Genesis Games - ranked by preference

Release Date: September 9, 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Gunstar Heroes was the rookie effort from the wonderful developers at Treasure...And in their first attempt, they may have created the single best game available on the Genesis. Gunstar Heroes is a great shooter that can potentially be different each time you play through due to the way that you're able to combine weapon power-ups to find a style of firepower that is to your liking. The game also contains one of my favorite boss fights of all-time in Seven Force. Add in the ability to choose the levels you want to play, ala Mega Man, and you've got what many consider to be the best game on Sega's 16-bit console...I think I agree with 'em.

Release Date: March 21, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: RPG

Phantasy Star was a great RPG for the Sega Master System. Phantasy Star II blew it away with improvements in every way imaginable, and a really good story to boot, which (spoiler alert) involves a party member passing away halfway through the story nearly a decade before the death of Aeris was made famous in Final Fantasy VII. It's a fantastic old-style RPG with turn-based combat and plenty of grinding involved for leveling up and saving up money, well worth playing for any fan of RPGs. But, if you're spoiled by more modern RPGs, or just simply dislike needing to grind, you may not appreciate it as much as I do. For its time, there weren't many RPGs better.

Release Date: 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Compile
Genre: Puzzle

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is easily one of my favorite puzzle games of all-time. While it seems as simple as matching up several of the same-colored "beans" to make them disappear, there's actually strategy involved as you want to try to stack the "beans" up in such a way that when you finally pop one, it starts a chain reaction with sets popping one after another. Doing so sends an avalanche over to your opponent and you can advance to the next round with relative ease. Known as Puyo Puyo or Puyo Pop in Japan, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is pretty close to the pinaccle of what I believe a great puzzle game should be - strategic, competitive, and most importantly, fun.

Release Date: November 21, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the definition of a great sequel - bigger, better, improved visuals and sounds, and with familiar gameplay that is tweaked to be better than before. The addition of Tails introduced two-player gameplay to the series, which only added to the enjoyment level. The first Sonic the Hedgehog was good fun, but this sequel is great - some still consider it to be the best game in the series today. I don't necessarily agree with that, my personal favorite is Sonic CD, but this is a VERY close second in my eyes.

Release Date: August 5, 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Platformer

I first discovered Rocket Knight Adventures about ten years after it initially released. I found a copy in a thrift store for dirt cheap and when I got home and tried it, I instantly fell in love. The opossum with a sword and a jetpack that battled evil pigs immediately became one of my favorite video game characters and the awesome gameplay just added to the enjoyment. I always felt like this game was underappreciated, but with the recent remake of Rocket Knight Adventures on modern consoles, maybe it was more appreciated than I ever knew.

Release Date: 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Interplay
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: Racing

When it comes to racing games, there aren't many titles that I've put as many hours into as I have with this gem. I've beaten the game countless times, on all difficulty settings, and every time it has been an absolute joy. I went to play it a bit to nab some screenshots for this list, and found myself playing it for a few hours all over again. With the solid, enjoyable, isometric-style racing found in RC Pro-Am and a variety of weapons and power-ups to purchase and make the races a little more exciting, Rock N Roll Racing is a racing game that will likely appeal to the Mario Kart audience that doesn't want to play a realistic racing title. If you haven't played Rock N Roll Racing yet, do it...And thank me in the form of an envelope full of cash.

Release Date: August 3, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a well done, but difficult platformer. With the inability to change directions in mid-air, you need to be positive that the jump your making is the right move to do. Likewise, with some of the tricky enemies you encounter (mainly the gargoyles) you need to be as precise as possible with your attacks or you'll find yourself down to your drawers in a hurry. That said, those that stick around long enough to master this game are rewarded with beautiful levels, interesting design, and fun bosses to encounter. Plus, the perverted women out there can live their dream of playing through a game controlling a man in nothing but his underwear. Don't lie to yourself, ladies, you know you want to.

Release Date: October 17, 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

If Sonic & Knuckles was just the Sonic & Knuckles game, you might find it a little lower on this list...But the beauty of Sonic & Knuckles is that it allows you to play the first three Sonic games all over again...But this time with Knuckles. Since Knuckles plays differently than Sonic, players were met with a whole new way to experience the Sonic games that they loved. That innovation alone makes it one of the best games on the Genesis. The fact that the Sonic & Knuckles game itself is pretty good as well - that's just a bonus.

Release Date: April 1, 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: West One
Genre: Platformer

Every Monster World game was also a Wonder Boy game...up until Monster World IV. Instead of Wonder Boy, you control a female protagonist named Arsha. Along with the change in playable characters, Monster World IV is more platformer and less adventure game. All changes seem to be for the better, though, as this is the best in the Monster World series. This was only released in Japan until 2012 when it was released both on the Playstation Network for PS3 (which is still available) and the Wii's Virtual Console (no longer available), so if you're curious, give it a shot. It's well worth the money.

Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Park Place Productions
Genre: Sports - Hockey

I've always enjoyed hockey games, dating back to Hat Trick on the Commodore 64, but NHLPA Hockey '93 was different. Not only was it a fantastic game to play, but it kept track of statistics should you pursue to play a season. Oh, and you could fight, too. Nothing made this game seem more cool than when two hockey players hurled their gloves to the ice and engaged in fisticuffs while their teammates gathered 'round to cheer on in approval.

Release Date: September 27, 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

The Super NES got Street Fighter II and Street Fighter II Turbo, so when the third version of the Street Fighter II arcade game made its way to consoles, Capcom decided to toss it onto the Genesis. This is another very solid entry into the Street Fighter II franchise and a fantastic game to allow Genesis owners to see what they were missing and what SNES owners were enjoying. If you have a Genesis and love fighting games, then this is a game that you need in your library.

Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

From what I've seen, Europe LOVES Streets of Rage 2. Retro Gamer, a magazine in Europe, allowed its readers to vote to compile a list of the 25 best Genesis (or Mega Drive as it's known as over there) games of all-time...and this game appeared to have won the number one spot by a pretty large margin. While I don't believe that it's the best game on the system (my choice, Gunstar Heroes, came in at number 3), it is pretty amazing all the same. It's easily one of the best side-scrolling brawlers of all-time...and according to many, it IS the best. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try and decide for yourself.

Release Date: September 30, 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Fighting

Yu Yu Hakusho was Treasure's attempt at the 2D fighting genre, and like most of Treasure's games, it's pretty dang good and has some innovation tossed in as well. Not only does this game have the traditional one-on-one fighting that we all know and love, it had the option for four players to go at it in two-on-two battles. This is possible due to the fact that you can jump between planes, so two folks may be fighting on one plane and two on the other...or maybe two are double-teaming your partner on one plane, forcing you to hop over and help out. Toss in a good variety of characters, all of whom are well-balanced, and you've got one of the best fighting games of the 16-bit era.

Release Date: March 20, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Genre: RPG

Shining Force may not have the story of a Final Fantasy game, but its combat system, which played much like a game of chess, more than made up for it. I feel like the next two Shining Force games improve on the formula found here, but prior to their releases, Shining Force was an awesome RPG for Genesis owners. It, along with the Phantasy Star games, helped make up for the fact that the SNES was loaded with awesome RPGs...'Cause Shining Force is pretty awesome in its own right.

Release Date: June 25, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

It's pretty disappointing that the best Golden Axe game on consoles never made it out of Japan. Golden Axe III introduces new characters, new enemy designs, improved graphics, improved controls, improved sound...It's the definitive Golden Axe game on the Genesis. If you're a fan of brawlers, I highly suggest tracking a copy of Golden Axe III down and playing it. You may need to purchase a converter to go with it (unless you already have a Japanese Mega Drive) but it's totally worth it.

Release Date: November 11, 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Virgin Interactive
Genre: Platformer

Supposedly, developer David Perry put this game together in just 99 days...When a game is not just this entertaining but equally good in graphics and audio, being completed in 99 days is absolutely insane. Anyway, the Genesis version of Aladdin is different from the SNES version and probably better in just about every way. In my opinion, it's one of the last great Disney platformers and well worth checking out if you've got access to play it.

Release Date: February 2, 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

Sonic 3 was bigger than Sonic 2, and had improved graphics and an awesome soundtrack...but for some reason, in the eyes of many, it just wasn't quite the caliber of Sonic 2. I fall into that camp. As good as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is, it didn't quite have the impact of Sonic 2 on me, despite introducing Knuckles to the series and pretty much paving the way for Sonic & Knuckles to come in and innovate with physical add-on content. So, while Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a very good game, I consider it to be just short or being great.

Release Date: October 29, 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Climax Entertainment
Genre: Adventure

I always kinda thought that Landstalker was Sega's attempt at a Zelda game...and in a few ways, it worked. Landstalker is an excellent, addicting adventure game...the only thing preventing me from giving it a higher score is the isometric viewpoint, which makes some of the platforming in the game downright maddening. Isometric platforming excluded, this is a fantastic game that is worth tracking down, especially if you're into the action-adventure genre.

Release Date: August 2, 1995 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

From the first time that I played Comix Zone, I fell in love with it. The concept of fighting your way through the panels of a comic book is rather neat, as is the awesome graphics that accompany the journey. This game just oozes personality nearly every minute that you play. The only thing really holding it back from a higher score is that, like many brawlers, it does get pretty repetitious as you play. That minor gripe aside, if you haven't experienced Comix Zone yet, give it a try. If you don't, you're a Comix Bone-head. Yeah, I went there.

Release Date: March 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: High Score Productions
Genre: Sports - Hockey

I probably played this game more than any sports game ever released. My friends owned it and I remember we'd make trades to borrow each other's games for extended periods of time, and this was usually my selection. Later games in the series refined a lot and added speed, but NHL '94 was still great for its time and still a blast to play today - there's a reason that NHL '14 has a mode called NHL '94 Mode, you know.

Release Date: June 23, 1991 (NA+EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog was Sega's second attempt to compete with Mario (the first being Alex Kidd back on the Master System) and while the blue hedgehog gained an extremely large following which resulted in "What games are better: Mario or Sonic?" debates in schools around the world, Sonic came very, very close, but was unable to surpass the pudgy plumber in overall popularity. Anyway, Sonic was a major part in the Genesis being Sega's most successful console and also let Nintendo know that they had some serious competition in the market for the first time since the original NES hit store shelves. The game itself is fun as well. The sense of speed as you sprint through the levels mixed with some solid gameplay and level design all added up to equate to a great system seller and a must-play title on the Genesis.

Release Date: February 24, 1995 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

If you've never played Alien Soldier, think Gunstar Heroes, but a little slower, with a darker tone, and a greater difficulty level. Treasure somewhat revisited the Gunstar Heroes formula with Alien Soldier and while it's a very good game, I personally never understood the folks that claim that this is one of the top ten Genesis games ever made. It's very good...it's not top ten. I do recommend checking it out, though. It's a very solid game and it's worth hunting down a copy to play.

Release Date: June 29, 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Puzzle

Columns is one of my favorite puzzle games...And it all started when I accidentally set myself up for a combo that seemed to go on for forever right before my game was about to end. Since then, Columns is a game that I like popping in every now and then to kill a few minutes and just relax. It's not as good as Tetris, I don't love it as much as the Puyo Puyo series, but it's a good, solid puzzle game that stands the test of time pretty well.

Release Date: March 17, 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

Castlevania: Bloodlines was kind of a letdown when it came out...it's not as good as its 16-bit brother, Super Castlevania IV...it's also not as good as its 8-bit bro, Castlevania III...so, it seemed like a step back in a sense. That said, if all video game franchises had a "step back" like Castlevania: Bloodlines, they'd be pretty well off. While it lacks the quality of many pre-Symphony of the Night Castlevanias, Bloodlines is still a very good game in its own right. It's worth giving a try...if nothing else, you'll likely think of it as a fun Castlevania game that's just slightly watered down.

Release Date: December 15, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Strategy - Real-Time

I've never been a huge fan of real-time strategy games in general...I just never really understood the appeal. That said, I really enjoy Herzog Zwei. Playing against the computer is fun in itself, but when you've got a pal to go head-to-head with, you're in for a trash-talking good time. Whether shooting at your enemies from the air in your ship form, or transforming into a giant robot to attack from the ground, Herzog Zwei is frantic, fun, and well worth tracking down so you can experience this unique game all for yourself.

Release Date: June 9, 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Playmates
Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Genre: Platformer

You play as an earthworm that launches cows into the air while shooting guns...And you battle an evil goldfish. That's pretty neat. There was never a game like Earthworm Jim before it. The controls may take a little getting used to for some, but once you've got them down, and if you love bizarre stuff, then you will absolutely fall in love with Earthworm Jim.

Release Date: October 10, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Pinball

Dragon's Fury is Devil's Crush from the Turbografx-16, but with some improved graphics and very mild changes to the table. Since I consider Devil's Crush to be the best video game pinball game that I've personally ever played, it's nice to see that game with updated graphics on a system that was much more successful than the TG16 was. Anyway, if you're looking for a solid pinball game on your Genesis, look no further.

Release Date: January 1993 (EU)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Racing

The original Road Rash on Genesis was passable. It was kind of twitchy and while fun, it just didn't feel right. Road Rash II fixes all of that. With smooth controls and a difficulty that slowly ramps up after each race, the learning curve here is just right. While later games in the series are what the Road Rash series are most remembered for, this 16-bit sequel can be ranked right up there as one of the best in the franchise.

Release Date: March 28, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Climax Entertainment
Genre: RPG

The first game in the Shining series may not be as adored as the Shining Force games, but it's still a very solid game in its own right. Unlike the Shining Force games, which are known for their strategic combat, Shining in the Darkness is a traditional, first-person dungeon crawler with traditional, turn-based combat. It also has quite a bit of personality to it. Add all those pieces together and you've got a very good debut for the Shining series and a game well worth plating for RPG fans.

Release Date: June 7, 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Technosoft
Developer: Technosoft
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

Thankfully, Technosoft removed all overhead stages that held back Thunder Force II when they created Thunder Force III. The end result is the fantastic, side-scrolling shooter that we wanted. With excellent boss fights and various weaponry to select to batte them with, Thunder Force III is one of the best scrolling shooters of the 16-bit era. If you haven't played it, I recomend giving it a chance.

Release Date: 1994 (NA)
Publisher: KOEI
Developer: KOEI
Genre: Strategy - Turn-Based

KOEI, the king of historical turn-based strategy games, after years of putting out strategy games largely based around Asian history, attempted to gain the favor of North American audiences with a strategy game based on the Revolutionary War - the war that led to the independance of the United States of America. The pace may be a little slow for some, even on the fastest settings, but if you stick with it, you'll find a very enjoyable strategy game that holds up with some of KOEI's best, in my opinion.

Release Date: June 29, 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Compile
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

I've heard a lot of negative things about Ghostbusters...But I'm not seeing it. I've heard that levels are long, boring, and very difficult...I think I beat the first level in about five minutes and died once...and most importantly, I enjoyed my time with this game a lot. So, I may be in the minority, but I feel that Ghostbusters is a very enjoyable third-person shooter with interesting bosses and enough personality to put a smile on most fans of the film.

Release Date: January 31, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Kaneko
Developer: Inter State
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Air Buster would just be a so-so scrolling shooter if it wasn't for how it changes up its levels...Aside from the typical side-scrolling levels, there's also high-speed levels as well as zero gravity levels, which prevent the title from feeling too repetitious. So, if you're into scrolling shooters and like a little variety in how the levels play, Air Buster is well worth tracking down.

Release Date: November 21, 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Platformer

Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse is a solid platformer with a reputation that exceeds the actual game, in my opinion. The game is beloved enough where it has been remade in recent years, and while it's very good, I just don't get why this game is loved as much as it is...Maybe nostalgia? Regardless of the reason, this game is adored by many, and while I'm not as enthralled with it as most people seem to be, this IS a very good game and worth checking out if you're looking for a solid, non-Sonic platformer on the Genesis.

Release Date: November 18, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

Rolling Thunder 2 is a pretty enjoyable shooter. You basically walk through each level, shooting various enemies along the way, switching between balconies and solid ground...and it's rather fun as you do so, if I do say so myself. Why Namco never attempted to resurrect this series for modern consoles is beyond me - I imagine that this formula, if done right, would be quite a hit today. It's well worth playing if you're able to find a copy.

Release Date: March 12, 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Toejam and Earl Productions
Genre: Adventure

An old man in a carrot suit is one of the many odd sightings in Toejam and Earl, a game that is moderately entertaining when playing alone...but the fun steps up a notch when playing with a pal. The game is actually very easy...and while I might normally dock a game for that, Toejam and Earl is just so charming that even with the low difficulty and sometimes too-slow pace, that you'll likely want to push forward simply to see what this game throws at you next. There's a reason that this game has a pretty loyal fanbase, afterall.

Release Date: October 25, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: West One
Genre: Adventure

Known in Japan as Wonder Boy V: Monster World III (confusing, I know) after Wonder Boy's other Genesis outing, Monster Lair, this returns the series to the Monster World formula of less platforming, more adventure. The result is another very good action-adventure game in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series, but maybe not the best overall in either franchise.

Release Date: April 22, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Sports - Baseball

I'll be honest - I was not expecting much here, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Tommy Lasorda Baseball has smooth gameplay and nice visuals...unfortunately, it lacks licensing, so no real teams...But hey, the Milwaukee Brewers pretty much had their logo unchanged in here, so being from there, that's pretty sweet. Anyway, if you're just looking for a solid, old-school baseball game without all the bells and whistles of games from the sport today, then Tommy Lasorda Baseball is a very solid option.

Release Date: December 26, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

Golden Axe II is basically the exact same game, but with a few minor tweaks to improve on the original formula. While that sounds like I'm knocking it, I'm not. The original Golden Axe was a blast, so some gameplay tweaks to make it better and graphical tweaks to make it prettier are very much welcome. Unfortunately, this is mostly the same cast of characters as before as well...enemies and playable characters. There are a few exceptions, of course, but a tad more new content would have been welcome. But, for what it is, Golden Axe II is still a pretty fantastic brawler if you're into the genre.

Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Park Place Productions
Genre: Sports - Football

John Madden Football '92 does everything good that the original John Madden Football did, and moderately improves upon it. The AI, in particular, has been improved, so you can't just go to the same plays over and over again unless you feel like having the computer catching on to your patterns and making you pay for your repetition. While this isn't an extreme improvement upon the original, the second Madden game still does enough to make it worthwhile to play.

Release Date: August 9, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sanritsu
Genre: Racing

While it's not quite the same as playing in the arcade (mainly due to the lack of a steering wheel), the Genesis home version of OutRun is pretty dang close. Genesis owners, who also love OutRun in the arcade, can rejoyce in being able to play a very competent port in their living rooms. Those who haven't played it in the arcade were still met with an enjoyable racing experience...even if your only intention was to hit a turn as fast as possible to hurl the driver and passenger from their car.

Release Date: December 22, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

I adore the Golden Axe series. The games in this franchise are among my very favorite brawlers that I've ever played. The first Golden Axe is a strong start to the series, with three playable characters, plenty of brawling, various creatures that you can ride and attack with, magic spells, AND the opportunity to kick annoying gnome-like things by a camp fire while catchy music plays in the background. Later games refine everything, but the original Golden Axe is still a delight to play to this day.

Release Date: 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Iguana Entertainment
Genre: Sports - Basketball

When I was younger, I didn't know anyone from basketball, aside from maybe Michael Jordan...But after plugging NBA Jam into my Genesis, I was hooked and I knew the names of this roster to go along with Mr. Jordan from playing this game so much...Which isn't much, but hey, it's a start, right? For me, every game always broke down into me hogging the ball so I could get myself on fire and constantly slam dunking the ball in hopes for getting that ever-so-splendid backboard shatter.

Release Date: September 9, 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Probe Entertainment Limited
Genre: Fighting

The first Mortal Kombat was playable, but it mostly just got attention because of the violence and gore. Mortal Kombat II aimed for more attention with more gore, but this time around, they improved on the combat (or is it kombat?) to create a very solid fighting game. It still wasn't Street Fighter-level great, but it was very, very well done and very well could be the game that ensured that Mortal Kombat was a franchise that would be around for a long, long time.

Release Date: September 10, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports - Football

I was a fan of the Mutant League animated series that aired here in the 'States when I was a kid. When I found out that the series was based off of the Mutant League game franchise, I had to go out and get one of the games. Mutant League Football was the first one that I played and it was pretty much everything I wanted. Taking control of Bones Jackson (or any other player) to kill the referee that made a bad call is a blast...As is winning a game because to many people on the opposite team are pushing up daisies. Football purists probably want to stay away from this title, but if you want an absurd football game loaded with violence and comical comments from coaches and players, Mutant League Football may wind up being one of your favorite sports games that you've ever played.

Release Date: May 28, 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Platformer

Kid Chameleon is about a Fonzie wannabe with multiple personality disorder...Or at least that's what I tell myself. The story actually has nothing to do with that. But anyway, Kid Chameleon is a solid platformer where the player can transform into various forms like a knight, a samurai, and even a hockey-mask-wearing serial killer....Not sure if it's supposed to be a serial killer...Again, that's what I tell myself. But anyway, Kid Chameleon is well worth playing. If you haven't played it yet, play it. You won't regret it.

Release Date: December 8, 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Virgin Interactive
Developer: Westbound Studios
Genre: Platformer

The Lion King is a game that all of my friends seemed to love when we were kids, but I never really got into it...two decades later, I finally put some time into it and I'm finally beginning to understand what the big deal was. It's got the great graphics and Disney characters for children to enjoy, and a solid platforming experience for players or all ages to enjoy. While the Lion King isn't the best Disney platformer ever, it's not the "king," so to speak, it's still very solid.

Release Date: 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Accolade
Developer: Technopop
Genre: Shooter - 1st Person

Zero Tolerance caught me by surprise as a solid, but pretty twitchy first-person shooter. It's not perfect by any means - it's kind of hard to have perfect aiming with a d-pad - but it's very solid and quite fun. Doom on SNES may be the preferred 16-bit console first-person shooter, but Zero Tolerance gave Genesis owners a nice consolation prize.

Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Looking Glass Studios
Genre: Sports - Football

John Madden Football '93 is basically the same game as '92, but with updated rosters and 8 of the greatest all-time teams up to that point in history. This is the football game that I grew up with, so there's a little nostalgia there, but since there's not a ton of innovation here from Madden '92, I can't really rank it any higher than here.

Release Date: 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Tengen
Developer: Innerprise Software
Genre: Action

Ms. Pac-Man is a puzzling release...It's not puzzling that it was released, as Ms. Pac-Man is one of the greatest games ever made...It's puzzling that it wasn't released until late in the SNES lifespan and after the next gen systems had already hit store shelves. That said, this is still the Ms. Pac-Man we all know and love, plus an option at the start of the game to make things easier or more difficult depending on your preferences. It's nothing new or special, but it doesn't have to be - it's Ms. Pac-Man, it's good.