The complicated legacy of the Sega CD is defined by these games.
In the 90s, Sega was known for taking big risks.
Some of those risks (like the aggressive marketing ofthe Genesis andSonic the Hedgehog) paid off.
Despite being technically innovative, it was not a great game back then, and its aged pretty badly.
But is it actually fun to play now if you didnt grow up with it?
Eh, not really.
This usually meant adding FMV and additional content.
One of the better examples of this approach wasFinal Fight CD.
If youve never playedFinal Fight, absolutely stop what youre doing and check it out now.
Its an awesome classic arcade beat em up that still holds up against modern imitators.
The original SNESrelease was good, but had to make several changes to fit on a 16-bit cartridge.
But in 1993, the add-on received what really was a killer app inLunar: The Silver Star.
Even many modern indie RPGs owe a lot toLunar.
Its just a shame that neitherThe Silver Starnor its excellent sequelEternal Blueare readily available on modern platforms.
Somewhere along the way, it morphed into something much bigger and better.
Plus, this was the game that debuted Amy Rose and Metal Sonic.
But its far from perfect.
First, it arrived more than a year after the Genesis and SNES versions.
There are strange miscues with the music, with some tracks playing for the wrong stages.
ButRebel Assaultultimately exhibited many of the same problems as theMortal Kombatport.
Thats kind of a big deal in any shooter.
Sega themselves had largely turned its attention to the ill-fated Saturn.
Despite dwindling support, some real gems came out for the Sega CD at this point.
Chief among them this cyberpunk graphic adventure written and designed by none other thanMetal Gear Solidcreator Hideo Kojima.
It would have starred Sonics female relative described as a mature and flirtatious bounty hunter.
Frankly,Popful Maildidnt need any connections to better-known Sega franchises.
Its also quite possibly the best-looking game for the Sega CD.
That distinction goes to a surprisingly decent enhanced port of the GenesisDemolition Mangame based the Sylvester Stallone film.
ButShining Force CDis the last truly great game released for an add-on that had far too few of them.
