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Okay, the smoke has cleared and the dust has settled. The Nintendo/Sega war has ended. So what were the great games to play on the early Sega game consoles?
You don't have to agree with the list but you might find it to be a pretty good starting point for new collectors of SEGA games. Not one of the games listed is a dud. None will dissappoint you. Along the way, you may find some gems that slipped past the list here.
Included are lists for the Sega Master System and the Sega Genesis, including the games for the Sega Genesis add-ons; the Sega CD and the Sega 32X.
2. R-TYPE (famous space shooter, unique weapon selection)
3. Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (cute platformer - for kids of all ages)
4. Wonder Boy In The Dragon's Trap (a classic platformer)
5. Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (another classic platformer)
6. Ultima IV (in depth RPG, very deep for an 8-bit platform)
7. Transbot (another side scrolling space shooter)
8. Lord Of The Sword (well done sword fighting platformer)
9. Ghost House (multi-level platformer with interesting enemies)
10. Forgotten Worlds (a classic)
2. Ristar (unique multi-level platformer, unlike anything else)
3. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (one of the best Sonic games of all time and likely the best in a Genesis cartridge)
4. Toe Jam & Earl: Jammin' (cool music, likable characters and fun gameplay)
5. Splatterhouse 3 (one of the best action fighters)
6. Mega Bomberman (great, classic puzzler)
7. Rocket Knight Adventures (great platformer)
8. Truxton (awesome top down shooter)
9. Areo The Acrobat 2 (fun "all over the place" platformer)
10. Contra Hard Corps (great action shooter)
2. Snatcher (classic story book adventure, choose your Q's and A's)
3. Popful Mail (cute, fun platformer)
4. VAY (great RPG)
5. Lunar: The Silver Star (another great RPG)
6. Lunar: Eternal Blue (sequel to L:TSS, just as good as the original)
7. Lords Of Thunder
8. Shadow Of The Beast II (also available on a Genesis cartridge but this version is much better)
9. Wonderdog (odd platformer, cool music that stays with you)
10. Slipheed
2. Kolibri (completely "out there" adventure/fighter/shooter - you are a hummingbird!)
3. Space Harrier 32X (like Genesis games only better)
4. Doom (FPS, great controls on the 32X)
5. Spider-Man: Web Of Fire (game not fun but is rare and very collectible)
ABOUT THE SEGA SYSTEMS
The Sega 8-bit game console was called the Sega Master System (SMS). It came out in the late 1980's at a time when home video games were just starting to really catch on in the US.
The Sega Genesis was the next generation home console featuring a 16-bit processor. This was Segas' most commercially successful system in the US.
The Sega Genesis had a couple expansion modules that could be purchased and added to the Sega Genesis. The 2 add-ons were the Sega CD and the Sega 32X. The Sega CD could play special CD games through the Sega Genesis. Many of the games released for the Sega CD add-on took advantage of the higher capacity CDs by filling that additional space with Full Motion Video (FMV). A famous example of a FMV video game would be DRAGON'S LAIR where game play is reduced to pressing the right button at the right time during an animated sequence.
The Sega 32X add-on increased the bit rate and processing power of the Sega Genesis system and allowed 32-bit games to be played through the Sega Genesis. 32 bit games were right on the edge of achieving 3D graphics within a video game. The 3D graphics attempted rarely looked good but at the time was cutting edge stuff. The 32X add-on was not successful and was supported less then two years with very few 32X game cartridges ever being produced for it.
ABOUT THESE LISTS
Overall, Phantasy Star is a TOP game and Buster's Hidden Treasure is right up there although little known.
I have 3 little kids and so we don't play FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS and don't play FIGHTERS very often. Hard core gamers in the US may think , "Well, what else is there then?". What's left are PLATFORMERs, ADVENTURE, RPG's, SPORTs, PUZZLE Games, STRATEGY and the not so personal SHOOTERS like space shooters.
You don't have to agree with the list but you might find it to be a pretty good starting point for new collectors of SEGA games. Not one of the games listed is a dud. None will dissappoint you. Along the way, you may find some gems that slipped past the list here.
Included are lists for the Sega Master System and the Sega Genesis, including the games for the Sega Genesis add-ons; the Sega CD and the Sega 32X.
SEGA MASTER SYSTEM (8-bit, 1986 to 1997)
1. Phantasy Star (Still one of the best RPG's of all time)2. R-TYPE (famous space shooter, unique weapon selection)
3. Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (cute platformer - for kids of all ages)
4. Wonder Boy In The Dragon's Trap (a classic platformer)
5. Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (another classic platformer)
6. Ultima IV (in depth RPG, very deep for an 8-bit platform)
7. Transbot (another side scrolling space shooter)
8. Lord Of The Sword (well done sword fighting platformer)
9. Ghost House (multi-level platformer with interesting enemies)
10. Forgotten Worlds (a classic)
honorable mentions: Golevelius, Duck hunt, Kenseiden, Y's - Vanished Omen, Zillion
avoid: Ghostbusters, Spy vs. Spy, any game that starts with "Great" and ends with the name of a sport
avoid: Ghostbusters, Spy vs. Spy, any game that starts with "Great" and ends with the name of a sport
SEGA GENESIS (16-bit, 1989 to 1998)
1. Tiny Toon's: Busters Hidden Treasure (simple graphically, well balanced side scrolling platformer - everything done just right)2. Ristar (unique multi-level platformer, unlike anything else)
3. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (one of the best Sonic games of all time and likely the best in a Genesis cartridge)
4. Toe Jam & Earl: Jammin' (cool music, likable characters and fun gameplay)
5. Splatterhouse 3 (one of the best action fighters)
6. Mega Bomberman (great, classic puzzler)
7. Rocket Knight Adventures (great platformer)
8. Truxton (awesome top down shooter)
9. Areo The Acrobat 2 (fun "all over the place" platformer)
10. Contra Hard Corps (great action shooter)
honorable mentions: Chakan, Shinobi III, Toki - Going Ape Spit, Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Alissa Dragoon, Earthworm Jim
avoid: Championship Pro Am, many sport games, Dark Castle
NOTE: While I don't let the kids play fighting games very often, I have found that Shaq-Fu is more enjoyable than the popular Mortal Kombat series.
avoid: Championship Pro Am, many sport games, Dark Castle
NOTE: While I don't let the kids play fighting games very often, I have found that Shaq-Fu is more enjoyable than the popular Mortal Kombat series.
SEGA CD (16-bit, 32-bit w/32X, 1992 to 1996)
1. Sonic CD (likely the best 2D Sonic game)2. Snatcher (classic story book adventure, choose your Q's and A's)
3. Popful Mail (cute, fun platformer)
4. VAY (great RPG)
5. Lunar: The Silver Star (another great RPG)
6. Lunar: Eternal Blue (sequel to L:TSS, just as good as the original)
7. Lords Of Thunder
8. Shadow Of The Beast II (also available on a Genesis cartridge but this version is much better)
9. Wonderdog (odd platformer, cool music that stays with you)
10. Slipheed
honorable mentions: Wild Woody, Sol-Feace, Robo Aleste, Earthworm Jim Special Edition, Flashback: Quest For Identity
avoid: The Lawnmower Man, Sewer Shark, Microcosm, Loadstar: The Legend Of Tully Bodine (collectible but not fun)
avoid: The Lawnmower Man, Sewer Shark, Microcosm, Loadstar: The Legend Of Tully Bodine (collectible but not fun)
SEGA 32X (32-bit, 1994 to 1996)
1. Knuckles Chatix (a little different but still a great Sonic game)2. Kolibri (completely "out there" adventure/fighter/shooter - you are a hummingbird!)
3. Space Harrier 32X (like Genesis games only better)
4. Doom (FPS, great controls on the 32X)
5. Spider-Man: Web Of Fire (game not fun but is rare and very collectible)
honorable mentions: Star Wars Arcade helped keep the system alive a little longer, Virtua Racing, Mortal Kombat 32X
ABOUT THE SEGA SYSTEMS
The Sega 8-bit game console was called the Sega Master System (SMS). It came out in the late 1980's at a time when home video games were just starting to really catch on in the US.
The Sega Genesis was the next generation home console featuring a 16-bit processor. This was Segas' most commercially successful system in the US.
The Sega Genesis had a couple expansion modules that could be purchased and added to the Sega Genesis. The 2 add-ons were the Sega CD and the Sega 32X. The Sega CD could play special CD games through the Sega Genesis. Many of the games released for the Sega CD add-on took advantage of the higher capacity CDs by filling that additional space with Full Motion Video (FMV). A famous example of a FMV video game would be DRAGON'S LAIR where game play is reduced to pressing the right button at the right time during an animated sequence.
The Sega 32X add-on increased the bit rate and processing power of the Sega Genesis system and allowed 32-bit games to be played through the Sega Genesis. 32 bit games were right on the edge of achieving 3D graphics within a video game. The 3D graphics attempted rarely looked good but at the time was cutting edge stuff. The 32X add-on was not successful and was supported less then two years with very few 32X game cartridges ever being produced for it.
ABOUT THESE LISTS
Overall, Phantasy Star is a TOP game and Buster's Hidden Treasure is right up there although little known.
I have 3 little kids and so we don't play FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS and don't play FIGHTERS very often. Hard core gamers in the US may think , "Well, what else is there then?". What's left are PLATFORMERs, ADVENTURE, RPG's, SPORTs, PUZZLE Games, STRATEGY and the not so personal SHOOTERS like space shooters.
Guide created: 04/08/08 (updated 05/08/09)
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