If there's one thing I know from covering the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, it's that you should always expect the unexpected. This week was a good example of that. Mere days after announcing ten upcoming Nintendo 64 games, they turn around and give us ... three completely unexpected Genesis games? That's right, Nintendo just added Alisia Dragoon, Beyond Oasis and the run ‘n gun classic, Earthworm Jim. That's great news, but are any of these games actually worth playing in 2022? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Mean Machines Sega, Die Hard Game Fan and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games were first released. Get your swords and bubble guns ready, because this is another action-packed episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


Years before cementing their legacy with classic role-playing games like Lunar and Grandia, Game Arts invited players to a completely different fantasy world where a hero named Alisia used magic and a friendly dragon to fight against evil. While it might not be as widely known as the other two games we'll be talking about today, Alisia Dragoon is every bit as good. This is one of those cool hidden gems that is bursting with style and finds a lot of clever ways to steer the action/adventure genre in new directions. I'm a big fan of this game.

But you don't have to take my word for it, because the critics also loved Alisia Dragoon. GamePro gave the side-scroller a perfect 5 out of 5, calling it “one monster party that Genesis players won't wanna miss. It's loaded with all the good things you want. You can expect handsome graphics, responsive game control, and thumb-burning challenge. Go ahead, behave like a monster. Alisia will love you for it.”

Die Hard Game Fan agreed, with all four critics giving the game high marks. “God, I love this game,” starts Sgt. Gamer. “When I was feeling the blues, looking for good Genesis software, she was there for me. Alisia, Alisia, Alisia ... your shooting and platform action, diagonal scrolls and uncanny sense of style brought me back to my Genesis at a time when I was considering leaving it.” Tom Slick went even higher, calling Alisia Dragoon one of his favorite games. “Gamearts really pored their design effort into the details of this action title and it shows.”

Across the pond, Alisia received mostly positive scores from the Sega-themed magazines. Mean Machines Sega, for example, gave the game an impressive 87%, while it received a very similar 85% from Sega Pro. The lowest score came from Sega Force, who gave it a 72%. Chris loved the quality graphics and animated sprites, but complained about the gameplay: “The controls are a doddle to pick up. The game looks and sounds good, but the gameplay stinks. Too much repetitive action leaves you yawning as early as the end of the first level.” Despite that negative take, most critics agree that Alisia Dragoon is a fun fantasy action game that is worth the download.

The Genesis may have done what Nintendon't, but there were definitely a few really good reasons to own a Super NES in the 1990s. One of them was The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which was easily one of the best adventure games of the 16-bit era. Genesis owners wanting a taste of Link's adventure had a few different options, including Landstalker, Crusaders of Centy and, my personal favorite, Beyond Oasis, which was brought to us by Yuzo Koshiro, the guy who composed most of the best video game music to come out of the 1990s. Released in 1995, this colorful Zelda wannabe looked great on the Genesis and was a lot deeper than anybody expected.

For the most part, critics loved this overhead adventure. Nick Rox called it “a true adventure game masterpiece in the same vein as Zelda and Landstalker. Everything ... well, nearly everything was handled perfectly, from the intricate puzzles to the fantastic artwork and special effects.” His only real complaint was the music, prompting him to conclude that “Yuzo must be going deaf.” Fellow game fan Skid loved the blending of action and role-playing: “It has fully animated, huge character, a user-friendly interface, great control and music by Yuzo Koshiro. Yuzo actually designed Oasis, and I must say, for the first time out, he has done an amazing job.”

You saw similar praise coming out of Europe, when Mean Machines Sega gave the game a 93%, making it one of the magazine's best-reviewed adventure games. That sentiment was not shared by the editors of Electronic Gaming Monthly, who came in a bit lower than other mags. Mike called it “pretty enjoyable, with the standard fare of menacing enemies and creative boss characters. The best element is probably the gigantic area you cover, and the plot twists throughout the game.”

That's not far off from what GamePro was saying when they gave Beyond Oasis a 4 out of 5. Not surprisingly, the lowest score came from the notoriously grumpy Next Generation, who gave it a 2 out of 5 and called it “uninspired.” “It's an RPG – wait, no, it's an action game – oh hell, it's both. Beyond Oasis combines the free-moving, interactive world of an RPG with the button-mashing combat of an action game, and the result is an equally average effort on both parts.” They concluded that the bad gameplay and generic story “leave this title looking more like a mirage.” With some critics loving it and others hating it, I guess it's up to you to see who is right about Beyond Oasis.

Sonic the Hedgehog may have had a bad attitude and Bubsy the Bobcat was a little sarcastic, but neither of these mascot characters were able to top the larger-than-life personality of Earthworm Jim. With stunning animation and an irreverent sense of humor, you could tell right from the start that this was not going to be your typical mascot game. While it had its fair share of platforming, this run ‘n gun shooter had a lot more in common with Contra than Super Mario. And with cool characters and a silly setup, Earthworm Jim and his friends not only became video game heroes, but also starred in a short-lived TV series. This is easily one of the most iconic games of the 16-bit era.

To say the critics fell in love with Earthworm Jim would be a gross understatement. Giving it a perfect 100%, Skid called it “the ultimate Sega game.” “Earthworm Jim is the best 16-bit game that I have ever played. I never though anyone would eat Treasure, but Shiny has ... this time. Turtles, hedgehogs and opossums beware. This worm is on a non-stop roll!” K.Lee also loved the game, but for a completely different reason: “As you know, I am very critical when it comes to music. I cannot believe the music in Jim! This is the Genesis? Who are these guys?”

While GamePro didn't bother answering that question, they did give Earthworm Jim a perfect score of 5 out of 5. You saw similar high marks from Game Players, who gave it a 95%, as well as Mean Machines Sega, who gave it a 93%. Next Generation scored the game a little lower, with a 4 out of 5, calling it a “slick 16-bit platform game.” “Anyone looking for anything revolutionary will be disappointed – there's nothing strictly new here. But it's a whole load of fun and that's what counts.”

Over at Electronic Gaming Monthly, Earthworm Jim narrowly missed being the game of the month, beaten only by Final Fantasy III. It was Sushi-X who is responsible for keeping the game out of the top spot. He gave it an 8 out of 10 and really didn't have much bad to say: “Just the animations of the character alone are incredible enough for anyone to be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.” Ed agreed, saying that “this game just kicks ass in every way, shape and form. Earthworm Jim is simply the coolest character to arrive in a long time.” And now that he's free with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, you have no excuses for not revisiting this 16-bit classic.