Join me as I list and discuss the top ten must have games for the Sega Mega Drive also known as the Genesis! There are so many great games for the system, so let me know your favourites!
Phantasy Star IV
The Mega Drive was never well known for its quantity of RPG’s and with the likes of Final Fantasy sticking to Nintendos console like glue, things were looking bleak. Despite the third game in the series missing the mark, the fourth adventure was a fine return to form and finally gave Sega fans what they had been craving. Released in 1995 the game sees you take control of a bounty hunter named Chaz Ashley, who has unwittingly been charged with the task of saving the Algol Solar System. By the time this game hit shelves the RPG format had been well and truly established but this did not stop sega trying to mix up the scene with the games battle system which added a huge amount of depth to the usual formula. Also Lavishing the game with some truly impressive Anime styled cut scenes further sweetened the deal!
Chase HQ II
Your objective in Chase HQ II is to aimlessly scream down a highway all the while trying to apprehend fleeing criminals by continuously slamming in to them, until they blow up or grind to halt. Developed by Taito and released in 1992 Chase HQ Offers a total a three different cars to chase down criminals in all the while adhering to a strict time limit that ramps up the intensity of the experience. The action is spread across a vast amount of different scenery as the game manages to replicate the excitement of the arcade original… inevitably less smooth and flashy but none the less an impressive conversion. At the start of each level you are informed of who you are pursuing, with the criminals car constantly moving ahead, its your job to avoid the various obstacles that litter the roads in order to catch up and apprehend the criminal. Received well by critics at the time, the game was praised for its fast and challenging premise as well as advancement of the Outrun formula created by our lord and saviour Yu Suzuki. Unfortunately the game did not seem to have a paticuarly wide release and as a result has become quite expensive!
Alien Soldier
Treasure games are well known for their remarkable aesthetics and immensely clever gameplay but some have also managed to make a name for themselves due to their insane difficulty. Alien Soldier is no exception to this statement and it remains one of the developers most demanding games. Released towards the end of the Mega drives life in 1995 this side scrolling run and gun will have you cursing at your screen as you make it through the 25 stages that make up the adventure. You take control of epsilon-Eagle as you run and double jump your way to victory, all the while taking advantage of the six different types of weapons in the game. only four can be equipped at a time but you are given the option at the start of the game to choose which ones to take with you. As well as having the ability to run and gun, you are bestowed with a power known as Phoniex force which sees our hero dash across the screen in a deadly fashion taking out any enemies in your path but the best feature has to be the counter move, that if timed right can turn enemy shots in to health. Pick this one up!
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Even though Sega currently struggle developing, new and exciting Sonic games, their is no denying its heritage when it comes to the history of platformers. In terms of gameplay I don’t think any sane person could argue that sonics adventures were better than Marios but what the original sonic games did, they did very well. The exhilarating dash and smash approach of the gameplay truly captivated me like only the very best sega games do. Oooozing with style and attitude everyones favourite blue hedgehog took the 16-bit era by storm and fully established Sega as a powerhouse within the industry. Released in 1992, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 introduced Tails to the series, this gave the ability for a second player to join in on the action, opening up a whole new way to play the game and also increasing the titles value. In my opinion the game represents the peak of the franchise and is one of the best reasons to own a Megadrive.
Road Rash
Taking two different genres and mashing them together does not usually create desirable results, but in the case of road rash for the mega drive.. A classic was born. Developed by EA and unleashed on the public in 1991, Road Rash would see the brutal bust ups of streets of rage sliced with the exhilarating speed of Super Hang on to create one of the most enjoyable games for the system.I n fact so enjoyable, it spawned a series of Road Rash games for the mega drive and went on to become hugely successful for EA. The game takes place in California on roads that stretch far in to the distance offering one of the more visually pleasing games for the machine, you take on up to 14 otheer opponents as you try to speed past and slam each other of the road to emerge victorious. As mentioned The series would spawn many seuels but also ports to other consoles that all offered extra features and more content. But for me Road Rash feels at home on the Megadrive and is my preferred way of playing the game.
Strider
Strider has to be one of the finest arcade conversions to ever appear on the Megadrive and with the game taking up a HUGE 8MB it was also one of the largest. It was released for the Mega Drive in 1990 and quickly went on to become one of Segas best sellers. Considered a killer app for the system it managed to showcase what the Megadrive was capable of and offered a taste of the greatness the console would eventually deliver. The game is also based largely on the 1988 manga, Strider Hiryu. The story sees you tasked with assassinating a mysterious dictator only known as the grandmaster, set in a dystopian future the game presents you with a surprisingly great storyline, With the gameplay you’ll find yourself sliding and cartwheeling ought each environment in no time, you owe it to yourself to try this one out.
Streets of Rage
Now when most people hear the words Mega Drive or Genesis for that matter, Streets of Rage is one of the games that instantly springs to mind. With the likes of Final Fight proving hugely successful on Sega’s rival console the SNES, Sega set to work on there own side scrolling brawler. Lets not beat around the Bush, Final Fight looked a lot more visually impressive when compared to Streets of Rage but in terms of gameplay, depth of combat and just pure enjoyment, the game clearly Knocked the shit out of Capcoms Final Fight. Released in 1991 the game sees you taking on opponents as you progress through eight locations known as rounds and with the choice of three different characters all possessing there own unique abilities, the game gave the oppurtunity to find which style works best for you as you make it through the adventure. What really makes Streets of Rage shine is the inclusion of a multiplayer mode that will see a friend taking up the fight as well which has resulted in some of the best moments I’ve had playing video games. Capatalising on the success of the title, the game would spawn two sequels that all improved upon the formula established in this release.
Moonwalker
Based on the film possessing the same name, Moonwalker would see you stepping in to the shoes of Micheal Jackson as you moonwalk and dance your way to victory. The gameplay is mainly focused on finding children, which all resemble the character Katie from the movie. They are usually found hiding behind doors as you make your way through the levels. Assuming the role of Micheal Jackson you are assigned several attacks based on dance moves such as the stylish high kick that is usually found in his dance routines as well as holding the kick button to perform a moonwalk which can only be described as sublime. Being a huge fan of his work I jumped at the chance to play this one and with Micheal himself producing the music for the game everything feels authentic and immersive. The game received generally mixed reviews upon its release but do not let that turn you off probably one of the most enjoyable games for the system you will find… And obviously if you like Micheal Jacksons music, this one is a no brainer.
Gunstar Heroes
Not many companies have managed to make there debut quite as well as Treasure with Gunstar Heroes… Made up of many former Konami employees, Treasure set the bar with the games astonishing visuals and innovate gameplay that presents a frantic rollercoaster of a ride that is still very enjoyable to this day. The game is basically Contra on happy pills and delivers all of the hardcore blasting you would expect as well as a wicked sense of humour that sets the game apart from its contemporaries. You take control of a mercenary known as a gunstar and are on a mission to stop an empire that wants to revive an ancient weapon by utiilising four gems hidden throughout the planet, Ok the story isn’t going to win any awards but Gunstar heroes is all about the gameplay and on that level it truly delivers. The game offers four basic weapon types that you can choose from, force…. which fires a rapid series of small bullets, Lightining…. which fires straight lasers across the screen, Chaser… which fires stars that home in on enemies and finally flame which is a short range flamethrower with devastating power. What makes things interesting is the ability to hold two weapons at a time and results in some really cool combinations of the weapons, providing an extra level of strategy in the game. This is one of the greats and deserves a place in your libary.
Ghouls and ghosts
For quite sometime in my opinion Ghouls and ghosts was the best platformer for the system and its no surprise to learn that the man behind everyones favourite blue hedgehog Yuji Naka was the guy responsible for this games incredibly addictive gameplay. You take control of Knight Arthur as you advance through eerie levels and conquer a number of undead creatures in a quest to restore all the people killed by the games antagonist Loki, also known as lucifer in separate conversions of the title. Throughout the adventure you encounter many different types of weapons and armour that all aid you on your quest, in total there are fives levels as well as Lokis chamber appearing at the end but in order to complete the game you must defeat the five levels twice and acquire a special weapon in order to enter Lokis chamber. The game has gone on to gain a reputation for its crushing difficulty but the Mega Drive release was toned down a notch when compared to its Arcade counterpart. But thats not to say its easy… Far from it… This is still one of the Megadrive hardest games but at the same time rewarding. Truly a classic that totally deserves a spot on your shelf.
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