Discovering the Sega Genesis

With SEGA celebrating 30 years since the release of the Genesis, it led to the inevitable trip down memory lane. I began thinking back on some wonderful memories of playing the Genesis for the first time and games I remember most about the system. Sega’s 16-bit console will forever be linked with the Super Nintendo and the ‘Console Wars’ that erupted during the 1990’s, and I’ll admit that I was a tried and true Nintendo supporter long before I ever dove into the wonder that is the Genesis. But my first foray into Sega’s world has sentimental feelings, because it was the first time I purchased any video game product with my own money. Quick back story...after owning a Super Nintendo for a couple of years, my brother and I would continue to read GamePro and Electronic Gaming Monthly about all of these other games that looked really awesome, but they were always promoted as being *only* for the Genesis. (which games, I couldn’t tell you) And for me, the first time visiting the neighbour up the street and playing NHL Hockey, knowing it was only on the Genesis, was enough to make me want to save my money. I needed to experience 16-bit hockey at home...so we began saving. Eventually, my brother and I had enough money to buy a system. We got our Dad to drive us into the city, and we ventured downtown into this shady basement store that sold video games, comic books, and all sorts of other nerd related product. We proudly asked to purchase a Genesis and were so happy when they slid one across the counter to us. We had just enough to purchase one, but we were quickly dejected when they asked if we wanted to buy a second controller and we realized we didn’t have enough money. Just then, dear ol’ Dad came to the rescue and grabbed a second controller off the shelf and said, “I got it.” I can’t believe my brother and I didn’t think about a second controller, but Dad knew. And we, as a family, really didn’t have much money, so this was a major purchase. My brother and I were on top of the world. A new Genesis, a new game, AND two controllers? Heaven, I tell you. Over the years, we continued to play and trade Genesis games with our friends and neighbours and had a wonderful time with the system. Here’s just a few from my childhood that I remember playing a lot: ALTERED BEAST

History and gamers have always had mixed feelings about Altered Beast, be it the Genesis release or the arcade original. Either way, Altered Beast will always hold a special place in my heart for being the first Sega game I ever owned. I wasn’t good at it then, and I’m not good at it now, but I will always defend the game as one you should play. Even if it’s only to hear one of the more iconic lines in gaming. ETERNAL CHAMPIONS

This was one that we used to borrow from my friend across the street. Eternal Champions was a fighting game that, like so many other of the generation, tried to piggyback the success of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter II. There’s really nothing special about the game. Honestly. The characters are fine in design, but there’s nothing really memorable about it. And yet, it still holds a special place and is usually the first fighting game I go to. Right after… MORTAL KOMBAT I&II

I’m including both because I loved both and for different reasons. Everyone played Mortal Kombat when it came out. EVERYONE. But those of us that grew up when the game released knew that the Genesis was the console on which you wanted to experience Mortal Kombat. And much as I loved the Super Nintendo, the six-button controller and the Genesis seemed a perfect fit for Mortal Kombat II. I loved taking out those gaming magazines with all of the codes and inputs for for Fatalities, Babalities, Friendships and the like. Wonderful game. MKII is my favourite in the entire series. NHL 95

Of course there’s a hockey game on this list, though it’s not the one most would expect. NHL 94 is revered by many people, and not just hockey fans. NHL 94 consistently comes up as one of the best games ever released on the system when polled online. It’s fascinating, actually. But for me, NHL 95 was the first game I ever owned and was awesome in it’s own right. It was my birthday gift on my twelfth birthday and I put so many hours into it. Being able to create and trade players for the first time, and all the hype around Mark Messier and the New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup… It was a magical and glorious time. STREETS OF RAGE 2

Enough said. X-MEN

This was another game that we used to play with our friends across the street. We were all comic book nerds, and many were the afternoon where we would sit out on the trampoline reading comics and then get the itch to go inside and fire up the Genesis to play things out as the X-Men. It’s been awhile since I re-visited this game in long form, so I can’t really remember if it’s easy, challenging, awful, or whatever, but it was a fun game and there was no greater feeling that extracting and retracting Wolverine’s claws and the sound effect that went with it. Music! SHINING FORCE

I’ve already written about my love for Shining Force, so I won’t go on about it here, but the first one really helped to propel me and my love for role playing games. As much as I love the second one, the first one will always hold a special place in my heart. ************ There are many more that I’m probably not thinking of right now that I could go on about, but that’s just a sample of some of the Genesis games that whet my palette when I was a kid. Much as I have such sweet memories of the Super Nintendo, the Genesis holds more sentiment simply because of my Dad’s involvement. He didn’t need to buy that extra controller, and some of you may not think that’s a big deal. But when you lay in bed at night knowing that your parents are crying about not having money and just wanting to give their kids a good life, and he’s throwing down money that he probably shouldn’t be spending, only because he knows what a difference it would make in our lives? One of many, many reasons why I adored my father and miss him so much to this day, and why the Genesis continues to hold such a special place in my heart.