Summary
It wasn’t just a fancy slogan. For some, theSega Genesistruly did what “Nintendidn’t.” Fast-paced 16-bit graphics, thick bass beat music, and games that had a cool, mature edge over their rival’s cutesy, family-friendly fare. It was certainly enough to put the console on par with Nintendo’s fancier SNES, if not to beat them outright in some territories.
However, that wasn’t the only thing that made the Genesis a mega device. Many games in its library left a lasting mark on the industry, inspiring other developers to follow their lead. Whether it was in making the action more realistic, inspiring a legion of mascots, or creating new game genres altogether, these arethe most influential Sega Genesis games.
In its early days, the Genesis was promoted as being able to produce more arcade-perfect games than its competition. Given its pre-SNES rivals were largely 8-bit machines, it wasn’t the biggest boast. However, whenStriderhit the console, players knew they had something special, as it stood ahead of its few 16-bit rivals and became the Genesis' first big system seller.
It was essentially a futuristic version ofNinja Gaiden, asthe ninja Strider Hiryuslashed his way through foes to beat Grandmaster Meio, only it focused more on slashing enemies and using a variety of weapons over punishing platforming. This action-focused approach would later inspire Capcom and other developers to expand on this formula, producingDevil May Cry, God of War,the 3DNinja Gaidenseries, and other early hack-and-slash games.
While the Genesis and SNES both had great sports games, Sega’s console often had the better ports, as it kept the gameplay fast and smooth. Visual Concepts proved the SNES could keep up with its version ofMadden NFL ’94, but by then, the Genesis’ reputation as the sports console had settled in, so it wasn’t as big a seller as its rival Genesis port.
Madden NFL ’94also offered more realistic action, with flip plays, bluff plays, and rotatable views for punts and kickoffs. It was the first game in the series to use actual licensed NFL teams, along with Super Bowl teams available by default. Then, for the proverbial sprig of parsley on the turducken, it was the first game to use the iconic “EA Sports: It’s in the Game” audio tag.
History often differs by region, even video game history. Japanese players have had a ton of tactical RPGs to sink their teeth into since the genre’s 8-bit days, including series that wouldn’t get international fame until decades later, likeFire Emblem. As such,Shining Forcemight not have seemed too special in that market for mixing standard RPG elements with a tactical approach.
However, in the West, it helped the game stand out and give its world more personality, as players could explore towns, buy weapons, and do the standardFinal Fantasyfare. Then, they’d discover a more tactical approach to combat, where they’d have to consider the strengths, weaknesses, and positions of their units. By combining these two approaches,Shining Forcemade tactical RPGs more accessible, leading the way forFinal Fantasy TacticsandDisgaeato follow.
Even with a genre-advancing title likeShining Force, the Genesis wasn’t best known for its RPGs. All the big-name titles like theFinal FantasyandDragon Questgames were on the SNES, and the PlayStation only got a leg up when those series moved to its platform. Still, if RPG fans only had a Genesis to work with back in the day, they still had access tosome great titles.
For example,Phantasy Star 2was the console’s first big RPG, in both name and filesize (6 whole megabits!). It offered story beats, themes of self-discovery, and shocking sudden deaths thatFinal Fantasywouldn’t touch until well afterPhantasy Star 2’s release. That, and its mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements, helped it stand out from the horde of sword-wielding fantasy fighters and mages that dominated the RPG landscape at the time.
Before Sega made a killing with the Genesis, they had a wide range of hit arcade games. One of its more popular series was the shooterThunder Force, where players could go all around the screen to blast any foes coming their way. By 1989, developer Technosoft came up with a new direction in which to take its gameplay and madeHerzog Zweito show it off.
Players use their mech to complete different missions on a wide-open map, like picking up and moving units, setting up patrols, and capturing enemy bases. The game didn’t sell very well at the time, but it had a lasting impact, as it’s now considered to be the first true real-time strategy game. It inspired the development of early RTS games likeDune 2andWarcraft, while also being considered an early exampleof the MOBA genre, as it offers a similar, quicker approach to RTS gameplay.
Mortal Kombatalso wasn’t exclusive to the Sega Genesis, but it might as well have been. The game, alongsideLethal EnforcersandNight Trap, famously caused a moral stir that led to the establishment of the ESRB, but before then, Sega set up its own Videogame Rating Council, which let them releaseMKon the Genesis with the essential blood and gore intact… somewhat. Players had to use a code (ABACABB) to let the claret flow.
However, that was a step ahead of the gore-free SNES port. Some have defended the game, as it does look and sound better than the Genesis version, but by being bloodless, it felt more compromised by comparison and reinforced the view that the SNES was a “kiddy console,” and the Genesis was cool and mature. Nintendo brought the blood back for the SNES version ofMK2, but by then, they were fighting a battle they had already lost.
2Virtua Racing
3D Racing On A 16-Bit Machine
In the arcades,Virtua Racingwas a huge step forwardfor the racing genre. Players used to the chugging frame rate ofHard Drivin’were blown away by the game’s high-speed racing, and multiple camera angles ranged from a first-person view to a top-down angle. By today’s standards, it’s a fairly normal racer, butVirtua Racingwas the game that set those standards, and the likes ofF-Zero GXandGran Turismohad to build on them.
So how did it end up on the Sega Genesis? By coming on a cartridge boosted by the power of the Sega Virtua Processor (SVP) chip. It allowed the console to render 9,000 polygons a second, outdoing the SuperFX chip on SNES games likeStarfox. However, it made the game more expensive to buy ($214 in today’s money). Although, that might’ve been a small price to pay to keep players from splurging on a 32X for its (admittedly more arcade-accurate) port.
Where to start? WithoutSonic the Hedgehog, the Sega Genesis might’ve faded out faster than players could say “TurboGrafx-16!” The Blue Blur’s first outing made the console a must-have thanks to his role as a faster, more attitude-filled platformer than the Mario Brothers. If it didn’t convince players, the much better sequel,Sonic the Hedgehog 2,would, as it was a pack-in title, which helped the Genesis sell even more units than before.
The speedy hedgehog became a phenomenon, inspiring multiple cartoons, comics, and a wave of mascot platformers.Donkey Kong Country,Crash Bandicoot,Spyro the Dragon,Jak & Daxter,Freedom Planet,and many more took notes fromSonicin one way or another. While his games have gone from strength to strength in many erratic ways,Sonichas maintained botha gigantic fanbaseand his place as one of the most iconic figures in gaming history.
