Down and Dirty Reviews: Genesis -- T - Z

Over a hundred games here!  Sega has really out done themselves with the Genesis. You'll see a lot classic shoot em ups, action platformers, and much more but there are not a lot of those sports games reviewed because they are not my favourite.

The overall scores are out of 100.

The graphics, sounds, and gameplay are out of 10.

Score / Name
42 TALESPIN (Sega, 1992)
This game had a lot of promise because of all the other great Disney titles on this system like Aladdin and Castle of Illusion but sadly, the levels here are so long and so boring that it fails to make any impact with me. In the game you play as either big Baloo or the young Kit on a mission to find lost cargo in this action game. With it's bland graphics, high difficulty, and sucky music it's no wonder Talespin wasn't a hit on the Genesis.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 4

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19 TAZMANIA (Sega, 1992)

Tazmania is a action game starring that highly aggressive Warner Brother's cartoon character that likes to spin around and destroy anything in his way. The story is old Taz is on a quest looking for a lost egg but he has to go through a lot of dangerous levels first. Tazmania is loaded with some nice graphics and fun game play we seen in a lot of other platformer games out there. The only problem with the game was that it really gets difficult at times thanks to all the tricky jumps that force you to memorize each annoying stage.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 3
gameplay: 4

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51 TECHNO COP (Razor Soft, 1990)
I remember this game getting some hype for being somewhat controversial but in the end is it any good? So what makes this game so edgy? Well I guess it's the exploring human bodies by mere gun fire here which isn't so bad now of course. Sadly, the game itself is your typical action game complete with weak visuals and limited audio. Techno Cop is a good attempt to re-create a gritty anti-hero game but the action is repetitive and driving scenes are not too hot either.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 6
gameplay: 5
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68 THUNDER FORCE II (Sega/Techno Soft, 1989)

This game is famous for having a nearly impossible difficulty but it's still a fun overhead and side scrolling shooter that takes some serious practice to master especially since everything moves so quickly here. It won't be for everyone but Thunder Force II is worth looking into because of it's great graphics, sounds, and intense game play.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6

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92
THUNDER FORCE III (Techno Soft, 1991)

Part II was good but this one is even better. Thunder Force III drops the those weird overhead levels and focuses on those side scrolling stages that worked out way better. TF3 is a very intense and popular shoot em up with a great combination of excellent graphics, cool weapons, and 8 grueling worlds to master. The action may be too intense for some but it still comes highly recommend if you love shooters.
*Uncommon Genesis game
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 8

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60 THUNDER FOX (Taito, 1990)
Here is a good but somewhat slow action game that I bet few people heard of before, eh? In it you control a big muscle head and you kill a bunch of mindless grunts that get in the way kind of like Rush 'N Attack. It's nothing too original but Thunder Fox was still above average regradless.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 5

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54 TINHEAD (Spectrum Holobyte, 1994)

The first thing that really grabbed my attention about this funny looking 2D action game Tinhead here that the graphics where fairly colourful and detailed when compared to the average Genesis platformer. Although the game play is very simple for casual gamers, the jumping controls are horrible and it really ruins what could have been a fine title.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 5

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78 TINY TOONS: Buster's Tressure Hunt (Konami, 1993)
This Tiny Toons game plays a lot like a Sonic the Hedgehog game and that's not a bad idea to copy. In the game you play as Buster Bunny who's trying to save his friends from a brainwashing doctor. The graphics are good, the music is serviceable, and the game controls well too so what more could you ask for? Buster's Treasure Hunt is a solid adventure game for the kids out there.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 7

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33 TIME KILLERS (Black pearl, 1996)
Here is yet another simple one on one fighter with tons of blood and some oddball characters but no real substance either. This may be nothing new but this arcade game does have a good level of violence though and you can even cut off limbs of your opponent. Time Killers is hard to control so it still sucks.
*Rare Genesis game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 3
gameplay: 3

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83
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The HYPER STONE HEIST (Konami, 1993)
Here is a two player version of the four player arcade (TMNT II: Turtles in Time) game that was first translated to the SNES and now it comes to the Sega Genesis as well. In the game you join the semi-popular ninja turtles on another quest to save New York from the evil Shredder and his countless Foot soldier army that are shrinking down the city piece by piece. This game isn't a direct port of the arcade game either because it has some stuff removed or some stuff added in so it is a somewhat new experience. The game is a fun beat em up but if you played one Final Fight-like game you played them all. This was Konami's first Sega game ever as well and I bet Nintendo wasn't too happy about that, especially one this good.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

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67 TOKI (Sega/Taito, 1991)
This fun action game stars a weird but powerful spitting ape. The story here is you were once a normal caveman but some witchdoctor jerk steals your girlfriend and then turns you into a small ape. Fortunately, you are no pushover and you go out on a mission to get her back. Toki plays just like the semi-popular arcade version and it includes more levels not found there too. Toki is a good game but nothing we haven't seen in hundreds of other platformer titles.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

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38 TOXIC CRUSADERS (Sega, 1992)
Maybe Sega was buying too many licenses at the time because Toxic Crusaders is one of those names few people even heard of before? I think the cartoon show just lasted one season? Well the game isn't much better either. Here's a weak playing action game with confusing controls and awkward viewpoints so it's hard to see what's even going on in this mess.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 4

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72 TOY STORY (Disney, 1995)
The popular Computer Generated Disney based movie comes to the Genesis and it even plays better than the Super NES version because of the tighter controls. The game play really doesn't give the player a lot of freedom since the story in pretty linear but kids may like its simple appeal in different 2D and 3D levels.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 5

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63 TROUBLE SHOOTER (Vic Tokai, 1991)
In this oddly named game you help two scadtily clad young women shoot down their enemies in the sky in this fun little shooter. Although playing as a couple of hot chicks is cool, I have a question though? Why isn't this a two player game? It's nothing too innovative unfortunately in the game play department but the game still plays well at least.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

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74 TRUXTON (Sega/Toaplan, November 1989)

Truxton is a darn tough vertical shooter originally done by Toaplan in the arcades. In it you can select from one of three weapons that can be powered up over time but why do you only take one hit here? Your countless enemies comes from everywhere and there are no shield power ups in the game either. The later levels are just WAY too difficult and even worse thing is that the ending for this game just flat out sucks. I still like this game for some reason, maybe it's the killer graphics.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

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55 TURRICAN (Accolade, 1990)
This game is a very difficult but solid action packed shooter/platformer with a fully loaded main character. Your hero can use a electric beam, machine gun, and can even go into a samus-like ball but in a game this hard you're going to need everything you got. This Turrican has the least impressive graphics and sounds of this long running series and it can be hard to tell when you taken a hit too.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
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64 TWIN CORBA (Sega/Toaplan, 1991)
At first this game is really fun. The popular helicopter arcade shooter from the late 80's comes to the Genesis and you blast away at tanks, rival helicopters, and more with the ability to use four different weapons. So what's wrong? There is No 2 player mode.......why not!? Add to the fact that it's way too hard to be any real fun for casual players even though its a good arcade translation of a excellent arcade game thanks to the solid graphics and sounds here. Because of the difficulty this is for hard-core shooter fans only.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

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35 ULTIMATE MORTAL KOMBAT 3 (Williams, 1996)
The 4th Mortal Kombat game comes here on the Genesis too but you could count the new features on your hand. This one on one fighting game has a few new added backgrounds and a few characters have new moves (big deal!) but Seena is missing from the line up in this version and it still plays just like Mortal Kombat 3 so some fans maybe disappionted.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 5

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70 ULTIMATE QIX (Taito, 1991)

This old arcade favourite from the early 1980's about drawing to survive makes is a good and challenging sequel for its big return on the Genesis. This Ultimate Qix is packed with better graphics (compared to the original anyway) and more fearsome enemies to be careful like robots and giant centipedes of but the game play here isn't for everyone since you're just trying to create a new field by making lines. I still like it though because the challenge is there.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
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57 VALIS (Renovation, 1993)
The original game of this cult favourite finally comes over here but the weird thing was it came out after Valis 3 here in North America. Game play wise the game is a huge step down from Valis 3 since you only play as one girl here and there are only six short stages but it's still worth picking up just for the challenge plus you also get the story of how a young school girl named Yuko became a soldier to save a universe in peril in the first place.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 5

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70 VALIS III (Renovation, 1991)
Valis III is a very cool 8 meg action game about a bunch of warrior women who must free an altered universe from rising evil. In the game you slice and dice, whip, or use magical spells through hordes of monsters and demons. The girls are hot, the graphics are colourful, and this version even features better graphics than it's Turbo Duo counterpart. Sadly, the other version had more levels.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

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59 VAPOR TRAIL (Renovation, 1993)

Here's another shooter on the Sega Genesis that never got much attention but with it's boring graphics and weak voices I can easily see why. You can upgrade your guns kind of like in Gradius and there is two player support here as well so it is fun at least. In the end though I hate to say this about any video game but Vapor Trail deserves to be forgotten.
*Uncommon Genesis game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 3
gameplay: 6

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82 VECTORMAN (Sega/Blue Sky, 1995)
Vectorman is an excellent looking rendered action shooter with 17 levels with both action levels and overhead stages too. In this game the humans had escaped from Earth because of high pollution and several robots had stayed behind to clean it up. The problem was a powerful robot by the name of Warhead took over and wants to destroy the humans when they get back. In the game you play has a little green robot called Vectorman that can fire powerful shots and transform into vehicles to help you stop the evil Warhead. Although the game plays like every other action game out there, the game still looks fantastic and plays damn well.
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 8
gameplay: 7

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75 VECTORMAN 2 (Sega/Blue Sky, 1996)
Vectorman 2 isn't a big improvement over the last game but there a few new transformations and there is a new group of enemies to fight as well. I wished Sega had ported this action series to the Saturn or Dreamcast but it never happened. Anyway Vectorman is now fighting off a new group of bug-like enemies that invaded earth. The graphics are incredible, the music is awesome, and the action is as intense as ever. I don't know if we will ever see another sequel so this could be your only chance to play this fun and good looking action game here.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 7

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70 VIEWPOINT (American Sammy, 1994)
Talk about a real basic shooter! There are no real power ups here so you are basically using the same gun through out the entire game which may bore you to death even though the game has some sharp looking graphics. You can get some side options and bombs but for a game that was done in the 1990's the variety is just weak. This game is also on the Neo Geo and Playstation if you care..... no, OK.
*Uncommon Genesis game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 3

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46 VIRTUA FIGHTER 2 (Sega, 1997)

Do not be fooled by this Virtua Fighter 2 name here, this is nothing like the famous Sega Saturn or Arcade beat em up game. This Virtua Fighter is a bad looking 2D fighter has the 8 original characters and all but with Shun Di and Lion missing from the actually game, so it's not really Virtua Fighter 2 is it, uh? Again the music sucks and there are no endings for any of the 8 fighters either. Stay far, far away from this insult!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 3
gameplay: 5

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81 VIRTUA RACING (Sega/Am2, 1994)
To answer Nintendo's use of polygons in games like Stunt Race FX and Star Fox for the Super Nintendo, Sega came up with the SVP chip so they can do all these fancy 3D visuals too. In Sega's Virtua Racing you get to go across one of three different and well designed courses to earn championship gold. If you played the arcade game you'll be happy to know this game plays just like it and there are even multiple camera viewpoints as well. It's amazing to see a great polygonal racer like this on the system but sadly, Virtua Racing was the only Genesis game to use the custom 3D chip.
*Will not work on the 32X
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 9
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
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59 WARDNER (Mentrix, 1991)

Wandner is your basic arcade action platform game starring a young wizard. This game could also be once found in the old video arcades if anyone remembers it? I would have rated this higher if your main hero wasn't so weak making the game a lot harder then it needs to be.
*Uncommon Genesis game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
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40 WAYNE'S WORLD (Thq, 1992)
After playing the rather lame Snes version of Wayne's World video game I was hoping the Genesis version edition would have fixed some of the issues that was holding that title back. Well, let's see. Like the movies and Saturday Night Live skits the game stars a local tv host named Wayne Campbell as he goes on a surreal mission to rescue his friend Garth from a weird purple cube monster. Although the digital graphics of this action platformer looked OK they were noticeable darker and faded then the Snes game and the music and sound effects also take a hit as well. Of course presentation isn't everything and as long as the game to play, eh? Sadly the game play is even worse because the controls have the jump on the B button and the attack mapped out to the C which is reversed from most platformers out there and the same tedious long levels and cheap enemies abound to try anyone's patience. Yeah, the Super Nintendo one is better in every aspect but in the end they both still suck and I say they are not worthy so just avoid them both.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 3
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63 WHEEL of FORTUNE (Gametek, 1992)
The popular and long running TV game show about a giant wheel and various phrases comes to the Sega Genesis as well and it's a fun game for about a half hour anyway. The single player isn't much fun in other words but the multi-player can be challenging if your friends know what they are doing here?
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
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71 WONDERBOY in MONSTER WORLD (Sega, 1992)
It's cool to see this fun action series make its return. This plays a lot like Wonderboy in Monster Land for the PC Engine and Sega Master System where you control a young soldier on a mission to kill stuff with his sword but now you can get help from some new friends and the there is even a Save option available too. This game looks crude but it is still plays great.
*Battery back up game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 7

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68 WORLD of ILLUSION: starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck (Sega, 1993)
This Disney game is not nearly as polished as Sega's earlier Castle of Illusion also on the Genesis but at least this is a two player game now so your friend can get involved in the platforming action here. Too bad your friend may not stick around for a mediocre kid's game here.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

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48 X MEN (Sega, 1991)
This X Men game sounds interesting enough with its two player option and 4 playable characters each having their own special mutant powers like Wolverine's claws or Cyclop's laser eyes. It's a great idea but the action was way too slow and choppy looking for my taste plus the game is hard as hell. X Men was a big disappointment for me.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 2
gameplay: 7

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65 X MEN 2: Clone Wars (Sega, 1995)

Although this game is much better than the older Sega version of X Men thanks to the clearer graphics and sounds, it's still only average at best as far as action games go and the game ready slows down in the two player mode. X Men 2: Clone Wars has a lot of characters too but the action is nothing special.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

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75 Y'S III (Renovation/Falcom, 1993)
It's cool to see this action/RPG on the Sega Genesis but where's Y's book I & II? In the story Adol Christian travels to a peaceful village to see his friend's home town but there is trouble brewing in this new land and only you can help them. Although this action game is pretty difficult, Y's III is a solid 2D title with a good story and some good music too.
*Battery back up game
*Uncommon Genesis game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

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60 ZERO WING (Sega/Toaplan, 1991)

*European game
Although this game was never released to the North American market and there is little new here in this shooter that we haven't already seen before, this game still deserves some attention. Zero Wing has easily the worse Japanese to English translation in a video game ever. Remember the "All your base are belong to us" story line? Good for a laugh but be prepared for a challenging and long game as well where you get to blast enemies with 3 different weapons and even grab a few of them and use them as a human shield.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 7

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68 ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS (Konami, 1993)
In this weird B movie-like horror game you play as one or two kids that get to shoot down invading monsters, weirdos, and other creatures in their home town. This is a good but very difficult overhead action game with lots of levels and power ups and believe me you're going to need them. This game is nearly identical to the Super Nintendo game but the blood is actually red in this version of Zombies instead of purple. If you want a great action title and you hate easy games then get Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 7

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