After finding massive success with the Genesis, Sega had momentum on their side when going into he 32-bit era. The plan should have been simple: Put all the attention on the upcoming Saturn and then fill it up with the company's most popular arcade games. But as we neared the handover, Sega began to worry. They were concerned that their loyal Genesis users may not want to spend $300 or $400 on new hardware. So, instead of putting all of their attention behind the Saturn, they created this -- the Sega 32X, a half-step plug-in that was supposed to turn your Genesis into a 32-bit powerhouse.
If you know anything about the system wars of the mid-1990s, then you already know that this was a colossal failure. While Sega of America boldly claimed that the add-on would outsell the Saturn and PlayStation by a sizable margin, in reality it only sold 800,000 units, a far cry from the 9.26 million the Saturn would sell or the more than 100 million units Sony would be able to move. Like I said, the 32X was a flop.
In just under a year and a half, Sega and its third parties managed to release only 36 games in the United States. Of those games, Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed 21 of them. And while that's 58% of the library, they missed out on a few big hitters, like Tempo, Primal Rage and Virtua Racing. But instead of dwelling on the titles EGM didn't review, I want to spend the next few minutes using their own words to countdown all 21 Sega 32X games they reviewed. Come, join me for a brand-new episode of Electronic Gaming Monthly Ranks the 32X.
Cosmic Carnage (32X)
#21
"As the first fighting game for the 32X, I am not at all impressed with it. With an exception to a few special scaling effects, the graphics seemed as if it could have been done without the 32X adapter. To add to that, the sound is also very close to what it would sound like from the Genesis alone. About the only thing I like about Cosmic Carnage was the ability to equip the fighters with various armor parts." (4.75 out of 10)
Metal Head (32X)
#20
"I'm not a big fan of the first-person perspective type of game and this is a good example of why. The graphics are decent, but the action is boring. I really appreciate the ability to run, but I don't like running around corridors looking for giant polygons to shoot. Also, what's with the head shots? It has a very off sync face jammering about the mission. The game may be someone else's bag, but I prefer more action and animation." (4.75 out of 10)
Shadow Squadron (32X)
#19
"Haven't I seen this before? Oh yes, disguised as a Star Wars game of sorts. While Shadow Squadron offers the lovely option of being able to fly wherever you want, it's still nothing spectacular by any means. Boring, single-color polygons are a thing of the past, but I guess that's what the 32X is happy doing. I like the concept behind the two-player game with one person piloting the craft while another is the gunner. Overall, Shadow Squadron is only average." (5.1 out of 10)
Corpse Killer (32X)
#18
"For starters, I can't be too excited about a full-motion video game. Corpse Killer is all eye candy and no play. The majority of the time, you just move a cursor on the screen and blast the attacking zombies. The cursor is a pain to move around with the Genesis control pad. The Menacer gun isn't much of an improvement. It would have been better if you could use the mouse. It's a rather dull game." (5.25 out of 10)
Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 (32X)
#17
"Fans of the classic shooter from Sega can rejoice now that Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 is here. This game is only similar to its predecessor in appearance and looks more like Viewpoint than Zaxxon. I like the look and sound of the game, but that's where I stop liking it. First, you can't even change your altitude like the old Zaxxon. The only time you can really do that is when you make your ship jump, which is pretty useless most of the time. It's not like the old game!" (5.4 out of 10)
Supreme Warrior (32X)
#16
"I know I've ragged on full-motion video games before, but for some reason, I have developed a liking for this game. FMV haters, shoot me now! I think it has something to do with the story that is very much like an old martial arts movie. The story was pretty cool and kept my interest even though the control was a little unresponsive. Playing with the regular three-button controller made it even worse, so make sure you have a six-button controller laying around." (5.4 out of 10)
Slam City w/ Scottie Pippen (32X)
#15
"An upgrade to the Genesis version, but there are hardly any changes except the quality of the full-motion video. The game doesn't really change -- you must memorize the video and press the right key at the right time. Bystanders and players' comments are comically corny, but it tends to get tired as you keep playing the game. I'm disappointed." (5.5 out of 10)
R.B.I. Baseball '95 (32X)
#14
"I'd sooner sit on the bench and give someone a hot foot or spit sunflower seeds at my teammates than play this game. The game looks good and the many stadium sounds add to the realism of the game. But what it makes up for in sound, it lacks in gameplay and overall fun. I just couldn't get into this game. I just wasn't motivated to play on after I reviewed it." (5.75 out of 10)
WWF Raw (32X)
#13
"Tap, tap, tap, tap, (pause) tap, tap, tap ... win! Despite the enhancements of the sound and graphics that the 32X can handle, the tapping of the buttons is what the game's based on. There's no point in playing. Plus, the computer is quite hard to beat unless you put the difficulty setting on 1, then maybe you'll have a chance. You better indulge on some sugar before you play this ... disappointment." (5.75 out of 10)
T-MEK (32X)
#12
"In T-MEK, the only goal is to destroy as many enemies as possible within the given time limit. You have a choice of six mechs, which vary in speed, shield and weapons, and six playing fields. The actual game controls fairly well, but it was really stripped down in the conversion from arcade to home system use. I would have enjoyed the game much more if they would have added a few more options in the transition from the arcade to home to increase the playability." (6.1 out of 10)
Star Wars Arcade (32X)
#11
"Being a big fan of the movies and action games, I was expecting a little bit more. The scrolling is really good, but the missions just got too repetitive and boring. The two-player simultaneous mode is a great addition, but there wasn't enough to do -- just shoot TIE fighters over and over. The graphics are decent, but could have used a bit more texture mapping. Star Wars fans may get into it, but I don't enjoy flight sims." (6.25 out of 10)
Brutal: Unleashed (32X)
#10
"I wasn't too crazy about the 16-bit versions of this game, so understand when I say that the 32X version is only slightly improved. The noticeable upgrades are obvious in the graphics and music, which are very impressive. The thing about Brutal: Unleashed that still pulls the score down is the gameplay. It still feels sluggish and the special attacks seem difficult to pull off. It's still worth a try, though." (6.4 out of 10)
Golf Magazine: 36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples (32X)
#9
"This game lands in the bunker and each time I play it, it slides deeper into the sand. The graphics are good and the 32X engine adds some cool scaling features to the course, but the gameplay is hard to control and the true feeling of playing an actual golf game just isn't there. The programmers at Sega Sports won't stop here till they win the PGA championship." (6.5 out of 10)
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (32X)
#8
"What's the difference between this game and the Genesis version? I really expected to see more from this new 32X version. Sure, the game itself is good, but why is it only marginally different from the supposedly inferior Genesis? Anyway, I liked the pace of this game. Do what you need to do with a minimum amount of fuss and move on. This is how more video games should be, regarding their gameplay. I found no difficulty getting into this one." (6.6 out of 10)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (32X)
#7
"Let me start out by saying that the 32X version really hasn't changed much from the original Super NES version. Besides the improved 3D ship polygons, not much else has changed to tap the 32X graphic capabilities. The simulations have good content, but are severely restricted during combat. Manually targeting enemy ships is a chore to accomplish, being hard to precisely aim and fire accurately. This version has improved, but still wasn't what I expected." (6.6 out of 10)
Kolibri (32X)
#6
"Just when I thought there was nowhere left to go with a shooter, suddenly a hummingbird hops into play. Kolibri is filled with the best possible graphics of birds and insects I have ever seen. It controls fairly well, but the game needs work the cheap deaths when restarting. Wind pressure is also a source of irritation, since it forces you where you don't want to be. There is no mistaking it: Kolibri is the first of a new trend in bird shooters. Wait, let's forget I even said that last statement." (7 out of 10)
Knuckles Chaotix (32X)
#5
"While I'm pleased to see the 32X is finally getting an action game, Chaotix just doesn't live up to the reputation of previous Sonic games. The levels are average except for the cool bonus stages. Those I liked, but 32X games should be better. The idea behind the second character was very original, but the way it was done slowed the game play a bit. The graphics are outstanding and the music is nice. Chaotix does not set new standards." (7.4 out of 10)
Virtua Fighter (32X)
#4
"I'm sorry, but the old looks of Virtua Fighter don't cut it anymore. I may be a bit harsh but look at what else is ount there: Virtua Fighter Remix, Toshinden, Tekken. This does play a bit better and has tons of options, but the original Virtua Fighter looks just too old, especially with Remix being out. For fans of this game, I'd say you'd like it as much or maybe even more than the Saturn version. For this arcade player, the game is a bit tired. This is an excellent version for the system, but it's old." (7.6 out of 10)
Toughman Boxing (32X)
#3
"Toughman Boxing is working its way up to the heavyweight division and delivering the knock-out punch that gamers have come to expect from EA Sports. The 32X version has more of the same combinations, enhanced graphics and awesome punch combinations.Overall, it's a great game from start to finish." (7.75 out of 10)
NBA Jam T.E. (32X)
#2
"NBA Jam is here to stay! It's practically on every system on the market. I wonder if people are getting sick of Jam? But, I have to admit, this is the closest translation from the original arcade. The 32X has really shown its true capabilities, here, with cool scrolling of players. The sounds have improved greatly as well. If you guys are still deciding which one to buy, think about this one." (8.25 out of 10)
Doom (32X)
#1
"Oh, yeah! Hours of fun! Just the thing a person needs after a rough day! This isn't the PC version, but it still does a great job with the first-person, point-the-weapon-and-shoot idea. This has to be the ultimate stress reliever." (8.4 out of 10)
