What's the best game made by sega?

[Häyhä]

Sega has made (or produced) way, way, WAY too many great classics to name the best game, hell "Sega" was practically synonymous with "arcade games" in the late 80's/90's, but some for me personally would be:

-Virtua Cop 1 & 2, man I loved lightgun games in the arcades back in the day and Virtua Cop games were some of the absolute best (along with Namco's Time Crisis games). I actually now have a Saturn hooked up to a CRT TV with two authentic Sega Virtua Guns for that sweet, sweet nostalgic (almost) arcade fix any time.

-Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku series, what can I say, I'm a big fan of Shenmue and when Yakuza was announced back in the 2000's it was one of my most anticipated games of that time. And boy did it deliver for me, been a fan ever since and played pretty much every game in the series that was released in English. The attention to detail with the series is amazing and I just love the style and feel of the games, you never know what you'll see with each new instalment. They are packed so full of good content that it is ridiculous.

-Shenmue like I mentioned above. Sure it's definitely not for everyone, but Shenmue holds a special place in my heart. The sheer crazy levels of ambition they had with the games back in the day is amazing. They truly made something never seen before (or since), not even Yakuza has that level of detail in the world-building. Sure the story is cookie-cutter martial arts movie stuff, the voice acting is corny, graphics and controls are somewhat dated, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

-Jet Set Radio Future what a brilliant game and concept, still one of the best looking games ever art style-wise in my opinion. The movement and motion is great, never gets old grinding the rails of Neo Tokyo while some crazy beats blast in the background. Great game also to just chill, skate around and take in the sights.

 

[Ash]

So I'm gunna drop my updated list here of both SEGA and Nintendo games which I deem for myself as "must own". This isn't an objective look at the games, just the ones which - after playing through around 500 games in their respective libraries since 2017 - I enjoyed playing, and which I will and do still replay.

I'm currently at the letter "S", which is why you'll see the odd "S" game in there, but why there are some obvious omissions too such as the Sonic & Super Mario Allstars games (I'm going through it alphabetically, but when I reach a letter I'm cycling the games by genre). There'll be the odd additional game thrown in there too which I just ended up playing for one reason or other too (e.g. one of my mates kept going on about it, so I went through it).

The list is in a rough order with my faves at the top, lesser faves down the bottom, but it will be reorganized properly when I move on to directly comparing the games in a year or two when the full playthrough is finished.

• Thunderforce 3	Megadrive
  Shining Force 2	Megadrive
  Hellfire	Megadrive
  The Legend of Zelda - A Link To The Past	SNES
  Star Control	Megadrive
  Contra Hard Corps	Megadrive
  Afterburner 2/32X/Arcade	Megadrive/32X/Arcade
  Streets of Rage 3 (Bare Knuckle 3)	Megadrive
  Actraiser	SNES
  Phantasy Star 4	Megadrive
  Contra 3	SNES
  Ghouls N Ghosts	Megadrive
  Sunset Riders	SNES/Arcade
  Atomic Runner	Megadrive/Arcade
  Streets of Rage 2	Megadrive
  The Revenge of Shinobi	Megadrive
  Golden Axe	Megadrive
  Streets of Rage	Megadrive
  Batman	Megadrive
  Castlevania Bloodlines	Megadrive
  Forgotten Worlds	Megadrive/Arcade
  F-Zero	SNES
  Flashback	Megadrive
  Smash TV	SNES
  Street Fighter 2 (Various)	Megadrive/SNES
  Super Mario World	SNES
  Dune	Megadrive/PC
  Warsong (Der Langrissa)	Megadrive
  Trouble Shooter 2/Battlemania 2	Megadrive
  Mega Turrican	Megadrive
  Blackthorne	SNES/32X
  Comix Zone	Megadrive
  MUSHA	Megadrive
  Eliminate Down	Megadrive
  The Combat Tribes	SNES
  Gley Lancer	Megadrive
  Mystic Defender	Megadrive
  Alisa Dragoon	Megadrive
  King of Demons (Majyūō)	SNES
  Biometal	SNES
  Rocket Knight Adventures	Megadrive
  Devil Crash	Megadrive
  Double Dribble	Megadrive
  Final Fantasy 5	SNES
  Flicky	Megadrive
  Elemental Master	Megadrive
  Shadowrun	Megadrive
  Langrisser 2	Megadrive
  Road Rash 3	Megadrive
  Dinos For Hire	Megadrive
  Alien 3	Megadrive
  Decap Attack/Magical Hat	Megadrive
  Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion	Megadrive
  Buck Rogers - Countdown to Doomsday	PC/Megadrive
  Blades of Vengeance	Megadrive
  The Immortal	Megadrive
  Landstalker	Megadrive
  Lufia 2	SNES
  Final Fantasy 4	SNES
  Cadash	Arcade/Megadrive
  Spiderman & The X-Men: Arcade's Revenge	SNES/Megadrive
  Rendering Ranger R2	SNES
  Robocop Vs Terminator MD (uggghhhh, the SNES version of this is dog by comparison)	Megadrive
  Shinobi	Master System/Arcade
  Road Rash 2	Megadrive
  Evander Hollyfield Real Deal Boxing	Megadrive
  Greatest Heavyweights	Megadrive
  Batman Returns	SNES
  Pirates of Dark Water	Megadrive
  SWIV	Megadrive/SNES
  Prince of Persia	SNES/Megadrive
  Arrow Flash	Megadrive
  Midnight Resistance	Megadrive
  Desert Strike	Megadrive/PC/ (SNES version is awful)
  Super Ghouls N' Ghosts	SNES
  Wonderboy	Master System/Arcade
  Pilotwings	SNES
  McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure	Megadrive
  Mercs	Megadrive/Arcade
  Beyond Oasis/Story of Thor	Megadrive
  Kid Chameleon	Megadrive
  Goemon 2	SNES
  The Legend of The Mystical Ninja	SNES
  Gunstar Heroes (This will ultimately be far higher, it's low at the mo because my cart is broke & it crashes)	Megadrive
  Altered Beast	Megadrive/Arcade
  Super Star Wars	SNES
  Illusion of Gaia	SNES
  James Pond 2 - Robocod	Megadrive/SNES
  Parodius Da	SNES
  World of Illusion	Megadrive
  California Games	Megadrive
  Super Castlevania 4	SNES
  Zero Wing	Megadrive
  Empire of Steel	Megadrive
  Dangerous Seed	Megadrive
  Cutie Suzuki No Ringside Angel	Megadrive
  Another World	Megadrive/SNES
  Castlevania Dracula X/Vampires Kiss	SNES
  Cybernator/Assault Suit Valkan	SNES
  Aladdin	Megadrive
  Aladdin	SNES
  Ecco 2: The Tides of Time	Megadrive
  Chrono Trigger	SNES
  Final Fight Guy	SNES
  Final Fight 3	SNES
  Dick Tracy	Megadrive
  Street Racer	Megadrive
  Rock N Roll Racing	Megadrive/SNES
  The Chaos Engine/SOF	PC/Megadrive/SNES
  Quackshot	Megadrive
  Moonwalker	Megadrive
  Gynoug/Wings Of Wor	Megadrive
  Gauntlet 4	Megadrive
  Outrunners	Megadrive
  Super Aleste/Space Megaforce	SNES
  Ninja Gaiden Trilogy	SNES
  Smash Tennis	SNES
  Saturday Night Slamasters	Megadrive/SNES
  King Of Monsters 2	Arcade/SNES
  Coach K Basketball	Megadrive
  Battle Master	SNES
  Insector X	Megadrive
  Congos Caper	SNES
  Alien Storm	Megadrive
  DJ Boy	Megadrive
  Bonanza Bros	Megadrive
  Phantasy Star 3	Megadrive
  Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun	SNES
  Ranger X	Megadrive
  PGA Tour ET	Megadrive
  Rolling Thunder 2	Megadrive
  Street Fighter Alpha 2	SNES
  Klax	Megadrive
  John Madden 93	Megadrive
  John Madden 92	Megadrive
  Monster World IV	Megadrive
  John Madden's Football	Megadrive
  Outlander	Megadrive/SNES
  Shadowrun SNES	SNES
  Outrun	Megadrive
  Phantom 2040	Megadrive/SNES
  Magical Popn	SNES
  Fire Striker	SNES
  Bonkers	SNES

So out of the games there, 87 of my "must-owns" are SEGA Megadrive choices (with 2 additional Master System games, which are obviously playable with the MS Convertor) and 38 are SNES choices. Then there's another 14 choices which are close on both systems (there are other games on both systems of course, but if one was a clear winner then I didn't include the other). Out that 14, 10 I prefer to play on SEGA 4 on Nintendo.

So as you can see, for me SEGA comes out a clear winner at roughly a 2/1 ratio. I still think the SNES is great, a top 5 console for me for sure, but playing all these games several things became apparent about said SNES:

• It's slow. Not always, but the slowdown utterly cripples a lot of its arcade-style games. Gradius 3, Super R-Type, Back To The Future 2 etc. These games and more run in bullet-time for a larger portion of the game than they run properly. It's jarringly bad and kills some potentially fantastic games.
• Because of that slow processor, it's limited in other ways. The most telling of which is with it's beat 'em ups, where the majority of SNES games won't allow more than 3 enemies on screen at once because any more and it slows down. Compare that to the likes of Streets of Rage where you can have 8 enemies on-screen on the hardest difficulties with no problems, and the SNES just can't touch the levels of intensity which the Megadrive can.
• It's RPGs are lacking in gameplay & challenge. SMT might change that thinking somewhat, but a lot of the hyped up stuff such as Chrono Trigger & FF6 just can't touch games like Phantasy Star and Warsong when it comes to challenge and gameplay design. If you want a good comparison go play Langrisser 2 on both Megadrive & SNES (it's called Der Langrisser on SNES). The SNES has a lot of excellent story additions, but it's almost impossible to lose a troop, never mind a general, never mind a battle. The SEGA version however has a very nice, well balanced challenge.
• A lot of the SNES' best games are too easy and don't have additional difficulties. Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger etc. As brilliantly designed as some of them are, their lack of challenge and difficulty options really hurts their replayability. Megadrive 1-difficulty games are usually quite challenging (Comix Zone, Contra Hard Corps, Landstalker), and don't really need anywhere to go, and games like Hellfire which you can crank up to "Yea Right" difficulty I think I will be playing for another 30 years trying to 1CC them. Addictive as fuck.
• The SNES's resolution cramps the screen up, and makes it the second-choice system for a lot of platform & action games which are on both systems, as being able to see that extra 20-ish% of the screen ahead makes a lot of games more enjoyable.

I'm expecting a lot from the SNES though with it's "S" selection as a lot of the "Super" games are to come. But I also doubt it's gonna make up the ground it's lost already either. Also, I've not even touched the SEGA CD games yet either, and with games like Snatcher, Final Fight CD, Lunar and Dark Wizard there's a lot of big hitters from the SEGA side still to come too.

Your bias of growing up with only one console is showing, peasant. Your list is missing many absolute SNES classics:

Kirby Superstar (overlooking this masterpiece is blasphemy. One of the most creative and charming 2D platformers there is)
Final Fantasy 6 (why the turds FF4 & CT but not this?)
Total Carnage (better than Smash TV)
Mario Allstars (most notably, includes a mostly good remake of the best 2D platformer of all time, Mario Bros. 3)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (exceptional platformer, highly creative and fun, just mod out the baby crying SFX)
Mega Man X
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Super Metroid
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Ogre Battle
Actraiser
Mario Kart
Demon's Crest

And then some.

Also on the SEGA side I would like to add a few, but one stand out missing game that should be in any respectable list is Earthworm Jim (better than the SNES version). I will assume you forgot it.

 

[Silverfish]

"Why aren't my favorites on your list of favorites?"

 

[Ash]

Nah. Most of what I listed are 2D platformers and the SNES absolutely dominates the SEGA in that regard. It's not a matter of subjectivity. He has easy to measure mediocre stuff like Decapattack listed as a "must-play" (lol), which while charming was extremely rehashey with level design & aesthetics (every stage looks the same), enemy design and music, vs swathes of absent industry bests which reside on the SNES. The difference is staggering and if one can't tell, one must simply be lacking a monocle and should not speak until they've played more gaymes.
By including Altered Beast & Golden Axe you just know he is a style over substance guy, as both games have solid style but zero gameplay substance. Largely basic pattern recognition and mindless button mashing.
The Sega had more good games; a solid, huge lineup, but the SNES had more great games.

 

[PapaPetro]

"Why aren't my favorites on your list of favorites?"

This is how wars start.

 

[GrafvonMoltke]

Zombies (Ate My Neighbors) was also on the Mega Drive, and the other games are some bullshit nobody gives a fuck about

 

[Silverfish]

It's not a matter of subjectivity.

This isn't an objective look at the games, just the ones which - after playing through around 500 games in their respective libraries since 2017 - I enjoyed playing, and which I will and do still replay.

I get it, I struggle with reading comprehension sometimes as well.

 

[Higher Animal]

Ash Sega genesis has an incredible list of platformers, obviously, and the more *great* games isn’t true, even going head to head.

 

[Ash]

List the Genesis platforming greats. Sorry but no. There is no competition, not even close, to suggest otherwise is simply laughable to me. And the Sega Genesis was my first gaming machine and what made me fall in love.

Stranded desert island, SNES or Genesis I know what I'd pick.

Zombies (Ate My Neighbors) was also on the Mega Drive, and the other games are some bullshit nobody gives a fuck about

? My list is comprised of many of the system's most popular games. You don't give a fuck because you know nothing about them, clearly. Don't confuse reality for anything else.

 

[GrafvonMoltke]

Imagine getting snooty about Kirby and Mario Kart my God what a dweeb

 

[Ash]

OK Borat. Fite me

 

[GrafvonMoltke]

Ok in CS 1.6

 

[Silverfish]

OK Borat. Fite me

I'll kick your butt... at Mario Kart.

 

[Ash]

Um Acktually Mario Kart is too luck-based and can't stand-in as a real test of manhood.

...is what I would say if discussing any Mario Kart after super anyway. Once blue shells and triple red shells and beyond was all introduced. Those games are no fun.
OG Mario Kart? Sure, you're on I'll fuck you up.

 

[Silverfish]

OG Mario Kart? Sure, you're on I'll fuck you up.

I don't ask for much, or really anything from fellow Codexers, but please don't ruin this by explaining the joke.

 

[Ash]

Your image link is broken (at least for me). So therefore

 

[Falksi]

So I'm gunna drop my updated list here of both SEGA and Nintendo games which I deem for myself as "must own". This isn't an objective look at the games, just the ones which - after playing through around 500 games in their respective libraries since 2017 - I enjoyed playing, and which I will and do still replay.

I'm currently at the letter "S", which is why you'll see the odd "S" game in there, but why there are some obvious omissions too such as the Sonic & Super Mario Allstars games (I'm going through it alphabetically, but when I reach a letter I'm cycling the games by genre). There'll be the odd additional game thrown in there too which I just ended up playing for one reason or other too (e.g. one of my mates kept going on about it, so I went through it).

The list is in a rough order with my faves at the top, lesser faves down the bottom, but it will be reorganized properly when I move on to directly comparing the games in a year or two when the full playthrough is finished.

• Thunderforce 3	Megadrive
  Shining Force 2	Megadrive
  Hellfire	Megadrive
  The Legend of Zelda - A Link To The Past	SNES
  Star Control	Megadrive
  Contra Hard Corps	Megadrive
  Afterburner 2/32X/Arcade	Megadrive/32X/Arcade
  Streets of Rage 3 (Bare Knuckle 3)	Megadrive
  Actraiser	SNES
  Phantasy Star 4	Megadrive
  Contra 3	SNES
  Ghouls N Ghosts	Megadrive
  Sunset Riders	SNES/Arcade
  Atomic Runner	Megadrive/Arcade
  Streets of Rage 2	Megadrive
  The Revenge of Shinobi	Megadrive
  Golden Axe	Megadrive
  Streets of Rage	Megadrive
  Batman	Megadrive
  Castlevania Bloodlines	Megadrive
  Forgotten Worlds	Megadrive/Arcade
  F-Zero	SNES
  Flashback	Megadrive
  Smash TV	SNES
  Street Fighter 2 (Various)	Megadrive/SNES
  Super Mario World	SNES
  Dune	Megadrive/PC
  Warsong (Der Langrissa)	Megadrive
  Trouble Shooter 2/Battlemania 2	Megadrive
  Mega Turrican	Megadrive
  Blackthorne	SNES/32X
  Comix Zone	Megadrive
  MUSHA	Megadrive
  Eliminate Down	Megadrive
  The Combat Tribes	SNES
  Gley Lancer	Megadrive
  Mystic Defender	Megadrive
  Alisa Dragoon	Megadrive
  King of Demons (Majyūō)	SNES
  Biometal	SNES
  Rocket Knight Adventures	Megadrive
  Devil Crash	Megadrive
  Double Dribble	Megadrive
  Final Fantasy 5	SNES
  Flicky	Megadrive
  Elemental Master	Megadrive
  Shadowrun	Megadrive
  Langrisser 2	Megadrive
  Road Rash 3	Megadrive
  Dinos For Hire	Megadrive
  Alien 3	Megadrive
  Decap Attack/Magical Hat	Megadrive
  Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion	Megadrive
  Buck Rogers - Countdown to Doomsday	PC/Megadrive
  Blades of Vengeance	Megadrive
  The Immortal	Megadrive
  Landstalker	Megadrive
  Lufia 2	SNES
  Final Fantasy 4	SNES
  Cadash	Arcade/Megadrive
  Spiderman & The X-Men: Arcade's Revenge	SNES/Megadrive
  Rendering Ranger R2	SNES
  Robocop Vs Terminator MD (uggghhhh, the SNES version of this is dog by comparison)	Megadrive
  Shinobi	Master System/Arcade
  Road Rash 2	Megadrive
  Evander Hollyfield Real Deal Boxing	Megadrive
  Greatest Heavyweights	Megadrive
  Batman Returns	SNES
  Pirates of Dark Water	Megadrive
  SWIV	Megadrive/SNES
  Prince of Persia	SNES/Megadrive
  Arrow Flash	Megadrive
  Midnight Resistance	Megadrive
  Desert Strike	Megadrive/PC/ (SNES version is awful)
  Super Ghouls N' Ghosts	SNES
  Wonderboy	Master System/Arcade
  Pilotwings	SNES
  McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure	Megadrive
  Mercs	Megadrive/Arcade
  Beyond Oasis/Story of Thor	Megadrive
  Kid Chameleon	Megadrive
  Goemon 2	SNES
  The Legend of The Mystical Ninja	SNES
  Gunstar Heroes (This will ultimately be far higher, it's low at the mo because my cart is broke & it crashes)	Megadrive
  Altered Beast	Megadrive/Arcade
  Super Star Wars	SNES
  Illusion of Gaia	SNES
  James Pond 2 - Robocod	Megadrive/SNES
  Parodius Da	SNES
  World of Illusion	Megadrive
  California Games	Megadrive
  Super Castlevania 4	SNES
  Zero Wing	Megadrive
  Empire of Steel	Megadrive
  Dangerous Seed	Megadrive
  Cutie Suzuki No Ringside Angel	Megadrive
  Another World	Megadrive/SNES
  Castlevania Dracula X/Vampires Kiss	SNES
  Cybernator/Assault Suit Valkan	SNES
  Aladdin	Megadrive
  Aladdin	SNES
  Ecco 2: The Tides of Time	Megadrive
  Chrono Trigger	SNES
  Final Fight Guy	SNES
  Final Fight 3	SNES
  Dick Tracy	Megadrive
  Street Racer	Megadrive
  Rock N Roll Racing	Megadrive/SNES
  The Chaos Engine/SOF	PC/Megadrive/SNES
  Quackshot	Megadrive
  Moonwalker	Megadrive
  Gynoug/Wings Of Wor	Megadrive
  Gauntlet 4	Megadrive
  Outrunners	Megadrive
  Super Aleste/Space Megaforce	SNES
  Ninja Gaiden Trilogy	SNES
  Smash Tennis	SNES
  Saturday Night Slamasters	Megadrive/SNES
  King Of Monsters 2	Arcade/SNES
  Coach K Basketball	Megadrive
  Battle Master	SNES
  Insector X	Megadrive
  Congos Caper	SNES
  Alien Storm	Megadrive
  DJ Boy	Megadrive
  Bonanza Bros	Megadrive
  Phantasy Star 3	Megadrive
  Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun	SNES
  Ranger X	Megadrive
  PGA Tour ET	Megadrive
  Rolling Thunder 2	Megadrive
  Street Fighter Alpha 2	SNES
  Klax	Megadrive
  John Madden 93	Megadrive
  John Madden 92	Megadrive
  Monster World IV	Megadrive
  John Madden's Football	Megadrive
  Outlander	Megadrive/SNES
  Shadowrun SNES	SNES
  Outrun	Megadrive
  Phantom 2040	Megadrive/SNES
  Magical Popn	SNES
  Fire Striker	SNES
  Bonkers	SNES

So out of the games there, 87 of my "must-owns" are SEGA Megadrive choices (with 2 additional Master System games, which are obviously playable with the MS Convertor) and 38 are SNES choices. Then there's another 14 choices which are close on both systems (there are other games on both systems of course, but if one was a clear winner then I didn't include the other). Out that 14, 10 I prefer to play on SEGA 4 on Nintendo.

So as you can see, for me SEGA comes out a clear winner at roughly a 2/1 ratio. I still think the SNES is great, a top 5 console for me for sure, but playing all these games several things became apparent about said SNES:

• It's slow. Not always, but the slowdown utterly cripples a lot of its arcade-style games. Gradius 3, Super R-Type, Back To The Future 2 etc. These games and more run in bullet-time for a larger portion of the game than they run properly. It's jarringly bad and kills some potentially fantastic games.
• Because of that slow processor, it's limited in other ways. The most telling of which is with it's beat 'em ups, where the majority of SNES games won't allow more than 3 enemies on screen at once because any more and it slows down. Compare that to the likes of Streets of Rage where you can have 8 enemies on-screen on the hardest difficulties with no problems, and the SNES just can't touch the levels of intensity which the Megadrive can.
• It's RPGs are lacking in gameplay & challenge. SMT might change that thinking somewhat, but a lot of the hyped up stuff such as Chrono Trigger & FF6 just can't touch games like Phantasy Star and Warsong when it comes to challenge and gameplay design. If you want a good comparison go play Langrisser 2 on both Megadrive & SNES (it's called Der Langrisser on SNES). The SNES has a lot of excellent story additions, but it's almost impossible to lose a troop, never mind a general, never mind a battle. The SEGA version however has a very nice, well balanced challenge.
• A lot of the SNES' best games are too easy and don't have additional difficulties. Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger etc. As brilliantly designed as some of them are, their lack of challenge and difficulty options really hurts their replayability. Megadrive 1-difficulty games are usually quite challenging (Comix Zone, Contra Hard Corps, Landstalker), and don't really need anywhere to go, and games like Hellfire which you can crank up to "Yea Right" difficulty I think I will be playing for another 30 years trying to 1CC them. Addictive as fuck.
• The SNES's resolution cramps the screen up, and makes it the second-choice system for a lot of platform & action games which are on both systems, as being able to see that extra 20-ish% of the screen ahead makes a lot of games more enjoyable.

I'm expecting a lot from the SNES though with it's "S" selection as a lot of the "Super" games are to come. But I also doubt it's gonna make up the ground it's lost already either. Also, I've not even touched the SEGA CD games yet either, and with games like Snatcher, Final Fight CD, Lunar and Dark Wizard there's a lot of big hitters from the SEGA side still to come too.

Your bias of growing up with only one console is showing, peasant. Your list is missing many absolute SNES classics:

Kirby Superstar (overlooking this masterpiece is blasphemy. One of the most creative and charming 2D platformers there is)
Final Fantasy 6 (why the turds FF4 & CT but not this?)
Total Carnage (better than Smash TV)
Mario Allstars (most notably, includes a mostly good remake of the best 2D platformer of all time, Mario Bros. 3)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (exceptional platformer, highly creative and fun, just mod out the baby crying SFX)
Mega Man X
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Super Metroid
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Ogre Battle
Actraiser
Mario Kart
Demon's Crest

And then some.

Also on the SEGA side I would like to add a few, but one stand out missing game that should be in any respectable list is Earthworm Jim (better than the SNES version). I will assume you forgot it.

Except I owned both consoles and have always been a big fan of the SNES, I just think it's overrated and having played through these games think the SEGA console's library is significantly better.

Actraiser is on that list. It's my 2nd fave SNES game.

Secondly, like I said in the post you quoted, I haven't played past "S" yet, so stuff like Zombies, Super Mario Allstars, Yoshi's Island, Total Carnage and Super Metroid aren't going to be on there even if I do like them.

As for the others on that list, I didn't like them enough to class them as "must-owns". Earthworm Jim is another which falls into that category, as is Sonic 1. No bias here, I just don't enjoy playing those games enough to really care if I own them or not.

 

[Ash]

"Except I owned both consoles and have always been a big fan of the SNES"

Skeptical though.

Exhibit A:

"Secondly, like I said in the post, I haven't played past "S" yet, so stuff like Zombies, Super Mario Allstars, Yoshi's Island, Total Carnage and Super Metroid aren't going to be on there even if I do like them."

Then, there's the fact you also did not play Chrono Trigger, the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Final Fantasy 6 until recently, based on your dex threads which I enjoyed participating in with you. For such a clearly dedicated enjoyer of the early 90s (early days transitioning into the golden age) at least when it comes to the Mega Drive, I can only ask HOW had you avoided many of the systems most popular games? the only answer seems to be a neglect of your SNES.

Also, skeptical you ever played Kirby funpack/super star. Do it. To completion. Preferably with a friend in co-op. It's impossible not to love it once it gets going.

 

[Falksi]

Nah. Most of what I listed are 2D platformers and the SNES absolutely dominates the SEGA in that regard. It's not a matter of subjectivity. He has easy to measure mediocre stuff like Decapattack listed as a "must-play" (lol), which while charming was extremely rehashey with level design & aesthetics (every stage looks the same), enemy design and music, vs swathes of absent industry bests which reside on the SNES. The difference is staggering and if one can't tell, one must simply be lacking a monocle and should not speak until they've played more gaymes.
By including Altered Beast & Golden Axe you just know he is a style over substance guy, as both games have solid style but zero gameplay substance. Largely basic pattern recognition and mindless button mashing.
The Sega had more good games; a solid, huge lineup, but the SNES had more great games.

Nope. Both Altered Beast & Golden Axe are THE perfect games for 20-min blasts. They're on there because they are the ideal go-to games for when you just need something to kill time (e.g. you're going out, but are waiting for one of the family to get ready). Both give you a fantastical fantasy journey all crammed into 20 min.


Altered Beast's gameplay is rather unique - few brawlers have the constant scrolling screen, the transformation mechanic, and progress based on colleting items - and is brilliant for playing with younglings and training their awareness up (e.g. "get positioned for the silver wolf!")

Your moves are limited as hell to kick, punch, duck & jump, which obviously doesn't sound great. But it works really well in context, because the punch & kick mechanic target different levels of height. When combined with said jump & duck mechanics it gives the action a nice bit of scope, as your hits become about targetting specific areas of the screen and enemies, rather than combos and suchlike.

So it's all becomes about anticipating where the enemies are going to go rather than your usual tit-for-tat beat-em-up setup. See you also can't just strategically pick enemies off one by one either, to progress you have to grab your spirit balls, which in turn means intercepting silver wolves. Because the screen is constantly scrolling, these often waltz straight by you, thus you're often faced with a risk/reward situation of chasing after them, or defending yourself against the other enemies. Combined with the previously mentioned fighting mechanics it works great, as it forces you into a different rhythm to a lot of other games from the genre. It's fun and to use this as a vehicle to train young family to think ahead it is perfect, because it's not as speedy or intense as say SHMUPs.


Golden Axe is THE perfect game to play with family, as it's simple enough to pick-up for casuals but because it's a credit-share game experts still have a place carrying their kin. I've replayed this game SO much with the missus just trying to drag her arse through it, it's a right laugh.

Despite it being very basic and a bit flawed it's just such a good time that the flaws don't really matter to me. The combat finds this wonderfully amazing balance between pace & weight, and every bit of the combat and movement just falls into this lovely rhythm. Yes, enemies can be dumb as fuck and fall to cheesy tactics, namely falling to their deaths very easily & being vulnerable to dash attacks, but they are pretty aggressive themselves and so it still strikes a great balance overall and it all feels part of the fun. In fact luring enemies to their death is often half fun in itself, as this still prompts you to be on it with your movement.

 

[Falksi]

"Except I owned both consoles and have always been a big fan of the SNES"

Skeptical though.

Exhibit A:

"Secondly, like I said in the post, I haven't played past "S" yet, so stuff like Zombies, Super Mario Allstars, Yoshi's Island, Total Carnage and Super Metroid aren't going to be on there even if I do like them."

Then, there's the fact you also did not play Chrono Trigger, the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Final Fantasy 6 until recently, based on your dex threads which I enjoyed participating in with you. For such a clearly dedicated enjoyer of the early 90s (early days transitioning into the golden age) at least when it comes to the Mega Drive, I can only ask HOW had you avoided many of the systems most popular games? the only answer seems to be a neglect of your SNES.

Also, skeptical you ever played Kirby funpack/super star. Do it. To completion. Preferably with a friend in co-op. It's impossible not to love it once it gets going.

Played all those games aged 13-18 apart from DKC 2 & 3, my recent visits were replays. DKC 2 & 3 I only played for the first time recently.

Also, me as an 11/12 y/o kid, you'll notice I own both consoles...

I can't fucking stand Kirby games. WAY too kiddish for my tastes.

 

[Ash]

I'll concede that when you're human altered beast's gameplay has a slight bit of nuance to it, very slight, but as soon as you get your transformation it's spam time.
It is pretty much a great game to play with a 5 year old (limited brain development), and that says a lot about its gameplay.

I can't fucking stand Kirby games. WAY too kiddish for my tastes.

Most. Superstar/Funpack is a bit different than most Kirby games, and has a slightly more mature look and feel, at least in the second half of the game anyway.

It is also a perfect game to play with a kid, however you'll have to hold their hand a fair bit more than poopy altered beast (and that's fine).

Props for proving your gaming clout

 

[Silverfish]

"Except I owned both consoles and have always been a big fan of the SNES"

Skeptical though.

Exhibit A:

"Secondly, like I said in the post, I haven't played past "S" yet, so stuff like Zombies, Super Mario Allstars, Yoshi's Island, Total Carnage and Super Metroid aren't going to be on there even if I do like them."

Then, there's the fact you also did not play Chrono Trigger, the Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Final Fantasy 6 until recently, based on your dex threads which I enjoyed participating in with you. For such a clearly dedicated enjoyer of the early 90s (early days transitioning into the golden age) at least when it comes to the Mega Drive, I can only ask HOW had you avoided many of the systems most popular games? the only answer seems to be a neglect of your SNES.

Also, skeptical you ever played Kirby funpack/super star. Do it. To completion. Preferably with a friend in co-op. It's impossible not to love it once it gets going.

Played all those games aged 13-18 apart from DKC 2 & 3, my recent visits were replays. DKC 2 & 3 I only played for the first time recently.

Also, me as an 11/12 y/o kid, you'll notice I own both consoles...

I can't fucking stand Kirby games. WAY too kiddish for my tastes.

Fair enough, but I'm telling your mom about the magazine.

 

[Nutmeg]

I can't fucking stand Kirby games. WAY too kiddish for my tastes.

Play the GB original. It's slightly different in tone (I mean it's black and white giving some class to the otherwise peppa pig like pink cheer in other titles) and I can vouch for its quality.

 

[Tweed]

Not a single mention of (Sword of) Vermillion, you people are such faggots. Yu Suzuki is worthy of your praise.
Also, magical earrape.

 

[GrafvonMoltke]

This is what Ash is getting snobbish about