Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco the Dolphin

Introduction Ecco the Dolphin was developed by Novotrade, designed by Ed Annunziata, and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1992 as an unusually atmospheric action-adventure game starring a bottlenose dolphin rather than a typical human or animal-mascot protagonist. Players guide Ecco through underwater environments after his pod is mysteriously swept away by a…

Virtua Racing

Virtua Racing

Introduction Virtua Racing was developed by Sega’s AM2 division, released for the Genesis in 1994 as a home conversion of the studio’s own groundbreaking 1992 arcade racer, built around fully polygonal 3D graphics at a time when nearly every other console racing game still relied on 2D sprites or pseudo-3D scaling tricks like Mode 7….

Road Rash

Road Rash

Introduction Road Rash was developed and published by Electronic Arts, released for the Genesis in 1991 as a motorcycle racing game built around a distinctive combination of speed and violence rarely attempted in the genre before it. Players race a series of illegal street courses through the California countryside, competing against a field of rival…

Ghouls’n Ghosts

Ghouls’n Ghosts

Introduction Ghouls’n Ghosts was developed by Capcom, released as an arcade game in 1988 before being ported to the Genesis by Sega, reaching the console in 1989 as one of the system’s earliest and most technically impressive third-party conversions. Players control the knight Arthur, once again battling through a demon-infested kingdom to rescue Princess Prin…

Vectorman

Vectorman

Introduction Vectorman was developed by BlueSky Software and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1995 as a run-and-gun platformer built around a distinctive visual style combining traditional 2D sprite animation with pre-rendered 3D-modeled character graphics, similar in spirit to the technique Rare had used for Donkey Kong Country on the SNES the year…

ToeJam & Earl

ToeJam & Earl

Introduction ToeJam & Earl was developed by Johnson Voorsanger Productions and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1991 as an unconventional blend of action, exploration, and roguelike-inspired design. Players control ToeJam and Earl, two alien rappers whose spaceship crashes on Earth, scattering its pieces across a series of randomly generated, procedurally shuffled islands…

Shining Force II

Shining Force II

Introduction Shining Force II was developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in 1993 as the direct sequel to 1992’s Shining Force. The game expanded significantly on the original’s tactical battle formula with a larger roster of recruitable characters, more elaborate grid-based battle maps, and a promotion…

Streets of Rage 3

Streets of Rage 3

Introduction Streets of Rage 3 was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in 1994 as the third entry in the Streets of Rage series, continuing directly from the story of Streets of Rage 2. The returning cast of Axel, Blaze, and Skate face off against the criminal syndicate boss Mr….

Shining Force

Shining Force

Introduction Shining Force was developed by Sonic Software Planning, the studio that would later become known as Camelot Software Planning, and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in March 1992 as a tactical role-playing game built around grid-based battles fought between exploration and story segments. Players command a growing party of Shining…

Streets of Rage

Streets of Rage

Introduction Streets of Rage was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1991 as the first entry in what would become one of the system’s most celebrated beat ’em up series. Players choose one of three former police officers, Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, or Adam Hunter, who resign from the force to…

Golden Axe

Golden Axe

Introduction Golden Axe was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1989 as a home conversion of the studio’s own 1989 arcade beat ’em up. Players choose from three warriors, the barbarian Ax Battler, the Amazon Tyris Flare, or the dwarf Gilius Thunderhead, each with different attack speed and strength, fighting through…

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Introduction Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was developed by Sonic Team, with additional programming support from Sega Technical Institute in the United States, released for the Genesis in November 1992 as the direct sequel to the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The game introduced Miles “Tails” Prower, a young two-tailed fox who could join Sonic as a…