Contra (Probotector) - Review

 

Retro Games Reviewer #18, Contra Review


Oh, yes... - Nostalgia coming back, again. it's good to be 31 because of the memories.

And, damn', do I remember when I played Contra the first time!

Actually, it wasn't on an original and official made in Japan NES. And it could never have been, at least in Europe, at that time. Because Contra was not released in its original vests in Europe. Instead, NES got "Probotector". German authorities didn't want a game in which two bad asses would kill other human beings, like it happens in some levels of the game.

So, in Probotector, the characters are cyborgs, and the human enemy soldiers were replaced by aliens. In theory is the same game. But I prefer the original Contra.

This is the Probotector cover:

Before I start feeling too much enthusiasm, let us get the "Contra" plot straight:

There was an Alien Invasion, and you, a Rambo-like macho hero got to kick them back to where they came from. Or terminate them during the proccess.

You can try this adventure alone, or with a partner. Hence, we have the excellent and epic two player in simultaneous mode.

Obviously, both players are half-naked. Come on, you know what half is undressed! Player one has blue pants, player two, red pants. Choose your destiny.


So, anyway, back to memorabilia. My first encounter with glorious Contra:

I remember going to a friend's place. He was a die-hard PC gamer, but he had recently got a Famiclone from his father. Lots of games built in, all NES/Famicom classics. I thought I knew them all.

However, I remember when he asked me: "Have you ever played a game called Contra?"

I had never heard of such game. So I said no. And he answered: "Oh, you're going to play it, now."

And so I did.

And, as it always happens when I play the top legendary games of my life, I will never forget the first time I laid my hands on Contra, through a Famiclone.

Thanks, Chinese pirats!

The title screen, its music, and the two bad ass heroes were a great first impression. Without further delay, I started playing the first level, "The jungle". Wow, now there's a lot going on! I'm mesmerized how such game is possible on an 8 bit console! My brain needs to be aware, because, at the same time I am admiring the game scenarios, and colors, the sprites, the great gameplay, the sound, the graphics, I need to concentrate on the intense action, that happens since minute one of this game. And yes, my friend is playing with me, and, yes, we are using the 30 lives code, but still, I don't like to go down, and I want to learn how to be great in this game, because that's what it is. A GREAT game! Contra is a fusion between a platformer, and a shoot'em up. Having good skills in both is very important, and this is no game for pussies, or for those who are searching for a game to relax. No, this game, specially if you play it without any code, will need all your concentration. The compensation is worth it, though. It's easy to forget you are playing a NES game. Well, it's easy to forget you are playing a game, period!

In the end of each level, there's, usually, a mini-boss. In the first level, there's not really a mini-boss, but a structure that you need to destroy. After Jungle, you go into the second level, which is the first Military Alien Base. There are two "bases". And within these two levels, the gameplay changes. It becomes more like a classic shoot'em up. You can still jump, to avoid shooting, but there are no platforms. In order to go further in the level, you need to destroy and shoot all the main targets of each room. There are some tough bosses in the end of these levels. And the soundtrack is amazing. - It always is. Definitely one of the game's strong points. - Hell, this game has only strong points!

Level three, you go back to enjoy some green fields and nature. It's the Waterfall.

Level four, the other base-level.

Level five, you are surrounded by mountains of snow. It's a winter environment, with a lot going on, as usual.

Level six, the "Energy Zone". You are inside what is sort of a factory/castle of electricity. This time, nothing to do with nature. It will remind you of another Industrial Revolution. And, as expected, electricity, and other surprises, will also become an obstacle.

Level seven, The Hangar. The same sountrack of the first level. The most well known Contra song. We are becoming closer to level 8, which is also the last. The "Alien's Lair." In this, you are finally dealing with an Alien-like (meaning, the Alien movies, with Sigourney Weaver) Sci-fi scenario. It's the last challenge, and you gonna have to kill lots of aliens, including the final boss, the Heart of all the others, literally.

The influence the Alien movies had on this game is very much recognized in this last level. You will see that very clearly. Even by looking at the game's cover. You can't miss it.

Anyway, this is one of my favourite games of all time. Both to be played alone, and/or with a friend. The developers were the guys from Konami. Respect. A masterpiece in all possible ways.

Before closing this chapter, some more details, and treats.

These are some very decent covers, made by some youtube artists, regarding the already mentioned mythical "Jungle theme". - Which is also "The Hangar" theme:

This one is made by Smooth McGroove. Through voice, only! A capella! Great job, he sings all the parts of the song:

 And this one is a guitar/metal cover/arrangement. Some parts are improvised, but the original stuff is all there, too. By VertexGuy (I already mentioned and displayed this one in another chapter regarding videogames soundtracks, but for those who got here through this specific Contra article, and don't give a damn' about the rest of my blog, here it is):

Retro Games Reviewer, Contra Review, 22/10/2014

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Nintendo World Cup - Review.

                                           Retro Games Reviewer #17, Nintendo World Cup Review

Believe it or not, I only got this game last year. I bought an used NES cartridge that contains 3 games, and World Cup was one of them. I did know the game, by distance, of course, since the beggining of the NES age. Also, I borrowed it from a friend, when we were 13 or 14 years, so, I was already familiar with the game. 

Well, this is supposed to be the 1990's World Cup (Footbal, or Soccer, for the Americans), turned into a NES game. Or vice-versa, to be more accurate. Unlike what might be expected, they did not try to turn it into a simulator of the real game, of real football, which would be a mistake, given the tecnhical limitations of the NES, but rather make it a fun game. And I think they succeeded. You can play up with three more friends - meaning, 4 players at the same time - and, even alone, depending on how much you like soccer, it can also be fun. You can pre-ordain small aspects, regarding tactics, like, for example, do you want your team to shoot a lot to the goal, or not so much, or not at all; or how your players should react when they don't have the ball, should they tackle, or not, etc. 

You are both the coach and one of the players. You only control 100 % one player, which is you. But, through the A or B button, you can order your fellow team mates to either pass you the ball, or shoot to the goal, or tackle, for example. The gameplay is quite decent, and it's one of the best pre-16 bits soccer games you will play. The rythm of the game is the right one, and it can become quite competitive, too. Depending also, of course, on the teams. If you choose a stronger team, and you're playing against a weaker one, things will get easier. There are only 6 players for each team, which actually prevents the game for becoming too boring. The field looks good, the sprites are big, and everything is nice and clear. The players, the characters, look different from each other, both within the same team, and if compared with other teams. You can identify the different ethnic traces, for example, which makes the game more credible. - Remember, we are talking about a World Cup. In the end, they look a lot like anime characters. Which makes sense, because, originally, Nintendo World Cup was actually a "different" game, Nekketsu High School Dodgeball Club: Soccer. This one involving a High School Soccer competition. In Japan, obviously. 

The players can become tired, and if so, they will just drop on the floor, like they were dead. There are no fouls, or off-sides! There's also some humorous events, like the typical anime pain-expression that a player presents, when, for example, he takes the ball on his face! It's football, the ball is round, it can become fast and furious, and these things do happen! Goal keepers are quite decent, too, and to score a goal against the more difficult teams, is quite a moment of joy. 

The sound quality is also ok, and it does its part. 

So, anyway, if you have the chance to try this one - in case you haven't already - and you're a big soccer fan, you should definitely do it. Specially with good friends, and a six pack ;-)

Game Boy version also available! 

Retro Games Reviewer, Nintendo World Cup Review, 25/09/2014

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Excitebike - Review

                                             Retro Games Reviewer #16; ExciteBike Review


Pick up your helmet - Not a medieval war-like, I mean, a motorcycle helmet - put on your fake leather jacket, that you bought to impress your last date, get a few root beers - Do not drink and drive. FREAKING EVER! - And, start on your classic NES motocross title, Excitebike.

Ah, isn't life great?

Man, I love this game. Because it's simply so damn' fun. Nintendo did it again, with a perfect gameplay. It's a side scrolling motocross simulator racing game. You have to deal with a lot of obstacles. You get to jump through ramps, control your bike both in the ground, and in the air, you have to avoid sand, falls, - if you fall, you can return to your bike faster by pressing A - and, with all this, you have a time limit. It's a great challenge. You will have to practice a decent amount of time to...beat the time...? Man, this didn't turn out very shakespearinguish... 

Anyway, you get the point.

Another important thing: if the motor of your bike becomes overheated, you will have to wait a few seconds before you can proceed. This is what happens: You can use both buttons, B and A, right? With the A button you can speed up at your will. No problem. But, if you want to use the turbo, and accelerate a lot more, you will need the B button. Thing is, if you use it for too much time, without pausing, the motor will need a rest. And you will have to stop. There's a meter, called "Temp", meaning "Temperature", and you can control it. Soon, you will learn to alternate between the A and B button, without causing the motor to overheat. It's a great add to the game interest.

You can compete alone, just against the obstacles and the clock, or you can compete with...no, not with a friend. That's the downside of the game. There's no two player mode!! Shame on you, Nintendo.

You have two game modes, that they call "selections". In Selection A, you "walk alone", in Selection B, computer controlled motorcycles appear on the action. It's fun, and a greater challenge. And only makes you crave for that two player mode, which does not exist.

No worries, after the third track, and the fifth root beer, you'll forget all about that.

There are 5 main tracks. The scenarios and the graphics are simple, but ok. The environment is all there. The colors change, each level, simulating day, night, different lights, etc. It's not the second coming of 8 bit technology, but it does not become boring, and helps out the game. You can see the crowd back there, and now and then, a cameraman, which is, of course, showing your stunts to the world. Live!

Soundtrack: awful. One of the worse soundtracks of NES. Fortunately, it does not play when you are...playing. Again, damn'!

But yeah, you don't have to listen to the music while you're playing. Only when you finish the track. So, it will not ruin your fun. But it can make you mad if you just failed to reach the next track for just a second or two. Some gamers may think this is a good think. The angrier, the better formula. I'm not one of those.

Important detail: You can build and create your own personalized tracks. Nintendo, back then, called the game part of its "programmable series."

Ah, the 80's.

So, call your girlfriend, and ask her if she wants to take a ride with you, in a motocross contest.


Retro Games Reviewer; Excitebike Review, 9/9/2013

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DR. MARIO - Review

Retro Games Reviewer #15; Dr. Mario Review

Mario... the doctor? What the...!

This was my reaction, in my younger days, when I saw the cover and label of this game. And not just because Mario looks more like a mad scientist than a doctor, in the box art. There's also a sort of mysterious "X". Dr X Mario?

Although, we should not be surprised, for Mario is definitely the man of one zillion jobs, throughout a bunch of Nintendo games, who are not related to Mario Mythology.

Very far from being just a plumber, Mario is the referee in Tennis (NES and Game Boy), he's a golf player in the  Golf series (NES and GB), he wrecks buildings in Wrecking Crew (NES), he is an astronaut, and space ship pilot in Alleyway (GB), AND in Super Mario Land 2 (Moon Zone) - ape hunter in Donkey Kong, the list goes on and on.

So, yes, Mario is playing doctors, but in a good educational puzzling way. I have to say, when I was a kid, and I asked my father to buy me Dr. Mario, without having read a word about the game, I wasn't expecting an adventure, Super Mario series kind of game. Of course not. But I was hoping for something in the vein of the original Mario Bros., for example. A simple action/platform game, fun to play with a buddy, original stuff, nice to relax in a rainy sunday afternoon.

Oh, by the way, apparently, Luigi didn't graduate from med school.

Instead, I was very surprised to see it was a puzzle. I was a little disappointed at first, because the game I had imagined was kind of cool, but, hey, let's see if the doctor aproves it!

Usually I have a problem with puzzles, because I love Tetris, and the other ones always seem a shadow, unworthy of "the Soviet Mind Game".

However, Dr. Mario was definitely approved.

First of all, yes, it's another Tetris'son. But it has its differences. Both the concept, and also the gameplay. Mario throws vitamins, or medicins, well, pills, to a bottle. Each pill has two different colors, and you can rotate them, in order to use the color you want. The position of the pill is also important. It can go vertical, or horizontal.

So, there are three colors available: red, blue and yellow. And Mario, I mean, Dr. Mario, can send you a whole bunch of combinations of pills, using these three colors. For example - Red-Red; Yellow-Blue, Blue-Red, etc, etc. You get the point.

You control the pills like you control the blocks in Tetris. But in Dr. Mario, you need to use the pills on the virus! Yes, your mother will be so proud! You are playing a game in which you are a doctor, kicking deseases' asses!

As expected, virus can be yellow, blue and red. You need to put two pills of the same color of the virus, on top of them (the virus!) - or below - in order to destroy them. So, you need to use the half of the pill you are interested in, for each virus' case. That's why you can rotate the pills.

The first levels, are easier, but, as you progress in the game, the scientist bottles will become more and more crowded with the damn' virus, and it will be harder. You can choose the level in the beggining of the game. It's quite a challenge to the mind, and to your nerves. Not a nice game to play if you're drunk.

The graphics are ok. You can see Mario, all dressed up as a doctor, up in the screen, throwing you the pills. He's always holding the next pill you will get next. Just like in Tetris, you get to see what's coming. And just like in Tetris, you have to figure out what to do with the piece, before it lands something. Hopefully the right virus.

There's also a magnifying glass, that shows you the virus in big size. One for each color, of course. They are quite ugly, in a fun way. When you destroy all the virus of one species, then, its "big" representant will disappear from the magnifying glass. After you destroy all the virus, there's nothing else to see, and off you go the next level. Sherlock Holmes would have love this game.

Now, the soundtrack. You have two different tunes. "Fever" and "Chill".

I have to say, "Chill" is... sick, so to speak! I loved this tune, when I was a kid, I still like a lot. I used to play the game just to listen to it. Very jazzy and psychadelic, and has a hell of solo.

Here's a nice arrangement from FamilyJules7X:

Yeah, I know, me and the songs...

Anyway, the game was released, both to NES and Game Boy. Later, it was released for the Super NES, with a bonus: Tetris. Yes, the two games in one single cartridge. This was a great idea, double the fun.

Either way, Dr. Mario is a very good choice if you're planning to stay home, pretending you're sick, just to be left alone with your good ol' NES. If solitude isn't your thing, you can also use the two player mode.

Retro Games Reviewer; Dr. Mario Review, 30/08/13

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PRINCE OF PERSIA by Jordan Mechner - Review

                                      Retro Games Reviewer #14; Prince of Persia Review

Back in the days, there was always a Princess to save, in video games. That's nice. Epic, romantic, and very manly.

When I was a kid, I had a neighbour who had a PC. I had my NES, and he had his 386. I had Super Mario and Zelda, but he had this fucking great game, called Prince of Persia. Prince to close friends. I watched him play that game, and, for the first time, I wanted a pc keyboard as much as a NES controller.

So, once upon a time, a dude was trapped in a dungeon, - in Persia, so, the title... - by the evil Vizir. - Jaffar is the asshole's name.

And the princess was kidnapped by the same Vizir. What for? Besides the obvious reasons...? He's going to force her to marry him, in order to become the Sultan of Persia.

 She has one hour to decide. And she has to say yes. Or else... I don't know. Does he kill her? Makes her listen to Justin Bieber? Either way, it's fucked up.

But she has a hope. You!

Now, I'm singing the title screen music. Ah, I'm feeling heroic. Where's my damn' sword? I want to invoke the Gods of War, and of poor helpless Princesses.

And only after you save the princess, and marry her, you will actually become the Prince of Persia.

Hell of a game. You have to figure the way out of 12 levels, in 60 minutes. Each level is a floor of the same castle. Dungeons, the upper floors, they are all big mazes, that you have to beat. Meanwhile, you also need to beat the Vizir guards, in single combat. In the first level, you need to find your sword, and then, you're ready to go. The fights are very well made. Sword agains sword, man against man. The gameplay is awesome. The keyboard responds smoothly. The graphics are excellent. I don't know why the fuck the prince is blond, since he's persian, but besides that, hats off. The scenarios are superb, you really get into the essence of the game. You really feel like you're traped. Besides the guards, there are also a lot of creepy traps. Like spikes, that come out from the ground, when you're passing by and machines that cut you in half. Sometimes, you get killed in a second by hidden ll scare the shit out of you. The Prince and the guards are digitalized sprites. Jordan Mechner used video images of his own brother performing all the moves you can see on the game, to give birth to the Prince. So, everything looks very real. Lots of movements. Little steps, climbing, and descending, drinking potions - red ones will give you health, blue ones are poison - fighting with your sword, - you can put back your sword during fight, if you're willing to try to run, of if you want to commit suicide -, and all that good stuff.

So, since it looks real, it also feels real. You have to calculate your running, your jumping, everything. You can trip, you can fall just because of a slight mistake, like a false step, etc. It requires a lot of practice

In one level, you will have to jump through a magic mirror. And, your own shadow, will become alive, and will leave your body. You will then have to meet her, in the final level. Meanwhile, she will try to undermine your mission.

Really, how cool is that, for a 1989 game? The game was created by Jordan Mechner, by the way.

Sometimes you see skeletons, throughout the dungeons. One of them will rise, out of the blue, and you will have to fight it. You cannot kill it, because it's already dead.

Damn', this is a superb game. As I write this, I'm having all these good memories.

Now and then, between levels, you see what's happening with the princess. One of the games where you can see the final screen before reaching there. You can see the princess waiting for you, or being pressured by the Vizir.  And also, when she's preparing a little something to help you - like a mouse! Yes, a mouse! I will not spoil all the surprises. Oh wait, I think I already did... - everything is very realistic, and it makes the game even more appealing.

The princess room is also quite beautiful, and luxurious. Persian, middle-eastern and 1001 nights style.

There were several versions of this game. Most of them are copies of the original. There's a Konami version, for the Super NES, which is a deluxe version. More levels and scenarios, better graphics, more bosses, - including monsters and female fighters, etc. Quite harder too. It's an excellent game, and, in my opinion, one of the best SNES titles. You have twice the time to beat it. Two hours, instead of the 60 minutes, regarding the original title. Both games are full of atmosphere and adrenalin, and they are quite an experience.

Anyway, first, play the 1989 PC Prince of Persia. That's where all the magic was born. And, to this day, is one of the best platform games ever.



Retro Games Reviewer; Prince of Persia Review, 25/08/13

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Retro Games' sountracks covers. Castlevania, Contra, Sonic, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros.' castle theme.

Retro Games Reviewer #13; Retro Games' Music Covers.

There are many great retro games' covers all over youtube. Through those, we can see that the good old cartridges had in them some serious music composing. For all kinds of music genres. As a musician, I'm very fond of some great soundtracks in Video games.



Here, you have the castles' themes from the very first Super Mario Bros. in Metal version, by the band Nylithia. It's fucking awesome. The videoclip is also quite amusing. Check it out until the end:

Contra Jungle theme, by Vertex Guy. Also Metal. Of course, what else? This awesome track in violins? I think it wouldn't work. A lot of improvising, and guitar shredding which I liked:

Sonic, Green Hill Zone "a capella". Meaninig: a single guy - Smooth McGroove - did all the sounds in the song, through his own voice. And mixed it all.

Acoustic version of Castlevania's boss theme, "Poison Mind." Performer goes by the name of Oroz5

Also, check out this Swedish Band. They are "Game Over", and they have great songs based on NES classics. Zelda, for example. With voice, lyrics, it's all there. NESperado is one of their albums. Here's "Zelda. Hyrule's Angel (The Sleeping Beauty)."

http://nintendometal.com/music.htm

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Nintendo Versus Sega. The Cold War in Video Game History.

                                         Retro Games Reviewer #12; Nintendo Versus Sega.


Back in the days, when the political Cold War was reaching to an end, the one of the Video Game Universe was at its peak. Nintendo was the super-power, but Sega fought it bravely, step by step, never letting the Big N taking over the world completely.

If someone told me, or anyone, I think, 20 years go, that one day, we would see a Sonic game in a Nintendo system, it would be like saying the pope was joining Metallica. Could anything be more unspeakable  and impossible than this?!

Super Mario was Nintendo's icon, and Sonic was Segas'. The NES/Famicom was a complete success, - although its Sega's counterpart, the Master System, did well in Europe, it was no match for the Nintendo 8 bit machine - and Sega didn't wait very long to launch the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. I remember well the marketing. Sega, all around the world, attacked agressively. It was supposed to be a "cool" video game system. The black colour, its sophisticated shape, a design closer to other, then modern, home video entertaining machines, like hi-fi's and videos, the games that were brought from the Arcade Sega hits, the Sports games, and, of course, the 16 bits. All this was probably intended to attract older people. Older, meaning, more teenage and young adults, than kids. Sonic was also supposed to be cool. I think Sega exagerated the supposed "coolness" of Sonic, and, to me, as a kid, it lacked magic and creativity. How many teenage animals or heroes were there already in the cartoon and videogame world? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for example. Since I was 2, I remembered to see all sorts of talking freaking animals all around the child entertaining universe.

Although Mega Drive was 16 bits, the NES fought it well, for a long time, before the Super Nintendo came out. And even after SNES came out, the NES was active for a short while.

You already know the NES is my personal favorite. But the others are not jealous.

Nintendo did not back down with its strategy. Super Nintendo was going to continue the NES magic, and its exclusive games creativity. Nintendo's message to Sega was "we don't need to look cool or sophisticated. we just need to be Nintendo." 

All my video game units are Nintendo systems, but in Portugal, the Mega Drive had a huge success. Nintendo did not have a good distributor. A big Portuguese Toy company also distributed the Nintendo products. When I was a kid, Sega was all around the TV marketing. The NES had a decent exposure, in the beginning, but Nintendo commercials practically stoped after the first SNES year.

So, anyway, all my friends and cousins had the Genesis/Mega Drive. And so, I played it.

I was quite disappointed. I thought the 16 bits of the Genesis were not doing wonders, and the games lacked creativity. - I say this word a lot, I know, but it's because it's so damn' important. Life's short, and if I'm going to burn hours of it in front of a TV screen, then, it better be good. I have to forget I'm sitting on a couch for days, because I'm living a true adventure, or experience, and I even forgot it's just a videogame. 

And Sega, just didn't have that Nintendo magic powder. This is my honest opinion. I was hoping Sonic to be a great game series, but it didn't match the Super Mario Sagas. Not even close. - I finished Sonic 2. I played it to the end. I'm not just a "visitor" - and, sure, it's a fun couple of games to play, they are ok, if you just want to relax, or have to stay home with the flu, or whatever, but definitely not an experience through gaming. I'm sorry, but this is my opinion.

The graphics and sound of the Genesis, were not that great either. You have to keep in mind that I heard and read, all over the TV, and Game Magazines, that the Mega Drive was 16 bits, twice the power of the NES. Twice! And I asked myself :"Where the fuck is all that? At least in technology?"

Remember the Game Gear? Sega's "portable" game system? It destroyed 8 bateries in a couple of hours. Yes, it had colors, light, but it was nothing more than a Master System with a tiny screen. It didn't have original games, and it was not very portable, either. Again, the marketing focused on the Game Gear colors, and the fact that Game Boy was in black in white. Sega used the negative marketing, A LOT. Not only promoting their own stuff, but also trying to "bully" Nintendo. I never liked that. Was that also based on the idea of being "cool"? Or perhaps just desperation?


Mega Drive had its highlights in the two player games. Those were very fun to play. I played with my cousins, for hours, games like Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Fifa's, etc. Great way to spend a few afternoons, fooling around with the guys or girls. - my female cousin played Streets of Rage and Golden Axe like a bad ass. - so, it's definitely a social video game system. None of these games, in my opinion are a match to Contra (NES), or Super Probotector (SNES) for example, but Genesis/MD, had a lot of titles that were meant to be played by two.

The logic of Nintendo vs Sega is a little this. Nintendo always had the better games. The Super Marios, the Final Fantasies, the Zeldas, Konami best titles, Tetris!, etc, etc.

In Europe, everybody loves football - americans call it soccer - and the Mega Drive had huge success also thanks to the Fifa Soccer games series. At least in Portugal, they were cheap, and the kids loved them. The SNES also had those game series, but they were expensive, and, frankly, no one is going to buy a Nintendo system because of any other games than the exclusive ones.

When I was 13 years old, only 2 of us had Super NES, in my classroom. The remaining 20 had Mega Drive. And all of them had the system because it was cheap, and because of the Fifa Soccer games, mainly. They wanted to play and compete with friends. They did not want to play a long Mario game, much less a complex Zelda, or any other.

So, this is the idea I always had of the Genesis/Mega Drive. Like fast-food. "Fast-gaming." This is not necessarily something bad. There's a place for every kind of system. I think about it as an Arcade kind of gaming mentality. Unlike Nintendo, where you have to put on your agenda if you're going to play Zelda, for example, or the whole 96 levels of Super Mario Bros. 3, or the whole journey of Donkey Kong Country. It demands time and you have to be focused! At least if you're playing the games for the first time.

Of course, there are many many games for the Genesis, and very good ones, but I think you would agree with me, regarding what I wrote before.

Sega understood Nintendo's software, meaning games, were superior. - In fact, even Sonic, for example, is kind of a bastard son of Super Mario. Green Zones, 100 "rings" for an extra life, underground levels, item boxes, etc. Come on. We know where they got THOSE ideas from.

And so, they tried to squeeze Genesis/Mega Drive until exhaustion. Remember the Sega CD, and the 32x. Always using the "modern" and "sophisticated" argument, and propaganda. It failed completely, regarding these two advices. They were a fail. Knowing the gaming battle was lost, Sega focused on the hardware war. Even in this field, they lost the conflict. While SNES was already superior to Genesis/MD, and Sega drowned its 16 bit system with the CD and 32x freaks, Nintendo simply developed a Chip, the FX Chip, which allowed us to play wonders like StarWing (StarFox) and even Doom. 

Well, it's true, Nintendo had a partnership with Sony to build a CD system to the SNES, but it was aborted. And after that, a new monster was created. Another story.

When my father asked me if I wanted a Mega Drive, I said I'd rather wait for the Super Nintendo. And so I did. And I'm glad. Although, I'm also glad the Mega Drive existed. I spent many fun hours playing it with my cousins. And I think the Nintendo-Sega Cold War, made both companies work their ass off to make better games, inspite their ideas, or directions. In the end, we all won.

Sonic belongs to Sega. And, as a "Nintendero", it feels quite odd to see it on the cover of a Nintendo game pack. Videogame history is quite interesting, unexpected, and rich.

Sega Saturn, like Playstation, the then newbie on the field, abandoned the essence of home videogaming. These two consoles, were, mainly, built around PC Games, and arcades. Lots of titles, trying to be realistic, but lacking creativity. - here's that word again.

We waited a lot for N64, and it was worth it. Nintendo proved that magic could still be made in 3D. And without CD rom technology.

Sega Saturn was not a good experience, and the Dreamcast was the last standing warrior for Sega, regarding video game systems.

Nintendo did not have time to celebrate the victory of this Cold War. Because of Sony's new important share of the market. But, seriously, regardless how many sells Playstation 1, 2, or 4300 may accomplish, it's just not the same. And we know it.

Nintendo probably did not want to celebrate it, anyway. I guess it's not a coincidence why today, Nintendo's logo is grey. Probably, a reflex of the whole gaming industry.

Fortunately, my good old systems still work!

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