If thirty years ago you told me that I would be able to play some of the best Sega games on a Nintendo system, I would have called you a liar. There's no way. And yet, here we are in 2021, and you can get fourteen Sega classics on the Switch. Launching today, the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack comes with fourteen incredible Genesis games, including arcade ports like Golden Axe, platforming heroes like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, run 'n gun shooters like Gunstar Heroes, epic adventures like Phantasy Star IV and two of Konami's most popular franchises. To help celebrate the Expansion Pack's debut, we're going to flip through the pages of magazines like Electronic Gaming Monthly, Die Hard Game Fan, Sega Force, Mean Machines Sega and more to see what critics thought of these games when they first came out. So, come, join me I look at the first half of the Genesis games coming with Nintendo's Expansion Pack, followed tomorrow by the exciting conclusion. This is Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew!


After nearly a decade of hunting vampires exclusively on Nintendo consoles, Konami finally brought their popular Castlevania series to the Genesis in 1994 with a spin-off called Bloodlines. Taking place during in the lead-up to World War I and absent a Belmont, critics were all over the place when it came to this Genesis horror fest. While hype and anticipation certainly played into it, the real problem seemed to be that everybody wanted to compare Bloodlines to Super Castlevania IV. That's one of the reasons why you saw GamePro say that this is "in the lower reaches of the Castlevania lineage." They gave it a 3.5 out of 5 and concluded that "the Count and his undead cohorts lead you on an acceptable chase, but if you've got Castlevania bloodlust, Bloodlines will freeze your heart."

Die Hard Game Fan disagreed. In fact, the magazine went so far in the other direction that even fans of the game may think they went overboard. Giving it a 98%, Skid exclaimed that "The magic is back! From the opening animation to the last lash of the whip, this is action platforming gaming at its finest." Brody may have only given the game a 96%, but his words are even more over-the-top than Skid's: "Konami has just produced the best title yet for the Genesis. Konami has done it again!" Electronic Gaming Monthly also liked Bloodlines more than GamePro, but their average of 8.25 out of 10 is nowhere near GameFan's 96%. They called it "another winner" and "a must-have for Genesis owners." "The option of choosing between two characters is cool, plus their special abilities and attacks are also great." In case you want to see more of their Bloodline reviews, let me recommend a video I made called Electronic Gaming Monthly Ranks the Castlevania Series. We get real nerdy on the numbers in that two-part series.

If you thought the critics were split on Castlevania: Bloodlines, just wait until you get a load of Konami's next offering -- Contra: Hard Corps. This was yet another classic franchise that had recently hit a high-water mark on the Super NES, which meant that some saw this Genesis exclusive as a step backwards, while others loved the bold new direction. Next Generation was one of the naysayers, though you might not realize it from the review. Reading the text, they don't really have any negatives, and instead point out that it's "the ultimate side-scrolling shooter and a beast of a game that won't be easily defeated." That sounds like an endorsement to me, yet it received 3 out of 5 stars. Make of that what you will.

The reviews over at Electronic Gaming Monthly were also a little underwhelming, with most of the critics giving Contra a 7 out of 10. "Not quite the same juice as the original Contra, but this is a tough game to test your skills. The game is rather pattern-oriented and can get frustrating being so tough."

GamePro, on the other hand, absolutely loved Hard Corps. They gave the game a perfect 5 out of 5 and raved that "Konami came through for those bullet-hungry, mech-mashing hardcore Contra addicts out there. If you like blowing up problems instead of solving them, this game is for you!" Mean Machines Sega also loved Contra, through it went by the name Probotector over in Europe. "A masterpiece in Mega Drive programming. Tough in all the right places, packed with levels, and soaked in imagination and innovation. Brilliant!" No matter if you call it Contra or Probotector, Hard Corps is one of two incredible run 'n gun shooters hitting the Expansion Pack this month.

You may know it as Puyo Puyo or even Kirby's Avalanche, in the 1990's, Sega called it Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. This is one of those falling tile games, but unlike Dr. Mario on the Nintendo 64, this one doesn't suck. It also has a lot of familiar faces from the Sonicverse, which is fun to look back on a quarter-century later. The critics were really into Mean Bean Machine at the time, with GamePro giving it a perfect 5 out of 5 score and calling it an "absorbing puzzler [that] has enough unique twists to stand on its own." Mega over in the UK also loved the game, giving it a 90% and arguing that "Sonic's not in it, but what's there is sweet-inducingly addictive fun. Fab stuff." Wait, "sweet-inducing"? That's an unfortunate typo.

Speaking of British magazines that rhyme with the word Mega, let's turn our attention to the Official Sega Magazine, who gave Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine a 92%. They loved the multiplayer modes, challenge and presentation, while being underwhelmed by the sound and originality. "Not what you could call ground-breaking stuff, but brilliant executed and great fun to play." Compared to the rest of the magazines, Electronic Gaming Monthly comes in real low with an average score of 7.6 out of 10. "Like Pac attack, once you start playing, good luck trying to put the controller down." With strong scores across the board, I'm glad Nintendo decided to go with Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine instead of the far-worse, yet similarly-themed Columns.

Leave it to Sega to try something new and totally off the wall. I would have loved to have been in the room when they pitched the concept of playing a dolphin forced to solve a bunch of puzzles in order to rescue his pod from space aliens. The experiment ultimately paid off, because Ecco the Dolphin is a gorgeous and meditative experience that the critics couldn't help but fall in love with. Once again, GamePro gave Ecco a perfect 5 out of 5 and called it seaworthy. "Dolphin is fantastic! IT's intelligent, thoughtful, and fun to play! It's also very challenging. The game was done with great sensitivity to all living things. It's a spectacular testament to the idea that video gaming can still be fun, even if you don't have to beat up or shoot up the competition."

Sega Force also loved Ecco and gave it an average score of 91%. It gave Mat a chance to tell this story: "Me and dolphins go way back ... er ... well there was that time when I was caught touching -CENSORED!!- but it put a smile on my face anyway. God bless ya, flipper." He also reviewed the gameplay and graphics, but it's really the dolphin molestation that is the lede here. Back in the U.S., Electronic Gaming Monthly was once again a bit lower than the other magazines, but don't take that to mean they didn't like it. "Ecco is amazing to play, or should I say, experience. It really does give you the feel of being a dolphin, though the challenges you face and powers you wield are far from realistic. Remember, dolphins are mammals, too." With a score of 8.25 out of 10, it narrowly missed the top spot of being EGM's Game of the Month. Not bad for a game about a dolphin.

Of the fourteen Genesis games we're getting with the Expansion Pack, Golden Axe is by far the oldest. Released just a few months after the system's launch in 1989, this brawler came from a time when Sega was still trying to figure out if Alex Kidd or Wonder Boy would be their mascot. The critics at the time were largely impressed by the arcade-accurate port, but was that enough to lead to high scores? When it came to Electronic Gaming Monthly, the answer was "kind of." Ed argues that "even though it looks better than its 8-bit cousin, it just doesn't handle as well. Jumping is eradic and flipping from right t o left doesn't always happen exactly when you want it to." Martin, on the other hand, was won over by the "brilliant graphics" and "detailed animation," however, it was the "new levels not found in the arcade plus much more" that got him to raise his score to an 8 out of 10.

You want to know who wasn't disappointed with Golden Axe? It was the critics across the pond in the UK, who were quick to heap praise on the beat 'em up classic. The Game Machine gave it a 92% and called it "the most addictive game this month -- you're lucky there was plenty of time to write the review!" When Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming reviewed it in their November 1992 issue, they praised Golden Axe for having "lots of fast action and scantily clad men with muscles." "Most reviewers wet their pants when Golden Axe appeared, then cried with disgust at the disappointment of Golden Axe 2." That disgusting story came with a score of 86%, down slightly from the rest of the UK mags. Personally, I'm not sure I would even go that high, but they were definitely right that Golden Axe 2 was a huge disappointment. Be happy that's not part of the Expansion Pack.

Forget Sonic the Hedgehog of Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes is the ultimate Genesis game. It was a visual and technical marvel that came from former Konami employees that took everything they learned from Contra and made it better in every conceivable way. From the bosses to the clever power-ups to the wildly innovative stage designs, this truly is one of the greatest 16-bit games ever made. And you don't have to take my word for it, because Die Hard Game Fan is here to tell you why it's the perfect run 'n gun shooter. Skid gushes that he "has never, and probably will never again, be this impressed with a cartridge-based game. Treasure is a treasure indeed and deserves a big round of applause for this phenomenal effort." Sgt. Gamer agreed, arguing that "Treasure has quite possibly achieved perfection in action gaming. This is as good as gaming gets." Gunstar Heroes was so good that no editor went below 98%.

GamePro echoed most of what Die Hard Game Fan said and, once again, gave it a perfect 5 out of 5. "If you want to be a loc-and-load star, Gunstar Heroes is a serious side-view, run 'n gun game guaranteed to put you to the test." While not a perfect score, Sega Force Mega did give the shooter a stellar 94%, noting that "if you thought the platform arena had become a little jaded and repetitive of late, this is the game that is going to give the genre a much-needed kick up the backside. If you only get one game this year, then Gunstar Heroes should be top of your list, even if it means sucking up to Great Aunt Nelly to get your hand on it." Hand? Only one? Believe it or not, Electronic Gaming Monthly is on the lower end of the score, but only because they didn't give out half points in 1993. I love the way Ed sums it up: "This cart represents the fact that the Genesis can still beat out the competition. This has got to be one of the most intense carts to date, providing non-stop blasting and hand-to-hand (that's right) combat thrills that will strain your abilities to the max!" I agree with EGM and the rest of the critics, Gunstar Heroes is not just a great run 'n gun shooter, but also one of the very best games included in the Expansion Pack. To the max!

You can't release a collection of Genesis games without including at least one space shoot 'em up. Thanks to a zippy processor and a head-start, Sega's 16-bitter was home to many of the best shooters of all time, including the final game we're going to talk about today -- MUSHA. This is the third installment in the long-running Aleste series, a fan-favorite due to the creative bosses, action-packed gameplay and cool upgrade system. I'm going to let Bart at Mega Play explain why you should be excited to play MUSHA: "Totally and completely awesome! The best overhead shooter I've ever played. Fantastic graphics and rockin' tunes complimented by perfect play! DON'T MISS MUSHA!"

Perhaps Bart needed to tell his fellow critics, because many of the scores are a lot lower than you might anticipate. Sega Force, for example, gave the game an average score of 70%. Believe it or not, that's not the shocking news, because Ade gave it a low 66%, complaining that he's "been there" and "done that." "Wow! Another shoot 'em up! Yep, you'd be right to detect a hint of sarcasm there. I mean, strewth, how many of the damn things do I get to see every month? Several hundred thousand, probably. The whole concept's starting to wear a little thin and MUSHA offers nothing new or spectacular to keep blasting fans happy." You also saw a score of 70% from Computer and Video Games and a 7 out of 10 from the similarly titled Video Games & Computer Entertainment, as well as 71% from both MegaTech and Mean Machines Sega. The Brits really had it out for MUSHA. Thankfully, GamePro was a bit kinder to this classic shooter, concluding that "MUSHA just might turn your brain into mush." Okay, yeah, maybe that's not the most convincing argument, but they gave the game a 4 out of 5, which is a lot better than most of the magazines of the era. I would say that this is one of those shooters that has held up better than most, and now is your chance to see why, thanks to the Expansion Pack.