Battlecorps (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

Battlecorps is a first-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Arms you with a good range of weapons, with each one having unique advantages depending on the situation.

+ Controls work well for controlling your mech's speed, and the anxiety of overheating your gun forces deliberate play.

- Combat is a pixelated mess (it's often tough to determine what's shooting you) and taking damage seems mandatory.

- Even with the mini-map on, navigating each stage is disorientating as the environments have little scenic variety.

- Stages are too long (with no save feature) and the draw distance is limited with foes popping in in singular frames.

- Enemies can't always be shot from distance despite being visible, forcing you to creep closer into harm's way.

- Mission 6's conveyor belt is infuriatingly clunky, and the middle part of the game rushes along with short, boring stages.

Snatcher (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1994

Snatcher is a graphic adventure game that was originally released on the PC-8801 and MSX2 in 1988.

+ Does an excellent job of narrative pacing and guiding you along, and there's nothing too cryptic that will impede progress.

+ Has some funny moments that totally break the fourth wall, including some laugh-out-loud nods to other Konami games.

+ Presentation is astounding and the atmosphere is always tense thanks to the gripping story and evocative music.

+ Sprite work is spectacular and brings the locales to life whether it's neon-filled cityscapes or gritty urban neighbourhoods.

+ Shooting gallery scenes add pulse-raising variety and play great with either the controller or the Justifier light-gun.

- Requires you to continually select the same menu item to trigger the next plot point, which can be tedious.

- Finale builds to an anticipated showdown with the main antagonist, but it resolves via a long cut-scene without player input.

Hook (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1993

Hook is an action game that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis in 1993.

+ Good level design with a nice mixture of scrolling types / locales, and the narrated cut-scenes push the narrative forward.

+ Weapons-based combat has a satisfying thud, and your limited ability to fly adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

+ Overworld map gives your quest a sense of scale, and the boss battles feature some well-designed attack patterns.

- Controls are unrefined and despite the need for precise movements your directional inputs are sometimes ignored.

- Suffers from an infuriating amount of cheap hits from enemies / objects that are just out of your field of view.

- Peter Pan walks incredibly slowly and the lack of checkpoints in some areas can set you back a considerable way.

- Has long load times and the CD 'enhancements' (such as 1-2 second FMV clips) add little to the overall experience.

SoulStar (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Core Design
Released: 1994

SoulStar is a third-person shooter that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Provides incentive to keep improving your skills, as certain stages are locked behind the Normal and Hard difficulties.

+ Two-player mode is a fascinating addition, as it requires teamwork to steer and fire while managing your inventory.

+ Scenic backdrops are wildly varied, and the shift from on-rails areas to full 360° movement livens up the gameplay.

+ Graphics, draw distance and scaling effects are astounding, and the game engine has barely any hint of slowdown.

+ Cinematic music always knows the perfect time to transition songs to increase the intensity during battle.

- Some areas drag on forever and the 360° stages have an excessive number of targets you need to destroy.

- Challenge is brutal from early on, and even the difficulty select area is a real hurdle due to swarms of enemies.

Devastator (Mega CD review)

Developer: Wolf Team, Telenet Japan
Publisher: Wolf Team
Released: 1993

Devastator is an action / shoot-em-up game that was only released in Japan and South Korea.

+ Bosses are inventive and their multi-part battles will thoroughly challenge your offensive and evasive skills.

+ FMV cut-scenes are beautifully animated and are very reminiscent of those found in Road Avenger (1992, Sega CD).

- Level design is banal, particularly the opening stage which is a purely left-to-right affair with little scenic deviation.

- Shoot-em-up levels hold no excitement and the repetitive backgrounds / enemy patterns will lull you to sleep.

- Controls are too stiff and trying to make quick-second reactions is marred by an overly heavy lead character.

- Even at full weapon strength, the game makes you feel weak and the bosses can be infuriating bullet sponges.

- Graphically, there's little that takes advantage of the CD's capabilities and the action looks like a Sega Genesis title.

Lords of Thunder (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Hudson Soft, Eleven
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1995

Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter and the follow-up to Gate of Thunder (1992, TurboGrafx-CD).

+ Gives you the freedom to tackle the first six stages in any order, and the shop adds depth to bolster attack plans.

+ Stages are an absolute blast due to varied enemy patterns, environmental hazards, and tight corridors that test your nerve.

+ Melee attack is super handy for dishing out huge damage if you're willing to risk close-quarters combat.

+ Hard rock music enhances the gameplay and the adrenaline-fuelled tunes perfectly compliment the chaotic action.

+ Bosses are gigantic (with some taking up almost the entire screen height), and the graphics are spectacularly detailed.

- Lots of slowdown (particularly in the Auzal level) and the sprite flicker makes it tough to clock incoming projectiles.

- A couple of selectable weapons have questionable worth, and the sound effects can often drown out the music.

Kids on Site (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Digital Pictures
Publisher: Digital Pictures
Released: 1994

Kids on Site is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that was re-released on the Sony PlayStation 4 and Windows in 2022.

+ FMV quality is good, load times are excellent, and you can select the first four stages in any order you prefer.

+ Has laugh-out-loud slapstick comedy, especially in the Steamroller level where you can destroy Nuts' personal property!

- With only five brief stages (one that requires a singular button press), there's little to encourage you to replay the game.

- There's no punishment or challenge in each level, so you can just keep pressing buttons until you ultimately win.

- More interaction with the vehicles (e.g. switching them on) would have added deeper player immersion and engagement.

- Little educational value on offer, as the game doesn't provide any background information or trivia about the vehicles.

- User-interface could have been clearer when selecting missions, especially as the game is aimed at youngsters.

NBA Jam (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Iguana Entertainment
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Released: 1994

NBA Jam is a sports game that was first released in the Arcade in 1993.

+ Extravagant gameplay is highly addictive due to its fast-paced approach and control scheme that's easy to master.

+ Outlandish dunks provide showstopping moments, and the lack of fouls makes for some hysterical multiplayer combat.

+ Includes an enormous range of official NBA players and their sprites are beautifully crafted for impressive likenesses.

+ Turbo function is versatile for both offense and defense, and the metre always refills quickly to keep the action tense.

+ Iconic voice samples from Tim Kitzrow add excitement and the clips are higher quality than on the Sega Genesis (1994).

- No substantial improvements over Sega's cartridge version, and for some reason the load times are unbearably long.

- No true Season or Playoff mode means there's no real consequence to losing apart from your overall win-loss record.

Chuck Rock (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Released: 1992

Chuck Rock is an action-platformer that was released on numerous systems including the Sega Genesis (1991).

+ Good level design with multiple routes to explore, and the game introduces new enemies and collectables in each world.

+ Has some clever rock uses, such as being able to carry a boulder above your head to protect against volcanic eruptions.

+ Combining rocks to reach otherwise inaccessible areas is a great idea that adds an exploratory puzzle-like element.

+ Expanded levels make the CD adventure more comprehensive, and a password feature has also been added.

+ Presentational upgrades from the Genesis version are welcome, including the awesome CD soundtrack and world map.

- Bosses are easily exploitable and it can be tricky to accurately judge spatial distance due to Chuck's short attack range.

- Enemies often hide behind the foreground scenery for cheap hits and have a tendency to throw projectiles from off-screen.

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1994

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters is a light-gun game that was also released on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis in 1994.

+ Light-gun accuracy is phenomenal and handily the calibration screen can be pulled up at any time by pressing Start.

+ Unlike the original game, accidentally shooting a civilian depletes your life bar rather than resulting in mission failure.

+ Interesting locales to battle in and the excellent two-player mode allows for a combination of light-guns and controllers.

+ Features cleaned-up audio with a terrific CD soundtrack, and there's even some fun mini-games to break things up.

- Does nothing to take advantage of the graphical capabilities of the hardware and comes across as a scant upgrade.

- Enemy voice clips are overused to a ridiculous degree and hearing the same phrases repeated ad nauseum is tiresome.

- Bosses are major bullet sponges and having to continually pull the trigger for minutes at a time is exhausting on the hand.

Lethal Enforcers (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1993

Lethal Enforcers is a light-gun game that was also released on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1993.

+ Hit detection of the Justifier light-gun is ultra precise and enemies give you a fair amount of time to spot them before they fire.

+ Obtaining different weapons has a neat risk-reward element as you try to mow down enemies simultaneously.

+ Voice samples have been cleaned up and the CD music provides an adrenaline-fuelled soundtrack for the gritty locales.

- Gameplay is harsh, as accidentally killing even one civilian means mission failure and having to restart the entire stage again.

- Mission 3's yacht scene overstay its welcome and keeps you contained in the same area for what seems like an eternity.

- Later bosses are complete bullet-sponges and trying to defeat them with single bullets is very fatiguing on the trigger finger.

- Visuals haven't been spruced up to any noticeable degree over the Genesis version, and the grainy digitised sprites remain.

Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (Sega CD review)

Developer: American Laser Games
Publisher: American Laser Games
Released: 1994

Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold is a light-gun game and the follow-up to Mad Dog McCree (1993, Sega CD).

+ FMV is improved over the original and the one-on-one quick-draw events are used sparingly to make a greater impact.

+ Hit boxes are forgiving and unlike some other Sega CD light-gun games enemies give you time to spot them before firing.

+ Fun missions are more cinematic, especially those with sweeping camera angles such as the train getaway scene.

+ Ability to choose from three different progression routes adds replay value and intrigue to the interwoven plot.

- Despite the enhanced FMV, it's still infuriatingly tough to spot pixelated enemies in the distance, resulting in cheap deaths.

- Final mission is a complete mess, as the limited colour palette of the Sega CD means that enemies blur into the scenery.

- Unlike the original game, you now have limited continues which can compound the aforementioned visibility issues.

Crime Patrol (Sega CD review)

Developer: American Laser Games
Publisher: American Laser Games
Released: 1994

Crime Patrol is a light-gun game that was first released in the Arcade in 1993.

+ There's always at least three missions to choose from, as well as unlimited continues and generous checkpoints.

+ Incredible production values with varied locales that set a captivating backdrop to the game's entertaining missions.

+ Progression system of having different partners as you move up the ranks is a clever hook that rewards skilled play.

+ FMV quality is much better than other American Laser Games entries, as foes are always easy to spot in the distance.

- The final DELTA stages are absolutely brutal, as enemies give you no time to react before killing you with one bullet.

- In some scenes, the camera swings around wildly and the low FPS makes it challenging to line up shots.

- Your SWAT team partner is incredibly annoying and has a constant desire to refer to your character as: "Dude!"

Mad Dog McCree (Sega CD review)

Developer: American Laser Games
Publisher: American Laser Games
Released: 1993

Mad Dog McCree is a light-gun game that was originally released in the Arcade in 1991.

+ Locales, stunts, acting and set-pieces are all fantastic, and create an immersive backdrop for your gun-slinging adventures.

+ Unlike other Sega CD light-gun games like Who Shot Johnny Rock? (1994), there's a grace period before enemies shoot.

+ Affords you unlimited continues and fair checkpoints, and there's a nice amount of freedom in terms of choosing stage order.

- FMV quality is perhaps the worst on the system and it's challenging to see the pixelated enemies lurking in the background.

- Poor video quality means you can't decipher between a civilian and bad guy, hence, memorisation becomes a key strategy.

- Mine level tasks you with locating and shooting objects, yet the awful FMV makes it impossible to detect where they are.

- One-on-one quick-draw events are initially fun, but eventually slow your progress and purely serve to pad out the gameplay.

Who Shot Johnny Rock? (Sega CD review)

Developer: American Laser Games
Publisher: American Laser Games
Released: 1994

Who Shot Johnny Rock? is a light-gun game that was first released in the Arcade in 1991.

+ Presentation and film noir setting is excellent, plus unlimited continues are available to keep you playing.

+ Some scenes are randomised on each play-through, and the game allows you to choose the order you tackle most stages.

- Enemies give you no grace period to spot them before they start shooting, leaving memorisation to overtake skill.

- FMV quality is heavily pixelated and it's tough to see smaller enemies that are lurking deep in the background.

- Warehouse stage is dreadful, as there's no immediate distinction between innocent civilians and armed bad guys.

- Using a standard controller is slow and hampers progress, while the Konami Justifier is occasionally laggy.

- Video and sound have a tenancy to splutter along, which is distracting and makes the port feel unoptimised.

Road Rash (Sega CD review)

Developer: Monkey Do Productions, New Level Software
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released: 1995

Road Rash is a vehicular combat racing game that was originally released on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis in 1991.

+ Brisk gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat and on tenterhooks as to what's lurking around the next corner.

+ Eases beginners into the short and simple tracks, while upping the ante for veterans with longer tracks and tighter chicanes.

+ Licensed music is a huge improvement and unlike the 3DO / PS1 / Saturn releases you can listen to the tracks while racing.

+ Can save your progress to the built-in memory, and the FMV cut-scenes enhance the game's tongue-in-cheek personality.

- Actual racing is no different to the 16-bit original, which is odd considering the hardware has sprite-scaling capabilities.

- Controls are hyper sensitive and it takes a while to adjust to simply tapping the d-pad in order to avoid over-steering.

- Frame-rate is extremely low and trying to carefully and precisely evade a collision is always a nerve-racking affair.

The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Clockwork Tortoise, Warner Bros. Animation
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1995

The Adventures of Batman & Robin is an action-driving game and the follow-up to Batman Returns (1993, Mega CD / Sega CD).

+ Gameplay shows off the hardware's sprite scaling capabilities and there's little slowdown despite the brisk pace.

+ FMV quality is outstanding (while being in full screen) and the cartoon animations are exclusive to this game.

+ Music packs a punch and creates serious intensity for the gameplay while perfectly encapsulating the moody environments.

- Action quickly grows tiresome due to the overly strict timers and repetitive nature of dodging hordes of cars to advance.

- Comical amount of road barriers blocking your path, yet you're still expected to deftly use turbo to beat the timer.

- Lack of difficulty options means that all but the most skilled and patient players will get the full experience.

- Like the previous game, bosses tend to be major bullet sponges, which results in stages that drag on forever.

NFL Football Trivia Challenge (Sega CD review)

Developer: CapDisc, Philips Interactive Media
Publisher: CapDisc
Released: 1994

NFL Football Trivia Challenge is a quiz game that was only released in North America.

+ Includes a selection of video footage to make the action more engaging, as well as some images to give you hints.

+ Rather than a straightforward quiz, the action mimics an NFL match as much as possible, almost in board game-like fashion.

- Single matches only and there's barely any customisation, plus you can't solely answer questions about your favourite team.

- Presentation is very dry (e.g. there's not even a half-time show), while the load times can be lengthy when setting up a match.

- FMV quality is extremely pixelated (even though the videos display in a small window) and the commentary is far too generic.

- Video clips of field goals are obviously taken from other stadiums rather than the home team you've chosen.

- Touchdown celebratory videos only play for two seconds and the crowd SFX are the same volume as gaining a first down.

San Diego Zoo Presents: The Animals! (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Arnowitz Studios
Publisher: The Software Toolworks
Released: 1994

San Diego Zoo Presents: The Animals! is a Full Motion Video (FMV) educational program.

+ Huge range of media to delve into, including 60+ minutes worth of video, 2.5 hours of sounds and over 1,300 photos.

+ Concept is strong and those seeking knowledge about the zoo and its animals will find this a more engaging way to learn.

- FMV is surprisingly low quality given that the videos are already displayed within a exceptionally small window.

- Key feature is the guided tours, but the user has to click on everything manually which feels more like a lazy content dump.

- Most teaching points are done via boring text-only documents, leaving the rich media to stand alone without real context.

- User interface is extremely clunky and it's easy to miss content due to how poorly the icons are laid-out.

- While the audio clips featuring animal sounds are decent quality, the voiceovers are full of distracting pops and clipping.

Prize Fighter (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Digital Pictures
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1993

Prize Fighter is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Makes each fight feel like a spectacle thanks to the awesome ring entrances and introductions from Michael Buffer.

+ Your progress is saved as you defeat opponents, and the obtainable Power Points let you upgrade your fighter's abilities.

- Controls are incredibly convoluted and never feel intuitive, even with the Trainer option turned on to guide your punches.

- Opportunity for landing each punch is insanely small and the game would have arguably worked better with button prompts.

- Initial fighter gives you no room to learn the ropes, which is disheartening and leaves you begging for a real training mode.

- Has little in the way of replay value, as there's only four opponents and no other modes to immerse players.

- While the FMV looks great during the introductory sequences, the actual boxing takes place inside a postage stamp.

Wirehead (Sega CD review)

Developer: The Code Monkeys
Publisher: Sega MGM Interactive
Released: 1995

Wirehead is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that was only released in North America.

+ FMV quality is passable and in full screen (without borders), while some scenes have multiple ways for you to progress.

+ Plot is so far-fetched and nonsensical that it keeps you invested in seeing what ridiculous shenanigans come up next.

- No logical reasoning to determine which direction you should press, leaving you to memorise every single button command.

- After a failed attempt, the game can throw you back into the middle of the action with a button prompt staring you in the face.

- Neither the game or the manual explain the protagonists' 'accident', even though it's a crucial part of the story arch.

- Acting by your main character is abysmal and he shows very little emotion despite finding out his family has been kidnapped!

- No pay-off to most of the story, as the player has zero input during the rescue scene, nor the arresting of the antagonists.

Earthworm Jim: Special Edition (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Publisher: Interplay
Released: 1995

Earthworm Jim: Special Edition is an action game that was first released on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo in 1994.

+ Level design is refreshingly unconventional, with plenty of entertaining set-pieces and many secret areas to explore.

+ Exclusive Big Bruty stage is a worthy addition, as it throws in some mild puzzle elements to break up the action.

+ Combat features some awesome weaponry, and learning how to use each one effectively while conserving ammo is fun.

+ Enhanced sprite animation and clearer audio clips are fantastic, and the password system is a welcome inclusion.

- Relies heavily on trial-and-error and infrequent, yet obtuse game design which can artificially inflate overall play time.

- Later stages put too much onus on screwing the player with instant death traps and unwaveringly difficult bosses.

- Music is mostly ill-fitting and the tunes generally don't mirror or compliment the stage setting that they're wrapped around.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Orion Technologies
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1994

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is a Full Motion Video (FMV) game that's exclusive to Sega's CD add-on.

+ Button commands do a good job of mirroring the on-screen FMV to make you feel closer to the action.

+ The full screen video footage is impressive quality for the console, and the load times are speedy.

+ The quick video cuts and high-intensity fights keep you engaged in the story and wondering what will happen next.

+ Combined FMV footage can be unlocked and viewed as a movie, which is great for those who just want to see the video.

- While three difficulty settings are available, the complete version of the game is locked exclusively to the Expert mode.

- With only occasional button prompts, there's very little interaction and the lack of player inputs does dampen replayability.

- Unless you're a fan of the series, or enjoy QTE events, you're unlikely to take much away from the repetitive gameplay.

Microcosm (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Psygnosis
Publisher: Psygnosis
Released: 1994

Microcosm is a Full Motion Video (FMV) on-rails shooter that was originally released on the FM Towns in 1993.

+ Intro cut-scene clocks in at a whopping five minutes and its high quality adds mystery and intrigue to the game's premise.

- Action is brutally tough due to the twitchy, fast shooting enemies, as well as the lack of any difficulty settings.

- Your weapons are ineffective and severely under-powered, and it often seems impossible to avoid taking damage.

- Enemies typically enter the playfield from the rear, which results in a multitude of unforeseen cheap hits.

- The majority of enemy bullets are exactly the same colour as yours, making it a challenge to see incoming projectiles.

- Stage backgrounds are utterly drab and nothing substantial changes throughout each one to make it memorable.

- Stages are overly long, and although a password system is included the input method is obtuse symbols.

NFL's Greatest: San Francisco vs. Dallas 1978-1993 (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Park Place Productions
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1993

NFL's Greatest: San Francisco vs. Dallas 1978-1993 is a Full Motion Video (FMV) sports game that's exclusive to the console.

+ Fans of either team will get some entertainment from seeing familiar faces from the past and present.

+ Load times of each play are impressively fast and if you thrive in adopting a coaching role there's some fun to be had.

+ Opposing teams play is displayed on-screen once you've selected yours, which is a nice touch for knowledgeable fans.

- FMV quality is grainy and while the optional full screen is appreciated, the pixelation and artifacting make it an eye sore.

- Difficult to employ any real strategy and winning is seemingly reliant on as much luck as it is skillful play.

- Cheesy hair metal music does not suit the gameplay and the inclusion of sports lyrics makes things super cringey!

- Cheering SFX loop to the point of distraction and the crowd are far too rowdy throughout every single second.