There are good Nintendo Switch Online updates, and then there's what we got today – the single greatest week in Nintendo Switch Online history. And no, it's not just because it gives me a chance to post this clip of me on GamePro TV back in the early 1990s. This week we get four of the best Genesis games of all time, including The Revenge of Shinobi, Landstalker, Crusader of Centy and Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. That's exciting news, but are any of these games worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer + Video Games, Video Games & Computer Entertainment and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, go and grab your suit of armor and throwing stars, because this is going to be an absolutely packed episode of the Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


If you grew up being a die-hard Nintendo fan, then you may look down and feel sorry for those poor Sega loyalists who completely missed out on the greatness of The Legend of Zelda. Well, fear not, fanboy, because the Genesis actually had a solid selection of adventure games inspired by Link and his many legends. One of the best ones was Crusader of Centy, an action/adventure game from Atlus that came out in 1994, right at the tail-end of the 16-bit generation. It stars a 14-year-old boy unfortunately named Corona who loses his ability to speak to humans, but somehow gains the ability to communicate with animals. That's a cool setup for one of the best adventure games on the Genesis, and the critics agreed.

Die Hard Game Fan didn't just like Crusader of Centy, they gave it near-perfect scores. Giving it a 98%, Skip asked the age-old question: “Why, oh why, are these types of games so hard to come by? I think I like this game too much! As I got further int o Centy, I realized, hey! this is going to end! And I didn't want it to ... just like Zelda.” Nick Rox was on the slightly lower side, giving it a 92% and arguing, “although Crusader of Centy doesn't sport the frightening effects of Ranger X, it does feature masterful design, great character animation and some of the most original gameplay ever on the Genesis.”

Electronic Gaming Monthly also enjoyed the adventure game, but was nowhere close to give it near-perfect scores. Sushi-X raved that “this is an excellent RPG for the Genesis equal to the likes of Zelda and Phantasy Star. A good story gives the setting for tons of places to explore and lots of things you must figure out.” Ed agreed, calling Crusader of Centy “one of the best games I've seen on the Genesis in a long time. It's an action/RPG on par to the Zelda series. Atlus should be thanked for this cart.” Uh, thanks Atlus? EGM gave Crusader of Centy an average score of 7.75 out of 10.

Looking over the different magazines, most critics landed somewhere in between EGM and Game Fan. Mean Machines Sega gave it a 92%, while Game Players went with an 80%. It got a 4 out of 5 from GamePro, and an 88% from SegaPro. In other words, most critics either liked Crusader of Centy ... or they loved it. In case you're curious, the lowest score I could find came from the always-grumpy Next Generation, who seemed almost offended on behalf of Nintendo. “The similarities don't stop there, as you venture forth hacking down shrubs to find money, hitting switches to open new pathways, powering up the sword for long-range attacks, gaining powers to run and jump faster; and even the scenery is similar. Centy is a mirror image of the immensely popular Zelda, and is a load of fun that Genesis owners have yet to experience.” Is the Zelda comparison a bad thing? No way. As far as I'm concerned, if you missed out on Crusader of Centy back in the day, then it's like having a brand-new 16-bit Zelda game ready to be discovered. Who can say no to that?

When Sega launched their 16-bit console in the late 1980s, they were committed to one thing – bring the arcade experience home. We got a taste of that when Altered Beast launched with the Genesis, but it ended up being a version of Capcom's Ghouls ‘N Ghosts that truly fulfilled the commitment. This was a massive leap forward for the Genesis, and I'm not just saying that because I was on GamePro TV back in the early 1990s giving out tips for the game. Even though it wasn't technically by Capcom, this port was close enough to get the gaming media to pay attention, giving Sega's 16-bitter the momentum needed to eventually take on the Super Nintendo. But there's no time to talk about the system wars, because we have a lot of Ghouls ‘N Ghosts reviews to go over.

Electronic Gaming Monthly was one of the early cheerleaders for Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, giving it an average score of 9 out of 10 and naming it the 1989 Game of the Year. Steve gushed that “Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is a game you can't pass up! It's one of the few titles that packs enough action and challenge to keep any player busy. The game play is great, the bosses truly frightening, and the power-ups different and exciting. Just what a 16-it game should be.” Ed went even further, calling it “easily the best cartridge game ever made. Also powerful – with audio that is second to none and animated backgrounds that add a great 3D effect.”

It wasn't just EGM that couldn't get enough of Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, as every other magazine on the newsstand gave it high marks. Mean Machines gave it a 92% and MegaTech went one point higher with a 93%. That's the same score we saw from Raze and Sega Pro, both in their third issues. The lowest score I could find was from MD Advanced, who gave Ghouls ‘N Ghosts an 86%. Computer + Video Games, on the other hand, issued the highest score, giving the game a 96% and raving that “the graphics are arcade perfect, right from the scrolling scenery to the nasty ghoulies and end of level demi-demons. But even the graphics are surpassed by the eerie pipe organ music and stunning sound effects – they are simply incredible.”

Back in the United States, Video Games & Computer Entertainment couldn't believe their eyes. They gave the game a 9 out of 10, though gave perfect scores to both the music and playability. “All in all, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is the most addictive and absorbing release for the Genesis to date. Even fans of the arcade version will be forced to admit that this is a near-perfect reproduction. It's one of the few totally satisfying video games I've had the pleasure to play.” It's not hyperbole, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was THE killer app in 1989. I strongly recommend you check out this 16-bit classic. Just be ready for a challenge.

Of all the adventure games inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Landstalker was always my favorite. This was a bright, colorful and clever adventure game from Climax Entertainment, who was hot off of Sega's Shining series. Using a somewhat awkward isometric viewpoint that takes a little getting used to, this told the story of a treasure hunter named Nigel as he explores a vast and dangerous fantasy world filled with magic, monsters and puzzles. I loved this game as a kid and recently replayed it, only to discover that it's just as magical today as it was all those years ago. And it's not just me saying that, because Landstalker is one of the best-reviewed games on the Genesis.

Let's go ahead and start with GamePro, which ended up giving one of the lower scores with only a 4.5 out of 5. “Landstalker will amaze you for hours with its complexity, amuse you with its graphics, and frustrate you with its controls. You'll stick around, though, because it's fun. If you like more to your RPG than charisma level, then take this hack ‘n slasher for a good, long stalk.”

Landstalker was also a big hit internationally, with Sega Power giving the game an 89%, Mega going a bit higher with a 92% and Australian publication Hyper matching that 92%. Mean Machines Sega went even higher, with a 94%, noting that “Mega Drive moaners are always saying the best games on the machine are groovy and playable, but often too shallow. Silence, fools! Landstalker is lavish, action-packed, taxing and extremely deep. The more you play, the more you realize this is by far the best adventure game on the Mega Drive.”

The lowest score I could find from an English-language magazine came from Sega Pro, who gave Nigel'16-bit adventure an 85%. The highest score came from Die Hard Game Fan, who ended up reviewing the game twice. When they reviewed the American version in issue 10, they gave Landstalker an extremely generous average score of 95%. That's good, but nothing compared to the Japanese version they reviewed seven issues earlier. That version averaged a score of 99%, which is almost unheard of. Skid gave the game a perfect 100%, saying that “Climax brings the best action and role-playing together, creating the perfect action/RPG. You remain glued to the screen from the moment you turn it on. Comparing it to other action/RPGs on cartridge, I have to give it a perfect 100%. I don't think anything on cartridge will ever come close.” Even Brody, who gave the lowest score, a 98%, called Landstalker “the perfect action/RPG” and “a 16-meg masterpiece filled with hours of mind-bending labyrinths and sword slashing action. The masters at Climax have outdone themselves and surpassed even the mighty Zelda.” Well, I don't know about that, but Landstalker is definitely great. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of the controls, you'll discover an epic adventure with a cool hero. I highly recommend it.

First released in 1989, The Revenge of Shinobi is the follow-up to Shinobi. Not to be confused with Shadow Dancer. Or The Cyber Shinobi. Or The G.G. Shinobi II. Okay, I'll admit, the Shinobi family tree is about as straight-forward as the Targaryen's. The only thing you need to know is that Revenge of Shinobi is not only the first console sequel, but also the widely considered the best game in the entire series. Unfortunately, the version we're getting on the Nintendo Switch Online will not include many of the original bosses, including versions of Godzilla, Spider-Man and the Terminator. That's disappointing, but these reviews should perk you right up.

Over at Electronic Gaming Monthly, Jim called Revenge of Shinobi a “near-perfect game,” a phrase that's been dropped a shocking amount in this episode. “Take the Shinobi theme and energize it with superbly drawn characters and backgrounds, enormous bosses and stunning magical abilities and you get the best game yet for the Genesis.” Ed agreed, calling this Shinobi sequel a “truly phenomenal game! Superb graphics, a wide variety of different screens and extremely challenging gameplay all add up to one of the best Genesis games yet!” EGM ended up giving The Revenge of Shinobi an average score of 8.5 out of 10.

Believe it or not, this is actually low when compared to the critics across the pond. Mega gave the game a 91%, while Raze went with a 92%. And that's just the start, because Mean Machines Sega went with a 93% and it got an even higher 94% from MegaTech. And then there's Sega Pro, who gave Revenge of Shinobi a 96% and said that it was “widely considered to be the best in the genre. Colorful graphics and thumping sound make this a great game – indeed, a classic.”

Before we leave the United Kingdom, I first wanted to highlight this review from Paul Rand in Computer + Video Games. He explained that Revenge of Shinobi “offers little in the way of innovation to the seasoned arcade addict, the game is an absolute corker both to look at and play. Graphically, it's superb, much better than the original with a lot of variety in the brilliantly animated sprites and moody backdrops. Super Shinobi is a tough game which is guaranteed to keep you glued to your seat for a long, long time.” Paul gave the game a score of 93%. That's a pretty fair take on this side-scrolling action game. It's not going to wow you with its innovation, but it is sure fun to play.