What Gen/SCD/32X game did you anticipate the most AND which lived up to the hype?

[Scooter]

For me it has to be Flashback. I can still vividly recall the long article in Sega Visions announcing the game and outlining its features. I had already been intrigued by the splashy ads in magazines I had seen, the article just sunk the hook in deeper. It was one of the very few games I bought the instant it hit the racks.

I was not disappointed in any aspect of the game. Once the controls were mastered, I felt like I was really "inside" the game. The level designs were great, the storyline was well crafted, certainly not an afterthought like in so many games. The tasks required in the game actually made sense within the storyline. The graphics were the best I had ever seen up to that point. I played the game through on each difficulty setting to get all the passwords and I played through many more times just for the enjoyment of it. When the Sega CD version came out I was fully aware the game was exactly the same but with improved cinematic cut scenes but I bought it anyway and played through the game many more times. It seems a shame that so many other games sat on my shelves unplayed or at least unfinished while I played through Flashback for the umpteenth time!

My only regret is that this same design team didn't make even more games!

[Tanegashima]

I have to totally agree with you about Flashback, my experience was much the same, cept I was financially forced to rent it constantly before we could finally afford it.

The two that stand out most to me are Sonic 1, which did live up to the hype and I anticipated it more than anything. I grabbed it the day it came out, it was awesome.

The other game, which was more of sleeper, but still got a ton of hype was Out of This World. I love this game, maybe as much as Flashback the pictures of its cinematics just blew me away, I remember just seeing the pictures of the birds flying in the backgrounds and the cut scenes, I had to have that game and I also grabbed it on its first day out, I wanted Heart of the Alien but only got it recently and I surely do not regret that either.

Lastly I have to give a shout out to Mortal Kombat I & II...another my bro and I got its first day out. I still remember when my dad saw the blood and we both got a speech about video game violence :confused: Back then, it surely lived up to its hype. I don't think there was a game I played more at the time...though I admit my brother and I were far more excited to see MK II come out and actually really anticipated it, we asked the clerks at every opportunity when would MK II be on the shelves...

[Scooter]

I got my Genesis a while after it had already been out for a while, I got the MkI with Sonic 1 as a pack in. At that time Out Of This World had already been released or I simply missed it. After Flashback, I looked into other games made by the same studio which led me to OOTW. It took a while to find a copy in a used game store. That game was incredible too but I was never really exposed to ads or general hype about the game before I actually got it. That game led me of course to Heart Of The Alien which was fantastic and is another I'd have to say lived up to it's prerelease hype, the only problem there was that it was delayed and delayed and seemed to take forever to hit the store shelves! These all then led me to Fade To Black for PS1 and it was pretty good too.

All of these games more recently led me to Heart of Darkness which was made by the same designer who did Flashback and was (I think) the last game by him and the last game of the studio he worked at. It has been enjoyable, but not to the extent of Flashback, OOTW or HOTA which all were simply incredible.

[VinnyT]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles obviously, but I remember when Weaponlord came out I figured it'd be a cool looking game, but not the best in controls. So Weaponlord lived up to it's mediocre hype.

[Zebbe]

Snatcher. Everybody said it was the best. I bought it for too much money and it lived up to its cult status. My non-existent hat goes off to the excellent voice actors - if you were bad, Snatcher would have been mediocre. The gameplay is fun, the music adds to the (creepy) atmosphere, it has humour and the ripoffs are well chosen. Whoever says the Mega CD was unnecessary is WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111101010101010010101010101

EDIT: Hm, yeah, I must buy Flashback someday. Which version, MD or MCD?

[Iron Lizard]

I remember seeing pics and reviews of Snatcher in EGM years ago of Snatcher on the PcEngine. It seemed just another super awesome Japanese game that I would never be able to play. When it suddenly came out on Sega Cd my brother and I picked up the first day we could get our grubby teenage hands on it and it was awesome. My favorite ending in any Video game, interesting and it last like half an hour.There a lot of hype around Sonic as well. I think we bought that one the first day as well. I still have the box and manual that does not say no resale but the cart sadly died in a childlike former rage of a former step dad.

[Scooter]

Hm, yeah, I must buy Flashback someday. Which version, MD or MCD?

The game itself is exactly the same in both versions. The CD version has more music and rendered and longer cut scenes. The cart version has the same cut scenes but they are polygonal, not rendered. Given the video quality of SCD/MCD, the cutscenes in that version aren't that much of an improvement, however, they are the same cutscenes as used in the PC version of the game, albeit at a crappier resolution and with a smaller color palette.

Oh, and the passwords are different!

Either one will give the same experience overall. The cart version is probably going to be a lot easier to locate. If you have a burning interest in the game and can't find one locally, I can obtain either version or both and ship it/them to you. It really is a Genesis/MegaDrive experience everyone should have!

[Scooter]

I remember seeing pics and reviews of Snatcher in EGM years ago of Snatcher on the PcEngine. It seemed just another super awesome Japanese game that I would never be able to play. When it suddenly came out on Sega Cd my brother and I picked up the first day we could get our grubby teenage hands on it and it was awesome. My favorite ending in any Video game, interesting and it last like half an hour.There a lot of hype around Sonic as well. I think we bought that one the first day as well. I still have the box and manual that does not say no resale but the cart sadly died in a childlike former rage of a former step dad.

If the shell of the cart is still intact, you could always install a new board inside the cart shell. I'm sure you could pick up a loose cart for a few bucks from any number of places.

Was your former step dad Joe Lieberman or something? ;)

[Zebbe]

The game itself is exactly the same in both versions. The CD version has more music and rendered and longer cut scenes. The cart version has the same cut scenes but they are polygonal, not rendered. Given the video quality of SCD/MCD, the cutscenes in that version aren't that much of an improvement, however, they are the same cutscenes as used in the PC version of the game, albeit at a crappier resolution and with a smaller color palette.

Oh, and the passwords are different!

Either one will give the same experience overall. The cart version is probably going to be a lot easier to locate. If you have a burning interest in the game and can't find one locally, I can obtain either version or both and ship it/them to you. It really is a Genesis/MegaDrive experience everyone should have!

Thanks. I don't think I will have any problem to find it though. I think I will get the CD version. Who can say no to some FMV and CD quality audio? I bought Final Fantasy VII, so I must get this! (even though FFVII didn't have CD quality audio, really)

[Aarzak]

- "Mortal Kombat 3": The last "big" fighting game to hit the 16-Bit consoles, considering Capcom and SNK had already moved on to the 32-Bit consoles by 1995. It was this issue of EGM that gave me a first look at the Genesis version of MK3:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/RexingtonSteele/IMG.jpg

After reading through it, I was in a MK3 fervor (specifically the Genesis version) from that summer of 1995 until January of 1996. By then I already had owned both of Probe's crappy, lazy Genesis ports of MK1 & MK2. On January 6, upon asking my father (weeks earlier) I finally received a brand-spankin' new, cardboard box-clad copy of MK3 for Genesis, and literally squealed up and down like a little bitch. Wow........my first new Genesis game, and a recent one at that. It cost my pops $70, but I dare say that it was worth it considering it was a jam-packed 32-Meg cart with many codes and cheats to vary up the game. To this day that is one of my main highlights of my Genesis-owning days. Need I mention that it was the best port of a MK game to the Genesis and was one of the Genny's handful of million-selling games?

- Sonic 3D Blast: It was seriously depressing being a Genesis owner throughout 1996. The software landscape had become dry as hell, and the only two gems to shine during that year were "Sonic 3D Blast" and "Vectorman 2". I was pretty skeptical upon 3D Blast's (originally "Sonic Blast") premiere that it'd be a good game..........I was way more interested in the "Sonic X-Treme" coverage of the time. Positive reviews and a BEAUTIFUL GameFan spread on the game, pictured here:

http://www.sonic-cult.org/imagebin/3dblast.jpg

..............apparently "Sonic Cult" doesn't like hotlinking. Here's the link:

http://www.sonic-cult.org/imagebin/3dblast.jpg

led me to wanting to get the game, and with the commercials that began airing in fall of 1996 helped as well. Once again, my pops delivered and on Christmas Day........er morning of 1996 (I had nagged my pops over and over to get a peek of the game during Christmas Eve and around midnight he literally said "fuck it" and just gave me the game) I got the $65, cardboard box-packaged game. I had fun, and the FMV intro blew me away for what was supposed to be an 8-year old, 16-Bit console. The graphics and Special Stages were eye-popping as well..........but I became rather bored of the game after a week, much to my pop's frustration and disappointment. I still kinda regret just throwing the game aside after a week, in favor of used copies of "Golden Axe II" and "Fatal Fury" that I got during the post-Christmas week.

[Henry Spencer]

Sonic The Hedgehog
Snatcher
Out Of This World
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Earthworm Jim 2
Vectorman

[Iron Lizard]

If the shell of the cart is still intact, you could always install a new board inside the cart shell. I'm sure you could pick up a loose cart for a few bucks from any number of places.

Was your former step dad Joe Lieberman or something? ;)


That is good idea.

My last step was a PJ instructor. Pj's are the para rescue guys that jump out of airplanes to save people. They are specials forces he trained them. So basically I was living with a drill Sargent. He would wake me at three in the morning often and scream at me for half an hour or so because someone had left a fan on accidentally 3 nights before or some other nonsense. I often felt like the when a new male lion comes into a den and kills the last head lions cubs.When I was about 13 my mom told me I could do what ever I wanted to to the shed outside as long as I cleaned it. I cleaned the hell out of it since it was completely full. I put in an old tv, My genny, a fan, and an old couch. It was going to me my gaming room and way to get away from that nut job. One day heaven forbid I left the lights on and he came ans smashed up everything. He made give the TV to god will. Everything was on the floor, My Genesis with model 1 Sega Cd. Everything survived except Sonic. I wish nothing but bad things on that guy. I could go off on hours on that shit and that asshole but I would rather not or our sake.

[Tanegashima]

Heart of Darkness...I totally forgot about it, I have it for my Playstation (it and Fade to Black were my only reasons for getting it initiallly) But I remember, and still have the magazine of EGM that talked about the Sega Saturn and how Sega had gotten the exclusive rights for Heart of Darkness for the up and coming Sega Saturn. However, Heart of Darkness (which was made by the same guy who did Out of This World, he didn't work on Flashback) was delayed constantly. The previews made me so hopeful, it would have been so great on the Saturn but delay after delay. I don't know why Heart of Darkness didn't eventually come out on the Saturn but when it came out on the PS it was a great game, but I think it would have been a whole hell of a lot better if it came out when it was supposed to with the Saturn. Maybe I'm bitter.

I might also add, that I may be one of the few people who really actually loves ALL of the Sonic games on the Sega Saturn. I loved Sonic R, never got 3-D blast for the Genesis, but I love it on the Saturn, especially the soundtrack, and I think Sonic Jam was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Ironically I never really noticed the Nights into Dreams hype and stumbled onto the game but I love it!

[David J.]

That is good idea.

My last step was a PJ instructor. Pj's are the para rescue guys that jump out of airplanes to save people.

David's soap-box time!

Don't get me frigging started with PJ's. When I went to Air Force Basic Training, they put all of the special forces guys together. Well, it doesn't always work like that. I went to tech school with people who never got transfered out of the flights, so here they are open general, stuck with PJ's.

So, I found my self in a PJ flight. I came in open general, and got my job choice that I selected when I chose my job. I really don't remember that flight much, other than the usuall inital shock that one gets from basic training. I remember as I got my haircut, and as I left my TI asked me if I had a girlfriend and if I was a virgin... sexual harassment?

I found a few people I was in that flight with at Tech School. One was going to be a PJ or someshit, but he recruiter screwed up his paperwork. The kid was in shape and academiclly smart, but when not dealing with PT or academics, the kid was annoying and not too bright. The other kid just never was transfered, but was a student leader and although we kinda butted heads at first, we devloped a good rapport by the end.

Anyway, I was transfered out of that flight by Friday night... I had to carry all of my crap in a duffle bag from the church to some squadron that we had no clue where it was. The MP's where almost called on me and a few of the people who transfered, because we took to long to get there. Right as I got to the new squadron, there was this TI (from my sister flight) yelling and screaming in my face, friggin scarry as hell. I don't remember what he said, but I remember standing there at attention scared to death. Something about PT. And then I started Air Force Basic Training with the 323rd Training Squadron, AKA Band Camp (no I don't play an insturment...)

I laugh when these cocky bastards flunk out, and either get security forces or services.

[17daysolderthannes]

yeah, flashback blew my mind, the funny thing is is that I didn't discover it till YEARS later. I was at a friends house and saw his older brother's old game magazines and on the back was an ad for flashback. Even though I was turned off by its somewhat, well, retarded controls, the level of depth for a Genesis game blew me away. It was almost like a Shenmue or something of its time.

[Iron Lizard]

David's soap-box time!

Don't get me frigging started with PJ's. When I went to Air Force Basic Training, they put all of the special forces guys together. Well, it doesn't always work like that. I went to tech school with people who never got transfered out of the flights, so here they are open general, stuck with PJ's.

So, I found my self in a PJ flight. I came in open general, and got my job choice that I selected when I chose my job. I really don't remember that flight much, other than the usuall inital shock that one gets from basic training. I remember as I got my haircut, and as I left my TI asked me if I had a girlfriend and if I was a virgin... sexual harassment?

I found a few people I was in that flight with at Tech School. One was going to be a PJ or someshit, but he recruiter screwed up his paperwork. The kid was in shape and academiclly smart, but when not dealing with PT or academics, the kid was annoying and not too bright. The other kid just never was transfered, but was a student leader and although we kinda butted heads at first, we devloped a good rapport by the end.

Anyway, I was transfered out of that flight by Friday night... I had to carry all of my crap in a duffle bag from the church to some squadron that we had no clue where it was. The MP's where almost called on me and a few of the people who transfered, because we took to long to get there. Right as I got to the new squadron, there was this TI (from my sister flight) yelling and screaming in my face, friggin scarry as hell. I don't remember what he said, but I remember standing there at attention scared to death. Something about PT. And then I started Air Force Basic Training with the 323rd Training Squadron, AKA Band Camp (no I don't play an insturment...)

I laugh when these cocky bastards flunk out, and either get security forces or services.


This guys used to scream at me like that all the time. One time I was so tired and shocked I was seeing trails.

[Tanegashima]

When I started at the LAPD Academy we were at ARTC, and my favorite part were the cocky army reserve guys who hadn't run in years and then 1st day we run seven miles to the beach and these guys are all crying and bitching and a bunch failed their first PFQ. My first and best lesson was: no matter what, I don't know anything, I keep my mouth shut, I don't show off, I don't brag, I don't know anything...and I won't know anything for five years, period.

I broke my ankle in August though and I am being "recycled" hopefully I'll be BACK in the Academy this may or june...get to deal with more fun puking, getting yelled at, class and more getting yelled at.

[David J.]

I suck at PT, so the AF is the branch for me. When I got phase 3 I had to do 45 pushups and 45 situps to pass, and the MTL's wanted us to do no more. So I can do around 50 of each, and my best mile and a half time is 11:16. I prolly couldn't do it now. :(

The Air Force yearly test isn't that rough. I can literally walk my mile, barely do any pushups and situps and just get 30-odd points out of a 75 needed to pass because of my waist size.

I almost got recycled quite a few times in Air Force Basic... not fun at all.

[Tanegashima]

About Flashback:
There is something unique about the Genesis cartridge: the cutscenes are in fact different than the ones on the CD. The cart scenes are rotoscoped liked the scenes in Out of This World and have a totally different feel than the CGI images in the CD version. The music is different too and there is something about those midi's and rotoscoped cut scenes that make the cartridge a more atmospheric experience. They're both great, but if I had my druthers I'd have both.

Our PFQ isn't that rough, but since I've been out I don't remember all the exact standards but its a bitch:

1.5 miles in under 13 minutes which really is no big deal.
300 yard dash in under I can't remember
10 pullups [perfect score] (though I've heard a rumor that these have been eliminated as a requirement, probably so more women can graduate, which is PC bullshit)
At least 42 pushups, situps in under 1 minute
Clear the 6 foot wall without falling, getting hurt and in time...
Be able to pass the obstacle course

We were told that our scores are to improve every month, every PFQ or we'll look like quitters. Two weeks after my first PFQ, a guy ran a red light and T-boned my car and I broke my wrist and ankle so I'm out for 8 months at least. THE WORST MOST HORRIBLE THINGS ON EARTH ARE UP-DOWNS AND MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS...JUST PUT A BULLET IN MY HEAD AND BE DONE WITH IT.

[VinnyT]

Aarzak, your link is still blocked.

But yeah, thanks for reminding me why I stopping lurking Sonic-Cult.

[108 Stars]

After playing Zalda III on SNES I was so wild about getting a game like that....then Landstalker was announced, the first cool action-Adventure on MD, and the first Sega-game to be translated into German.
When it came I rented it, locked myself up in a room for three straight days and experienced the game that really made Zelda III look pale in comparision. My best Mega Drive-experience.

[GameUser-16-32-128]

Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition. From the very first gaze of those grainy ugly pics from the pages of EGM to holding the game in my own sweaty excited hands. I remember being shocked at how good the game looked and played the moment I fired it up on my Genesis (Model 1). I don't think I got over it till after a year later. That was one of the most hyped games that exceeded my expectations back then.

[megabomberman]

For me it has to be streets of rage 2, after being an absolutely mad fan of the original, I craved sor2 for a long time, then one evening above in my cousin's house we were chatting about games and he said his neighbour had the games, so we went and borrowed it off her, and my god I was blown away. The characters were just so much larger on the screen, Max was amazing. And all punks now had life meters as well. I remember thinking how amazing it was that evening, and I never played it again until I acquired it only a year ago... Utterly amazing game...

[Black_Tiger]

Other than being wowed for a short period of time by Phantasy Star II, the only game I can think of that I anticipated awesomeness from and was still very impressed by was Lunar EB.