With all the shooters that came to the Genesis in its first two years, it seems strange that some would be left behind. Kaneko’s Heavy Unit was one shmup that missed the boat, most likely because it was seen as too generic compared to powerhouses such as Thunder Force III and Gaiares. Is it worth tracking down now? Read on and see!
Tag: 1990
Xenon 2 Megablast
What is widely considered to be a classic Amiga shooter comes to the Genesis in notably worse shape. Horrible slowdown, dodgy power-ups, and missing stages are just some of the problems plaguing this sub-standard port. If you really want to experience Xenon 2, stick with the Amiga original.
World Cup Italia ’90
Coming to America as World Championship Soccer, World Cup Italia ’90 originally saw a release in Europe, where it featured a few differences from its U.S. counterpart. Aside from some realistic player names (and a new title and box art, obviously), it also boasts an official FIFA license, something the American version lacked. Primitive when compared to EA’s efforts, it can still be fun with a friend.
Cutie Suzuki no Ringside Angel
Wrestling games tend to be popular, and one would expect that a game featuring only female wrestlers would be a great thing. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with Cutie Suzuki no Ringside Angel, which suffers from bland gameplay and presentation. There’s a reason this one was left in Japan, folks…
Darwin 4081
Sega did a great job porting Data East’s arcade shooter, and Darwin 4081 is sure to offer a decidedly different take on space shooters for those who think they’ve seen it all. This Japan-only import sports some solid gameplay and an interesting weapons system, and while it’s not the best shmup around, it’s one that’s worth checking out.