BLAST PROCESSING! Episode 34: Sega Genesis Retrospective

[erich]

It’s all Genesis all the time this week, as Dave, Adam, and Erich doff their nostalgic caps to a system that celebrates the 20th anniversary of its nationwide U.S. release this month. Memories, favorite games, not-so-favorite games, the fate of Sega and of its blue-needled mascot—the boys pack it all into 50 minutes of rambling goodness.

You can listen to the podcast here on DVD Verdict, or over at Pixel Verdict.

Anyone have a favorite Genesis game or memory they'd like to share?

[Mach6]

My top 5 Genesis Games.

1. Sonic & Knuckles: The best Sonic game & for once the bosses weren’t pushovers. I disagree with Adam that the Sonic sequels didn’t add anything new to the series. It featured new power-ups like the fire shield where you could do a “fire dash”, the bubble shield, & the magnetic shield which would pull all the rings on the screen to you. It also had great replay value to beat the game once as Sonic & then again as Knuckles.

2. Streets of Rage 2: Yeah, Dave’s #1 game of all time. Let’s face it: SOR2 (especially Stage 1) had the greatest music of any Genesis game. As an immature, violence loving, testosterone filled teenager, nothing gave me more pleasure than using Axel’s “throw 20 punches in 3 seconds special move” to beat the crap out of those thugs & admiring how hot Blaze was.

3. NHL ‘96: Of all the NHL’s, I consider this one the best, because I remembered a few of the previous editions banned the fights and blood (BOO!). NHL ’96 brings the violence back, a big upgrade in graphics, & the SPIN-O-RAMA.

4. Strider: One of the 1st games I bought for the Genesis back in ’91 & I was blown away by the awesome graphics, music, & sound. Some of the bosses (like the robotic gorilla) took up half the screen! At that time, I thought Strider was way cooler than Sonic.

5. After Burner II: A guilty pleasure. There’s nothing like an F-16 firing an unlimited amount of tracer bullets & missiles at enemy aircraft & watching a ton of explosions. Nowhere near as good as the arcade, but this version was intense & a lot of fun.

[mkiker2089]

I didn't own a Genesis but I was thinking of getting the Sonic collection. I remember Golden Axe and Altered Beast.

[erich]

I didn't own a Genesis but I was thinking of getting the Sonic collection. I remember Golden Axe and Altered Beast.

I didn't own a Genesis either, and I'm really enjoying the collection. It's probably not quite as nostalgic for me as for someone who played these games when they were younger, but in a general sense anything in the 16-bit range is going to pull at least one of my heartstrings. Besides, getting just shy of 50 games for $30 or less is a pretty awesome deal.

[Steve T Power]

The Genesis had one of the worst audio processors in console history - the NES had better sound. That's bad.

About the only Genesis game i still have any love for is Beyond Oasis.

[erich]

About the only Genesis game i still have any love for is Beyond Oasis.

That's one of the big reasons I wanted Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. I've heard great things about that game.

[mavrach]

I never had a Genesis either. I think I was the only kid who bought a Turbografx-16 instead. The Genesis always seemed dreary to me, even when I got the Wii and started downloading some Genesis games.

Still after listening to all these podcasts, I think it's time to download Streets of Rage II.

[Steve T Power]

I never had a Genesis either. I think I was the only kid who bought a Turbografx-16 instead. The Genesis always seemed dreary to me, even when I got the Wii and started downloading some Genesis games.

Still after listening to all these podcasts, I think it's time to download Streets of Rage II.

I was a Turbo-man as well. Had the Cd attachment and later upgraded to a Turbo Duo. LOVED Ninja Spirit and Bloody Wolf, and good ol' "Fighting Street", AKA: Street Fighter

Download Final Fight and Final Fight II instead.

[Jon Mercer]

Bloody Wolf had one of those buried treasure soundtracks. No one ever remembers it, but it's one of those games that just gets you pumped right from the get go. I miss games like that. If I ever get around to doing that side-scroller, it'll have a soundtrack like Bloody Wolf.

[Mach6]

The Genesis had one of the worst audio processors in console history - the NES had better sound. That's bad.

The NES?! Don't you mean the SNES had better sound. I admit the Genesis was horrible at voices (Everybody in Street Fighter II: Special Edition had throat cancer) but there's no way the NES could produce music as good in Strider, Shinobi 3, & Streets of Rage 1 & 2.

Still after listening to all these podcasts, I think it's time to download Streets of Rage II.

Download Final Fight and Final Fight II instead.

I think that statement is considered blasphemy in the Book of Dave.

[Steve T Power]

I think that statement is considered blasphemy in the Book of Dave.

No one ever cares about the Book of Steve.