The Sega Genesis had a long life as it released in 1989 but received new releases up until 1998. With that many years under its belt there were destined to be plenty of games that slip through the cracks. While sports games, platformers, and arcade conversions received the lion’s share of attention on the console it has a diverse lineup of titles spanning every genre. These are some of the Genesis games I feel deserve a higher profile and are every bit as deserving of your time as the more popular classics. Trust me, there are enough hidden gems to make three more of these lists too!
Alisia Dragoon
Released early in the Genesis’ life span Alisia Dragoon is a lost classic from the makers of Lunar and Grandia. Like those games it is also a collaboration with animation studio Gainax. You will not find the extensive cutscenes of those games here however. What you will find is a kick ass action game with a unique mechanic unlike anything else in the genre. Alisia’s homing thunderbolt automatically charges and will seek out any enemies in the vicinity. At full power it makes a full sweep that usually clears the rank and file trash. It wildly changes your approach to the game since you cannot treat like a typical run and gun action game. In combination with your four familiars you’ll have a hell of a time working your way through the game’s eight stages in this fusion of high fantasy and science fiction. Even stacked up against later offerings the graphics and music are still impressive and you sure as hell won’t finish it in one sitting. As a bonus it’s also dirt cheap due to its low profile. You have no excuse not to pick this one up!
Trouble Shooter
Vik Tokai never published a breakout hit that garnered them mass market attention. However the numerous B-tier releases they did have are the reason I miss their presence. Trouble Shooter could easily have been a licensed Dirty Pair game but wholly original. You control both Madison and Crystal simultaneously with the option to change their positions as the situation dictates. It is certainly different and the multi scrolling levels take full advantage of this. The level design is excellent as the game offers opportunities to By the end of the game you’ll control three characters at once which is absolutely nuts. The game’s plot and wacky situations belie a game that can be tough yet still enjoyable. If it were a bit longer it would be a classic. But that is what sequels are for….
Granada
Anyone who owned a Sega Genesis early on is more than likely familiar with Renovation. They were one of the earliest supporters of the platform and provided a variety of content. While you had dogs like Earnest Evans you also had great games like El VIento and this gem. Granada has an awesome sense of scale even though you are in a tank. The levels are massive as you must plan your route to destroy your targets within the time limit. The clock is strict as you not only need to eliminate all the targets but also have enough time to beat the end level bosses as well. The action quota is high and the boss battles are epic due to the game’s scale. I love the strategy plotting a course to accomplish your goals and explore a bit; the later Desert Strike games would take this ball and run with it. Granada did it first however and remains a great buy to this day.
Shadowrun
If I had my druthers there would be a new Shadowrun game every week. Luckily smarter men hold the license and have been selective when it comes to video game adaptations. The Sega edition of FASA’s cyberpunk world is essentialy a 2d Grand Theft Auto. You have free reign to take jobs around Seattle’s many districts to fund the search for your brother’s killer. While the runs you can take are not so varied the many random events that occur do an excellent job of spicing up missions and making the easiest corps run a harrowing experience. Even combat in cyberspace has been given plenty of depth although it is pretty complicated. The complete freedom the game affords also makes it brutally difficult and the story hard to follow but those are minor complaints among a sea of excellent design choices. God I would have killed for a sequel.
Steel Empire
Shooters are a dime a dozen, especially on the Sega Genesis. Despite the sheer volume of titles in the genre on the system Steel Empire stands out for a variety of reasons. The Steampunk setting is still one of the most unique in the genre and looks fantastic. The presentation sells the retro aesthetic with mission briefings using film grain to appear old. The graphics and setting do not hide a dog of a game however. Steel Empire bucks trends by featuring a life bar and giving you few weapons but an experience system that levels up your weapons instead. The effect of your armaments growing stronger is tangible and necessary as this is one tough nut to crack. Utilizing the correct ship for each level is satisfying as you take down giant dirigibles, futuristic planes, and even take the fight off planet. It is amazing how far a cool setting can elevate a game. Steel Empire remains a beloved title to this day with a remake for the 3DS and an upcoming HD port to the Switch and PS4. Play this one and find out why.
Mega Turrican
Mega Turrican trades the exploration and huge levels of the original for all-out action and in my opinion is better for it. I get that the massive levels made the first game unique. But with its myriad problems they were a detriment in my eyes. Mega Turrican rivals some of the best pure action games on the platform with intense action and mechanical changes that make the game better, namely invincibility frames when hit. That opens the game as it lessens the frustration and makes the difficulty medium. That leaves plenty of time to appreciate the creative set pieces and stellar production values. Factor 5 flex the Genesis hardware with fantastic art direction and an amazing soundtrack to back it up. Honestly how this game took so long to find a publisher is a mystery; crap like Awesome Possum get the red carpet but we had to wait for over a year to get this goodness? What a god damn shame. You are not an action fan if this is not part of your Sega Genesis library.
Quackshot
Where the Castle of Illusion series gets the most attention of Sega’s Disney games Quackshot is just as good. Quackshot sees Donald Duck doing his best Scrooge McDuck impression as he travels around the world in search of treasure to make himself just as rich. Where Scrooge has his multipurpose cane Donald is equipped with a plunger gun that is just as versatile, able to freeze enemies in place, form makeshift footholds, and eventually upgrade it with specialized ammo. The game is completely non-linear although you will have to save certain countries for later due to needing certain items. While there is a heavy dose of platforming at hand the game is equal parts adventure as you solve puzzles in the numerous temples and caves to progress. And just like they did with Castle of illusion Sega pulled out the red carpet for the game’s production values. It all adds up to one of the best adventure games for the system.
Ristar
Ristar was a victim of Sega infighting by 1995 and did not receive the marketing push it deserved. With Sonic Team pedigree behind it Ristar should reside alongside the platforming greats rather than languishing in obscurity. Alas, someone was asleep at the wheel. Ristar’s elongated arms can be used to grab nearly any surface in the game to aid in platforming hijinks. But you will mostly use it to deliver a vicious head butt to anyone in your path. While you can see the areas where it borrows from Sonic I found the level design to be stronger and more varied as each new world presents new ways for you to utilize your abilities. Backing up the brilliant mechanics are some of the most beautiful graphics and art on the system alongside a sweeping score. Sega have whored the game out pretty extensively so you can find it on nearly every modern platform in one form or another, meaning you can experience platforming greatness at its finest.
Rolling Thunder 3
Rolling Thunder was a thrilling series in the arcade with its distinctive cover system. The various home ports did the first two games justice; especially part two on the Genesis. Namco would create the third game exclusively for that system and what a game it is. Every facet of Rolling Thunder has seen an upgrade. It is more story driven with frequent cutscenes, you have a literal armory of weapons, and the controls are more versatile. With enhancements such as a longer life bar and diagonal fire it is more accessible as the difficulty is lower. The globetrotting adventure that made part 2 so great is even better as the levels and enemies are more diverse. The only thing missing is two-player coop but when the game is so god damn good it barely matters. I cannot say enough good things about this game, I really wish Namco would give it another chance.
Chiki Chiki Boys
Talk about flying under the radar, Chiki Chiki Boys went unnoticed in the arcade under the name Mega Twins. Even I ignored it when it came home. But a chance rental changed my mind. This is classic Capcom platforming goodness. The gameplay is similar to Wonder Boy in Monster World with its mix of platforming and action RPG elements. Except this one is level based. As you collect coins to upgrade your equipment the gameplay evolves as you traverse diverse environments. From the bottom of the sea to the heavens Chiki Chiki Boys covers a lot of ground. The cute exterior hides a game with the pacing and action of a more hardcore title. Sega did an excellent job with this port and the only thing that would have made it better is multiplayer. But Chiki Chiki Boys is more than worth it without it.
