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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!
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.
Genesis owners with a Power Base Converter have the ability to play classic Master System titles on their console, but some are just little more than proof of how far hardware has come. Thunder Blade is an example of a game that couldn’t emulate the arcade well and made no effort to compensate.
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.
Contrary to what many people think, Thunderbolt II is not a bootleg. It comes from the same unlicensed background as titles such as Beggar Prince and games released by Tengen and Accolade. It also only came out in Taiwan, which makes it extremely rare. But is it good? Read on and find out!