Is the Genesis just not for me?

[Estil]

StantedRain: Here's my issue. I've played a lot of Genesis games. Very few I really like or want to play again.

I too am quite a late bloomer regarding the Genesis. I'm 35 (born 1980) and grew up with the NES (received for my 10th b-day in 1990)in the first half of the 90s (I finally got a SNES for Christmas 1994) as well as the SNES the second half of the decade. It wasn't until my college years (1999-2003) that I got my first non-Nintendo console (mini PS1) and then later the Genesis and then the PS2 once I got cheap enough at the time. Originally only Sonic really appealed to me but I have recently started to research and aquire the other Genesis blue chips. You can always start with the Genesis Collection on the PS2 first (you can still buy it new quite cheap) if you want to see what all the Genesis fuss is about before committing to the actual console. As you might see over at Nintendo Age I just got into RPGs (another late bloomer sort of thing) a couple years ago so of course I intend to do the Phantasy Star quartet as well as that was obviously Sega's flagship RPG franchise at the time.

SlantedRain: I find almost all of them way too 'arcade-y'. E.g. very basic and straightforward, very short, not much depth. I much prefer my Super Nintendo and PC Engine so far, because I'm finding a lot more games with depth, more console-oriented titles, and less arcade ports. For example, Space Harrier, Outrun, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, G&G... all way too basic/lacking in depth, for my tastes. Even the console titles like Sonic games, for example, almost feels like they could be arcade games. Sonic definitely feels like it's an arcade game compared to Super Mario World for example, which has a world to explore, lots of going back and forward between levels, exploring etc. Sonic is just an example... I get the same impression from Shinobi, Ristar, Vectorman etc. which feel very much straightforward action games. Good action games, just not for me, not enough depth etc. Just to give you more of an idea of my tastes, I don't like racing games or shooters. I know the Genesis is very popular for its shooters (e.g. Thunderforce, MUSHA) but I really don't like shooters/shoot em ups. They don't grab me at all, too basic, limited? Maybe I am missing something when it comes to shooters (sorry i don't wnt to put the genre down).

I suppose a history lesson is definitely in order. In the US, the Genesis came out in fall 1989, while the SNES wouldn't arrive for another two years (until the Genesis really started becoming a threat Nintendo wasn't exactly in a big rush to go into the 16-bit/4th gen era, especially in the US). And the whole idea/inspiration behind the Genesis (or Mega Drive as the rest of the world knows it) was that if Sega couldn't compete with Nintendo on their own 8-bit terms with the Master System (this was the situation in the US anyway; in Europe the Master System did far better), then why not move up to the next gen and in their own words "bring the arcades home"? So if the early Genesis games "feel like arcade games", that's because they ARE in fact almost exact ports of Sega's blue chip arcade games at the time. But of course it's a lot different when you don't have to keep feeding quarters and so Sega realized they also had to come out with "made from scratch" titles specially made for the Genesis as well and of course they needed their own mascot to take on Mario and be everything Mario was not. I don't really need to tell you who that ended up being (hint: he arrived in the US a few months before the SNES/Super Mario World and did much to steal some of that thunder), right?

And of course be sure not to overlook the three PS's that came before Phantasy Star 4 (though the first one is on the Master System; as for them being "too basic and outdated", they didn't think so at the time, right?). Bottom line, you owe yourself to at least try out the Genesis Collection on the PS2.

[Vludi]

The genesis clearly isn't your thing.

Now that its games lack depth? debatable, just because a game is longer doesn't mean it has more "depth". Personally i can't see any depth in something like Super Metroid where enemies/bosses are harmless pushover with poor challenge/patterns, and the whole game is just about finding key items to proceed and eventually finish it. Similarly in most RPGs you can overcome pretty much any barrier just grinding rather than getting good at the game/make strategies.

SNES is more about finishing an adventure, Genesis is more about mastering the games and its mechanics, pretty much arcade philosophy.

Games like Deep Blue and Air Zonk/Coryoon are examples of the PCE's style over substance attitude. These games have lovely aesthetics but play like some unlicensed Chinese shit. I was glad to sell Air Zonk after winning it on eBay some years ago because it was a total let down.

Damn that was harsh lol, i want to play a chinese famicom shooter as good as Air Zonk. Honestly i don't know what you were expecting from them, something with the depth of Battle Garegga? If you want more "serious" stuff there is always Raiden, Gate of Thunder, Nexzr, R-Type, Image Fight etc.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

The genesis clearly isn't your thing.

Finally someone said it. Pack away the console and give it to someone who will appreciate it. End of story.

Just because other people enjoy the console doesn`t mean you have to. And if we`re being honest with ourselves, there`s nothing really wrong with that. My taste in gaming is not the same as yours. Besides, you`ve already stated that your preference is for the Super Nintendo and PC Engine, both respectable systems in their own right. There are more than enough games on either console to keep you preoccupied.

I myself will never purchase a 3DO nor an Atari Jaguar because I just don`t enjoy the library of games that either system offers. If I ever did, I know that they would sit on my shelf or (even worse) in a box and just gather dust. And that`s not very fair is it?

[Iron Lizard]

First world problems

[Orchid87]

I myself will never purchase a 3DO nor an Atari Jaguar because I just don`t enjoy the library of games that either system offers. If I ever did, I know that they would sit on my shelf or (even worse) in a box and just gather dust. And that`s not very fair is it?

I feel the same for N64 also.

[Firebrandx]

I feel the same for N64 also.

Yeah the N64 only has like 15 games AT BEST that are actually good.

[Alianger]

Might be better to wait until the OP replies to any of the posts at this point.

[Thierry Henry]

Might be better to wait until the OP replies to any of the posts at this point.

Would be classic if all the thought and effort that went into the replies, and the OP ends up not even acknowledging/reading any of it.

[adhere2]

Would be classic if all the thought and effort that went into the replies, and the OP ends up not even acknowledging/reading any of it.

So far that's what it feels like.

[Firebrandx]

The OP only has 2 posts to his name. You might not hear from him again for several months.

[profholt82]

Some people just can't handle the awesomeness of blast processing.

[Bones Justice]

Atari Jaguar because I just don`t enjoy the library of games that either system offers. If I ever did, I know that they would sit on my shelf or (even worse) in a box and just gather dust. And that`s not very fair is it?

Got my Jaguar used back in the day. It's not good enough to be my main system but it had a few games that really stood out for me, Doom, AvP, Tempest, Syndicate, and Iron Soldier. But the game that always gets me to play again is Missile Command 3D. I loved the original arcade game but the 3D version is even better. I just wish the virtual helmet had worked out because the virtual mode isn't very playable on a flat screen; the 3D mode is great, though!

I feel the same for N64 also.

The N64 was the first Nintendo system I really got into. I tried the NES and SNES but always preferred Genesis because it was a much better multiplayer system. If you look at comparable games, Genesis usually has multi-player (co-op or versus) while SNES is more often a single player game. Genesis games usually have a faster pace than SNES games, too. Sports and racing games are better on Genesis, too, unless you can stomach all-flat tracks ("mode 7").

Anyways, N64 was Nintendo's first great multi-player system. And it upped the ante from Saturn and PS with a lot of four-player games instead of two-player. I really got into FPS games just because of the multi-player modes, never spent any time with the single-player modes. My only real complaint on the N64 was the awful controller but there were a few decent alternatives. I still rank the Saturn higher for fighting games and PS for racing games but the N64 was definitely fun.

[SEGA.GENESIS1989]

Got my Jaguar used back in the day. It's not good enough to be my main system but it had a few games that really stood out for me, Doom, AvP, Tempest, Syndicate, and Iron Soldier. But the game that always gets me to play again is Missile Command 3D. I loved the original arcade game but the 3D version is even better. I just wish the virtual helmet had worked out because the virtual mode isn't very playable on a flat screen; the 3D mode is great, though!

The N64 was the first Nintendo system I really got into. I tried the NES and SNES but always preferred Genesis because it was a much better multiplayer system. If you look at comparable games, Genesis usually has multi-player (co-op or versus) while SNES is more often a single player game. Genesis games usually have a faster pace than SNES games, too. Sports and racing games are better on Genesis, too, unless you can stomach all-flat tracks ("mode 7").

Anyways, N64 was Nintendo's first great multi-player system. And it upped the ante from Saturn and PS with a lot of four-player games instead of two-player. I really got into FPS games just because of the multi-player modes, never spent any time with the single-player modes. My only real complaint on the N64 was the awful controller but there were a few decent alternatives. I still rank the Saturn higher for fighting games and PS for racing games but the N64 was definitely fun.

I hope no offense is taken. I know that some tout its underutilized processing power but its library of games isn't something I have an interest in exploring.

Someone made the recommendation that the OP may want to consider playing some of the titles via the PS2 "Genesis Collection". This may seem like a good idea on the surface but doing so may sour one's experience as well. I'll give you an example for you to consider. Not too long ago I finally got a chance to play ESWAT which was one of the games included on the "Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection". I kept seeing members express how good the game was but my time spent with the game told me otherwise. No matter how hard I tried, I found it quite difficult to play the game using the XBOX 360's button layout. To be quite honest, I didn't even pass the first stage. The experience left a bad taste in my mouth. It was only after I found a cheap copy of the Mega Drive game that I understood what the whole hoopla was all about. Had I solely played the XBOX 360 version of the game, I would never known how good this game truly is.

[Jeckidy]

I too own Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3 version) and think it is pretty amazing versus similar offerings in the past, but I still prefer playing with the EverDrive. I even have a folder dedicated to all the games on SUGC specifically.

[EPSYLON EAGLE]

Is this thread really necessary?