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Sometimes, it’s good to take a break from all the great shmups, platformers, and run-‘n-guns on the Genesis. Occasionally a nice, laid back type of game hits the spots. Those who remember computer lab in junior high already know which game I’m talking about, and everyone else would do themselves a favor and check out Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, which spawned a lengthy series of edutainment games, as well as a cartoon series.
In 1991, Sega shocked Genesis owners with Joe Montana II: Sports Talk Football. Aside from changing the game’s vertical perspective to a horizontal one (an internal team had been working on one for the original, but it was scrapped in favor of EA’s vertical game), Sega also added play-by-play commentary. Though it might seem cheesy today, this was unheard for consoles at the time, and it marked an important step in bringing realism to sports games.
Accolade brought the Amiga run-‘n-gun classic Turrican to the Genesis in 1991, sporting a great box cover by famed sci-fi and fantasy artist Boris Vallejo. Many Genesis gamers took the game at face value, unfamiliar with the decidedly different style of action game they were about to play. The result left a bad taste in the mouths of many, something that would remain until Factor 5’s stellar Mega Turrican arrived a few years later.
Swashbuckling adventure on the high seas is what awaits you in Microprose’s stellar Pirates! Gold. Probably one of the best titles on the Genesis, this is the one you show your friends when they say that PC games of the era weren’t suited for consoles. Sailing the Caribbean, looting ships and swooning fair maidens is what it’s all about, and no other game does it better.
You don’t tend to think of the Genesis whenever the topic of first person shooters comes up. After all, the genre was in its console infancy at the time, and Sega’s old work horse isn’t exactly known for its 3D prowress. Even so, there are a few games here and there, including Accolade’s Zero Tolerance, a title that every Genesis owner should boot up at least once, just to get the gist of how a 3D FPS runs on the console.