The Sega Genesis, put on the market to challenge Nintendo, turned 20 on Friday. And after a long and enviable stint, it became a classic game console that, to this day, is remembered as one of the few that made its mark without actually leading the market by the end of its generation.
Sega has had one of the most tragic histories in the video game industry. In the early 1990s, it had Sonic; Nintendo had Mario. It had high-quality, third-party titles; Nintendo had high-quality, third-party titles. It had the Sega Genesis; Nintendo had the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Battles over which console was better were waged on playgrounds across the world. The Nintendo fans said Mario and the SNES were the kings of gaming. Sega fans said Sonic and the Genesis held that crown.
Today, the Genesis (and Sega's console business) are relics of the past. In the 20 years that has lapsed between the Genesis' release and today, despite Mario's enduring presence, the video game industry has changed dramatically. Nowadays, battles are waged over price as much as they are waged over games. And Sega, the once-beloved organization that kept a blue hedgehog as its mascot, is a third-party developer.
But it's the Genesis--and its success--that we remember today.
... Read moreDon Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
- DSiWare
- Mixed Messages (Activision, 500 DSi Points): Mixed Messages is a party game all about communication. Play along with up to 21 different users in the game of "telephone" for your DSi.
- Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games (Nintendo, 200 DSi Points): The Master of Illusion series continues with Shuffle Games. This mini game will allow you to predict what your audience is thinking!
- WiiWare
- Party Fun Pirate (TOMY Corporation, 500 Wii points): Exchange turns sliding as many swords into a barrel as you can. Based on the Pop-up Pirate Toy, the game allows for up to four players. Pirate Fun Party also lets you use your own Mii character in-game!
- Virtual Console
- Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (1994, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): The follow up to the Atari classic, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure will have you swinging and jumping your way through the jungle all while attempting to rescue your kidnapped father.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off at our discussion board!
- WiiWare
- Lit (WayForward Technologies, 800 Wii points): We can't say that we've ever seen a horror-themed puzzle game before, but we're sure glad the two genres have met up on WiiWare. Explore 30 levels as you try to save your girlfriend from the dark creatures that have separated you.
- Virtual Console
- Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS (Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): MERCS provides classic arcade military combat action with two different game modes and five playable characters.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off at our discussion board!
- WiiWare
- Bruiser and Scratch (Steel Penny Games, Inc., 1,000 Wii points): Help Bruiser and Scratch get out of a lost world by solving 48 puzzles in six areas. Meet up with friends and foes in this mind-bending adventure.
- Hockey Allstar Shootout (Big Blue Bubble Inc., 500 Wii points): It's the season for hockey so why not celebrate the coolest sport around? Participate in up to three challenges, all with varying difficulty.
- Virtual Console
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992, Sega Master System, 500 Wii points): This version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was made exclusively for the Sega Master System featuring different gameplay and graphics.
Update: The Sonic game in this Virtual Console update is not the Sega Genesis version of the game but for the previous console, the Sega Master System.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
- WiiWare
- Boingz (RealArcade, 1,000 Wii points): Boingz offers 30 levels of mind-bending puzzle solving that has you fling small creatures in order to unwind the secrets of each area.
- Sudoku Challenge! (Digital Leisure Inc., 500 Wii points): Sudoku Challenge! offers 100 million Sudoku puzzles for you to solve so odds are you'll never need to buy another Sudoku game ever again. Try out three modes of difficulty in addition to Grand Sudoku which asks you to solve simultaneous puzzles at once.
- Virtual Console
- Boogerman (1994, Genesis, 800 Wii points): The first game to ever glorify belching and flatulence, Boogerman actually worked very well as a solid platforming game. Use your arsenal of bodily functions to defeat enemies and uncover the story behind an experiment gone wrong.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
This week brings us the third episode of the Strong Bad games along with a classic title from the 16-bit era starring everyone's favorite platforming earthworm.
- WiiWare
- Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (Telltale Games, 1,000 Wii points): The third episode of the series of games adapted from Homestarrunner.com puts Strong Bad in a battle of the bands competition. Guide him and The Cheat to rock victory.
- Art Style: ROTOHEX (Nintendo, 600 Wii points): Twist and turn triangles as they fall from the sky into hexagons. Enjoy two modes of play along with special item panels to boost your score.
- Virtual Console
- Earthworm Jim (1994, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): It's the classic story of an earthworm mutated by a space suit then sent to save the world. As Earthworm Jim, you'll battle Psy-Cow and other farm enemies in this classic platforming game from 1994.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
This week brings us a gooey puzzle game for WiiWare along with a classic arcade-fighter.
- WiiWare
- World of Goo (2D Boy, 1,500 Wii points): World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle game that allows you to construct your own goo-based buildings and bridges for the World of Goo Corporation.
- Art Style: Cubello (Nintendo, 600 Wii points): Cubello has you matching like-colored cube shapes. Enjoy two game modes: endless play or stage-based action.
- Virtual Console
- Secret of Mana (1993, Super Nitendo, 800 Wii points): Secret of Mana has you searching the land for Mana seeds, the only thing that can bring balance to the fight of good versus evil. But be warned: nothing is what it seems in this adventure title.
- Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition (1993, Sega Gensis, 800 Wii points): Being the first Street Fighter game to be released on the Genesis, it brought with it two different game modes: Champion and Hyper. Also included in the game is Group Battle, where you select various different fighters. This arcade-to-console title is sure to satisfy the old-school fighter in everyone.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
This week brings us a brand-new Mega Man game sticking true to its 8-bit roots and a classic Dodge Ball game from the NES era.
- WiiWare
- Mega Man 9 (Capcom, 1,000 Wii points): Mega Man 9 is truly an homage to the original classic 8-bit series. Even though the game is brand new with unique stages and bosses, the game has the traditional graphics and gameplay from that of the NES classic franchise.
- PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (Bplus, 1,000 Wii points): PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint is a self-described puzzle-shooter that requires you to paint certain tiles in a row to advance to the next level. The game offers up to 300 levels and a maximum of eight simultaneous players.
- Virtual Console
- Super Dodge Ball (1989, NES, 500 Wii points): Super Dodge Ball lets you take control of the USA Dodgeball team in a race for world title as you travel the globe attempting to knock each team out of the tournament. A classic to anyone who remembers the NES era, this game is sure to bring back some face-pegging memories.
- Vectorman (1995, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): Vectorman is a classic platformer that has you complete various worlds and levels ultimately destroying WarHead, an evil robot overlord. Upgrade your weapons with power-ups and save Earth in this futuristic Sega Genesis game.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
Nothing but shooters
This week brings us a pirate-based shooter and two Japanese imports for the Virtual Console.
Virtual Console
- Super Fantasy Zone (1992, Sega Genesis, 900 Wii points): Super Fantasy Zone puts you in the role of Opa-Opa as you try and avenge the recent death of your father. In this shooter, you'll rack up points to upgrade your weapons and equipment.
- Gley Lancer (1992, Sega Genesis, 900 Wii points): It's the year 2025 and you must help stop an alien uprising. In Gley Lancer you'll board a starfighter of the same name to help end the battle.
WiiWare
- Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen Games, 1,000 Wii points): Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a nautical-themed shooter that has you searching for booty all while using the weapons of your ship to blast through your enemies and inevitably Blackbeard himself.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii Virtual Console? Sound off here!
This week's virtual console releases feature a classic beat-'em-up along with a sci-fi RPG--what do they have in common? Both games have you chasing the bad guys so you can get your girl back.
- River City Ransom (1989, NES, 500 Wii points): River City Ransom is a classic beat-'em-up action game that takes you into the fictional town of River City. A dude named Slick has taken your girlfriend and the rest of River City hostage. Take him on solo or with a friend.
- Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990, Sega Genesis, 800 Wii points): In this third installment, your bride gets kidnapped on your wedding day. Bummer. Explore the Phantasy Star universe in search for her so you guys won't miss the honeymoon.
What games do you think are missing from the Wii virtual console? Sound off here!
