Sega Genesis turned 20 this week

Two decades ago this very week, Sega launched its most successful console in Japan, the Sega Genesis.

Sega Genesis turned 20 this week

Blast Processing in the flesh (click for the worst-selling consoles)

On October 29, 1988, Sega released the 16-bit "Mega Drive" (aka Genesis) in Japan, in an effort to get a jump on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System and compete with NEC's TurboGrafx-16, which was released a year earlier.

Sega Genesis turned 20 this week

Sonic, the first legitimate rival to Mario

While Super Nintendo would eventually overcome the Genesis in terms of global sales, Sega's second console was significant in that it introduced players to mature content (think Mortal Kombat, the "non-sweat" version) and greater irreverence in video games. It also started the fiercely competitive "console wars" that continue today between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

The Genesis would go on to sell 29 million units worldwide, enjoying exceptional success in both Europe and Brazil and moderate success in the U.S. and Japan. It would be Sega's most successful console before the company threw in the towel as a hardware maker in 2002.

Notable games for the Genesis include Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2, Road Rash, Shining Force II, Flashback, Madden, and a whole bunch more. Here's looking at you, old friend.

TELL US: What are your favorite Genesis memories?

Comments [36]

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DaveRudden

playing sonic in debug mode (up, c, down, c, left, c, right, c)
unlocking blood mode in MK1 (a,b,a,c,a,b,b)

god, codes were much more memorable back then.

bluer57

Both this and the SNES were amazing consoles. They both managed to bring arcade quality games to the home consoles.
Kudos to Sega.

eday_2010

Ah, my favourite console of all time. What a great time 16-bit gaming was. Sega should have done something special for the occasion.

Some of my favourites were Sonic 1-3 and Sonic & Knuckles, Ristar, Streets of Rage (all), Virtual Racing, Shining Force, Flashback, NHL '94, Landstalker...great stuff!. There's a reason I have almost 200 Sega Genesis games and counting :)

JuicySpock80

Best Console of ALL TIME! SEGA GENESIS!

Golden Axe, Toejam and Earl, Joe Montana Football, World Series Baseball, Mutant League Sports, Splatter House, Shinobi 3, Contra Hardcorps, Castlevania Bloodlines, Gunstar Heroes, Hellfire, Gaieres, Phantasy Star 2, 3, and 4, Earthworm Jim, Street Fighter 2 CE Hyper, TMNT Hyperstone Heist, Streets of Rage, Cyborg Justice, Dynamite Headdy, Rystar, Kid Chameleon, Chakan the forever man, Moonwalker, Desert/Jungle Strike, Techno Cop, Out Run, After Burner 2, Space Harrier 2, NHL 93, etc... so many good games...

Toneman

I never liked SEGA... I was always the SNES fanboy... but now that they're publishing The Conduit, I like them :)

jstern

1st I ever heard of the Genesis was in a newspaper flyer, probably late 88. I was 6. The Sega CD and 32x were horrible decisions. PSX 3d capabilities killed the Saturn. Back then I was pro Playstation, but looking back I think the 32 bit era should have been a 2D era with games that would have held up to this day, rather than really shitty looking 32 bit polygons graphics. For me the 32bit era was like going back to 8 bit. Those great Super Nintendo kind of games with incredible graphics and animation never came.

TRUPREDATOR

sega genesis was the shit.i loved the super nintendo and i also had a turbo graphix 16,but i think the genesis stood head and shoulders above the rest.it was what the hardcore gamers of the era where playing.it seemed to cater to an older crowd,with the uncensored versions of games like mortal combat.man those where the days.the only systems i didnt own was the sega game gear(though my friend had it and i played it alot) and turbo graphix handheld and the neo geo.700 dollars was outragous.kudos to the sytems of yore rip 3d0,tg16,sega genesis,super nintendo ,atari jaguar.sega game gear etc.

TRUPREDATOR

for some reason these couple of games stand out for me from that era that i have fond memories of(other than the obvious ones that everyone loved.but none the less these are obscure games that where fun are on my list as great games that i remember that where great.the immortal on the genesis(awesome quasi rpg/adventure game with a gandalf type character) along with pigskin football,samurai showdown.gex,pit fighter and road rage on the 3d0 awesome graphics for that era,and splatterhouse and bonk and bonks revenge from the tg16,aliens versus predator from the jaguar(sorry i dont think there was anything else that was good on it).but these where some games that come to mind that where really fun and stood out to me with great memories.there are many more i could name but these stood out.

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