Genesis

Genesis model 1.

The Genesis known as the メガドライブ [Mega Doraibu], "Mega Drive" in Japan and Europe, is a fourth generation video game console created by Sega and released in Japan on 1988-10-29, and in the USA on 1989-08-14 and discontinued in 1999. The console's main CPU is a Motorola 68000, but it also includes a Zilog Z80 to process audio and for backward compatibility with the Master System. The Genesis uses ROM cartridges for its video game medium. Its predecessor was the Master System, and it was succeeded by the Saturn. The Genesis would eventually become Sega's best-selling console selling 35 million units.

Personal

I never owned a Genesis as a child, but I did get one in my 40s. At least in my group of friends, it was viewed as an afterthought to the NES. Sure, the games looked and sounded better, but it meant buying a whole new system. The Genesis seemed to be owned by kids with parents rich enough to buy them a second console, or those with parents too oblivious to know about the NES. Several of my friends had one growing up, so I played a fair amount of the games, and I have played much more using emulators.

I think my major hangup for the bulk of the system's library is that the designers were too focused on sports games and stage-based games, neither of which I enjoy very much. I tend to only enjoy sports games if they're properly gamified, but the ones for the Sega tended to play more like simulators. Stage-based games make sense in the arcade where players don't expect a long-term commitment, but for a home console, I prefer games that take you into a different world like The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, or Shadowgate. This isn't to say the Genesis didn't have adventure games and RPGs, and they tried to rectify this with the Mega RPG Project, but, when you look at people's list of favorite non-sports games for the system they're mostly stage-based games like Sonic the Hedgehog or Thunderforce.

I own a model 2 Genesis.

Games

See all Genesis Games.

In the USA, Sega sold game cartridges in a hard plastic shell. This made it far more likely for the owner to keep the game's box and manual in good condition. Most other platforms used cheap cardboard boxes that were typically thrown out the moment they were opened, and the manuals were usually lost or damaged shortly thereafter.

Initial Games

The Mega Drive did not ship with a game. The pack-in title for the Genesis was initially Altered Beast, but later packages included Sonic the Hedgehog.

The following games were available at the Mega Drive's launch: Space Harrier II and Super Thunder Blade.

The following games were available at the Genesis's launch: Altered Beast, Last Battle, Space Harrier II, Super Thunder Blade, Thunder Force II, Tommy Lasorda Baseball

Personal

These are Genesis games that are important to me:

• 

  Crusader of Centy

• 

  Golden Axe

• 

  McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure

• 

  Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom

• 

  Sonic the Hedgehog

• 

  Wonder Boy in Monster World

• 

  Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

Hardware

• 32X
• Game Genie
• Genesis Controller
• Genesis Six-Button Controller
• Mega Modem
• Power Base Converter
• Sega CD

Review

Good

• The Genesis had a great graphics processing unit, which out-stripped the NES by leaps and bounds, surpassed the TurboGrafx-16, and even gave the SNES a run for its money.
• The audio chip was pretty decent, and though the FM synthesis never sounded right to me, it was still a very competent chip, and the designers made some very impressive music on it.
• I liked the addition of the third button on the controller instead of a useless select button.

Bad

• Probably the thing that will make or break any system, the games, always felt lacking for me on the Genesis.
• The default controller always felt a bit bulky to me.

Ugly

• Nothing.

Media

Documentation

• 

  Toys 'R' Us ad.

Videos

Did You Know Gaming?

Did You Know Gaming?

Links