Best Genesis/MD game

[shinobimusashi]

Which game is better?

[maxlords]

Damn....that's a tough list, especially considering how widely the genres are spread.... having trouble picking between Shinobi III, PSIV, Sonic 2, and Gunstar Heroes. I'm not sure I can pick a single best out of that list!

[hbkprm]

it was a tought pick for but the genesis had a vast libary of games

[allyourblood]

Oops! You forgot Thunderforce II & III, as well as Crusader of Centy!!


;)

[buzz_n64]

My vote went to Sonic 2, but Sonic 3 is 2nd on my list.

[Blanka789]

Another vote for Sonic 2 here.

[Zebbe]

Phantasy Star IV. It's the best game ever.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Where's Ranger-X?

[Smashed Brother]

There is no Batman & Robin? Why? It's seriously my fav Genesis game of all time and an easy contender for best game on the system.

[DigitalSpace]

Sonic 2.

(Also, redundant thread is redundant.)

[Paet]

I voted for Shining Force II because it's an amazing game. But Sonic 2? Doesn't even compare with S3&K. Not even close.

[Superman]

I can't answer the question, because it is confusing. The title of the thread is the "Best Genesis/MD game", but the question is "which game is better?"

Is the question, what is the best game on the Genesis/MD? Or is it which is the best games from this list? If it is the former than it would be difficult to have a poll, because there are two different systems, consisting of many, many games. If it is the latter, it might be one the of the Sonic games.

And DigitalSpace is right. We have done this before!

[Wraith Storm]

I have never been able to compare a game from one genre to another and say its better. I can however whittle the list down by another method.

We can start by knocking Shining Force II off the list. It's a great game but everyone knows Shining Force CD is the best installment ;)

IMO Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is much better than Sonic 3 & Knuckles but Sonic CD is the best Sonic game period. So we can knock both these games off the list.

M.U.S.H.A and Thunderforce IV are incredible games but I would take Wings of Wor any day over them. So they are both off the list.

Shinobi III is a really great title as well, but my favorite Shinobi title by far is Shadow Dancer. Goodbye Shinobi III.

Alien Solder is an incredible feat but Gunstar Heroes is a better game. So Alien Soldier is nixed.

So now we are down to Phantasy Star IV, Streets of Rage 2 and Gunstar Heroes. Now we have to ask ourselves about 2 player games. If one of my buddies drops by, would he rather sit there and watch me play PS IV or would he want to join in the fun? Tata Phantasy Star IV!

Now it's between Streets of Rage 2 and Gunstar Heroes. Both of these titles have excellent graphics, music and gameplay and represent the pinnacle of their genre on the Genesis. I can't whittle down the list much more than that... so I'll just pick one from here and say Streets of Rage 2! YAY!

[hellraiser]

Streets of rage 2 easily one of the best games not only for the geny, but for its entire genre!

[NerdXCrewWill]

Out of this list, I chose Streets of Rage 2. This game is a blast with another player. I would have chose Thunder Force III (yes, I think it's better than the fourth) as the best for the system. The best games, however, are really for the Sega CD.

[fahlim003]

Oops! You forgot Thunderforce II & III, as well as Crusader of Centy!!


;)
Crusader of Centy is good? Damn, I sold my unused copy of that without second though... what regret.

Also, no Aladdin on this list? It's a hard call even without Aladdin yet I'm leaning towards Gunstar Heroes.

[allyourblood]

Crusader of Centy is good? Damn, I sold my unused copy of that without second though... what regret.


Argh! It's a wonderful Action/adventure game, similar to Zelda LTTP and both Neutopias. Easily one of my favorite games on the system. Fun, colorful graphics, cool little animal sidekicks that boost your abilities, and tons of charm. There's even a cameo from Sonic in it.

Try it sometime when you can.

[Polygon]

Of that list it was a tough choice for me between Sonic 2 and 3. In the end I went with Sonic 3. Streets of Rage 2 wasn't far behind.

[sheath]

I feel like I'm being forced to choose between my favorite cheeseburger, pepperoni pizza, and country fried steak.

Shinobi III will always be one of my favorite all time action games though. Whether or not it is better than the other relatively incomparable games, Shinobi III is a technical and gameplay marvel that will never see an equal.

[shinobimusashi]

I feel like I'm being forced to choose between my favorite cheeseburger, pepperoni pizza, and country fried steak.

Shinobi III will always be one of my favorite all time action games though. Whether or not it is better than the other relatively incomparable games, Shinobi III is a technical and gameplay marvel that will never see an equal.

Thats one hell of a post right there:cheers:

[sheath]

Thats one hell of a post right there:cheers:

Kampai!

[Polygon]

It looks like I really need to pick up Shinobi III.

[MachineGex]

Some of my favorites and not even on the list. Castle of Illusion was the game that blew me away when it came out. The game is fun and the levels are great.

[substantial_snake]

Voted for Sonic 3/Knuckles here.

Its really close between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3/Knuckles for me but I preferred the more varied gameplay of the latter sonic...that and I could never beat the final final boss of Sonic 2 which pissed me off to no end as a kid. :p

Although if Sonic CD was up on that list it would of gotten my vote easily.

[mrmark0673]

I ended up picking Gunstar Heroes, but would have rather picked:

Monster World IV
Beyond Oasis
Crusader of Centy

[Nebagram]

1 vote here for S3&K. It only got the top spot by being two games in one- otherwise I'd have gone for Gunstar Heroes.

[kedawa]

It's a tough call. Shinobi III, Streets of Rage 2 and Gunstar Heroes would be my top picks on that list, but I think Ranger-X, Ghouls'n'Ghosts, and Super Street Fighter II belong on there too.

I had to go with Gunstar Heroes.

[allyourblood]

I ended up picking Gunstar Heroes, but would have rather picked:

Monster World IV
Beyond Oasis
Crusader of Centy

This is all correct.

[SpaceHarrier]

Sonic 2 was the easy choice for me, even over S3&K..

[Rob2600]

For me, it's a toss-up between Last Battle, Pit-Fighter, Air Diver, and Slaughter Sport.

[TheBardsTale]

Shining Force II.

Though, I can sympathize with those that chose Phantasy Star IV and Shinobi III.

[acem77]

Phantasy Star IV

[Urzu402]

I voted Shibobi III, but where in this poll is Castlevania Bloodlines? or Rockman Mega World? Those two games are truly the best on the Genesis and Mega Drive. In my opinion at least.

[shinobimusashi]

Sega-16 refugee thread bump:bday:

Check out these results guys, no votes for Alien Soldier@_@

I think this same poll was a tie between Sonic 3+Knuckles and Shinobi III over at Sega-16 if I remember correctly.

Interesting results over here.

[Rickstilwell1]

For me, Sonic 3 would win even without the Knuckles half

[QuickSciFi]

Sonic 2 also.

[djshok]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles all the way!

[The Jackal]

Sonic 3 & Knux with PSIV in a very close second.

[QuickSciFi]

Sonic 2 also.

...btw, this by no means reflects what I feel is the actual best game on the Genny, just the best one from the list. ;)

[Olls]

Out of those? Shinobi III. But I already said that in the Sega-16 poll. :)
Best on the system? I don't know. As someone else said, it's hard to compare genres. All of your picks are top tier games.

[SpaceFlea]

Shining Force II has and will always be my favorite Genny game. In fact, it is my second favorite game period - behind only Radiant Silvergun.

[Kellhus]

Ouch... such a tough question, good choices too.

I have to go with Phantasy Star IV though. Real hard call though. It's just aged so well, great music, great... everything.

Edit: I like all the Sonic 2 appreciation around here. Definitely the best Sonic if you ask me, the future iterations got all crazy with the level design and took away what made Sonic 2 so fun, just blazing through the levels. Sonic 2 also has the best music to me.

[green.eyes]

My favourite game is Shining Force II on the Mega Drive :)

[heybtbm]

The best Genesis game isn't even in the poll. I'll leave it to you to determine which one that is.

<-------------

[Olls]

The best Genesis game isn't even in the poll. I'll leave it to you to determine which one that is.

<-------------

That couldn't possibly be Herzog Zwei now, could it?

[Black_Tiger]

I voted for Shining Force II because after thinking it over, I do believe that it is the best. It's probably my favorite game from that list as well, but that wasn't why I voted for it.

[Cornelius Spunkwater]

Tough call, but I made it. I cast my vote for Streets of Rage 2. I love Sonic, Alien Soldier, M.U.S.H.A., Thunderforce IV, Gunstar Heroes, and Shinobi 3, but Streets of Rage 2 is just too badass.

[kokujin]

There's no game better than Alien Soldier on any platform.It's the best game that will ever be created.

[starsoldier1]

Sonic & Knuckles for me

[old man]

I think crusader of centy is mediocre at best. I don't understand peoples irrational love for this game to put it at the top of their lists. Dif strokes I guess. Someone else said they prefer shadow dancer to shinobi III :? . IMO the Genesis has too many good games for a list like this. Everybody will have a personal preference. You may as well list every genesis game.

[kokujin]

I think crusader of centy is mediocre at best. I don't understand peoples irrational love for this game to put it at the top of their lists. Dif strokes I guess. Someone else said they prefer shadow dancer to shinobi III :? . IMO the Genesis has too many good games for a list like this. Everybody will have a personal preference. You may as well list every genesis game.

I agree with you on both Crusader of Centy and Shadow Dancer.Crusader of Centy isn't a bad game, but it isn't amazing, the soundtrack is nice though.Shadow Dancer isn't better than Shinobi 3, but it's better than Revenge of Shinobi:cool:

[Gooch3008]

Pirates! Gold is not on the list. Therefore this poll is ineffective.

[Baloo]

This poll is supremely nerfed. Where is Knuckles Chaotix? And Michael Jackson's Moonwalker?

[QuickSciFi]

If you add Knuckles Chaotix, might as well add Popful Mail and the Lunar series. Problem solved. ;)

[Cmo]

Sonic and Knuckles takes my vote!

[Olls]

This poll is supremely nerfed. Where is Knuckles Chaotix? And Michael Jackson's Moonwalker?

Last time I checked, Knuckles Chaotix wasn't a Genesis game, and Moonwalker is average at best.


I think crusader of centy is mediocre at best. I don't understand peoples irrational love for this game to put it at the top of their lists. Dif strokes I guess. Someone else said they prefer shadow dancer to shinobi III :? . IMO the Genesis has too many good games for a list like this. Everybody will have a personal preference. You may as well list every genesis game.

People supremely overrate CoC, because it's different from most other Genesis games. Just like Beyond Oasis, it has this SNES quality to it. Too bad they're so shallow (still good for Genesis standards I suppose), compared to SNES action RPG's, which have more depth and flavour to it.

[Baloo]

Ended up going with Streets of Rage 2. One of my favorite games for the system for sure, though I had a blast with Moonwalker and the Disney platformers, as well as a lot of Sega CD/32x games.

Thinking about it now though, Streets of Rage 2 is definitely one of pinnacle games of the Genesis.

[QuickSciFi]

Vote: Disney's Aladdin for #1

[ki_atsushi]

Phantasy Star IV, easily.

Surprised at how much Sonic 3 love there is... I hated that game. Sonic 2 was the pinnacle in the series for me. Now that game is AWESOME.

[Gamevet]

Oops! You forgot Thunderforce II & III, as well as Crusader of Centy!!


;)

Herzog Zwei belongs on that list. It's the best 2 player game on the Genesis and a game that really shows the power of the hardware.

[Olls]

It's the best 2 player game on the Genesis (...)

While it is nice to see such an early RTS title sporting a multiplayer option,
in practice it doesn't work that well. There are several reasons, but for me it's namely because of the slowdown, and the fact that it's split screen, so you can see exactly what your opponent is doing.
RTS games have come a long way since then, and it's hard to recommend Herzog Zwei to anyone nowadays. It just feels outdated after having played more recent RTS titles (and who hasn't?), whereas games such as Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage, etc. have retained their qualities.
Best 2 player (Genesis) game in 1992? Maybe. In 2011? Not a chance.

[sheath]

I disagree completely. Herzog Zwei only has slowdown if both opponents stalemate and have to go into "total war" mode. The single player game shows you where the CPU is going, it's easy enough to figure out what they are doing with just that.

Herzog Zwei's action and pacing is so fast, if you spend any time watching your opponents screen you deserve to lose the match. I haven't played anything like it and I doubt I ever will.

[Olls]

Have you played any recent (say, 1995 and on) RTS offerings?
I find it hard to believe that anyone can find Herzog Zwei immersive after having been exposed to later titles.
Its gameplay is very shallow to me (and not to mention the lack of precision controls as available for pretty much every other game that demands it), but as an avid PC RTS gamer, I've probably been spoiled.

[123►Genei-Jin]

I rather play Streets of Rage 3 than 2 and my absolute favorite Megadrive game currently is Battlemania Daiginjou, but being limited to that list Gunstar Heroes is my choice.

[sheath]

Have you played any recent (say, 1995 and on) RTS offerings?
I find it hard to believe that anyone can find Herzog Zwei immersive after having been exposed to later titles.
Its gameplay is very shallow to me (and not to mention the lack of precision controls as available for pretty much every other game that demands it), but as an avid PC RTS gamer, I've probably been spoiled.

I've played Command and Conquer and seen Starcraft played. They all seem far too slow paced to me. That's not saying they're worse or less "immersive." I just don't want to play them for the same reason I put down Oblivion after only a couple of plays.

I like that I can pick up Herzog Zwei for a quick play, or a marathon, it's just a matter of how many maps I want to play. I like that I can have most gamers playing it in minutes and competent to actually win after one match. I really like the theme and having to start out by destroying enemy placements myself in real time. It's sort of like taking the overhead scenes in Thunderforce II, expanding them with real time transformations into something more like Final Zone II, and combining that with a competent (and original) real time strategy engine at the same time.

This isn't nostalgia either, I only first played Herzog Zwei when I bought it a few years ago. I absolutely cannot believe I never played this game back in 1989, my entire gaming interests would have been changed by it alone.

[Emperor Megas]

Thunderforce IV isn't better than Thunder Force III, IMO. Hell, I don't know if I like it better than Thunder Force II.

[Olls]

I've played Command and Conquer and seen Starcraft played. They all seem far too slow paced to me. That's not saying they're worse or less "immersive." I just don't want to play them for the same reason I put down Oblivion after only a couple of plays.

I like that I can pick up Herzog Zwei for a quick play, or a marathon, it's just a matter of how many maps I want to play. I like that I can have most gamers playing it in minutes and competent to actually win after one match. I really like the theme and having to start out by destroying enemy placements myself in real time. It's sort of like taking the overhead scenes in Thunderforce II, expanding them with real time transformations into something more like Final Zone II, and combining that with a competent (and original) real time strategy engine at the same time.

This isn't nostalgia either, I only first played Herzog Zwei when I bought it a few years ago. I absolutely cannot believe I never played this game back in 1989, my entire gaming interests would have been changed by it alone.

Starcraft is a very fast paced game, with games lasting between 15 to 20 minutes each. I really recommend picking up at least the second installment if you like "pick up and play" RTS games, because it looks like you just haven't given recent RTS games a chance.
Granted, RTS games today have a ridiculous amount of depth to them, so getting into one might not be as easy and is probably what is holding most retro gamers back.

[sheath]

Starcraft is a very fast paced game, with games lasting between 15 to 20 minutes each. I really recommend picking up at least the second installment if you like "pick up and play" RTS games, because it looks like you just haven't given recent RTS games a chance.
Granted, RTS games today have a ridiculous amount of depth to them, so getting into one might not be as easy and is probably what is holding most retro gamers back.

So you really do think that if I played and got hooked on Starcraft I'd suddenly dislike Herzog Zwei, finding it shallow and overrated? Enjoyment of either of these games is not mutually exclusive.

[Olls]

Hey, it happened to me! Who knows.

[sheath]

Well, I can still play Double Dragon and Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe and Guardian Heroes, and any other games that may or may not have as much complexity as another. So, I really doubt a fleet of games could make me dislike Herzog Zwei.

[Black_Tiger]

Well, I can still play Double Dragon and Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe and Guardian Heroes, and any other games that may or may not have as much complexity as another. So, I really doubt a fleet of games could make me dislike Herzog Zwei.

I've heard of many people who couldn't go back to various games or series after trying something that they liked better. I am definitely not like that. :p

War sims in particular can turn off people like myself, who only enjoy the odd console game. The more I sample deep PC sims, the more I prefer games like Herzog Zwei, Military Madness and Shining Force. :)

[Richter Belmount]

Wheres ghostbusters or contra hard corps?!

[Olls]

Well, I can still play Double Dragon and Streets of Rage 2, Golden Axe and Guardian Heroes, and any other games that may or may not have as much complexity as another. So, I really doubt a fleet of games could make me dislike Herzog Zwei.

After playing SoR Remake, I can't be bothered to play the Genesis SoR games anymore. :( I guess even in the case of beat em ups which have stood the test of time this is applicable.

[old_skoolin_jim]

I ended up voting for Shining Force 2.
While I played through PS4 and S3&K at least a dozen times each growing up, I feel SF2 just has an unprecedented amount of depth and variability (is that even a word?) to it, which put it over the top by a smidgeon.
If I could write-in, I'd probably be most tempted to add in Pirates! Gold though. It's like a GTA on the high seas or something, and I always have a blast with it.

[Gamevet]

Have you played any recent (say, 1995 and on) RTS offerings?
I find it hard to believe that anyone can find Herzog Zwei immersive after having been exposed to later titles.
Its gameplay is very shallow to me (and not to mention the lack of precision controls as available for pretty much every other game that demands it), but as an avid PC RTS gamer, I've probably been spoiled.

The thrill of playing 2 player Herzog Zwei , is racing to the bases and setting up traps to keep the other guy from taking them over. You're opponent can't keep track of all of that, while looking over his bases as well. The ability to drop units at any place on the map, also creates a very unique strategy to the game.