I grew up on the SNES so I never owned a Genesis at any point in my childhood. Now, I pretty much own anything I'd like to play on my SNES. So id like to experience the other side of the 16bit world I missed out on!
So which gen console is best to pickup? After reading a bit I gathered that there was no factory svideo so a mod is necessary on any of them.
I have a pretty good idea of which games to pick up as well, as I'm mostly into shooters, and beat em ups. But any suggestions are welcome!
What's this got to do with the price of fish in Denmark?
Rot bomb incoming!!!
The Gen 1 console has always served me well as it has stereo out (the front 1.5mm jack). I don't think the other generations have stock stereo out. You can certainly mod it to get stereo out the back though. You will get some color bleed or the "rainbow affect" which S-vid can definitely help reduce and will sharpen the overall picture.
I grew up on NES & SNES too but considering I'm a Shmup fan, a Genny was a must for me to play those classics like Lightening Force, MUSHA etc. etc.
Happy hunting!
i collect genesis stuff and this is a decent guide.
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...951#post161951
i have about 7 model 1 genesis, and the non-tmss ones are the best but experience really noticeable rainbow banding. i'm using rgb with one of my non-tmss units and it's excellent, huge improvement and best sound out of any other model.
you'll want to get a scart cable like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis...item2ec5c2bbe8 that uses the stereo headphone output instead of the mono out from the connector.
as far as game, i would recommend these series:
- sonic
- streets of rage
- phantasy star
- golden axe
as far as shooters go:
- gaiares
- thunderforce
- final zone
others:
- altered beast
- rocket knight
- landstalker
This thread should have been posted in Unrelated.
If you are really into shooters get a MegaDrive. I like the model 1 the best; it's a classic. You can use the headphone jack to output stereo sound to you TV. Only the later games were region locked, near the end of the Genesis life. If you are interested in the CD add on, just get the model 2; they are cheaper, more reliable, and easier to find.
Shiet My bad! I'm using this tapatalk forum app on my iphone and its messing me up! Please move it if necessary
Don't forget there's a few revisions of the model 1 around as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo Ash
Yes, generally speaking, the ones that say "High Definition Graphics" are the good ones, although that isn't always 100% accurate. If you're a baller, the X'Eye and CDX are both good combo Genesis/Sega CD units as well, but are expensive.
I have the Model 1 VA 6.8 and it is just right. It has the TMSS, but is of slightly better quality due to no rainbow banding and same audio as the earlier ones. The only downside to S-video modding is that you will get vertical jail-bars on all CXA 1145 chip type systems just about. The Model 2 with CXA 1645 are better for composite out and S-video modding, but most of those have not quite right sound. The only Model 2 that has both good video and sound is pretty much the Model 2 VA 4.
Go with a Model 1 VA 6.8 and get an RGB SCART cable and an RGB to Component convertor if you want the most out of the Genesis experience on a NTSC US/Canada CRT. The earliest models are fine if you really want a non TMSS system and don't mind some rainbow banding.
BTW, start with Thunder Force 3 and 4 (Lightning Force in US) for a good blow your mind shooting experience. As for beat-em ups, it goes with saying but.... yeah, start with Streets of Rage 2.
I went that way about three years ago and in about 9 or so months afterwards, I sold everything I got. Including the modded sega nomad's I made. If you grew up with Nintendo, it's not the same with sega. Besides maybe the dreamcast. good luck
Yea I know a lot of people that grew with nintendo stuff and find it hard to get into genny, still prolly one of my fave systems of all time.Quote:
Originally Posted by wyndcrosser
I actually went the opposite direction, grew up with NES and SNES, but because I love fast paced action games like shmups, I barely touch any of my old snes stuff but I play genesis/megadrive stuff pretty frequently!Quote:
Originally Posted by wyndcrosser
I also really like the genesis because anytime I find games in the wild it's cheap while snes games seem hard to come by and never cheap :(
Splatterhouse 3
I also grew up with NES & SNES, but then got into Genesis in the late 90's, and then never looked back. Nah, I didn't start hating Nintendo or anything like that, but it's gotten to the point that I think SNES is the worst of the big 4 of that generation, and the most over-rated console of all-time perhaps. I used to love the JRPGs, but I don't have time for them anymore, and the slow CPU killed SNES's chances of being a powerhouse for arcade type games and shmups.
This is also completely preferential, but I actually dislike SNES sound in general, that muffled sounding pseudo-orchestration kind of sound. The music in some games is better than others, but that kinda of sound isn't impressive to me anymore like it was back in the early 90s; these days I prefer the unashamedly "video gamey" kind of sound of Genesis, PC-Engine, and the Neo over it.
Anyway, I'm also strongly in the "High Definition Graphics" Model 1, via SCART cable through SCART to component converter box camp. Only caveat I have on that is that Genesis lacked color capabilities moreso than any other console of that generation, and to make up for that some games used really heavy dithering, and the programmers expected everyone to be using composite cables that mask the dithering. But the dithering is used so excessively in some games that I think it gets to the point where it looks bad sometimes when you're viewing it really sharply in RGB. So I actually have 2 GEN setups, both Model 1 HD; one Scart/RGB, the other composite. Just depends on how much dithering a game has on which setup I choose to play it on.
Since you're into shooters, I'm sure you're going to enjoy the hell out of the Genesis, have fun!
The dithering thing never really bothers me. Sure, it looks funny, but the increased sharpness/color clarity more than makes up for it.
Thanks for the links, that guide is pretty damn detailed!Quote:
Originally Posted by billbrasky
Thanks too for everyone else that has given their input, didn't think there was this much to know about the Genesis!
I never really liked the sound effects of Genesis, they sounded like farts most of the time. Additionally, a lot of the games felt not as polished as SNES games. With that said, there are still awesome games on genesis and awesome soundtracks.
Looks like the Genny has some good CAPCOM games.
-------------
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
--Chiki Chiki Boys
--Forgotten Worlds
--Ghouls 'N Ghosts
--Mega Man: The Wily Wars
--Mercs
--Saturday Night Slam Masters
--Street Fighter II' Special Champion Edition
--Strider
--Strider Returns
--The Punisher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rive.2FGenesis
This thread needs to be moved ;) Still if you want the best picture go with a model 1,and make sure it says high definition graphics on it.Unless you want it compact for playing cartridge&cd then a x'eye or cdx is fine.
The genesis does indeed have a good deal of shoot'em ups and that's why i bought one again a few years back.Not to mention i missed playing what the console offer.
Since its perfectly emulated these days.. I prefer to play MD games on my laptop hooked up to my plasma (on K fusion emulator) via VGA with the built in scanlines + filters.. looks gorgeous.. Also have a sega saturn usb pad hooked up for added awesomeness.
Only do this for convenience.. not really a rom hoarder.. I have 3 boxed mega drive systems and about 20 CIB games :)
Good vid. Wish they spent more time on a couple of my favorites but it's certainly comprehensive which is obviously the point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tron
Always loved Rolling Thunder 2 maybe because I loved the original in arcades.
Can't go wrong with Shadow Dancer as well.
GOD YES. For an arcade beat em up, that game is easily among my favourites of the system. Also consider looking up BattleToads, and TMNT: Hyperstone Heist. And while it's not an arcade styled game, I cannot give enough props to Castlevania: Bloodlines. Far and away my favourite Genesis game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Liq_Wurm
I'm checking out all these suggestions, and they look awesome! Man I missed out when I was a kid lol
Also noticed that the prices of many good games are pretty damn reasonable if not cheap. the SNES is such a fail in that dept.
Anyone else think that in general the box art for genesis games is just better than the snes?
I agree about the box art, and I much prefer the Genesis clamshell cases to the fragile SNES boxes.
I was a "Genesis kid" growing up. I later learned to appreciate the SNES, but I'm a huge Sega fan and will always have a soft spot for the Genesis. I'm quite happy with the Model 1 Genesis (although I own a few Model 2s as well - primarily to hook up my Model 2 Sega CD). It's worth mentioning that the Model 1 is the only model compatible with the North American Power Base Converter, used to play Master System games on the Genesis. The Master System has a solid library of games, and playing them on the Genesis is a breeze with the adapter and functional controllers (Master System controllers haven't aged well).
Back in the days I bought both SNES and Genesis. I have about 2x more SNES games than Genesis games though. The tiebreaker is mainly multiplatform titles that I mostly buy for the SNES, except for Mortal Kombat of course.
I grew up with the Genesis, so naturally, the SNES always looked better to me as that suited my grass is always greener on the other side kid-logic of the time.
But looking back, other than the needlessly low number of available colors, I still appreciate a few things about the Genesis - it's speed, the tendency to get the original arcade versions of games instead of the "Super" versions that the SNES sometimes got, and the way that EA ported a number of interesting PC and Amiga games to the Genesis, making them available to a wider audience beyond the PC gaming crowd of that era. Surprisingly, the Genesis versions of some Amiga classics are nearly as good their computer counterparts. And at the time, sports games and shooters had a nice home on the Genesis.
Watching current game streamers, you would think that everyone grew up with Nintendo and nothing else. (Perhaps in part because it's still not unusual to find 22 year olds who grew up playing a hand me down NES), but there was a time when, albeit just barely, Sega actually had slightly more market share for a business quarter or so than Nintendo did. At its peak, there were a ton of Genesis machines installed in homes.
get an everdrive
everdrive is barely a step above emulators.Quote:
Originally Posted by hyper
So today I picked up a gen 2 console with 2 controllers (3 and 6 button), hookups, and 12 loose assorted games for $45! Games of note are batman and robin, vector man, sonic 2 with the knuckles add on, the rest are kinda junky.
I cracked it open to see that it has the VA2.3 board, and from the link posted earlier it seems that it's the better of the bunch.
Overall, I think it's a decent deal to startup with!
Edit: also see that this thread still needs to be moved please and thank you
Congrats the picture and sound on a model 2 is ok,but not as good compared to a model 1.Also it doesn't hurt to have a everdrive md flashtcart for the console as well ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by funkified
I wouldn't recommend it if you're wanting to get into collecting legit carts.. but it's a great way to play unreleased games and hacks without looking into reprosQuote:
Originally Posted by Tron
I have one at the most it's a great way to play games with fan translations or for a expensive title.Beside it's added bonus it doubles as a converter letting you play mega-cd games on a sega-cd.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonny l3lanka
Oh so it works as a sort of multibios also? Never knew that! Great!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tron
1) Get yourself a Model 1, some Sonic games, a bit of Rocket Night Adventures, Castlevania: New Generation, Flashback, Gauntlet (4), and some Streets of Rage.
2) Grab a beer of choice. Preferably multiple beers.
3) Play + Drink
4) You will: Feel awesome. Get all the girls. Win Nobel Peace Prize.
Mortal Kombat II CIB
The greatest of Mortal Kombats
Yes. If you search around you'll find the region free bios that you could use with your everdrive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonny l3lanka
Oh ya I did want to pick up a gen 1, but this came up first and it was reasonable enough. Of the gen 2 revisions this seemed like it was the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tron
Step one never call it a 'genny' it's not some barren mule.
But in all seriousness, you can't go wrong with some of the givens here: Sonic 2 and Earthworm Jim. Two incredibly good games and EwJ doesn't get remembered enough by all the bornagain retro people. Sonic 2 is the best value for money on the platform period.
Then I would go directly to Streets of Rage 2 and the Thunderforce 3 + 4 and if those last three don't make you fall in love with FM chippiness sound of the Genesis... then the system is not for you and you should move on.
Well,if you ever get sick of the model 2 picture&sound the model one is fairly common and cheap to buy.Quote:
Originally Posted by funkified
I also didn't know this, VERY nice! Thanks for sharing that bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tron
My set up is pretty functional. I go with a model 2 with a model 2 sega cd. There's a couple of real hidden gems that make the sega cd worth it. I think the Terminator has some of the most kickass music for a game of it's time. Ideally, a CDX is the way to go for the space if nothing else when you got a fuck ton of consoles already hooked up everywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
The shmups are all pretty decent. Check out Wings of Wor, the game is brilliant and no one ever mentions it.
About the sound, I always liked the sound of the genesis music better than the snes. The snes does technically sound "better" but the genesis has a nice crunchy sound that's unique to that system. It sounds like an old video game and that's the charm of it for me at least.
you need to pick yourself up a copy of yu yu hakusho makyo toitsusen; it is one of the finest 16 bit fighting games ever made and well worth the price. I personally prefer the dragon ball z genesis game over any of its super butoden counterparts. the shining force games are also phenomenal. castlevania bloodlines is also worth checking out. oh and streets of rage 3
Yup just save a region free bios and it will let you play JP sega-cd titles.Quote:
Originally Posted by -D-
Streets of Rage 3?????Quote:
Originally Posted by 420neogeo
Total travesty of a game and literally killed the franchise!
If anyone is interested I have a like new mega everdrive deluxe from stoneage gamer(the best genesis flashcart) that I can sell. I never use it as all my cd games are jp as well as my unit and I own almost a full set of the games I want.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tron
PSX > 32X ?Quote:
Originally Posted by hyper
That was a long but interesting video. I think Undead Line looks fantastic, I'll try to snag a cheaper copy one day!
I have a soft spot for the Genesis. Even though the SNES was far superior, people just hate on it because the initial 3-button pad was probably one of the worst designs in controller history!
I was waiting for someone to say something like that. That's such an exaggeration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wookiemeat
Anyways, the Genesis is great. I grew up with an SNES, got into the Genesis as I got older. It's not worth comparing the two consoles at all. Hardware wise, library wise, third party support wise..
Just start slow, and don't be a fool like me and get sucked into the novelty of buying boxed Japan Mega Drive titles.
If you are going to game on a Genesis I strongly recommend getting one of these video encoders off of ebay. With this you would just get a scart cable for the system and connect it. The video quality is sharp and stunning. I have my RGB Modded AV Famicom, SNES, Genesis (model 1), SMS, Playstation, and Sega Saturn all going to a scart splitter then to this encoder. It is far better quality than any S-Video mod will get you and does not have the jailbars that are present on most the simple Genesis S-Video mods. It looks fantastic on my 35 inch Sony Triniton.
If you still get jailbars on a Model 1 Genesis with this or pure RGB simply lift pins 5 and 6 on the cxa1145 video encoder inside the system. The oscillator in the circuit that generates color is the source of most the interference that causes the jailbars in the Genesis, not the encoder itself as a lot of people believe. Lifting these pins should clear it up for you (It eliminated all jailbars for me)
Thanks for all the input!
Although I do prefer to collect legit carts, an everdrive would be a nice supplement to a collection. I didn't even know something like that existed until it was mentioned in this thread!
I am looking forward to playing Castlevania Bloodlines as I just picked up one on eBay (clam shell Konami version minus the manual) and also getting my hands on hard corps and giving that a go!