Ecco Jr. is a calm, welcoming video game designed especially for young players. Unlike many action-heavy games, Ecco Jr. focuses on exploration, learning, and creativity in a peaceful ocean environment. It serves as an excellent introduction to video games for children, offering a safe and encouraging space where curiosity is rewarded and there is no pressure to “win” or fail.

The gameplay revolves around simple exploration and gentle problem-solving. Players swim through colorful ocean areas, interact with friendly sea creatures, and complete small tasks that encourage observation and experimentation. These tasks are intuitive and clearly communicated through visuals rather than complicated instructions, allowing kids to understand what to do without needing advanced reading skills.

Ecco Jr. also has strong educational value. As children explore the ocean, they are introduced to marine animals and environments in a friendly, engaging way. The game encourages curiosity about sea life and nature, helping kids learn through play rather than formal lessons. Because the game rewards exploration, children are motivated to pay attention to their surroundings and try new ideas, supporting early problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

The game also encourages creativity. Children can experiment with swimming, interacting with objects, and discovering hidden areas, all without fear of making mistakes. This freedom supports imaginative play and helps kids feel in control of their experience, which is especially important for building confidence.

My favorite parts are you can play as another dolphin or an orca. At the title screen, you are given the option to play as three characters, Ecco Jr, an orca named Tara, or an Atlantic dolphin named Kitnee.

It looks and sounds a lot like the original. The fish, scenery, and sounds are as incredible as the original. Meeting Big Blue is also very impressive.

One of the most important strengths of Ecco Jr. is that it removes many of the elements that can frustrate kids. There are no enemies, no timers, and no ways to lose the game. Kids are free to explore the underwater world at their own pace, which helps build confidence and keeps the experience fun rather than stressful. This makes Ecco Jr. especially suitable for younger players or children who are new to gaming.

Older children or kids who enjoy fast-paced action games may find the experience too slow or uneventful. There isn’t any enemies, air meter, damage meter, or puzzles. There isn’t any damage from rocks or sharp coral, No need to resurface or find any hidden air pockets. Some kids may find it so simple that they may get bored with it after awhile.

It’s just 18 levels of completing mundane tasks. No bosses or power ups. Therefore not much replay value for those who like to complete objectives.

Overall, Ecco Jr. stands out as a thoughtful, gentle game that respects young players. It combines fun, learning, and exploration in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. For parents looking for a safe, educational, and calming video game, Ecco Jr. is an excellent choice. It proves that games for kids don’t need action or competition to be engaging—they just need curiosity, kindness, and room to explore.

I like Tides of Time and the original better than Ecco Jr. Then again I’m an adult so I think that a younger audience will enjoy it more.

Sega Genesis Games for Kids: Ecco Jr. brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Ecco Tides of Time takes place on Earth this time. The Vortex have followed Ecco back to Earth to colonize it. Ecco has to thwart the Vortex queen’s plans again.

Overall the new version isn’t that much different from the original. Much of the sounds and music are recycled. The mechanics have a few upgrades, such as the the 3d swimming levels and occasionally morphing Ecco into new animals.

The main upgrade is in the levels, which more than make up for any shortcomings. The Skyway and Vortex levels are awesome. Ecco Tides of Time feels more like an expansion pack to the original, but one very much worth getting.

My favorite parts were the Metaspheres to transform Ecco into different creatures. These are also in the original, but schools of fish and the vortex drone were fun additions.

The Skyway levels, Atlantis levels, and Vortex levels were great. All the new levels were welcome additions as far as I’m concerned. That’s what made the first Ecco so great. Swimming around fighting off enemies.

The puzzles were also a treat. I like puzzles, so anytime I came across one in Tides of Time it was fun to figure it out.

I didn’t care for the 3D swimming levels. Sure, they were new but they were a bit boring. Timing perfect jumps just didn’t appeal to me.

The Vortex maze before the final boss was a bit annoying. I’m not a fan of mazes. It seems frustrating to be zoomed in while trying to navigate through a maze. True, every level is a bit of a maze but something about the narrowness of the Vortex maze was off putting.

Overall, Tides of Time was slightly easier than the original. I enjoyed the original so much the sequel is a welcome addition. It felt more like an expansion pack, but who minds a huge expansion pack for their favorite game?

If you like the original Ecco the Dolphin, then you should try Ecco Tides of Time. Much like the Sonic games from the Genesis, these sequel games add a few new features and tons of new content. But it’s worth it. Find a Genesis or emulator and give Ecco Tides of Time a try!

Best of Sega Genesis: Ecco Tides of Time brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

The player guides Ecco through wide seas on a journey to reunite Ecco and his family. Ecco learns space aliens are involved and even has to time travel to complete his goal. I remember it was quite different from most games of its time.

The visuals were awesome. The outstanding form and conception made up for any lack in quality. The coral, sharks, and fish were great. However, the prehistoric creatures, plants, and overal landscape during the time travel were stunning. The Roman city levels with all the marble columns and pools were incredible too. Overall the game has great visuals, gameplay, and storyline for an older game.

The game uses a side view with smooth motion in all directions. It primarily takes place under water but requires jumping above the water occasionally to breathe air and progress through the levels.

Ecco swims, jumps, and sings as he explores for clues and power ups. His songs are actually echo-location to help him scan the sea and fend off smaller enemies. The scan also finds paths and foes.

The game is nowhere near as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog, but does feels tense at times. The sea looks rich and alive. The music helps keep a cool mood. The game does require some skill and thought. I remember there were some hard jumps in the Roman city levels, rare air pockets on some levels, and many enemies in the prehistoric levels. The final boss was also incredibly difficult too.

I remember more good than bad though. Eventually defeating the final boss was a good feeling since it was so difficult.

Ecco the Dolphin stands apart from other games of the time due to its visuals and storyline. The game blends nature and danger. Ecco the Dolphin still draws praise from fans today. Which makes Ecco the Dolphin one of the Best Sega Genesis games.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Ecco the Dolphin brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Each version has its own style to be sure. But each version feels more like additional levels to the first game. They do get creative with the bosses, adding Tails, and power ups in each version. Each version does have a unique special stage too.

All are fun to play, so it’s hard to rank them. It depends on if you’re looking for a challenge, high speed adrenaline runs, or exploring the stages. There are pros and cons to each version. .

Sonic is all by himself in the original. Tails makes an appearance in Sonic 2. Tails can fly and proves to be a big help along the way. This invincible sidekick can score hits on the boss, trigger traps, and serve as a shield in general.

Player 2 can take over Tails and control him. But keeping up with Sonic is difficult. Tails is often left behind. Tails will eventually reappear after he goes off screen. Still, playing as Tails in Sonic 2 isn’t the greatest experience.

In Sonic 3 Tails and Knuckles are playable characters. Which is awesome. Playing as Tails is like easy mode since he can fly. Knuckles doesn’t fly, rather he glides through the air. He can also latch on to walls and climb. Knuckles can also punch through rock bariers.

While Knuckles sounds easier, his recovery during landing and weaker jumps hold him back a little. Using glide during a boss fight usually results in Knuckles getting hit by an attack when he lands.

Sonic is the only playable character in the original Sonic. Sonic 2 adds Tails. Who is controlled by the computer or player 2. Sonic 3 adds Tails and Knuckles as optional characters for player 1.

Spin dashing made its first appearance is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and every version since. Unfortunately, spin dashing is not available in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Spin dash works the same in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3.

Simply press down, mash the jump button to spool up, and let up to dash away. It’s helpful to quickly get up a hill, enter a slide at speed, or dodge a boss attack.

It’s so useful and common to every Sonic game, it’s hard to believe it doesn’t work in the original Sonic. Many times I find myself attempting it when I play the original. Waiting for Sonic to walk up a even a slight incline is incredibly tedious. It’s easier to go back, pick up speed, then move up the incline in the original.

Another difference between the three versions are the item boxes and power ups. The original game has speed running, temporary invincibility, and a single use protection bubble.

Sonic 2 doesn’t add any new item boxes. Rather, changes how the protection bubble looks. Sonic 3 added three new item boxes. The water shield, fire shield, and electric shield.

The water shield allows Sonic to breathe under water so you don’t have to keep getting air bubbles. It also makes Sonic bounce when doing a double jump.

The fire shield protects Sonic from low level fire attacks. Sonic does a fireball attack when doing a double jump. The fire shield is cancelled by going in water.

The electric shield lets Sonic jump a bit higher when doing a double jump. The coolest thing is it attracts every ring to Sonic as he goes by them. This shield is also cancelled by going in water.

Sonic 3 definitely wins as far as power ups are concerned. They make going through the stages and boss fights a lot more interesting. In Sonic 3, he does an attack when doing a double jump without any power ups. Which is notably missing in the first two games.

One of the best features of any Sonic game is the secret passages. The original Sonic typically had one or two on every stage. Sonic 2 doesn’t seem to have many on any stage. I did notice Sonic 3 incorporated more secret passages than the second version, they usually lead to item boxes or special stages. It seems shortcuts are mostly found in the original.

Every version of Sonic is great fun on the Sega Genesis. The additional features of the second and third version make the game even better. The lack of a spin dash or mid air attack are sorely missing in the original. Still, the original is a lot of fun to play.

The second version of Sonic is the hardest in my opinion. The stages offer more worlds to explore but are also short. There are many more bosses to face plus the very difficult Death Egg zone. Metal Sonic and the Death Egg Robot are the most difficult boss in my opinion.

The third version of Sonic adds new item boxes and a mid air attack, making this version the most fun to play. Being able to play as Tails and Knuckles is just icing on the cake. They really go all out designing the stages, making them fun to explore.

Each version has their own strengths and weaknesses. Yet, all three are so much fun to play I can’t really pick a favorite!

Differences between Sega Genesis Sonic Games brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Sonic 3 keeps the original feel of the game as far as the stages, moves, and enemies are concerned. It does bring some new power ups, bosses, and special stages. Sonic has a new attack too. When jumping mid air, hit the jump button again and he attacks.

The super sonic mode is the best. Getting all the chaos emeralds isn’t easy, but totally worth it to change into Super Sonic. The special stages are found throughout the levels.

The electric charge power up is my favorite. Sonic can do a double jump and attract all the rings near him. Watching all the rings being sucked toward Sonic is lit. The drawback is water disables this power up.

The fire power up is great too. Sonic shoots forward like a fireball when you do a double jump. The water one is okay. It’s main appeal is not having to get any air bubbles while under water. Sonic 3 also has the usual speed running and invincible power ups.

If you like searching through the stages instead of speed running, Sonic 3 is going to appeal to you. This version seems to have more hidden areas than previous versions. There’s plenty to explore in this version.

The bosses in Sonic 3 are good. There’s quite a lot of variety. Three involve water, but one takes place in the air. Tails flying Sonic around for that fight is my favorite. Several boss fights are more than one round. Meaning, Eggman comes back in another robot for more after being defeated.

The final boss isn’t as hard as Mecha Sonic and the Robot Egg from Sonic 2, but isn’t a pushover either. There’s two stages to the final battle, but you are allowed to take rings into this battle. You can even transform into supersonic if you want.

The special stages in Sonic 3 are among my least favorite. Don’t get me wrong, running around on a small checkered globe is awesome. It’s just I never got the hang of it. Still, this special stage is easy for some people. It’s a creative idea too.

The stages seem shorter. Even if you aren’t speed running through them, they do seem to go fast. There are transitions between boss fights so Sonic doesn’t just immediately start fighting the boss. Yet, those transitions kind of have the opposite effect. Instead of giving Sonic something to do before the boss fight, it’s a little boring.

The worst is the long scene before the final, final battle. First, you have to defeat Eggman while bowling balls come at you. Then, Sonic chases Eggman to his fortress in the sky. The bit with Knuckles is funny, but then there’s the long drawn out scene where Sonic is just flying.

If you used up too much time getting to the final boss in this stage, then Sonic runs out of time before he can win. Seriously, this scene eats up at least minute of Sonic just getting there. It’s fairly common to run out of time before you can score those final two hits to win. The next life starts with a full ten minutes, which is plenty of time to win.

In spite of it’s drawbacks, Sonic 3 is super fun. I’m not sure if it’s the excellent power ups, the new attacks, or the variety of stages and bosses. Whatever it is, it’s definitely one of the best Sega Genesis games.

It’s hard to imagine improving on the original, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3 does just that. Sonic 3 adds to the existing fun features of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Sonic 2 had all the running, ring collecting, bosses, and power-ups from the first version. Plus a few more features. It was an upgrade in every aspect of the term. The fact you could play with “Miles” Tails Prowler, as a sidekick, was awesome. The fact you could play as Tails was even better. Tails being able to fly did make the game easier

There’s a lot more enemies, landscape changes, and obstacles in this version. There’s roughly the same amount of level’s in both versions. Sonic 2 has more worlds, but only two stages per world. The original Sonic has fewer worlds but more stages per world. Sonic 2 packs many more bosses than the first one.

All the new levels and layout were improved as well. Instead of a basically linear flow from right to left in Sonic 1, stages in Sonic 2 worked their way back and forth and up and down.

The bonus rounds in Sonic 2 were totally different too. Sonic is running through a half pipe the entire stage. It’s my favorite special stage in the series.

The lack of level select or menu’s at all was one weak point about the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, they didn’t add it for Sonic 2, but there’s a way to unlock all the stages, final boss, and special stage. Similar to the first Sonic,

Some complained Sonic the Hedgehog was too easy, which is fair. Still, it was tons of fun. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 definitely is harder. In my opinion, Sonic Sonic 2 is harder than Sonic 3. Especially the final boss.

In my opinion, Mecha (Metal) Sonic followed by Death Egg Robot are the hardest bosses between all three Sonic games for the Sega Genesis. It’s great if you’re looking for a challenge. Especially considering you get no rings.

Sonic 2 also has more hidden enemies that jump out at you than the original. It’s much harder to hold on to your rings in Sonic 2. There’s many hidden enemies, spikes, and moving parts coming at you. There isn’t any less speed chutes or runs, but, it seems like you have to slow down and watch out more.

There’s so many worlds it feels like you’re constantly moving to a new world. You don’t linger, so to speak, on any one world. Also, there’s many more bosses to defeat. Sonic 2 doesn’t let any moss grow usder your feet.

Having a sidekick to keep you company is always a good thing. Tails scores hits on bosses, acts as a shield, and can fly you around. The second player has a harder time staying on the screen, but flying Sonic around is terrific.

The bonus stages are my favorite part. They have different colors, but, are basically the same. You just run through a half pipe dodging obstacles and collecting rings.

What makes many of these old Genesis games so great is the gameplay. Modern games have better graphics, but don’t always capture the fun of the old Genesis games.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is an awesome improvement over the original Sonic the Hedgehog. It adds more bosses and worlds, plus a new bonus stage.

If you liked the original, then you’ll like Sonic 2 even more. It’s has everything great about the first game plus more!

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

It’s just moving a puck around an ice rink and trying to shoot it into the net. But it’s easy to play and is very entertaining compared to the others.

The reasons 91 is better than other hockey games is simple. Scoring is easiest, there’s fighting, and you can play dirty. They make scoring difficult in subsequent games. Games after 93 dropped the fighting. If it weren’t for that one feature Hockey 95 would be great too.

The fighting doesn’t even happen all that often since it’s hard to trigger. Even when the fighting happens it isn’t anything like Street Fighter. You can throw punches and change the distance between the fighters.

By playing dirty, I mean you can score without shooting the puck. Simply skate toward the net and let the tip of your stick touch the side of the net. Shooting the puck into opposing players to knock them down is fun too. You can also get a speed boost by dashing along the wall, angling away, then check players with devastating speed.

Hockey 91 just seems to have more action due to the easier scoring, fighting, and faster pace.

Football, baseball, basketball, and even soccer games just aren’t very appealing to me. I don’t know how many failed passes I threw before finally getting a passing play to complete. Soccer is similar to hockey, but hockey is better.

Many sports games in my opinion have a steep learning curve just to play. But Hockey 91 is easy to pick up. There’s something about the players on the white background that makes them easier to see and track. The puck is also much easier to track vs a ball on a green background.

The size of the players compared to the size of the field is also excellent. Sometimes players are too big or too small compared to the field size. Hockey get’s it right.

Hockey is faster paced, has a the best playing field size, and fighting. Yes fighting! The fighting feature really adds to the game. They removed the fighting feature after NHLPA 93, which is why following hockey games aren’t as good.

I don’t know what it is about this game, but it brought out something in my wife. She’s the most docile, non-violent person I’ve ever met. In over 20 years of marriage she’s never yelled at the kids or me. She rarely plays video games. But this game made her laugh like no other.

She didn’t even bother to try and score. Just full speed checks. Into the glass, into the bleachers, or open field. It didn’t matter. She played just to check those dumb hockey players and get in fights as much as she could before time ran out.

Fighting was fun, but double checks were the best. That’s where a player get’s checked twice before falling down. They weren’t easy to pull off but somehow we mastered them. Laughing our heads off at those slow motion replays are my best gaming memories. It’s dumb I know. But it’s one of those cases where watching a player bounce off the glass or another player was so dumb it was funny.

Hockey for the Sega Genesis is hands down the best sports game on that system. I think Hockey 91 is the best version, with NHLPA 93 being a close second (93 added some blood -keep in mind this is low resolution Sega Genesis graphics). Hockey for the Sega Genesis is easy to pick up, fast paced to keep your attention, and offers plenty of action.

If you’re looking for some cheap laughs, check out NHL 91 for the Sega Genesis. Even if you’re not a sports game fan, Hockey for the Sega Genesis isn’t a game that should be overlooked.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: NHL 91 brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Rampage is another example of the Sega Genesis version being better than the arcade version. Sure you could shove quarters into this arcade game until you had no more. But playing at home with no need for quarters was much better.

You play as George the giant gorilla, Lizzie the giant lizard, or Ralph the giant werewolf. And there really isn’t much else to this game besides destroying everything in sight. You can punch, jump, or climb and that’s it.

Sure the military sends some assets your way but they’re little else than a nuisance in your quest to take down every building you see. On paper it doesn’t sound like much. But once you play it’s ridiculously fun.

There aren’t any bosses, side quests, loot, or real point. Just smashing things until your heart’s content. I should warn you that may take some time. I could play this game for hours.

There’s just something about this game. I’m not sure why it’s so fun. It isn’t the best graphics, sounds, or gameplay. It doesn’t take any skill or strategy. But once you start it’s hard to stop. Maybe it’s the simplicity of it.

It just captures the essence of video games. A fun way to blow off some steam or just relax. It does have some humor built in too. If you grab an electrical wire your character will get shocked -looney toons style.

There’s also some funny bits when you eat food that doesn’t agree with you. Occasionally, you’ll come across some food you can eat to restore a bit of health. Be careful to avoid the spicy food.

Also along the way the military will send a helicopter or tank. But a few punches and those go away. Pretty much the goal is to take down as many buildings as you can while being hurt as little as possible.

Rampage predates the Sega Genesis however it was made great on the Genesis. That version is the best as far as I’m concerned. The arcade game sucked too many quarters. The Commodore 64 version graphics were terrible as were other versions.

The Sega Genesis version elevated the game to it’s best. Many games have come and gone since then but Rampage holds up as a classic video game everyone should give a try.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Rampage brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was a great arcade game which ported very well to the Sega Genesis. Not all games ported well from the arcade. But this game worked great. Being able to play for hours at home was much better than dumping countless quarters at an arcade.

This game does get some flack for being difficult. Honestly, I never did finish it at the arcade. I’d run out of quarters. But at home I could keep playing until I got to the end. Only to be sent back to the beginning to start all over again. You had to get the (spoilers) golden armor and special weapon to defeat the final boss.

The game was so much fun I didn’t mind playing it all over again. It was difficult holding on to the armor but still not as hard as Super Mario Bros in my opinion.

Side scrollers had been around for a while but Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was memorable for many reasons. You travelled through several stages, had optional weapons, fought different bosses, and it had great music.

The stages had you starting in a graveyard, through a forest, across a decaying village, up a mountain, down underground caverns, and finishing with a castle inside a volcano.

Each stage had new enemies, a few old ones, and a boss. This was fairly new for games back then. Old side scrollers, like Defender or Moon Patrol, were pretty redundant and basic.

Ghouls ‘N Ghosts added more scenery, plus animated wind, fire, and water. Each stage had a different feel to it instead of being a slightly altered version of every other stage. Fighting your way up a mountain, down waterslides, and back up on a moving platform was mind blowing when it came out.

There were also seven different weapons to acquire. Each weapon had it’s own strengths and weaknesses. You definitely did not want the axe for fighting on the waterslide level or it’s final boss. Defeating that slug with the axe or sword was nearly impossible. However, the torch weapon made quick work of the slug.

On the other hand, the axe made the rising platform level easier. The daggers were handy throughout the whole game. The special attack for the dagger was great too. It temporarily created a clone, mirroring all your jumps and attacks.

Discovering each weapons special attack was a novelty since this was before the internet. Until you actually got the weapon and gold armor you had no idea what it did. Mostly I avoided getting the discus, axe, and sword. While seeking the dagger or lance.

Looking back the game is a bit on the dark side. It has ghouls, ghosts, devils, and scary looking bosses. In general, it was good vs evil. Still, the storyline is light which was common for games back then. Similar to Donkey Kong, the bad guy took your girl and you have to rescue her.

It sounds silly but I remember the bad guys were a bit shocking when it came out. The original Ghosts ‘n Goblins were much more tame compared to Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. It’s nothing like Mortal Combat or any of the GTA games. But the updated ghosts, ghouls, and evil looking bosses did catch everyone’s attention back then.

Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was an innovative side scroller game for the Sega Genesis. The game mechanics, sounds, and overall game play was much better than the original Ghosts ‘N Goblins. Both were known for being difficult. But with practice and learning the hit box size of your character it was a fun game.

There are several versions across platforms such as the SNES, C64, and others. But my favorite is the Sega Genesis Ghouls ‘N Ghosts version. I think it still holds up as a great game today and is worth checking out.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Ghouls ‘N Ghosts brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Road Rash was based on motorcycle racing. Not only was it a great racing game, it also included a little fighting. Being able to hit, kick, or strike other racers with a few weapons added to the fun.

Most racing games before Road Rash weren’t that great. Spy Hunter had some shooting and bumping. Pole Position had tires that needed changing. Test drive had a lot of cars and tracks. But most racing games just didn’t have much appeal.

They were redundant, predictable, and notoriously difficult. Simply grazing an obstacle or the edge of the track resulted in an instant crash for most early racing games. Developers eventually caught on and made racing games more forgiving. Who wants to play a racing game where you spend more time recovering because you bumped into something than actually racing?

Pole Position was innovative in that it allowed you to wander past the edge of the track or bump into other racers. Both moves that would punish your tires. A flat tire ended the race if you didn’t pit and change them.

Similarly, Road Rash had a damage meter for you and your bike. However, it takes many, many crashes to total it enough to end a race. It was rare. Taking out other riders wasn’t too hard. Especially with the chain or club.

Another feature found in early racing games were upgrades. Instead of handling, speed, or acceleration upgrades, everything was built into better bikes. Simply upgrading to a newer bike took the hassle of deciding on what attribute to spend money on.

Road Rash built on many features of early racing games. It also eliminated the worst features of early racing games, such as instant crashes, impossible timers, and lame animations. But it also added innovative new features.

Road Rash allowed the racer to slide around side to side and up and down. Eliminating a fixed position for a racer was a real game changer. Having the racer drift around a little with the track gave it a realistic feel.

Going up with the track, or shift from side to side is standard now. But that was a new with Road Rash. The racer also wasn’t just a fixed image. The rider leaned into curves, moved, and attacked other riders.

Combining racing and battle was nothing new at the time. Old games like Spy Hunter had shooting. But Road Rash had kicking, punching, and swinging with weapons. The detail and amount of animations of the racer was more than anything previous.

Same is true for the crashes. Most games had a generic explosion animation, or the car spinning out. But Road Rash animated the rider and bike going separate ways. Whether you hit a car, tree, another racer, or just crashed due to going too fast, the animations were funny.

Watching a good crash was as much fun as racing. The crash animations were top notch for Road Rash. It was the first racing game with rider and bike animations as far as I know. Being able to watch another racer being pushed into oncoming traffic was glorious.

Sure, in Test Drive you could see a bit of the destruction in the rear view mirror. But watching the devastation in Road Rash was a whole new level. Road Rash definitely represented a huge leap in racing games at the time.

Who wants to play a racing game where you spend more time restarting because of a crash than actually racing? Road Rash lets you crash, get up, and get back racing. The crash animations were so fun it made up for having to recover. .

On the other hand, the crashes were cartoonishly hilarious. As intense and challenging as the racing was, the crashes were silly. They really took things to a new level in Road Rash. Striking riders making their way back to their bikes was hilarious. Hitting trees, buildings, cars, and other riders was a treat.

Road Rash was to racing what Sonic the Hedgehog was to side scrollers. Both were game changers. I hadn’t got into racing games much before Road Rash. But after playing it, I was hooked.

It was innovative, had great animations, graphics, and the best mechanics of its time. It doesn’t compare much with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But the original Road Rash is still a good game worth checking out.

Best of Sega Genesis Games: Road Rash brought to you by: David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.