The Sega CD / Mega CD RPG Library

Presented by Ack

When considering reasons to get a Sega CD, RPGs are often one of the foremost genres in consideration. And why not, some of the RPGs released on it were absolutely phenomenal and well respected titles that regularly go for decent amounts of money. Unfortunately, many of them never made the leap to our shores, and in some cases information is extremely limited. While this list is in rough order of quality, the majority of the RPGs on the console are good, so its difficult to really put them in a specific order.

Lunar: The Silver Star

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1992

It’s a JRPG, following a boy and his childhood friend who must save their fantasy-based world. Combat is standard JRPG fare, and the storyline is very linear. Yet this title is often championed as one of the greatest RPGs for the console. Character interaction was the deepest it had ever been in an RPG before. Party members talked amongst themselves and to other people. The dialog alone for townspeople was three times longer than the standard RPG. Released in the middle of 1992, Lunar changed forever what the JRPG could be, and became the best-selling game on the console in Japan(and the second best worldwide).

The game is well-balanced, and serves as an excellent RPG for both beginner and long time fans of the genre. Unfortunately due to time constraints roughly a third of the material was cut, though it was put back in for the re-release on the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. As for the English version, the programmers went on a marathon session and finished the English script in eight weeks, though it was a whopping 4 megs. Perhaps it caught up to them, considering they threw in lots of humorous jokes and bizarre quotes. If you only play one JRPG on the console, let it be this one.

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Lunar: Eternal Blue

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1994

Not only did a sequel to Lunar: The Silver Star appear, but we got it in the states. Unfortunately it was released late in the Sega CD’s lifespan, so it’s harder to come by than the original. While it didn’t sell as well as its predecessor, that doesn’t mean much considering it held the third place slot in terms of worldwide sales(and second place in Japan, right after the original).

The game is again standard JRPG fare, but it expanded upon the first Lunar with a vastly larger storyline, though many people complain that something just seems to be missing. Oh well, love it or hate it, the game is definitely worth checking out and it will keep you busy for a long while. The recorded speech in the game alone runs for over an hour and a half. The game uses twice as much dialogue as its predecessor.

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Record of Lodoss War

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1994

Record of Lodoss War is one of my favorite anime series ever. If you’re a fan of western fantasy-based anime with a serious side, check out the original series. You will not be disappointed. The game is a tactical RPG that follows the plot of the series, including anime cut-scenes and voice acting pulled directly from the source material to advance the storyline. It may not be as high quality as the actual anime, but it’s close enough for me.

Unfortunately this game was released in 1994, during the console’s closing days, so it never saw action outside of Japan. That is a real shame as it is one of the best RPGs on the console, with an incredible soundtrack and quality graphics. It’s also not an easy game, but it’s manageable for those of us who don’t know the language. Import this. Seriously.

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Seima Densetsu 3×3 Eyes

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1993

This title is sometimes known as 3×3 Eyes or 3×3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine Demon. It’s based on the manga 3×3 Eyes, and similarly to Record of Lodoss War, it uses cut scenes and voice acting pulled directly from the anime OAVs in the game. The plot covers an early section of the manga, occurring roughly around volumes 3 to 5.

The game is a turn-based JRPG that unfortunately happens to be very menu-heavy, so keep that in mind, though it follows the plot of the series very closely, enabling fans to keep track of what’s going on. And again, much like Record of Lodoss War, it’s considered one of the best RPGs available on the console. It also originally came with a two-sided poster.

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Shining Force CD

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U, PAL

Release Date: 1994

This is actually a remake and combination of the two Sega GameGear games, Shining Force Gaiden and Shining Force Gaiden II, complete with a third section that connects the two together and rounds out the title. Because of the upgrade, the games’ graphics and audio capabilities were all bumped up. The game is a tactical RPG, and both of the two main stories can be played separate of one another. The game was also released in all regions, so finding a copy in your language is a bit easier.

Unfortunately there is a downside to this title: due to hardware limitations, the game can only be saved in the third chapter if the backup RAM cart is in use. Without it, the player is unable to save, thus hindering progress in the final section, so if you’re interested in picking this title up, go ahead and find a RAM cart as well.

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Shin Megami Tensei

Releases: NTSC-J (English Translation Patch for Super Famicom Version)

Release Date: 1994

Translation: None(the Super Famicom version does have a translation however)

There’s a group of folks that are reading this that are already drooling based on that title alone. And as well they should, for the Japan-only Sega CD port of this title had some nifty enhancements over previous releases. First off, it’s not really a port, but more of a remake. The graphics have all been improved, and the font size is larger, allowing the use of kanji. Characters now have close-up portraits when talking to them, and the audio has been remixed. Plus, cut scenes with voice acting have been included.

For those not in the know, Shin Megami Tensei is part of a very broad series of video games, known as the Megami Tensei(or Megaten) series, and it is huge. This particular title is a first person RPG set in modern day Japan, where Tokyo basically goes to Hell in a hand basket. Also, nothing is censored in this version, though beyond a couple guys not wearing pants, that doesn’t mean much. No version of this game has ever been released in English, though if you’ve never played a version of this title, your best bet is probably the English translation patch for the Super Famicom version.

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Popful Mail

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1994

It’s a 2D platformer and an RPG. Popful Mail follows an elven bounty hunter named Mail, a young pointy-hatted wizard named Tatt, and a purple winged critter named Caw, as they pursue a wizard so evil and powerful that he could only be called…Muttonhead.

Switching between characters can be done on the fly, and each keeps a separate health bar, so if one gets weak, you can pop over to a different character and let them take a crack at things. There’s no experience system, but upgrades can be purchased with the gold found by killing enemies.

It’s pretty, funny, and very quirky, and better yet, it made it out of Japan. With voice acting and anime-styled videos no less! If you’re a fan of titles like Ys or anime like Slayers, this is likely a title you’ll enjoy. It should be noted, the difficulty was toned up for the US release, so don’t expect it to be a cakewalk. For a very different take on the same game in terms of gameplay, check out the other versions on the PC98, PC Engine CD, and Super Famicom.

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Shadowrun

Releases: NTSC-J (English Translation)

Release Date: 1996

This was the last Sega CD game released in Japan, in late February of 1996, and though slated for a foreign release, it never made it. It’s also a very different animal from the SNES and Genesis titles of the same name, and happens to be quite rare due to its limited print run. It features anime cut-scenes, as well as a top notch soundtrack.

It’s also Japanese-only and extremely text-heavy. How text-heavy you ask? Shadowrun’s gameplay and story exposition is often compared directly to Snatcher. Combat plays like a tactical RPG and is heavily based on dice rolls to judge success and damage of attacks. That’s right, dice rolls, as in it actually shows dice on the screen and everything. Of all the console based Shadowrun titles of this era, this is the one to play. You just need to be fluent in Japanese to get anywhere in it.

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Dark Wizard

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1993

Dark Wizard holds the distinction of being the first RPG released in the west on the console. And yes, before we get anywhere, it does feature anime cutscenes, and visually, they’re considerably more attractive than the rest of the game. But the actual depth of gameplay in this strategy RPG more than makes up for it. The plot follows the kingdom of Quentin, the last kingdom in Cheshire that hasn’t collapsed under the forces of the Dark Wizard, and is currently under siege from his forces. To make matters worse, the king of Quentin has just died. So the people of Quentin are going to have to find a new successor and fight their way out of their situation. Fights are long, and the game isn’t easy. It also suffers from poor load times. But if you can see through this, you’ll find a game well worth playing.

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Dungeon Explorer

Releases: NTSC-U, PAL

Release Date: 1994

This is an action RPG, similar to titles like Gauntlet, that did manage to make the long journey to the United States, though it unfortunately did not manage a stop-off in Europe. It is technically a revision of the PC-Engine version released five years before it, and the two share a different plot. In Dungeon Explorer, a goddess has been imprisoned in a tower and it is rumored to answer a single wish to anyone that can rescue her. The game allows the player to pick from six classes. Players can level up their characters by killing monsters and fighting bosses in their quests, and can find and buy new weapons and armor, food, and items to help them on their quests. The game also utilizes the multi-tap, so four can play at once.

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Dungeon Master 2: Skullkeep

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U, PAL

Release Date: 1994

The direct sequel to the hit RPG Dungeon Master, Dungeon Master 2 is considered one of the most impressive dungeon crawling RPGs on the console, though a considerable amount of the game doesn’t take place in a dungeon at all. The plot revolves around the player racing the forces of evil to collect parts of the Zo Link, a device that can open doorways to alternate universes. To do this, he must pick from a team of warriors to aid in his quest.

The game itself is gorgeous, with well done sounds effects, and the world is fairly open in terms of what you can do. The interface takes a little getting used to, but once it’s understood, the game flows fairly smoothly. As for leveling, if you’ve ever played an Elder Scrolls game, it’s the same idea: you must level skills to level your characters. Of course, said skills are generally raised in combat, so have your characters do what they normally would do anyway, and leveling should be a breeze.

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Genei Toshi: Illusion City

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1993

Originally planned for a US release under the title Phantom City, this game was unfortunately never brought over. Which is a shame, because another cyberpunk RPG is always welcome in my book. In the year 200X(the same year the Mega Man games take place, mind you), Hong Kong is razed to the ground, and no one is able to discover why. A corporation named SIVA International Information Group moves in, falsifies information, and takes over the area as reconstruction begins. Twenty years later, Hong Kong is the most modern city in the world, and SIVA rules over it entirely. The city is divided based on social class, and the poorer areas are still being ravaged by whatever destroyed the city.

You play, you guessed it, a couple of guys from the poor part of town who have to figure out what’s going on. The game is a traditional RPG with a gritty look that is built upon by the music. If you’re confident in your kanji, check it out, but don’t wait for an English translation. It hasn’t updated since at least 2007.

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Faeria

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

There’s a bit of a discrepancy with this title’s name, so if you’ve ever heard of Fhey Area, it’s the same game. The title is a solid JRPG that never made it out of Japan, featuring a quality soundtrack, and while the gameplay isn’t innovative, it does offer a nifty use of character portraits during combat.

In Faeria, you play Raphael, a young man descended from a legendary warrior known as the Spirit Rider. When asked to visit the queen, she mysteriously vanishes, and you must discover what has happened to her. It features the standard anime cut scenes, and it’s not too hard to make it through the game with a limited understanding of the language.

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Alshark

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1993

Once again, this is a Japan-only RPG, but Alshark also has the distinction of being the longest, coming in at over 60 hours, and that’s if you can speak the language. Graphically, the game is not up to par with other titles on the same console, but the overall length, well-done audio work, and multiple animated cut scenes make up for it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make up for the slowdown which occurs when too many sprites are on the screen.

The game features customizable characters, a large and diverse cast, and even a customizable spaceship, which will help getting across the 7 galaxies that this game spans. The game also incorporates some shooter elements. The title isn’t friendly to new players and boasts a high enemy encounter rate, but it did reach a cult level of appeal, so if you understand Japanese, give it a shot.

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Arcus 1-2-3

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1993

If you have ever played Arcus Odyssey for the SNES or Genesis, you have an idea of what this is about. Just an idea, however, as this Japan-only release featured the entire trilogy of games, and the gameplay is radically different. In fact, the general plot has changed, and the action elements have been thrown entirely out the window.

The game series is composed of dungeon-crawls and turn-based combat, with levels so large it may require the player to make their own maps. It feature anime cut scenes and a wonderful soundtrack. Plus, it features a continuous storyline, as one of the younger party members in the first title is the lead hero in the second and third. Each title lasts about 20 to 40 hours, and they get progressively more challenging as time goes by. But the story ties itself together in the end completely, making this a very satisfying series to see all the way through.

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Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra

Releases: NTSC-J (PC Version was in English)

Release Date: 1993

In a very bizarre twist of fate, an English-language game for the PC is ported to a Japanese console, and then not ported to the English-language version of said console. That is exactly what happened with Might & Magic III. It’s another turn based first person dungeon crawler, and a good one at that. The gameplay is deep and open-ended, and the main quest is non-linear, so the game can change every time you play.

The game uses text to tell information, and menus can be tough to navigate with little to no understanding of Japanese. Truthfully, if you’re really interested in playing this game it probably would be easier to track down the PC version.

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Eye of the Beholder

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U, PAL

Release Date: 1994

Ok, technically the title to this game is Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder, and it is also a dungeon crawler RPG. That said, it’s a very well designed dungeon crawler that keeps to its roots. The plot features a party of adventurers hired to find out what’s going on in the sewers of a town called Waterdeep. Once they get there a beholder traps them in and forces them to fight through Dwarf and Drow cities to its lair.

If you know what a beholder is in Dungeons & Dragons, you have good reason to be alarmed. If you don’t…let me put it this way. If you’re not a high level and you see a beholder, you run. You run very fast. They’re nasty. They make manticores look like kobolds, and I HATE manticores. Graphically the game’s not the most impressive, though the art holds true to the game, much as the game’s system does. Also, in an incredibly smart move, the game is compatible with the Mega Mouse, and movement with the D-pad can be enabled in the options menu. The audio in the game is also high quality. Unfortunately neither of the sequels would make the leap to the console.

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Aisle Lord

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

Aisle Lord was a Japan-only release by the now long-defunct Wolf Team(who went on to split, part of the team working for Namco on Tales of Phantasia, while the rest formed tri-Ace and created the Star Ocean series). The title is a dungeon-crawler RPG with an over-the-shoulder perspective that sometimes switches to a point-and-click interface when you enter a new room. It helped start the trend for anime cut scenes in RPGs.

It did suffer from a few framerate problems, but a long quest is included, with some sidequests for kicks, and the game is apparently a solid title for fans of this kind of RPG.

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Death Bringer

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

This is another dungeon crawler, similar in style to the old Might & Magic games, and once again, it’s Japan-only. Originally this was a PC game that was ported to the PC-Engine, and then to the Sega CD. The cut scenes are still there, backed by nice voice acting, though the actual music leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately not much seems to be known about the plot of this title in the West, though general impressions tend to say it’s somewhat bland.

If you can read Japanese and you like dungeon crawlers look into it, but don’t expect anything particularly groundbreaking. And it should be noted that this title has nothing to do with the Amiga game of the same name.

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Arslan Senki

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1993

Based entirely on an manga which was based on the book The Heroic Legend of Arslan(which has also been turned into an anime), this game saw a release in Japan in 1993 as a turn-based strategy RPG. The plot follows an outcast prince who is trying to retake his kingdom, and the game focuses on large-scale battles.

Unfortunately beyond plot, the game doesn’t really offer much. No items, no levels, and no special attacks of any kind. While characters do have stats, fights will sometimes come down to luck more than skill. And to top it all off, the main character is uncontrollable and wants to be his own man, so the most the player can do is give him a general idea of what to do and let him go off and do his own thing, which really sucks considering if he gets dropped it’s game over. Still, it’s gorgeous, and it does feature some interesting scenarios, and it stays true to the designs from the manga, so if you’re a fan, check it out.

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Burai

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

Here’s an RPG directly from Sega, once again Japan-only, and once again featuring anime-style cut scenes with voice overs. But this one is an updated version of the same title, released for the MSX(and later, the SNES). Fights are classic turn-based affairs, though with a perspective change: instead of being first-person view, as the MSX and SNES versions are, the Sega CD version went for an over-the-shoulder approach.

The game also begins like a saga, with eight selectable characters with unique talents that culminate in the formation of the main party. In terms of plot…well, you’ve played it before. Dark god does evil, light god seals him away, evil demon tries to release him, eight warriors appear to stop him. And yes, there is a prophecy.

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Heimdall

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1994

A western RPG, Heimdall loosely follows Norse mythology and the story of Ragnarok. At the beginning of the end, Loki steals the weapons of Odin, Freyr, and Thor, and drops on the earth below. To get them back, the good gods send Heimdall down to Earth to recover them. The story begins with a series of minigames to determine which party members are available, and once they’re finished, players will travel around three lands of islands to find the weapons: Midgar, Utgard, and Asgard.

The game’s very cartoony, which is good considering the material concerns the impending end of the world. Combat is done in a first person perspective, while normally walking around is in an isometric perspective. The biggest gripe seems to be a lack of inventory space, though you can stick items on unused party members(while you can have a max of six, only three can be used on any of the islands). The sequel, Heimdall 2, never made the jump to the Sega CD.

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Vay

Releases: NTSC-J, NTSC-U

Release Date: 1993

This is a typical JRPG, more renowned for its bizarrely scaling difficulty than anything else. In some cases, stronger variants of creatures will yield less experience and gold, and boss fights can be ridiculously hard when compared to their dungeons. The game’s also light on puzzles, and the voice acting is pretty hammy.

The game starts with the main character’s wedding, only for it to be broken up by an attack by giant robots, who kidnap the wife-to-be and murder his parents, the king and queen. It’s got fantasy, magic, and mecha all wrapped into one. And since it was released in the United States, it can be found in English, though no such luck to the PAL regions. Also, if you’re lucky, you might be able to find a copy complete with the poster-sized map that was packaged with it. This game was also recently ported to the iPhone.

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Daihoushinden

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1994

Truthfully, there just isn’t that much known about this game in the west. The plot apparently involves an army invading and the hero having to deal with the problems that arise.

The game is very text heavy, so even with some kind of translation guide, playing the game is a daunting task. The combat is also very tough, so only the most hardcore will likely continue playing. Still, it features quality music and the game features, you guessed it, animated cut scenes. The game itself isn’t too shabby to look at either. It plays as a standard turn-based JRPG.

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Magical Girl: Silky Lip

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

Some folks claim this title would serve as a pseudo-predecessor of the Sakura Taisen series. While I don’t really know about that, it is true this is a quirky JRPG. You play as a magical girl named Lip who is being forced to spend a year living in the human world so she can be properly judged for the position of queen of the demon world.

The game progresses as if it were a television show, with ending credits of an episode preceding an intro for the next. While there are a few typical JRPG battles, many “fights” consist of conversations, where verbal choices will effect stats and outcomes. Due to its text-heavy nature and focus on magical girls, it’s not really a title for those just dabbling in Japanese RPGs.

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Cosmic Fantasy Stories

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1992

First and foremost, this isn’t one RPG, it’s a 2-pack, featuring Cosmic Fantasy 1 and Cosmic Fantasy 2. Cool, right? Well, not entirely. First, Cosmic Fantasy 1 is obviously older, with a very limited color palette. Thankfully, Cosmic Fantasy 2 was built with the Turbo Duo in mind, so it’s prettier. Audio quality isn’t what it’s cracked up to be either. And yes, it does include the anime-esque cut scenes and voice overs, which at this point is practically required.

The games are also easy to play for a western audience, as they don’t really require much Japanese and all the player really has to do is move to the next town and do a simple task. Also, the random encounter rate is absolutely abysmal. Still, two easily manageable RPGs for the price of one that don’t require much knowledge of the language is pretty hard to turn down, especially if you’re just starting to get into translation guides.

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After Armageddon Gaiden

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1994

This game was a Japan-only release, though Working Designs was originally planning on releasing it in other regions. Unfortunately the impending release of the Sega Saturn killed this before it really got a chance, and the western world would never see it. After Armageddon Gaiden is a side story to Last Armageddon, released only in Japan for the Famicom, PC and PC-Engine, where demons fought robots for control of Earth several centuries after humans go extinct. Yes, you read that right, demons fight robots. For control of Earth. Best. Plot. Ever.

Once again, this game has the player controlling a party of ever-evolving demons, and it plays as a traditional JRPG of the 16-bit era. The soundtrack on this game is supposed to be pretty good.

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Funky Horror Band

Releases: NTSC-J

Release Date: 1991

This title is also known as Woodstock: Funky Horror Band or Wakusei Woodstock: Funky Horror Band. The plot involves a boy seeing something crash from the sky at night, so he investigates and discovers some kind of alien electronic funk band. This game has a reputation for being pretty bad, and it’s hideous in terms of graphics. Combat is also dull and extremely static.

The one upside is that talking to important individuals will bring up nicely drawn portraits of them, and while their words are presented in text, they also feature voice acting, albeit not at the best quality. That’s also the high point of the audio, as the sound effects are bland and the music is absolutely awful.

The game also seems pretty language-intensive, so it might be best to just avoid this JRPG. And yes, it does feature anime-styled sequences. Still, it should be noted that this was also the earliest RPG on the console, so some of the problem may lie there.

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Honorable Mentions

Here’s a section including a few more titles that might interest RPG fans of the console, just in case you might want something similar but not quite the same thing as what was mentioned above. It should also be noted, these aren’t in any order.

Pier Solar

This is an entirely original RPG that as of this writing hasn’t been released yet. It’s also unofficial, and not really a Sega CD title, instead utilizing the Sega CD for better audio capabilities. The actual game will be in cartridge format and will be available to all regions. Check out the team’s website for more information.

Lords of Thunder

This is a hori shooter with RPG elements. Also known as Winds of Thunder, it was originally released on the TurboGrafx-CD, then ported to Sega CD. While the PAL regions would see neither version, both PAL and NTSC-U now have access to it via the Wii’s Virtual Console. The player plays as god-knight Landis, who must fight the evil god Zaggart’s army. To do this, he must choose which of his four magical armors he will wear, and collect money so he can purchase upgrades at the local shop.

Strategy Games:

There are quite a few, and while some venture closer to RPG territory like Mega Schwarzschild, some like Genghis Khan 2: Clan of the Grey Wolf never quite make that distinction. Still, they’re there if any strategy fan really wants to take a look.

Special thanks to Modemul.net, Sega-16, HG101, and MegaDriver.org for the screenshots