The 90s were undoubtedly the prime era for the side-scrolling platformer, and the Sega Genesis played host to some of the best of them all. Sure, there were some legendary titles that came before, and there have been some equally fantastic ones in the decades that followed, but it was during the reign of the 16-bit consoles where the platformer was really the video game genre.
But while some of the finest Sega Genesis platformers of those days have made it into the pantheon of all-time great games, there are more than a few that have fallen into obscurity for one reason or another. Fans would do well to pick up a copy of these titles if they’re lucky enough to spot them at a retro games store, because they might be surprised at just how much fun these forgotten platformers really are.
8 High Seas Havoc
There isn’t necessarily anything spectacular about this Data East attempt at a Sonic the Hedgehog clone (minus the white-knuckle speed, at least) but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a really fun romp through a colorful world of anthropomorphic animal pirates.
Well, there are actually two things that are notably above average in this title: the graphics and the difficulty. The sprites look great and so do the backgrounds, but it can be hard for fans to appreciate them when they’re being tormented by tricky platforms and unforgiving bosses. Overall, though, High Seas Havoc is a worthy little platformer that gets little to no love these days.
7 Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2
Sparkster’s predecessor, Rocket Knight Adventures, is a game that was long considered an unsung platforming gem for the Sega Genesis, but it has since amassed enough of a cult following that such a title is no longer totally warranted. Sparkster itself, however, remains fairly unsung, yet it’s nearly as good as the original entry.
For this sequel, master developer Konami went the Sonic 1 to Sonic 2 route and gave its protagonist a bit of an edgy upgrade in terms of design. The graphics get an upgrade overall, making an already great-looking game into a truly beautiful one. It may not be quite as great as the original, but this one is well worth remembering to be certain.
6 Dynamite Headdy
Treasure has a, well, treasure trove of games that were released in the 90s and early 2000s, most of which fall somewhere near the category of forgotten-yet-fantastic. Their work on the Sega Genesis is pretty much flawless, and Dynamite Headdy is one of the finer examples of that fact.
Employing the unusual concept of its protagonist throwing his head around as a weapon, and spicing up the standard platformer formula by pairing Headdy with a new buddy in every level, this game did an enviable job of standing out among a mountain of platforming titles from its generation. It has appeared on various compilations in the years since its release, but a sequel or reboot would be an even nicer treat for fans of this 16-bit gem.
5 QuackShot Starring Donald Duck
There was no reason why Disney games of the 16-bit era needed to be as engrossing and well-made as they were, but the megacompany’s licensing efforts turned out more than a few of the best titles on their respective systems. QuackShot Starring Donald Duck is not often considered among those games, but it should be.
In this underappreciated platforming title, Sega took one of Disney’s most beloved characters, gave him some Indiana Jones garb and a kid-friendly plunger gun, and sent him out on an epic international treasure hunt full of danger, intrigue, and some truly beautiful graphics. The level of creativity and love put into this title is something that other licensed games could certainly take some cues from.
4 Mcdonald’s Treasure Land Adventure
It's safe to say that licensed titles for food companies don’t necessarily have a glorious track record, but in the unusually deft hands of Treasure, it seems anything is possible.
This title was a test of sorts for the up-and-coming developer, who wanted to make games using characters of their own creation, but was first tasked with making a Ronald McDonald platforming adventure work. It worked inexplicably well, and the rest is history. Fans can thank this title for Gunstar Heroes, Mischief Makers, Dynamite Headdy, and all the rest.
3 Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Mega Man is far from forgotten. In fact, he’s one of the most iconic characters in gaming history. But he made his name on Nintendo systems, not the Sega Genesis. The Wily Wars, however, offered a more-than-worthy Genesis translation of his earliest Famicom adventures.
This title remade the first three Mega Man games for the Sega crowd with some nice updated graphics and an original add-in with the Wily Tower. It was originally only available in North America via the Sega Channel, but has since been included in compilations accessible by Blue Bomber fans across the planet.
2 The Pirates Of Dark Water
The Pirates of Dark Water was an early 90s action fantasy cartoon that was unusually dark for its day. It was canceled before it could conclude its story, but it still went on to become a cult classic. The show may not have pulled in enough viewers to continue past season two, but it somehow offered enough commercial intrigue to get its own Sega Genesis title which should be a cult classic of its own.
While this title isn’t exactly perfect, it's still a lot of fun, and it offered fans of the show something that they will never otherwise enjoy: a proper ending. Beating the game means collecting all the treasures needed to rid the ocean of the Dark Water, leaving fans who were heartbroken by the second season’s eternal cliffhanger with just a bit of a solace.
1 Kid Chameleon
The 90s were primetime for cool kids in sunglasses who could shred on a skateboard. Kid Chameleon is one of the finest titles to bring that super fun trope to a 16-bit console and yet it isn’t often mentioned when the era’s greatest platformers are discussed.
Maybe what held it back was the fact that it was particularly difficult, a fact made all the more difficult to deal with thanks to the lack of passwords or save states. But even considering the sometimes excruciating challenge it presents, this game is a ton of fun and that is what it should really be remembered for.