Top 10 Favorite Genesis Games

[Retrology]

Really tough to make it 5 so I decided to make a top 10 Genesis list because it's that good of a system.

10. Gunstar Heroes: I just started playing this game too! Might be the most insane shooter I've ever played.
9. Bonzanza Bros: Yeah I have a soft spot for this game. I simply find its brand of gameplay a lot of fun.
8. Vectorman: Stylish graphics and overall really challenging and fun.
7. Kid Chameleon: Alternate paths+loads of costumes and addicting gameplay
6. Shinobi III: By far the best Shinobi game I've played.
5. Streets of Rage 2: The ultimate beat'em up.
4. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine: So. Damn. Addicting.
3. Sonic 2: The fastest Sonic game I've played, and probably the easiest to get into.
2. Ristar: A gem on the Genesis with incredible platforming and original gameplay
1. Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The complete package of length, replay value, tight controls, and perfectly balanced gameplay. On the Genesis, it doesn't get any better than this.

Thoughts?

[matmico399]

Man I don't know if I could limit it to ten. But I will state some of my faves....

-Pirates Gold!
-Sonic 2
-General Chaos
-Streets of Rage 2
-Robocop vs Terminator
-Home Alone
-Alien 3
-Outrun
-The Terminator
-Greatest Heavyweights

[strat]

It would be more interesting to see a top 10 list of third party Genesis games, since most of the greatest ones are by Sega (All but one of the OP's top ten).

[CaptainCruch]

It would be more interesting to see a top 10 list of third party Genesis games, since most of the greatest ones are by Sega (All but one of the OP's top ten).

I disagree. I mean, yes, many of the best Genesis games (Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic 2, Golden Axe, Gunstar Heroes, Thunder Force series etc) are by Sega, but also other publishers released great Genesis games, like:

- Konami (Rocket Knight Adventures, Sunset Riders, Contra Hard Corps, Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure, Zombies Ate My Neighbors)
- Sony (Mickey Mania, Sensible Soccer)
- Codemasters (Micro Machines series)
- Acclaim (Mortal Kombat series, NBA Jam series)
- Capcom (Street Fighter II series)
- Electronic Arts (Road Rash series, NHL Hockey series, PGA Tour Golf series)
- Virgin (Aladdin, Dune 2, Desert Strike/Jungle Strike, Earthworm Jim series, Cool Spot)
- Disney (Toy Story)
- Data East (Mega Turrican)

[Breaker]

Here's what instantly comes to mind:

Sonic 2
Pirates! Gold
NHL 97
Madden 97
PGA Tour Golf 3
Mortal Kombat 3
College Football 97
La Russa Baseball 95
NBA Live 95
Outrun

[scotland]

Here's what instantly comes to mind:
PGA Tour Golf 3

I am delighted to see PGA Tour Golf 3. Don't ask me to be able to justify why, but somehow its very fun.

[Breaker]

I think the physics are great, especially the putting. The 3D grid is actually readable, and the ball reacts appropriately. The competition is good, too. You need four good rounds to win a tournament.

[ThePixelatedGenocide]

My favorite 3rd party games would include -

1. Dragon's Fury.

2. Dragon's Revenge.

3. Samurai Shodown.

4. EarthWorm Jim

5. ThunderForce III

6. Thunderforce IV.

7. Rainbow Islands

8. Super Streetfighter 2.

9. Road Rash.

10. Panorama Cotton

Just 10 really isn't enough to cover them all.

[velcrozombie]

Despite owning a Genesis for a long time, I never had that many games; I got one for Christmas in 1992 and then got a guitar after I finished 6th grade in 1994, which was pretty much the end of that. A few of these I didn't even play until years later on compilations or emulators:

10. Comix Zone
9. Lost Vikings, The
8. NBA Jam TE
7. NHL 93-94
6. Landstalker
5. Golden Axe 2
4. Gunstar Heroes
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
2. Castlevania: Bloodlines
1. Streets of Rage 2

Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition objectively deserves a spot on this list, but I didn't know enough about fighting games at that age to get much enjoyment out of it.

[Luigi & Peach]

Despite owning a Genesis for a long time, I never had that many games; I got one for Christmas in 1992 and then got a guitar after I finished 6th grade in 1994, which was pretty much the end of that. A few of these I didn't even play until years later on compilations or emulators:

10. Comix Zone
9. Lost Vikings, The
8. NBA Jam TE
7. NHL 93-94
6. Landstalker
5. Golden Axe 2
4. Gunstar Heroes
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
2. Castlevania: Bloodlines
1. Streets of Rage 2

Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition objectively deserves a spot on this list, but I didn't know enough about fighting games at that age to get much enjoyment out of it.

I'm thankful to see The Lost Vikings making someone else's top 10 list. I've noticed this game is absent from Dave's reviews. I wonder if he'd manage to get to this game some day (ideally with the 6 button controller).