Publisher: Renovation (1991)
Reviewed: 2001/1/8

Here's another fine space shooter for the Genesis. What's the gimmick this time? Well, your ship has three cannons, and you can adjust the angle of these individually. It might not sound too exciting, but trust me, it's a cool feature. When there are enemies across the top and bottom of the screen, you'll want your cannons wide open. When you're shooting down a boss's throat, you'll want to have them all pointed forward. The background graphics are just average, but the bosses have a lot of moving parts. Many enemies have long limbs that are difficult to avoid. There are six stages and unlimited continues. Sol-Deace is pretty much a "by the numbers" shooter, but it does have an addictive quality. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Soldiers of Fortune
Grade: B
Publisher: Spectrum Holybyte (1993)
Reviewed: 2004/2/6

Soldiers of Fortune delivers the kind of arcade-style, two-player shooting action that I like. You can choose from one of six unique combat-hardened veterans, each with his own brand of firepower and special abilities. The arcade graphics are cartoonish but well defined, and the techno soundtrack is fantastic. The object is to shoot your way through multi-tiered labyrinths stocked with monsters, items, and electric "nodes" you need to activate. The monsters include beetles, golems, and lizard men, most of which shoot
very slow projectiles. A cautious approach is recommended however, because monsters can appear in front of you from out of nowhere, which indicates poor design in my opinion. Another problem is that when you die in the two-player game, you can't rejoin the action immediately and have to wait a little while. Between stages you can power-up your soldier and purchase items. Although designed for two players, Soldiers of Fortune provides a CPU partner if you need him, and the one-player experience is arguably more fun. I was a little apprehensive about Soldiers of Fortune, but once I started playing, I couldn't pull myself away. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 5990
1 or 2 players
Sonic & Knuckles
Grade: B+
Publisher: Sega (1994)
Reviewed: 2014/3/16
Recommended variation: Knuckles
Our high score: 13,100
1 player
Publisher: Sega (1996)
Reviewed: 2013/7/23
Our high score: 148,900
1 player
Publisher: Sega (1993)
Reviewed: 2011/1/17
Our high score: 28,971,590
1 player
Sonic the Hedgehog
Grade: A
Publisher: Sega (1991)
Reviewed: 2014/2/23
Our high score: 94,720
1 player
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Grade: A
Publisher: Sega (1992)
Reviewed: 2014/2/23
Our high score: 136,1100
1 or 2 players
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Grade: A-
Publisher: Sega (1994)
Reviewed: 2014/3/16
Our high score: 28,600
Save mechanism: Battery
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sega (1989)
Reviewed: 2011/12/21

In this quirky sci-fi shooter you're a guy in a jetpack flying over a checkerboard planet surface. Not only do you blast creatures that approach from the horizon, but you'll need to dodge indestructible obstacles like pillars and trees. A game like Space Harrier 2 makes heavy use of sprite scaling - not one of the Genesis' strengths. The first few stages play well enough because enemies scale in slowly and unleash giant blue rings that are easy to avoid. It's a good strategy to keep moving around the screen to stay out of harm's way. As the stages progress however the action becomes more hectic and the hardware struggles to keep up. Increased on-screen activity takes its toll on the frame-rate and animation, and there are times when you can barely tell what's going on. When that happens you just keep moving and shooting and hope for the best. The lack of an auto-fire feature forces you to tap the fire button incessantly, which takes its toll on your wrist. Space Harrier 2 boasts a wide variety of random foes including robots, jellyfish, crabs, stone heads, flying saucers, three-headed turtles, and dragons. I like having the option of selecting the starting stage. The audio is pretty weak. The keyboard music sounds muffled, and some of these dismal tunes sound like something you'd hear at a first grade recital. After taking a hit your guy unleashes a high-pitched shriek that sounds almost comical. Sega did its best to bring the Space Harrier experience home, but I think the system was in a little over its head. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 2,540,200
1 player
Publisher: Sega (1991)
Reviewed: 2001/9/9

This side-scroller is plenty of fun if you can deal with all the clichés. Spiderman is your typical, old-fashioned, jump-kick-punch game. You beat up one thug after another, and they all look exactly the same. Spiderman can crawl on the walls, ceilings, the sides of buildings, and through vents. The controls are tricky at first, and can be frustrating at times. But your web-slinging ability is great fun, allowing you to swing freely as well as tie up the bad guys. You'll face six villains, including Dr. Octopus, the Hobgoblin, and Venom. The graphics and sound are about average. The action gets repetitious, but the boss battles are pretty interesting. Spiderman is a challenging game, and it doesn't provide a password, but it does deliver some old-school fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Spiderman and Venom in Maximum Carnage
Grade: D
Publisher: Acclaim (1994)
Reviewed: 2007/10/27
Find Spiderman and Venom in Maximum Carnage on
eBay,
YouTubeOur high score: 10190
1 player
Publisher: Namco (1992)
Reviewed: 2013/4/4
Our high score: 30,500
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
Publisher: Namco (1993)
Reviewed: 2013/4/4
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
SportsTalk Baseball
Grade: A-
Publisher: Sega (1992)
Reviewed: 2006/6/18
Publisher: Accolade (1991)
Reviewed: 2007/10/27
Publisher: Flying Edge (1992)
Reviewed: 2017/11/23

Despite its name Steel Empire is a surprisingly lightweight side-scrolling shooter for the Genesis. Its title screen and intermissions employ an old-time newsreel effect, and the constant flickering is sure to send viewers into epileptic seizures. Wow, that is really annoying. Empire's retro-futuristic scenery features shiny gold domes, mammoth airships, and gorgeous red sunsets. A strange hodgepodge of adversaries includes planes with flapping wings, flying windmills, and...
fish wearing Santa Claus hats? What the hell am I
looking at? Before each stage you get to choose between a maneuverable bi-plane or powerful zeppelin. The zeppelin can lob bombs but makes for a bigger target. Sometimes the scrolling changes directions unexpectedly, so it's a good you can fire to the left or right. You also have a supply of bombs which envelop the screen in lightning bolts. I appreciate the forgiving nature of this game. Your ship has a life meter, so a careless scrape won't cost you a life. One issue I have with Steel Empire is its stuttering frame rate. It seems like the game misses a frame whenever a shot hits an enemy. As your firepower improves the frame rate degrades, even in the first stage. The sound effects are best described as "rinky dink". They lack punch, and the military-style music sounds muffled too. My friend Scott says it's not muffled enough because you can still
hear it. I like the style of Steel Empire, but like its audio, its gameplay rings a little hollow. © Copyright 2017 The Video Game Critic.
Recommended variation: normal
Our high score: 443,300
1 player
Publisher: Razorsoft (1990)
Reviewed: 2002/1/17

This old-school side-scroller tries to be like Ghouls and Ghosts, but the gameplay doesn't even come close. You control a star-throwing barbarian in a dark forest full of monsters and items. The graphics aren't bad, but the animation sucks. Your barbarian is as stiff as Al Gore. Jumping or attacking doesn't cause him to change his body position at all. Apparently the guy who did the graphics spent most of his energy on the large, shapely woman who appear in each level but serve only as scenery. In order to find keys and objects to complete the level, you need to move both right and left, often swapping items and retracing your steps, and it's hard to tell what you can or can't jump on. Adding to the confusion is an eagle who occasionally picks you up and flies you to some random area. And cheap hits are the norm as killer caterpillars sprout beneath your feet and platforms disintegrate beneath you. Stormlord probably won't hold your attention for long. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 3400
1 player
Street Fighter II Championship Edition
Grade: B+
Publisher: Capcom (1993)
Reviewed: 2006/8/11
Find Street Fighter II Championship Edition on
eBay,
YouTube1 or 2 players
Publisher: Treco (1991)
Reviewed: 2010/11/20

I enjoy fighting games more than most people do, but Street Smart is undeniably shallow. This game is a series of one-on-one matches in front of a crowd of spectators. The best part of the game is the colorful scenery which includes a bright beach, the streets of San Francisco, the deck of a ship, and the front lawn of the White House. Your character looks pretty small - about
half as tall as some of the guys you need to fight! Each new foe has a unique look and fighting style, but the fighting action is erratic at best. Your basic moves are limited to a punch, roundhouse kick, and a jump-kick that never seems to connect. There's a special attack but it's hard to execute. Even when you read the manual, some of the controls seem very mysterious. The A.I. is
not good. As the fighters move up and down on the screen, the CPU doesn't seem to know if he's properly lined up with you. The collision detection is problematic, especially when fighters overlap and flail away without hitting anything. When a player wins, a person in the crowd unleashes a high-pitched screech that sounds like a rabid spider monkey. The victory screen shows your goofy-looking fighter being embraced by some hot chick in a French-cut bikini (can you say
charity work?). Street Smart also condones gambling. Between rounds you can "bet" on the next fight, and you can inexplicably bet
against yourself! Street Smart is moderately fun to play through for high score, but the game just never made a whole lot of sense to me. © Copyright 2010 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: 50,000
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sega (1991)
Reviewed: 2004/4/24
Our high score: BLM 434,800
1 or 2 players
Streets of Rage 2
Grade: A
Publisher: Sega (1992)
Reviewed: 2002/9/29
Our high score: STP 206,770
1 or 2 players
Streets of Rage 3
Grade: B
Publisher: Sega (1994)
Reviewed: 2011/11/13

It's been subject to a lot of criticism over the years, but this third edition of Streets of Rage is still a solid side-scrolling fighter at its core. This time Axel, Blaze, and Skate are joined by a bionic old man named Dr. Zan who has the ability to unleash electrical charges from his arms. The stage locations in Streets of Rage 3 aren't particularly imaginative. They include a warehouse, construction site, subway, and an elevator. I do like the dance club even though its lighting effects are gaudy as hell. There's also a bar with a massive fish tank that contains a shark. Subtle details include chains that rattle in the warehouse when someone gets body-slammed, and a black cat in the alley stage who periodically peeks out of a trashcan. Most of the gang members have been recycled from previous Streets of Rage titles, but the women have obviously been altered to cover up their revealing outfits (rats!). The control scheme has been expanded to support the six-button controller, although the two additional moves it provides are weak and unnecessary. If you
really want to make your life complicated, you can try using the Activator body motion controller, which is also supported. The default difficulty is higher than the previous games, and the musical style is a radical departure. It sounds more chaotic, and while a few of the tunes are catchy, many are just obnoxious. Streets of Rage 3 failed to propel the series forward, but if you enjoyed the previous games you'll probably like this one too. © Copyright 2011 The Video Game Critic.
Our high score: SLN 338,820
1 or 2 players
Publisher: Sega (1989)
Reviewed: 2008/3/11
Our high score: 10600
1 player
Publisher: U.S. Gold (1990)
Reviewed: 2008/3/11
Publisher: Sega (1994)
Reviewed: 2001/1/8

This is a shooter with gravity, similar to the classic game Gravitar. The object is to navigate your spacecraft through caverns while shooting enemies, picking up humans, collecting power-ups, and maintaining your fuel. I've played several games similar to this, and this one seems less fun than most. Sub Terrania does have a few things going for it. The graphics are pretty cool. I like the giant horned head that becomes a skull as you destroy it. The science fiction-style music is quite good, and the missions are well designed and clearly explained. But the controls are so bad that they nearly ruin the game. First off, you have to constantly thrust because the gravity is so strong. Next, the controls are too sensitive; it's difficult to navigate narrow openings. Finally, the front and back of your ship look identical, which can cause you to accidentally thrust into walls. And even if you master the controls, there are other problems. The enemies require too many hits to destroy, and your shield status is practically hidden on the bottom of the screen. Sub Terrania simply isn't much fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Summer Challenge
Grade: D+
Publisher: Accolade (1993)
Reviewed: 2016/6/24
Recommended variation: archery
Our high score: BSC 98
Save mechanism: password
1 to 10 players
Publisher: Konami (1992)
Reviewed: 2018/8/7

If you like arcade games, Sunset Riders is as arcade as you can possibly get with vibrant graphics, simple controls, and insane firepower. You select from two characters: Billy Cool and Cormano Wild. If you have a friend on hand you can double the mayhem. I favor Cormano because he sprays bullets from a shotgun to inflict widespread damage. As you venture down the streets of town outlaws climb out of barrels, peek from windows, and take cover behind crates. I love how they hurl themselves from windows when shot. If you see saloon doors feel free to dash in to be awarded a "bonus item" by a lovestruck hooker. When you spot a piece of dynamite you can pick it up and toss it for a satisfying explosion. Later stages take place on a train and in a canyon teeming with Indians. The controls are super responsive and you can fire rapidly even without a power-up. The levels aren't long and there are some fun bonus stages. The audio offers great music and raspy voice samples. Sunset Riders is tough because you're constantly being attacked from all angles. The crossfire is treacherous and it only takes one hit. The canyon stage is a little easier because you can shoot arrows out of the air. By accident I figured out you can slide as an evasive maneuver. Even so you'll go through lives in a hurry, so I recommend turning the difficulty down (to easy) and turning the lives up (to five). That way at least you'll have a fighting chance in this spectacular Wild West shoot-em-up. © Copyright 2018 The Video Game Critic.
Recommended variation: easy/5 lives
Our high score: 258,300
1 or 2 players
Super Baseball 2020
Grade: C
Publisher: Electronic Arts (1993)
Reviewed: 2001/4/17
Super High Impact
Grade: B+
Publisher: Midway (1992)
Reviewed: 2007/3/23
Publisher: Sega (1990)
Reviewed: 2015/5/24
Recommended variation: GP
Our high score: 1237
Save mechanism: Password
1 player
Publisher: Tradewest (1992)
Reviewed: 2002/3/10

Oh yeah - I loved this one the first time I laid eyes on it! It looks decidedly old school, with tiny cars riding around miniature dirt tracks that fit on a single screen. The graphics are minutely detailed, and the tracks and cars have a rugged 3D look to them. The tracks are small but exciting, with bumps, ramps, water, and multiple paths. Four little cars speed through the course, bouncing around and bumping into each other around every turn. The controls are simple: one button accelerates and the other gives you a "nitro" turbo boost. It's all the fun of Micro Machines without the limited view. Bonuses randomly appear around the course, and between races you can upgrade parts and purchase more nitros. It's a shame that there's no four-player mode, but my main complaint is that the computer-controlled gray car is just too hard to beat! Super Off Road is a hidden gem as far as Genesis games go. I can play this one again and again. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Flying Edge (1992)
Reviewed: 1999/12/7

Super Smash TV is a cool shooter brought to you by Eugene Jarvis, the author of the classic Robotron. Your character participates in a "Running Man" type of game show, thrust into a maze of rooms with hoards of enemies closing in from all sides. You must blast them all to bloody pieces while collecting money and power-ups. The graphics are pretty good, and look similar to the arcade version. The quality of the voice samples is pretty lousy though - the announcer sounds raspy. The main problem with Smash TV is that it's meant to be played with two joysticks, not one control pad. Actually, the game DOES allow you to use two control pads in the one-player mode, but it's far too awkward. You can tweak the controls to determine if the shots should be fired away from where you're running, toward where you're running, or in a locked position. It's all just a big kludge though, because none of the settings really capture the feel of the arcade game. Unfortunately, without good control, this game isn't much fun. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Save option? No
1-2 players
Super Street Fighter II
Grade: B+
Publisher: Capcom (1993)
Reviewed: 2006/8/11

As an incremental follow up to the Championship Edition, Super Street Fighter II adds four new fighters (and stages) to the mix. There have been some minor tweaks to the moves, but only hardcore fans will really concern themselves with these. The newcomers include a gigantic Native American named T. Hawk, a Jamaican guy named Dee Jay, Bruce Lee look-alike Fei Long, and a scantily-clad hottie by the name of Cammy. Die-hard fans will appreciate the new faces, but at the time this was released, it was a questionable upgrade. The graphics are top-notch for a Genesis title, but still pale compared to the SNES version. The sound effects are particularly bad; perhaps even worse than those in the Championship edition (or maybe there's just more of them). Due to the system's limited sonic range, digitized voices and punch effects are accompanied by hiss and static. A few extra modes like tournament, group, and time challenge are included, but these aren’t anything special. Besides being able to use the 6-button Genesis controller, this version has no obvious advantages over its SNES cousin. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Electronic Arts (1991)
Reviewed: 2003/5/10

Sword of Sodan reminds me of that old adage "the bigger they are, the harder they fall". Sporting some of the largest characters I've ever seen on a Genesis game screen, Sodan really gets your attention with its graphics but comes up short in terms of gameplay. You can choose between a male or female warrior in this overwrought medieval slash-em-up. The characters are meticulously detailed and about half the screen in height. Their choppy movements are less impressive however, and the female warrior walks and talks like an old lady. Moves include high/medium/low sword attacks and a jump. Groups of guards attack you with their spears, and you have to fend them off from both sides. The play mechanics are very awkward. Sometimes the most effective technique is to kneel down and "poke" your enemies repeatedly in the crotch until they keel over. That's no way for a man to die! The collision detection is pretty bad, and so is the responsiveness of the controls. I should also mention something about the excessive and terribly fake-looking blood. At one point you'll face huge knights that can actually be decapitated! This is a level of violence rarely seen until Mortal Kombat. Sodan also contains potions that are meant to add some strategy, but these tend to be worthless. The purple one has NO effect at all, and the drinking an orange one KILLS the nearest enemy. I know - it doesn't make sense - but work with me here. The whole game is pretty ludicrous, and if not for the large character sprites, Sword of Sodan would be completely forgettable. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers
Grade: C
Publisher: Time Warner (1994)
Reviewed: 2014/5/20
Find Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers on
eBay,
YouTubeOur high score: 322,222
1 player