Top 10 Sega Genesis Games

Here's a little known fact about me. The Sega Genesis is the first system I associate my gaming addiction to. It was the first console that I associated with. I played plenty of games due to Sega Channel, which was like GameFly before GameFly was around. You had this big unit on top of your Sega and it would stream games directly to you. I don't remember the cost and such as I was only 4-6 when I had it but it was freaking awesome. I played many of the games on this list that way. Sega Genesis is also probably my favorite console of all time or at least neck and neck with the original PlayStation. There were a lot of diverse games on the system and Genesis introduced me to series that I still play to this day. Let's start breaking it down!

10. Mutant League Football - I'm not a big traditional sports and I definitely wasn't back when I first played this but due to this not being a traditional sports game, I fell in love with it. Nothing to say about story or riveting characters but the football gameplay was nice for my first football game. Throwing passes and selecting plays all went smoothly. My favorite thing about this game was the fact you could kill other players by hitting them too hard and it would force the other team to throw in the replacements. You keep killing their team off and you can automatically win! It's a nice little gem on the system and shouldn't be missed.

9. Sonic Spinball - Much like MLF, Sonic Spinball was another first for me. It was my first pinball game I ever played and what better way to start it? Sonic Spinball is a spinoff of the popular Sonic the Hedgehog series and places Sonic as a pinball. You'll use the flippers to get Sonic through 4 different stages as you try to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. It's a pretty simple basis. Sonic will be treated like a pinball and you'll shoot him to attack enemies, go through secret passages and find Chaos Emeralds. At the end of each level is a boss fight, which also involves you shooting Sonic around in various angles so he can destroy Robotnik and advance to the next level. There are only 4 levels but as you progress, they get much bigger with various things to do on each stage so it's well worth the time to spend with it. Sonic Spinball is a good cash in on the Sonic name.

8. Phantasy Star IV - Another first! This was probably my first taste of a classic turn based RPG. If Genesis had any flaw, it's that there weren't too many turn based RPGs on the system. Besides Phantasy Star, there were other games that were released after the Genesis was good and dead, like Pier Solar, that carried the RPG banner high but nothing really during the length of the Genesis' life. Phantasy Star Iv had it all; lovely music, the graphics and environments were all beautiful and distinct (one second your underground, the next, you're at a circus) and the great gameplay that RPGs were know for. PS was different than the other RPGs as there was more of a sci-fi flare to it that neither Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest could touch. While being one of my favorite games on the console, regrettably, I have never finished this quest and unless Sega remakes these for the newer generations, it will probably stay that way. PS had taken such a different turn since it's Genesis days. It went from a turn based RPG to a dungeon crawling online game. It doesn't look like Sega will be abandoning that style anytime soon so it looks like I'll one day have to finish this from my Sonic's Ultimate collection as that will be the last release they do of the game. Real shame.

7. Light Crusader - I played Light Crusader as a kid but it wasn't until I was 18 that I could truly respect the game for what it truly is. Treasure has made some, *cough* real Treasure on the Genesis. Dynamite Headdy, Alien Solider, the underrated McDonald's Treasure Land Adventures and of course, Gunstar Heroes. I've played and beat most of their games but Light Crusader is my favorite of the bunch. You play as Knight Sir David who, by order of the king, investigate a series of disappearances in the town of Green Row. What transpires is the usual fantasy lore. An evil wizard who tries to awaken a demon, etc. You get the jist of it. Gameplay is a mix of action and puzzle solving, like another great game on the console Landstalker. You travel through this labyrinth, which is filled with all types of secrets and treasures and puzzles. Some of these puzzles are rage inducing and it has a nightmare of a puzzle in an ice sliding puzzle late in the game. I see where Alundra got it from. Anyway, I love this game due to the challenge, music and overall fun of it. The puzzles are tough but once you get one right, the feeling is amazing! And the bosses can be a bit tough as well. It is a Treasure game after all. One of my favorite things about the game is the main character Sir David. The way he walks is too funny and whenever he gets close to dying, he exclaims, IT'S GOING TO KILL YOU! Who is he trying to tell? Light Crusader may not be Treasure's most well known game but for me, it's the best one.

6. Sonic 2 - This is my favorite Sonic game ever. 1 was the start and 3 was pretty good but 2 just did it for me. It captured everything that the series is known for in one amazing platformer. Right from the first button press and you're thrown into Emerald Hill Zone, you know you're in for a good time. The music just hooks you and you're running, collecting rings and learning what you can and can't do. The speed is better than the first one and of course, you can spin dash, which is so freaking helpful throughout the game. All the stages have fantastic music and Sonic 2 doesn't overstay its welcome. You can collect 50 rings on any level, get a checkpoint and do one of the insanely fun bonus levels, which provide you with the Chaos Emeralds and the ability to turn into Super Sonic in the game. There's not much really to say about it the gameplay besides that. Sonic 2 holds a special place in my heart and every time I play it, it takes me back to my childhood and to a time when things weren't so bad. Man, wish I could go back.

5. Shinobi III - Shinobi is awesome. While I loved the arcadey Shadow Dancer, it was Shinobi III that I fell in love with. Platforming action gameplay at its finest. Joe Musashi moves much faster and controls tightly. You attack enemies with kunai, which are in limited supplies. You can also do a running attack with your sword or a flying kick attack. All are good at disposing of the many enemies in your way, which will consist of ninjas, robots and pretty much anything else. I love the variety of levels in this game. You start in a forest, go through an industrial area, RIDE A HORSE, SURFBOARD, go through a living creature thing and jump around an airship. It's crazy and takes you through an action packed journey. It's nowhere as difficult as Shadow Dancer but the last level has made me rage. Perfecting your jumps for the airship rails is impossible. Seriously. Joe also has ninjustu attacks that take up the whole screen and should be used for tough bosses and sticky situations. Shinobi III is the best game in the series. It's not the hardest but it's certainly the best.

4. Beyond Oasis - No one really talks about this game. For reference, I looked up people's top Genesis games to get a basis on the general consensus and I didn't see Beyond Oasis. Why though? This game is amazing. It's basically a Zelda clone but it's distinct enough to warrant a playthrough. You play as Ali, who has found a golden amulet which belonged to a wizard who waged war against against an evil wielder of a silver amulet. Of course, Ali now finds himself in the middle of this age old conflict. Gameplay is Zelda like, as I've said. You run, jump and slash your way through the game's world. With the golden amulet, you're able to control spirits once you find them. There are four in total. There's a water, fire, plant and shadow spirit, all with different abilities. For example, the water spirit can heat you and put out fires. The fire spirit can burn things down, the shadow spirit can reach across long gaps etc. They all help you progress in the game. Ali always has his trusty dagger but you can get other weapons with limited use, like swords and bows, which can be used to kill enemies faster. Beyond Oasis isn't a long adventure and you're liekyl to get through it in 5-8 hours but what's there is fantastic. Along with Crusader of Centy, Beyond Oasis provides a great alternative to Nintendo's Zelda games.

3. Streets Of Rage 2 - The best beat em up ever. Yes, I said it. I'm a huge fan of TMNT IV, Double Dragon and Castle Crashers but SOR2 just does it so well. Going from Streets 1 to Streets 2 is a serious upgrade in its own right. 1 was a very slow and dark game while 2 is very fast bright. Not as fast as 3 but it's still pretty fast. You can choose 4 characters, series regulars Axel and BLaze but you also have newcomers in Skate and Max. Skate is a little kid whose brother is Adam from the original and Max is the big burly power of the group and my pick most of the time. It's your standard beat em up. Nothing real original but it's just executed nicely. SOR2 has some of the finest tracks on Genesis and the whole last level is an amazing build to the last boss Mr. X. It just does everything right so well . Streets of Rage will probably never be remade, rebooted or anything like that. I know it came close once or twice but I think Sega is done with this amazing franchise. Oh well, I still have this game to take me back.

2. Castlevania Bloodlines - This is my first Castlevania game. I've since went and played the originals but this was the one that introduced me to the series and what an introduction indeed. This is when Castlevania games were still linear level based games. It's a game design that fits them. You have a choice between two characters, John Morris and Eric Lecarde. John uses a whip for the more traditional CV players and Eric uses a spear. I always pick John for obvious reasons. You go through each side scrolling level trying to kill and avoid the various creatures in your way. Skeletons, mermen, bats etc. They all stand in your way. You can get powerups for your weapon of choice to make them stronger and what kind of Castlevania game would it be without the trusty side item. They really make a difference. Bloodlines, at least as a kid, is pretty tough. It has the old cheap CV tricks the games are known for and you'll die plenty of times due to them. Overall though, it's a great game and one that every Genesis owner should experience.

1. Shining Force - No game on this list is more loved for me than Shining Force. Shining Force was basically my first trip into an RPG even before PSIV. My brother used to play this all the time and I loved watching him play it and that's when my love for the game began. I eventually got a chance to play it myself and it's still one of those games I play all the way through every couple of years. Story is the usual boy and heroes versus the world but the turn based strategy gameplay is fantastic. You moves your troops, the opponents move, eventually you meet up somewhere and start fighting. You'll be given different classes of character, like archers, mages, monks, warriors, etc. It's not customizable like Final Fantasy Tactics but for my first SRPG, that's a good thing. Once you level up the particular character to level 10, they are able to get a class change and become stronger than before. There are also secret party members to access in the game that make late game battles a bit easier. Shining Force is a fantastic game, one that shouldn't be overlooked by Genesis owners. Gameplay phenomenal, music great and fun factor through the roof. SF2 is just as good and only improved on what made the original so great. The Shining series took on a new form with later releases and never got back to the SRPG style. I'd kill for new game in the series though...

There you go! My top 10 Sega Genesis games. Give me your list in the comments below!