Sega Genesis Top Picks???

I have been working on my retro game lounge in my house. I have a nice big CRT with Nintendo, Super Nintendo, TurboGrafx, and PS1, and now I have added a Sega Genesis.

I never owned a Sega Genesis when it came out so I need some suggestions on games to buy, Top Picks that belong in my Retro Lounge.

Be warned, if you suggest a game and it doesn't come up to my standards. You will be punched in the gut and forced to play that Euro Wine Game with Schloesser and Thornquist while drinking wine from a carton!

Gunstar Heroes
Golden Axe
Streets of Rage 1 & 2
Revenge of Shinobi
Road Rash 2
Eternal Champions

Nice! The Genesis is an excellent console.

Castlevania: Bloodlines
Contra:: Hard Corps
Comixzone
Elemental Master
Truxton
Gunstar Heroes
Streets of Rage 1 & 2
Toe Jam & Earl
General Chaos (for multiplayer only!)
Kid Chameleon
Mutant League Football / Hockey
Outrun
Pirates Gold
Revenge of Shinobi
Shinobi III
Robocop vs Terminator
Shadow Dancer
Rocket Knight Adventures
Splatterhouse 2 & 3
Strider
Thunderforce 3
Earthworm Jim 1 & 2
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Egg Shen wrote: Nice! The Genesis is an excellent console.

Castlevania: Bloodlines
Contra:: Hard Corps
Comixzone
Elemental Master
Truxton
Gunstar Heroes
Streets of Rage 1 & 2
Toe Jam & Earl
General Chaos (for multiplayer only!)
Kid Chameleon
Mutant League Football / Hockey
Outrun
Pirates Gold
Revenge of Shinobi
Shinobi III
Robocop vs Terminator
Shadow Dancer
Rocket Knight Adventures
Splatterhouse 2 & 3
Strider
Thunderforce 3
Earthworm Jim 1 & 2
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

This is a really solid list.

I'd add Beyond Oasis, which is a really cool Zelda-clone. The Sonic games don't hold up though.

I recently got a really sweet retro gaming setup going as well, no Sega stuff though as I never owned any (played plenty at friends houses growin up). I literally can't stop playing my NES.

Josh - what are you using for your retro gaming setup? I've been thinking about doing this too -- would like to know what works.

I recently got a really sweet retro gaming setup going as well, no Sega stuff though as I never owned any (played plenty at friends houses growin up). I literally can't stop playing my NES.

Retro Craze is exploding and I am riding the wave as well. The emphasis on graphics at the expense of gameplay and overall fun I believe have caused a lot of this and the realization that most of these new games are "push button movies".Could also be a collecting factor as well, hard to say but still feel a lot of designers today dont have the feel for what is really fun.

Retro shops are popping up like mushrooms on a manure pile. There are two at a mall near me, doing brisk business.

The Genesis was a huge console in our house, I loved it.

Shinobi 3, still one of my favourites to this day, Revenge of Shinobi is great too.
Gunstar Heroes is one of the best of that generation period and probably the Genesis's best exclusive.
Ghouls 'n Ghosts - I played this one to death.
Sonic 1-3 are all pretty good
Eternal Champions was my favorite fighting game of that generation.
Afterburner 2 - I love Afterburner in general, fun series.
Target Earth - one of the hardest games of all time and unless you hit start on the second player controller to get infinite health you will never beat this game
Techno Cop - not the greatest game but the first one with a rating and a unique little sidescroller/driving game that was novel at the time. I would guess that it's aged very poorly.
Contra: Hard Corps - who doesn't love Contra?
Flashback - beautiful game at the time
Lost Vikings - my favorite puzzle game of that era. Still a great title today.
Forgotten Worlds - fun for the very short time it lasts.
Golden Axe/Double Dragon - it's always good to have a couple of these around to play with buddies.
NBA Jam TE - I loved these titles, they were good silly fun.
Vectorman - one of the coolest platformers around.

- lots lots more too, but these are some highlight that come to mind immediately.

This many games mentioned and no PHANTASY STAR IV. What the fuck is wrong with you people? What about SHINING FORCE?

TOEJAM & EARL isn't very good. It's nostalgic and all, but it's kind of a bad game.

HERZOG ZWEI is remarkably ambitious.

RISTAR is good too.

I'll disagree and say Toejam & Earl still holds up very well, but I'll add the caveat that it really only shines with two players. Also, the underrated side-scrolling sequel is worth tracking down as well.

Phantasy Star II, III and IV all kick ass. They're old school, hard as nails RPGs that are totally worth your time. Shining Force I and II are an absolute must if you like Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea.

Ghouls n Ghosts is the BEST version of that game. It has the most even difficulty and Arthur can fire his weapons straight up which is HUGE. If all you've ever played is the NES or SNES versions then you're in for a treat. One of my absolute favorite Genesis games.

I agree that Beyond Oasis is a great, great game. If you have any affinity towards The Legend of Zelda it's worth tracking down. So is Landstalker and Crusader of Centy.

I would have mentioned Phantasy Star, but honestly after all this time I am not sure how well they would hold up. RPG as a genre is a tough one to go back to. Progress really marches on.

I totally forgot about Mutant League Football and General Chaos. Definite grabs if you have other people to play with.

hotseatgames wrote: I would have mentioned Phantasy Star, but honestly after all this time I am not sure how well they would hold up. RPG as a genre is a tough one to go back to. Progress really marches on.

I played through the Phantasy Star series about 5 years ago. PSIV is one of the best JRPGs ever made and holds up incredibly well. PSII is the next best, mainly held down by some early grinding and some of the most abstruse dungeon design you will ever run across. The first game is good, but very grindy and difficult. PSIII is trash that should be avoided at all costs.

The Lone Voice wrote:
Be warned, if you suggest a game and it doesn't come up to my standards. You will be punched in the gut and forced to play that Euro Wine Game with Schloesser and Thornquist while drinking wine from a carton!

challenge accepted.

Shining Force II - the fak? Why has no one else recommended this??
Gunstar Heroes

MAYBE Ristar.

that's it, my other suggestions are too risky and I do not want for a gut punch

challenge accepted.

Shining Force II - the fak? Why has no one else recommended this??
Gunstar Heroes

MAYBE Ristar.

that's it, my other suggestions are too risky and I do not want for a gut punch

HAHAHA! Reading your response and looking at your Avatar cracked me up!

NHL 94 - One of the greatest sports video games ever made and probably the best hockey one.

Retro State of Mind podcast.

That is all.

S.