The Video Game Critic's
Genesis Reviews S

Sagaia is one of those games whose sum is greater than its parts. Unspectacular in terms of graphics and sound, Sagaia still manages to be one of the best shooters on the Genesis. Your ship is armed with missiles and bombs, and can shoot both of them rapid-fire at the same time. Since there's no penalty for doing so, I just hold down both buttons for the whole game to maximize my firepower. Weapon power-ups augment your current weapon instead of replacing them with something new, which I like because you never had to "avoid" power-ups like you do in some shooters. The game encourages you to shoot with reckless abandon, and there are a generous number of shield power-ups that really come in handy. In terms of graphics, I found the backgrounds to be somewhat dull and the enemies fairly lackluster. One original element of Sagaia is the idea of "energy cores". These floating mines appear periodically and are usually difficult to hit, but set off an explosion that wipes out everything on the screen (like a smart bomb). They sometimes appear on boss encounters, usually floating near the lower edge of the screen. Another cool aspect is the branching levels, which let you select your next level after the first one, which is always the same. There are 28 stages in all, but that's a bit misleading since most tend to recycle the same enemies, backgrounds, and bosses. Still, there are 12 bosses in all, which is not too shabby. The difficulty is tweaked perfectly to keep you coming back for more. Shooter fans will want this in their collection. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

After playing the 3DO version of this game, there's really no going back. On the Genesis, Samurai Shodown just looks like another run-of-the-mill Street Fighter wannabe. It's a 2D fighter with Asian-inspired fighters that carry sharp weapons. Some of the characters are pretty cool, but the graphics are nothing special, and the sound is just lousy. The scratchy voice samples are hard to take, and the minimal background music won't exactly have you singing in the shower. The gameplay isn't much better - the action feels very slow and lethargic. Worst of all, the Genesis isn't capable of executing the snazzy 3D scaling that's the trademark of the game (not to mention its one original feature). At least the six-button controller is supported. But only diehard fighting fans will want to try this one. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

This fine Shinobi sequel is often overlooked, but deserves more credit. Your job is to rescue hostages scattered over four stages set in downtown locations. Your ninja's main weapon is throwing stars, although he slashes with his sword when enemies are close enough. He can also use a limited number of magic attacks to wipe out all on-screen enemies. But the best feature of Shadow Dancer is the loyal dog who is always by your side. You can sic him on any enemy, which results in a struggle that provides you with an opportunity to attack. The dog effectively adds a strategic element to the action, allowing you to reach even the most elusive enemies from a safe distance. Shadow Dancer isn't a huge game, but it's very satisfying. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Contributed by RPG correspondent Jonathan Hawk.
Amazingly, Shining Force was the first turn-based strategy RPG that I played the entire way through, and it has turned me on to the genre! This was the second entry in a long-running line of "Shining" titles, many of which have seen U.S. releases. The main plot involves "the Hero" and his allies (the Shining Force) as the last hope in a fight against an ancient evil (Dark Dragon) and his minions. The Hero battles his way through several chapters of the game, picking up additional party members along the way including a robot, dragon, werewolf, centaurs, elves, and birdmen. When not in battle, the game suffers from "too many buttons" syndrome. Instead of hitting a button to perform an action, you must call up a menu and select "Search" or "Talk". Each character has four item slots, and it's interesting how you never buy armor for your units - only weapon upgrades. The combat system is where the game truly... er... "Shines". Battles either take place on over-land maps between cities, or within the towns and dungeons. You can have up to twelve units in your party with several others waiting back at "headquarters". True to tactical RPG's, each unit can move a certain amount of squares, which is often limited by the terrain. After moving, your unit can attack or cast a spell (if it has the ability). Archers can shoot from afar, but melee fighters can only attack adjacent squares. Victory depends largely on your ability to effectively coordinate the movement and attacks of your units. Your units can accumulate experience points and gain levels, as well as earn "promotions" to improve their classes. When a unit dies in battle, you can't bring them back during the fight, but you can have it revived at a church. If the Hero is killed, the battle ends and you find yourself back at your last save point - with half the gold. The background music and sound effects are pretty enjoyable and the graphics (which included some simple illustrations of the characters) are relatively good-looking all things considered. A few of its elements are a little inconvenient, but on the whole Shining Force is pretty darn fun to play. Favorite Character: Zylo. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

Shinobi III is one of the best ninja games I've ever played. The graphics, sound, and control are all spectacular. The first stage is set in the wilderness, with ninjas hiding in the trees. It's pretty cool, except for the guy walking around with the bucket on his head (what the?). In the second stage, you fight armed guards in a high-tech, biological test facility. The action never gets repetitive because the scenery is constantly changing, and there are plenty of surprises. You have several attacks and power-ups at your disposal. The bosses are incredible, and there are even some nice high-speed levels that let you ride a horse or jet-ski. The audio is remarkably good, especially the sound of your weapon slashing into human flesh! If you like ninja games, you cannot afford to live without this one. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

I'm going to go out on a limb with this one, and call it the most fun video pool game EVER. I remember playing the challenging one-player mode for hours in 1993, and playing it today only confirms how great it is. Granted, there are few options, and no fancy 3D angles like those in modern pool games. But this game is SO much fun. Besides the two-player modes, there is an extremely addictive one-player game where need to score a certain number of points to make it to the next level. You score points by making consecutive shots or sinking balls in numeric order. Various imaginative trick shot opportunities are presented to you between rounds. The control is excellent and easy to learn. I really love the jazzy background lounge music - it adds atmosphere. The graphics are also very attractive. Side Pocket is a real gem. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Bart Vs. The Space Mutants features bright cartoonish graphics and compelling gameplay, but its difficulty is insane! When it takes me several days to complete the first stage, that tends to have a detrimental effect on the game's grade! The colorful intro shows the Simpson family snuggled up on the sofa watching TV as aliens land outside and begin infiltrating society disguised as normal people. These aliens are seeking specific items to complete their doomsday machine, so Bart must run, jump, and skateboard through five stages in order to snatch up (or hide) these items from the aliens. The first stage is set on a city street where Bart must track down 24 purple items, and a helpful "goal counter" on the bottom of the screen keeps you posted on his progress. You'll achieve your goals by spray-painting flowerpots, dumping paint, and knocking clothes off a clothesline. In one special case, Bart needs to prank call Moe the bartender in order to lure him out and spray-paint his apron. The sidewalks are crawling with small bouncy aliens that Bart has to duck under or jump over. Sometimes it's necessary to purchase specific items from stores including wrenches, cherry bombs, and bottle rockets. Bart Vs. The Space Mutants is actually quite fun to play, but it's relentlessly unforgiving, requiring you to complete every single goal flawlessly! If that's not enough, each stage ends with a boss encounter like a water-balloon tossing bully. Later stages promise madcap action in a shopping mall, amusement park, and museum. If only I could get that far! Since there's no password, you're always doomed to repeat the early stages, and considering the difficulty, that oversight is unforgivable. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

Despite some outstanding visuals, Skeleton Krew falters due to its repetitive, headache-inducing gameplay. You can choose from one of three "skeleton warriors", but they just look like regular guys with all that heavy armor on. You play from an isometric diagonal view, and the stages look like futuristic dungeon mazes. The control scheme allows you to rapid-fire, rotate, and strafe, making it easier to mow down legions of monsters that continuously materialize around you. That leads me to my main complaint - there's too many freakin' things to shoot! The monsters just regenerate over and over, which is really annoying in certain levels that require you to clear them all out before progressing. The shooting action gets old really quick. In most stages I discovered it was less painful to simply navigate the maze and avoid combat altogether. Another annoying aspect is bosses that take forever to die, and you can't tell if they're taking damage! I really can't find fault with the graphics. The stages are fairly generic, but the pseudo-3D characters are nicely animated, and it's fun to watch them explode. But it's just eye candy as far as I'm concerned. Even with the two-player simultaneous mode, this game doesn't have lasting play value. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

Here's another fine space shooter for the Genesis. What's the gimmick this time? Well, your ship has three cannons, and you can adjust the angle of these individually. It might not sound too exciting, but trust me, it's a cool feature. When there are enemies across the top and bottom of the screen, you'll want your cannons wide open. When you're shooting down a boss's throat, you'll want to have them all pointed forward. The background graphics are just average, but the bosses have a lot of moving parts. Many enemies have long limbs that are difficult to avoid. There are six stages and unlimited continues. Sol-Deace is pretty much a "by the numbers" shooter, but it does have an addictive quality. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Soldiers of Fortune delivers the kind of arcade-style, two-player shooting action that I like. You can choose from one of six unique combat-hardened veterans, each with his own brand of firepower and special abilities. The arcade graphics are cartoonish but well defined, and the techno soundtrack is fantastic. The object is to shoot your way through multi-tiered labyrinths stocked with monsters, items, and electric "nodes" you need to activate. The monsters include beetles, golems, and lizard men, most of which shoot very slow projectiles. A cautious approach is recommended however, because monsters can appear in front of you from out of nowhere, which indicates poor design in my opinion. Another problem is that when you die in the two-player game, you can't rejoin the action immediately and have to wait a little while. Between stages you can power-up your soldier and purchase items. Although designed for two players, Soldiers of Fortune provides a CPU partner if you need him, and the one-player experience is arguably more fun. I was a little apprehensive about Soldiers of Fortune, but once I started playing, I couldn't pull myself away. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

Released two years after the Sonic series ran out of gas, 3D Blast attempted to transition Sonic into the 3D universe. This is by far the most technically superior Sonic, but also the least fun! Graphically, it's a visual masterpiece; perhaps the best looking Genesis game ever. Inspired by games like Marble Madness, the 3D multi-tiered landscapes are lush, clean, and detailed. The high-resolution 3D characters are animated smoothly, and the seven zones are inspired by the original Sonic games. Gameplay involves running around different areas collecting rings and power-ups, jumping on robots, and gathering up the furry animals that are released. When you have them all (usually about five), you take them to a big ring that teleports you to the next level. Knuckles and Tails make appearances in the game, and if you locate them, they will give you rings or take you to a bonus stage. The bonus stage, a rickety bridge over lava, looks cool but is only moderately fun. Despite the fine technical achievement we have here, the game lags in the fun department. One reason is the relatively slow pace of the game. Unlike the original Sonic titles, you must move slowly and deliberately to avoid obstacles. Another problem is that the control, although responsive, requires you to jump directly on the robots, leaving little room for error. Since control is a bit slippery in the first place, it can be frustrating as you hop around frantically trying to land on something. Another problem is the fact that the levels are connected, and you can accidentally fall back into an old level. This needlessly wastes time as you need to find your way back. There is no save feature, and it takes a good amount of playing time to make it to the later levels. Finally, in order to break down certain barriers, Sonic needs to utilize a new spin move that makes him look like a ballerina - not cool!! All in all, it's a nice-looking but forgettable game. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This Sonic game is totally different from its predecessors. Some magazines said its main purpose was to hold people over until Sonic 3. Spinball is basically an expansion of the Casino Zone from the first Sonic game, in which Sonic becomes a pinball in a huge scrolling pinball table. The game doesn't have that polished look and feel of the other Sonic games. It's still fun though, and pinball lovers should appreciate it. There are four levels that contain all sorts of switches and gadgets. As you progress, new areas open up, and the game does a pretty good job steering you into the new areas. As with most pinball games, Spinball requires you to hit specific targets, which can be time consuming. Each level ends with a boss (no surprise there), who is actually pretty easy to defeat. Between levels there is a mini-pinball bonus stage which is arguably more fun than the main game! It features multiple balls and silky smooth animation that's missing from the main game. Spinball is a pretty easy game, and there's no save option. It isn't as good as the previous Sonic games, but it's still a nice diversion. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This game created a whole new concept in video games hyped as "lock-on technology". The idea is that in addition to playing the cartridge by itself, you could attach Sonic 2 or 3 onto the top of it, which would allow you to play as a new character (Knuckles) in those old games! It works pretty well, although the concept never quite caught on. Sonic and Knuckles is your typical Sonic game with the option to play as Knuckles, a red animal that can glide and climb walls. These abilities definitely add a new dimension to the game play, and it's pretty cool to be able to scale walls and fly around in Sonic 2 or 3 (Sonic 1 is not supported). Unfortunately, it appears that the Sonic programmers were running short on ideas. The levels here look a bit like outtakes from past Sonic games. The music is also uninspired. New elements like a wind-blowing chicken and "sticky" devices are irritating and just slow down the game. By itself, this game pales in comparison to past Sonic games, but the lock-on ability does breathe new life into Sonic 2 and 3. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Sonic was Sega's answer to Super Mario Bros, with flashier graphics, excellent music, bonus levels, and lightning fast gameplay. This game is a legitimate video game classic. Even by today's standards the graphics are beautifully detailed and pleasing to the eye, and each level has its own catchy theme music. One aspect that differentiated this game from others in 1991 was its speed. Sonic moves so fast through loop-to-loops and tunnels that you sometimes lose control of him temporarily. There are two ways to play Sonic games. Whizzing through the levels as fast as you can gets you big bonus points, but if you want to explore, you can take your time and discover secret areas and power-ups. Bonus rounds, which are completely different from normal game play, allow you to collect gems needed to complete the game. There's not much to fault with this game. There are six zones with three acts each, so it takes a while to finish and there is no password or save feature. The underwater zone, in which everything moves in slow motion, can be a bit tedious. But overall the game is polished and super fun. Several sequels followed... © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Besides six new zones, this Sonic sequel added a few new features to spice things up. Sonic can now do a super dash attack, an extremely useful move which allows him to rev up and dash from one spot (he doesn't need a running start). The bonus screens feature some extremely fun 3D action as Sonic runs and collects rings in a huge, winding half-pipe. Then we have the new character named Tails, a two-tailed fox. Tails can be played in two ways. You can challenge Sonic to some split-screen action, but this mode looks distorted (everything is half as tall). A second player can control Tails in the normal game, but most of the time he can't keep up and goes off of the screen. The new zones feature more hidden areas and corkscrews in addition to loops. I did encounter a bug in this game that caused me to get stuck in the scenery (was this rushed for Christmas?). But overall, Sonic 2 is just more of a good thing. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

The third Sonic game really took the series to a new level. The one huge improvement was the addition of the save feature. Other improvements include a much better two-player mode that allows you to select game variations and zones. The split screens are now proportioned correctly and look great. The graphics look better than ever, and there are some new power-ups as well. The new bonus stage lets you run around a huge sphere, but it's not quite as fun as the Sonic 2 bonus stage. Still, this is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Sonic the Hedgehog series on the Genesis. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Try making a 3D game on a system that doesn't support 3D graphics, and the result might look something like Space Harrier II. You control a guy in a jetpack flying into the horizon, shooting enemies and obstacles that fly approach from the distance. Conveying a realistic illusion of depth requires smooth scaling, which this game is sorely lacking. Heck, your guy doesn't even move sideways smoothly. The result is a bunch of jumpy, pixelated images appearing all over the place. Enemy missiles, which look like rings, are especially tough to see coming. This is a mess. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This side-scroller is plenty of fun if you can deal with all the clichˇs. Spiderman is your typical, old-fashioned, jump-kick-punch game. You beat up one thug after another, and they all look exactly the same. Spiderman can crawl on the walls, ceilings, the sides of buildings, and through vents. The controls are tricky at first, and can be frustrating at times. But your web-slinging ability is great fun, allowing you to swing freely as well as tie up the bad guys. You'll face six villains, including Dr Octopus, the Hobgoblin, and Venom. The graphics and sound are about average. The action gets repetitious, but the boss battles are pretty interesting. Spiderman is a challenging game, and it doesn't provide a password, but it does deliver some old-school fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

When originally released, Maximum Carnage (starring Spiderman and Venom) was lambasted by critics, and rightly so. This side-scrolling brawler does a few things right and a truckload of things wrong. I have no beef with the graphical style of the game. There's not much detail in the character sprites, but I appreciate their large size and and vibrant colors. Likewise the cut-scenes are rendered in comic book-style cels. The animation is uncommonly smooth, and I love how you can hoist enemies over your head and hurl them into oncoming thugs. The huge cast of villains includes the multi-armed Doppelganger and Morbius the vampire. There are even a few cameos by fellow superheroes like Captain America and Black Cat. Maximum Carnage has a lot going for it, but extended play reveals a shoddy, poorly designed game. For one thing, the game is one-player only! That's an absolutely crime when you consider the game co-stars Spiderman and Venom! And while there are a nice variety of villains, you'll spend most of the time beating up the same three thugs over and over again - including babes who attack with their hair. Sorry Acclaim, but giving them different colored outfits isn't fooling anyone! This mindless slugfest wears thin in a hurry, especially when the game forces you to backtrack in certain areas! Some of the climbing sequences are totally idiotic, with flashing arrows indicating where incoming projectiles will strike. The game is long, but there is no password to save your progress - just a few continues. In closing, I'd like to thank my trusty Game Genie, without which this review would not have been possible. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

The first Splatterhouse, released for the Turbografx-16, was a fantastic hack-n-slash video game. This sequel provides more of the same, but it's too repetitious. The main character is a muscular guy in a hockey mask. The sights in this game will remind you of every horror movie from Friday the 13th to Evil Dead to Hellraiser. Most of the creatures splatter green blood when hit with a two-by-four, a bone, or any other weapon you can find. The bosses are particularly large and disgusting. Unfortunately, many of these monsters simply require too many hits, a trend that continued with Splatterhouse 3. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Sometimes you don't feel like dealing with complicated controls and strategy; you just want to kick some ass, and that's what games like Splatterhouse 3 are for. Your extremely buff character, decked out in jeans and a hockey mask, must make his way through a huge mansion in search of his girlfriend. As he progresses, he'll beat the stuffing out of an endless supply of grotesque monsters. Some of these things, particularly the bosses, are very gross! As the name indicates, there's plenty of gore. Apart from a few special moves and weapons, most of the fights are of the "punch, punch, kick, etc." variety. It gets repetitive, but at least you can hit several monsters with one punch when they're close together, and power-ups let you become temporarily bigger and stronger. Graphically, the rooms are unique and interesting, and the characters are huge. There are several routes through the house, and plenty of traps and other surprises. The cheesy story line is developed through the use of digitized images which look pretty neat, and a password is provided at the end of each game. Splatterhouse 3 isn't too deep, but it's a good way to take out your aggression. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

It was groundbreaking for its time, and in terms of fun, no other baseball game for the Genesis can touch SportsTalk Baseball. Boasting arcade-style graphics, smooth action, and intuitive controls, this is ideal for the casual player looking for a quick game. The pitching and batting controls are as simple as pressing a button. When fielding, you can dive for grounders, leap for line drives, and even snatch homeruns from the top of the wall! Runners can lead off and steal, but don't forget to hit that slide button as you approach second base! Despite featuring major league players, Sega inexplicably did not obtain the MLB rights. Having the teams referred to by their city isn't an issue, but those homemade logos look cheesy as all hell! I suppose that explains why the guy on the box is wearing a generic green helmet. Three fictional stadiums are available: White-Sky Dome, Blue-Moon Stadium, and Red-Sun Stadium. SportsTalk's gameplay is solid all around, but its true claim to fame is its live commentary. This feature was amazing in 1992, and it's still quite entertaining today. The commentator (who looks like Larry King) keeps up with the action fairly well, and it's quite amusing when he lags behind. Since his voice doesn't affect the action on the field, you can just continue playing as he rambles on about the last play. For a good laugh, have a fielder tag an occupied base several times in succession, causing the commentator to exclaim "Safe! Safe! He's safe. Safe! He's safe. Safe!" Playing head-to-head is great, but the single-player mode is respectable as well, with aggressive CPU-controlled opponents that even try to steal bases. SportsTalk lets you play a whole season via the battery backup, but its menu interface is woefully slow and clunky. One bizarre "feature" is the game's "domination" rule, which abruptly ends the contest when one team goes up by ten runs. What the heck is that all about? Another issue is the lack of an instant replay. Oh well, this is a 1992 game, so I guess you can't ask for too much. But if you're looking for pure fun, Sportstalk Baseball is definitely the way to go. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Here's a game I picked up ages ago but never got around to reviewing because it looked so boring. Now that I've finally played Star Control a few times, I can state for a fact that it is boring. Unless you're a real strategy nut (and I stress the word nut) Star Control will probably put your ass to sleep. The "action" (and I use the word loosely) begins upon selecting one of fifteen scenarios, each of which pits you against an alien race in intergalactic battle. Taking turns against a CPU opponent, you establish colonies and manage resources in an effort to construct a fleet of warships. The main screen features a rotating starfield, and I have to admit it looks pretty snazzy. Your installations appear to be floating in a 3D space, but that mainly serves as eye candy. As you deploy vessels and advance them into enemy territory, confrontations occur in the form of one-on-one space battles. Unfortunately, most of your ships have all the maneuverability of a bathtub, with super wide turn radiuses that will make you absolutely miserable. I like how the screen zooms in when the ships are close together, but it's cheesy how ships bounce off stars and planets like pinballs! I may not fully grasp the strategic aspects of Star Control, but I know the shooting action sucks, and that's half the game right there. I suspect this was originally a PC title due to sparse sound and graphics that appear to have been designed for a higher resolution display. For brainiacs who overcome Star Control's ample learning curve, the game offers plenty of options, including the ability to let the CPU control the strategy or melee portions for you. Personally, I'd just as well have it do both, and then turn itself off when it's done. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

This side-scrolling shooter has a retro-futuristic theme, which is pretty original for a video game. If you've ever seen old black-and-white science fiction movies that attempt to depict the future, you'll know what I'm talking about. People with epilepsy will want to bypass the intro and cut-scenes, which flicker annoyingly to simulate an old newsreel. You can choose between a blimp and a bi-plane. I prefer the blimp; it's slower but stronger, and there are tons of speed power-ups to be found anyway. Once your get past the dull-colored intro, you'll be surprised to see how bright and colorful Steel Empire is. Besides large blimps and other mechanical monstrosities, you'll see many strange creatures. Flying windmills. Flying fish wearing Santa Claus hats. The screen scrolls every which way, often reversing itself. That's OK because you can shoot in both directions, and your firepower is pretty good. There is some slowdown during encounters with large bosses, but you'll be grateful for it because it improves your control. You also have a supply of smart bombs. There are seven levels, and you get three continues. Steel Empire is not a bad choice for shooter fans. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This old-school side-scroller tries to be like Ghouls and Ghosts, but the gameplay doesn't even come close. You control a star-throwing barbarian in a dark forest full of monsters and items. The graphics aren't bad, but the animation sucks. Your barbarian is as stiff as Al Gore. Jumping or attacking doesn't cause him to change his body position at all. Apparently the guy who did the graphics spent most of his energy on the large, shapely woman who appear in each level but serve only as scenery. In order to find keys and objects to complete the level, you need to move both right and left, often swapping items and retracing your steps, and it's hard to tell what you can or can't jump on. Adding to the confusion is an eagle who occasionally picks you up and flies you to some random area. And cheap hits are the norm as killer caterpillars sprout beneath your feet and platforms disintegrate beneath you. Stormlord probably won't hold your attention for long. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

After waiting an absolute eternity (in video game years, anyway), the Genesis faithful finally got a piece of the Street Fighter pie in the form of this "Championship Edition". Judged on its own merits, it's a spectacular one-on-one fighter with some of the most impressive graphics and music you'll ever witness on the Genesis. The diverse cast of characters hails from locations spanning the globe. Not only are the fighting styles diverse, but each stage offers a taste of a unique culture. Street Fighter 2's gameplay is timeless, whether you're pitted against a friend or the CPU. The normal Championship mode didn't especially impress me however, due to its inconsistent speed. The excellent Hyper modes, on the other hand, offer some of the fastest fighting action you'll ever want to experience. Of course, comparisons to the SNES Street Fighter 2 Turbo Edition are unavoidable, and to be honest, the Genesis simply can't deliver the same degree of sharp visuals and rich audio. This version's graphics look slightly grainy compared to the SNES, and some sound effects are downright cringe-worthy. The announcer in particular sounds awfully congested. Even so, this Championship Edition turned out much better than most expected, and the six-button Genesis controller provides an ideal button configuration (identical to the arcade game). Fans will also appreciate the inclusion of the arcade game's intro, not present on the SNES cartridge. There's an exclusive "group battle mode" as well, but that's hardly worth mentioning. SF2 Championship Edition is a rock solid fighter, but if you own an SNES, I'd opt for that version instead. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

For many years I've taken this game for granted, but after recently playing similar games on other systems like Final Fight (SNES) and Burning Fight (Neo Geo), I've gained a whole new appreciation for this classic side-scrolling brawler. Streets of Rage takes the Double Dragon-style of gameplay to a whole new level, with more attacks, realistic-looking characters, and interesting backdrops. Two players can fight side-by-side, and there are three characters to choose from, including a muscle-bound blonde guy (Axel), the high-kicking black dude (Adam), and a hot chick in a red miniskirt (Blaze). The punch and jump buttons let you execute a surprising variety of moves, including throws, jump-kicks, head-butts, and body slams. The "special attack" button calls in a police car which fires a cannon that rains down fireballs on everybody but somehow doesn't harm the good guys one bit. There are a wide variety of thugs to beat the crap out of, but after a while they start repeating, showing up in different-colored outfits. You'll face fire-jugglers, dominatrixes, guys with turtle-like jackets, and a parade of generic thugs. At the end of each stage, some pumping "boss music" kicks in as you face a metal-clawed punk, a Cro-Magnon man, a fire-breathing fat guy, or some acrobatic ladies. Speaking of music, the Genesis isn't known for its audio, but the music in Streets of Rage is simply amazing. Each of these catchy techno jams gets under your skin and really pumps the adrenaline. In terms of graphics, the characters are nicely animated and the scenery is quite detailed, especially the gorgeous city skylines. You can smash up some of the scenery (like phone booths) to reveal power-ups and weapons. And like most fighting games, it's perfectly acceptable to eat strange food you find laying in middle of the road. Weapons include baseball bats, pipes, and - my favorite - the bottle. Not only can you smash it over some goon's head, but then you can stab him with the broken end! The gameplay is remarkably tight in terms of control and design. Bad guys don't require an inordinate number of hits, and the stages are just the right length. Streets of Rage is a absolute classic that seems to get better with time. Play it and love it. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

Perhaps the best game of its kind, Streets of Rage 2 was actually a big step up from the original game, with larger characters, more moves, and more interesting levels. The four playable characters include Axel and Blaze from the first game, plus a huge wrestler named Max and a little black kid on skates named Skate. While the big characters are nicely detailed and well animated, two players may have difficulty staying out of each other's way! A slew of new moves including a rear attack, fury, and drop attack, make the action much less repetitive this time around. Some of the stages are extremely imaginative. Sure, you'll begin on a city street, but from subsequent locations include a bar, a rainy alley, a bridge, an amusement park, and a baseball stadium. My favorite stage is the amusement park, where you walk through an arcade, a pirate attraction, and an Alien-like science fiction ride. The game is still linear, but the screen occasionally scrolls diagonally instead of side-to-side. Like the first game, the thugs all tend to wear the same outfits in different colors. There are fire-breathing fat guys, motorcyclists, guys in jetpacks, and of course the obligatory scantily clad women with whips (gratuitous for sure, but always welcome!) The audio is a bit disappointing. The music doesn't compare up to the awesome tunes from the first game, even though it's in the same style. The same muffled yell and scream samples are used for all the thugs. I also felt that the designers missed a big opportunity to incorporate more cooperative moves into the game. There are only one or two of them, and they're not very effective. Despite these minor quibbles, Streets of Rage 2 is still the best game in the series. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

If Streets of Rage 2 (SOR2) was a big step forward in the series, Streets of Rage 3 is a step back. Let's face it - this game's biggest claim to fame is its hidden Kangaroo character. In many ways, it seems like a rehash of SOR2. Three of the four playable characters are the same, and most of the enemies, sound effects, and moves were lifted directly from the previous game. Axel, a veteran from the original game, is probably the best character. Blaze is back with a new gray dress. The little black kid named Skate has returned, but he's still just as weak as he was in SOR2. The only new character is Dr. Zan, an un-cool old guy who's supposed to be bionic. He replaces Max, the slow, lumbering wrestler from the previous game. The graphics are terribly uninspired. Besides the familiar-looking thugs who repeat themselves ad-infinitum, the women characters have obviously been altered for the American audience to obscure their revealing outfits (rats!). The backgrounds tend to be boring, unlike the imaginative scenery in SOR2. Get a load of some of these tired locales: a warehouse, construction site, subway, and yet another elevator! Even the street scenes are forgettable. The only bright spots include a flashy discoth¸que and a bar with an aquarium. Streets of Rage 3 is the first of the series to support the six-button controller, but the extra moves don't add much in terms of gameplay. And if you really want to make your life complicated, the body-controlled Activator is also supported. In terms of sound, SOR3 isn't even in the same ballpark as the original SOR. This game features some of the worst music of the series, and the tinny sound effects are the exact same as those used in earlier editions. Other problems include slow-down, bad guys who linger off the screen way too long, and a dumb, T2-inspired background story. After finishing each of the first two Streets of Rage games, I was looking forward to the sequels. But after playing SOR3, I felt like I had just about had enough. Even gamers looking for more of the same will be disappointed with this one. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

Boldly original and loaded with surprises, Strider delivers a genuinely thrilling platform adventure. Armed with a sword, our hero must slash his way through a Russian palace, the Siberian wilderness, a flying airship, and even a dinosaur-infested Amazon jungle. Strider Hiryu is a nimble guy, with the ability to scale walls, vault, slide, and even monkey-swing under platforms. Is there anything this guy can't cling to? I love it when he just misses a platform, yet grabs the ledge with one hand and quickly hoists himself up. In addition to battling soldiers, wild animals, and freaky robots, Hiryu must face some the most memorable bosses ever seen in a video game. The mechanical ape and skeletal T-Rex are classic. Strider's graphics are great but its animation is less impressive and somewhat choppy. A simple white arc represents a swing of your sword, accompanied by a simple clang sound. Enemies you strike are split in half before they silently vanish. The lack of sound effects is glaring at times, but I do enjoy the elegant organ soundtrack. Most objects tend to be rendered with large sprites, and Strider himself makes for a rather large target. The difficulty is substantial, and you need an intimate knowledge of the stage layouts to avoid their many hazards. Strider can also smash pods to release mini droids that fight by his side - a novel concept for its time. Although the crux of the game involves slashing everything in sight, the stages exhibit remarkable variety. Each has a unique design and new set of enemies, so the action never gets stale. And you don't have to deal with those "repeating environments" which plague so many other platformers. With its graphic artistry and imaginative stages, Strider is one of the most entertaining platform games you'll ever play. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. I really loved the original Strider with its unbridled creativity and frenetic "grab-onto-anything-and-everything" gameplay. By comparison, Strider Returns feels slow, confusing, and uninspired. Worst of all, its unreasonable difficulty level will have you ditching the controller in disgust. On the surface, Strider Returns doesn't seem much different. It's a side-scrolling platform game with a hero that can slash quickly and repeatedly to defeat his robotic and alien foes. The first thing I noticed was how much slower Strider moves in this game. His sword animation has improved however, and he has a bit more range. There are no mini-robots to help him out, but he does have the ability to throw stars at times. It doesn't matter, because you'll be lucky to survive the very first stage! Yes the "Forbidden Forest" is an unpleasant ordeal fraught with cheap hits and blind jumps. Green plants sprout from below your feet, spelling instant death. You'll hit your head on seemingly easy jumps, sending you plunging to your death. Upon defeating the first boss, the room begins raining fire, often draining your last ounce of life. Such brutal treatment would be bad enough in stages 6 or 7, but this is the first stage we're talking about here! The second stage places you in a maze-like castle with ropes and pulleys all over the place. I found myself going in circles, and I was pissed! After the generic "girders in the sky" of stage three, I could almost predict the obligatory "alien lair" was right around the corner (yep - that's stage four!). The controls could be tighter, and there are a lot of little glitches - like being able to slash through solid stone walls - and kill what's on the other side! And I have no F-ing clue what that [expletive] orb meter is all about. Strider Returns also attempts some voice synthesis with unintentionally hilarious results. Even the box cover is deserving of ridicule, with a horrible illustration that suggests the title "Gymnast Wars". Strider Returns is really only good for one thing, and that's for making you appreciate the original Strider. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

This is a shooter with gravity, similar to the classic game Gravitar. The object is to navigate your spacecraft through caverns while shooting enemies, picking up humans, collecting power-ups, and maintaining your fuel. I've played several games similar to this, and this one seems less fun than most. Sub Terrania does have a few things going for it. The graphics are pretty cool. I like the giant horned head that becomes a skull as you destroy it. The science fiction-style music is quite good, and the missions are well designed and clearly explained. But the controls are so bad that they nearly ruin the game. First off, you have to constantly thrust because the gravity is so strong. Next, the controls are too sensitive; it's difficult to navigate narrow openings. Finally, the front and back of your ship look identical, which can cause you to accidentally thrust into walls. And even if you master the controls, there are other problems. The enemies require too many hits to destroy, and your shield status is practically hidden on the bottom of the screen. Sub Terrania simply isn't much fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This is an excellent western shoot-em-up, featuring great graphics, tight control, and insane firepower. Two players at once can shoot the outlaws, rescue sexy ladies, and collect gold coins. The graphics are detailed, colorful, and vibrant. It looks just like the arcade game, and it's just as fun. A nice variety of stages let you fight in town, on a train, and several other western scenarios. Power-ups let you upgrade your pistol to a sawed-off shotgun. I love how the bad guys fall out of windows when you shoot them. The levels aren't that long, but there are several cool bonus stages. This is a solid two-player shoot-em-up. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.

You really have to hand it to EA for at least coming up with something original. This futuristic baseball game features non-stop action, flashy graphics, robot players, a huge field, 135 MPH pitches, land mines in the outfield, and crazy power-ups that let your fielders jump 20 feet (to snag those would-be homers!). There's some great ideas here, no question, but the execution leaves much to be desired. Before I go further, I should mention that this game is hyper-kinetic to the point of being dizzying. Even moving backgrounds of the menu screens will make you sick. Informational screens are flashed so fast you can hardly read them! Even "close-up" action screens go by so fast it's hard to tell what's going on. In general, the graphics and sound are outstanding. The view of the ball getting knocked into the outfield is awesome (but often misleading). The ultra-modern sound effects are imaginative and not at all annoying. But below all the glitz is an arcade baseball game that isn't as wild as it wants to be. The gameplay is pretty much like any other baseball game, except for less home runs, fewer fouls, and more off-the-wall action. Sure you can buy power-ups during the game, but they don't do much more than give you more power at the plate. Yes, there are land mines in the field, but since the fielders are mostly computer-controlled, there's not much running around going on. In fact, the fielders always seem in the right position to catch the long fly balls (which take an eternity to come down). This is one of those games that seems great at first, but ultimately won't get much playtime in your Genesis. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

It's not much of a solo experience, but Super High Impact's brand of arcade football is an absolute blast when played competitively against a friend. The contests tend to be short but action-packed, and the cheesy animations are primitive yet endearing. The game is played on a side-scrolling field with large, realistic-looking players. The playbook offers about 15 plays on offense and defense, and the play-calling mechanism is quick and easy. If only you could differentiate between pass plays and run plays! Pressing B to hand the ball off takes some getting used to, but otherwise the controls are simple. Pressing A unleashes your turbo speed, and it's extremely effective for breaking away for big runs. Super High Impact is a button-masher's dream. Kicks are performed by repeatedly tapping buttons to "power-up", and the occasion "fights" are little more than button-mashing extravaganzas. It's fun for while, but definitely shallow and ultimately tiresome. The action on the field often belies the title of the game, with tackles that don't seem very hard at all. You can't dislodge the ball, and when a player's helmet goes flying, and it looks more like his entire head fell off! A Wolfman Jack impersonator will sometimes appear with his "hit-o-meter" gauge to measure the ferocity of a hit, but its readings seem arbitrary. Super High Impact incorporates some rough voice synthesis, including one sample that sounds suspiciously like Barney from The Simpsons. With its arcade theme and ample eye candy, I'm surprised there's no half-time show. What I really like about Super High Impact is how anyone can sit down and play a fun game in just a few minutes. If you're looking for a pigskin contest with an arcade flair, don't pass this one up. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

Next to Virtua Racing, this has got to be the best racer I've ever seen on the Genesis. The gameplay is a combination of Pole Position and Pitstop, with superb graphics and responsive controls. The game opens on a high note, showing a good-looking blonde in a bathing suit (don't ask me what that has to do with racing!). The game features a single-race mode, a multi-race "championship" mode, and a practice mode. You can choose your racing team and transmission type. The action is viewed from inside your Indy-style car, and the illusion of speed is very effective. The road ahead is fairly flat, but signs on the side of the road and the on-screen map keep you alert of turns. The background scenery looks great, and there are even some dark tunnels that are a lot of fun to drive through. The other cars look realistic, and the scaling and animation are relatively smooth. Super Monaco is addictive. One feature that made me laugh was the chain-smoking voice that encourages you with words like "C'mon!" and "Keep in up!". This is a first-rate racer, and a classic Genesis title. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

Oh yeah - I loved this one the first time I laid eyes on it! It looks decidedly old school, with tiny cars riding around miniature dirt tracks that fit on a single screen. The graphics are minutely detailed, and the tracks and cars have a rugged 3D look to them. The tracks are small but exciting, with bumps, ramps, water, and multiple paths. Four little cars speed through the course, bouncing around and bumping into each other around every turn. The controls are simple: one button accelerates and the other gives you a "nitro" turbo boost. It's all the fun of Micro Machines without the limited view. Bonuses randomly appear around the course, and between races you can upgrade parts and purchase more nitros. It's a shame that there's no four-player mode, but my main complaint is that the computer-controlled gray car is just too hard to beat! Super Off Road is a hidden gem as far as Genesis games go. I can play this one again and again. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.

Super Smash TV is a cool shooter brought to you by Eugene Jarvis, the author of the classic Robotron. Your character participates in a "Running Man" type of game show, thrust into a maze of rooms with hoards of enemies closing in from all sides. You must blast them all to bloody pieces while collecting money and power-ups. The graphics are pretty good, and look similar to the arcade version. The quality of the voice samples is pretty lousy though - the announcer sounds raspy. The main problem with Smash TV is that it's meant to be played with two joysticks, not one control pad. Actually, the game DOES allow you to use two control pads in the one-player mode, but it's far too awkward. You can tweak the controls to determine if the shots should be fired away from where you're running, toward where you're running, or in a locked position. It's all just a big kludge though, because none of the settings really capture the feel of the arcade game. Unfortunately, without good control, this game isn't much fun. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

As an incremental follow up to the Championship Edition, Super Street Fighter II adds four new fighters (and stages) to the mix. There have been some minor tweaks to the moves, but only hardcore fans will really concern themselves with these. The newcomers include a gigantic Native American named T. Hawk, a Jamaican guy named Dee Jay, Bruce Lee look-alike Fei Long, and a scantily-clad hottie by the name of Cammy. Die-hard fans will appreciate the new faces, but at the time this was released, it was a questionable upgrade. The graphics are top-notch for a Genesis title, but still pale compared to the SNES version. The sound effects are particularly bad; perhaps even worse than those in the Championship edition (or maybe there's just more of them). Due to the system's limited sonic range, digitized voices and punch effects are accompanied by hiss and static. A few extra modes like tournament, group, and time challenge are included, but these arenÕt anything special. Besides being able to use the 6-button Genesis controller, this version has no obvious advantages over its SNES cousin. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

Sword of Sodan reminds me of that old adage "the bigger they are, the harder they fall". Sporting some of the largest characters I've ever seen on a Genesis game screen, Sodan really gets your attention with its graphics but comes up short in terms of gameplay. You can choose between a male or female warrior in this overwrought medieval slash-em-up. The characters are meticulously detailed and about half the screen in height. Their choppy movements are less impressive however, and the female warrior walks and talks like an old lady. Moves include high/medium/low sword attacks and a jump. Groups of guards attack you with their spears, and you have to fend them off from both sides. The play mechanics are very awkward. Sometimes the most effective technique is to kneel down and "poke" your enemies repeatedly in the crotch until they keel over. That's no way for a man to die! The collision detection is pretty bad, and so is the responsiveness of the controls. I should also mention something about the excessive and terribly fake-looking blood. At one point you'll face huge knights that can actually be decapitated! This is a level of violence rarely seen until Mortal Kombat. Sodan also contains potions that are meant to add some strategy, but these tend to be worthless. The purple one has NO effect at all, and the drinking an orange one KILLS the nearest enemy. I know - it doesn't make sense - but work with me here. The whole game is pretty ludicrous, and if not for the large character sprites, Sword of Sodan would be completely forgettable. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.