What genesis/megadrive games turned out to be way better than you anticipated?

[jerry coeurl]

I've had Ranger-X for a while now, I really need to play it.

[Thenewguy]

Ranger X wasn't better than I expected, but I had high expectations at the time.

I think some of the sections feel a little clunky, and a level or two feels unfocussed, but they're minor criticisms, I'd probably give it like ~8.5 but I expected it to be a 9/10.

Never had any real problems with the controls.

[Kamahl]

Ranger X wasn't better than I expected, but I had high expectations at the time.

I think some of the sections feel a little clunky, and a level or two feels unfocussed, but they're minor criticisms, I'd probably give it like ~8.5 but I expected it to be a 9/10.

Never had any real problems with the controls.

It's an 8.5-9 to me too, the only reason it doesn't get more is that you can't learn the game just by playing. In ranger-x you have no idea about the light mechanic without reading the manual and to make it worse the first level doesn't need it while the second needs it the most. That's poor level progression. The fact that you can for some reason eat fruit to recover health is also a total asspull (fruit that needs to be shot with a freaking plasma gun first), so much so that I only figured out why I was getting health out of nowhere after seeing an explanation on gamefaqs.

There are other minor faults. While I'm ok with the controls they're still wasting a button for little gain. The bike is mostly annoying and doesn't really have any major use during gameplay (weapon switching and auto-aim could be done in much better ways, transforming into a bike with a press of a button instead of riding it for example). And don't get me started on that stupid ship that replaces it.

Still, it's original, it's a whole lot of fun and it's total eye-candy. Love it.

[Obviously]

I definitely agree with that assessment. I've got the box but no manual so the first time I played Ranger X I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. After reading a bit on the net about the gameplay mechanics though it was a really great experience the whole way through.

I like the bike, ramming it into enemies is a lot of fun. The ship is a piece of excrement though.

[Cucollins12]

Light Crusader... I wasnt expecting too much but then bam! you have one of the best games one genny!

[sheath]

Light Crusader... I wasnt expecting too much but then bam! you have one of the best games one genny!

That's interesting. I see this from time to time. I've owned it since Bel over at WAG recommended it, but haven't given it much time. It seemed to be well made from what I played, but just didn't hook me.

[StarMist]

My problem with the weapons is that for 2 of them, the 3rd level is actually worse looking. The forward shot turns into these really lame rotating balls instead of the awesome spreadshot, the backwards shot turns into these really stupid and small Z shaped thingies, the groundshot... I have no idea what the improvement is on that one. The laser is pretty lame too, more so counting it's sound effect.

I think the laser was the only addition to the spread Aprinet could manage w/o turning the game into a flicker parade--I get the feeling they wanted to add something big between the spreading shot but whatever giant fireball type of thing they had in mind would've been too much for the MD to handle. The laser also makes it harder to hit some enemies, every now and then one will fly between the laser and the spread.

@ topic let me add Boogerman which I expected to be as repugnant as its premise but actually plays well. Shadow Dancer too, much more fluid than its wooden predecessor, both in character movement and stage design.

[Lan Di]

Robocop Vs. The Terminator.

Every so often, we get a "good" movie franchise based game; but it is a rare occasion when such a game turns out to be Grade A title on par with any Grade A game of its generation.

I concur.

[Solkia]

Taz in Escape From Mars.

I got this game when I was little, on the discount rack when the Genesis was dead. Hell, I think the Dreamcast came out about a year later.

I'm not a big fan of Looney Toons games, but this one was so much fun.

[goldenband]

That's interesting. I see this from time to time. I've owned it since Bel over at WAG recommended it, but haven't given it much time. It seemed to be well made from what I played, but just didn't hook me.

I played and beat Light Crusader when I was first getting into the Genesis, and it's still one of my favorite games on the console -- but a lot of people don't much like it. Not sure why that is, but hey, more for me. (If only it worked that way!) The soundtrack is arguably the best I've heard on the system.

[sheath]

I played and beat Light Crusader when I was first getting into the Genesis, and it's still one of my favorite games on the console -- but a lot of people don't much like it. Not sure why that is, but hey, more for me. (If only it worked that way!) The soundtrack is arguably the best I've heard on the system.

The music is what convinced me to pick it up, the graphics are awesome as well. Bel always raved about the polygonal effects in some places. I think people don't like it because they consider Land Stalker a better isometric RPG and because Treasure made it and they think Treasure should stick to shooters.

[Kamahl]

Light Crusader isn't bad, it's just that it's not as good as it should be.

[Olls]

The problem with Light Crusader is that it's so generic.
It makes the whole experience a bit bland. Then again, I didn't expect much from it.

Also, what is so great about Robocop vs The Terminator? I didn't think much of it after playing it a while ago.

[The Coop]

Landstalker- I saw no reviews for the game, and don't even remember much advertising either. But one day, I went into a pawnshop, and saw a copy of it sitting inside their glass counter. I asked if I could take a look at it, and found that it was complete and in very good shape. Looking through the manual, and reading the back of the box, I took a chance and paid the $15 for it. When I popped it in, I more or less fell in love with the game. The graphics, the music, the isometric gameplay, the puzzles, the characters... it was just fun (except for that fucking pair of black boots hidden in a dark pit). I've played through this game quite a few times, and it's just enjoyable from beginning to end.

[Obviously]

The problem with Light Crusader is that it's so generic.
It makes the whole experience a bit bland. Then again, I didn't expect much from it.

Also, what is so great about Robocop vs The Terminator? I didn't think much of it after playing it a while ago.

It's a pretty solid, occasionally well balanced, run'n gun with some neat weapons (blowing off ED-209's gun and wielding it is oh-so-satisfying), copious amounts of trademark Robocop gore, and cool level set-pieces that actually take from their respective movies with lots of shout-out references to the films. It's so over the top like the original Robocop movie to the point where it almost feels like it was directed by Paul Verhooven, since everybody in the game is a highly explosive blood-balloon.

That said I feel like it's got some real problems specifically in the sound design. The music and sound effects are both pretty annoying in my opinion, and it's really jarring when the music occasionally stops all-together like in an early boss fight. I also hate the really Turrican-ish way Robocop takes damage when touching enemies with no knock-back or temporary invincibility. Not so much a big deal in the levels but it makes some of the boss fights a real chore until you get their patterns down. The graphics might also be a little muddy or grimy for some but I think they set a proper and really nicely detailed atmosphere for a game like this, and Robocop himself looks great.

Overall though it's fun for a licensed title. It took me a while to get into it but once I warmed up to it I found I really liked it despite the hiccups.