Newsgroups: rec.games.video
From: tmartin@dpw.com (Thomas Martin)
Subject: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Genesis reviews <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 21:49:54 +0000

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BIG Tom's Genesis Game Ratings <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

     HEY !!!! - You haven't been paying attention!  If you want to vote,
see (and actually read) the paragraph at the end of this article.  You will
also find the glossary there - which contains londer descriptions for the
games and ratings.

     Are you tired of spending $60 for a cartridge, getting it home, and
finding it would be best used propping up the coffee table?  Is 4 hours of
fun not exactly what you had in mind when you layed out those bucks?  Here
is a list of ratings, from people like you who voted their mind about how
good or bad their cartridges are.  Don't buy crap!


============================================================================

New entries since last post:

     Battle Master
     D.J. Boy
     Home Alone
     Klax
     Junction
     Lotus Turbo Challenge
     Merc
     Ms. Pac Man
     Ultimate Qix
     Whip Rush

============================================================================
			  # of  | Game   | Hours | # of |Votes|
Name of Game             Players| Rating |of Play|Voters|Tally| Description
============================================================================
Abram's Battle Tank          1    ***         40     2     6    Tank Sim
After Burner II              1    ** 3/4             6    17    Shooter
Air Diver                    1    ***                5    12    Flight Sim
Alien Storm                  2    **                 7    15    Fight & Jump
Alien 3                      1    *** 1/4     30     3    10    Platform
Altered Beast                1    * 1/4              7     9    Fight & Jump
Arcus Odyssey                1    ****         5     2     8    Platform
Batman                       1    ** 1/4      10     7    17    Platform
Batman Returns               1    **                 2     4    Platform
Battle Master                1    **          75     1     2    Role-Play
Battle Squadron              2    ** 1/2       #     4    10    Shooter
Buck Rogers                  1    ***                2     6    Role-play
Buster Douglas Boxing        2    *            #     3     3    Boxing
Bulls vs. Lakers             2    ***          #     2     6    Basketball
Captain America a/t Avengers 2    ** 1/2      17     5    13    Fight & Jump
Columns                      1    ***          #     4    12    Strategy
Cyberball                    2    **           #     1     2    Sports
Decap Attack                 1    ** 1/4             3     7    Platform
Desert Strike                1    **** 1/2    25     9    42    Shooter
Devil's Crash [MD]           1    *****              4    20    Pinball
D. J. Boy                    1    *                  2     2    Fighting
Double Dragon                2    *                  1     1    Fight & Jump
D & D War. o/t Eternal Sun   1    **          20     5    10    Role-play
Ecco the Dolphin             1    **** 3/4           4    19    Adventure
Elemental Master [MD]        1    **** 1/2           4    18    Shooter
El Viento                    1    ** 1/2      10     3     8    Platform
Ernast Evans                 1    *                  3     3    Platform
Evander Holyfield Boxing     2    *** 1/2      #     2     7    Boxing
Fantasia                     1    ** 1/4      30     6    14    Platform
Fatal Rewind                 1    *                  1     1    ?
Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge 2    **           #     1     2    Racing
Fighting Masters             2    ***                5    16    Fighting
Flicky                       1    ** 1/2      15     3     7    ?
Forgotten Worlds             2    ** 1/4             6    16    Shooter
F-22 Interceptor             1    **                 5    10    Flight Sim
Gaiares                      1    *** 1/4            7    24    Shooter
Ghouls 'N' Ghosts            1    *** 1/4     40     9    31    Platform
Golden Axe                   2    *** 1/2            6    21    Fight & Jump
Golden Axe II                2    ** 3/4             4    11    Fight & Jump
Greendog                     1    ** 3/4             4    11    Platform
Hard Drivin'                 1    * 1/4        #     3     4    Racing
Heavy Nova                   2    *            #     4     5    Fighting
Hellfire                     1    ** 1/4             4     9    Shooter
Herzog Zwei                  2    **** 1/4           7    30    Strategy
High Impact Football         2    ***          #     2     6    Football
Home Alone                   1    ***          6     1     3    Platform
Immortal, The                1    **          20     5    11    Adventure
Indiana Jones/Last Crusade   1    * 1/2              2     3    Adventure
Jewel Master                 1    * 1/4              3     5    Platform
Joe Montana Football    (I)  2    ** 1/4       #     7    16    Football
Joe Montana Sportstalk (II)  2    ** 1/4       #     8    18    Football
Joe Montana S.T. '93  (III)  2    ** 1/2       #    10    27    Football
John Madden Football    (I)  2    ** 3/4       #     9    25    Football
John Madden '92        (II)  2    *** 1/2      #     8    28    Football
John Madden '93       (III)  2    ****         #    12    50    Football
Junction                     1    **           6     1     2    Strategy
Kid Chameleon                1    *** 1/2            7    26    Platform
Klax                         2    ****         #     1     4    Strategy
Krusty's Super Fun House     1    **                 5    10    Strategy
Lakers vs. Celtics           2    *** 1/2      #     4    14    Basketball
Last Battle                  1    * 1/4              3     4    Fight & Jump
Lotus Turbo Challenge        2    ***          #     1     3    Racing
Mario Lemeux Hockey          2    * 1/2        #     2     3    Hockey
Master of Monsters           1    *** 3/4            5    19    Strategy
Menacer 6-pack               1    **          20     2     4    Light-Gun
Merc                         1    ***                1     3    Fight & Jump
Michael Jackson: Moonwalker  1    ** 1/4             3     7    Platform
Mickey Mouse: Castle of Ill. 1    *** 1/4     30     9    30    Platform
Ms. Pac Man                  1    ****               1     4    Arcade
M.U.S.H.A.                   1    *****              4    20    Shooter
Mystic Defender              1    **                 7    15    Platform
Mystic Quest:Mickey & Donald 2    *****              1     5    Platform
NHL Hockey                   2    *** 3/4      #    13    51    Hockey
NHLPA Hockey '93             2    **** 3/4     #     9    44    Hockey
Outrun                       1    **                 1     2    Racing
Phantasy Star II             1    *** 3/4            8    30    Role-play
Phelios                      1    *** 1/4            4    13    Shooter
Pigskin Footbrawl            2    **           #     1     2    Football
Pit Fighter                  1    ** 1/2             4    10    Fighting
Populous                     1    ***          #     1     3    Strategy
Powerball                    2    *****        #     2    10    Sports
Quackshot                    1    *** 1/4     30    10    34    Platform
Quad Challenge               2    **           #     2     4    Racing
Rambo III                    1    ** 1/4      20     6    14    Shooter
R.B.I. Baseball 4            2    ***          #     1     3    Baseball
Revenge of Shinobi           1    ****        40     4    16    Platform
Rolling Thunder 2            2    ***         40     8    24    Fight & Jump
Road Rash                    1    **** 3/4     #    14    66    Racing
Road Rash II                 2    **** 3/4     #     4    19    Racing
Shadow Dancer (Shinobi II)   1    ***                2     6    Platform
Shining in the Darkness      1    ** 3/4             6    16    Role-Play
Side Pocket                  2    **          10     2     4    Billiards
Simpsons: Bart vs Space Mut. 1    **                 1     2    Platform
Smash TV                     2    ** 1/4             7    16    Shooter
Sonic the Hedgehog           1    **** 1/4    20    18    78    Platform
Sonic 2                      2    *** 3/4     35    16    60    Platform
Space Harrier II             1    **                 4     8    Shooter
Speedball 2                  1    * 1/4        #     3     5    Sports
Spider-Man                   1    *** 1/2     20     8    28    Fight & Jump
Splatterhouse 2              1    ** 1/2      30     3     8    Fight & Jump
Sportstalk Baseball          2    **           #     4     8    Baseball
Star Control                 1    ****         #     2     8    Strategy
Steel Empire                 1    ** 1/2       5     6    15    Shooter
Steel Talons                 1    * 1/2              2     3    Copter Sim
Streets of Rage              2    ****        10    13    52    Fight & Jump
Streets of Rage II           2    *****       17     7    35    Fight & Jump
Strider                      1    ***                6    19    Fight & Jump
Sunset Riders                2    **** 1/2    30     2     9    Fight & Jump
Super Hang-On                1    ** 1/2       #     3     8    Racing
Super Hydlide                1    ** 3/4             5    14
Super Monaco G.P.            1    *** 1/2      #     6    21    Racing
Super Monaco G.P.- 2         1    ****         #     1     4    Racing
Super Thunderblade           1    ***                2     6    Shooter
Super Wrestlemania           2    **           #     3     6    Wrestling
Sword of Vermillion          1    *** 1/4     30     5    17    Adventure
Tailspin                     2    ***                2     6
Tazmania                     1    ***         10    13    41    Platform
Team USA Basketball          2    **           #     2     4    Basketball
TMNT: Hyperstone Heist       2    ***                1     3    Fight & Jump
Terminator                   1    *            2     2     2    Platform
T2: The Arcade Game          2    **** 1/4    38     7    30    Shooter
Test Drive 2, The Duel       1    *                  1     1    Racing
Thunder Force II             1    *** 3/4            5    19    Shooter
Thunder Force III            1    **** 1/4           7    31    Shooter
ThunderFox                   1    **           5     2     4    Fight & Jump
Todd's Advent. Slime World   2    ** 1/2             3     7    Platform
Toe Jam & Earl               2    **** 1/4    20    11    48    Adventure
Tommy Lasorda Baseball       2    ***          #     1     3    Baseball
Trouble Shooters                  ****        20     1     4
Truxton                      1    ***         15     3     9    Shooter
Ultimate Qix                 1    *            1     1     1    Think Fast
Warsong                      1    *** 1/2     60     5    18    Strategy
Wings of Wor (Gynoug)        1    *** 1/2            5    18    Shooter
Whip Rush                    1    **           4     1     2    Shooter
Wonder Boy in Monster World  1    ****        40     4    16    Platform
World of Illusion            2    ****               3    12
World Trophy Soccer          2    ****         #     1     4    Soccer
Zany Golf                    1    *                  4     4    Mini-golf
===========================================================================
137 games reviewed                    # Means can be played over and over



				  THE BEST
				  ========

Here are the games with a 3 star rating or more:
===========================================================================
 Game                                 # of   Votes   Game
Rating      Name of Game             Voters  Tally  Rating   Company
===========================================================================
*****       Streets of Rage II           7     35     5.0    Sega
*****       Devil's Crash [MD]           4     20     5.0
*****       M.U.S.H.A.                   4     20     5.0
*****       Powerball                    2     10     5.0    Namco
*****       Mystic Quest: Mickey & Don.  1      5     5.0
**** 8/9    NHLPA Hockey '93             8     39     4.88   Electronic Arts
**** 3/4    Ecco the Dolphin             4     19     4.75
**** 3/4    Road Rash II                 4     19     4.75   Electronic Arts
**** 5/7    Road Rash                   14     66     4.70   Electronic Arts
**** 2/3    Desert Strike                9     42     4.66   Electronic Arts
**** 1/2    Elemental Master [MD]        4     18     4.50
**** 1/2    Sunset Riders                2      9     4.50
**** 3/7    Thunder Force III            7     31     4.42
**** 4/11   Toe Jam & Earl              11     48     4.36   Sega
**** 1/3    Sonic the Hedgehog          18     78     4.33   Sega
**** 2/7    T2: The Arcade Game          7     30     4.28   Arena
**** 2/7    Herzog Zwei                  7     30     4.28
**** 1/6    John Madden '93       (III) 12     50     4.18   Electronic Arts
****        Streets of Rage             13     52     4.00   Sega
****        Revenge of Shinobi           4     16     4.00   Sega
****        Wonder Boy / Monster World   4     16     4.00
****        Thunder Force II             4     16     4.00
****        World of Illusion            3     12     4.00   Sega/Disney
****        Arcus Odyssey                2      8     4.00
****        Star Control                 2      8     4.00
****        Klax                         1      4     4.00   Tengen
****        Ms. Pac Man                  1      4     4.00
****        Super Monaco G.P.- 2         1      4     4.00   Sega
****        Trouble Shooters             1      4     4.00
****        World Trophy Soccer          1      4     4.00
*** 12/13   NHL Hockey                  13     51     3.94   Electronic Arts
*** 4/5     Master of Monsters           5     19     3.80
*** 3/4     Phantasy Star II             8     30     3.75
*** 3/4     Sonic 2                     16     60     3.75   Sega
*** 5/7     Kid Chameleon                7     26     3.70
*** 3/5     Warsong                      5     18     3.60
*** 3/5     Wings of Wor (Gynoug)        5     18     3.60
*** 1/2     John Madden II ('92)         8     28     3.50
*** 1/2     Spider-Man                   8     28     3.50
*** 1/2     Golden Axe                   6     21     3.50   Sega
*** 1/2     Lakers vs. Celtics           4     14     3.50
*** 1/2     Super Monaco GP              6     21     3.50   Sega
*** 1/2     Evander Holyfield Boxing     2      7     3.50
*** 4/9     Ghoul's 'N' Ghosts           9     31     3.44   Sega
*** 3/7     Gaiares                      7     24     3.42
*** 2/5     Quackshot                   10     34     3.40   Sega/Disney
*** 2/5     Sword of Vermillion          5     17     3.40
*** 1/3     Mickey Mouse: Castle of Ill. 9     30     3.33   Sega/Disney
*** 1/3     Alien 3                      3     10     3.33   Acclaim
*** 1/4     Phelios                      4     13     3.25
*** 1/5     Fighting Masters             5     16     3.20   Sega
*** 1/6     Strider                      6     19     3.18
*** 2/13    Tazmania                    13     41     3.16   Sega
***         Rolling Thunder 2            8     24     3.00
***         Columns                      4     12     3.00
***         Truxton                      3      9     3.00
***         Abram's Battle Tank          2      6     3.00
***         Buck Rogers                  2      6     3.00   Electronic Arts
***         Bulls vs. Lakers             2      6     3.00
***         High Impact Football         2      6     3.00
***         Shadow Dancer (Shinobi II)   2      6     3.00   Sega
***         Super Thunderblade           2      6     3.00
***         Talespin                     2      6     3.00
***         Home Alone                   1      3     3.00
***         Lotus Turbo Challenge        1      3     3.00
***         Merc                         1      3     3.00
***         Populous                     1      3     3.00
***         R.B.I. Baseball 4            1      3     3.00
***         TMNT: Hyperstone Heist       1      3     3.00   Konami
***         Tommy Lasorda Baseball       1      3     3.00
============================================================================
70 games out of 137 with 3 stars or better.    (51.1% of all reviewed games)



				 THE WORST
				 =========

The rest of the worst - games with less than a 3-star rating:
============================================================================
 Game                                 # of   Votes   Game
Rating      Name of Game             Voters  Tally  Rating     Company
============================================================================
** 4/5      Super Hydlide                5     14     2.80
** 7/9      John Madden Football    (I)  9     25     2.77
** 3/4      Golden Axe II                4     11     2.75   Sega
** 3/4      Greendog                     4     11     2.75   Sega
** 7/10     Joe Montana S.T. '93 (III)  10     27     2.70
** 5/6      After Burner II              6     17     2.70
** 2/3      El Viento                    3      8     2.66   Renovation
** 2/3      Splatterhouse 2              3      8     2.66
** 2/3      Super Hang-On                3      8     2.66
** 2/3      Shining in the Darkness      6     16     2.66
** 3/5      Captain America: Avengers    5     13     2.60
** 1/2      Battle Squadron              2      5     2.50   Electronic Arts
** 1/2      Pit Fighter                  4     10     2.50   Tengen
** 1/2      Steel Empire                 6     15     2.50
** 3/7      Batman                       7     17     2.42
** 2/5      Air Diver                    5     12     2.40
** 2/5      Forgotten Worlds             5     12     2.40
** 1/3      Fantasia                     6     14     2.33
** 1/3      Rambo III                    6     14     2.33
** 1/3      Decap Attack                 3      7     2.33
** 1/3      Flickey                      3      7     2.33   Sega
** 1/3      Michael Jackson: Moonwalker  3      7     2.33
** 1/3      Todd's Adv. in Slime World   3      7     2.33   Sega
** 2/7      Joe Montana Football         7     16     2.28
** 2/7      Smash TV                     7     16     2.28   Arena
** 1/4      Joe Montana Sportstalk (II)  8     18     2.25
** 1/4      Hellfire                     4      9     2.25
** 1/5      Immortal, The                5     11     2.20
** 1/7      Alien Storm                  7     15     2.14
**          Cyberball                    1      2     2.00
**          Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge 1      2     2.00
**          Junction                     1      2     2.00   Micronet
**          Outrun                       1      2     2.00
**          Pigskin Footbrawl            1      2     2.00
**          Simpsons: Bart vs. Space M.  1      2     2.00
**          Batman Returns               1      2     2.00
**          Whip Rush                    1      2     2.00   Renovation
**          Menacer 6-pack               2      4     2.00   Sega
**          Quad Challenge               2      4     2.00
**          Side Pocket                  2      4     2.00
**          Team USA Basketball          2      4     2.00
**          Thunderfox                   2      4     2.00
**          Super Wrestlemania           3      6     2.00
**          Sportstalk Baseball          4      8     2.00
**          Space Harrier II             4      8     2.00
**          D & D War. o/t Eternal Sun   5     10     2.00
**          F-22 Interceptor             5     10     2.00   Electronic Arts
**          Krusty's Super Fun House     5     10     2.00
**          Mystic Defender              6     12     2.00
* 2/3       Jewel Master                 3      5     1.66
* 2/3       Speedball 2                  3      5     1.66
* 1/2       Indiana Jones: Last Crusade  2      3     1.50
* 1/2       Mario Lemeux Hockey          2      3     1.50
* 1/2       Steel Talons                 2      3     1.50   Tengen
* 1/3       Last Battle                  3      4     1.33
* 1/3       Hard Drivin'                 3      4     1.33
* 2/7       Altered Beast                7      9     1.28   Sega
* 1/4       Heavy Nova                   4      5     1.25
*           D.J. Boy                     1      1     1.00
*           Double Dragon                1      1     1.00
*           Fatal Rewind                 1      1     1.00
*           Test Drive 2, The Duel       1      1     1.00
*           Ultimate Qix                 1      1     1.00
*           D.J. Boy                     2      2     1.00
*           Terminator                   2      2     1.00
*           Buster Douglas Boxing        2      2     1.00
*           Ernast Evans                 3      3     1.00
*           Zany Golf                    4      4     1.00   Electronic Arts
===========================================================================
67 out of 137 games with less than 3 stars.  (48.9 % of all reviewed games)



				   GLOSSARY
				   ========

     #      -  Game can be played over and over again.
     [MD]   -  Cartridge is for the Mega Drive system.
     *      -  Dreck, yak, bleck, hack, gleck (Horrible beyond words).
     **     -  OK, playable, still dreck, although someone might like.
     ***    -  Decent game that will appeal to some (But not everyone).
     ****   -  Pretty good, a fun game that almost everyone will like.
     *****  -  Damn good, a real winner, every game should be this good.



			      GAME DESCRIPTIONS
			      =================

Adventure    -  Games where you must explore large worlds, killing enemies,
		and discovering hidden treasures, sometimes with a quest.
Copter Sim.  -  Games where you are controlling the flight and other capa-
		bilities of a helicopter, from a cockpit view.
Fight & Jump -  Games where you fight and jump to stay alive, and sometimes
		have other powers. Boards usually scrolling horizonatally.
Fighting     -  Games where you face off against another player, or the
		computer in some form of one-on-one combat.
Flight Sim.  -  Games where you are given a cockpit view of some sort of
		aircraft, and are given a flying mission.
Light-Gun    -  Games where you must use your system's light gun to perform
		some function, usually similar to Shooter-type games.
Pinball      -  Games that emulate the playing of arcade-style pinball
		machines, usually with some different options though.
Platform     -  Games where moving from platform to platform, avoiding
		enemies, and getting prizes are the objective.
Role-Play    -  Games where you take on the role of some sort of adventurer,
		able to increase in abilities and experience along the way.
Shooter      -  Games where you shoot a lot and avoid being shot by the
		enemies you are shooting.  Most often are space scenarios.
Sports^      -  Games where there is some sort of sporting event to play
		other than everyday, normal sporting events.
Strategy     -  Games that require more thought than dexterity.  This can
		encompass a great variety of different type games.
Tank Sim.    -  Games where you are given the command and control of a tank
		and play from a viewpoint within the tank itself.
Think-Fast   -  Games that require the player to make fast decisions and
		act on them, kind of a quick-thinking strategy.

^ Regular sports games will be described by their appropriate sporting event.



				 HOW TO VOTE
				 ===========

     Simply E-mail me (tmartin@dpw.com) with your votes.  You certainly can
vote for games that are not on this meager list and they will be added.
Please make your vote an even number of stars (1-5) or we will not include
it in our list.  Also, the number of players (available on the screen at
once) should be included, as well as as short description similar to those
listed above, and if you can, how many hours of play you think the average
game player can reasonably expect to beat or play out the game.

						  Thanks for participating.

						  BIG Tom Martin