That's disappointing that 3 isn't that good. I recently discovered it's awesome music, but I've never actually played it.
I want to say that GA3 only gets a bad rap because it came out some time after Revenge of Death Adder, yet somehow manages to look worse than the first two Genesis games.
But no, GA3 is just plain bad.
RoDA has a number of issues, but at least it's satisfying to play. GA3 feels really dated, and combat is a chore.
As for Ecco and Phantasy Star. I would say that either Ecco is worth grabbing. They're equally good (and equally frustrating as hell).
Phantasy Star? Go with IV, then II, then III only if you're reeeeeaaaaaaally curious.
PSIV is the easiest entry to get into. The story is decent enough, there are plenty of characters, and the numerous boss battles are all quite good.
PSII is great if you're a fan of dungeon-crawlers. However, I'd recommend a mod that doubles the walking speed and exp/meseta gains. The early game is a massively painful grind, but once you get the Snow crown and a few other choice items (amber robe, truth sleeves, etc), it gets to be almost too easy.
Like Final Fantasy 1, PSII has a handful of unlimited use items that kinda break the game. The Snow Crown casts a party-wide defense buff that drops the damage by half or even 3/4s. Some of the other items cast a mid-tier healing spell. As long as you don't run into enemies that constantly spam party-wide attacks or do more than 60 points of damage a round, you're practically invincible.
