Sega Genesis

Released in 1989,following the release of the TurboGrafx-16 by NEC, the Sega Genesis was in the right place at the right time... briefly.

Although the Super Nintendo (SNES) was set to ship in a couple years, only the Genesis had the "normal" name recognition (due to Sega's Master System, their response to the Nintendo Entertainment System) and the 16 bit on-the-market technology to lure gamers to "the next level" - NEC's system just LOOKED and sounded expensive, and though some balked at Sega's initial retail launch price of $189.99 (which later droppd to about $160) for the Genesis, its sales easily passed up the TurboGrafx-16 whose few anemic titles, compared to the surprisingly large Genesis selection, caused its quick death and allowed Genesis to lead the console field, however briefly, as it was only a bit more expensive but had DOUBLE the raw gaming power and graphics of the 8 bit Nintendo.

Genesis also had an additional quality other systems lacked - SEX APPEAL. It was sleek, black, ergonomically rounded like something out of a sci-fi movie, and contained in a subdued yet high-tech console case with a spherical hub in its center, a couple of shiny identifying markings and a red light, contrasted with the black case, making it look like a flattened face of a Cylon from the original Battlestar Galactica series. The controllers featured a mysterious THIRD button and were also sleek and ergonomic and did not leave permanent puncture wounds in your palms like the unforgivably boxy Nintendo controllers.

Basically, the Sega Genesis, when looked at objectively, ignoring its seeming physical differences, was simply a "Nintendo - But Twice As Good". It more or less played and featured the same types of games, though role-playing games (some even featuring an unheard of "battery" to let you save games right onto the cartridge itself) inundated the lineup, and happily most were quite good, if pricey - the true graphics and gaming capabilities were really brought out with multi-player, "freestyle" side-scrolling and fighting games such as Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Pit Fighter, which opened up an incredible world of gaming for two players at a time.

Coupled with usually decent or even GOOD stereo-type music and sound effects, the Genesis loudly announced its intention to not only bask in the limelight as the premier gaming system, but to maintain that position - and it did for quite a while until finally the Super Nintendo had amassed enough quality titles and developed their programming techniques well enough that the Sega Genesis was eventually toppled by sheer attrition, as Nintendo dropped loads of cash to promote its SNES and make its games easily available to retailers.

Although various modifications, add-ons and other attempts to modernize and upgrade the Sega Genesis were attempted, they were always seen as last-minute straw-grasping, usually not even fully tested and functional, and so Nintendo once again reclaimed the Console Throne. Still, every now and then, its fun to pull out Streets of Rage or some of the other quality games that even the SNES just never seemed to be able to emulate or capitalize on effectively, and realize just how much of a technical marvel the Sega Genesis was.