Machine Memories: Sega Genesis

On 02/10/2023 at 09:39 AM by KnightDriver

About 1992 I reconnected with a childhood friend and got back into console gaming with the Sega Genesis. It had been almost a decade since I'd played a home console, the last time being the year of the video game crash, 1983.

Genesis

My friend had a Genesis and video game versions of board games Risk and Monopoly. We enjoyed those a lot and so we moved on to sports games like the PGA Tour series and NBA Jam. Then we got into brawlers like Streets of Rage and Golden Axe and finally RPGs such as Shining in the Darkness, a suitable Wizardry-like game.

Later we got the expansions to the Genesis, 32X and Sega CD, all bought at flea markets when we saw them for cheap. What a strange console the Genesis became with the 32X installed in the cartridge slot and a CD drive mounted on a board alongside it. What an ugly beast! I can’t say there was all that much we played with those add-ones either.

In the 21st century I discovered great games like Fire Shark (a shmup) and Phantasy Star IV.

TV Time! Genesis commercial.

SanAndreas

02/10/2023 at 04:23 PM

My cousin had one of these. It had pretty rocking audio, since he had it hooked up to the speaker and the Genesis used a Yamaha synthesizer for its sound. I actually enjoyed Sonic as much as the SNES Mario games, and I almost got one for Mortal Kombat I. Then the SNES came out with a Zelda bundle and an excellent version of Mortal Kombat II.

I discovered a lot of Genesis gems on PC digital platforms like Gametap and Steam, and I have the Genesis Collection on Switch, which has the entire Phantasy Star series and both Shining Force games. I just wish we could get Lunar 1 and 2.

KnightDriver

02/11/2023 at 11:03 AM

There are a lot of good Genesis collections out there. Lunar series would be cool. I always wanted to play that but the games were always pricey.

daftman

02/10/2023 at 07:30 PM

I was militantly on the Nintendo side of the console wars during the '90s but in the early 2000s, when I first started to have a disposable income, I bought a Genesis off ebay so I could play Contra: Hard Corps and Gunstar Heroes. Back then GameStop still sold all the old games and usually at pretty good prices, so I got a few good ones that way too. I have a harder time going back Genesis game these days, maybe because I don't have the same nostalgia as I do for Nintendo's old consoles (or maybe they tend to not be as good...)

02/11/2023 at 11:08 AM

Gunstar Heroes looks so good. I probably stopped playing it though 'cause of difficulty.

Cary Woodham

02/12/2023 at 08:40 AM

I never had a Genesis as a kid, as I was on the SNES side. But that was a good side to be on for my tastes in games back then. My only experiences with the Genesis back then was playing it at friends' houses and on demo kiosks. It was mostly just Sonic, though, so I wasn't that impressed. Luckily in college when I dabbled in emulation I discovered a lot better Genesis games, like Gaiares and Crusade of Centy. And now there are lots of Genesis collections that have all sorts of good games, like Ristar, Phantasy Star 4, and the Streets of Rage games.

02/13/2023 at 04:32 PM

I don't think I was dedicated to any one system back then. At some point I just wanted them all, if I could.

02/14/2023 at 08:36 PM

I wanted them all, too, just couldn't afford it.

02/17/2023 at 10:37 AM

I got so much stuff on the cheap or through trade-ins.

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/18/2023 at 09:16 PM

I have a Genesis Mini next to my more nostalgic SNES Mini just so I can rap Biggie lyrics to myself every day.

02/20/2023 at 02:51 PM

"Their so small, but I'm so big. Yo yo." I'm probably misunderstanding you.

02/24/2023 at 01:50 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw

Skip to about 2:35 or so.

03/06/2023 at 03:29 PM

Biggie gave you "good and plenty" then, huh? Ha ha.

PixlBit

Machine Memories: Sega Genesis

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