Sega Genesis’s 25th anniversary: The 5 games that defined the legendary console

GamesBeat: On its 25th birthday, we look at the five games that helped shape the Genesis’s legacy.

[ColManischewitz]

I would have Phantasy Star at No. 6 and Joe Montana at No. 7.

[Orionsangel]

I hate when people pick their personal taste in these sort of rankings. It's not about what you like, you need to think of the overall picture and what game realistically had the biggest impact on the Genesis. Whether you liked the game or not doesn't matter.

[miyamoto]

The Sega Genesis was the first real threat to Nintendo's empire. Gave Mario a "run" for his money.

Strider
Sonic the Hedgehog
Streets of Rage 2
Shinobi 3
Thunder Force III
Phantasy Star IV
Gunstar Heroes
Yu Yu Hakusho
Castlevania Bloodlines
Street Fighter II CE
Megaman: Wily Wars
Aladdin
Golden Axe
Herzog Zwei

So many awesome games with killer gameplay and sounds!

CEO Tom Kalinske- such an awesome CEO that did the impossible against Nintendo

Yuzo Koshiro the Great video games musician!

Sonic Team!

and

Mark Cerny - producer of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, and the PlayStation 4!
Sega Genesis is on Mega Drive

[Aquariusgamer]

shinobi 3
phantasy star 4
sonic 2
shining force 2
ecco the dolphin 2
chakan the forever man
streets of rage 2
lightning force

just off the top of my head, those are the games that defined genesis for me. great console.

[3-4-5]

* Sonic 2
* General Chaos
* Herzog Zwei
* Star Control
* Sunset Riders
* Monopoly
* 3-in-1 game packs
* MicroMachines
* World Series Baseball '95
* Evander Holyfield Boxing
* Rock n Roll Racing
* American Gladiators
* California Games
* Sonic Spinball
* Bonkers
* Risk
* NHL '96
* Fifa '96
* PGA Tour Golf '93
* Mick n Mack
* Streets of Rage 2
* Road Rash 2&3
* Desert Strike
* NBA Jam
* Super Hang On
* Columns
* X-Men 2
* Mutant League Football & Hockey
* Aladdin
* Lion King
* Jungle Book
* Shadowrun

So many good games

[darkronin229]

Totally missed out on the Sega Genesis era. I jumped from the Super Nintendo to Playstation 1.

[darthv72]

If you enjoy gaming, you owe it to yourself to take a chance on it. Its a simpler time but one that was very rewarding.

[smoothdude]

Oh the memories of mortal kombat through elementary school. My favorite console off all time has been the Dreamcast :)

[GamingSinceThe80s]

Get the "Sonics ultimate game collection" for ps3/360 it has almost all the greats for only $20.There is over 40 games almost all them winners.It has got to be the best game collection ever put together for a legit retail sale.And all for less than 50 cents per game.Plus they have a picture of every box front and back and a short history of them it's a nice little added feature .Google it if you want to see the full games list.As there are way to many great games to name here.lol

[ElementX]

Joejam and Earl, Sonic, Ecco.... those bring back memories

[TXIDarkAvenger]

I still have mine with Street Fighter and Sonic 3D Blast I believe.

[Emanno]

I wish Sega could replace Microsoft for Xbox brand.

[SegaGamer]

Hmm, i don't know. I love SEGA but at the same time i hate them. They are a shadow of what they used to be and tend to let the fans down far too much.

They just ignore us completely these days and never answer our questions.

[SkullBlade169]

Sonic 2, Streets of Rage 1 & 2, Starflight and Road Rash 3 are the ones I have the most fond memories of.

[MetalJedi]

I bought the system for Streets of Rage.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

So many memories. I even got Sega CD and 32X when they came out.

[SaiyanFury]

I still have my original Genesis and it still works as well as the day I opened it under the tree for Christmas. I still have all of my original games. I was kind of disappointed to not see Shining Force II on that list, but I suppose everyone has their own top 5 or ten or whatever count list. I've also got my original SEGA CD and 32X still affixed. I love my retro setup, haha. :)

[Gatsu]

Sega Genesis top 5 from my good childhood times, still play some:

1.Gunstar Heroes (still remember the story, epic coop mode+awesome OST. It got also some of the coolest boss fights)
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
2.Kid Chameleon (long and hard game + love the OST :D )
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
3.Mortal Kombat (MK, enough said)
4.Streets of Rage (epic coop to beat the crap outta some hobos)
5.Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (supersonic was cool)

Good old days :), when I or maybe many others didn't care about graphics or game length at all... Was just about having fun. Sega games still rock this day.
Truly deserves a place amongst the greatest consoles in history. Thanks Sega Genesis :) !

[Dante81]

Shinobi III - One of the best action games from the 16-bit era. Just listen to the track "Whirlwind" from that game, it's sublime.

[Klonoa-dreamtraveler]

sonic the hedgehog, streets of rage, altered beasts, power rangers, battle toads, double dragon, mortal kombat, spiderman, teenage mutant ninja turtles, earthworm jim, and alot of other games etc. good days memories still have my genesis.

[GW212]

Ecco the dolphin. Jesus was that game hard. I was just a kid back then... pretty sure the heartless bastards that made that glorious game brought me to tears on multiple occasions.

[Petebloodyonion]

Wow it's already been 25 years already?

I can't agree with Altered Beast Toe Jam and Ecco on this list and they should be replace by:

1) NHL hockey 94
If you were a sports fans in the days. this was the sole reason to own a Genesis. I saw many ppl trade up their SNES for EA's NHL games. If Ea Sports exist now it's due to this game.

2) Street of Rage
Take that single player Final Fight!

3) Aladin
After Sonic it's the best selling game on the Genesis

[SegaGamer]

The games that i remember most from that console are.

Sonic 2
Super Hang On
Streets Of Rage 1
Shining force 1 and 2
Golden Axe 1 2 and 3
PGA tour golf
Jungle Strike
Desert Strike

Also playing multiplayer was so much fun back in those days. Me and my brothers would play together so often back then. But once the PS2/Xbox came out we would rarely ever play together. Only Halo and Star Wars Battlefront really.