Genesis fans: Where's the love for Alisia Dragoon?

[ManekiNeko]

1992 was a terrible year for the Sega Genesis. Fans of the system were subjected to a wide variety of lackluster arcade translations, including Cadash and Smash TV.

Just when things looked their darkest and my faith in the Genesis began to waver, Sega and Game Arts released a fantastic game called Alisia Dragoon. Alisia Dragoon was a lot like Thexder, the fast-paced shooter which was released on a half-dozen computers and was primarily responsible for establishing Game Arts as a game designer. However, it differs from Thexder in that it's set in the distant past, rather than the future. Alisia is a sorceress who battles enemies with bursts of lightning. She also has a quartet of loyal pets which increase in strength as they gain experience in battle. Alisia Dragoon had fantastic graphics and sound, and the gameplay wasn't too shabby, either. Once you got used to the unique lightning weapon, which was magnetically attracted to enemies and required no aiming, it was a whole lot of fun.

Alisia Dragoon was a Genesis classic. However, not many Genesis owners appreciated it the way I did... they had to wait a year later for the release of Gunstar Heroes before they felt their purchase of a Genesis was truly justified. I just have to wonder... why didn't more people notice Alisia Dragoon? In my opinion, it should have been the game that got Game Arts noticed by Sega fans, not the mediocre Lunar series.

JR

[portnoyd]

So, on Mr. Neko's recommendation, I threw the game in. It's on the neverending, always growing gaming backlog, and I was bored, so in it went. I've had it for a while, and it was always curious, and seemed like a fun game.

It's pretty good. A fun game, with a few flaws. The lightning was nice, allowing you to focus on controlling your character more than killing every last enemy. I liked how you can power up yourself, and your creatures, even though the creatures seemed more of a meat shield than anything. I made it to Stage 3, where a wall full of enemies did me in 3 times in a row. Not sure how to get past that yet.

Definitely one of the better games on the system though.

dave

[ArnoldRimmer83]

This game is pretty underrated. I like the auto aiming lighting attack, as it makes it easier to concentrate on dodging enemies while still attacking them. I don't like how the game gives you no lives and no continues however. Starting over from level 1 every time you've been killed makes the game feel tedious at times. The game gets a bit easier when you've powered up at least.

It's also difficult to keep the pets alive, and usually they just end up being shields from enemy attacks. Would've been a great feature if a second player could've taken control of them.

[Dire 51]

This is one of the few Genny games that I really would like to get.

Oh, and check this site out: http://www.jhughson.freeserve.co.uk/alisiadragoon/main.htm

[Ed Oscuro]

Well...as has been mentioned, you never can keep the petz alive, which REALLY sucks, and the game is slow at times. This isn't one of my "most wanted" Genny games, but it's close. The games I really want are all from later (1995) releases (Comix Zone, Alien Soldier, etc.), though, so when you consider this was an earlier release it looks much better.

Alisia = teh hottie :D

Oh yeah, Cadash is the suck, in any format. I suppose I should post that as my choice of Genesis game that I hate but everybody else seems to like.

[Kid Fenris]

When it debuted, Alisia Dragoon became one of the games that made me swear I would someday buy a Genesis, even if I kept this vow secret while pretending to hate Sega and their underhanded advertising campaign. I was a confused kid.

For those who've never played it, Alisia holds up very well. The soundtrack is amazing for a 1992 cartridge title, and the visual style is quite captivating, as it includes not only forests and swamps, but a Nausicaa-esque airship and the ruins of a crashed space vessel. It's challenging, unique, and, I dare say, one of my favorite Genesis games.

Unfortunately, Sega didn't really promote Alisia Dragoon. I don't even remember any magazine ads for the game.

Hey, since when are the Lunar games "mediocre"? Both the Silver Star and Eternal Blue were great RPGs during the 16-bit era, and even today they're enjoyable, if a bit clichéd.

[swlovinist]

I agree this title is underrated, but really...where is the love for the system? The Genesis value wise as a whole does not hold up well to the NES, and that to me is sad. There were a ton of exclusive titles that were solid, and it just baffles me that with a system that did so well in the states, that the love is just not there? Does anyone else feel this?

[suppafly]

Alisia Dragoon...its so weird...i have the real cart but i´ve never played it heheh..thanks for the heads-up, i will give it a try tonight on my nomad :D

Thanks!!!!

Talking about GREAT genny games, wheres the love for DUNE? THATs the BEST strategy game on any 16 bit system!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8-)

[swlovinist]

Dune is good, but my vote for strategy on the Genesis has to be Herzog Zwei!