For over 30 years, Sega has been developing and manufacturing iconic video games and consoles, many of which have become global phenomenons in their own right. From the introduction of the Sega Genesis (also known as the Mega Drive) in the late 80s to the Saturn and Dreamcast later in the 90s, the sheer volume of titles that Sega is responsible for is an amazing feat in itself.
Of course, it’s hard to look past Sonic the Hedgehog as the franchise’s flagship character and the franchise is still going strong nearly three decades later. In fact, Sega recently issued a release date for a rebooted version of Sonic – entitled Sonic Mania – which is due to hit the shelves on August 15, 2017. Hardcore fans will already know that this release marks the series’ 25th birthday, plus the return of original artist and graphic designer Naoto Ohshima, which is sure to give it a familiar feel.
In addition to Sonic, games like Mortal Kombat, Earthworm Jim and the Disney spin-offs like Aladdin and The Lion King also stand out as stone cold classics. But what about the titles worth your time that might be flying further under the radar? If you’re feeling nostalgic then tag along as we dig up some forgotten favourites that might ring a bell or two…
Bomberman ‘94
Okay, so while the Bomberman franchise might be familiar to a more modern console audience due to the fact it’s been reissued and rebooted on various devices over the past two decades, we’re talking about a very specific title in the series – Bomberman ‘94.
Released on the Genesis at the end of 1993, the game was a triumph in themes, characters and, dare we say it, bombs. It introduced the modern design of the white-costumed Bomberman, plus the awesome kangaroo-esque animals known as Louies that you could ride around on to your heart’s content while deploying various power-ups. It’s a definitely up there as a bona fide multiplayer classic if ever there was one.
Poker Face Paul
Next up, we’ve got a real curveball from the Sega Game Gear family – Poker Face Paul. For kids and teenagers growing up in the mid 90s, this mini-series might well have been their first introduction to the world of card games, and for that it deserves some credit. The series was comprised of four titles: Poker Face Paul’s Blackjack, Poker Face Paul’s Gin, Poker Face Paul’s Poker, and Poker Face Paul’s Solitaire.
Sadly, it’s quite hard to find the original cartridge for all four games these days, which seem to have become quite a collector’s item. Anyway, these days it’s more likely that keen card players who are keen to get their digital poker fix will head to online casino operators. Some of the most prominent ones offer many poker variants, including Omaha and 7 Card Stud, while poker operator 888poker features own-brand poker versions like SNAP, which is a fast-fold format, and BLAST, a sit-and-go poker option. It’s hard to believe how far technology has come in just over twenty years.
Streets of Rage II
Few games have managed to garner and retain as much cult status over the years as Streets of Rage – and the sequel deserves even more applause!
Billed accurately as the “requiem of a deadly battle”, SORII was available on Genesis, Master System and Game Gear, and allowed players to run through waves of enemies of all shapes and sizes, with all sorts of weapons. The soundtrack was particularly awesome too, a kind of early techno chiptune affair that fitted the early 90s graphics to a tee. In all, it still stands the test of time as a wonderfully nostalgic return to the way video games used to be.
So that’s all folks. If you’re keen to scratch that retro gaming fix then you might be able to pick up some of these titles on eBay. There are even newfangled Genesis consoles available to buy which now include an SD card reader along with the original cartridge slot. Well, Christmas is coming up after all…
