusho made by treasure...
Street Fighter 2 - If you can't get it on another system.
Adventures of Batman and Robin - One of the toughest games ever, one of the coolest games ever. Second best old batman game (after the NES one)
Devil Crash - The best pinball game ever.
Pier Solar - The second greatest homebrew game for old systems (GunLord WOOOO)
Soul Star - If you have a Sega-CD, you need this.
There, 25 games that are undeniably made of pure greatness.
It's hard to draw a line. Having a short list like that always has critical omissions (RKA, CoI, etc.), and people are going to debate about which Sonic game should be on there, which Mickey game, and so on. It just doesn't work. :p
PS: RKA is way better than Aladdin.
Aladdin is there for the animation. Yeah RKA is a better game for sure, it should be in there. Earthworm Jim (the first), Lunar 2, Popful Mail and Sylpheed too.
CoI not really, it doesn't really do anything that I'd say isn't done better elsewhere. A "should" have, but not a "must" have. Must haves are games that excel in some area. CoI has great gameplay... the first time you play. Just get's boring afterwards. Land of Illusion on the SMS is a better game.
Honestly, what is so special about Aladdin? It's on the same level for me as Cool Spot, Lion King, Jungle Book, Maui Mallard, etc.
Except... Cool Spot has less dodgy controls, better hit detection, better quality music and sound and better level design. Not trying to knock your list or anything, it's just that I see this game mentioned a lot (mostly by QSF, though) and I always wonder why. A pretty turd is still a turd.
Maybe it's nostalgia? I dunno but I really like it. It's as faithful to the movie as it needs to be without sacrificing gameplay (which is good, but not great). It probably has the best animations out of all the disney games with mickey mania being the only other that's close. Would it be nearly as good without being based on Aladdin? No. It's just everything you'd want from a movie to game adaptation.
Cool Spot, despite it's name, is completely lacking in coolness.
Good list. Mine was indeed a pretty terse list, but I do feel like "must have" lists should be boiled down to the cream of the crop.
Damn; I missed RKA. That should be on my list. Great game and one of the best platformers on the system. Both Aladdin and Castle of Illusion (one of my favorites) are great games, but I don't know if they're necessarily "must haves". Castle of Illusion is *very* close in my mind and could easily slip onto my list. I think I will go back and add RKA, though. That was a definite oversight.
Aladdin's animation is much closer to a cartoon than the previous cartoon-based games (and the SNES version, for an example), that's the point. It's based on a cartoon movie and looks like one, it's a good thing.
Yes, it's the only good thing.
Sound: average
Music: mediocre
Level design: mediocre and sometimes downright confusing
Hit detection: poor, and missed jumps are all too common
Difficulty/length: too easy/short, even despite its problems
Controls: no problems here, although not as tight as in some other similar games
Variety: barely any, but it has a carpet level
Of course it also has the typical twitchy scrolling as present in most Virgin games, but I won't discredit the game for that.
Looks like a 6/10, 7/10 at most. Help me understand, Sega-16.
This does not explain the love for Aladdin. Controls are the least of its issues.
I don't even mind people liking the game. as I like average games too (Toki is one of my favourite Mega Drive games). I just would never recommend them in a "must-have" thread.
Any time that someone does, it requires an explanation.
"Must have" doesn't necessarily mean "AAA Titles Only".
People can recommend it for being an exclusive or something like that...
I really don't care about which games each one is listing here. The OP is the one who has to judge what is "must have" for him or not.
That is actually exactly how I interpret a "must have".
Then again, if OP is the one to judge, then he should not have made this topic. Now it's our responsibility to judge for him. :p
There are several contenders for this title on the Mega Drive alone.
true lies lol