@@MIKandJEAN This list was based purely off the votes of about 300 people in the retro community, so if you don't like democracy that's on you, not me or this channel. My own personal list would be TOTALLY different.
Not surprised at all those great games you mentioned that DIDN'T make the top 20 - the Mega Drive/Genesis just had SO DAMN MANY great games for it. Oh, and thanks for using my comment for #10!
Phantasy Star 2 is my absolute favorite game for Mega Drive / Genesis. It was the first game I bought for the console with my own money I earned in my first job.
The Mega Drive version of Flashback is the original. Paul Cuisset confirmed that in an issue of Retro Gamer. The Amiga version released first only because they held the MD version back to release alongside the SNES port
Herzog Zwei is the most important Genesis game, having created the entire RTS genre. Also surprised to not see Moonwalker. Being more of 1970s gamer, I'm not surprised to see my two personal favorites not on the list: Flicky and Powerball
The fact that comix zone is not on the list is a crime. As well as Sunset riders, Golden axe, Tiny toon adventures, super mario world, Quackshot and Battletoads
My Top 10 Sega Genesis Games of All Time are 1. Streets of Rage 2 2. GunStar Heroes 3. Shining Force 2 4. Shining Force 5. Phantasy Star 4 6. Sonic 2 7. Shinobi 3 8. Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion 9. CastleVania Bloodlines 10. Contra Hard Corps
@@TheLairdsLair it always seems to have a reputation for some awful games while the Japanese consoles had the best developers on the world at the top of their game
I'm sorry but the original Sonic is not better than Sonic 3. Personally, I feel that 3 is better than 2, but there's no way that 1 is even in the conversation.
This is so opinionated it’s not even funny 😂 I cannot stand the original sonic The special staged, the details the spin dash the companion character. The extra grab is detail Sonic 2 was sega on steroids .!!! The only complaint I have with sonic 2 is that it was the pack in for my sega genesis and I played it to death to the point I don’t even want to touch it no more .! At all.!! Sonic 3 🤔 maybe because I slowed down on vg at the time. The market was beginning to get saturated . I never got to dig into sonic 3. It looked good and everything but the pace was just out of my taste or maybe I just slowed down on playing video games and there was so many other games out there. I was getting tired of Sequels. It felt like how many times am I going to play the same game How many sequel until u start feeling less is more and now there is just too much junk thrown in to something that was good before. I was craving more story telling and more gameplay and a.I
Rocket Knight Adventures holds a special place in my heart. I started a new playthrough today and try to play ot once a year. Ill never forget my auntie giving it to me on my birthday in the 90s
Great video, though I would remake this a top 50 or 100 cause theres just so many great games out for the Mega Drive. Some of my all time favs that were not on the list - Aladdin Battletoads Mercs Michael Jacksons Moonwalker Mickey Mouse - Castle of illusion Quackshot - Donald Duck Strike Series - Desert/Urban & Jungle Toy Story
Surprised to see the amazing Gauntlet IV here: it deserves a place even only for the stunning soundtrack, who has been possible thanks to an extra audio chip installed on the cart (for what I know). Another surprise is Pit Fighter: it's been years since I'm saying that the Mega Drive version is not just the only decent home console conversion, but also a very fun game in every aspect. Seeing all the the three Sonic made me think why you added all Sonic chapter here and not just one, where the other two spots could be easily be assigned to Probotector (or Contra Hard Corps) and Castlevania (Bloodlines/The New Generation). 😉 NHL '94 and '95 are both two incredibly fun games! Despite not being a sport fan, I love owning some soccer, basketball and hockey games on my shelves. Super Real Basketball, NBA Hangtime and NBA Live '97 are, for example, three masterpieces of basketball games on the Mega Drive: the first of the list especially was a kind of upgraded Konami's Double Dribble...LOVE IT! Despite my small appreciation for basketball games on the Sega 16-bit hardware, I've never liked NBA Jam: the AI is cheap as f**k, making the whole game a stupidly hard and unfair experience. Plus, come aspects of the gameplay are just broken! I'm still surprised to see how much fans this version still has, and honetsly I can't understand the reason of this massive love for the Mega Drive port...I don't get it.
My favorite Sega Mega Drive games are Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. However, if I had to pick between Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, I'd pick Sonic 1. Mega Bomberman is also my favorite game. ^^
Great List for fantastic great system - I used to regularly swap my Super nintendo and games with my mate's Megadrive stuff, so I was fortunate enough to play many classic games. I'm lucky enough to own a system these days and few of the games here - but there's still a load I'd like to own. A few of my personal favourite games not on the list are Starflight, Alisa Dragoon, Strider, Phantasy Star II, Soleil, Atomic Runner and Dragon's Fury. 👍
@@TheLairdsLair you know what. I must have had a a brain fart. Thank you for checking me. It's the Jaguar port I was thinking of. So many ports during that decade. Cheers!
I just watched an arcade long play of Altered Beast. Nostalgic yes. But no way a top 50 game haha! When I watched the arcade long play ( even with the great genesis port) I found myself having a bit of regret being an early adopter of the Genesis. I would have really loved to have Sonic as a pack-in!
My comments are all here! Thank you!! That's a great Top 20 indeed! I'm kinda surprised to see that Comix Zone or Contra didn't make the list, though...!
@@TheLairdsLair I'm impressed!! What about Castlevania Bloodlines? Or Strider? For me, the most surprising inclusion is Pit-Fighter indeed. I was never a fan, but I recognize it as the very best home port of the arcade game, indeed.
@@TheLairdsLair too late in the life of the Genesis I suspect. Only players who only know the genesis from RU-vid would likely vote them. Although I regret never playing either one.
My top 20 1- streets of rage 2 2- sonic 2 3-sonic e knuckles 4- road rash 2 5- gunstar heroes 6- revenge of shinobi 7-Ristar 8- Pitfall ( mayan adventure) 9- earthworm jim 10- Alladin 11- mega bomberman 12- ultimate MK 3 13- ghouls n' ghosts 14- golden axe 15- comix zone 16- rocket knight adventures 17- alien 3 18 street fighter 2 19 fantasy star IV 20 Smurfs 2
Surprised not to see John Madden or Joe Montana get in there. I believe the predecessor to Flashback was 'Another World'. Cannon Fodder was pretty cool as was Jungle Strike. Another dodgy game was Greendog, that has a place in my heart a it was part of the package I got with Sonic 1. Other noteables for me:- - Castle of Illusion - Super Hang on - Alladin - Alien 3 - Sonic 3 (Sonic 2 was so buggy) - Jim Pond - Ecco
So YOU were the guy that bought a jaguar?! Seriously, I'm fascinated by emulation, so if I was to emulate it, what games should I try. Please don't say doom tho, I've done the original to death.
Another great list video. I have to say that I don't have any issue with any of the top 20. These are all just amazing games. I would have hoped that at least Super Fantasy Zone would have made the list because Fantasy Zone is a classic Sega series; the soundtrack is so amazing; and it's such a colorful game. However, I'm sure it's lack of a US release hurts it; plus, other bigger Sega titles failed to make it up the list too, so I don't feel too bad. I'm always glad to see MK2 on a top-x greatest list. But, I'm definitely not surprised Two Crude Dudes did NOT make it. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only one who threw it a nostalgia vote. ha
My list 1.Sonic 3 & knuckles 2.Streets of rage 2 3.Sonic 2 4.Aladdin 5.SUPER street fighter 2 6.Vectorman 7.Coolspot 8.Sonic the hedgehog 9.Coolspot 10.outrun 11.shinobi 3 12.knuckles chaotix (32X add on game) 13.bubsy 14.Earthworm jim 15.NBA Jam 16.Space harrier 2 17.Micheal jackson's Moonwalker 18.Thunder Force 3 19.Zombies ate my neighbors 20.Virtua Racing DELUXE (32X Add on game)
Great video as always! A couple of surprises in there but happy Shining Force made the cut even though I prefer Shining in the Darkness but NHL95 getting more votes than NHL94! #Recount ;-)
My comment made it into the video - woohoo! I still think Sonic is massively overrated but I know I'm very much in the minority. I always liked games that were different, even when I was a kid, so platformers and shooters just didn't appeal to me.
Its interesting to see this list, it's very different from other lists Ive seen, im guessing its from more of a European perspective, which is nice to see the differences. Im very shocked to not see Bloodlines or contra hard corps, never seen a top 20 or even a top 10 without those games. Thanks for the video.
Nope, a big mix of votes from all around the world, probably more Americans than anything else - I think nearly 500 people voted in total. Neither Contra or Castlevania even made the Top 40 surprisingly.
Wow, so many great games not making the cut, NBA jam was my fave sporting game as a child, I would play columns for hours on end, micro machines would drive me crazy, my brother an i would play golden axe and alien storm for hours, and how did toe jam and Earl not get on the list, I mean come on !
Dang, no Contra or Castlevania. It's hard to agree in all since we all have different tastes. Still good list. TMNT Hyperstone Heist it's also an awesome game, Atomic Runner is sooo underrated, best looking game on the Genesis to me.
@@TheLairdsLair substitute any Strike game, Ecco, a Golden Axe. Streets of rage 3, a Madden game, Road Rash 1, Street Fighter 2, even Rambo3 with its 2 MBs or an obscure game like Warlords or Tyrants for Shining force in this comment. Pit fighter was a shocker entry.
@@TheLairdsLair lol, I don't know how I missed number 8! Might be because I stopped the video and came back 10 minutes later. Not sure. Fair play. Pit Fighter is still shit though!
Gutted that I missed the vote somehow. The algorithm is fickle. My guess is my 3 picks will be somewhere on the list anyways. 8:37. I am not surprised NHL 94 made it as the only sports game. I was more a Madden guy. But NHL 94 ( or 95) was widely regarded as the best hockey game ever made. I wasn't a huge hockey fan... But the few times I picked up a controller for it... The game play was phenomenal.
Pit fighter?!! Really?! Think someone's been trolling. Or I've badly misunderstood the point of this list. Either way, I worked in a video games stores on and off throughout the 90's, and trust me, pit fighter got slated at the time of its original release too.
That's what people voted for! And no it didn't, for example 95% in Sega Pro, the most respected Mega Drive magazine in the UK at that time, 90% in Game Zone, 5/5 in GamePro, 82% in C&VG, 81% in Mean Machines, 83% in Joystick . . . . I could go on.
@TheLairdsLair SERIOUSLY?! Wow! I played it, at release, and we couldn't believe how bad it was. I don't remember selling a single unit - on any format. All I heard at the time were constant jokes about how shit it was...hey, hang on, this isn't like the time that Amiga mag gave Rise of the Robots like 92% though, is it? IS it?!
@TheLairdsLair in fact, I don't remember having it in as a pre-owned title in any subsequent shops I worked either - like there were hardly any in the wild to trade. I could be wrong on that, it IS a long time ago I guess. Just a thought.
It's a very common game, sold really well. In fact I was told it was Tengen's best selling game for the Mega Drive by some margin. It was also one of the most successful arcade games released by Atari Games too. Honestly, I believe the whole thing about it being this terrible game that everyone has always hated is utter nonsense, the evidence just doesn't back that up, and believe me I have put a lot of research into it because I wrote a massive article on it for Retro Gamer and interviewed pretty much everyone noteworthy who was involved with it. Even though I love the game, I didn't think it would get anywhere near the Top 20, so I was really pleased when it did. That's the great thing about these "greatest of all-time", they are voted for by the people and get hundreds of votes and because I ask those people to name their favourite games and why, not what the internet says is best, you get some very interesting results. The arcade game list is a very good example, never in million years predicted that no.1, in fact the list had LOADS of surprises.
No it doesn't! The countdown starts then, but the intro contains important context and I can always tell the people who didn't watch it because they leave stupid comments questioning the rankings.
If it is actual good games and not just nostalgia fest then SF2 should be near the top, the only reason for it not being is that there are better ways to play it now a days but it is one of the best playing games ever. Pitfighter and Mortal kombat should not be on the list at all as both play like western fighting games, in other words unbalanced mechanics.
Wonder boy in monster land. Crusader of centy, gain ground, general chaos, mercs need to be included in any top 50 list. Nobody gives a shit about PGA golf
@@TheLairdsLair You should've requested for people to send in their top 5 - 10s, instead of top 3s. It would've changed the outcome massively. As it stands now, it's even more of a popularity/nostalgia based list than it otherwise would've been. It shows with for example Sonic 1 and RoS scoring higher than their much superior sequels, simply because less people have played those games and this is also why it's missing a lot of quality late releases that would otherwise easily land a top 20 best of MD list (Contra, Castlevania, Comix Zone, Alien Soldier, Ranger-X, Ristar, X-Men 2, Dynamite Headdy, Mega Turrican, Crusader of Centy, Landstalker). Still a fun video, but not very representative of anything greatest or best.
Golden Axe 2 ( or the original) needs to be in the top 20. That surprised me the most. Streets of Rage 2 being #1 is a no brainer. Can't complain about sonic 2 being #2. I am surprised to see pit fighter break the top 20. I am not going to rip it. But it's not even top 100. Ecco probably deserves to be on the list.. it was a mesmerizingly good game and pretty unique for the genesis. I think Street Fighter 2 not making the list, makes sense ( but not being ranked below pit fighter!) Because as I recall. When the 1v1 fighters were at their peak. I was in a college dorm, and almost every room on my floor either had an SNES or a Genesis or both. If I recall correctly, the Street Fighter 2 tourneys (beer money was often pooled, winner take all) typically happened on someone's SNES version and Mortal Combat tourneys ( or even just play) ALWAYS took place on someone's Genesis. The SNES version was the better of the two.. it seemed no controversy on that one. I never bought it for my genesis because I could play it on my dorm neighbor's SNES. I suspect Mortal Kombats got more votes simply for this reason ( how is pit fighter ranked over Mortal Combat as well??)
There wasn't a single vote for Golden Axe 2. I've always thought the Mega Drive version of SF2 was better, it's faster, has extra animation, better parallax scrolling and you get to use a proper 6 button joypad. But both were good ports nonetheless.