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Sonic has made appearances in just about every genre out there, so why not a puzzle game? Sonic Eraser does a decent enough job representing the Blue Blur, but it’s not as deep as Columns or Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. It was only released in Japan as a downloadable title for the Mega Modem, so simplicity is was baked into its DNA.
While Zillion was based on a toy and anime series, it’s often compared to Nintendo’s Metroid. It doesn’t quite reach the levels of greatness of that classic, but it is still a great game with great visuals, interchangeable playable characters, and tons of action. The lack of a password or save feature hurts it, but there’s still lots of fun lurking in the Norsa Empire’s lair.
Sega redefined console RPGs with Phantasy Star Online, a game that remade the series into a multi-player affair more focused on action. It still had that classic feel, and it was one of the seminal titles on the console. With three friends and an Internet connection, this was THE game to play and a must-have release for the console.
Fans of graphic adventures like Snatcher take note! Pixel Pusher Games’ is working on bringing some of that same cyberpunk action to the Genesis. Chords is an exciting new project that looks to rival Kojima’s masterpiece by carving out a space of its own with amazing presentation, excellent dialogue, intriguing characters, and a great story.
Mike Fischer began his Sega tenure at a young age and spent his first few years in Japan before transferring over to Sega of America. He went on to executive positions at Namco, Square/Enix, and Xbox. One thing that made Fischer’s experiences so unique was that they were at key points in each company’s history. He spent the better part of two hours telling us about his time at Sega and Namco and some of the historic events he witnessed.