The Sega CD is Long gone, but not forgotten. Sure, it had it's critics, but I always liked the system.
It's easy to understand the critism. Sega definetely did not live up to it's promises with this system. Most games prior were less then 16MBit, and the Sega CD promised games that would be up to 500 (or so) MByte in storage capacity. I know at the time most gamers were expecting huge leaps in performance. Given all that extra storage capacity, we'd figured that games like Sonic would be 10 times as long, and 10 times as graphical. What happened was we were completely let down. Sure they used that space, except that they filled it with grainy FMV (Which no one seems to like or care for). I guess it wasn't an outright lie, I just think we were mislead as to what games would really become.
Once I got over the initial disappointment, I soon grew to like the system. The games were longer (just not as long as expected), and The graphics were a little better (I'm not talking FMV, I'm talking Sonic ect..), additionally there were many games being released. The Sega CD soon became my system of choice, and I accumilated many games for it.
No more games are being released for it today. If you liked the system, you can still find the CD's in most Video Game stores. They are super cheap too. I pick up a Sega CD now and then when I'm on a tight budget, and you know what? These games can still be fun.
AFTERBURNER III (Sega)
This game stinks!
Choppy graphics, poor control and little replay value make this
one a real loser. It shares nothing with it's arcade cousin,
except maybe the name.
Graphics: 62%
Sound: 70%
Gameplay: 20%
Originality: 50%
Replay Value: 50%
Overall: 50% (GVA II)
ANDROID ASSAULT (Big Fun Games)
Great graphics, awesome
soundtrack, and plenty of action make this game plenty of fun to
play. The play control is meidocre, and the game is a bit too
short, but the raw challenge of this arcade style shooter makes
up for its shortcomings.
Graphics: 82%
Sound: 92%
Gameplay: 70%
Originality: 66%
Replay Value: 70%
Overall: 76% (Jason Estey)
THE ANIMALS (Arnowitz Studios)
I didn't buy my Sega CD
for educational purposes, but I like being able to use it that
way sometimes. Older adults should really appreciate it. Kids can
really learn alot with this one.
Graphics: 70%
Sound: 70%
Gameplay: N/A
Originality: 99%
Replay Value: 90%
Overall: 82% (GVA II)
BC RACERS (Core Design Inc.)
Looks and feels like a
cartoon. Many different tracks and sidecars give it good replay
value. The main problem was it was just too slow. Older gamers
will get bored quickly. Young gamers should love it.
Graphics: 84%
Sound: 64%
Gameplay: 50%
Originality: 82%
Replay Value: 68%
Overall: 70% (GVA II)
CHUCK ROCK II, SON OF CHUCK (Virgin- Core Design Inc.)
This game looks great!
Huge sprites and multiple scrolling backgrounds really make it
look sharp. It would've got a higher rating if it didn't leave a
feeling of "been there, done that". Yet, still a good
game, give it a try.
Graphics: 91%
Sound: 85%
Gameplay: 70%
Originality: 70%
Replay Value: 60%
Overall: 75% (GVA II)
CLIFFHANGER (Sony Imagesoft)
This game is too hard!
I really would've liked it if it were easier. The snowboard
scenes were a blast, but almost impossible to complete. I can't
recommend this one to anyone. Graphics: 75%
Sound: 80%
Gameplay: 35%
Originality: 70%
Replay Value: 40%
Overall: 60% (GVA II)
FIFA INTERNATIONAL SOCCER (EA Sports)
This is the best 16 bit
soccer game I've ever played. Lots of options, good graphics, and
the most realistic sound possible on a 16 bit platform. Load
times are very annoying.
Graphics: 80%
Sound: 98%
Gameplay: 84%
Originality: 82%
Replay Value: 86%
Overall: 86% (Jason Estey)
JAGUAR (JVC)
A real winner for the
Sega CD. Everything fits well. Yet, nothing is perfect. I
especially like the graphics, and the ability to create your own
tracks. With many tracks, you keep occupied for weeks.
Graphics: 80%
Sound: 75%
Gameplay: 85%
Originality: 80%
Replay Value: 90%
Overall: 82% (GVA II)
JEOPARDY (Sony Imagesoft)
This game has Alex
Trebek asking the questions, uses the Jeopardy stage, and has the
acual Jeopardy music. What could be wrong you ask? Well, it also
uses the actual Jeopardy questions. If you can get these right,
your not a game player, your a bookworm. Very hard game!!
Graphics: 75%
Sound: 89%
Gameplay: 20%
Originality: 70%
Replay Value: 70%
Overall: 65% (GVA II)
JURASSIC PARK (Sega)
Not to be confused with
the action/adventure for the Genesis, this is a very slow paced,
educational puzzle game. Learn factual information about
dinosaurs as you explore the park and try to escape.
Graphics: 72%
Sound: 88%
Gameplay: 75%
Originality: 80%
Replay Value: 65%
Overall: 76% (Jason Estey)
LETHAL ENFORCERS (Konami)
Essentially the same as
the cartridge version, only with load times. A fair port of the
arcade version, but not
amoung my favorite light gun shooters of all time.
Graphics: 88%
Sound: 75%
Gameplay: 74%
Originality: 70%
Replay Value: 75%
Overall: 76% (Jason Estey)
LUNAR: THE SILVER STAR (Working Designs)
A classic RPG that
features some voice clips and short animated sequences. This is a
solid game, so thoroughly enjoyable that most RPG fans will
hardly notice the somewhat dated graphics. The battle system is
fun and fast paced, and the characters and storyline are well
designed. Definately a great game for Sega CD owners.
Graphics: 86%
Sound: 90%
Gameplay: 94%
Originality: 98%
Replay Value: 82%
Overall: 90% (Jason Estey)
LUNAR: ETERNAL BLUE (Working Designs)
The sequel to Lunar:
The Silver Star is probably the best Sega CD game ever made, and
definately ranks amoung the best RPGs of all time. The artwork
and animated sequences are astounding, not to mention the
thoroughly developed characters and the excellent storyline. Even
the battle system has been marginally improved over the original
Lunar, making Lunar: Eternal Blue a better game than Lunar: The
Silver Star in nearly every respect. Perhaps the only problem
with Lunar: Eternal Blue is that it is nearly impossible to track
down a copy. Count yourself lucky if you have the opportunity to
play this one.
Graphics: 97%
Sound: 94%
Gameplay: 96%
Originality: 98%
Replay Value: 94%
Overall: 96% (Jason Estey)
MEGA RACE (The Software Toolworks)
Dispite the impressive
graphics and FMV cutscenes, this is probably the worst Sega CD
game I have ever played. It's hardly even worth rating.
Graphics: 92%
Sound: 40%
Gameplay: 10%
Originality: 45%
Replay Value: 0 %
Overall: 37% (Jason Estey)
MICROCOSM (Psygnosis)
This is a rail shooter,
with FMV to boot. Hard to control, and linear gameplay make it a
loser. I didn't have much fun at all with this one. Don't rent,
don't buy.
Graphics: 50%
Sound: 68%
Gameplay: 12%
Originality: 50%
Replay Value: 30%
Overall: 42% (GVA II)
RISE OF THE DRAGON (Dynamix)
This game does a good
job demonstrating how the Sega CD can be used to create games
with plenty of depth. The storyline is good and the puzzles are
challenging in this sci-fi detective adventure.
Graphics: 81%
Sound: 81%
Gameplay: 75%
Originality: 93%
Replay Value: 70%
Overall: 81% (Jason Estey)
ROBO ALESTE (Tengen)
It's kinda too hard,
but I really liked this game. Great graphics, lots of powerups,
and constant action make it pretty fun. If your really good at
shooters, I'd buy it. Otherwise, pass.
Graphics: 95%
Sound: 80%
Gameplay: 50% (downgraded due to difficulty)
Originality: 75%
Replay Value: 78%
Overall: 76% (GVA II)
SEWER SHARK (Sony Imagesoft)
This game is all video
and no gameplay. I love the originality, atmosphere, and the
overall depth of the premise for the game, but the game itself is
very little fun to play.
Graphics: 90%
Sound: 90%
Gameplay: 15%
Originality: 95%
Replay Value: 5%
Overall: 59% (Jason Estey)
SONIC CD (Sega)
All in all, a worthy
addition to the Sonic series. Sonic CD doesn't feature anything
radically new except for a small animated intro sequence, CD
quality background music, and the option to save your game data
(including the time that it took for you to beat each stage).
Really, this is just another Sonic game like all of the others
that came
before it.
Graphics: 86%
Sound: 90%
Gameplay: 92%
Originality: 75%
Replay Value: 80%
Overall: 84% (Jason Estey)
STELLARFIRE (Dynamix)
No fun at all for me! I
hated this game. After I bought it, I felt totally ripped off.
The 3D is bad, the gameplay is boring, and the game creeps along
way too slow. I expected much more from this company. Big
disappointment! Graphics: 60%
Sound: 72%
Gameplay: 45%
Originality: 40%
Replay Value: 60%
Overall: 55% (GVA II)
TOMCAT ALLEY (Sega TruVideo)
I hate Full Motion
Video! You just can't get a varied gaming experience with FMV.
You are stuck to what the video dictates (Usually only one or two
choices). This is one of the better FMV games, but that's not
saying much. I'd pass if I were you.
Graphics: 70%
Sound: 85%
Gameplay: 50%
Originality: 50%
Replay Value: 50%
Overall: 61% (GVA II)
WING COMMANDER (Electronic Arts)
I love Wing Commander,
but this is one port that was never meant to be. There is voice
throughout, which is nice for the cutscenes, but the actual game
runs so poorly as to completely ruin most of the fun.
Additionally, the game control suffers severely from the lack of
an analog joystick, which makes playing the missions even more of
a pain.
Graphics: 70%
Sound: 90%
Gameplay: 30%
Originality: 80%
Replay Value: 65%
Overall: 67% (Jason Estey)
