Surging Aura is a classic Sega adventure that has somehow resisted all attempts to be translated from Japanese (though a French version does exist). This is unfortunate, as the game is entirely playable, even in Japanese. We’ve gone through it from beginning to end, so check out our full review to see just what you – and the rest of the world – have been missing these many years.
Author: Ken Horowitz
Pier Solar and the Great Architects
After a seemingly endless wait, WaterMelon’s Pier Solar was finally unleashed upon the Genesis community last December. The game sold like hot cakes, with a third printing recently selling out, and our forums have been buzzing with discussions about the first brand-new Genesis game built from scratch in over a decade (and hopefully the first of many more). WaterMelon went all out with the packaging, and guess what?It included one hell of a game with all the goodies. This is one for the ages, my friends, so read our full review and be prepared to physically hurt yourself for not having bought this when you had the chance.
Interview: Carl-Henrik Skarstedt (Funcom Programmer)
Sega-16 recently had the chance to chat with Carl-Henrik Skarstedt, a programmer who spent many years with Funcom, the third party developing house behind such PC hits as The Longest Journey and Anarchy Online. During his time there, Carl-Henrik worked on both the Genesis and Sega CD, on titles such as Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury Special, NBA Hangtime and Daze before Christmas. He shared his insights and experiences on working with different publishers, as well as what it was like to program for Sega’s ill-fated add-on.
Genesis Around the World: Neo Japan Games
Far too many gamers are only able to find their Genesis and retro games at the occasional flea market and garage sale. Others are relegated to online purchases from sites like GameGavel and eBay. Those lucky enough to have an actual retro game store nearby quickly become frequent customers, and a little thing like a hundred mile round trip doesn’t stop the true Genesis fan from getting his fix. Extreme mileage and expensive gas were a small price to pay for Sega-16’s editor-in-chief Ken Horowitz, as he finally found a bona fide retro shop on the sunny Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.
Interview: Doug Lanford (SOA Programmer & Tester)
Everyone dreams at working at a major game developer. It’s something all kid gamers wish for, and many adult gamers strive to make it a reality. Sometimes though, destiny comes knocking quickly, and when it does you have to run with it and never look back. That’s what happened to Doug Lanford, who went for an interview for a game tester job at Sega on a whim. Four years later, he was a programmer with a bright future ahead of him.