Sega CD "Hidden Gems"

[Gao]

I highly recommend Robo Aleste. It's by Compile and is essentially a sequel to MUSHA, though it's not quite as good.

[BurningDoom]

Well I think nearly all of Sega CD's library except Sonic CD could be considered hidden gems, lol. Sega CD definetly caters to a niche crowd.

That being said, I might as well just make a list of my personal favorites here, it will fit the bill (and BTW, I do like Sonic CD, but it's like the only commonly known Sega CD game, hence why I didn't include it):

-The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin - This is a shinier, better made, better looking, and with added cutscenes and music version of the Genesis Spider-Man game. But all that extra gloss does make for a better experience of what was already a classic on Genesis.

-Earthworm Jim: Special Edition - I actually haven't played this one myself. But other people I know tell me that it's the essential version of Earthworm Jim.

-Final Fight CD - Much better than the SNES version, but also a bit more pricey.

-Jurassic Park - Basic on-rails shooter, but not bad for it's time. Definetly holds up to Lethal Enforcers, it's biggest competition in the genre at the time.

-Lords of Thunder - HARD shoot-em-up, but once you start getting a feel for the levels and a little memorization it's very fun and has a unique fantasy element to it.

-Robo-Aleste - Great follow-up to the Genesis classic MUSHA. In this game you pilot a Japanese-styled mech and blow the heck out of everything in grand shoot-em-up style.

-Sol-Feace - A great little shoot-em-up.

[Bradtemple87]

+1 for Robo Aleste

[final fight cd]

Well I think nearly all of Sega CD's library except Sonic CD could be considered hidden gems, lol. Sega CD definetly caters to a niche crowd.

That being said, I might as well just make a list of my personal favorites here, it will fit the bill (and BTW, I do like Sonic CD, but it's like the only commonly known Sega CD game, hence why I didn't include it):

-The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin - This is a shinier, better made, better looking, and with added cutscenes and music version of the Genesis Spider-Man game. But all that extra gloss does make for a better experience of what was already a classic on Genesis.

-Earthworm Jim: Special Edition - I actually haven't played this one myself. But other people I know tell me that it's the essential version of Earthworm Jim.

-Final Fight CD - Much better than the SNES version, but also a bit more pricey.

-Jurassic Park - Basic on-rails shooter, but not bad for it's time. Definetly holds up to Lethal Enforcers, it's biggest competition in the genre at the time.

-Lords of Thunder - HARD shoot-em-up, but once you start getting a feel for the levels and a little memorization it's very fun and has a unique fantasy element to it.

-Robo-Aleste - Great follow-up to the Genesis classic MUSHA. In this game you pilot a Japanese-styled mech and blow the heck out of everything in grand shoot-em-up style.

-Sol-Feace - A great little shoot-em-up.

i wouldn't consider any of these hidden gems, except maybe spider man and jurassic park, since people don't really ever talk about these games. unless you live under a rock, i think most people know about the games you mentioned.

[BurningDoom]

Well I think nearly all of Sega CD's library except Sonic CD could be considered hidden gems, lol. Sega CD definetly caters to a niche crowd.

That being said, I might as well just make a list of my personal favorites here, it will fit the bill (and BTW, I do like Sonic CD, but it's like the only commonly known Sega CD game, hence why I didn't include it):

-The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin - This is a shinier, better made, better looking, and with added cutscenes and music version of the Genesis Spider-Man game. But all that extra gloss does make for a better experience of what was already a classic on Genesis.

-Earthworm Jim: Special Edition - I actually haven't played this one myself. But other people I know tell me that it's the essential version of Earthworm Jim.

-Final Fight CD - Much better than the SNES version, but also a bit more pricey.

-Jurassic Park - Basic on-rails shooter, but not bad for it's time. Definetly holds up to Lethal Enforcers, it's biggest competition in the genre at the time.

-Lords of Thunder - HARD shoot-em-up, but once you start getting a feel for the levels and a little memorization it's very fun and has a unique fantasy element to it.

-Robo-Aleste - Great follow-up to the Genesis classic MUSHA. In this game you pilot a Japanese-styled mech and blow the heck out of everything in grand shoot-em-up style.

-Sol-Feace - A great little shoot-em-up.

i wouldn't consider any of these hidden gems, except maybe spider man and jurassic park, since people don't really ever talk about these games. unless you live under a rock, i think most people know about the games you mentioned.

People like us that are collectors know about most of these games, sure. But go ask the average gamer and I'd be willing to bet that the only game on Sega CD that they can even name is Sonic CD.

[Opa Opa]

Well I think nearly all of Sega CD's library except Sonic CD could be considered hidden gems, lol. Sega CD definetly caters to a niche crowd.

That being said, I might as well just make a list of my personal favorites here, it will fit the bill (and BTW, I do like Sonic CD, but it's like the only commonly known Sega CD game, hence why I didn't include it):

-The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin - This is a shinier, better made, better looking, and with added cutscenes and music version of the Genesis Spider-Man game. But all that extra gloss does make for a better experience of what was already a classic on Genesis.

-Earthworm Jim: Special Edition - I actually haven't played this one myself. But other people I know tell me that it's the essential version of Earthworm Jim.

-Final Fight CD - Much better than the SNES version, but also a bit more pricey.

-Jurassic Park - Basic on-rails shooter, but not bad for it's time. Definetly holds up to Lethal Enforcers, it's biggest competition in the genre at the time.

-Lords of Thunder - HARD shoot-em-up, but once you start getting a feel for the levels and a little memorization it's very fun and has a unique fantasy element to it.

-Robo-Aleste - Great follow-up to the Genesis classic MUSHA. In this game you pilot a Japanese-styled mech and blow the heck out of everything in grand shoot-em-up style.

-Sol-Feace - A great little shoot-em-up.

I'm probably not going to write about any of these for the gems page except maybe Lords of Thunder (and maybe JP...Need to check it out). The rest are pretty much standard. Final Fight I'll have to think about because I don't know if it's just a port and Spiderman probably belongs on a 32x page. I have no freakin' clue about Earthworm Jim. Don't know if that should get a big write up or not...

[BurningDoom]

The 32x Spider-Man game is not the same game as the Sega CD game. 32x Spider-Man game is Web of Fire.

[final fight cd]

i think if you would make a list of the best sega cd games, a lot of these would be on there.

i don't think that the system's best games and the system's hidden gems should be the same.

i bet if you would ask any average retro gamer - whether they own a sega cd or not - what are the good shooters they would be able to rattle off lords of thunder, robo aleste, android assault, etc. also, i would bet most people know the good rpgs are popful mail, the lunars, vay.

but, how many people have played space adventure, or dungeon explorer, or soul star or novastorm? i don't know, maybe a lot has. but, with the system's small library, i think it is hard to find actual HIDDEN gems.

[GSZX1337]

Android Assault/Bari-Arm tends to get overlooked quite a bit. Not the best shmup ever but it's fun.

Yes.

[Opa Opa]

The 32x Spider-Man game is not the same game as the Sega CD game. 32x Spider-Man game is Web of Fire.

Oh... My mistake. I guess I need to look that game up as well.

i don't think that the system's best games and the system's hidden gems should be the same.

I don't disagree but you've got to understand that the hidden gems can't just be limited to obscure titles. You've got to choose games for... dang... read this.

[...]with the system's small library, i think it is hard to find actual HIDDEN gems.

Therein lies the challenge.