Nowadays, we’re used to massive game compilations that feature tons of games and extras. It wasn’t always so, however, and some early collections were barely collections at all. Take Arcade Classics, for example. Three games – one of which is Pong – doesn’t exactly offer much bang for your buck. This is as bare bones as it gets folks, and yet we’ve taken the time to review it for you. Go play the real versions of Centipede and Missile Command on MAME or in a real cabinet so we’ll feel better about ourselves, will ya?
Tag: Sega Enterprises
Sonic Jam
Sonic is making waves again, and 2008 might just be the year when Sega finally gets the old formula right. It’s been almost ten years since the famous hedgehog made the jump to the third dimension permanently, and it’s been a shaky road to this day. It wasn’t his first foray into 3D though, as two years before Sonic Adventure was released gamers were treated to a taste of what was to come with the Sonic World mode of Sonic Jam for the Sega Saturn. A compilation of all his 16-bit outings (sans Sonic 3D Blast), the game also boasted a fully 3D world that could be explored. It was mostly just a cool way to travel between different game options, but it set the precedent for Sonic’s evolution.
Sega 6-Pak
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.
Ecco Jr.
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.
Dynamite Duke
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.