The BEST Genesis Games from Every Year it Was Made

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Releasing in 1989, the Sega Genesis had a library of over 800 games here in the United States. And as it's my favorite 16-bit video game console, I decided to look through its amazing library and pick out what I felt were the two best games every year the console was on the market.
Except for 1998, where I had a whole one choice.
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Пікірлер: 112

  • @ZakkHung
    @ZakkHungАй бұрын

    In 1992 I played SoR2 and Sonic 2 until my eyes bled. Much homework was neglected during that year. Still love playing them today. 😃

  • @erickavery1
    @erickavery12 ай бұрын

    As someone who didn't have a single sega system before last year I've quite enjoyed learning about all the games I've missed ever since checking out your SEGA rpg panel at last years SEGE.

  • @britishwordplay4335

    @britishwordplay4335

    Ай бұрын

    Get yourself a Super Console X. Retro from Atari up to PSP. I am a gamer since 1992. You'll enjoy the SCX if new to the old school generations of consoles

  • @MCastleberry1980
    @MCastleberry19802 ай бұрын

    My neighbors owned a Genesis but i didnt. Toe Jam & Earl was the "hangout game". We never did finish it, but we'd all hang and mess around for hours with it. 1992 was great though. They got Sonic 2 for Christmas and my brother and I got a SNES. Lot of going back and forth to play each other's systems.

  • @Ratchetcomand
    @Ratchetcomand2 ай бұрын

    My list: 1989: Thunder Force 2/HM: The Revenge of Shinobi 1990: Strider/HM: Target Earth 1991: Battle Mania/HM: El Viento 1992: Streets of Rage 2/HM: Syd of Valis 1993: Gunstar Heroes/HM: Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master 1994: Castlevania: Bloodlines/HM: Contra: Hard Corps 1995: Comiczone/HM: Vectorman 1996: Vectorman 2/HM: NBA Hang Time 1997: Lost World: Jurassic Park/HM: World Series Baseball 98 1998: Frogger I love Geneiss Sonic games, but I do love other Genesis games more. 1991-1994 were the best years for the console.

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    I love this list - and it's pointed out a few glaring holes that I haven't taken the time to play. Thank you so much for watching, and for this awesome list of games!! And I agree on 91-94 being the golden age for the Genesis. :)

  • @lordcolinb

    @lordcolinb

    2 ай бұрын

    😊

  • @mrbee15
    @mrbee152 ай бұрын

    Love Toe Jam & Earl

  • @tylerd1297

    @tylerd1297

    Ай бұрын

    The sequel is a vibe too just not as good gameplay wise.

  • @LameDadRetroGamer
    @LameDadRetroGamer2 ай бұрын

    Toe jam and earl is a classic. My kids love playing it and its just one of a kind. I was always a NES kid and never had a Genesis but i do remember play Comic Zone at a friends house and good night that game was difficult as hell.

  • @samuelallen2831
    @samuelallen28312 ай бұрын

    On the positive side - Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 on both Genesis and SNES looks and sounds WAY better than it should have any right to. For an arcade port on hardware that old to run at that level is something else.

  • @scorpionwins6378

    @scorpionwins6378

    Ай бұрын

    I remember renting UMK3 on Genesis and at the time I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Same with another favorite arcade port which was VirtuaRacing. To this day I'm amazed how the devs were able to optimize the cartridge space so well to run the game on the system hardware.

  • @ColdSteelKid
    @ColdSteelKid2 ай бұрын

    I like Comix Zone but I have trouble getting past the first couple of pages. Still it has such a great look to it that I keep coming back. Frogger being on the list made me laugh. Good job on the video. Would love to see more in this series.

  • @MPHswayze

    @MPHswayze

    2 ай бұрын

    Comix Zone was way too hard for a game that was so inherently appealing to kids

  • @whosaidthat84

    @whosaidthat84

    2 ай бұрын

    I have the same problem. Everything you do hurts you. Even punching a damn crate! This was when games were intentionally hard as to entice the player to buy it rather than rent it, but i think this had adverse affects. We rented games because we had no choice. They were too expensive

  • @joemerkel20
    @joemerkel202 ай бұрын

    Finally! Toejam and Earl get a little respect! Thank you!

  • @WavesNGames
    @WavesNGames2 ай бұрын

    I want to preface my comments by saying that most of my Genesis experience actually came from the PC Sega Smash Pack 2: my brother's and I spent so much time with Shining Force III and Comic Zone but never got very far. I'd like to revisit them with a controller instead of a keyboard haha

  • @MattyIcecubes
    @MattyIcecubesАй бұрын

    By 1996 I had pretty much retired my Genesis, but my #1 each year is: 1989 - Ghouls and Ghosts 1990 - Revenge of Shinobi 1991 - Sonic the Hedgehog 1992 - Streets of Rage 2 1993 - Gunstar Heroes 1994 - Castlevania Bloodlines 1995 - Phantasy Star IV 1996 - Sonic 3D Blast

  • @whosaidthat84
    @whosaidthat842 ай бұрын

    Toejam and Earl, Sonic 2, Ghouls N Ghosts, Castlevania, Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe, and Gunstar are some of my favorites as well. Others include Herzog Zwei, Shinobi 3, Eternal Champions, and Thunder Force 3.

  • @Angie2343
    @Angie2343Ай бұрын

    FUN FACT: Jaleel White, who would later go on to voice Sonic in all three DIC Entertainment Sonic cartoons, got the role of Steve Urkel SOLELY so he could get a SEGA Genesis.

  • @pittsburghretrogaming8916
    @pittsburghretrogaming8916Ай бұрын

    Sounds track alone makes SoR2 a GOAT

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    100% this.

  • @mystacles
    @mystacles2 ай бұрын

    Man great video I'm a big Genesis fan an enjoyed every pick!! A few favorites of mine, outrun , thunder force 3, comic zone!!

  • @AneurynPlays
    @AneurynPlays2 ай бұрын

    Oh! I had the idea to do a similar list for the SNES! I have my list written out, I was just waiting for some new art before making it. XD

  • @XTRABIG
    @XTRABIG2 ай бұрын

    1989--- I loved GnG in the arcade and couldn't get enough on the Genesis. But I gotta say Revenge of Shinobi over Golden Axe. Both great games but RoS blew my mind.

  • @lazarushernandez5827
    @lazarushernandez58272 ай бұрын

    There are a lot of games that could augment that list, maybe consider a part 2 video or even an almost made it list? My list of games: -Herzog Zwei, not many got the jist of this game when it came out, but it was one of the predecessors to the RTS genre, introducing many of the genres mainstays. -The Thunder Force series of shooters, these are among the creme de la creme of the 16 bit shooters. -M.U.S.H.A. another top notch shooter this time vertically oriented. -Strider, 8 Megabit cart that nearly captured the arcade version. -Outrun, was a fan of the arcade original and the Genesis version was the closest port for a while. -Flashback, this game was impressive on any platform it was ported to... -Ecco the Dolphin, very original when it came out -Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles, besides being one epic huge adventure when both are joined, Sonic 3 was more cinematic then Sonic 2, the first stage of a zone would lead into a mid boss then the 2nd stage and continue to the boss fight.

  • @neilsmith9066
    @neilsmith9066Ай бұрын

    Eternal Champions was fun!

  • @ArkansasPicker
    @ArkansasPicker2 ай бұрын

    Now I have to check out that Jurassic park game!

  • @mjdf122

    @mjdf122

    2 ай бұрын

    I’m going to watch you after this enjoy the night

  • @BaconDeli
    @BaconDeli2 ай бұрын

    cool list.. phantasy star 4 and crusaders of centy were underrated back then..

  • @samuelallen2831
    @samuelallen28312 ай бұрын

    Personal opinion, Super Street Fighter II on Genesis is a fantastic looking and playing game… but man does that sound, in particular the music, feel half assed. Maybe I’m spoiled by having played the SNES and Arcade versions before even knowing a Genesis version existed, but even if the gameplay and graphics are near identical to the SNES, the sound really brings that version down for me.

  • @yearight5303

    @yearight5303

    Ай бұрын

    There are rom hacks that completely fix it. Pure laziness on the part of Capcom. They really struggled to make quality audio for Sega.

  • @Gent82
    @Gent82Ай бұрын

    Road Rash and Desert Strike (or possibly their sequels) should have made your list!

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    They probably would have if I was picking three from each year. :) Both are fantastic games and series!

  • @hw5091
    @hw50912 ай бұрын

    contra hard corps, aladdin and xmen 2 clone wars come to mind.

  • @TheGemini5
    @TheGemini5Ай бұрын

    I was shocked when I saw you put Ghouls n Ghosts on here, which is what I said before you even started the countdown. But when you put Shining Force on here as well, THAT is what made me subscribe! SF is my favorite Genesis game period! And yes I like it better than part two lol. I look forward to watching more of your content!

  • @thetechbuzz
    @thetechbuzz2 ай бұрын

    Great video Jay, Love me some good sega, Toe Jam and Earl is the BOMB!

  • @mymusic3354
    @mymusic33542 ай бұрын

    Man, great video! I am pretty much right in line with your list here , very good list. I really thought Genesis was and still is, a great console, with a wide range of great games, many of which are on this list!

  • @NSquaredPodcast
    @NSquaredPodcastАй бұрын

    Splatterhouse 2 should’ve made the list though you did showcase great titles

  • @dwightdixon8508
    @dwightdixon85082 ай бұрын

    Bought Phantasy Star II on a whim as I wasn’t familiar with the previous release and found out quickly that I wasn’t a fan of RPGs at all. May be due to my ADHD I didn’t know I had at the time

  • @jordans4827
    @jordans4827Ай бұрын

    Excellent list!!! You nailed it, except for the NHL game from 1997. Was there anything else released that year? I think I would have picked anything else. Anyway, awesome video! Really enjoyed it!

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    Hey, thanks so much for watching! The NHL game gets in on technicality - it was legit the only other thing I recognized that I'd played from that year. I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that there are significantly more deserving titles. :D

  • @FightingWarrior
    @FightingWarriorАй бұрын

    In my opinion, some of the very best/most impactful games on the MegaDrive/Genesis were Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Ghouls'n Ghosts, Revenge of Shinobi, Strider, Sonic 1-2, Street Fighter 2 Special Champion Edition, Fifa Soccer (the first one), Road Rash, Splatter House 3, Streets of Rage 2, MUSHA Aleste and others

  • @aaronsnowden6311
    @aaronsnowden6311Ай бұрын

    I just happened to find your video and I am glad I did, love it. I am a "old" gamer and love this type of content.

  • @retrobeliever
    @retrobeliever2 ай бұрын

    Stellar games! I didn’t get into the Genesis until I was 16, got the model 2. My first two games were interesting choices and will be in Thursdays vid 😉 Sweet vid Jay!!! ❤️🎮

  • @AldoAraujo85
    @AldoAraujo852 ай бұрын

    Jay says Streets of Rage 2, and quite frankly...nothing else matters. Once in a lifetime experience! GRAND UPPER!!!

  • @GenerationPixel
    @GenerationPixel2 ай бұрын

    Shining Force is God Tier 👌 Nearly 10 minutes before you mentioned Bkast Processing 🤯😂 Comix Zone gives me 'Nam style flashbacks 😱 Post 95 it was all about 3D and the almighty PlayStation ❤ The poor Megadrive was truly on its last legs 😢 What's the point of killing poachers if you're also killing the Dinosaurs 😮😂 You shockingly missed the Strike games, and Wonderboy 😮😮😉

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    As much as I love the Strike games, none of them ever felt like BEST GAME material to me - they were fun, but they didn't live in my head like the majority of games on this list did. :) And...I don't think I've ever played a Genesis/MD Wonderboy game. 😬

  • @sponge2229
    @sponge2229Ай бұрын

    1992 was an awesome year for the Genesis. My list, Sonic 2 Streets of Rage 2 NHL 93 Desert Strike Kid Chameleon (very hard game) Tazmania Mortal Kombat Barts Nightmare (guilty pleasure) Madden 93

  • @SDSOverfiend
    @SDSOverfiend2 ай бұрын

    I disagree with some games but overall good list tho. Mines is a bit different cause I’m adding on 😆 1989 - Revenge of Shinobi/Forgotten Worlds 1990 - Strider/Moonwalker/M.U.S.H.A 1991 - Streets of Rage/Sonic 1992 - Streets of Rage 2/ Sonic 2 1993 - Gunstar Heroes/Ranger X/Shinobi 3/Rocket Knight 1994 -Earthworm Jim/Contra Hardcorps/Dynamite Headdy 1995 - Alien Soldier/Comix Zone/Coach K/X-Men 2/Adventures Of Batman & Robin

  • @coopleofnerds
    @coopleofnerds2 ай бұрын

    This is a fantastic idea for a video! I may have to respectfully pay homage to it in the future. I'm glad you liked Comix (x because 90's) Zone. Every time I play that game I think wasted potential. Everything is great except the combat. Unfortunately in a beat em up that is what you have to nail down. Why is every enemy so tough?!?

  • @Gabrielnobre
    @GabrielnobreАй бұрын

    Finally I see someone pointing Shinning Forces as one the best....Shinning Force 2 was even greater! But I miss World of Ilusion, Ayrton Senna Super Monaco GP2, Quackshot and Shinobi.

  • @Ratchetcomand
    @Ratchetcomand2 ай бұрын

    Your channel and videos need more views

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    I appreciate you saying that! All in due time. I'm progressing at a comfortable rate right now. :)

  • @RetroRivals
    @RetroRivals2 ай бұрын

    I've been told by a very important math captain that I need to play more Sega Genesis. Some of my favorites from this list, Streets of rage 2, Sonic 2 and Golden Axe. Comix zone looks really fun and I tried to play Castlevania Bloodlines but I suck 😂😂😂😂. I think I finally give him myself permission to save state old games because that's the only way I'm going to beat most of them and want to play them.

  • @gardyjure118
    @gardyjure118Ай бұрын

    It's my favorite all-time video game system.

  • @jerryw2460
    @jerryw2460Ай бұрын

    You forgot the marky mark and the funky bunch sega CD! This is sarcasm by the way

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    Two things: 1) Sarcasm is always welcome in the comments. 😂 2) If you think I won't hunt down a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Sega CD game just for the laughs, you're wrong.

  • @N64Gamer77
    @N64Gamer772 ай бұрын

    Good content 👍

  • @Redfoot138
    @Redfoot138Ай бұрын

    I owned a Genesis for around 15 months (and then sold it so I could get a Super NES and Street Fighter II-- in my defense, up until that November, 1992 was a really bad year for Genesis games!), so my list is limited and you won't see too many deep cuts and any years listed past 1995: 1988 (Japan) -- Altered Beast 1989 -- Golden Axe 1990 -- Strider 1991 -- Streets of Rage 1992 -- Streets of Rage 2 1993 -- Gunstar Heroes (the game that made me regret not holding onto that Genesis) 1994 (tie) -- Castlevania Bloodlines/Contra Hard Corps 1995 -- Crusader of Centy (played this on Genesis Mini 2)

  • @josephwilkinson7321
    @josephwilkinson7321Ай бұрын

    Monster League Sports games were great also

  • @aceassn716

    @aceassn716

    Ай бұрын

    Mutant League Football&Hockey?? Yes bonafide classics

  • @sheldoncooper8199
    @sheldoncooper8199Ай бұрын

    No No No we didnt call it Rogue Like Back then. But Yeah Probably Spend 99 hours with Toe Jam and Earl Never Made it Passed the Stage 23. Cause of the Boogie Mens

  • @BittyKongsQuest
    @BittyKongsQuest2 ай бұрын

    Buddy I agree with so many of your picks - especially Gunstar Heros and Shining Force - but I'm gonna have to be the guy who disagrees on Sonic 2. No matter how many times I try to play through it, it never holds my attention past Zone 2. I've had a blast with several of the other 2D entries, but that one just hasn't ever grabbed me. 😅 Great video as always man!

  • @armanabbasi3754
    @armanabbasi3754Ай бұрын

    Comix is goated fr. not only in 95 but all time

  • @mjdf122
    @mjdf1222 ай бұрын

    Square Pegs Sega Genesis time

  • @modollaz8116
    @modollaz81162 ай бұрын

    Only one I disagree with is Super Street Fighter II. Should have been the previous entry which sounded a lot better and also looked better even with less characters.

  • @Owazrim
    @Owazrim2 ай бұрын

    Some great games. Phantasy Star 2 has too many random battles. It killed the game for me the last time I tried to playthrough it. Several play sessions where it felt like I wasn't making any progress and I was done. I enjoyed mapping out the dungeons more than the game. lol

  • @charlescarnage
    @charlescarnage2 ай бұрын

    Imo sonic 3 and knuckles is the best sonic games

  • @dakotasmith9035
    @dakotasmith90352 ай бұрын

    You are awesome

  • @tony202931
    @tony202931Ай бұрын

    Contra hard corps and robocop vs terminator should of been on the lost😢

  • @clevejae9829
    @clevejae9829Ай бұрын

    Nba live 98 came out that year

  • @petesmart1983
    @petesmart19832 ай бұрын

    Gain ground is brilliant although dosent look great and pretty basic concept but it's just a brilliant and fun game

  • @jrlangdon89
    @jrlangdon89Ай бұрын

    Phantasy star 4 , virtual racing like hellooooo

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    I'll give you PS4, but I'm going 32x VR 10 times out of 10.

  • @punchabunchabuttons
    @punchabunchabuttonsАй бұрын

    As someone that never really played the genesis growing up and that prefers Aladdin Snes version, im surprised you did not pick Aladdin as people all swear by the genesis version. Also where the hell is Thunderforce 4? One of the greatest shooter ever made?

  • @larrym5120
    @larrym5120Ай бұрын

    Knew comix zone would be there.

  • @damin9913
    @damin9913Ай бұрын

    Sega genesis has all the best games on that consoles

  • @7kurisu
    @7kurisu2 ай бұрын

    was a SNES kid but enjoy going back to learn about and play the SEGA games. i gotta say though, the last couple of years it seemed like SEGA lost the console war with SNES and released only a handful of mediocre games. no shade intended, as games like comix zone, sonic 2, shining force and gunstar heroes proved that SEGA could make killer games. i cant really recall many friends owning SEGA consoles out here in Australia after the genesis (mega drive here), im not sure how well the SEGA CD or Saturn sold

  • @mrwess1927

    @mrwess1927

    2 ай бұрын

    Genesiswas the last well selling sega console but they spent so much on superfluous peripherals (32x, cd) that were discontinued almost immediately.

  • @7kurisu

    @7kurisu

    2 ай бұрын

    @@mrwess1927 yeah a real shame, we could have gotten so much more had SEGA had a better strategy. better than the boring xbox at least (saying this as someone who owned one)

  • @necrophagiakc
    @necrophagiakcАй бұрын

    Madden 92' set the Madden franchise off and when original Mortal Kombat came out Sega really took off SNES didn't have mature games for teens/adults Sega did to me that was a big selling point

  • @lordcolinb
    @lordcolinb2 ай бұрын

    😊i miss sega channel

  • @aceassn716

    @aceassn716

    Ай бұрын

    It felt almost 5yrs ahead of the curve.. one of the best things available 95-97 for me

  • @popunkid
    @popunkid2 ай бұрын

    Love this list, but leaving Aladdin off is just plain wrong. Objectively.

  • @TheGameBeaters
    @TheGameBeaters2 ай бұрын

    Phantasy Star 2 is a great choice.

  • @XTRABIG
    @XTRABIG2 ай бұрын

    Man... i could not bother with Toejam and Earl. nothing about it inspired me to play it. I tried a few times but couldn't get into it.

  • @whosaidthat84

    @whosaidthat84

    2 ай бұрын

    It's much better in co-op. Almost feels like a different game. But I understand it's not for everyone

  • @jrlangdon89
    @jrlangdon89Ай бұрын

    Shining force is amazing

  • @JamesHoneyball
    @JamesHoneyball2 ай бұрын

    Frogger for 1998 but not Duke Nukem 3D?

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    Nope. Not released here in the States.

  • @proplayer682
    @proplayer6822 ай бұрын

    Waaa no batman and robin

  • @donkeyparadise9276
    @donkeyparadise92762 ай бұрын

    Shinobi

  • @Call_Me_WAM
    @Call_Me_WAMАй бұрын

    Where's tmnt hyperstone heist

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    Legit, Hyperstone Heist is one of my favorites - but there's no way it eclipses Sonic 2 or Streets of Rage 2. It's a solid third place that year. There's a murderers row of quality titles in 1992.

  • @Ajhmee
    @AjhmeeАй бұрын

    Herzog Zwei.

  • @BeaugosseRiche
    @BeaugosseRiche2 ай бұрын

    Gain Ground over Sonic 1, no, that's not possible. I know everyone has different taste, but that's unbelievable. An old primitive arcade game, one of the best of 1991? Come on.

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    Don't know what to tell you. I love Gain Ground. I love Sonic, too, but right now I find myself playing GG a lot more than I do Sonic 1.

  • @shanebenz2878
    @shanebenz2878Ай бұрын

    herzog zwei

  • @StruggleoftheOutsider
    @StruggleoftheOutsiderАй бұрын

    golden axe 2 was better.. 4 my money.

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    I can respect that!

  • @fitnessabcvideo
    @fitnessabcvideoАй бұрын

    I don't get it, toe jam and earl gameplay is like wall paper paste.

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    Ай бұрын

    Maybe I really like wallpaper paste?

  • @fitnessabcvideo

    @fitnessabcvideo

    Ай бұрын

    @@SquarePegs jam paste ? 🤣

  • @Super_Nofriendo
    @Super_Nofriendo2 ай бұрын

    Earthworm Jim is a genesis staple, how can you even call yourself a genesis fan. WUSS!

  • @SquarePegs

    @SquarePegs

    2 ай бұрын

    Easy: I'm a Genesis fan and I don't like Earthworm Jim. Holy fuck, that was so simple. How many accounts do you have, my dude? Gonna find some other random ass identity to call me a wuss and tell me a game I don't like is a 'staple'?

  • @lordrayden3045
    @lordrayden3045Ай бұрын

    Yes…. Super street fighter is better than turbo

  • @hansvonpetersen5011
    @hansvonpetersen50112 ай бұрын

    FAKE NEWS!!! every one knows that mortal kombat 2 is the superior mk on the classic consoles

  • @tuffteddy1446

    @tuffteddy1446

    Ай бұрын

    Agreed. Played a lot of MK2 on the Genesis as well as all of the NHLPA games.

  • @hansvonpetersen5011

    @hansvonpetersen5011

    Ай бұрын

    @@tuffteddy1446 ah... the good old days

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