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Taito apparently loved the Genesis, publishing a multitude of arcade ports that were highly playable, despite being toned down (downright cut up in some cases). There were quite a few games that never made the transition to the home market, but most of the company’s arcade catalogue of the time got a Genesis release. Cadash was one title that saw some questionable changes in its port (I understand only having two-player co-op, but why remove characters?) yet still remained enjoyable.
During the first year or two after the Genesis launched, third party titles were few and far between, thanks to Nintendo’s iron-clad licensing agreements. During those dark years, Sega had to use all kinds of tactics just to get companies to even publish on its console. One of the most successful methods was the licensing and reprogramming of arcade hits by Sega itself. In addition to the great Capcom line up of reprogrammed games like Forgotten Worlds and Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, Sega also managed to snag some Atari titles, like the arcade hit Cyberball. Like its brethren, Cyberball received some home extras while retaining the look and feel of the coin-op as much as possible. The only problem with the futuristic football game is that it might not have been deep enough for the home market.
Like big trucks? Enjoy the thrill of massive machines slamming through mud and dirt in a frenzied competition to the finish line? Then look elsewhere, as Super Off-Road isn’t the game for you. The tiny sprites and repetitive gameplay may have worked well in arcades, where pumping quarters to continue was good for business, but on the Genesis they paled compared to the greatness of racing classics like Micro Machines and OutRun.
So your Menacer is collecting dust, and you’re wondering why the heck you got one in the first place. Though unlikely, it’s possible that you let Terminator 2: The Arcade Game slip under your radar. A pretty decent conversion of the arcade hit, it’s actually quite playable with Sega’s unwieldy weapon of light, and it’s quite inexpensive nowadays.
A slow week means it’s time to go retro! The gems from the golden age of arcade gaming are indeed timeless, and perhaps the only criteria that’s appropriate to use when reviewing Williams Arcade’s Greatest Hits is how well they adapt to the Genesis control scheme.