1989-early 1990 Genesis titles: Your most or least favorites?

Pretty sure there's a similar thread somewhere, but I'm too lazy to check now. Well, lately I've been quite interested in early Genesis games for some reason. Not just launch titles, but late '89 and early '90 releases too. For example, I've been playing Zoom! and Last Battle a lot and can't seem to stop despite both being very mediocre games, maybe I'm starting to like them? I guess one thing that fascinates me about many early Genesis games is the sound quality used in some titles. Some games like Altered Beast, Super Thunder Blade, and Phantasy Star II have sort of a depressing or melancholy sound quality (not the songs themselves, but maybe the sound engine used in each game). I guess I also like the early games because they feel like games made for the 90's but with a touch of the 80's (Zoom! fits this description perfectly).
Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to ramble on, but where else was I gonna put that stuff :p? Anyway, my favorite early era Genesis game would be Revenge of Shinobi. Not just for the challenging gameplay and music, but also because it seemed quite epic for a Genesis game as early as 1989. Eh, so what titles were your most/least faves from this era?
P.S. Is it right to be wasting my time on Last Battle?

In no particular order.

1989:
My most? Forgotten World, Mystic Defender and Truxton.
My least? Arnold Palmer, Alex Kidd, Last Battle, Super Hydlide, Herzog Zwei

1990:
My most? Lakers vs Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, Granada, Strider, Burning Force, Atomic Robo-Kid
My least? Sword of Sodan... i hate it. CyberBall, Darwin 4081, Bimini Run, Hard Drivin', Zany Golf, Budokan, Techno Cop, Stormlord, Shadow Blasters, Rastan Saga II, Pat Riley's Basketball, Klax, Target Earth

Some of them are very late 1990.

From 1989, the ones I enjoyed the most were Ghouls 'N Ghosts, Thunder Force II, Revenge of Shinobi, and Golden Axe. The ones I enjoyed the least, were Tommy Lasorda Baseball, Last Battle and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.

From early 1990, the ones I enjoyed most were Herzog Zwei, Mystic Defender, and Truxton. The ones I enjoyed the least were Air Diver, Pat Riley Basketball, and Phantasy Star II.


I know, I know... I listed PS II. But back in the day, the game just didn't click with me as much as the original SMS game did. The dungeons felt like they were too expansive, and took forever to fully explore because of how open the hallways and rooms were. I can appreciate the game these days, but back then, it just bugged me.


Of course, all of those games had their asses handed to them with Thunder Force III and Strider. I spent a lot of time on both games (TF III at my home, Strider at a friend's), and everything else got left behind for a while.

I'm starting to appreciate Last Battle. Sure, it's probably among the worst first-party games of that era (beaten IMHO by Super Thunder Blade) but its amusing. I like most of the first party games, except for the sports ones simply because I don't care for the genre, but they're good for what they are. On the other hand, I always liked Zoom and never understood the hate for it.

(1989)
Most: Ghouls 'N Ghosts, Thunder Force II, Revenge of Shinobi, Forgotten Worlds, Mystic Defender, Herzog Zwei
Least: Curse, Last Battle, Super Hydlide, Sword of Vermilion, Super Thunder Blade

(1990)
Most: Thunder Force III, MUSHA, Gaiares, Elemental Master, ESWAT, Fire Shark, Burning Force, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Least: Heavy Unit, Phantasy Star III, Darwin 4081, Bimini Run, Final Zone, Techno Cop, Stormlord, Rastan Saga II, Atomic Robo-Kid, Sword of Sodan, Twin Hawk, XDR

Zoom is a pretty fun co-op game, just not a favourite of mine.

Edit: A similar game to Last Battle that I sort of like is Thunder Fox, from 1991 by Taito.

nobody mentioned ghostbusters yet ?
its a mid 1990 game ( june 29 in japan ) and its one of the better earlier megadrive games as well as the best ghostbusters game till the 2009 game

I don't understand the hate for Atomic Robo Kid. I always enjoyed it and made it up to the last boss (whom I failed to defeat). It's the best port of the arcade original that you can get and while hard, is a very enthralling shmup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Coop

I know, I know... I listed PS II. But back in the day, the game just didn't click with me as much as the original SMS game did. The dungeons felt like they were too expansive, and took forever to fully explore because of how open the hallways and rooms were. I can appreciate the game these days, but back then, it just bugged me.

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I get that. Good as PS2 was, there were some very significant stylistic and thematic changes from the way the original was, and I too found it a bit jarring. A lot of the fairy tale charm the original had just wasn't there.

And those dungeons were downright devilish, I don't know if I'd have ever gotten through some of them without the included hint book.

Despite all that, I'd still put it on my favorites list, along with Revenge of Shinobi, Ghouls n Ghosts, Super Hydlide. Though I don't think I have the patience for Super Hydlide if I tried to play it today.

I'm not sure what I'd put on my least favorites. Last Battle and Mystic Defender I guess, just because I never could manage to finish those. I didn't hate them or anything though, at least not back then. I don't know if I could stand to play them today or not.

My favourite titles from 1989 : The Revenge of Shinobi, Golden Axe, Herzog Zwei, Mystic Defender, Rambo III, Ghouls'n Ghosts, Thunder Force II, Tommy Lasorda Baseball

My least favourite titles from 1989: Super Thunderblade, Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf


In 1990 there was alot more titles to choose from ...
My favourite titles from 1990: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, Shadow Dancer, M.U.S.H.A, Ghostbusters, Gairaes, Elemental Master, Rainbow Islands Extra, Midnight Resistance, Phelios

My least favourite titles from 1990: Shove it! The Warehouse Game, Klax, Ishido: The Way of Stones, Slaughter Sport, Air Diver

Pro tip for Last Battle: You can move alot faster past any given level if you jump and while in the air move back, then forward.

Pro tip 2 for Last Battle: Level up as quick as you can by defeating stage enemies multiple times. You can do this by walking back and forth in any given level.

Pro tip 3 for Last Battle: In the dungeons, you can knock the flying axes out of the air if you time your punch or kick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SEGA.GENESIS1989

My least favourite titles from 1990: Shove it! The Warehouse Game, Klax, Ishido: The Way of Stones, Slaughter Sport, Air Diver

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Not a big puzzle fan, I see. I could agree with the last two, though. Pretty boring games if you ask me.

Favorite: Phantasy Star II

Least Favorite: John Madden Football

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5233

Not a big puzzle fan, I see. I could agree with the last two, though. Pretty boring games if you ask me.

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To quote Dave Hester ... Ye-e-e-e-e-p! I would have to be dying of complete boredom before I would consider playing any of these titles! Anyone want to play a game of Checkers instead? :p

Air Diver has some really nice visuals, but its too hard. It's one of those "you die and you go back to the beginning" games and I've never been a fan of those.

Man, this thread reminds me of how many awesome games came out during those first two years in the U.S.

Besides my favorite, Phantasy Star II...

...Honorable Mentions:
-Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
-Forgotten Worlds
-Herzog Zwei
-The Revenge of Shinobi
-Sword of Vermilion
-Truxton
-Fire Shark
-Granada
-M.U.S.H.A.
-Midnight Resistance
-Space Harrier II
-Phelios
-Shadow Dancer
-Thunder Force III
-Wonderboy III: Monster Lair

Quote:

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Originally Posted by QuickSciFi

Favorite: Phantasy Star II

Least Favorite: John Madden Football

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You trying to be funny or really stupid with your least favorite?

Favorites: 1989: Golden Axe, Super Thunder Blade, The Revenge of Shinobi, Altered Beast, Rambo III
Least Favorites: Alex Kidd, Tommy Lasorda Baseball