Which Was the Greatest Sega System? [Archive]

YoshiM

07-10-2003, 09:13 AM

I voted for the Sega Genesis. Even though I don't own one anymore, it still had quite an impact on my views of gaming.

The NES was pretty much "it" in the terms of a video game system. Yes one could get a Sega Master System (a Sega Master Who? is probably a better name thanks to Tonka's marketing blunders), an Atari 7800 (I played Asteroids before, thanks) or perhaps an Atari XE (a computer, a game system, what is it?) but the NES had the GAMES-monopoly or not. On one hand it was kinda nice as it was a good solid system with a selection of decent games. On the other hand it was sad that equally good systems like the SMS were locked away in back corners and whose bad games seemed to stand out like sore thumbs painted neon.

Then news spread about the Genesis. This was pretty much a little over a year after we started seeing dedicated video game magazines on the shelves again. VG&CE and Game Players both devoted a section to the new machine. For me my jaw dropped when I saw the graphics on some of these games. I was an arcade gamer and while the NES was able to satisfy me with home ports before, it was showing its age by the late 80's. The Genesis showed and later proved that it was capable of bringing home decent arcade ports. Followed up with a hip ad campaign reminiscent of the Atari/Coleco/Intellivision day it became a hit.

It was also a big deal to me because it was the first game system I bought brand new with my own money. My last paycheck of my seasonal job was rather large so I was able to buy the system (with Altered Beast) and Golden Axe. The NES didn't see activity until Super Mario 3 came out.

Gamereviewgod

07-10-2003, 09:33 AM

Man, tough call, but I have to go with the Genesis. So many games to choose from and some of the best 2-D action you could ever ask for. The Dreamcast is a very close second though....

Sylentwulf

07-10-2003, 09:39 AM

I liked the saturn personally. I may have just gotten lucky, but every game I've played on it (10-20 games) were all great.

oesiii

07-10-2003, 09:50 AM

I can't disagree with people who pick the Genny, it's a classic but to me the Genny wasn't leaps and bounds better than my NES experiences. Sure everything was prettier but the gameplay was equally excellent on both.

I voted for the Dreamcast because it brought me into the modern era of consoles. NFL2K, NBA2K, Virtua Tennis, and Soul Caliber were blow-me-away graphics and gameplay games. I didn't get a PSX until a year after I got the DC at launch so I hadn't gotten a chance to play Gran Turisimo 2 which would have gotten me up to speed sooner :)

ShinobiMan

07-10-2003, 09:51 AM

Though I'm tempted to say the Master System was, I have to go with the one that surprised me the most. That would be Dreamcast. No other system wowed me time and time again with quality titles like Soul Caliber (still looks better than many of the titles on current consoles) and Sword of the Berserk. For me, this system came out at the perfect time, a time when I was getting fed up with the blurry, muddy graphics Nintendo was dishing out. The second I put on my import of Marvel VS. Capcom on the DC, it was like a revelation. I thought, "I have an arcade maching in my house."

ghsqb

07-10-2003, 10:06 AM

There are very good arguments for the Genesis.
For my personal gaming experiences, believe it or not, I choose Sega CD.

See, with Sega, I was always way behind.
I only bought an SMS for the first time about 3 years ago.
I only bought a Genesis after both my NES and Super NES, so I was maybe 4-5 years behind the curve on Genesis.
Even then I only bought one after realizing how superior the Sports Games were compared to SNES.
Picked up tons of sports titles and a 4way adapter and had many, many tournaments with the buddies.
Ditto for Dreamcast, only picked one up well after I had bought my PS2.
Now, I have a real fondness for the SMS, the Genesis and the DC, but I was so much farther behind than everyone else that I was enjoying my experiences with these consoles well after everyone else.

I chose Sega CD, because it brought me my first console faithfull version of Dragons Lair, my favorite game of all time (I never had a 3do back in the day either).
I liked the FMV sequences in many of the games, I actually liked Sewer Shark and Tomcat Alley and Night Trap.

FMV was a new experience for me in console gaming.

It also brought me Lunar:SSS, and I have never had the same awe about a console title as I did when I first played that game.

Most people wouldn't choose the Sega CD here, the overall lack of quality titles ensures that, but for me, my best Sega gaming experiences were with that console.

Nature Boy

07-10-2003, 11:16 AM

An easy question to answer for myself: Genesis.

The other machine that popped into my head was Dreamcast, but only because I figured it would get lots of votes. It didn't have nearly the impact that the Genesis did, at least in my world. I was still very much a SNES man, but the Genesis was a competitor I respected. As good as the Dreamcast system is, in the post Saturn days it barely registered on my radar.

Mr-E_MaN

07-10-2003, 12:29 PM

I would have to go with the SMS. I think it is because I owned a SMS when I was a kid and there are some games on there that I just LOVE. Choplifter, Enduro Racer, Double Dragon, Rocky, California Games, and the list goes on and on. The SMS was my first real system. I got it for Christmas one year.

A close system would be the dreamcast. It was a great system with a lot of good games.

Arcade Antics

07-10-2003, 12:37 PM

The greatest Sega system? Easy: DREAMCAST.

All of Sega's consoles are great, I'm a huge fan of the Genesis, Saturn, et al. But the Dreamcast is definitely the greatest. Sure, it has the technological edge as a result of having been the latest and greatest, but that alone isn't why it's the greatest.

In fact, if anything, it makes its status as "the greatest" that much more impressive.

In an era where eye candy is "easy" to conjure up (as a result of CD/DVD media, better technology in general, etc.) the Dreamcast still has tons of awesome games that are FUN to play. The arrival of the Dreamcast was like the second coming of the golden age of gaming. The giddy, "can't wait to buy this game and race home to play it" feeling was back in spades. And it was only on the Dreamcast. Sega's greatest.

den68

07-10-2003, 12:49 PM

I voted Genesis for sentimental as well as actual gaming reasons. The Genesis was the first BIG gift I got from my girlfriend (now wife of 7 years) for my birthday in 1991. It became my system of choice till I bought my Playstation in 1998. My original Genny has never been unhooked except to be moved. I still play it more than any other system.

The choice of games is HUGE and so many are great. I LOVE the many sports title and don't care that they are basically worthless from a collecting perspective. I can't get enough NHL 96.

and Sonic of course, gotta love Sonic.

I've got all the other Sega systems except the SG-1000 so I've played them all and while the Dreamcast is the most impressive I still gotta favor the Genesis.

Anthony1

07-10-2003, 01:01 PM

I voted for the Genny. Even though I think the Dreamcast was Sega's best system, because it died a premature death, I really couldn't give it my top vote.

I spent much more time with my Genesis and to some extent, the Sega CD. The Genesis was one of the all time best systems in my book. Especially the sports games. As much as I love the Super Nintendo, and boy do I love the Super Nintendo, the Genesis always had the better sports games. Madden was a sensational game on the Genny and a pretty horrible game on the SNES. Same thing with NHL Hockey.

Plus the Genesis had a ton of other outstanding games, besides just the sports.

To me, the Genesis was the workhorse of all the video game systems. It just put in work. Nothing spectacular, but it got the job done, and got it done well.

Anthony1

07-10-2003, 01:04 PM

Gee, the 32X doesn't have one single vote.

What a shocker! NOT!

Raccoon Lad

07-10-2003, 01:25 PM

Not that anyone would vote for it, but you left out the PICO.

And I would have voted for the Genesis, but the Mastersystem was made during a time before EVERY game made was a platformer with a "hip" lead character....that, and I LOVE the Wonderboy series.

orrimarrko

07-10-2003, 01:59 PM

For pure enjoyment and value defined by "fun" memories, I have to say the Genesis.

I'm dating myself just a little, but I got the Genny with the Altered Beast pack-in in the first week it was out (at Toys R' Us.)

I sold my NES and most of my comics and bought that puppy.

I brought it to campus with my (I was a freshman in college.) NO ONE had one of these, everyone still was playing with the NES (which I also love.)

Man, I had huge amounts of people in my room over the next 3 years (I also got the Super NES the day that system came out as well) playing Madden and NHL for hours on end.

Some of my best college memories and friends were a result of that system.

To this day, I have yet to duplicate the excitement and fun factor on any other console.

For me - I will always thank SEGA for creating the Genesis - I never ever regretted what I gave up to get that system.

The Dreamcast is great, but I never got as excited about looking forward to getting any game, as I did when the new Madden would come out. Or Phantasy Star IV, or whatever - the list goes on.

Truth be known though - I have loved ALL of the SEGA consoles, for better or worse...even the 32X. :)

Peace -
Steve

digitalpress

07-10-2003, 02:30 PM

Wow, some really great stories and recollections here.

It was close for me, between the Genesis and the Dreamcast (which no matter how it would have ended up, they'd be #1 and #2 for me). I ended up going with the Dreamcast because when I look over the library of games it's clearly of a very high quality. Think about the crappy titles that litter most every system's library. Usually too many sports games, edu-tainment, and cheaply made shovelware. Well, on DC there are very few sports games and the ones that are here are of an unusually high quality (thank Sega Sports domination), there's NO edu-tainment titles, and there wasn't time for lame ass developers to drop their crappy shovelware titles into the mix since the DC died a sudden and untimely end. So it's 250+ game library is mainly composed of high-quality titles and many, many classics.

The fact that this was the first system that also got me involved in online console gaming (PSO and Quake III Arena being the main culprits), had games that actually used the keyboard (PSO again but mainly Typing of the Dead), still manages emulation so well (I can play SNES, NES, and even MAME on it), had 2 microphone games that were a tremendous novelty, featured the first true production Visual Memory Unit, and even sports some nifty import products and games... all of those things put it above the Genesis, a system I also cherish.

Which reminds me... has anyone played Championship Surfer on DC? I finally started playing it. You know, I expected a piece of crap, as most surfing games tend to be. I should have known better. It's not GREAT, but it is FUN.

ghsqb

07-10-2003, 02:38 PM

*sigh

When you look at the list, its a pretty impressive one.

Does anyone think Sega will ever try to climb on the hardware hog again in the future?

They deserved a better fate, but unfortunately they brought alot of it on themselves.

Still I hope somewhere down the line they give it another ahot.

Oobgarm

07-10-2003, 02:45 PM

I ended up going with the Dreamcast because when I look over the library of games it's clearly of a very high quality.

I agree wholeheartedly with that statement.

The other reason I chose Dreamcast is that it completely floored me when I first saw it running NFK 2K. I was a doubter at first, but seeing that completely changed my mind. It was leaps and bounds beyond the current generation of machines.

...had 2 microphone games that were a tremendous novelty...

Don't forget Mr. Driller! It's great fun to yell into the microphonre at that little bastard and watch him drill. :)

RetroYoungen

07-10-2003, 03:17 PM

Genesis, definately in my mind. Some great licenses were created for the Genesis (Toejam & Earl, Comix Zone), and some great names were made greater (Phantasy Star, Sonic the Hedgehog). The Genesis is, in my opinion, one of the greatest systems in history, not just between Sega's other consoles.

YoshiM

07-10-2003, 03:33 PM

The fact that this was the first system that also got me involved in online console gaming (PSO and Quake III Arena being the main culprits).....

You know, I never played Quake III on the DC until last week. I'm still going through the games that came with the DC my parents got me and this was a surprise. Crisp clean graphics, smooth animation, and a mean AI. I asked myself "this is on DREAMCAST?!". I popped in Unreal Tournament and my eyeballs popped out of their sockets. I swear this looks better and loads faster than the PS2 version. I miss the second analog stick for looking up and down, but still its a great conversion.

Videogamerdaryll

07-10-2003, 06:30 PM

:o
And it comes down to the fight between the..
Genesis and the Dreamcast..
Who will win..?

The Dreamcast is still my favorite Sega system to this day..with the Sega Master system close behind..

Arqueologia_Digital

07-10-2003, 07:26 PM

Well...my top 3 sega machines...
1) SEGA MASTER SYSTEM!!!!!!!
2) Saturn
3) Dreamcast

Kid Fenris

07-10-2003, 08:22 PM

(Author�s Note: You might want to skip to the last paragraph.)

In a way, Sega�s consoles are like the albums of a talented yet troubled rock band. The Master System was their just-out-of-the-garage record, limited in appeal and heard by too few, yet still the source some great stuff. (And also an unexpected hit in Brazil and Europe.)

The Genesis was the group�s breakthrough release, beloved by millions and the home of many superb creations that truly deserved their status as number-ones. However, the Game gear was a half-decent side project, the Sega CD an EP with only a few good tracks, and the 32X an even shorter endeavor in which Sega tried to exploit their reputation without serving up anything worthwhile. By dividing their focus, Sega had slipped.

The Saturn was a massive, experimental set intended as the true follow-up to the Genesis, yet it was plagued by corporate missteps from day one. Although it rewarded those who invested time in it, most of its great moments fell beyond the tastes of many Sega fans. Praised by critics and shunned by sales charts, it dropped out of the public eye faster than it should have. (Incidentally, the Japanese version of the album is often hailed as being far superior to its American counterpart.)

With the Dreamcast, Sega came back with their strongest work since the Genesis. It sounded great, it was crowd-pleasing, it paid tribute to Sega�s past without plundering, and, sadly, it couldn�t keep the group together. Despite the record�s good reception, Sega broke up a few years after the Dreamcast�s debut. The band members went on to similar projects elsewhere, but they had released their last album together.

Okay, that�s a horrible metaphor, but it�s pretty much how I see the Sega lineage. In terms of the number of great games, the Genesis is first and the Dreamcast second, but my heart belongs to the Saturn. It turned me into a true gaming geek as I bought imports, defended the console when I could, and came to realize that paying $50 for a dying system�s software isn�t a rip-off when it involves something like Panzer Dragoon Saga, Vampire Savior, or Radiant Silvergun. And so I will vote for the Saturn.

buttasuperb

07-10-2003, 08:32 PM

Dreamcast. Because of Capcom's support, and Soul Calibur.

Back when the DC first game out, I wasn't a collector at all, and actually I wasn't playing very many videogames. To be honest, all I had was my PSX and a few games (some of them cdr's :embarrassed: ) I wasn't paying attention that much to videogame news, but I did still read EGM now and again, and of course they informed me of the DC. I had played a little bit of Soul Calibur in the arcades, and it was a damn kick ass game. When I saw screenshots of the DC port, my jaw hit the floor. They made the game look better than its arcade counterpart. :o Once 9.9.99 rolled around, I had 200 bucks, borrowed another 80 from my friend for SC and an extra controller, and we played that game for hours. Once he left, I played even more, unlocking everything possible as fast as possible.

And Capcom's support. Wow. SF3, Powerstone, Mars Matrix, Tech Romancer, a nice port of SSF2x (import) and so much more. Fantastic.

Daniel Thomas

07-10-2003, 08:42 PM

Man, this is so hard. Which one do I choose? I'd have to say it's a toss-up between Genesis and Dreamcast, but somewhere the little rebel in me that cheers the underdog wants to say Saturn.

The Genesis probably had the best impact on me, seeing that I bought one when it was brand-new. I still think of those pre-Sonic days as Genesis' best, and maybe you just had to be there to appreciate it. How amazing was it to see Revenge of Shinobi for the first time, or Ghouls 'N Ghosts, or Thunder Force 3, or Herzog Zwei, or Phantasy Star 2, or even Afterburner? And then the second and third wave of titles started coming in, and Sega courted some great developers who weren't tied down to Nintendo -- names like Technosoft and Rennovation and Electronic Arts. And EA...even before the EA Sports brand, they gave us some great Genesis games like Populous and a terrific Marble Madness.

I think the time I first played Castle of Illusion, Strider, Fire Shark, and Thunder Force 3 were the best for me. Those games are just amazing, and still are.

Then there's Dreamcast, the genius rock star that died tragically young. There's something very wrong when a console of this high quality doesn't sell. I'm very tempted right now to grab a used DC again, just so I can play all those classics again; too bad I don't have a TV. I loved DC for its social interaction; I worked at a restaurant where every weekend became "Dreamcast night," and people stayed up until dawn playing Soul Calibur, Chu Chu Rocket, SF Rush, and NFL 2K. I do believe this is the best multiplayer system ever made, and four controllers are absolutely essential. Throw in all those great fighting games, and a bunch of cool emulators (I started my emulation fixation on DC), and life is perfect.

Finally, my wild card, the Saturn. Yes, the hardware was a mess. Yes, most third-party developers couldn't figure the damn thing out. So what. It's best games are all-time classics. Nights, Virtua Fighter 2, Sega Rally, the Panzer Dragoon games, Virtua Cop 1 & 2, World Series Baseball '98, Worldwide Soccer '97, Saturn Bomberman, Radiant Silvergun. Hell, throw in an old copy of Pebble Beach Golf Links, get me a case of beer, and we've got a nice little party (ya still need music).

Sigh....throw dart at wall...I'll take....Genesis. That wasn't so hard.

Dire 51

07-12-2003, 06:40 PM

I had to go with the Genesis myself. I loved the SMS when I first played it, the Saturn grew on me after I discovered all the imports we didn't get in the U.S., the Game Gear was the only portable I ever owned, and the DC is just a fantastic system, but the Genesis rises over all of these for one reason - it has the most games that I want to play.

32X, Sega CD... meh. I'd get a Sega CD if I could track down the few games I wanted for it (Panic!, Terminator, any shmup)

pimpbot1976

07-12-2003, 06:55 PM

genny :D

Emily

03-09-2005, 09:45 PM

The Master System is my favorite Sega console so far. I like its shape, its color sceme, the card games, 3D glasses....the carts are cool looking and come in sweet plastic cases... I love 8-Bit systems, and the Master is one of the sweeter ones.

I would have the Saturn as my second favorite sega. Only for its 2D games though. I dont really like the way its 3D games look.

NintendoMan

03-09-2005, 09:47 PM

Dreamcast, with GENESIS coming in a close second. I love the GENESIS too, but just play my DC WAY more than it. That's why I chose that, as well as I do like ALOT more DC games than GENE.

-hellvin-

03-09-2005, 10:25 PM

Genesis.

MASSIVE library of games, tons upon tons of unrecognized gems...it's pure gold. The saturn came so close for me but I never owned one until recently and the genesis was the first sega system I ever had so I nominate it.

slip81

03-09-2005, 10:47 PM

Another Genesis fan here. Though it was tough because I like all Sega systems, even the 32x. But in the end I still have the most fun withthe Genesis, lotta great platform games, and, IMO, the best ports of the MK series.

Iron Draggon

03-09-2005, 10:56 PM

The Genesis for sure! Talk about an appropriately named system! This is the system that truly started it all for me. I had an Atari 2600 and an Atari 5200 before it, but the Genesis is the one that really gave me the collecting bug. If I could afford it, it would even be cool to have a headstone made for my grave shaped like a Genesis system with my epitaph inscribed on the cart. That's how much I love that system. It literally changed my life forever. 8-)

Push Upstairs

03-10-2005, 12:10 AM

I suppose i could say the Saturn or the Dreamcast...but those were fairly recent acquisitions for me. Genesis it has to be.

Playing my NES was great, but getting a Genesis was like going straight to 11.

Between being blown away by "Sonic 2" and the countless friday nights spent playing rented games with a (then) friend...i can say that it was the high point of my life as far as video game playing.

Evil E

03-10-2005, 01:52 AM

Man, tough call, but I have to go with the Genesis. So many games to choose from and some of the best 2-D action you could ever ask for. The Dreamcast is a very close second though.... My thoughts exactly!!!

Xantan the Foul

03-10-2005, 09:49 AM

I was never really big on Sega Systems... byt the Genesis had some games I enjoyed, so I'll have to go with that.

NESVIDIOT

03-10-2005, 11:06 AM

I say the Dreamcast. I like the Genesis, I have all the Gennys, but the DC was the first Sega system that made me put down my Nintendo controller to play Sega. I fell hard for Tony Hawk and the DC is the only way to play THPS 1 and 2- the DC version annihilates all other versions. Besides this the DC has an awesome controller, the system supports online play and it is still the only one to surf the net. Groundbreaking system!

Proclus

03-10-2005, 12:10 PM

I'm a Genesis apologist, so... This is the most significant system in my life as a video game player.

vintagegamecrazy

03-10-2005, 02:38 PM

Man I have to go Genesis all the way. My parents banned gaming from the house In the day (bad grades) and after I got rid of the nes. Come christmas (of some year, maybe 1994) my parents buy me a nice pair of Ice Skates, which they turned out to not fit quite right, one of my good friends loved the skates and said he'd trade his pair of skates that actually fit me plus his Genesis with like six games for something like that. I told my parents of the great deal I could have and they had to think about it, unbelievably they said I could have the genesis. I was in absolutely heaven. The only thing that I needed was a working controller, so I got one and I was absolutely hooked (provided by tons of gaming rules set by my parents) I had Sonic II, After burner II (which my dad absolutely loved) Toejam and Earl II, Last Battle, I had to talk my parents into letting me keep Chakan plus a few more that iI can't recall. Everyone played, and I got more games as time passed and eventually got a SNES later on. since then my gaming addiction has only gotten worse and here I am today, a crazy video game collector with around 120 genesis games and almost 2000 games overall.

Great topic

RCM

03-10-2005, 04:37 PM

SATURN!

My favorite system of all time. Awesome games and maybe the most exciting import scene for American gamers. Start sending hatemail now PC Engine and AES fans! The Genesis and Dreamcast are close 2nd place finishers. I love em all but I love Saturn the most.

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

Aswald

03-10-2005, 04:40 PM

I guess if you go by "overall," it would have to be the Genesis. The Sega Master System was always a distant, distant, second to the Empire of the NES, which held about 90% of the market back then.

But then came the Genesis, and once Sonic was born, Sega finally had its Mario. On a superior (technically) system. I remember the excitement over "Strider."

It was during this time that Sega became a serious rival to Nintendo.

But after this, starting with the 32X fiasco, and the barely-supported systems afterwards (some compared them to Atari at this point- YIPE!), they just lost it.

SegaAges

03-10-2005, 04:40 PM

I had to go with DC. I am a huge fan of arcade games, and I know that the saturn had many excellent ones, but I just enjoyed the arcade games that came out for DC much, much better. Crazy Taxi, Capcom vs. SNK 2, House of the Dead 2, I could go on and on, but I will end it now.

E Nice

03-10-2005, 04:52 PM

Gee, the 32X doesn't have one single vote.

What a shocker! NOT!

The real shocker is that I put a vote for it and now it's not there anymore. Hmmm.... :hmm:

SuperNES

03-10-2005, 05:05 PM

DUUH! O_O 32x! it pioneered the 32-bit era! it has never-before seen graphics quality! plus an extensive library of excellent games!

Just kidding, of course.
i have to go with dreamcast. awesome games, sweet peripherals, and web browsing. plus they got it right and put 4 controller ports in it. second would be the genesis. it was my first system but frankly not the best.

sportbettor

03-10-2005, 05:23 PM

Saturn is my favorite system (2nd only to Pcengine of all systems).

BTW you forgot SEGA PICO from you list :-)

SuperNES

03-10-2005, 05:27 PM

Saturn is my favorite system (2nd only to Pcengine of all systems).

BTW you forgot SEGA PICO from you list :-)

and Nomad! :eek 2:
come on!

Tachikoma

03-10-2005, 11:57 PM

The Genesis is definitely my favorite Sega system. So many great games, and it's sound chip produced some of my favorite music in videogames.

Kamino

03-11-2005, 12:36 AM

saturn, by a mile and three-quarters.
I truly believe that the only reason psx stomped saturn was the price point. never mind n64, it was a crap pile.
Saturn had the most sensible controller......and great games with minimal shovel ware!

Bluteg

03-11-2005, 02:43 AM

Dreamcast only out of pity. I still think its superior to the PS2.

dreamcaster

03-11-2005, 10:22 AM

The Sega Dreamcast is Sega's best system. They just got EVERYTHING so right. The wide variety of AAA games, the hardware's power and sexy exterior, the refined controller, the VMU's, the online capabilities and multiplayer support all add up top one hell of a console. It was way ahead of it's time and it's early demise still ranks (for me) the greatest tragedy in the history of video gaming.

I have 31 Dreamcast games - and there's not one I'd ever get rid of. No other console in my collection has a 100% game satisfaction ratio.

Now, with that out of the way, I'll proceed to rank Sega's other consoles:

2. Sega Saturn - My second favourite Sega system, and it's a shame it had so much going against it. Poor system architecture, a tarnished brand name and competition from Sony are all things that didn't bode well for this flawed, yet potentially wondrous console.

Home to almost as many of my favourite games as the Dreamcast (Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Virtual-On, Virtua Cop, NiGHTS into Dreams, Panzer Dragoon II Zwei and Virtua Fighter 2) ensures that this console remains one of my most played systems. And anyone who doubts the Saturn's 3D graphical abilities - see if you can hunt down the demonstration video of Shenmue for Saturn. X_x

3. Sega Game Gear - The first handheld console I ever played, and the one that triggered my childhood fascination with handheld games machines. Still today, this is one of my favourite handheld consoles, with one of the best game libraries around. Add a Master Gear adapter, and well...you've probably got the best game library in existence.

4. Sega Mega CD - From the moment I saw this console, I was entranced. The CD format provided such amazing gameplay possibilities and though whilst today, it's looked back upon as a dud machine - playing games like Sonic CD and Silpheed reminds me of what this machine was designed to do.

5. Sega Master System - I respect the Master System greatly. It's just such an obviously superior console to the NES. Graphically and audially, it leaves Nintendo's crapbox for dead. Yes, I'm not a fan of the NES. I don't care what anyone says - most of it's games are glitchy, unenjoyable rubbish. True I don't have an affinity for 8-bit gaming, but when I do want to play some late 80's classics, I look to the vastly superior Master System. Games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Fantasy Zone, Wonder Boy, R-Type, Rampart, Sagaia and The New Zealand Story are all prime examples of games that play, sound and look better than anything the NES could hope to achieve.

6. Sega Mega Drive - Not that it's a bad console by any stretch. It's just that the Super NES is that much better. When I think of 16-bit games, the SNES is home to just that much more of my favourites. Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Stunt Race FX, Terranigma, Super Mario All-Stars, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Axelay, Super R-Type, R-Type III and Mega Man X are all games that the Mega Drive doesn't have. Not to mention all the superior SNES ports of MD games. The Mega Drive does have the Sonic series as well as one of my favourite games of all time, Gunstar Heroes. But in the end, that's about it. Sorry - but Super NES does what Genesis don't.

7. Sega 32X - Ah 32X. The only Sega system which I don't like. This system has four good games. Knuckles Chaotix, Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing and Kolibri. And these aren't exactly AAA titles anyway. The system is cumbersome, unreliable and a bitch to connect. True I was greatly interested in it when it was released, but the reality of actually using one was far less interesting. The Mega CD was a far more well designed add-on, and contributed more worthily to the Mega Drive's capabilities.

Zadoc

03-11-2005, 10:42 AM

Wow, this is such a tough question. I don�t know where to begin. I would discount Master System, Game Gear, Sega CD and 32X right off the bat. This is really a three-way contest between the Saturn, Genesis Dreamcast.

Genesis was my first system since my 2600. We were too poor, so I never owned an NES when I was little. I have many fond memories from back then. I was also a Sega loyal kid. �Sega does what Nintendon�t.� By far it was Sega�s most successful system, and I think it has the largest selection of software in North America.

Saturn was a glorious failure, but wow, it had some spectacular software; Panzer Dragoon Saga (the best game ever), NiGHTS, and so many others. Saturn also was the first system to really have online capabilities. I surfed the net with that thing for years before I got a PC. Being a NetLink owner, this made one a �NetLinker� and created a special kind of bond between NetLinkers and their game console. One of my friends, another former NetLinker, his Saturn burned out and instead of just tossing it away he described to me how he felt compelled to pack it in its original packing perfectly, and then gently set it in the dumpster so as not to damage it.

And then there is Dreamcast. This system was a success and Sega really cut the legs out from under this one way too soon. I also feel that the quality of Sega titles would be better now if they had their own hardware, but that�s another story. Anyone who was at E3 2000 was blown away. This system had such a promising line up and bright future. SegaNet and PSO ushered in a new era of online gaming which dwarfed their efforts and Saturn and laid the tracks for Xbox Live. From 1999 until it was killed, it was by far the best console available in terms of graphics and software.

So� Genesis, Saturn, or Dreamcast. I don�t know how to answer that. I�ll say Saturn simply because that�s where some of my fondest memories of being a NetLinker lie.

Slate

03-11-2005, 10:48 AM

Sega CD.. There are many games worth playing.

I got my Sega CD for Christmas last year. I blew the fuse on it the next day, But it's fixed now. I have 7 games for it (2 brand new):
Sonic CD
Sewer shark
Tomcat alley
Ground zero texas
NFL's greatest San francisco VS Dallas
Trivial pursuit (BNEW)
NBA Jam (BNEW)

Sonic CD.. i got it JUST for the Sega CD. And Man is it worth it! It is a bit hard, But cool and fun!
Sewer shark.. It will ALWAYS hold it's position as "Cheesy, cool, Nutty, and FUN" LOL
Ground zero texas? Always a pleasure to get insulted by the general.. LOL
As for tomcat alley..I'm not sure how to play it.. :/

And you know something? It is HARD to get mad at ANY Sega CD game, Even sewer shark! I just play it again.. No worries!

AMG

03-11-2005, 12:26 PM

As far as having the "greatest impact" on my gaming as a whole, the Genesis wins that crown out of the Sega systems. I did have a SMS before hand but the Genny had far more of an impact.

I got the Sega Genesis back when it first hit the market (I later sold my original and still regret it) and the NES was still king of the hill. Games like Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Joe Monana Football,
Sword of Vermillion and Buster Douglas Boxing provided me with countess hours of gaming bliss. The Sega Genesis will always have a special place in my gaming heart.

vulcanjedi

03-11-2005, 12:30 PM

Greetings programs.

I got my Genesis a little bit after launch when there were only 18 titles available for it. I has gotten a Master System 2 years before that because I was addicted to the arcade version of Choplifter. I did not have a NES but I did have a gameboy.
Phantasy Star 1 was the most incredible game I had played at that time and the Phantasy Star II hype was the top reason I wanted the Genesis.
I was drooling the first time I saw Silpheed on the segaCD but could not convince myself to shell out all that money. I picked up a used SNES instead.

To this day I have more Genesis games (138) than any other system. I also have about 10 different varients with the 32x and cd and model.

Definitly the one system I could not do without.

VJ

Wookie

03-11-2005, 02:54 PM

Definitely in the monority here, I went for the Gamegear. Why? Because it has a respectable library all it's own and can also play most of the SMS and SG1000 games as well. And, dammit, I like handhelds!

Dr. Morbis

03-11-2005, 11:34 PM

It's funny that Genesis is beating Dreamcast in this poll, but Dreamcast is killing the Genesis in the "Best. Game Console. Ever" poll. Where were all the Genesis fans when it came time to vote in the other poll? :hmm:

For the record, I voted SMS. The fact that the Genesis library is so bogged down with worthless sports games really irks me.

MegaDrive20XX

03-11-2005, 11:43 PM

In my state of mind, I sit and dream...the Sega memories lay in my mind, the blue logo shining so brightly...behind a black or white background. Gives me reassurance and strength to go through the day, nothing can be finer then sitting down to your Dreamcast...your Saturn...your Genesis...your GameGear...with knowing that these are the tools that Sega made...these are the games that made an empire to be known to all.

Sega went out with diginity...but the loyal fans remain...I forgive Sega for the error of their ways as I pick up a controller....

1. Genesis
2. Dreamcast
3. SMS

would be the order I'd put these in.....but do they need numbers to be labeled correctly? I think not...each are as equal when it comes to the history they built, the competitors they fought, and the people they made famous...

James

03-11-2005, 11:43 PM

I don't think there's anyone on these forums who wouldn't vote Genesis followed by Dreamcast as those were Sega's only 2 successful consoles as far as world wide fans go followed in third spot by the Saturn which was hugely successful in Japan.

soniko_karuto

03-12-2005, 12:10 AM

I say the dreamcast. It just shows what sega could have been in the next generation if they had better marketing.

drewbrim

03-12-2005, 12:11 AM

Dreamcast. I was late to the Sega party. My friend growing up across the street had a Genesis, which was cool but to me it seemed a little behind my SNES. Flash forward to college and that same friend bought a Dreamcast at launch and after skipping about a week of classes to play it non stop, I was hooked.

davec

03-12-2005, 12:19 AM

My vote is on the Genny as well, though I love the Dreamcast.
The Genny was such a quantum leap over the lowly NES, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the demo for it back in 89. I shelled out my $179.00 for it and a week later my eighty bucks ! for Phantasy Star II.
It was worth every cent as PS II was as engrossing and captivating a game as I had experienced up to that point.
And Revenge of Shinobi ratcheted action to the next level, wow, isn't that Spiderman and noo...Batman too.

shoes23

03-12-2005, 12:31 AM

My vote had to go for the Sega Genesis. I will never forget the first time I picked up a Genesis controller and played Altered Beast at a demo kiosk...it absolutely blew me away. I was fairly young and sucked at it, but I stood and hogged the controller for an hour while a line formed behind me. Also, Shadowrun for the Genesis still captivates me for hours.

sabre2922

03-12-2005, 04:37 AM

While I luv the Saturn I had to go with DREAMCAST.

The DC is STILL my fav system to this day ;)

kainemaxwell

06-04-2005, 06:23 PM

Dreamcast definitly for me, though the genesis is a close 2nd.

Ed Oscuro

06-05-2005, 02:08 AM

Hmm...I've probably already voted, so I won't this time.

I've gotta go with the Genesis/JP Mega Drive. Huge selection of games, and I never got into the Sega 3D-era games. 2D is where Sega always did well, and it's their titles like Comix Zone and Phantasy Star IV that stole my heart. I love Phantasy Star Online, though...that right there was close to converting me to a Sega 3D fan :P

Damon Plus

06-05-2005, 03:39 PM

Dreamcast. I�ve always loved the Genesis (and GameGear) and I have some very fond memories of them, but since I bought a DC 2 months ago, I�ve played about 200 hours (that�s an average of more than 3 hours every day X_x ). Now I understand why lots of people still love the system and think is one of the best ever. Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, Soul Calibur and Shenmue 1-2 didn�t have a problem to rank very high on my list of top games of all time.

Aussie2B

06-05-2005, 04:25 PM

I have a feeling that once I buy my own and get into importing for it, the Saturn will probably be my favorite. Its library most resembles the experience of the Super Famicom, to me at least. However, since my current experience with the system is quite limited, that's neither here nor there.

From what I have played extensively enough, Genesis is my favorite. I don't have any elaborate speech for it or childhood memories; it just comes down to the games. Shining Force 1 and 2, the Sonic series, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Rocket Knight Adventures, Dynamite Headdy, Landstalker, and many more make it my top Sega console.

While I like the Dreamcast and all the games I have for it are good, it sort of exists as the red-headed stepchild of my collection. It sits there next to the GameCube, always plugged in and ready, yet it gets barely any play. For some reason unknown to me, I have a difficult time getting into its library, perhaps because there aren't as many RPGs and platformers as I would like.

XxMe2NiKxX

06-05-2005, 11:46 PM

Genesis. My first true console, I know own about 650 games for it and have logged well over 8000 hours on its various classics (The sonic series, gunstar heroes, streets of rage, golden axe, super hang on, columns, vectorman, pulseman, shinobi, M.U.S.H.A., thunderforce, truxton, mortal kombat, alisia dragoon, castle of illusion, ecco the dolphin, beyond oasis, flicky, ghouls n' ghosts, mega bomberman, phantasy star, pirates!, shining force, and toejam and earl, just to name a few), spent more money on it then all of my other consoles combined, and the graphics, at the time, blew me away (red zone anyone?). Most definately my favourite console of all time.

My second vote would have to go to the Dreamcast, simply because even after the countless screenshots and super-duper hyping, the first time I played Sonic Adventure (9.9.99!), I nearly exploded.