Must have games for the Genesis.

[sketch]

That's kinda what I did... and I think what most people are doing is "here's all the really good games".
You're right, we're kinda missing the point of the thread.

Here's my second take:
Sonic 3&K - It's the best sonic, though 1&2 are the real classics.
Thunderforce 4 - While 3 is very good, this one is just as good, plus better graphics and music.
Streets of Rage 2 - The best beat'em up of the generation. 3 has improved gameplay mechanics (besides the weapons), but it's completely uninspired.
Gunstar Heroes - Want to show off the genesis in all areas (gameplay, graphics and sound)? Use this. Only Metal Slug is a better run'n'gun than this.
Comix Zone - One of the most unique games of the generation.
Shinobi 3 - The best action game of the generation (booooo sketch)
Shining Force 2 - The best strategy game of the generation.
Langrisser 2 - The third best strategy game of the generation.
Mickey Mania - The best mickey game, specially the Sega-CD version.
Ristar - Could easily be considered the best platformer of the generation.
Aladdin - Another must own disney game, the animation is incredible.
Contra Hard Corps - The best contra game ever made.
Alien Soldier - A saturn game that was mistakenly made on the genesis, too awesome.
Ranger-X - Probably the one action game on the genesis that tries to have some kind of depth.
Beyond Oasis - Adventure + Beat'em up, best mix ever (even if the game isn't as good as it should be)
Ecco The Tides of Time - This game is an experience unlike any other.
Monster World 4 - Easily one of the best games of the generation.
MUSHA - One of the best vertical shmups ever.
Phantasy Star 4 - The best RPG on the genesis.
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyo Touitsusen - 4 player fighting game based on Yu Yu Hakusho made by treasure...
Street Fighter 2 - If you can't get it on another system.
Adventures of Batman and Robin - One of the toughest games ever, one of the coolest games ever. Second best old batman game (after the NES one)
Devil Crash - The best pinball game ever.
Pier Solar - The second greatest homebrew game for old systems (GunLord WOOOO)
Soul Star - If you have a Sega-CD, you need this.

There, 25 games that are undeniably made of pure greatness.

Good list. Mine was indeed a pretty terse list, but I do feel like "must have" lists should be boiled down to the cream of the crop.

It's hard to draw a line. Having a short list like that always has critical omissions (RKA, CoI, etc.), and people are going to debate about which Sonic game should be on there, which Mickey game, and so on. It just doesn't work.

PS: RKA is way better than Aladdin.

Damn; I missed RKA. That should be on my list. Great game and one of the best platformers on the system. Both Aladdin and Castle of Illusion (one of my favorites) are great games, but I don't know if they're necessarily "must haves". Castle of Illusion is *very* close in my mind and could easily slip onto my list. I think I will go back and add RKA, though. That was a definite oversight.

[Olls]

Maybe it's nostalgia? I dunno but I really like it. It's as faithful to the movie as it needs to be without sacrificing gameplay (which is good, but not great). It probably has the best animations out of all the disney games with mickey mania being the only other that's close. Would it be nearly as good without being based on Aladdin? No. It's just everything you'd want from a movie to game adaptation.
Cool Spot, despite it's name, is completely lacking in coolness.

Yeah, "turd" is obviously stretching it, as it's a decent game.
The better question is, would it be nearly as popular if it didn't have pretty graphics? Like say, if the animation quality was on par with the other Disney licensed games?

[Kamahl]

The better question is, would it be nearly as popular if it didn't have pretty graphics? Like say, if the animation quality was on par with the other Disney licensed games?

No, but it would still be more popular than the SNES one. The animation is a big plus either way. While graphics aren't that important, presentation sure is.

[Barone]

Aladdin's animation is much closer to a cartoon than the previous cartoon-based games (and the SNES version, for an example), that's the point. It's based on a cartoon movie and looks like one, it's a good thing.

[Olls]

It's based on a cartoon movie and looks like one, it's a good thing.

Yes, it's the only good thing.

Sound: average
Music: mediocre
Level design: mediocre and sometimes downright confusing
Hit detection: poor, and missed jumps are all too common
Difficulty/length: too easy/short, even despite its problems
Controls: no problems here, although not as tight as in some other similar games
Variety: barely any, but it has a carpet level

Of course it also has the typical twitchy scrolling as present in most Virgin games, but I won't discredit the game for that.
Looks like a 6/10, 7/10 at most. Help me understand, Sega-16.

[Barone]

Yes, it's the only good thing.

Sound: average
Music: mediocre
Level design: mediocre and sometimes downright confusing
Hit detection: poor, and missed jumps are all too common
Difficulty/length: too easy/short, even despite its problems
Controls: no problems here, although not as tight as in some other similar games
Variety: barely any, but it has a carpet level

Of course it also has the typical twitchy scrolling as present in most Virgin games, but I won't discredit the game for that.
Looks like a 6/10, 7/10 at most. Help me understand, Sega-16.

...

Yes, Capcom is the king of tight controls IMO.
But you can have some precise controls without being just tight... Quackshot's gameplay, for an example, has some slippery feeling but the controls are still very precise (for me it's unlikely to miss a jump in this game).

Most SNES players have some difficult with many Genesis games due this slippery feeling... Generally speaking, the best Genesis side scrolling platformers are fast/very fast and I don't think that controls like SFC's Rockman & Forte (slow paced game) would fit... You must consider gameplay's speed when you're judging controls. Very tight controls are great when you are playing a slow paced game (most of SNES titles) but they will not be necessarily great for much faster games (most of Genesis titles).

But some games just have bad controls... You're right about Virgin's Aladdin IMO, 'cause sometimes their controls are very frustrating.
However, I think you mixed bananas, apples, oranges and compared them:

1)Virgin's Aladdin was programmed by the same gang that made Earthworm Jim and Sega CD's Terminator (whose controls I just love).
Aladdin was the second game by them (just after Global Gladiators), I think they made better controlling games after Aladdin.

2)Virgin's Lion King was programmed by another gang, 'cause the former fellas went out to create Shiny Entertainment.
These new guys were not so gifted IMO, so Jungle Book and Lion King had just average collision detection and controls. Still, Genesis version of Lion King controls a bit better than SNES's (this version has more very frustrating parts for jumps) IMO.

3)Mickey Mania was done by Traveller's Tales, using the very same Puggsy engine... Great sound and graphics and some bad controls. But Mickey Mania has better controls than Puggsy, so you can imagine how slippery and imprecise they were at first...

Aladdin's control is flawless. The slide and loose-kneed movement are by design and further the gameplay. Aladdin's an easy 1LC. I don't generally know who leaves what company to make what elsewhere, but I'd guess many of the same folk worked on Pitfall MA, as its controls and many of its mechanics are identical to Aladdin's; it also controls flawlessly, though its irritating boss pushes it out of easy 1LC range (for me).
Aladdin's technical fault is that his sprite is way too far forward in the screen. At least 25%, but I'd preferably have 40% more screen scrolling ahead.
Lion King's control isn't bad, rather, every kind of detection is, including the (?) ledge-box--I don't know the term for this, but I mean the furthest point you can move and jump from on a given platform: when these are poor you tend to run off the platform and fall before actuating your jump. Not only does this sort of missed jump occur in LK, but more often a failure to grip ledges Simba has to catch hold of (the infamous hippopotami tails being an instance of this).
Mickey Mania's control faults are in different areas; his only similarity to Aladdin and EWJ is the annoying tendency to fidget every two seconds of idleness. The problems in this game are the early jump-button detection that causes you to jump again after holding the button for a full jump, and the tendency to duck too much, as in Ghouls and Ghosts.
MM sort of throws a spanner in the works, as I was going to suggest the overall quality by game has less to do with whether Virgin/Capcom/whoever made it than with whether it was contemporary with a film release or after the fact. Lion King and Aladdin feel very rushed, probably owing to Disney itself. World of Illusion, though shorter than both, does not at all, as of course EWJ doesn't either despite sharing Aladdin's movement mechanics. LK is subpar; Aladdin's quality would derive from being programmed by the same people who made EWJ. Toy Story, whoever made it, would be another example of a rushed game.
I'm not familiar enough with all the Disney games to compare every one, so I'll leave the idea there.

[Olls]

This does not explain the love for Aladdin. Controls are the least of its issues.
I don't even mind people liking the game. as I like average games too (Toki is one of my favourite Mega Drive games). I just would never recommend them in a "must-have" thread.
Any time that someone does, it requires an explanation.

[Barone]

"Must have" doesn't necessarily mean "AAA Titles Only".
People can recommend it for being an exclusive or something like that...

I really don't care about which games each one is listing here. The OP is the one who has to judge what is "must have" for him or not.

[Kamahl]

This does not explain the love for Aladdin. Controls are the least of its issues.
I don't even mind people liking the game. as I like average games too (Toki is one of my favourite Mega Drive games). I just would never recommend them in a "must-have" thread.
Any time that someone does, it requires an explanation.

It's one of the best movie to game adaptations ever?

[Olls]

"Must have" doesn't necessarily mean "AAA Titles Only".
People can recommend it for being an exclusive or something like that...

I really don't care about which games each one is listing here. The OP is the one who has to judge what is "must have" for him or not.

That is actually exactly how I interpret a "must have".
Then again, if OP is the one to judge, then he should not have made this topic. Now it's our responsibility to judge for him.

It's one of the best movie to game adaptations ever?

There are several contenders for this title on the Mega Drive alone.


true lies lol

[Kamahl]

There are several contenders for this title on the Mega Drive alone.

true lies lol

... Such as? And no, true lies isn't a better movie to game adaptation than Aladdin .
I honestly can't think of any right now.

[Olls]

X-Men 2 is the first that comes to mind and probably the best.

[StarMist]

CHAKAN -- One of the few games that truly embodies what the Genesis purported to be about during its lifespan: bigger, tougher, and meaner than the competition.
KID CHAMELEON -- Some of the best level design ever and the only application of Mario 3's powerup system cum quality in a flowing game. Get a copy with a manual as that has a stage chart.
WORLD OF ILLUSION -- The most creative Disney game.
EARTHWORM JIM -- Unique game with the best Genesis visuals, though the SNES edition's are even better (controls are debatable between them). Offers a variety of playstyles without overdoing the variety or cheapening its general Tarzan-in-a-spacesuit design.
ZERO WING -- Awesome horizontal shooter with a ton of challenge in the 3 loops required to fully beat it. PAL version recommended as that's more generous with the game's unusual powerups.
HELLFIRE -- If you don't go for Zero Wing get this, the US version so you can access the Yea Right difficulty. Answers Zero Wing's single flaw of too quickly killed bosses by presenting bosses that will each take ten minutes to shoot down and a week off your life.
GAIARES -- The deepest 16 bit horizontal shooter.
PHANTASY STAR II -- The best RPG ever.
PHANTASY STAR III -- An interesting game with a more modern structure whose appeal will depend on how much its poor combat presentation bothers you.
PIER SOLAR -- Because Zebbe is a muscular swan.
ROLLING THUNDER 2 -- Sidescrolling run and gun with 'lurk' replacing 'run'. Better because purer than its sequel and the comparable ESwat. Supports co-op. Passwords.
**SOL DEACE -- An amazing horizontal shooter with a flair not even approached by any other 16 bit hori; however, also with a problematic amount of slowdown in a couple places, thus a must have only if you get an overclock. Recommended nonetheless.
STREETS OF RAGE 2 -- Best brawler ever and it's not even close.
ECCO THE TIDES OF TIME -- US or JP version. Adventure game underwater.
SPIDERMAN VS THE KINGPIN -- By far the best comic book game on the Genesis. There's a CD edition that adds some crap.
SUBTERRANIA -- Best "gravity shooter" (it's really an adventure game like Ecco plus a little gunfire) on mainstream consoles.
STRIDER -- Unique gameplay style with a slide mechanic and push-forward emphasis most approached by the inferior Gunstar Heroes.
ETERNAL CHAMPIONS -- Strongest unique fighter remaining from an era of shovelware and second rate conversions. The CD version is "enhanced" by terrible music.
ALADDIN -- Great light pick up and play game, very smooth and polished, with a good mixture of slows and quicks, flat and vertical sections. Won't last long but lots of fun.
PITFALL -- Adventure platformer that plays like a deeper Aladdin. The CD version extends it by 4 (?) stages. Also contains the original Pitfall.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG -- It's Sonic. Without that stupid spindash.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 -- It's Sonic. Even better than the first.
SONIC & KNUCKLES -- It's Sonic. Stages are huge in this one. Like Sonic 3 minus the suckage.
FLASHBACK -- Screen by screen adventure game. Excellent stuff.
GHOULS N GHOSTS -- Not quite so good as the NES Ghosts n Goblins but close enough.
ALIEN 3 -- Run n gun with a timed puzzler/adventure feel stemming from the need to rescue human hosts before the alien inside each hatches. Excellent dark atmosphere and intricate but never cheap level design. Sadly Hard mode seems to have no effect; but for extra challenge there's the mad NES game.
VECTORMAN -- Solid run n gun with some exploratory platforming and a few metamorphoses. Something of a landmark in Genesis style and a frequent topic of debate. In sheer gaming terms a bit of a stretch to call a must finish but it has enough style and different ideas to make it a must own.

[Kamahl]

X-Men 2 is the first that comes to mind and probably the best.

I've had more fun with Aladdin than that one. And X-Men 2 isn't a movie adaptation, and neither is Adventure's of Batman and Robin (which would be another contender). They're just licensed games. Not the same.
One of Aladdin's strengths is that all of the stages are based around the movie itself. Mickey Mania is another game that does this, only with lots of movies instead of one.

PITFALL -- Adventure platformer that plays like a deeper Aladdin. The CD version extends it by 4 (?) stages. Also contains the original Pitfall.

, pitfall sucks. Snakes, snakes everywhere.

[Olls]

I've had more fun with Aladdin than that one. And X-Men 2 isn't a movie adaptation, and neither is Adventure's of Batman and Robin (which would be another contender). They're just licensed games. Not the same.
One of Aladdin's strengths is that all of the stages are based around the movie itself. Mickey Mania is another game that does this, only with lots of movies instead of one.

You're right. I'll have to go with True Lies then. Meat and potato platformers are a dime a dozen.

, pitfall sucks. Snakes, snakes everywhere.

Most rebellous list, no doubt. In true hipster fashion.
StarMist knows how to get jimmies rustled.


...I stopped reading at "Chakan".