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Segaphiles everywhere know and love the OutRun series, and we here at Sega-16 are no different. If there’s one Sega racer that always gets the blood pumping, it’s this one, and it’s a great thing that they all appear on the Genesis (for better or for worse, to be fair). Data East handled the publishing chores for the final 2D arcade installment, OutRunners, and while there’s considerable controversy about how well things turned out, staff writer Alex Burr has nothing but love for this one.
A sure sign of a console’s success is when some of its best-selling software is repackaged as a sort of “greatest hits” collection. All major publishers have done this (though Namco seems to have jumped the shark), and Sega is no different. Late in the life span of the Genesis, it released 6-Pak. No, that wasn’t a member of Degeneration X; it was a compilation cartridge that held six titles, some more classic than others.
One of Sega’s most enduring franchises since the Genesis era has been Ecco the Dolphin. The famous cetacean has appeared on almost all its consoles, and he manages to turn up where you’d least expect him. Case in point: Ecco Jr., a game in Sega’s short-lived Sega Club line that was geared towards the younger set. Adapting a franchise known for its difficulty for children was one heck of a challenge, and we have a full review of the finished product.
There’s something to be said about straight-up shooters. I’m not talking about the “lone pilot vs. invading aliens” classics. No, I mean one guy with a BIG gun just squeezing the trigger until the vibrations stop! Dynamite Duke appears to be the game to fit the bill in this regard, until you actually play it. Aren’t explosions and big armament supposed to invoke some kind of a response? Shock and awe, meet your evil twin.
The Genesis is home to many a shmup, boasting a total library of over seventy. And just when you think you’ve saved the planet from an alien invasion one too many times, another game comes along that’s worth checking out. This time around it’s Eliminate Down, an import title that can run upwards of $150 on eBay. There’s a reason why people are so eager to pay big bucks for this one folks, and it definitely has more to do with quality than rarity.