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Tag Archives: sega genesis

Top 18 Weirdest Retro Games Ever Made

Top 18 Weirdest Retro Games — ornate gold-framed collage of authentic game screenshots

A talking fish wants answers. A silver-and-blue superhero is sprinting through traffic because somebody needs a Pepsi. Somewhere else, a cucumber is trying to rescue a tomato from a pumpkin. The controller is ordinary enough; the jobs it has been given are considerably less so. And that is before the zombie outbreak that can only be stopped by typing quickly. Some of these games make their first impression before you have touched… Read more

Top 20 1990s Video Games That No One Remembers

Top 20 Forgotten 1990s Games — ornate collage of authentic gameplay screenshots

You remember the mascots, the blockbuster sequels, and the games every friend seemed to own. But the nineties also left behind toxic-slime scientists, clay adventurers, transforming police machines, and a tiny hero from the world of Lemmings. This countdown revisits twenty games that deserve another look. “No one remembers” is our affectionate exaggeration: these games still have fans, and some have devoted followings. Our picks favor distinctive ideas, memorable presentation, and adventures… Read more

Game Over in the ’90s: The History of Gaming’s Lost Icons and Missing Sequels

Game Over in the 90s editorial cover featuring real Earthworm Jim, Bonk, Battletoads, Vectorman and Alex Kidd imagery and developer photographs

You beat the boss. The credits roll. You start thinking about the next game. For a kid with a Genesis, a Super Nintendo, or an Amiga, that was a perfectly reasonable habit. Another cartridge would turn up in a magazine. Another impossibly large enemy would fill a screenshot. Your favorite character would get new moves, a new sidekick, perhaps a skateboard. Everybody seemed to be getting a skateboard. Then, somewhere between the… Read more

The Sega Channel’s Exclusive Games: The Complete History of Sega’s Lost Online Library

The Sega Channel’s Exclusive Games: The Complete History of Sega’s Lost Online Library

Sega Channel was delivering downloadable Genesis games through cable television decades before modern subscription services. We dig into every verified Sega Channel exclusive, the games that were only available through the service in North America, lost software, prototypes, special builds and the massive preservation effort that finally recovered Sega’s forgotten digital library. Read more

The Rise, Fall and Complete History of Acclaim Entertainment: Mortal Kombat, Turok & Bankruptcy

The Rise, Fall and Complete History of Acclaim Entertainment: Mortal Kombat, Turok & Bankruptcy

Acclaim Entertainment became one of the loudest and most successful publishers of the 1990s, riding Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Turok, wrestling games, comic licenses and aggressive marketing to enormous visibility. This is the complete story of how Acclaim rose from a small Long Island publisher to a gaming powerhouse — and how overexpansion, costly licenses, bad bets and financial trouble brought it crashing down. Read more

The Complete History of Road Rash: EA’s 90s Combat-Racing Icon

The Complete History of Road Rash: EA’s 90s Combat-Racing Icon

You are in first place when the rider to your left swings a chain. You lean away, drift toward the yellow line, and see the sedan coming over the hill a second too late. The bike skids down the road without you. Your racer gets up and runs after it while everyone else disappears into the distance. In Road Rash, losing can be funnier than winning, provided you have the nerve to… Read more

Retro Replay: Pixel Panic Is Now on Sega Genesis — 50 Unique Levels, New Sprites, New Music, and More

Pixel Panic game levels on Sega Genesis.

Retro Replay: Pixel Panic has officially made the jump from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the Sega Genesis, and this new 16-bit version is a much bigger, louder, faster, and more complete version of the original homebrew idea. What started as a small NES homebrew experiment has now grown into a full Sega Genesis homebrew release with 50 unique levels, new sprites, updated gameplay ideas, new sound effects, music, breakable walls, bombs,… Read more

The Definitive History of ToeJam & Earl: A Genesis Deep Dive

The Definitive History of ToeJam & Earl: A Genesis Deep Dive

How Two Dudes, a Dream, and a Roguelike Built a Funkadelic Classic In 1991, the video game console war was defined by one thing: attitude. The Sega Genesis, with its "Blast Processing" and edgy mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, was in a head-to-head brawl with Nintendo. The landscape was dominated by lightning-fast platformers, brutal brawlers, and arcade-perfect shoot 'em ups. And then... there was ToeJam & Earl. It was a game that wasn't… Read more

History of Death Duel: Sega Genesis’ Darkest Mech Showdown

History of Death Duel: Sega Genesis’ Darkest Mech Showdown

A Forgotten Genesis Oddity There are some Genesis games you remember the instant you hear their names. Sonic spins into view, Streets of Rage echoes with its iconic soundtrack, and Golden Axe still makes you feel like you are clutching an arcade joystick in a smoky pizza parlor. Then there are the other cartridges, the ones that did not get their own TV commercials or full-page spreads in Electronic Gaming Monthly, but… Read more

History of Splatterhouse The Complete Timeline of Namco’s Horror Classic

History of Splatterhouse The Complete Timeline of Namco’s Horror Classic

1987–1989: Birth of a Horror Icon If you grew up in the late 80s, you know that arcades were already loud, neon-drenched temples of temptation. Yet every once in a while, a cabinet would appear that felt different-- darker, more dangerous, the sort of thing you’d whisper about with your friends at school. For many of us, that game was Splatterhouse. Developed by Namco on its System One board, Splatterhouse didn’t just… Read more

Sega CD, Night Trap, and the Birth of the Ratings Era

Senator Joe Lieberman holds up a light gun revolver from Konami's "Lethal Enforcers" game

Introduction In the early 1990s a red book sized disc promised to change everything about home gaming. The Sega CD arrived with glossy full motion video, big stereo sound, and enough storage to make cartridges look quaint. It was marketed as the bridge between arcade energy and living room cinema. For a moment it worked. You could spin compact discs in your console, watch grainy actors run through a haunted house, and… Read more

10 Hidden Gems on the Sega Genesis You Need to Play Before You Die

Top 10 hidden gems for Sega Genesis games

The Sega Genesis, or Mega Drive as it was called outside North America, is remembered as one of the most important consoles of the 16-bit era. Most fans think of Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, or Golden Axe when they reflect on the system, but the library was far deeper than those headliners. Hundreds of titles came out during its lifespan, and while some sold millions, others slipped quietly into obscurity… Read more

Altered Beast [Genesis] Review & Longplay [1988]

Altered Beast [Genesis] Review & Longplay [1988]

Altered Beast: A Timeless Sega Genesis Classic That Defined an Era Introduction In the golden age of 16-bit gaming, few titles embodied Sega’s bold push into the home console market quite like Altered Beast. Originally released as an arcade cabinet in 1988, it stormed onto the Sega Genesis in 1989 as a launch title, instantly becoming a symbol of the system’s identity. The opening command — “Rise from your grave!” — is… Read more

Sonic the Hedgehog MegaMix [Genesis] Review and Longplay [2008] ROM Hack

Sonic the Hedgehog MegaMix [Genesis] Review and Longplay [2008] ROM Hack

Retro Review: Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix – A Sega Genesis Triumph "Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix" is not just a game; it's a homage to the golden age of 16-bit gaming, a symphony of speed and nostalgia that resonates with every jump and spin-dash. As a ROM hack of the iconic Sega Genesis title, it takes players on a familiar yet fresh journey through the world of Sonic, showcasing the extraordinary talents of… Read more

Valis III – 1991 – Review and Longplay

Valis III – 1991 – Review and Longplay

Valis III for Sega Genesis: A Mixed Port with Limited Appeal Valis III, originally a hallmark of the TurboGrafx-CD's library, made its way to the Sega Genesis with the promise of bringing its action-packed adventure to a wider audience. This port, however, comes with a fair share of caveats, and my experience with it has been less than satisfactory. Porting Challenges The transition from the TurboGrafx-CD to the cartridge-based Sega Genesis is… Read more

Death Duel [Genesis] Review and Longplay [1992]

Death Duel [Genesis] Review and Longplay [1992]

We reviewed this game back in 2010, if you wish to read the old review. Death Duel: A Sega Genesis Cult Classic Revisited The Sega Genesis, remembered by many as the darker, cooler sibling in the early nineties console wars, had a knack for attracting games that pushed boundaries. While Nintendo carried the family-friendly banner, Sega opened its doors to publishers that were willing to test the limits of violence, style, and… Read more

Retrode 2: A Retro Game Adapter For Computers

Retrode 2: A Retro Game Adapter For Computers

A pretty neat solution for anyone looking for a small and portable box that enables you to hook up Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Controllers and game cartridges up to your computer for easy play. it plays through legal emulation, so if you feel uncomfortable scrounging the internet for grey area roms, load up your old school carts and have a ball. This is a pretty neat device, and can easily get… Read more

Death Duel

Death Duel

Death Duel is a tactical side-scrolling first-person shooter. Platform - Sega Genesis Release Date - October 1, 1992 The game consists of different time-limited rounds against a single enemy. Before each game, the player can spend Pheelae (money) on repairs and determine what weapons to take into battle. Each opponent has specific weaknesses and they can hide behind walls on the battlefield. To take them out, Jade needs to choose the most… Read more

Streets of Rage

Streets of Rage

Who could ever forget this game? “This city was once a happy peaceful place... until one day, a powerful secret criminal organization took over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqjJjTwdzq0 (Playthrough video above) Screenshots and related images Audio files Boss Theme Ending Ending (2) Ending (3) Game Over Level Complete Stage 1 Stage 1 (Static Remix) Stage 2 – Inner City Stage 3 Stage 3 (2) Stage 3 (2) Stage 4 Stage 4 (2) Stage 4 (Remix)… Read more