Sega rise to power with the SONIC BOOM (Sega Megadrive)

Member Name: Wolfzilla

Product:	Sega Megadrive
Date:	30/05/06 (1623 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: tons of great games, low price, 6-Button controller is excellent, accessories

Disadvantages: Well it's long dead, and some of the best games are rare and command money

While regarded by many as nothing but a mere shadow of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System(or SNES for short), Sega’s Megadrive, or ‘Genesis’ as the Americans called it, was a fine little console in it’s day, and even now, 10 years after it was declared ‘dead’, many of it’s games still hold up well today in the jaded market of rehashed football sims, FPS games and Grand Theft Auto wannabes.


***History***
While Sega’s first home console, the Master System, was a decent little machine with a selection of fun titles, such as the Alex Kidd and Shinobi games, in all markets outside of the UK it was grandly curb stomped by it’s 8-Bit counterpart, the Nintendo Entertainment System(NES) in the mid-1980s. Instead of reeling from this and giving up, Sega decided to push Nintendo, and in 1989 they unleashed the Sega Megadrive in Japan. This 16-Bit machine, which incorporated elements of Sega’s arcade hardware, was the step up from the NES that Nintendo’s machine was to the Atari. While the NES was responsible for taking games away from seeming like simple pixels you manoeuvred over a bleak black background, the Megadrive took what the NES started and ran with it, allowing it’s players to enter multicoloured worlds with detailed and well animated sprites, as well as making ports of Sega’s arcade games, such as Golden Axe or Altered Beast, a whole lot easier.

While NEC’s TurboGrafx-16 outdated the Megadrive as a 16-Bit console, Sega turned what they had learned from the NES v SMS battle in the Mid-1980s to their advantage. It doesn’t matter who is first, who has the best games will get the best sales(ironically how shallow the gaming world had become a decade on was illustrated with to Sega’s final console, the Dreamcast’s, premature demise at the hands of the PS2, which, at the time, had about 2 games worth playing, but a juggernaut of a brand name) and numerous third party companies, many of whom had snubbed the SMS, were recruited, and before long the Megadrive had a huge library of games encompassing all genres for gamers to choose from.

After 2 years of success, Sega were handed their first real challenge in 1991 when Nintendo released the SNES. Their console, while still 16-Bit, was slightly more powerful, and, being made by Nintendo, had one thing which Sega severely lacked: Super Mario. Mario had become Nintendo’s mascot, and his presence was enough to sell games, and the SNES would have a cracker in the form of Super Mario World. Sega’s closest thing to a mascot was the rather lame Alex Kidd, but in the same year the SNES hit the shelves, so did Sega’s counter-attack: Sonic The Hedgehog.

Sonic was, on paper, the same type of game as Super Mario Bros., a platform game. However, Sega decided to capitalise on the things that Nintendo and Mario didn’t have, Speed and Attitude. Sonic was a blue hedgehog who could run at tremendous speeds(hence the name), and his game was a riot of blazing from one end of the screen to the other, doing loop-the-loops and rolling into a ball to destroy robotic enemies. What further endeared Sonic to the kids was the fact Sega created him with the attitude of the all-conquering childrens franchise characters of the time, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While Sonic didn’t eat Pizza, he was the sort of character who’d say “dude”, he wore flash trainers and would tap hi foot impatiently while holding his arms if you left him too long.

Sonic proved an immense success, with sales of Megadrives increasing sevenfold in the immediate wake of the game’s release. However, Nintendo landed a major coup with a limited exclusive period of the hottest game on the planet of 1992, Capcom’s Streetfighter 2. This was where Sega began to panic a little, and around this time one of their biggest mistakes was made. In an attempt to quash the SNES, Sega released the Mega CD, a separate CD drive which the Megadrive could dock upon, allowing gamers to play games on CD-Roms. However, the unit was still 16-Bit, and still fairly primitive, so the only real advantage this offered was CD quality soundtracks, and the machine’s game library was overflowing with ‘non-games’, horrible interactive movie style numbers that required the player’s input on occasion. The Mega CD flopped, but Sega still didn’t learn from this mistake.

As the 1990s went on, things remained rather rosy for the Megadrive, which ‘Console War’ talk aside, seemed to co-exist with the SNES quite well. However, it would be their plans for the future which ultimately led to their own downfall, as they began work on 2 potential follow ups to the Megadrive, codenamed the Jupiter and the Saturn. Both were to be 32-Bit machines, the difference was that the Saturn would use CD-Roms and the Jupiter cartridges. Sega of Japan decided to pursue the Saturn project, but in one of the most shocking breakdowns of communication between national branches ever recorded, Sega of America pursued the Jupiter project, which would become the Megadrive 32X. This was not a stand-alone console, but instead slotted into the cartridge slot of the Megadrive, with the 32X game’s cartridges slotting into it. The 32X was released in 1994, when Sega had already broke the news that the Saturn was less than a year away, and naturally nobody bought one. The lack of games, especially exclusive ones, didn’t help, and in a truly ridiculous fashion, Sega actually took to releasing games that required both the 32X AND the Mega CD to play.

In 1995, Sega released the Saturn in Japan, but did not stop production of Megadrive consoles until 1997. The Megadrive did not end up being killed by it’s main rival, the SNES, but instead by the crop of new 32 and 64 bit machines from Sony and Nintendo, as well as Sega dropping the machine to try and focus on the Saturn.

***The Machine***
While I won’t bore you with the technical specs, the Megadrive was released in various different forms over the years.

MEGADRIVE - In it’s original incarnation, the Megadrive was a rectangular, black machine with curved edges. The cartridges slotted into a slot in the middle of a raised circle on the right-hand side of the machine, and below that were the 2 Controller ports. Interestingly the machine also sported a headphone jack and a volume slider.

MEGADRIVE II - The MDII was a smaller, square, sleeker model. The colour scheme swapped from Black/White to Black/Red, and the machine was now symmetrical. Sadly the Master System Converter was incompatible with this model, and a new version was released. Similarly, despite no compatibility issues, Sega released a Mega CD II which was smaller and made to look better with the MDII connected.

These were the 2 main models, although a Megadrive III, an even smaller machine, was released in the USA, as well as the Ultra-rare CDX, which was a Megadrive and Mega CD built in, not to mention the Nomad, a portable version of the console.

***Graphics***
As I mentioned, the Megadrive is a 16-Bit console, and debuted in the late 1980s, which means that it’s games are all firmly rooted in 2 Dimensions. While this will make some gamers scoff, personally I prefer the detailed, well animated sprites that the Megadrive crunches out to the primitive, blocky graphics found in the next generation of consoles, which were just getting to grips with 3D.

***Sound***
Many people complain about the Megadrive’s sound capabilities, but personally I’ve never really had a problem. Sure it had limited ability when it came to speech, but it did a fine job of creating all the important speech(ie “FINSIH HIM” in Mortal Kombat, “SONIC BOOM” in Streetfighter 2 etc) and in the right hands it could conjure up some fun and addictive music.

***The Games***
While many complained that the Megadrive lacked RPGs, personally I was never found wanting with regards to the console’s game library, and in the decade+ I’ve owned one, my collection has spanned to well over 50 games, not counting MCD and 32X titles. If I were to recommend you what I, as well as what the general consensus amongst gamers, would deem the best titles on the console, the list would look like this:

ALADDIN - Proof that movie-tie-ins don’t always have to suck, Virgin’s spin-off of the Disney animated movie featured fantastic animation, music that sounded like it was lifted straight out of the movie and gameplay so addictive it’s hard to put down, even a decade later.

CASTLEVANIA: BLOODLINES - The first appearance for Konami’s immortal Vampire hunting series on a Sega console would prove to be a cracker, offering 2 playable characters, each with their own abilities, to try and take down Dracula and his evil minions. Graphics and Sound were majestic, the simple to pick up, yet challenging gameplay testament to why this atmospheric series has so many fans.

COMIX ZONE - An interesting cross between a Platformer, a Beat ‘em Up and a comic, Comix Zone only allows the player to move right and left, in the way a platform game does, but when combat is initiated it feels more like a Beat ‘em Up as the combos go thick and fast. The story, where artist Sketch has been sucked into his own comic and must defeat the villain to escape, means you have to jump across panel to panel, or kick enemies through them, and offers multiple path routes.

EARTHWORM JIM/2 - Much along the same lines as ALADDIN, EWJ is just a culmination of everything going right for a game. Graphics and sound that pushed the console to it’s limits, gameplay that pushed players to addiction and a quirky sense of humour made EWJ a favourite, and quickly led to a spin off cartoon series and toy line.

FEVER PITCH - A fantastic football game with a difference. This arcade title saw certain players gifted with special abilities. Diving, super shots and leaping with the ball could all be used to make a difference in this fun arcade sports title that has stood the test of time.

FIFA INTERNATIONAL SOCCER/95/96/97/Road to World Cup 98 - Before it became a generic 3D football series in the early 2000s, FIFA was the premier 2D footballing game. International Soccer was the first football game to offer realism. 95 added real player names, 96 club teams and 97 Indoor 5-A-Side games. With a multitap this is a great 4-Player title.

MICRO MACHINES - This fantastic 4-Player racer eliminated the need for a multitap with a specially designed cartridge with 2 extra controller ports built into the top. Simplistic fun at it’s best.

MORTAL KOMBAT/MORTAL KOMBAT II - While Midway’s first fighter wasn’t exactly a gameplay masterpiece, it was the first game to feature bloodletting of it’s sort, and was quite the controversy stirrer in it’s day. With the input of a code, blood would stream from the fighters in this game upon the impact of a hit, and they cold finish off their enemies with gory ‘FATALITY’ death moves. 2 Added to the roster, improved the graphics and was actually a more enjoyable gameplay experience to boot.

REVENGE OF SHINOBI/SHINOBI III - The return of gaming’s premier ninja, Joe Musashi, these plat formers featured the fantastic music of Yuzo Koshiro, as well as awesome action as you take Joe through hordes of evil ninja and demons with just his shurikens, katana and jumping ability to take them out.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG/2/3/SONIC & KNUCKLES - While these 4 games all have their nuances and differences, all of them are recommended as they exemplify pick up and play gaming at it’s finest. The idea is simply to get the blue bipedal hedgehog from one end of the level to the other, but in reality it’s far more complex, and fun, than that. Collecting rings, destroying robots, freeing captive animals, collecting power ups, dodging traps and taking on the evil Dr. Robotnik in boss battles are but a taste of the fun to be had with Sonic games. ‘Knuckles’ added the flying red Echinda as a playable character, and also offered an innovative feature where you could plug the other 3 games in the top for bonus levels.

STREETFIGHTER II: SPECIAL CHAMPION EDITION/SUPER STREETFIGHTER II - While the SNES had exclusive rights to the greatest fighting game ever for a while, it wasn’t long before it made the transition to the Sega console. While a 6-Button controller as necessary, it’s well worth the effort tracking 1 down to play this most magnificent of fighters. SUPER added 4 more playable characters to the established roster of 12 World Warriors.

STREETS OF RAGE/2/3 - Quite ironic that the SOR games only exist because Nintendo had exclusive rights to Capcom’s hit Beat ‘em Up FINAL FIGHT, so Sega had to create a similar title of their own. Ironic because the SNES port of FINAL FIGHT was gash, and in SOR Sega crafted a fine Beat ‘em Up, and with it’s first sequel created the game that all entries into the genre were judged against. The third game is not only tougher to find, but also a whole lot harder to complete as well, but no less a joy of fine graphics, more ace Yuzo Koshiro music and gameplay that knocks your socks off. 2-Player option on all games to die for.

TOEJAM & EARL - I’m unsure where else to put this unique adventure featuring 2 aliens from the planet Funkotron who crash on Earth and must rebuild their spaceship, all the while dealing with the eccentric inhabitants of Earth, from trigger happy love-bow wielding cherubs to Santa Claus via tourists and giant hamsters. Unique, quirky, and unlike anything I’ve played before or since, in the best way possible.

ZOMBIES - This excellent shooter from Konami boasts a fantastic 2 player Co-op mode, and sends up every loved and hated Sci Fi and horror movie known to man. As with the majority of games from the era, it is simple, yet incredibly addictive.

Other you may want to check out:
Alien Storm
Captain America & The Avengers
Golden Axe
Golden Axe 2
Golden Axe 3 (Japan Only)
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon
Maximum Carnage
Sensible Soccer
Separation Anxiety
X-Men
X-Men 2: The Clone Wars

Games to Avoid:
Altered Beast
Art Alive
Eternal Champions
Last Battle
Rise of the Robots
Shaq Fu
Techno Clash
Universal Soldier


---Mega CD Games---

While the Mega CD’s library did consist mainly of pointless non-games, the CD add-on did have a few gems worthy of any fan’s collection.

FINAL FIGHT CD - While Capcom’s fantastic Beat ‘em Up was another game originally exclusive to the SNES, the port to Nintendo’s console was horrible, omitted the co-op mode and one of the playable characters. When it appeared on the Mega CD, all the characters were intact, the animation more fluid and all 3 characters available for selection.

SONIC CD - SONIC CD took the basic gameplay formula of the Megadrive Sonics, but upped the ante in terms of animation, and boasted a wonderful CD soundtrack and animated intro.

---32X Games---
The 32X had even less games of worth than the MCD, although if the version of Mortal Kombat 2 for the 32X is found, it is more arcade accurate than the regular Megadrive version

STAR WARS ARCADE - The best 32X exclusive title, this fantastic space shooter may not have boasted many polygons graphically, but its gameplay was fantastic, and almost worth the price of a 32X to play this alone.

VIRTUA FIGHTER - While this may be obsolete if you own a Saturn, the 32X version is still a very playable version of Sega’s ‘Fighting Simulator’ and it’s one of the most common 32X titles available.

***The Controller***
The default Megadrive controller was fairly large, and had curved sides, which made it stand out from the small, angular and incredibly painful NES conroller. It featured 3-buttons, labelled A, B and C as well as a Start button. The D-Pad went in 8-Directions, which allowed more control over games, and to this day the Megadrive pad remains one of the more comfortable controllers to be given away with consoles.


***Accessories***
While Nintendo’s NES probably received the most laughable amount of peripherals of any console ever, the Megadrive featured a fair share of accessories, the choice of which include:

THE MENACER - Sega’s large, rifle style Light gun, which boasted infra-red connection. While the amount of games compatible wasn’t exactly a huge library, the Menacer was a useful peripheral for shooter fans.

MULTITAP - Part of the fun of retro games is playing them with others that grew up with them, and while the amount of games released in the 16-Bit era that were 4-Player compatible wasn’t huge, it’s a useful thing to have for use for football games such as FIFA or FEVER PITCH

MASTER SYSTEM CONVERTER - Does what it says on the tin, allows you to play Master System games on the Megadrive.

6-BUTTON CONTROLLER - Released to herald the arrival of Streetfighter 2 to Sega’s machine, this was a necessity for fighters, and a damn comfy and good controller in general. Would set the blueprint for the Saturn pad.

***Overall***
Given that they can be picked up for as little as £10, and the games for as little as £1, I feel that the Sega Megadrive is a must own for fans of retro games, due to some of the classic games available for it, and I also feel it’s worth a purchase for those just looking for a cheap system to waste some time with. Sure it can’t compete with the Xbox 360 for graphics, but plenty Megadrive games still have the key factor of gameplay in their corner, and the machines are now cheap, and are renowned for reliability(and if you buy a Sony console today you can’t be assured of that!) and given the amount of accessories and games on offer, not to mention the options of the 32X and Mega CD to upgrade it, the Megadrive offers someone with a taste for retro something to work with, and truly features games for every flavour.

Summary: Fans of retro games really need one, and those looking for a cheap & cheery gaming fix will love it