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Recommend me some genesis hidden gems
- Thread starter zoodoo
- Start date
MrToughPants
Brian Burke punched my mom
Moonwalker also Shining Force 1 & 2.
The Shadow
Member
I'll try to stick to Genesis exclusives and/or games that were better on that platform.
Haunting: Staring Polterguy - You're a ghost that needs to possess various objects and scare a family out of a house. Definitely a hidden gem.
Road Rash (any) - Fantastic fighting/racing series that didn't appear on the SNES.
Comix Zone - Late life genesis game. A side-scrolling beat-em up but graphically looks like you're moving from panel to panel in a comic.
Toe Jam & Earl - Honestly, don't bother with the first one unless you have a friend, but it's damn good if you do. The sequel is also a pretty good platformer, but nothing like the first.
Herzog Zwei - Like Toe Jam, don't bother unless you have someone to play with. It's a real-time strategy game but you control this transforming mech as well.
Dynamite Heady, Gunstar Heroes, Ristar - Really good platformers / action platformers.
Steel Empire - Shoot 'em ups aren't really my thing, but this one was really good. Steam punk themed before Steam-punk was really a thing.
Landstalker - Action-adventure RPG from a 3/4 perspective. There's platforming elements that can get frustrating, but it's worth it. Really enjoyed this one back in the day.
Sol-Feace - Another SHUMP, but I really liked this one a lot. Great music, and a cool upgrade system.
Arcus Odyssey - An action-adventure from a 3/4 perspective.
Those are off the top of my head and I think I'm tapped for the moment.
Haunting: Staring Polterguy - You're a ghost that needs to possess various objects and scare a family out of a house. Definitely a hidden gem.
Road Rash (any) - Fantastic fighting/racing series that didn't appear on the SNES.
Comix Zone - Late life genesis game. A side-scrolling beat-em up but graphically looks like you're moving from panel to panel in a comic.
Toe Jam & Earl - Honestly, don't bother with the first one unless you have a friend, but it's damn good if you do. The sequel is also a pretty good platformer, but nothing like the first.
Herzog Zwei - Like Toe Jam, don't bother unless you have someone to play with. It's a real-time strategy game but you control this transforming mech as well.
Dynamite Heady, Gunstar Heroes, Ristar - Really good platformers / action platformers.
Steel Empire - Shoot 'em ups aren't really my thing, but this one was really good. Steam punk themed before Steam-punk was really a thing.
Landstalker - Action-adventure RPG from a 3/4 perspective. There's platforming elements that can get frustrating, but it's worth it. Really enjoyed this one back in the day.
Sol-Feace - Another SHUMP, but I really liked this one a lot. Great music, and a cool upgrade system.
Arcus Odyssey - An action-adventure from a 3/4 perspective.
Those are off the top of my head and I think I'm tapped for the moment.
Catphish
Member
I loved this game. ❤Moonwalker
Lumpy Onion
Member
Target Earth
Hellfire
Batman and Robin
But seriously, Gain Ground. Awesome overhead action game that lets you chose from tons of different characters with various skills. You start with a caveman with a bow and arrow but can rescue new characters to play as throughout the game. It has a nice strategic element because of the skills each character has and knowing when to sacrifice fodder characters and hanging onto the precious ones for when you really need them. Takes place in several time periods and the characters you find will be everything from samurai to robots.
Best part is starting on "hard" mode and being able to select from all the characters from the beginning. Great 2-player game too.
Hellfire
Batman and Robin
But seriously, Gain Ground. Awesome overhead action game that lets you chose from tons of different characters with various skills. You start with a caveman with a bow and arrow but can rescue new characters to play as throughout the game. It has a nice strategic element because of the skills each character has and knowing when to sacrifice fodder characters and hanging onto the precious ones for when you really need them. Takes place in several time periods and the characters you find will be everything from samurai to robots.
Best part is starting on "hard" mode and being able to select from all the characters from the beginning. Great 2-player game too.
Played that one back then. Amazing game.
Saint Sword is one I discovered very recently, it's a Taito sidescroller reminiscent of Rastan. You play as a barbarian and you can change into a centaur, a birdman, or a mermaid (for underwater traversal). The levels are slightly nonlinear and you need to track down a monster with the key to the exit (usually in the same spot but the monster differs) before unlocking the exit. The soundtrack is really awesome. I just have no idea why this game doesn't come up more in Genesis discussions.
Also, Gleylancer is a badass shmup from Masaya, but it's Japan only and ungodly expensive. Like the Thunder Force series, but not as punishing.
Twinkle Tale is another cool overhead shmup like Pocky and Rocky.
Crusader of Centy is really expensive but still great, a Zelda 3 esque adventure where you can talk to animals and get different animals with different abilities to join your party.
Star Odyssey (Japan: Blue Almanac) is a game heavily influenced by Phantasy Star 2, though not as good. It was slated to be released in America back in the early 90's, but got canceled at the last moment (I think because Sage's Creation was experience financial trouble at the time). A few years ago it got a release with a cleaned-up translation by WM or Super Fighter Team or one of those guys.
They may be fairly well-known but the Langrisser series is amazing. Langrisser 1 actually got a US release as Warsong, it's a SRPG with a great metal soundtrack and large-scale battles (you have up to 8 captains and they have armies of 8 that all move individually).
Also, Gleylancer is a badass shmup from Masaya, but it's Japan only and ungodly expensive. Like the Thunder Force series, but not as punishing.
Twinkle Tale is another cool overhead shmup like Pocky and Rocky.
Crusader of Centy is really expensive but still great, a Zelda 3 esque adventure where you can talk to animals and get different animals with different abilities to join your party.
Star Odyssey (Japan: Blue Almanac) is a game heavily influenced by Phantasy Star 2, though not as good. It was slated to be released in America back in the early 90's, but got canceled at the last moment (I think because Sage's Creation was experience financial trouble at the time). A few years ago it got a release with a cleaned-up translation by WM or Super Fighter Team or one of those guys.
They may be fairly well-known but the Langrisser series is amazing. Langrisser 1 actually got a US release as Warsong, it's a SRPG with a great metal soundtrack and large-scale battles (you have up to 8 captains and they have armies of 8 that all move individually).
Radiant Silvertuna
Neo Member
Big fan of Alien Soldier.
nextgeneration
Member
Bio-Hazard Battle - great 2 player side scrolling shoot'em up with absolutely fantastic music.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
There's only one true answer:
Dahna: Megami Tanjō!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaMk6uhLXqI
You think Dark Souls is GitGud? Wait till you play this amazing gem of a game that barely anyone has played. Not that the game is hard, but it's really brilliant and unforgiving.
Dahna: Megami Tanjō!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaMk6uhLXqI
You think Dark Souls is GitGud? Wait till you play this amazing gem of a game that barely anyone has played. Not that the game is hard, but it's really brilliant and unforgiving.
Akiyama_AE
Member
Sunset riders is legit
Contra: Hard Corps and Castlevania: Bloodlines were both largely overlooked in their day. Now, I know more people give them their due now, but I feel like a lot of people still haven't played them. They aren't easy. They aren't for the faint of heart. However, both games are absolute gems.
Oh, and Treasure is a brilliant company that only pumps out classics, so if you don't know them already, Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier (though the latter is pretty expensive these days) are freaking awesome.
Oh, and Treasure is a brilliant company that only pumps out classics, so if you don't know them already, Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier (though the latter is pretty expensive these days) are freaking awesome.
bob_arctor
Tough_Smooth
Tough but awesome.
TwiztidElf
Member
Alisia Dragoon.
Red Liquorice
Member
These are all JP boxart, but they were all released in the west too.
Wardner - Ghouls & Ghosts-like arcade conversion platformer, can be hard, but fun, very under-rated because of the underwhelming visuals
Marvel Land - Namco theme park themed platform arcade conversion - lots of variety in levels (rollercoaster, Janken bosses like Alex Kidd), lots of shortcuts and secrets, and look out for the Namco character cameos (personal favourite of mine this one)
Gain Ground - Unqieu top-down puzzle/shooter with light strategy elements, you rescue new characters who you can then use, they all have different weapons/abilities.
Burning Force - nice little Space Harrier clone from Namco
DJ Boy - Kind of hard, frustrating but fun scrolling beat 'em up, arcade conversation
Elemental Master - Top-down shooter from Technosoft (Thunderforce series), amazing soundtrack!
Ghostbusters - Fun Mega Man-like platformer
Magical Hat Adventure - Cool platformer, very similar to Pyscho Fox on Master System, reskinned and released in west as Decap Attack
Devil Crash/Crush - Cool pinball game, nice graphics, horror theme and great music,
Rolling Thunder 2 - Classic Namco platformer, Shinobi-esque
(Sword Of) Vermillion - Decent RPG, not as good as Phantasy Star or Shining Force series' though but I really enjoyed it as a kid, it was my first RPG I think.
Toki / Ju Ju Densetsu - Monkey platformer, arcade conversion
Wonder Boy V: Monster World 3 - Must buy platform/action RPG.
Hellfire - Nice space shooter, decent music
Crackdown - Arcade conversion, top-down puzzle/shooter - charge bombs and get out before the timer counts down.
Wardner - Ghouls & Ghosts-like arcade conversion platformer, can be hard, but fun, very under-rated because of the underwhelming visuals
Marvel Land - Namco theme park themed platform arcade conversion - lots of variety in levels (rollercoaster, Janken bosses like Alex Kidd), lots of shortcuts and secrets, and look out for the Namco character cameos (personal favourite of mine this one)
Gain Ground - Unqieu top-down puzzle/shooter with light strategy elements, you rescue new characters who you can then use, they all have different weapons/abilities.
Burning Force - nice little Space Harrier clone from Namco
DJ Boy - Kind of hard, frustrating but fun scrolling beat 'em up, arcade conversation
Elemental Master - Top-down shooter from Technosoft (Thunderforce series), amazing soundtrack!
Ghostbusters - Fun Mega Man-like platformer
Magical Hat Adventure - Cool platformer, very similar to Pyscho Fox on Master System, reskinned and released in west as Decap Attack
Devil Crash/Crush - Cool pinball game, nice graphics, horror theme and great music,
Rolling Thunder 2 - Classic Namco platformer, Shinobi-esque
(Sword Of) Vermillion - Decent RPG, not as good as Phantasy Star or Shining Force series' though but I really enjoyed it as a kid, it was my first RPG I think.
Toki / Ju Ju Densetsu - Monkey platformer, arcade conversion
Wonder Boy V: Monster World 3 - Must buy platform/action RPG.
Hellfire - Nice space shooter, decent music
Crackdown - Arcade conversion, top-down puzzle/shooter - charge bombs and get out before the timer counts down.
Came in for hidden gems. Disappointed.
Please, Genesis fans checkout the Genesis Gems podcast. It's very good. Not as high production as Giant Bomb or Retronauts, but they improve and get better every time.
http://genesisgems.podomatic.com
https://www.facebook.com/GenesisGemsPodcast/
I'm far from a Genesis knowledge base, but here a couple I'd place in hidden gems category that are new to me now (thanks to Genesis Gems) recently. So far, everyone has listed known games that received a good amount of media attention and advertising back the days when we had magazines and went to the stores to buy games.
Saturday Night Slam Masters
Mazin Saga Mutant Fighter
Phelios
WolfChild
Shawdow Blasters
Ex-Mutants
Crue Ball
Zero Tolerance
Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama
Dino Land (Pinball)
Haunting Starring Polterguy
Jerry Glanville's Pigskin Football
Crystal's Pony Tale
and I'll throw in Crusader of Centy because I only heard about it a few years ago
Not sure if Super Hydlide would be considered a hidden gem or not.
Chester Cheetah had a GamePro cover, an epic issue. It's actually a good game too, so I don't consider it really hidden, definitely a gem.
Please, Genesis fans checkout the Genesis Gems podcast. It's very good. Not as high production as Giant Bomb or Retronauts, but they improve and get better every time.
http://genesisgems.podomatic.com
https://www.facebook.com/GenesisGemsPodcast/
I'm far from a Genesis knowledge base, but here a couple I'd place in hidden gems category that are new to me now (thanks to Genesis Gems) recently. So far, everyone has listed known games that received a good amount of media attention and advertising back the days when we had magazines and went to the stores to buy games.
Saturday Night Slam Masters
Mazin Saga Mutant Fighter
Phelios
WolfChild
Shawdow Blasters
Ex-Mutants
Crue Ball
Zero Tolerance
Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama
Dino Land (Pinball)
Haunting Starring Polterguy
Jerry Glanville's Pigskin Football
Crystal's Pony Tale
and I'll throw in Crusader of Centy because I only heard about it a few years ago
Not sure if Super Hydlide would be considered a hidden gem or not.
Chester Cheetah had a GamePro cover, an epic issue. It's actually a good game too, so I don't consider it really hidden, definitely a gem.
MyleMan1010
Member
The Sega CD. I know that's not exactly what you're asking, but you need a genesis in order to play it so I will play the technicality card. FMV games are something everyone should experience. I know you said you weren't into sonic, but Sonic CD is amazing. Batman Returns is pretty darn good too.
Grumplestiltskin
Member
Vectorman : both are good but I prefer one over two. Basically shootem up platforming style game. Gameplay is reminiscent of Earthworm Jim. But the real star is the music and sound design. Has some interesting transformation mechanics and in general is a bit of a showcase for early 3D-Console tech.
Boogerman : Fun and genuinely funny with responsive controls. I dont wanna say more for risk of spoiling some of the humor.
X-men 2: Clone Wars : Secretly the best soundtrack on Genesis. No exaggeration.Helps that its also a remarkably fun beat em up platformer. The only drawback is there is no saving and the campaign is actually quite long. Highly recommended.
Boogerman : Fun and genuinely funny with responsive controls. I dont wanna say more for risk of spoiling some of the humor.
X-men 2: Clone Wars : Secretly the best soundtrack on Genesis. No exaggeration.Helps that its also a remarkably fun beat em up platformer. The only drawback is there is no saving and the campaign is actually quite long. Highly recommended.
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
Alien Soldier - One of Treasure's best games. A complicated, challenging run-and-gun shooter with insane, system-pushing presentation, tons of cool bosses, and bullet parrying. It's a boss rush game, so stages only serve to act as refuel stations and small changes of pace before the next real battle.
Ranger X - A sidescrolling action game where you pilot a mech and its support unit vehicle (used for weapon switching, also gives you higher movement speed and an extra health bar when boarded). Has a fairly high learning curve, but isn't that difficult once you understand how the game works. The game has phenomena attention to detail and a variety of creative stages.
Herzog Zwei - An early take on RTS. You and your opponent both control machines that can switch between mech and jet forms. Your objective is to manufacture armies (of soldiers, tanks, mounted rocket launchers, missile boats, etc.), deploy them onto the map, and order them to take outposts around the map (allowing you more resources to create units with) and eventually the enemy's main base itself. What sets it apart from modern RTS games is the slight action game bent that comes with your character being a physical avatar who must move around the map in order to manufacture and deploy units and fight off enemy units (or the enemy player themselves) when needed. Best played in multiplayer; the single-player campaign isn't very interesting.
Twinkle Tale - A top-down shooter (not quite a shmup / STG, think more Pocky and Rocky). Mechanically it's pretty straightforward - you have three weapons you can switch between (and level up as you collect items) and a few types of screen-clearing "smart bomb" items you can keep in stock. Has strong pacing and good stage variety, so the levels never feel rote.
Contra: Hard Corps, Castlevania Bloodlines, and Rocket Knight Adventures are all excellent games too.
Ranger X - A sidescrolling action game where you pilot a mech and its support unit vehicle (used for weapon switching, also gives you higher movement speed and an extra health bar when boarded). Has a fairly high learning curve, but isn't that difficult once you understand how the game works. The game has phenomena attention to detail and a variety of creative stages.
Herzog Zwei - An early take on RTS. You and your opponent both control machines that can switch between mech and jet forms. Your objective is to manufacture armies (of soldiers, tanks, mounted rocket launchers, missile boats, etc.), deploy them onto the map, and order them to take outposts around the map (allowing you more resources to create units with) and eventually the enemy's main base itself. What sets it apart from modern RTS games is the slight action game bent that comes with your character being a physical avatar who must move around the map in order to manufacture and deploy units and fight off enemy units (or the enemy player themselves) when needed. Best played in multiplayer; the single-player campaign isn't very interesting.
Twinkle Tale - A top-down shooter (not quite a shmup / STG, think more Pocky and Rocky). Mechanically it's pretty straightforward - you have three weapons you can switch between (and level up as you collect items) and a few types of screen-clearing "smart bomb" items you can keep in stock. Has strong pacing and good stage variety, so the levels never feel rote.
Contra: Hard Corps, Castlevania Bloodlines, and Rocket Knight Adventures are all excellent games too.
Norris1020
Member
Rocket Knight Adventures (the sequel Sparkster is not quit as good)
Toki: Going Ape Spit
TMNT Hyperstone Heist
Toki: Going Ape Spit
TMNT Hyperstone Heist
bob_arctor
Tough_Smooth
Rolling Thunder 2 is so good. Damn I miss the Genesis. I really need to track one down.
Marco Tovarich
Member
James Pond 2: Codename Robocod. This game was weeeeeiiiiiird and trippy. (not sure I would call it a 'gem' though, haha!)
Just realised it was published by EA. Man, the 90s were weird.
Also, Klax (not sure I would call it 'hidden').
Just realised it was published by EA. Man, the 90s were weird.
Also, Klax (not sure I would call it 'hidden').
Agreed! Definitely recommend Game Sack's two part video on Renovation's games:
https://youtu.be/Je0JQbELovo
https://youtu.be/vo7jP2nG54Y
purpleblastoise
Banned
Legend of Wukong
purpleblastoise
Banned
Scooby Doo Mystery
Predator 2
Predator 2
Lots of great suggestions. Some not very hidden gem-ey at all... but very good still, and I learned about a game or two either way.
As for me, I'll recommend Super Fantasy Zone
It's the third main entry in the Fantasy Zone franchise, a series of horizontal cute 'em up with great music, some good but fair challenge, very unique mechanics like buying temporal upgrades with the money you get from enemies in a shop that appears mid-stages, and surprisingly tragic stories.
This one was developed by SunSoft and while it's my least favorite of the three, it's still pretty damn good
There's OutRun 2019 too, which I think isn't very well liked and it's definitely almost nothing like OutRun, but I thought it was a fairly good F-Zero clone with an interesting soundtrack and nice (if a bit boring) visuals
As for me, I'll recommend Super Fantasy Zone
It's the third main entry in the Fantasy Zone franchise, a series of horizontal cute 'em up with great music, some good but fair challenge, very unique mechanics like buying temporal upgrades with the money you get from enemies in a shop that appears mid-stages, and surprisingly tragic stories.
This one was developed by SunSoft and while it's my least favorite of the three, it's still pretty damn good
There's OutRun 2019 too, which I think isn't very well liked and it's definitely almost nothing like OutRun, but I thought it was a fairly good F-Zero clone with an interesting soundtrack and nice (if a bit boring) visuals
avengers23
Banned
Finally, someone mentioned Ex-Mutants: http://planetarbitrary.com/2013/11/ex-mutants-the-hardest-game-to-stop-playing/
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Your picks are good, OP.
Beyond Oasis is fantastic, like Zelda but with good combat. It's also fairly short, doesn't overstay its welcome. Highly recommended.
Phantasy Star II aged poorly but Phantasy Star IV is still great. You don't need to have played the others, you can start with IV (I did, back in the day).
Shining Force I and II are timeless classics.
Other recs:
Wonder Boy 5 / Monster World 3, excellent side-scrolling, action-adventure with an interconnected world
Gunstar Heroes, best action/shooter ever tbh
Vectorman, great action/platformer
Castlevania Bloodlines
(I guess none of those are really hidden but the games you listed as looking at aren't either so I figure that's within the scope of the thread!)
Beyond Oasis is fantastic, like Zelda but with good combat. It's also fairly short, doesn't overstay its welcome. Highly recommended.
Phantasy Star II aged poorly but Phantasy Star IV is still great. You don't need to have played the others, you can start with IV (I did, back in the day).
Shining Force I and II are timeless classics.
Other recs:
Wonder Boy 5 / Monster World 3, excellent side-scrolling, action-adventure with an interconnected world
Gunstar Heroes, best action/shooter ever tbh
Vectorman, great action/platformer
Castlevania Bloodlines
(I guess none of those are really hidden but the games you listed as looking at aren't either so I figure that's within the scope of the thread!)
katsubento
Member
Arcus Odyssey
Trouble Shooter
Steel Empire
ThunderForce Series
Dynamite Heady
McKids
Trouble Shooter
Steel Empire
ThunderForce Series
Dynamite Heady
McKids
mindatlarge
Member
Since you mentioned the Phantasy Star series, do yourself a favor and at least play Phantasy Star IV. Hands down one of the best JRPGs of the 16-bit era. Music, sprite work and the story are all topnotch. It has aged pretty good as well.
Can I skip the other ones?
mindatlarge
Member
In my opinion, yes, with so many great games to play on the Mega Drive and it's not necessary to play the other games for the story of IV to make sense. I don't think there is much debate that IV is the best game in the series. The other games are still good, but IV is the gem of the series.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
Powerball
Growl
Also Phantasy Star IV. As someone who couldn't actually bear to play the other PS games (PS2 is so grindy and barebones and Nei sucks. PS3 is completely unrelated to the others to the point it could be a completely different game.)
The only thing you really miss out on is the irony of a certain plot twist. (Though even in isolation, it s pretty surprising.)
Growl
Also Phantasy Star IV. As someone who couldn't actually bear to play the other PS games (PS2 is so grindy and barebones and Nei sucks. PS3 is completely unrelated to the others to the point it could be a completely different game.)
The only thing you really miss out on is the irony of a certain plot twist. (Though even in isolation, it s pretty surprising.)
Yeah, I remember trying this one on emulator. Amazing game but way to hard for me
