The best multiplayer SEGA CD games?

[mugenmidget]

So far I know of Eternal Champions, Final Fight, Dungeon Explorer as good choices. I'm sure there are others, so feel free to share them (and thanks)!

[matteus]

doesn't NBA JAM CD and Fifa CD support the multi-tap too?

Fifa CD is my personal fave version of Fifa the load times and ropey loading images maybe a little sh*te but the overall game is good.

Is there any reason why the loading screens are so poor btw? are they only using a single palette or something?

[17daysolderthannes]

There aren't many really, mostly due to the inclusion of FMV backgrounds or heavy scaling in most games that would probably make a 2 player version unplayable or completely unfeasible altogether. Final Fight CD is fucking awesome though, I bought it a week ago when I was in New York City and haven't stopped playing it since. The arcade music is awful and I think is the main reason I never really got into Final Fight, but the Sega CD remix with full CD audio is phenomenal and makes it a contender for the great Streets of Rage 2. Even better, all of the characters, 2 player, and as far as I can tell all of the full size sprites and animations are intact. Hands down the best way to play Final Fight.

[matteus]

oh oh i remembered one Soul Star Might not seem that groovy in 2 player to most but I think its a great for team play! hehe

[Iron Lizard]

Crap, I can't believe I forgot about Final Fight.

[17daysolderthannes]

Crap, I can't believe I forgot about Final Fight.

seriously, buy it today.

[mugenmidget]

It's too bad there doesn't seem to be many more, but Final Fight alone provides enough challenge and should be a worthwhile game. I'm eager to try out Dungeon Explorer with a bigger group, hopefully I can make that happen soon enough.

Penn & Teller would probably be funny if I tried playing some of those tricks on my friends, I'll have to give that a shot.

And thanks for throwing out Soul Star, I had not heard of that. I'll have to give FIFA and NBA Jam a look as well (don't own the cartridge version of Jam except on SNES). Is the version of Wheel of Fortune on SEGA CD any good?

[Baloo]

Wheel of Fortune looks better on Sega CD, but according to Alex Burr (The Sports Guy), the game's loading times are awful.

[mugenmidget]

Interesting, I actually got the Genesis version but have not played it yet. I'll have to compare them and see what comes out on top. I hear the PS3 version is one of the best but my favorite in the past has been the N64's take on it.

[kool kitty89]

There aren't many really, mostly due to the inclusion of FMV backgrounds or heavy scaling in most games that would probably make a 2 player version unplayable or completely unfeasible altogether.

There's BC Racers, 2 player split screen with a scaled+rotated BG tile and scaled sprites (racers and objects). Shows up Mario Kart, at least on a technical level. (with the exception of colors, of course)


A note on Soul Star, while the 2-player mode may seem kind of lame at first (especially for the rail levels), it can really come in handy (with a good second player), especially in the 2nd mission which is a bitch to aim and control simultaneously. (helicopter style controlls and without being able to maneuver and change altitude simultaneously)

[Zz Badnusty]

There's BC Racers, 2 player split screen with a scaled+rotated BG tile and scaled sprites (racers and objects). Shows up Mario Kart, at least on a technical level. (with the exception of colors, of course)


A note on Soul Star, while the 2-player mode may seem kind of lame at first (especially for the rail levels), it can really come in handy (with a good second player), especially in the 2nd mission which is a bitch to aim and control simultaneously. (helicopter style controlls and without being able to maneuver and change altitude simultaneously)

I commend Core Designs for incorporating "innovative" two player systems, however the two-player in BC Racers is pathetic iirc. The two player is cooperative (like Soul Star), but the fault is that the 2nd player can only control attacks, and the fighting in BC Racers is pretty lame to begin with.
Basically player one drives along, and whenever an opponent is right next to you Player 2 can push a button to swing a club. Whoopee.

On the other hand... I am a super fan of Soul Star, and enjoyed some great 2-player. The 2nd player controls weapon selection, and shield/engines power. As kool kitty said, it is a very enjoyable experience if you have a competent co-pilot.

Soul Star has taken criticism in the past because of the control. The free roaming levels control exactly like AH3 Thunderstrike - I found it odd that Gamefan magazine praised the control of Thunderstrike, yet bashed the control of Soul Star.

btw, a six button stick is the only way to go for Soul Star.

a few other 2 player games on Sega CD include:
Joe Montana's NFL Football
Star Wars Chess
Samurai Shodown
Lethal Enforcers Gunfighters

Sega CD really is lacking in multiplayer games.

[mugenmidget]

It's a shame there aren't more but Soul Star definitely looks like a pleasant surprise. I heard Psi-Ops has a similar form of "co-op" through certain control schemes but I haven't played that game yet.

I did however play Goldeneye with a friend in the single player campaign by using the dual controller schemes and that was fairly amusing, so I think Soul Star should have some appeal.

But thank you guys for every game you have mentioned so far, I will have to check out as many as I can and come back to the thread if I discover anything on my own.

[Milkymagic]

Jaguar XJ220 is actually fun on two player, at least in my opinion it is.


Also, Dungeon Explorer rocks the house if you have at least one other friend to play it with you, me and my brother went through this game grinding for levels together, bought all kinds of top-level equipment, and stormed our way through all the dungeons until we made it straight to the final boss...in which he's actually pretty hard. But do not fear, the effort is worth it since you get one of three endings to chose from after he's defeated!

Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Darkside is very impressive I might add, fantastic graphics and tons of moves for each character. The opening cinematics were surprisingly good too.

seriously, buy it today.

I second this. I just love Final Fight CD! The graphics and gameplay are all intact, plus a Survival Mode! Also, who doesn't love some enhanced music?

IMPORTANT EDIT: I just want to let you know that Lords of Thunder is not 2 Player, contrary to what the back of the case says...>_>

[Iron Lizard]

seriously, buy it today.

I bought 15 years ago new in the bargain bin for 99 cents. Good times.

[Christuserloeser]

with the exception of colors, of course

well, and gameplay, controls, character- and overall game design, ...oh, and music...and sound fx.

As totally overrated as I think that the SNES original of Mario Kart is, it is a billion times better than all of its clones combined.