The Sega Genesis was such a defining console for many of us. I'd love to hear about everyone's favorite Sega Genesis memories and which games you think hold up the best today. For me, nothing beats the feeling of playing Streets of Rage 2 with a friend or finally beating Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The Genesis had such a unique library compared to the SNES. What are your standout memories from the 16-bit era, and which Genesis games do you still go back to regularly?
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is still my favorite. The way the two cartridges lock together was pure magic as a kid. The music, the levels, the special stages - it's peak Genesis. I have such strong Sega Genesis memories of trying to get all the chaos emeralds and super emeralds. The sense of accomplishment when you finally got Hyper Sonic was unreal.
Streets of Rage 2 with a friend. The soundtrack alone makes it worth playing today. Yuzo Koshiro's work on that game is legendary. We'd play for hours trying different character combinations and strategies. The Genesis had such a distinct sound compared to the SNES - more gritty and electronic, which fit the arcade style games perfectly.
Phantasy Star IV is a masterpiece that often gets overlooked in favor of SNES RPGs. The comic book style cutscenes, the complex story, the party combinations - it holds up incredibly well. I replay it every few years and always discover new details. The Genesis had some truly innovative RPGs that were different from what Nintendo was offering.