"Essential Plays" for the Sega Genesis / Megadrive

[racketboy]

Cool -- I might boot up the original soon actually -- I realize I have it on my 6-Pak cartridge
thanks for the feedback!

[SpaceBooger]

The arcade style games hooked me to the Genesis during the console wars. Sonic, Shinobi, Golden Axe, etc was my gateway to Shining Force and then Lunar On the Sega CD. It was Genesis RPGs that brought me to that genera.
I know it's SCD, but Lunar is a great essential and perfect entry level RPG that it should be considered.
Now the conundrum is whether or not Phantasy Star IV should be on the list.

[marurun]

Honestly, I don’t think the original Golden Axe holds up very well for anyone who doesn’t already have nostalgia for it. I do think Golden Axe II manages to cross that line into “holds up” territory a bit better.

[o.pwuaioc]

Honestly, I don’t think the original Golden Axe holds up very well for anyone who doesn’t already have nostalgia for it. I do think Golden Axe II manages to cross that line into “holds up” territory a bit better.

Golden Axe PCB manages to hold up if you have a few drinks and playing at a barcade.

But otherwise, I agree. I think Golden Axe II sufficiently covers all the nostalgia I have for the series, and I never feel the desire to return to the first one. I stand by my earlier idea that the sequel invalidates the original. Some people swear by it, so very once in a while I kind of want to replay it to see if my rose-tinted glasses have returned, but ever since selling it, I can't be bothered to track it down again. GAII is enough for me.

I only ever dabbled in GAIII. I don't remember why, but it never stuck with me. That said, I believe there's a strong consensus that it's not an essential play like GAII is.

The arcade style games hooked me to the Genesis during the console wars. Sonic, Shinobi, Golden Axe, etc was my gateway to Shining Force and then Lunar On the Sega CD. It was Genesis RPGs that brought me to that genera.
I know it's SCD, but Lunar is a great essential and perfect entry level RPG that it should be considered.
Now the conundrum is whether or not Phantasy Star IV should be on the list.

Of all the Phantasy Stars, only IV should be on that list, but I didn't grow up with the series (sorry, Final Fantasy since II!), and I'm not that big of an RPG fan anyway, so my opinion shouldn't count for much on this.

Maybe make a separate RPG section?

[alienjesus]

See, I disagree on the Golden Axe front - I think the first game holds up better than the second. It has more interesting level design, better pacing and the gameplay is basically the same but somehow your hits feel like they have more impact in the original. The second game is OK, but I see no reason to play it over the first. I'd rather play Golden Axe 3 in fact - that game is pretty bad but at least it feels notably different.

[opa]

See, I disagree on the Golden Axe front - I think the first game holds up better than the second. It has more interesting level design, better pacing and the gameplay is basically the same but somehow your hits feel like they have more impact in the original. The second game is OK, but I see no reason to play it over the first. I'd rather play Golden Axe 3 in fact - that game is pretty bad but at least it feels notably different.

+1

The series goes downhill after 1. Although GA3 let's you play as a cat man!

[marurun]

Only Sonic 2 ?

While I feel like Sonic 2 beats the pants off the original game, I still feel like the first game is very much worth playing. It's like leaving the first Super Mario Bros off the NES Essential Plays list.

Sonic 2 was my favorite for a long while, but I think 3&Knuckles took over first place for me. Sonic 2 cranked everything up to 10, but Sonic 3 went to 11. But really, I feel like the entire Sonic trilogy (& Knuckles) are essential plays for the Genesis. If you like any one of them, you will naturally like the rest.

I guess my view on this is that Sonic 2 is probably the best entry point to the titles on Genesis, and someone who gets comfortable playing 2 might find the original a little basic in places. Sonic 1 is definitely still playable today, but I don't know it bring anything to the table that 2 doesn't. It's fine as a "You want more Sonic? Here you go!", but as an essential game, I'm not sure I care as much for Sonic 1. I definitely think of 1 as more a Defining Game than an Essential Play. As part of the Essential Play list it might be nice to list other titles which also still hold up pretty well today but maybe aren't quite as essential. That's where I'd put Sonic 1.

[Ziggy]

I definitely think of 1 as more a Defining Game than an Essential Play.

I can see that. But I would definitely consider 3&K essential in addition to 2.

[Reprise]

But really, I feel like the entire Sonic trilogy (& Knuckles) are essential plays for the Genesis. If you like any one of them, you will naturally like the rest.

As funny as it kinda sounds, I could see Sonic 1 being kinda "eh" for some people.

I actually agree with this and, to be honest, Sonic 1 has always been kinda "meh" for me, even as a kid. Obviously, I loved it when it came out, but as soon as I played Sonic 2 I never really felt any need to go back to the first game. Both the sequel and Sonic 3 & Knuckles blew it away. Whilst we're on the topic, why doesn't Emerald Hill Zone never gets the love Green Hill Zone gets?

Regarding essential games, has anyone mentioned Herzog Zwei? It's an absolutely ingenious real time strategy game and is incredibly addictive. It's probably in my top 5 games for the system.

[Jagosaurus]

Happy to see Phantasy Star IV already referenced. It's amazing & criminal to not mention it up there with the RPG likes of FFVI.