Sega Mega Drive & Genesis

1988 - 4th generation system

The Sega Mega Drive (known as the Sega Genesis in North America) is a 16-bit home video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was released in Japan in 1988, and in North America and other regions in 1989. The Mega Drive was Sega's fourth home console and the successor to the Sega Master System. The Mega Drive was powered by a Motorola 68000 processor and had a graphics processor called the Sega VDP. It featured a built-in FM synthesizer sound chip, which allowed for more advanced sound and music than its 8-bit predecessor, the Master System. The Mega Drive had a large library of games, including many popular franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Streets of Rage. It also had a number of sports games and ports of popular arcade games. Many of these games featured colorful, detailed graphics and smooth animation, which helped to establish the Mega Drive as a powerful and capable gaming platform. The Mega Drive was also known for its add-ons, such as the Sega CD and Sega 32X, which expanded the console's capabilities, but were not as successful as the main console. The Sega Mega Drive was a popular console in the early 90s and sold over 30 million units worldwide. It was in direct competition with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) but despite this it was able to establish itself as a major player in the 16-bit era of gaming. The Mega Drive was succeeded by the Sega Saturn in 1994, but it continued to be popular in certain regions, particularly Brazil, where it was manufactured and sold until 2003. Some of the popular games that were released for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) include: Sonic the Hedgehog - A platform game featuring Sonic, a blue hedgehog who must save the world from Dr. Eggman. Streets of Rage - A side-scrolling beat-'em-up game where players control one of three characters fighting against a criminal organization. Phantasy Star IV - A role-playing game featuring a turn-based battle system and a deep story. Gunstar Heroes - A run and gun game that is known for its fast-paced action and large bosses. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master - A side-scrolling action game featuring a ninja named Joe Musashi who must fight against crime syndicates. Mortal Kombat - A fighting game featuring digitized sprites and a variety of finishing moves called "Fatalities" Toejam & Earl - A action-adventure game featuring two alien rappers trying to find the parts of their spaceship. Aladdin - A platform game based on the Disney animated film, which features colorful graphics and smooth animation. Comix Zone - A side-scrolling beat-'em-up game where the player takes on the role of a comic book artist who must fight his own creations to escape from the comic book. Earthworm Jim - A platform game featuring an earthworm who uses a robotic suit to save his princess. These are just a few examples of the many games that were released for the Sega Mega Drive. The console had a wide variety of games, ranging from platformers, fighting games, and sports games to RPG, adventure and strategy games. It was considered one of the best consoles for its time and many of its games still hold up today and are considered classics.