The world's premier resource for SEGA's arcade and console hardware legacy!
The Genesis is host to many quality tennis titles, and fans of the sport should count themselves lucky for this fact when they’re faced with the possibility of having to play a game as bad as this one. Shoddy programming and lackluster presentation are enough to make anyone go McEnroe and smash their controller while yelling “really?” at the television.
Before you check out the fanmade Barkley: Shut Up & Jam Gaiden and its prequel, spend some time with the game where it all began. Accolade’s take on the NBA Jam formula generated a title that may not have been as good as its inspiration but still provided some solid street-style basketball gameplay. And it has Sir Charles himself!
Interestingly enough, most tennis games on the Genesis are hit or miss. There’s a bunch from which to choose, and it can often be difficult to pick the best because each of them have their strengths and weaknesses. Amazing Tennis, courtesy of programming legend David Crane, suffers from this dilemma as well but still manages to deliver (hah!) a solid experience for fans.
Perhaps the biggest threat to Madden, Sega’s NFL series offered a great alternative for gridiron gladiators to get their digital fix. The series is considered by many to have peaked with the 1994 installment, which blended the famous Sports Talk feature with solid visuals and gameplay that required a better knowledge of play-calling than most football titles.
Despite what many people think, there are actually quality soccer games out there that don’t begin with “FIFA.” Case in point: U.S. Gold released a very playable title that featured quick, arcade-like gameplay and an isometric perspective. Though flawed, Head-On Soccer presents a solid alternative for those who don’t want the simulation style found in EA’s series.