Manacer 6-Game Cartridge Question

[silverpoodleman]

I just received the Genesis game Manacer, which contains six games (Pest Control, Space Station Defender, Ready Aim Tomotoes, Whack Ball, Frontline, and Rockman's Zone).

 

I know nothing about this game so whenI popped it in and the genesis gamepad didn't make-thing-go, I scratch-head-hard. On the internet, I learned that this is a light-gun game. Not to appear stupid, but what is that and can I play these games without it? Frankly, it sounds like an expensive tack-on item that only works on a few games (kinda like the driving paddles for Indy 500 on the 2600 - only that that is an awesome game!!)

 

So what gives?

[JB]

I know nothing about this game so whenI popped it in and the genesis gamepad didn't make-thing-go, I scratch-head-hard. On the internet, I learned that this is a light-gun game. Not to appear stupid, but what is that and can I play these games without it?

A light gun is what it says. A gun that uses light.

It watches the TV screen, and when you pull the trigger, you "shoot" the screen.

 

Can'tplay lightgun games without one. The right one, no less.

Sega's gun was called the Menacer, and came with the cart you have. Konami made one called the Justifier. It came with Lethal Enforcers.

 

Most non-Sega, non-Konami gun games supported BOTH guns.

 

 

The Menacer was neat because A. it was wireless(though you had to feed it a buttload of batteries), and B. it was reconfigurable. The "pistol" had a detachable stock and scope, so you could rearrange it a bit.

 

Frankly, it sounds like an expensive tack-on item that only works on a few games (kinda like the driving paddles for Indy 500 on the 2600 - only that that is an awesome game!!)

Pretty much.

But they usually come with whatever game requires them, and they honestly aren't that expensive, especially once you factor the pack-in game.

[SteveW]

I never had the Menacer back in the day, but Sega's put out their Menacer all-in-one unit, like all those Atari 10-in-1 type handhelds, for $24.99. I'm kind of thinking about picking one up. I think I'll wait until it drops in price, though. I've found several Atari 10-in-1 joysticks and a couple Activision joysticks in thrifts before, so I could just hold off until I come across one that way.