Just got a Sega CD and need a little info

[dustfilledhobo]

So today I just bought a Model 2 Sega CD and a Model 2 Genesis (Side-by-Side Model). I could never afford one of these when I was a kid, and have always been interested in playing one, so when I saw it today (along with an official hard case, the genny, two controllers,all the hook ups, blue pistol, pistol hard case, 30 genny games, and 10 sega CD games) I couldn't say no. So, here are some things I would like to know about the system I bought:

 

(1) Is the Model 2 sega cd more reliable, are there any downsides to owning a model 2 over a model 1?

(2) What are some good RPGs for the sega cd?

(3) What are some good shooting games (the gun looks awesome, and I want to start shooting things)?

(4) Any other god games that don't fit into the above genres that I should check out?

(5) Is Sewer Shark a good game? I don't know why, but I always wanted to play this as a kid, and never knew anyone with a sega cd.

 

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

 

Dusty

[Austin]

(1) Is the Model 2 sega cd more reliable, are there any downsides to owning a model 2 over a model 1?

 

I'm not sure of this. I would think that due to the tray style of the first unit that it would have higher defect rates, but again, I'm not sure. I've only owned the model 2, but have never had any issues with the various units I have had.

 

(2) What are some good RPGs for the sega cd?

 

Lunar: The Silver Star, Lunar: Eternal Blue, Dark Wizard, Shining Force CD (Will need the backup RAM cart for this one). Popful Mail is a quality action-RPG/platformer hybrid of sorts.

 

Dungeon Explorer, while not a RPG, has an experience system like Gauntlet Legends and you can store various characters you've upgraded. Good for those that like lite-rpg elements in their action games.

 

(3) What are some good shooting games (the gun looks awesome, and I want to start shooting things)?

 

Lethal Enforcers and Lethal Enforcers II are the only ones, IIRC, and the first Lethal Enforcers is much better than the second. Snatcher does have some portions where the Justifier can be used, but it doesn't require it.

 

(4) Any other god games that don't fit into the above genres that I should check out?

 

It depends on what you like. There's a decent amount of variety on the Sega CD. If you want shoot 'em ups (shmups), there's Lords of Thunder, Android Assault, Robo Aleste, and Sol-Feace. If you want platformers, there's Sonic CD, Flink, Chuck Rock II, and quite a few others. If you want fighting games, there's Mortal Kombat, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury Special. For FMV adventure/puzzle games, you have Mansion of Hidden Souls and Jurassic Park. For those QTE laser disc-like FMV games, you have Revenge of the Ninja, Dragons Lair, and quite a few others.

 

(5) Is Sewer Shark a good game? I don't know why, but I always wanted to play this as a kid, and never knew anyone with a sega cd.

 

I enjoy Sewer Shark. It's like an on-rails shooter with other elements involved. Just make sure you buy one with an instruction manual so you can figure out how to play it, otherwise you may end up dismissing it because it doesn't make sense.

[+thegoldenband]

Among many others, Android Assault (shooter), Final Fight (beat-'em-up), Panic (unclassifiable), and Wirehead (goofy FMV game) are all worth checking out.

 

I also have a soft spot for Earnest Evans, though it's a Japan-only release and you'll need a BIOS changer or hacked disc image to play it.

[Algus]

(1) Is the Model 2 sega cd more reliable, are there any downsides to owning a model 2 over a model 1?

 

Yes, significantly so. It is actually quite hard to fid a model 1 Sega CD (the only listing I ever saw was for a broken one). The mechanism that ejects the tray (and a few other parts IIRC) is prone to failure on the Model 1. It also wasn't made as long. Pity as this is the version I would like to have.

 

(2) What are some good RPGs for the sega cd?

 

Can't go wrong with the Lunar games. Be warned you'll need the RAM cart to save progress and this can be expensive

 

(3) What are some good shooting games (the gun looks awesome, and I want to start shooting things)?

 

Eh, pickings here are a bit more slim. I am a fan of Lethal Enforcers and the Sega CD version is a decent port of the arcade game. I HIGHLY recommend Snatcher though that isn't a full light gun game. The list of light gun games is actually pretty small. Here ya go (via Wikipedia)

 

* Bodycount

* Corpse Killer (CD)

* Crime Patrol (CD)

* Lethal Enforcers

* Lethal Enforcers (CD)

* Lethal Enforcers 2

* Lethal Enforcers 2 (CD)

* Mad Dog McCree (CD)

* Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (CD)

* Monster Hunter (Unreleased)

* Revolution X

* Snatcher (CD)

* Terminator 2: The Arcade Game

* Who Shot Johnny Rock (CD)

 

(4) Any other god games that don't fit into the above genres that I should check out?

 

I highly recommend the CD versions of the Ecco the Dolphin games (the music is OUTSTANDING) as well as Sonic CD, argued by some as the best traditional Sonic game. I personally like it a lot more than Sonic 2 or 3 as it reminds me more of the original Sonic the Hedgehog. I'd also suggest Night Trap. Night Trap isn't specifically a good game (though it has its fans) but its a really fascinating curiosity, especially for a collector. I have the enhanced 32X version in mint condition and its one of the cornerstones of my collection.

 

edit: I also backup the previous suggestion of Sol-Feace. It is a similar game to Lifeforce on the NES which, of course, makes it AWESOME

 

(5) Is Sewer Shark a good game? I don't know why, but I always wanted to play this as a kid, and never knew anyone with a sega cd.

 

Umm, well hate to burst your bubble but Sewer Shark is TERRIBLE. It is one of many absolutely awful full motion video (FMV) games like Night Trap. Its hard to tell what is going on in the game, the FMV is grainy, and the controls are a mess. Its games like Sewer Shark, which Sega wrongfully anticipated as the future of gaming, that gave the Sega CD such a mixed reception, which is a shame because there are some good games on it.

 

On the plus side Sewer Shark is pretty cheap (in fact I'm surprised it wasn't included in your lot...it was a pack in) so if you want to check it out, you ought to be able to pick it up pretty easy. If you've got some friends, some of these old FMV games can be fun to play in a group because the FMV definitely falls into the "so bad its good" category.

Edited December 15, 2010 by Algus

[Gabriel]

(1) Is the Model 2 sega cd more reliable, are there any downsides to owning a model 2 over a model 1?

 

In my experience the Model 1 is better. The model 2s I've had have all had the extremely nasty tendency to chew up discs and make them worthless (discs rub against the lens and end up with gouged trenches).

 

(2) What are some good RPGs for the sega cd?

 

Dark Wizard is the best, followed by Shining Force CD, followed by Lunar: The Shining Star. They're top tier for the whole 16 bit era, not just the Sega CD.

 

Some people swear Lunar II: Eternal Blue is a high point of 16 bit RPGs. I've never liked it much, and Working Designs's decision to make you have to pay experience points to save the game certainly doesn't endear it.

 

My friend loves Vay. It definitely wasn't to my taste.

 

(3) What are some good shooting games (the gun looks awesome, and I want to start shooting things)?

 

I think there was a port of Lethal Enforcers for the system, and that may be the only thing that uses the gun.

 

(4) Any other god games that don't fit into the above genres that I should check out?

 

Silpheed, Android Assault, Robo Aleste, Lords of Thunder, Eternal Champions CD, AH-3 Thunderstrike, Dungeon Explorers

 

(5) Is Sewer Shark a good game? I don't know why, but I always wanted to play this as a kid, and never knew anyone with a sega cd.

 

No. But if you wanted to play it as a kid, it's disposably cheap. You may as well indulge.

[Gabriel]

Eh, pickings here are a bit more slim. I am a fan of Lethal Enforcers and the Sega CD version is a decent port of the arcade game. I HIGHLY recommend Snatcher though that isn't a full light gun game. The list of light gun games is actually pretty small. Here ya go (via Wikipedia)

 

* Bodycount

* Corpse Killer (CD)

* Crime Patrol (CD)

* Lethal Enforcers

* Lethal Enforcers (CD)

* Lethal Enforcers 2

* Lethal Enforcers 2 (CD)

* Mad Dog McCree (CD)

* Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (CD)

* Monster Hunter (Unreleased)

* Revolution X

* Snatcher (CD)

* Terminator 2: The Arcade Game

* Who Shot Johnny Rock (CD)

 

Wow! There are that many? I guess that's a genre I didn't pay much attention to on the SegaCD.

[raskar42]

 

(4) Any other god games that don't fit into the above genres that I should check out?

 

 

Prize Fighter was an interesting 'Raging bull' -ish sort of game

[dustfilledhobo]

Thanks everyone, I'll look into pricing for all of your suggestions, and prioritize my Sega CD collecting.

 

Dusty

[Austin]

Eternal Champions CD

 

This is still one of my favorite games on the system, yet I always forget to mention it in these threads.

 

Wow! There are that many? I guess that's a genre I didn't pay much attention to on the SegaCD.

 

Well, not exactly.. Half of those are cartridge releases and some of them don't even have light gun support (Revolution X). The rest include Corpse Killer and the American Laser Games releases, leaving the only real light gun games on Sega CD to be the Lethal Enforcers games...

 

There are more light gun shooters overall though if you add in all of the cart based games (there are a few not listed).

 

Does anyone know if American Laser Games released their own gun for the Sega CD like they did on the 3DO and CD-i?

[Rockin' Kat]

Well, obviously you should get Sonic CD if you don't already have it... otherwise off the top of my head the only game I can think of to recommend is

.

[108 Stars]

(2) What are some good RPGs for the sega cd?

 

Okay, I am biased on that matter, but I´d look out for our own Pier Solar.

It is technically not a Sega CD-game, but the first ever Genesis game coming with a CD-ROM for the Sega-CD so that an enhanced soundtrack can be enjoyed by Sega CD-owners.

A Genny/Sega CD-combo-game if you will.

It is also the first Genesis game weighting a hefty 64 Megabits.

 

It is sold out right now, but it could be back in stock in limited quantities soon.

[madmax2069]

I know my friend kept having to replace the internal fuse in the model 2 CD unit. it would work for a few years then stop working, replace it and it would work for a few more years. he even replaced the power adapter, it kept the same track for every few years. never knew why the fuse kept popping.

[HatefulGravey]

I know my friend kept having to replace the internal fuse in the model 2 CD unit. it would work for a few years then stop working, replace it and it would work for a few more years. he even replaced the power adapter, it kept the same track for every few years. never knew why the fuse kept popping.

 

This is not an uncommon problem with the Sega CD. Because the power for the unit comes from the Genesis there is always power running to the CD part of the unit to make sure it come on when the Genesis does. This means the entire time it is plugged in it is at risk of a power spike ruining the thing. Luckly replacing that fuse isn't a huge deal to most people anymore.

 

The answer the original questions. I was lucky enough to get a Sega CD at Launch. My model 2 has been great since day 1, I have had two model 1s go out on me. They are around but with not too much hope to fix them. I like the model 1 only for the way it looks with a Genesis model 1 on top of it with a 32x plugged into that. Just MASSIVE! The model 2 is better.

 

Sewer Shark is a favorite of mine. Its cheap now and still something fun to remember if nothing else. I can remember finally beating that game as a great day in my gaming life.

 

Another game not many seem to like but I love is The Adventures of Willy Beamish. Also cheap and different and just a fun look at the things that killed that console lol.

 

Enjoy your Sega CD, they are great.

[Hatta]

This is not an uncommon problem with the Sega CD. Because the power for the unit comes from the Genesis there is always power running to the CD part of the unit to make sure it come on when the Genesis does. This means the entire time it is plugged in it is at risk of a power spike ruining the thing. Luckly replacing that fuse isn't a huge deal to most people anymore.

 

Try keeping it on a power strip that you only turn on when necessary. I've been doing this for years and have never had to change a fuse on any console.

 

The answer the original questions. I was lucky enough to get a Sega CD at Launch. My model 2 has been great since day 1, I have had two model 1s go out on me. They are around but with not too much hope to fix them. I like the model 1 only for the way it looks with a Genesis model 1 on top of it with a 32x plugged into that. Just MASSIVE! The model 2 is better.

 

Yeah, more moving parts means it's easier to break. Unfortunately the Model 1 has the superior aesthetics, and takes less shelf space. I'm lucky enough to have a Model 1 in great working condition, but I'm still keeping a Model 2 as a spare.

 

Sewer Shark is a favorite of mine. Its cheap now and still something fun to remember if nothing else. I can remember finally beating that game as a great day in my gaming life.

 

Another game not many seem to like but I love is The Adventures of Willy Beamish. Also cheap and different and just a fun look at the things that killed that console lol.

 

Enjoy your Sega CD, they are great.

 

I couldn't possibly agree with any of that more.