Retro Fusion looks back and celebrates the Sega Mega CD!
Posted by jdanddiet on Jul 10, 2010 21:08 (Jul 10, 2010 21:08)
Much better was Thunderhawk, a superb helicopter blaster that offered much more freedom although ultimately it was still quite limited, especially after having completed it. Better still was Silpheed, a classy 3D shoot 'em up that boasted impressive visuals and a magnificent soundtrack (although this was a given for many Mega CD titles). I recall some tremendous explosions and other pretty effects wowing me at the time, although the game was a tough beast to play.
The Mega CD version of Prince of Persia was excellent as well - I never played the Mega Drive version but assume it's a port from that or the PC; in either case, the famous rotoscoping animation is a joy to behold and the gameplay not bad as well. On the other hand, the movie license Dune was a bit disappointing; the graphics were accomplished and the soundtrack awesome, but it involved too much traipsing around (like Sherlock Holmes, to which apart from the Sci-fi setting, it was quite similar) and this sucked a lot of the fun out of it.
Finally my favourite Mega-CD Game: The Terminator. I never liked the Megadrive version, but the Mega-CD offered up a game, that whilst basically the same (a side scrolling platform run and gun), was tremendously playable and again featured some superb music as well as the de-rigeur cut scenes. Unlike many Mega CD titles, it still fetches a few quid on Ebay which is a testament to it's quality.
So what of now? Well, I'm acutely aware I missed out on a number of classics for this failed add-on: Snatcher, Double Switch, Final Fight CD and Shining Force CD are all pretty good games and alas pretty pricey too. My mark 2 Megadrive is long gone with a bigger but sleeker Mark 1 my console of choice now, so should a Mega CD mark 1 comes along then who knows...
Good article though I have to disagree on Road Avenger. It's actually pretty fun if you just go with the flow, try to enjoy the story and learn the correct responses, just like Dragon Lair it's not to everyones taste but when it's got Knightrider style action scenes....
Another nice article , i was (like others at the time) desperate for a mega cd , finally got one in 94 along with Sonic cd , Road avenger / Arcade classics etc . Paid £100 second hand off a mate for it and i still have it and it still works fine , pick up games here and there , bought brutal paws of fury last week for £2 at a car boot !
Mega CD fanatic here.. going for a complete PAL set here... 62/94 thus far! Include lots of rare (but not expensive if you know where to look games)
Final Fight CD Pricey.. I dont think so.... Is about 5-10 quid tops or was...
Sherlock Holmes RAWKS!!!!!!
Nightrap was already at least 4 years old when released on Mega CD it and Sewer Shark were filmed for a defunct VHS system.
Other good games not covered Batman Returns, Jag XJ 220, Keios Flying Squadron, Robo Aleste, Starblade, Surgical Strike, Puggsy F1 World Championship and so on there are some class titles out there
For what it is Road Avenger is quite good, much better than Cobra Command which is more glitchy than owt and the FMV works well in Microcosm, and the Lethal Enforcer as well as Surgical Strike and the Make My Video games
Thanks and excellent article! We bought this when it first came out and paid either £199 or £249.99 with Road Avenger. But then 6 months later it was being sold for £99 with 10 games! Couldnt believe it. Oh the looking for about an hour trying to find naked girls on Night trap, erm let;s say you werent the only 1 who did it he he. Anyway, I really do think The Mega CD was amazing and it never ever did get the credit it deserved as it was out the market as soon as it went in!!!! Was well ahead of it's time
I really wanted one of these at the time but couldn't afford it. I eventually bought one for £5 from Dixons on a clearance sale but did not have a MD with me at the time to try it on. I eventually sold the machine on eBay before I left the UK without once getting to try it and so had to sell it as 'untested' and didn't get much. I think Sonic CD was the main game that interested me, and I thought the Road Avenger screen shots looked amazing but can see from this article it was awful.