The Cheapest Sega CD Games Worth Your Time
When you add a console to your collection, the first thing you want to do is get a handful of games to keep you busy with your new toy. However, most of us can’t spend afford to spend fat pile of cash for a few games. This budget-friendly list should help you quickly find which games will start you off well without emptying your wallet. (Prices listed are an average eBay price for US games, including shipping)
Check out the other Cheapest Games Worth Your Time articles
Cheap Classics
Sonic CD: $9
Many long-time Sonic fans (myself included) will argue that Sonic CD is actually one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog games to date and will probably remain that way. The time-travel element (which adds replay value) and enhanced sound quality make Sonic CD a real winner. Sonic CD was also one of the more common games for the system (next to Sewer Shark)
Shop For Sonic CD at eBay
Shop For Sonic CD at Amazon.com
Silpheed: $5
Silpheed combines gameplay reminiscent of Galaga, pleasing polygon graphics, and excellent interstellar backdrops resulting in an classic that was simply ahead of its time. If you like vertical shooters, this will not disappoint. Silpheed’s shooting action is very good, and the stages offer a nice variety of challenges. And having huge asteroids and missiles whiz by in the foreground gives you a sense of speed lacking in most shooters. Although somewhat simplistic, Silpheed’s rapid-fire shooting action is fun and addictive.
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Ecco The Dolphin & Ecco: Tides of Time: $8 each
Once you dive into the Ecco games, you will immediately find out that they are full of challenging puzzles and adventures. These critically acclaimed titles also featured spectacular water effects and a brilliantly colorful undersea world. The goal of each of stage is not immediately apparent, but you’ll find hints by “talking” to other sea creatures you run encounter. Action-oriented gamers may find Ecco a bit tedious, but this is a very satisfying game.
Shop For Ecco the Dolphin at eBay / Amazon.com
Shop For Ecco: Tides of Time at eBay / Amazon.com
Rise of the Dragon: $7
While the side-scrolling adventure had a good showing with Flashback and Heart of the Alien, Rise of the Dragon is the only one under $10. Rise of the Dragon is set in a dark cyberpunk version of Los Angeles in 2053 which is very reminiscent of the cult-classic Sega CD game, Snatcher and the film Blade Runner. Many Sega CD owners don’t know about this gem, so I would pick up now on the cheap while you still can.
Shop For Rise of the Dragon at eBay
Shop For Rise of the Dragon at Amazon.com
Sewer Shark: $1
Ok, some of you may hate Sewer Shark, but I actually got many hours of entertainment out of the game when I first got my Sega CD. I believe I paid about 38 cents for the game at my local Funcoland when I bought my Sega CD. Now, your biggest cost will be shipping expenses if you order it online. Sewer Shark isn’t a deep game by any means, but it is a good test of your reflexes and/or memory and is an interesting look back at the short-lived FMV game genre.
Shop For Sewer Shark at eBay
Shop For Sewer Shark at Amazon.com
A Few Must-Haves Slightly Over $10…
Android Assault: Revenge of Bari-Arm : $11
If you aren’t an RPG fan, there are also a number of great 2D shooters available for the Sega CD as well. Other than Silpheed (which is a bit more unconventional), Android Assault remains as one of the best shooting values on the Sega CD. Bari-Arm is an intense shooter that seems like a great blend of Thunderforce and Gates of Thunder. While not quite as good as either, it still holds it’s own when compared to some of the Genesis and SNES shooters.
Shop For Android Assault at eBay
Shop For Android Assault at Amazon.com
Final Fight CD: $15
If you want one of the best versions of the legendary Capcom beatemup, you will want to look into the Sega CD version. This port was developed internally by Sega under license from Capcom. Final Fight CD is regarded much higher than the SNES version due to the inclusion of most of the missing elements from the arcade game, such as a playable Guy, the industrial stage with the Rolento boss fight, and simultaneous two-player mode. Also with the extra storage capacities of the CD medium, the developers saw fit to add extended opening and ending sequences, featuring full voice acting.
Shop For Final Fight CD at eBay
Shop For Final Fight CD at Amazon.com
Flashback: $12
If you want one of the finest adventure games on the Sega CD, take a look at Flashback. The game features fully hand-drawn backdrops and for its time remarkably fluid rotoscoped animation of walking, running and jumping movements, reminiscent of the earlier Prince of Persia. In addition to is beautiful graphics, Flashback has some of the most engrossing gameplay and puzzles that you will find on the Sega CD.
Shop For Flashback at eBay
Shop For Flashback at Amazon.com
Heart of the Alien: $18
In addition to Flashback & Rise of the Dragon mentioned above, Heart of the Alien is another excellent adventure title. The game is actually better known as the sequel to Out of This World/Another World. As an added bonus, the game includes an enhanced version of Another World as a bonus.
Shop For Heart of the Alien at eBay
Shop For Heart of the Alien at Amazon.com
My Starter Picks For $50 Budget
If I only had $50 to spend on starting out a Sega CD collection, here would be my top picks (in order of priority):
- Sonic CD: $9
- Silpheed: $5
- Android Assault: Revenge of Bari-Arm : $11
- Rise of the Dragon: $9
- Sewer Shark: $1
- Final Fight CD: $15
- Total: $48
13 Comments:
YES! rise of the dragon is a game i beat recently and it was hard to pull myself away from it, much like snatcher was
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=19089&type=mov
Angry Videogame Nerd review of the sega cd
I’d just like to point out that Sega CD has no copy protection mechanism whatsoever. None. Zero. Draw your own conclusions from this fact.
Lunar the Silver Star: $17, hmmm???
Where do you regularly see that game for under $20??? The game cd only maybe, but complete it sells more around $25-45.
I guess I missed that some of the auctions were disc only.
I hate it when they use stock photos for their auctions. Oh well…
As a recent Sega CD owner (two weeks ago) this was a Godsend.
I paid $.80 for Sewer Shark and I felt it was worth it just for the starting video:
“DOGMEAT!”
…but I have no idea how to play the game since it came with no manual. How the hell do you steer the ship? I know how to shoot the little sewer rats, but I can’t seem to steer at all.
As for Slipheed I have a copy but it will not work…poop. Maybe I can try to make a copy or clean it again.
Again Racketboy you rock. This is another valuable little article for the retro gamers.
It’s been a little while since I’ve played it, but IIRC, you only control the ship itself when you see the little arrow things at junctions. I think you have to hold down one of the buttons and the direction you want to go or something like that. I know the directional pad by itself is just for shooting.
Ahh… I found some notes in a review:
“Catfish will signal you on the com line and give you navigational directions to target locations. Catfish will let you know the path where he’s opened the hatch doors by calling out clock face directions Twelve, Three, Six and Niner.
His directions are the Tube Jumps you need to make to follow him.
Catfish’s directions will require you to make three consecutive tube Jumps.
For example, he’ll call Out: ”Three, Niner, Six.” You must then take Tube Jumps at the three intersections immediately following his directions first RIGHT (Three), then LEFT (Niner), then DOWN (Six).
For Example, if Catfish calls out, ”Twelve, Niner, Niner,” your controls would be:
B BUTTON to activate Steering, then D PAD UP when you See the UP Arrow on the Tube Jump Indicator flashing; then
B BUTTON to activate Steering, then D PAD LEFT when you See the LEFT Arrow on the Tube jump Indicator flashing; then
B BUTTON to activate Steering, then D PAD LEFT when you See the LEFT Arrow on the Tube Jump Indicator flashing. You know a turn is locked-in when the arrow turns yellow.
If you do not follow Catfish’s directions exactly, he’ll try his best to find you and open hatch doors ahead of your new course but he won’t always make it… and neither will you.
A flashing green light means you have an option to jump to another tube-you don’t have to take it. TO make a Tube Jump, you’ll need to engage the Hole Hawg’s Steering Controls, then Steer into the Tube you want. lf, following a jump, the lights change to yellow, your jump is locked. If that light turns red, you’ve made the wrong turn or missed the correct turn.
The recharge station is just a left or right jump depending which side is green.
When the hydrogen level ( line indicator ) gets red hit your C button to fire a flare.”
Another excellent piece. Damn, I’m gonna get me a Mega CD even if I have to use PayPal (i.e. a bad thing). Oh, and Rise of the Dragon is the best Dynamix adventure ever and one of the few atmospheric and mature available. Definitely a must buy.
Who cares what the Angry Video Game Nerd has to say about the Sega CD. His review of that, although funny, was utter shit. Almost all of the games he reviewed were FMV games. He claims The Terminator was hard and cheap, yet I managed to get up to the last level with very few problems. Just like in his review of Top Gun where he claims it’s impossible to land the ship, I did it on my first try.
I have played quite a bit of Sega CD games and I still have not played even one FMV game. Why is that? Because there’s a plethora of high quality games out for it. Everyone thinks it’s cluttered with horrible FMV games. PSX and Saturn had their share of FMV games. I don’t see anybody shizzling those consoles.
The video game nerd didn’t even brush on Lunar, Snatcher, Rise Of The Dragon, Flashback, Shining Force, etc. The Sega CD is an underrated system with a fine selection of games.
And it wasn’t that funny to boot either. Just the same non-joke repeated for the Nth year in a row. Still, ‘t was well produced.
Bashing a point a click adventure just for being one is kind of silly too…
Nobody has mentioned Popful Mail and Robo Aleste, which are both must-have Sega CD games. I don’t know how cheaply you can get them now, but we got them new for $20 and $8 back in the day.
Yeah, those are both great games, but significantly more expensive. Robo Aleste is actually getting rather hard to find.
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