It's Time For Sega To Step Their Game Up. (No Pun Intended)

Sega, Sega, Sega. (Shaking head) A company I love, but also one that drives me crazy. Every now and then, they get something right, like Yakuza 0, and Sonic Mania. Other times, they do things that are just baffling. Anytime Sega decides to release a greatest hits compilation, you can always expect the same few games, with little deviation. Sonic 1-4? Check. Altered Beasts? Check. Comix Zone? Check. Vectorman? Check. Shinobi? Yep.

You might possibly be inclined to think the vast majority of Sega's best games were for the Genesis. The truth is that there were many hidden gems scattered throughout Sega's many years as a console maker.

The Sega Master System, Game Gear, Saturn, and yes even the 32X/Sega CD combo had a few winners. Burning Rangers? Panzer Dragoon? Astal? Rise of the Dragon? Snatcher? These were, and are still great games, but chances are you've never seen them and never will.

As fond as the games industry has become of remakes, it's astounding that Sega hasn't made a stronger effort to capitalize on their best and most obscure software. Ever hear of Gynoug? It was a 16-bit shooter masterpiece that holds it's own after twenty years or so.

Feast your eyes...

...on classic shooter eye candy.

How many of you ever got to play Illbleed? An incredibly gross, and disturbing game, but yet one that seems oddly timeless. Oh, and then there's RPG classics like Vay, or Popful Mail. Never heard of em'? That's exactly my point.

I am utterly confused by why companies like Sega and Nintendo do this. While it's quite clear they both sit on a gold mine of video game back titles, they are more than content to just rehash the same dozen or so. The same games you've been hearing about since the 16-bit era ended!!! Are we supposed to be excited to play Sonic Spinball for the 15th time? Granted, that IS one of my favorite games, but c'mon. There is other stuff out there!

The jacket says it all folks. Play it, if you dare!

I have a lot of warm memories of my time as a diehard Sega fan, but I really feel that their approach to business has been so half-hearted since they left the hardware business. I hope that changes soon, but I won't hold my breath.