Genesis Favorite Genesis games?

[diet_orange]

I'll ask the ToeJam and Earl chads a question, what exactly do you enjoy about the series? Particularly the first game, for the life of me I can't get into it, nor have I ever been able to even understand it.

1 is a better co-op game, Panic On Funkotron is much better single player experience. I also love the artystle Panic has along with all the secrets and collecting aspects brought over from the first game

i've never fully meshed with the genesis personally, i really only have one game on it that i can confidently say that i like, and that's Toejam and Earl. never been super big on 2D Sonic unforch, and outside of that i don't know all that many Genesis games... any cool and unique recommendations from you folks?

Don't feel bad, been a fan of the system since I was 6 and I never had much love for Sonic outside of Mean Bean Machine and 3D Blast.

Decap Attack and Haunting Starring Poulterguy are some fun titles, also very Halloween adjacent. Skitchin' (sort of a sister series to EA's Road Rash titles) is also kind of unique. It takes place in the future and you're a skater grabbing onto passing cars to compete in an illegal racing circuit. And if you liked Toe Jam & Earl Panic On Funkotron, try Ren & Stimpy: Stimpy's Invention. Very fun two-player platformer

You know what’s the best about the Genesis? The fact that, in hindsight, it had three completely different thriving markets that can all agree some games and then just go “by the way, check this game out!”

This system feels endless because Brazil, the U.K., and the U.S. all have massive love for the thing and can all share unique experiences for it.

Agreed! I also enjoyed the sheer breadth of games on the console that made if feel very unique. Everybody likes to point and say that the Genesis was "just the Sonic and sports games machine", but I have a list of over 200 games for the system all spanning different genres that I can safely say are my "favorites" or I have some kind of nostalgic attachment to (i.e. Art Alive and Fun N' Games)

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Mad Stalker: Full Metal Forth

This and the Final Fight homebrew port are such good beat-em-ups

 

[Burzuru]

castlevania bloodlines. its on the easier side to learn, but i enjoyed playing through it a few times with both characters.

 

[Mechablade-X]

Comix Zone
Earthworm Jim
Alien Soldier
Sonic 2
Streets of Rage 2
Shinobi 3
Puyo Puyo 2

 

[SeventhSon]

Shadow Dancer
Crack Down
Road Rash

 

[baboon30]

Puzzle & Action: Tant-R is one of my favorites

 

[rollobobo]

100% Gunstar Heroes. My favorite Genesis game, and honestly, favorite game overall of all time. If you like run n' gun games like Metal Slug or Contra this is an anime inspired version of that. Made by the awesome company Treasure. Don't miss it.

Another gem, ironically also made by Treasure, is Dynamite Headdy. A platformer with charm and vibrant colors. Its a shame it wasn't as widely touted. Most retro gamers know it, but another fun and unique game to play for sure.

 

[diet_orange]

100% Gunstar Heroes. My favorite Genesis game, and honestly, favorite game overall of all time. If you like run n' gun games like Metal Slug or Contra this is an anime inspired version of that. Made by the awesome company Treasure. Don't miss it.

Gunstar is indeed great, but I think I might like Contra Hard Corps a bit more, especially since I downloaded a hack that makes it a bit easier

 

[Oerolal]

The SEGA GENESIS was the console I owned the longest, and so I also got to try a ton of games for it. Some were good, some were horrible... and some were kinda there.

Which ones were your favorites?

I used to stay up all night playing International Super Star Soccer Deluxe and Lethal Enforcers II. Road Rash 3 was also a super popular multiplayer game for when I had friends over. And then there was stuff like G-Lock: Air Battle and Desert Strike, which were "lucky rentals" that I ended up buying.

What about you?

My favorite Genesis games are a mix of classics that still hold up today. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is easily at the top for its fast gameplay and iconic soundtrack. Streets of Rage 2 is another favorite thanks to its co-op fun and amazing music. I also loved Gunstar Heroes for its nonstop action and creativity, plus Shinobi III for its smooth controls and challenge. The Genesis had such a strong library that even now many of these games feel timeless and replayable.

 

[BiriCross]

1. Ristar.
2. Dynamite Headdy.
3. Sonic 1.
4. Gunstar Heroes.
5. Sonic 3D Blast.

 

[NeonKnights]

1. Bubsy
2. Ristar
3. Vectorman 2
4. Sonic 3 and Knuckles
5. Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure
6. Marble Madness

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

1. Bubsy
2. Ristar
3. Vectorman 2
4. Sonic 3 and Knuckles
5. Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure
6. Marble Madness

I respect the hustle required to say Bubsy with your whole chest for a list like this.

Also, shoutouts to Tiny Toons, as it’s actually a really sick little platformer with great presentation and a quick pace. I see footage of it every so often, but very rarely see it get discussed properly.

 

[BrawlMan]

• Streets of Rage 2
• Shinobi III
• Gunstar Heroes
• Castlevania Bloodlines
• Contra Hard Corps (JP version only)
• Ristar
• Dynamite Heddy

 

[kbcinharoxa]

Cliché, but… SONIC FRICKING 3.
No Knuckles. No Hyper. No extras.
Just SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.

It was a really fun quest. It took me over a month to finish it, and it was straight-up FIRE . I played it on a PSP, so yeah, I had some help from cheats — you can hate me for that XD

But at least in 2023, I finished it the legit way on RetroArch.
And guess what? I’M GONNA FINISH IT AGAIN XD

 

[Ikagura]

Cliché, but… SONIC FRICKING 3.
No Knuckles. No Hyper. No extras.
Just SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.

It was a really fun quest. It took me over a month to finish it, and it was straight-up FIRE . I played it on a PSP, so yeah, I had some help from cheats — you can hate me for that XD

But at least in 2023, I finished it the legit way on RetroArch.
And guess what? I’M GONNA FINISH IT AGAIN XD

I've finished it so often.

Even with Sonic 3 Complete and Sonic 3 AIR (as well as Sonic Jam).

 

[diet_orange]

[*]Ristar
[*]Dynamite Heddy

Both are charming, but I found Ristar a bit too slow paced for me and I still haven't been able to get the hang of Heddy (that's HEDLEY!). Maybe I need to spend more time with it?

 

[BrawlMan]

Both are charming, but I found Ristar a bit too slow paced for me and I still haven't been able to get the hang of Heddy (that's HEDLEY!). Maybe I need to spend more time with it?

It does take getting some used to, if you're used to faster platformers like Sonic, Mario, Donkey Kong Country. But once you're in the groove, you're actually going at an even pace.

DH is a much harder game and always tell people to play the japanese version. If they want an easier time.

 

[Ikagura]

Both are charming, but I found Ristar a bit too slow paced for me and I still haven't been able to get the hang of Heddy (that's HEDLEY!). Maybe I need to spend more time with it?

Ristar is slower for sure but I think it's better for his gimmick.

Think of how Kirby is relatively slow compared to a Yoshi's Island or a DKC.

It does take getting some used to, if you're used to faster platformers like Sonic, Mario, Donkey Kong Country. But once you're in the groove, you're actually going at an even pace.

DH is a much harder game and always tell people to play the japanese version. If they want an easier time.

I still don't get why in the west they removed most of the text.

Although I wish there was a toggle for the romhacks.

 

[diet_orange]

Ristar is slower for sure but I think it's better for his gimmick.

Think of how Kirby is relatively slow compared to a Yoshi's Island or a DKC.

Kirby you can at the very least dash (or even swallow Wheelie), Ristar you'd just kind of plodding along

 

[Leon]

I still don't get why in the west they removed most of the text.

Saw a video on it a couple of months ago, it was mainly due to sega of america removing it and ratcheting up the difficulty to prevent people from completing it too soon due to the rental market, of course what it really did was kill the game but well....

Nintendo or rare, can't remember which, did something similar to the western release of battletoads and we all know what sega did to streets of rage 3.

 

[diet_orange]

Saw a video on it a couple of months ago, it was mainly due to sega of america removing it and ratcheting up the difficulty to prevent people from completing it too soon due to the rental market, of course what it really did was kill the game but well....

Nintendo or rare, can't remember which, did something similar to the western release of battletoads and we all know what sega did to streets of rage 3.

Which I get, but maybe pull a "Final Fight Guy" and maybe just up the difficulty for copies that are going to the rental market specifically and leave the difficulty on the actual games that people can by alone?

But yeah, what they did to SOR3 was heinous

 

[YoshifreakZX]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles (duh), Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Castlevania Bloodlines, Ristar and Mega Man The Wily Wars are some of my favorites.
Honorable mentions to the Shining Force games, haven't finished 1 or 2 but I really liked what I have played of them.

 

[Xarr]

Sonic the hedgehog 2 Contra Hard Corps Shining Force Gunstar Heroes Sonic & Knuckles Phantasy Star III and IV World of Illusion staring Mickie Mouse Thunder Force IV Streets of Rage and Streets of Rage 2 are some of my favorite sega genesis games.