Best looking games on Genesis/Mega Drive.

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:06 am

I came across this article the other day.

Graphical Greats: The Best-Looking Games on Genesis

I checked out "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" right after I read this article. And I can't get over the fact that it's a 16-bit cartridge -- the game looks like a PS1 sidescroller. On the first level, as they mentioned, the background really does scroll in full 3D, but what they don't mention is that the bad guys carry flashlights that shines spots on everything that they point them at. When I saw that, it just blew my mind, because they're swinging them around constantly. About the only other time that I've seen this done is in Doom 3!

Before I played this game, I would have considered Yoshi's Island or one of the Donkey Kong Country's as having the best 16-bit graphics. But this genesis cart's visuals just blows those out of the water. And it's been out there for 10 years, and I didn't know it was there. I guess that's it's slightly above average gameplay and the Dec 31, 1995 release date kind of mucked up it's chances of being top dog. But anyway, I'm putting this Genesis game as having the best looking graphics in the 16-bit era.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:07 am

I read that article a while back, and while I agree on a number of counts there (Like the choices for parallax and color), I couldn't help but feel there were other games that deserved honorable mentions in a couple spots over what was there...

Effects- Red Zone- This game plays like a top view version of one of the "Strike" series, but the special effects are non-stop. It's not the best game out there, but it sure packed a lot of parallax and line scrolls, texture mapping and full screen rotation (as well as FMV) in that little black cart. I think it should have taken Alien Solder's place.

Color- Alisia Dragoon- This game was just beautiful to look at and listen to. The graphics were detailed on both the large and small enemies, the animation was nice, and the color palette was used very well. Even the art style was nicely done. It's also the only cart from GameArts. I think it should have taken either Sonic 3 or S&K's place, since awarding both is nearly giving the same game the same award twice.

Parallax- Ranger-X- This game was littered with parallax and line scrolls, and it used it better than Eliminate Down in my opinion, as it had more style in it (like the stage with all the trees that you went over and under, and the tunnel of course). Some of the stages looked as deep as what TF4 pulled off.

Polygons- Flashback: The Quest for Identity- How OotW beat this game for an honorable mention, I honestly don't know. Flashback did so much with the game graphics and the cinemas, and it did it better. Considering that VR used a chip to help it along, I have to question VR's place as the winner. In my view, Flashback should have at least been in the running with the two honorable mentions, and VR should have been left out.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on it.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:17 am

Best use of color: Beyond Oasis / Sonics
Best use of parallax: Shinobi 3

I won't have any debate on those.

article guy wrote:It's too bad that such a nifty special effect like parallax was lost to the world with the onset of polygons. Because back in the day, it was oh-so-cool.

I hate my illusion of depth being replaced by actual depth.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:40 am

Alpolio wrote:I checked out "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" right after I read this article. And I can't get over the fact that it's a 16-bit cartridge -- the game looks like a PS1 sidescroller.

Have a look at the Snes game that goes under the same name - it's much better and nice looking imho.

(Oh, and Yoshi's Island is still far far more striking graphic-wise)

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:17 am

Dumb question but....what's the difference between the Genesis and the Mega Drive?

benj · Post by **benj** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:22 am

Blade wrote:Dumb question but....what's the difference between the Genesis and the Mega Drive?

It's the same thing. The Mega Drive was called Genesis in the States because of Copyright issues or something like that.

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:48 am

Yu Yu Hakusho (the Treasure fighter) deserves atleast an honorable mention for its parallax effects. Cool article though.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:43 pm

Neither Out of this World or Flashback use polygonal graphics. They are all sprites.

Out Of This World uses polygonal sprites to give it a distinct graphical style, but none of that was rendered in real-time.

Though I agree both games look gorgeous.

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:29 pm

Best use of colour, the Sonic games and Toejam & Earl Panic on Funkotron.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:41 pm

Ristar should have been mentioned under Best Use of Colour.

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:51 pm

Turrican wrote:
Alpolio wrote:I checked out "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" right after I read this article. And I can't get over the fact that it's a 16-bit cartridge -- the game looks like a PS1 sidescroller.
Have a look at the Snes game that goes under the same name - it's much better and nice looking imho.

(Oh, and Yoshi's Island is still far far more striking graphic-wise)

The Genesis version and the SNES version are 2 totally different games. For instance, on the SNES, the first level is missing the lighting & 3D effects -- I know that they're just tricks with parallax & sprites, but the SNES isn't using them at all. IMO, the SNES version is just a standard looking 16-bit sidescroller. While the Genesis version looks like it's a full generation ahead of it (and a full generation ahead of Yoshi's Island for that matter).

Herr Schatten · Post by **Herr Schatten** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:57 pm

Monster World IV deserves to be mentioned.

FRO · Post by **FRO** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:08 pm

I'm just glad Lightening Force ranked w/ the best looking games. It is one of the titles that can be considered at the pinnacle of the Genny's graphical capabilities, & certainly still holds its own. One of the few games you can go back to time after time & not think it looks as dated as the majority of other Genny shmups.

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:25 pm

The Coop wrote: Polygons- Flashback: The Quest for Identity- How OotW beat this game for an honorable mention, I honestly don't know. Flashback did so much with the game graphics and the cinemas, and it did it better. Considering that VR used a chip to help it along, I have to question VR's place as the winner. In my view, Flashback should have at least been in the running with the two honorable mentions, and VR should have been left out.

I wouldn't disqualify Virtua Racing from best polygonal effects because it used a special chip. Star Fox & Yoshi's Island both used similar chips and nobody ever considers disqualifying them from any runnings. Even Super Mario Kart used a special chip (DSP-1) to enhance its Mode 7 effects. So whatever is good enough for the SNES is good enough for the Genny.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:26 pm

I think Contra Hard Corps deserves a mention in both the multi-jointed sprites and special effects categories. Konami really went out of their way to add something over the top to every stage. I agree with many of the choices, but I also feel that Comix Zone must be mentioned as one of the best-looking Genesis games (maybe best use of color). It doesn't have anything that's too crazy on a technical level (except for a few raster effects), but its visuals are very cohesive and pretty.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:39 pm

Alpolio wrote:The Genesis version and the SNES version are 2 totally different games. For instance, on the SNES, the first level is missing the lighting & 3D effects -- I know that they're just tricks with parallax & sprites, but the SNES isn't using them at all. IMO, the SNES version is just a standard looking 16-bit sidescroller. While the Genesis version looks like it's a full generation ahead of it (and a full generation ahead of Yoshi's Island for that matter).

I knew both games - I thought I made it clear that saying "a game that goes under the same name" to underline it wasn't a straight port.

And honestly, I can't see where all your excitement for the Genesis one comes from (I'm purely speaking of graphics here). Ah, well...

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:11 pm

Turrican wrote: I knew both games - I thought I made it clear that saying "a game that goes under the same name" to underline it wasn't a straight port.

And honestly, I can't see where all your excitement for the Genesis one comes from (I'm purely speaking of graphics here). Ah, well...

Well, I think that the backgrounds in the first level (of Adventures of Batman & Robin for the Genesis) looks like it's being rendered with polygons - just like the first level in Einhander only with better texture mapping. In order to do that on a chip free 16-bit cartridge, they had to put every scan-line in parallax. It's kind of like what they did with the floor in the Street Fighter II games, but in this instance, they did it to everything in the background. And then on top of that, they added extra sprites to make the flashlights look like they're really working.

There's just a ton of stuff going on in that game that I didn't think was possible on either the Genesis, SNES, or TG-16. That's why I'm so impressed.

PaCrappa · Post by **PaCrappa** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:36 pm

Graphics are nice and all but they're not helping the Batman and Robin on Genesis become a quality game worth playing so the point is entirely moot.

Also, looks (like gameplay) are an opinion thing. I might think that Do Re Mi Fantasy on the SFC or Monster World IV on the MD or Kaze Kiri on the PCE kick the shit out of Batman and Robin's graphics. Would I be wrong? Nope. Because it's my opinion. You can say all you want to about paralaxxing each scanline, flashlight beams and yada yada 'it ain't possible on the SNES' etc etc etc. But really it just boils down to you looking at something you like and other people maybe, maybe not sharing that opinion.

What is "a full generation ahead" supposed to mean? Have you actually played many 32bit 2D sidescrollers? I mean with pure 2D polygon-free graphics.

Pa

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:07 pm

PaCrappa. I agree with you totally. It's all a matter of opinion. And I also think that if that Genesis game came out in 1991, the SNES & TG-16 would have been using parallax like that by 1992 - if not earlier.

And yeah, I've played 32-bit polygonal sidescrollers. I still have Einhander, R-Type Delta, and G Darius in my desk next to my NES collection. What I meant is that the Genesis' version of Adventures of Batman & Robin looks like an early PS1 or Saturn game. And in some ways, even better -- the fire coming out of the buildings is really cool.

Moogs · Post by **Moogs** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:19 pm

Kiken wrote:Ristar should have been mentioned under Best Use of Colour.

Thank you.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:32 pm

Oddly enough, I never thought much about the SG version of The Adventures of Batman & Robin when it was first released. The cartoony SNES version seemed better looking to me.

Now Ranger-X on the other hand...it wasn't even released towards the end of the SG's days and still looked amazing. Pulseman should probably also be a contender for honorable mention in the "best color" category.

Rob wrote:Best use of color: Beyond Oasis / Sonics
Best use of parallax: Shinobi 3

Seconded.

I'm not sure why they'd put Rise of the Robots rather than X-Perts for the second honorable mention in the pre-rendered graphics category.

Still, the list is very thought-out and hard to argue with.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:55 pm

The Viewpoint port itself also deserves some kind of award for whatever graphical effects you call that it pulled off.

Looks nearly the same as the NG original, except with 50x more slowdown.

Kiel · Post by **Kiel** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:12 am

Alien Soldier

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:35 am

Polygonal stuff like m1 abrams or F15 strike eagle 2 deserve a mention, just cause they couldn't be done on other 16 bitters without upgrades (superfx, arcade card, etc).

No_not_like_Quake · Post by **No_not_like_Quake** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:59 am

Genesis games that I find have excellent graphics -

Batman & Robin - When I first saw the side scrolling shmup batwing level with the odd looking from above angle, I thought something like Wow this is Saturn quality shit right here, or something to that effect. line scrolling buildings with multiple layers of parallax. Techniquelly probably the most bad ass graphics on the machine. After a certain point, this game gets cheaply difficult and beating the game is almost impossible IMO. anyway great graphics.

M.U.S.H.A. - the 4 stage parallax is crazy. Super detailed city bellow those super detailed clouds. It's good.

Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse - Great early game. The slight swaying of the darkened trees still impresses me. Travelres tales Mickeymania also has awesome graphics for their time, as does world of Illusion and Quackshot.

Alien Soldier - alot of effects and great color.

Ranger X - great game with awesome graphics. Dig that line scrolling while fighting the second boss.

Other Genesis games with excellent graphics -

TF4
Crusader of Centi
Shinobi 3
Magical Troll Taluto.....whatever it's called :/
Phantasy Star 4

Alpolio · Post by **Alpolio** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:35 am

No_not_like_Quake wrote: Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse - Great early game. The slight swaying of the darkened trees still impresses me. Travelres tales Mickeymania also has awesome graphics for their time, as does world of Illusion and Quackshot.

Oh man! I got that game just a few months after I got my Genesis back in 1992. Those trees did look great -- down low in the level, they looked like trees (pic), up high in the level, they looked like storm clouds (pic) and they swayed back & forth very menacingly. But my favorite level is the Aztec level (pic) . There's not much really going on "technically" in that level, but it sure looks cool.

No_not_like_Quake · Post by **No_not_like_Quake** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:32 am

yeah thats exactly what i mean, the trees in your link. The aztec level impressed me too. Looked so deep at the time because of the parallax scrolling. Great game, though easy.

GateofThunderforceIII · Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:19 pm

A little off topic (Sega CD related), but any one else blown away by Mickey Mania CD's 3-D rotating tower effects? And is the cartridge version the same? Awesome game by the way, but Castle of Illusion is still better somehow.

Okay, SUPER OFF TOPIC. This website, sega-16.com mentioned Micomsoft's XMD for S-Video support among others. Will this work on US CDX's, US Nomads and Genesis 3s? I already have an S-video modded Gen 3 thanks to Matt, but would love to have backup and see CD games in S-Vid glory.

And sorry, I made a thread about this under Hardware, but info has been coming in slow for it...

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:55 pm

GateofThunderforceIII wrote:A little off topic (Sega CD related), but any one else blown away by Mickey Mania CD's 3-D rotating tower effects? And is the cartridge version the same? Awesome game by the way, but Castle of Illusion is still better somehow.

Okay, SUPER OFF TOPIC. This website, sega-16.com mentioned Micomsoft's XMD for S-Video support among others. Will this work on US CDX's, US Nomads and Genesis 3s? I already have an S-video modded Gen 3 thanks to Matt, but would love to have backup and see CD games in S-Vid glory.

And sorry, I made a thread about this under Hardware, but info has been coming in slow for it...

I'm pretty sure the 3D rotating tower is in the cart version too. There's a very similar effect in Dynamite Headdy, That game is full of sweet effects.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:57 pm

A little off topic (Sega CD related), but any one else blown away by Mickey Mania CD's 3-D rotating tower effects? And is the cartridge version the same? Awesome game by the way, but Castle of Illusion is still better somehow.

I don't know if the cart version has that effect too (probably does), but Dynamite Headdy uses the same effect on one stage.

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Best looking games on Genesis/Mega Drive.

Best looking games on Genesis/Mega Drive.

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