first 64 game was amazing and the first one I played. I later went back and played the snes games and while I enjoyed them, they weren't as special as the first 64 game to me. I blame that on timing. 64 made 3d gaming exciting for me. This and Bomberman 64 had me all in on series I never messed with in the past.
I think Sega surprise launching the Saturn at a price point $100 more than the PS1 was it's biggest downfall. They only released it at Toys R Us, Babbages, Software Etc and EB, causing retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and KB Toys to either not stock or give very little space to the Saturn. Sega of Japan forced Sega of America to release early to get a head start on the Playstation. On top of alienating major retailers, third party developers weren't given a heads up and their games weren't ready at launch, which caused a strain between Sega and some developers/publishers. To make matters worse, there was never a real Sonic game for the platform.
After all that, the 32X hurt them as well. Not only was it a poorly supported confusing piece of hardware, it was the 2nd add on for the Genesis which led to a crowded room for Sega products. Even in stores that carried Saturn, there was a time in 1996 that you could walk into a store and see Genesis, Sega CD, 32X (and even the rare Sega CD/32X combination game), Saturn and Game Gear games. From a hardware standpoint add in the oddity Sega Pico and the Sega Nomad and there was just too much on the shelves to confuse an average consumer, leading to a lack of confidence in the brand by shoppers. While Nintendo had 4 pieces of hardware on shelves, it was pretty clear what was what. Sony having just the Playstation was a huge win though.
Ultimately though I think if Sega didn't try to compete with Playstation and Nintendo 64's 3D and stuck to its initial plan of creating the greatest 2D console of all time and released the best ports of Capcom's arcade fighting games, a killer new 2D Sonic and other titles western gamers were familiar with such as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe, it wouldn't have reached PS1 levels but it wouldn't have been a massive failure either.
Man I love this game. This is one of my favorite sub genres, I don't even know what to call it but almost every game in its style is a favorite of mine. Shinobi, Elevator Action, Rolling Thunder, Code Name Viper and this game..
@GhaleonUnlimited I remember wanting to play Chaotix so bad when it came out. A girl I went to school with got a 32X and Chaotix for Christmas that year and I was so jealous lol. I finally got to play it years later and if only I knew how bad it was. The levels are poorly designed because they sort of have to be to match the terrible tether gimmick. I've long wished that Christian Whitehead or somebody like that would revisit this game and remove the tethering and redesign the levels for proper Sonic gameplay. The soundtrack and look of the levels is so good.
@Daniel36 I have one that I got for Christmas in 2001 (brand new). I had just discovered the full library, most importantly that of the Japanese PC engine through emulation that year and it really was a great little piece of hardware. The Super Nintendo wasn't out when this aired though as It's actually from November 1990 which is the same month the Super Famicom released and 9 months before the Super Nintendo made its way to the States.
Comments 7
Re: Poll: What's The Best Ganbare Goemon / Mystical Ninja Game?
@Poodlestargenerica I feel the same. I also feel this way about Bomberman 64.
Re: Poll: What's The Best Ganbare Goemon / Mystical Ninja Game?
first 64 game was amazing and the first one I played. I later went back and played the snes games and while I enjoyed them, they weren't as special as the first 64 game to me. I blame that on timing. 64 made 3d gaming exciting for me. This and Bomberman 64 had me all in on series I never messed with in the past.
Re: The Reason Sega Lost The 32-Bit War? The 32X, Says Yosuke Okunari
I think Sega surprise launching the Saturn at a price point $100 more than the PS1 was it's biggest downfall. They only released it at Toys R Us, Babbages, Software Etc and EB, causing retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and KB Toys to either not stock or give very little space to the Saturn. Sega of Japan forced Sega of America to release early to get a head start on the Playstation. On top of alienating major retailers, third party developers weren't given a heads up and their games weren't ready at launch, which caused a strain between Sega and some developers/publishers. To make matters worse, there was never a real Sonic game for the platform.
After all that, the 32X hurt them as well. Not only was it a poorly supported confusing piece of hardware, it was the 2nd add on for the Genesis which led to a crowded room for Sega products. Even in stores that carried Saturn, there was a time in 1996 that you could walk into a store and see Genesis, Sega CD, 32X (and even the rare Sega CD/32X combination game), Saturn and Game Gear games. From a hardware standpoint add in the oddity Sega Pico and the Sega Nomad and there was just too much on the shelves to confuse an average consumer, leading to a lack of confidence in the brand by shoppers. While Nintendo had 4 pieces of hardware on shelves, it was pretty clear what was what. Sony having just the Playstation was a huge win though.
Ultimately though I think if Sega didn't try to compete with Playstation and Nintendo 64's 3D and stuck to its initial plan of creating the greatest 2D console of all time and released the best ports of Capcom's arcade fighting games, a killer new 2D Sonic and other titles western gamers were familiar with such as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe, it wouldn't have reached PS1 levels but it wouldn't have been a massive failure either.
Re: Konami's Sci-Fi Sidescroller Surprise Attack Heading To Switch & PS4
Man I love this game. This is one of my favorite sub genres, I don't even know what to call it but almost every game in its style is a favorite of mine. Shinobi, Elevator Action, Rolling Thunder, Code Name Viper and this game..
Re: Best Sega 32X Games Of All Time
@GhaleonUnlimited I remember wanting to play Chaotix so bad when it came out. A girl I went to school with got a 32X and Chaotix for Christmas that year and I was so jealous lol. I finally got to play it years later and if only I knew how bad it was. The levels are poorly designed because they sort of have to be to match the terrible tether gimmick. I've long wished that Christian Whitehead or somebody like that would revisit this game and remove the tethering and redesign the levels for proper Sonic gameplay. The soundtrack and look of the levels is so good.
Re: Back In 1991, Macaulay Culkin Thought TurboGrafx-16 Was "Better Than Nintendo"
@Daniel36 I have one that I got for Christmas in 2001 (brand new). I had just discovered the full library, most importantly that of the Japanese PC engine through emulation that year and it really was a great little piece of hardware. The Super Nintendo wasn't out when this aired though as It's actually from November 1990 which is the same month the Super Famicom released and 9 months before the Super Nintendo made its way to the States.
Re: We Never Got A Good Altered Beast 2, So A Fan Is Making One
@RootsGenoa It's me... I'm mean people.