The 32x - Definatly not bad....

[RockyRaccoon]

I recently had aquired a 32x in a Trade with a game, I also have another game for it, so I have two physical games for it. I've also taken a EMU and played some games with the EMU to judge fairly on this matter more or less. And I've come to a conclusion....

The Sega 32x.... does'nt suck.

I agree, it's not GREAT, but it's not bad either, and I TRULY don't see why it was dropped so quickly in the past... or why people DIDN'T Buy it. I WILL however, review the two games I've enjoyed the most playing with the 32x....and then a full follow up.

Shadow Sqaudron

I Got this game with the 32x in the trade. I Can sum this game up in one word. Addictive. The Music is catchy, the idea is pretty good, and I can't belive it's the GENESIS putting out these graphics even with the help of an add-on like the 32x. I refused to belive for the first hour of playing that this was a Genesis game. It had to be an Early PC game..or a 3DO Game or something.

The Controls are easy, the game is easy to understand but also challenging. I've not had THIS much fun with a game in a long time, and it's a game like this that is forcing me to keep the 32x out of it's box and available at a moments notice!


and for the second game....

DOOM

I was expecting a sucky frame rate...and crappy sound effects like the SNES Version. What I got instead was a VERY SMOOTH framerate... a LOT of the graphical effects associated with Doom.. (Bullet puffs!) and some okay Sound effects. The Music sounds a bit "Tinny" however, thats not a huge problem. THIS has to be my second favorite Doom port now. This is my QUICK DOOM FIX when I don't wanna hog the computer now. Sure...the enimies don't have backs..or sides, but thats alright, it's still an awesome game! and unlike the SNES version, the Slime and everything actually has textures. My only real complaint is that some items and textures are actually removed from the levels to make the game A bit sized down..or up the frame rate supposes.


Now..for the System itself...I Do have a few complaints. Mainly was that I had to get an Extension cord to just get me the THIRD plug needed for the 32x itself. I think Sega should had made a two in one adaptor at some point for both systems... Had made life 10,000 times more easier with this Unit.


So After playing this, It does have me wondering why the 32x FLOPPED AROUND like it did and died. I'm sure theres soem marketing reason why, in fact...we all KNOW it was the fact it made no money, but it still does'nt make any personal sense to me on WHY it did'nt sell if the games I've played so far are just, THAT awesome?

ANYWAYS, I think I'm going to go plug Shadow Sqaudron in ONE MORE time...just one...I PROMISE!...

Dooodododddddooooo~~~~~!!

~Rocky Raccoon

[davidbrit2]

Yes, the 32X has some really sweet games available. Here are the others I'd recommend:

Metal Head
Virtua Racing
Fred Couples Golf

Yeah, I obviously don't have a whole lot of games since this is about all I'm coming up with. ;-) I seem to remember MKII is pretty good, though.

[MegaDrive20XX]

If you think that's neat, wait till you get the prize gem of the 32X... Virtua Fighter.

Other titles that are pretty impressive are

Black Thorne
Primal Rage <-- was amazed how much better this is compared to SNES or Genesis
Mortal Kombat 2
Space Harrier <--- best port in cart format imho
After Burner
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
Tempo <-- solid platformer


and I know this one is very arguable, but I enjoy Knuckles Chaotix

[Querjek]

I like Knuckles Chaotix...

[drwily008]

I saw in another post of yours that you were looking for a Knuckles Chaotix, good luck finding it (it's not to hard). It is one of my favorite games on the console.

Also look out for Tempo, Kolibri, and some of the others mentioned alreasy on this thread.

Hope you have fun!

[Gamereviewgod]

Fred Couples doesn't get enough repsect at all. It's a shame because it's a damn good game. I wish the CD version would have come out.

Spiderman isn't bad either, it's just a matter of finding a copy. I've always been happy with the system, it's a shame that developers didn't use it better (like with Mortal Kombat II, yuck).

[MegaDrive20XX]

Chaotix hard to find? I always see it floating around for $20 or under.

Kolbri is actually a solid schump clone

[Cmosfm]

The Sega 32X is actually the very first system I acuired a complete collection of games for, why? Because it's awesome.

Cosmic Carnage - Quite a fun little fighter, although very dated, and the "in and out" screen can get a little old...I still go back to this one now and again.

Knuckles Chaotix - Excellent game with fun physics, I love the rubber band system. :) The first level music is amazing as well

Metal Head - Man, Metal Head ROCKS, back in the day I'd pretend I was in the mech and I was ravaging the streets of my home town. LOL

Primal Rage - The game is awesome, and this is the best console cartridge version you will find.

Tempo - The theme song is still stuck in my head, the music is great, the gameplay is very vibrant and colorful.

Virtua Fighter - Amazing port of the polygonal fighter. JACKY!!!!!!!

[Arcturius]

Primal Rage <-- was amazed how much better this is compared to SNES or Genesis

Is it any different to the Sega Saturn version do you know just wondering if it's the same or not as I've never seen the 32X version running.

[MegaDrive20XX]

It's pretty smooth imho, the sprites and backgrounds are fully in tact. Since it's cart based, there is no load times.

Original arcade intro and endings are included.

As far as I know, the Saturn and PSX ports are pretty much similar. I never got to see the Saturn port

[Sotenga]

The 32X makes me sigh and cry. It had the potential to be the biggest thing since sliced cheese. Sega just didn't invest enough into it, and there are only about five titles for it that I find interesting. A damn shame. *sigh* :(

I do advise Knuckles Chaotix, and that is probably the best home console translation of Space Harrier outside of its appearence on the Dreamcast in Shenmue. Blackthorne's pretty good too, though I can't tell whether or not it's better than the SNES version. Kolibri's like Ecco the Dolphin, but you play as a hummingbird instead. It makes for a damn good adventure/shooter type game. Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 is noice too. And... that's all I can think of.

[MegaDrive20XX]

the 32X really pulled a miracle on the hardware, just to think of what could have been done. There was even a rumor of a Dracula X port.

On the other hand, I think the 32X was too little, too late. Especially since it was so close to Saturn's release

[davidbrit2]

The 32X makes me sigh and cry. It had the potential to be the biggest thing since sliced cheese. Sega just didn't invest enough into it, and there are only about five titles for it that I find interesting. A damn shame. *sigh* :(

Definitely. The library's a bit thin, but what it's got is generally REALLY good. Well, except for the Digital Pictures CD-32X games. Ha ha.

[Big Shady]

32X was definitely not bad, just very oddly timed. Why release ANOTHER Genisis attachment when you are tying to launch your next-gen hardware with the Saturn?

[Gunstar_Hero UK]

Space Harrier <--- best port in cart format imho


I totaly agree with Tim here, i thought Space Harrier on the 32x was impressive.

Joe. :)

[VinnyT]

Wasn't there a movie posted somewhere that was full of games that was never released for 32X. I remember looking at it and wondering just what could've been.

[suppafly]

I love my 32x. Its got several GOOD games.

I loved Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter (both versions were the best arcade ports on any sega system).

Star wars and doom are cool too. Afterburner and Space harrier are arcade perfect ports too...not too bad for a console which can be found for 10 bucks :)

[Push Upstairs]

My 32x is worth it for two games:

"After Burner" & "Space Harrier"

Damn those are great...especially with a arcade stick :D

I will admit i am very happy i dont have to buy controllers for *YET ANOTHER* system to go with this.

Its a shame "Outrun" was never released :(

[MegaDrive20XX]

So true, if OutRun was released for 32X, that would be the perfect trio right there

[Algol]

Darxide is easily one of the better 32X games. It's more or less a port of Asteroids on 32 bit hardware. Next to impossible, but pretty good! Theres also the previously mentioned arcade ports, and thats pretty much the best 32X has to offer.

[dojosky]

Yeah it was pretty good system ... I bought it when it first came out at Toys R us for $159.99 and picked up Virtua Racing along with it ... then Rented Doom from Blockbuster ... ahh the old days !! i still have the 32x and near complete collection for it !!!

[Melf]

Yeah, the 32X gets a bad rap. Chalk it up to Nakayama's decision to halt development for everything but the Saturn in 1995. This basically made developers leave in droves, and many games were either canned while in development, or just transferred to the Saturn.

Some games that never made it:

- X-Men
- Shadow of Atlantis
- Dracula X
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Virtua Hamster
- Darkstalkers
- Alien vs. Predator
- Sonic Xtreme (transferred to the Saturn and then canned).

[Kid Ice]

Never had a problem with the games...really enjoyed Shadow Squadron, Virtua Fighter, Doom, and Wrestlemania Arcade (best console version IMO).

The damn thing was so unreliable though. I can't tell you how many times I played with those metal brackets.

At one point I had one working without the brackets, but it eventually stopped working.

Too bad the Neptune never came out. The games were very worthwhile, but I always had trouble with the hardware end.

[pacmanhat]

I have Kolibri, Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing Deluxe and Virtua Fighter...all of which I really enjoy. So much more could've come of the system, but I'm more than happy with what we did get in the short time it was around.

[RockyRaccoon]

We all know Kolbri is by far the most best humming bird based shooter for the 32x! :D

..or any system for that matter.. >,>

[ghostangelofcky]

ya, the 32x is really under appriciated, lots of good games, my fav's are Blackthorne and Star Wars Arcade.

[AlanD]

Is there any major improvement in Pitfall: Mayan Adventure for the 32X over say the Genesis version? I have copies of it for a ton of systems (I think only Zork or maybe original Adventure got ported more) and they all are generally the same. Is there a huge graphical jump on this system or just more of the same old?

[fishsandwich]

Is there any major improvement in Pitfall: Mayan Adventure for the 32X over say the Genesis version? I have copies of it for a ton of systems (I think only Zork or maybe original Adventure got ported more) and they all are generally the same. Is there a huge graphical jump on this system or just more of the same old?

The 32x port has got more colours and several extra levels. Otherwise, yeah, it's more of the same.

[fishsandwich]

Whoops--- double post!

[fishsandwich]

Cosmic Carnage - Quite a fun little fighter, although very dated, and the "in and out" screen can get a little old...I still go back to this one now and again.

Metal Head - Man, Metal Head ROCKS, back in the day I'd pretend I was in the mech and I was ravaging the streets of my home town. LOL

Virtua Fighter - Amazing port of the polygonal fighter. JACKY!!!!!!!

Cosmic Carnage... you have GOT to be kidding me! That game sucks ass dude!

Metal Head... I used to rag on this one, but going back I realize that this game, though flawed in a lot of ways, was pretty good for the time.

Virtua Fighter... The game I plug in when some clueless friend says "The 32x was nothing but a SNES upgrade"

Let's see the SNES do Virtua Fighter! I don't care how many FX chips you cram into a cart... the 32x will beat the crap out of the SNES when it comes to graphics (but the SNES still sounds better.)

:D

[MegaDrive20XX]

100% true. The SNES could not handle Virtua Fighter by a landslide. It only took the crazy AM2 team to crack the 32X wide open and deliver a solid port of the game!

As for Cosmic Carnage, *phew* To me this was like the "Rise of the Robots" for 32X. I felt this title was more of a lack-luster and really could have been something worth while if it's true potential was used to the limit.

[AlanD]

Is there any major improvement in Pitfall: Mayan Adventure for the 32X over say the Genesis version? I have copies of it for a ton of systems (I think only Zork or maybe original Adventure got ported more) and they all are generally the same. Is there a huge graphical jump on this system or just more of the same old?

The 32x port has got more colours and several extra levels. Otherwise, yeah, it's more of the same.


Hey if it has extra levels I'm all for it then :) Anybody got an extra complete copy available?

[NE146]

And of course.. as we all know the more a console is maligned, the less people are inclined to own it. Thus, future 'rarity' :D

Although I wonder how this would apply in this case.. :ponder:

[chrisbid]

if sega hadnt abandoned the 32x after xmas of 94, it had some decent potential. in the day, i was excited about it, as i was NOT going to spend 400 dollars for a saturn or playstation. i bought one early at full price and do not regret it even now.

[shopkins]

I really enjoy the Afterburner port. It's the best one I've played.

[MegaDrive20XX]

http://www.inverteddungeon.com/Games/blood.php

here's the "Vaporeware" CastleVania 32X

"CastleVania: Bloodletting"

[NoahsMyBro]

A few weeks ago I picked up a complete Sega Genesis 2/Sega CD/32X set-up. I was very excited bringing the combo home. Sadly the excitement was tempered due to a few things I found, in torturous increments.

1) I thought the Jaguar was bad with AC Adapters - one for the system, another for the CD drive? WIth this monstrous combo, I need THREE AC Adapters, and the suckers are big enough to use 2 electrical jacks each! And naturally I only brought one AC Adapter home with me when I picked up the set. So, grab one from my Genesis (Genesis 1), and I'm still short one.

2) I have no 32x games, nor any Sega CD games. So I order a couple of games from Goat Store and wait for them to arrive. A few days later I get the package, and on to....

3) Hmmm, the Genesis 1 Adapter doesn't fit on either the CD or 32X component (don't recall which). Looks like the Game Gear adapter is the right size though; I'll try it.

4) OK, everything is all hooked up. Here goes nothing....
Shoot, it really was nothing! No picture! No sound! NOTHING. I disconnect everything, and simply hook the Genesis 2, all by itself, up to the TV. I plug in Spaceflight, turn it on, and nothing. Nothing at all. A little red light illuminates on the Genesis unit itself, but that's all. And naturally my original Genesis has a different video connector, and no way to hook up the 32X to it.

So with disappointment I hook up my original Genesis and proceed to reaccquaint myself with Spaceflight, in fuzzy RF brilliance.

I've still never seen a 32X game, but now have Doom and Star Wars Arcade should I ever get a functional Genesis 2.

[swlovinist]

It is good the look at a system and find the good points, as even I have found with the ill fated 32X. I know that many here remember when the 32X came out, and how much of a dissapointment it was. If you want to read a funny lore story, look in the DP advance under Sega 32X lore. I can now look back and see that there were a couple of good games on the system(VF is my favorite).

[-hellvin-]

Ive enjoyed the 32x a lot. I'm only one game away from finishing it and have played quite a bit of it.

My favorites?

Blackthorne - Excellent and highly underrated game. Great little action platformer.

Knuckles Chaotix - Great game, even though the chain system can get pretty annoying. Still has a great Sonic feel to it.

Pitfall - Already a great platformer, the 32x version is just as good and is a really solid title.

Spiderman: Web of Fire - Although I think the controls are a little rough this is a great title that's just as great as the other excellent spiderman platforming games.

[Push Upstairs]

And of course.. as we all know the more a console is maligned, the less people are inclined to own it. Thus, future 'rarity' :D

Although I wonder how this would apply in this case.. :ponder:

I still wonder how i ended up with two copies of Knuckles Chaotix @_@


I do find the 32x to have similar scaling abilities as the Saturn and even the late 80's arcade games (ya know the ones)...for that i enjoy it.

I will admit that "Space Harrier 2" gets no play at all anymore simply because its framerate is so choppy compared to the 32x Space Harrier.

Oh and another thing, does the 32x have stereo output? I don't have a stereo cable (yet) and i hope that i can play my 32x games in full stereo glory.

[sabre2922]

I remember having the money to get a 32X when it was released and at the time I had a Genesis , Supernes and a good collection for both but I was renting to own a 3DO for like 75$ a week :roll: So I had a 3DO for like a couple months for the same price I could have OWNED a 32x and a couple great games like virtua fighter and virtua racing :angry:

[Vroomfunkel]

Darxide is easily one of the better 32X games. It's more or less a port of Asteroids on 32 bit hardware. Next to impossible, but pretty good! Theres also the previously mentioned arcade ports, and thats pretty much the best 32X has to offer.

You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that! I thought my gaming instincts had departed me when I tried that game - I couldn't get past the second level (admittedly, I only borrowed it for a week, and only played it at the weekend, but still ... )

It's like a cross between Asteroids and Elite, and it rocks. But it is just too bloody hard!

Vroomfunkel

[Nez]

I have 31 games for the system and have enjoyed like 2 of em.

Doom
Kolibri

I'm shure if I got Blackhorne and Web of Fire I would enjoy those aswell.

[SoulBlazer]

I always liked the Star Wars game.

And yeah, Spare Harrier and After Burner are great ports.

I never could get Zaxxon to work on my 32X, I tried three different copies. :/

[Cheese]

I always liked the Star Trek game, T-MEK was an arcade favorite that ported pretty well for the most part. I didn't like the Spiderman game, I can't remember why, I just remember it left a bad taste in my mouth. The game I played the most was Mortal Kombat 2, it was a pretty decent port all things considered.

[Gamereviewgod]

I never could get Zaxxon to work on my 32X, I tried three different copies.

You don't want it to work. It's nothing like the original, more like Viewpoint on the Geo (and Genesis and PS One). Brutally difficult for all the wrong reasons. In other words, bad frame rate, slow ship, stupid.... aw, here's my review:

http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/zaxxonmotherbase2000.htm

I have trouble with Chaotix for some reason. Three 32X's, two copies of the game, and nothing to show for it. Locks up at the title screen every time. Really want to play it too since it's the only US release I've never played (brag: I own 'em all!).

[Cryomancer]

Honestly, Chaotix is probably my favorite Sonic game, and Sonic is only in it at the very end... S3&K and it fight for top position. Chaotix has way better music though...oh man. I don't go on about game music that much but I love the tunes in Chaotix.

Here's my 32x story:

Back when it was about 90 bucks, my birthday hit. I grabbed all the birthday cash, went to TRU. Got my 32x and Chaotix. All I ever owned for it as a kid. NEVER REGRETTED IT.

Years go by and someone moves/steals/something my chaotix cart and the mini-din cable. For years I am 32x-less. About a year ago or so, I go to a game store in Madison after looking around online, since damn if I was gonna ebay 30 bucks for one and I didn't really wanna buy a new one just for a cable. I go to the store, and ask teh guy if they have any. He comes out with a handful and GIVES it to me. Score! Too bad my chaotix is forever lost to time...I still have most of my other games from my youth, but that one magically dissapeared somewhere along the line. Crazy.

[Dimitri]

Honestly, Chaotix is probably my favorite Sonic game, and Sonic is only in it at the very end... S3&K and it fight for top position.
Add Sonic CD to that brawl and I'd agree wholeheartedly. ;)

Since I just got a working 32X (see finds thread if you wanna know...) I went back and revisited all the games I used to have.

Chaotix is still the best game on the system.
Virtua Racing still kicks my ass.
Tempo is slower than I remember it being.

I think I'll load up Cosmic Carnage next, then NOT load up Mortal Kombat or Star Wars...ever. Man, I hated Star Wars Arcade...I don't expect Cosmic Carnage to be any better than it used to, but I did like it more than SWA...

[devilman]

I've tried to enjoy the 32X but the time and hassle of setting one up (with limited space) is just a pain in the arse, especially if you wanted to throw in the Mega CD in there too. Is the 32X supposed to work in a Multimega by the way? I've certainly never had any joy with it.

[RockyRaccoon]

I've tried to enjoy the 32X but the time and hassle of setting one up (with limited space) is just a pain in the arse, especially if you wanted to throw in the Mega CD in there too. Is the 32X supposed to work in a Multimega by the way? I've certainly never had any joy with it.

By Multimega...I'm assuming thats the U.K / British version of what we here in the U.S. Know as the Sega CDX. (The Sega Genesis / Sega CD in one compact unit that could also be used as a CD player...) , and while the box here in the US says It won't....there is INSTRUCTIONS to connect it to the CDX here in the darn box.

There was an IDEA that here, at least, while the Genesis 2 and Genesis 1 / 32x combo got FCC approval, but the CDX / 32X combo did'nt get approval, so they had to say that it was'nt compatible. HOWEVER, there has been reports that a 32X DOES work on a CDX regardless. I forget the exact method involved, but there is one. I'll need to search for it again...when I do, I'll post it here.

~Rocky

[Kamino]

the 32x is worth it, if only for zaxxon's motherbase 2000. I originally bought the game for the "zaxxon" name. I had just played the arcade version...and wanted more.
Only to discover later it's actually the sequel to viewpoint...
Knuckles Chaotix is also worth a play, as is shadow squadron. Sadly most of the system's library does suck. Bring on the 32x homebrews! Darxide sure could use a NTSC translation.

[fishsandwich]

Honestly, Chaotix is probably my favorite Sonic game, and Sonic is only in it at the very end... S3&K and it fight for top position.
Add Sonic CD to that brawl and I'd agree wholeheartedly. ;)

I think I'll load up Cosmic Carnage next, then NOT load up Mortal Kombat or Star Wars...ever. Man, I hated Star Wars Arcade...I don't expect Cosmic Carnage to be any better than it used to, but I did like it more than SWA...

Indeed, Star Wars Arcade is damn frustrating... and it could have been so much better! The space sequences just plain suck... you are NOT flying in true 3-D, and attacking the capital ships does nothing. Very pokey and shitty.

The attacks on the Deathstar and capital ships (you can attack them here) are pretty darned exciting... but they are frickin' hard! I've played this game countless times and I just can't get past it. There are only a couple of cheats, and NONE of them give you unlimited or extra lives. Sucko!

:angry:

Playing Tip
For extra shields, choose a two-player game (even if your the only one playing). This will give you one more shield. For extra firepower, hold C on Controller Two while you play. Put a light weight on the button or tape it down.


Unlimited Time
To turn off the timer, pause the game and press Down, B, B, Up, Right, Left. This code requires a six-button controller.

Clock Stop
If you want to stop the timer do as follows: pause the game. With a 6 button controler press down, B, b, up, right, left. You'll hear a Yahoo. Then unpause the game and the clock is stopped.

[fishsandwich]

whoops

[fishsandwich]

and again!

[fishsandwich]

whoops!

[ManciGames]

Spiderman: Web of Fire - Although I think the controls are a little rough this is a great title that's just as great as the other excellent spiderman platforming games.

Heh. You just hit on one of my recent "holy grail" acquisitions: A sealed copy of Web of Fire. I'm thinking there' probably less than 100 sealed copies... Maybe?

[nik]

Ah, I just got one with about 5 games, now its my biggest console, what a weird system, but so awsome.

I never got the chance to play much aside from knuckles as a kid, I rented it once, but thats it, now I have a ton of games, I'll be busy for quite a while now!

[dreamcaster]

As big a SEGA fanboy that I am, I think the 32X sucks.

I was intrigued by it back in the day, but the reality of the system is far less impressive.

A handful of games isn't worth the price (and not to mention difficulty) of admission.

Download and emulator and the 4 or 5 games that are worth playing and you'll get 32X fix.


That said.....I enjoy Star Wars Arcade. :D