Author: Ken Horowitz

Genesis Reviews

Richard Scarry’s Busytown

Game analysts everywhere are quick to point out that there’s a large sector of people who aren’t interested in all the bells and whistles of modern consoles (or their high price tags). This, they say, explains why Nintendo’s Wii is such a success. Well, if analysts had just stopped to talk to the preschooler set, they would have found this out years ago! Yes, as long as a game is good, young kids don’t care what console it’s on, and in this area the Genesis can hold its own against the competition – modern or not. Take Richard Scarry’s Busytown, for example. Here’s a game that covers all the bases and provides an instantly accessible world to kids who aren’t even old enough to read yet. It even supports the Mega Mouse!

Genesis Reviews

Pepenga Pengo

The term “arcade classic” isn’t the first thing to come to mind when the game in question features a penguin pushing ice blocks at his foes, but it quickly makes sense when you consider what types of machines populated ’80s arcades. Sega’s Pengo was a fun (and hard) maze chase game that racked up its fair share of quarters before changing gaming tastes sent it off to franchise storage, but the plucky penguin did return for a Game Gear port in 1992. However, it wasn’t until Sega remade the game completely for the Mega Drive three years later that its true brilliance finally emerged. Unfortunately, Pepen Ga Pengo was left behind in Japan, and it now commands a hefty price on eBay.

Features, Interviews

Interview: Lee Actor (Sterling Software Programmer)

The Genesis was never meant to run 3D games, and no one ever expected it to, upon its release. Apparently, no one told that to Lee Actor and his company Sterling Silver Software (later renamed Polygames). During the 16-bit era, Lee brought over half a dozen fully poligonal 3D games to the Genesis, including Hard Drivin’ and Steel Talons. Along the way, he found time to launch the PGA Tour Golf franchise and program Sonic Spinball.

Genesis Reviews

Incredible Hulk

Those who have played Radical Entertainment’s awesome Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction probably don’t remember an older game bearing the Incredible title, namely U.S. Gold’s stinker on the Genesis. This little gem exists in a world where the Hulk is hurt by bullets and takes a pill to turn into Bruce Banner, and where a pool of water means certain death. Yes, I’m serious. We were offered the choice of taking the full brunt of a Gamma bomb blast or reviewing The Incredible Hulk, and trust us, the review won by only the slimmest of margins. Read the full article and try to imagine the famous Lonely Man theme playing in the background as your desire to play the game slowly walks off into the sunset.

Features, MEGA Bites

MEGA Bites Vol. 07

This past month brought some big news for Genesis fans. We saw the return of two great franchises, a homebrew attempt to bring 2D Sonic The Hedgehog into high definition era, and more news about the new Golden Axe game. It’s all in the newest installment of MEGA Bites, so read the full article and get all the juicy details!