Here at DavinciGamer, we focus on great games of yesterday with our "Classic Game of the Week" section. We intend to expand on that by taking a look at the games of consoles long gone, to see which titles truly had some great artistic expression and memorable experiences.
Our first entry will focus on the Sega Genesis platform. No introduction needed here. The Genesis was the first 16-Bit console, and it took the world by storm. For the first time, arcade-quality play experiences were a reality. Our top 10 list showcases the true defining, landmark titles for the system. Without further ado, here we go!
#10 - CASTLE OF ILLUSION starring MICKEY MOUSE
Castle of Illusion dripped with wonder. Whether you were a fan of Disney's signature mouse or not was of no concern. COI took the basic Super Mario Bros. format and expanded on it by crafting a wondrous universe in which to explore. Each stage of the game took place in a completely different locale, from ominous forests to a world built completely out of toys. Naturally, enemies came in all different shapes and sizes depending on the level in question, and the game offered up new challenges in each of the game's different stages. Throw in wonderful character designs and a truly magical and enjoyable play experience, and COI truly becomes a work of art.
#9 - MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOONWALKER
Laugh all you want! Moonwalker is a huge guilty pleasure, but for good reason. The game tackles the traditional side-scrolling action platform and adds a few interesting twists, not the least of which is M.J.'s funky signature moves and smooth style which are used literally as weapons. Jackson didn't fight enemies on a staircase. He slid down the banister and took them all out, hardcore style! When things got too rough, you could always use the built in power meter to force all of your opponents to dance until they literally dropped from exhaustion. If your reflexes were quick, you could even catch a shooting star and transform Jackson into a killer cyborg! If that wasn't enough, the game's stages were wonderfully executed; each one taking on the characteristics of Jackson's most popular songs. So, laugh it up! It doesn't change the fact that Moonwalker had style and substance written all over its code.
#8 - MYSTIC DEFENDER
Mystic Defender is basically a radically different version of the Japanese Megadrive title Kujaku Ou 2: Geneishiro. That's where the translation loss ends, however. MD is a fast-paced action title that mixes elements of side-scrolling adventure games and shooter elements to form an interesting and altogether insane play experience. The object of the game is to reach the castle of a powerful mystic warlord by fighting legions of bizarre creatures with devastating magic attacks. Knowing when to use a particular magic attack was key to getting through the game's harsh difficulty level. MD was incredibly involving. A powerful music score, ingeniously thought-up enemies, and breathtaking levels all reinforced the game's staying power. Although not very popular, Mystic Defender is nonetheless a title that every Genesis fan should play through...if you're TOUGH enough, that is!
#7 - THUNDERFORCE III
ThunderForce II was a challenging and enjoyable shooter for the Genesis, but ThunderForce III was an absolute knockout punch! Still images do such an injustice to this game that it should immediately be played by all able-bodied readers. TFIII did away with the top-down levels of its predecessor and focused entirely on side-view gameplay with some neat directional tricks thrown in for good measure. The brilliance of TFIII is its adrenaline pumping gameplay. A rocking musical score accompanies each of the game's challenging missions, which all take place on different alien worlds that are unique and fun to blast through. The game's designers must have worked some incredible overtime as well, to come up with such a dizzying array of enemy cannon fodder. From vicious Phoenix warriors to giant dragons, aggressive planet life, and the mother of all warships, there is no shortage of things to shoot at. TFIII may not be well-known nowadays, but it took an existing formula and gave it a huge shot of PCP!
#6 - SHINING FORCE
Shining Force was one of the first great tactical RPGs, and it was brilliant to the very last battle. The game had an engaging storyline, a bright and energetic soundtrack, and a great world to explore. Every battle required careful decision making and tactical expertise to win. The game's strength may be in the tactical gameplay, but the visuals are brimming with artistry! The popular play mechanics of the game would be further expanded on with the release of Shining Force II, but the original set the standard for this great line of RPG titles. Those able should try to locate a copy of Shining Force CD, released for the ill-fated Sega CD add on, to truly experience the best title of the entire series.
#5 - FORGOTTEN WORLDS
It may be a port of an arcade title, but that's what makes the Genesis release of Forgotten Worlds so important. If you couldn't locate the arcade machine, then you were treated to an almost 100% arcade-faithful translation for play in the comfort of your home. FW did everything right. It put a spin (literally) on side-scrolling shooting titles, allowing the player to rotate and shoot 360 degrees, and sported a diverse and amazing set of monsters and environments to play through. No one can deny the thrill of facing off against the Paramecium or the War God for the first time. Brilliantly executed and incredibly memorable.
#4 - REVENGE OF SHINOBI
Pay your respects! Revenge of Shinobi was a launch-era title that spoiled early Genesis owners with stylistic and addictive gameplay, ingeniously designed levels, and imaginative boss encounters. The game's rock-influenced soundtrack is as catchy today as it was back then, and the gameplay is still as fun to tackle as ever. ROS sported great graphical level design, flawlessly mixing elements of Japanese and Chinese culture with modern day military design and 20th century architecture. Toss in some challenging gameplay and the greatest boss fights ever seen in a ninja game, and ROS becomes an instant classic.
#3 - GOLDEN AXE
Golden Axe had the distinguished honor of truly showing what the Genesis could do. It is virtually arcade perfect, with only a few vocal samples and some extra frames of animation missing. What the game loses in translation however, it MORE than makes up for in extras. The home version of Golden Axe sported an entirely new last level to challenge arcade veterans. For those who had never played the game before, they were experiencing a thrilling 2-player slugfest with bright and colorful graphics, a fantastic musical soundtrack, and some unique special attacks. You KNOW you lost your mind the first time you used Tyrus' full magic bar and saw that big dragon head swoop down to cook your enemies with a blast of fire! The Golden Axe franchise would go on to spawn several mediocre sequels, so this first game in the series remains the quintessential vision of the 16-Bit era.
#2 - STREETS OF RAGE 2
Make no mistake, this was Sega's Final Fight killer. The first game in the series attempted to bring a side-scrolling beat em' up to the Genesis, and it was a decent effort. However, Streets of Rage 2 did what Terminator 2 did to Terminator 1; it took everything up a thousand notches! The game featured bigger, badder character sprites, gut-wrenching, authentic sound effects, glamorously designed levels, and the baddest musical soundtrack in a fighting game.....PERIOD! The game was loud, brutal and over the top. Enemies were distinctive, and boss battles frequently required a change of tactics in order to keep from getting flattened. Although there were dozens of side-scrolling fighting games available on all the major consoles at that time, SOR2 still remains possibly the greatest of them all. Its elements all serve as a reminder that you don't need the latest and greatest hardware to craft a AAA game!
#1 - PHANTASY STAR IV
The most artistic title on the Genesis is definitely Phantasy Star IV, and it deserves its reward. I grew up playing Phantasy Star II when it was originally released near the beginning of the Genesis' lifespan. The experience was enthralling. It was my first real taste of an RPG videogame, and crafted my perception of the genre. PSIV took the basic premise and feel of Phantasy Star II and draped it with artistic beauty at every opportunity. The battles were animated better, with beautiful backgrounds that changed depending on your locale. Manga cutscenes were plentiful and really added to the experience of the game. It also managed to tie in perfectly to the previous games in the series, even the critically panned third installment of the series.
There is little one can gripe about with this game. The storyline is engaging, the battles are difficult but well balanced (the menu system is excellent), and it forever remains the standard upon which Phantasy Star games are compared. It's graphical style was undoubtedly an influence to future games in the series like Phantasy Star Online. For these many reasons, PSIV deserves the honor of being called the Genesis' most artistic game.
Next week we'll take a look at the Super NES console and find out which titles garnered the most praise from DavinciGamer! Stay tuned!
