Sega franchises: best to worst?

What is your consensus for best and worst Sega franchises overall?

I don't think the Sonic series would be high on my list, except for the first four (1-3, and Knuckles, and maybe CD) which I would rank very highly but not very much in terms of a franchise as it had many many weak moments.

Golden Axe is another series I never cared for. The games were dull as ditchwater and I largely preferred Streets of Rage and even the lone Alien Storm as superior alternatives to this franchise.

Panzer Dragoon was consistent but it was because there weren't enough games in the series to mar it, except the relatively stinker Panzer Dragoon Mini for Game Gear.

Also looking for people's opinions on Shining Force, particularly the ones that deviated from the orthodox formula.

Best - Shining series as made by Camelot back in the 90s before Sega upset them.

Worst - Shining series after Camelot left Sega. Because I don't even want to know how badly my fave videogame series got ruined. They look so different and uninteresting, that slapping the Shining name to these games is a great insult to all Shining fans.

Streets of rage was a great series.

Best: Daytona

Worst: Altered Beast

Best- I think the Panzer Dragoon series was probably Sega's best attempt at a real series with growth. Streets of Rage is a close second.

Worst- Shenmue (I know i know, i don't want to go to work in a video game though)

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Originally Posted by cabear

Best- I think the Panzer Dragoon series was probably Sega's best attempt at a real series with growth. Streets of Rage is a close second.

Worst- Shenmue (I know i know, i don't want to go to work in a video game though)

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I recall once working at work, and then on my break I was working on a farming simulator on the GBA (Harvest Moon). I was like "What the heck is wrong with me and why am I wasting my break like this?" Needles to say, my farming simulation job ended right there.

This would be an interesting topic based on IPs.

As for franchises...

Best:
Phantasy Star
Shenmue
Sonic
Shining Force
Streets of Rage
Golden Axe
The House of the Dead
Vectorman
ToeJam & Earl

Best, worst? I could make a few suggestions. But underrated?:

Virtual On.

I can't even think of another game in the genre of mech-on-mecha 'fighting' that nearly compares. Playing the first game in the arcade was unforgettable, but I still believe Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram is not only the best entry in the series, but perhaps one of the most perfect games I've ever played.

I should look this up because I don't fully remember, but I'm sure I've read that Oratorio Tangram for Dreamcast was one of the few games to receive a perfect score from Japanese magazines during its time. I mean, the controls are still so satisfying, I love the attention to detail in the mechs and environments. Love it all. What an ace franchise SEGA had there. Booting this on my DC just gave me chills:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIFli6RCpYY

Now for my unsolicited two cents. Again, these are all my opinion.

The best games/series, ranked in the amount of time I spend/spent on them...

Streets of Rage series
Sonic 1/2(though admittedly it didn't age so well compared to...)/3+Knuckles
Phantasy Star 1/3/4 (yes, I really liked 3 - it's only really decisive flaw, rushed nature and craptastic translation aside, is that it's too different from the others)
Toejam and Earl series
Shining Force series (especially 2, that game's bleedin' brilliant)
Ecco the Dolphin series (especially Tides of Time)
Crazy Taxi (particularly the first one)
Castle of Illusion
The whole frickin' 6-Pak (not really a franchise, but houses several franchises mentioned earlier, so it's worth mention)
World of Illusion
Puyo Puyo / Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (especially Dr.RMBM, though I suck eggs at these games)
Ristar (should be higher up but didn't get a chance to play it until recently)


And now for the worst, ranked in the same manner...

Sports games (with the lone exceptions of Super Hang-On and OutRun/OutRunners - too damned many sport titles!)
Phantasy Star 2 (I know, rabid fans... it kept losing me though so I gave up on it. Besides it aged rather poorly and the US translation was abysmal...)
Sonic 3D Blast and virtually all later Sonic games (never played Generations, though it looks nice, as does Sonic Lost Worlds... never got around to playing them sadly)
Aworg (though the music is rather nice IMO)
Phantasy Star Online (not really bad, just kinda bleh IMO... never quite had the grab-and-hold that PS1/3/4 had on me)

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Originally Posted by gamevet

Worst: Altered Beast

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Not sure if worst but it's definitely pretty low. The game is just plain bland.

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Originally Posted by Sik

Not sure if worst but it's definitely pretty low. The game is just plain bland.

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This has to be one of the most controversial Genesis games that comes to mind. People either love it or really hate it. This is actually my main motivation to give this one at try, so I can find out for myself once and for all.

I don't really love or hate Altered Beast. It is what it is.

I especially don't think it's an awful or broken game by any means. There's always been a lot of exaggeration from both sides that really puzzles me.

Arabian Fight must be the worst Sega beat 'em up, what a pile of garbage, even D.D. Crew was some decent fun to me.

I love altered beast; both, for the concept and the gameplay. If only they would make more games like that.

You know all this talk about best and worst franchises has me wondering why we've never done a game of the month type thread. It wouldn't have to be about just Sega but I'd love to see some people pick a game that everyone could easily have access to and talk about it for the month on their progress and where they're at. On TNL we had a thread for Dragon Quest III on Gameboy color of all things and it really took off by how many people got into it.

if anyone wants to seriously think about starting one I'd welcome it. I have a few titles I'm getting into this month so I'd be curious to see what everyone else is jumping into right now for the holidays.