Sega, as a publisher and developer, is one of the most important video game companies of all time. From the arcade scene to the console market, they have touched every aspect of gaming culture for decades. No matter how old gamers are, they've either seen or played a Sega property before.
9 almost perfect SEGA games that nobody remembers today
These Sega games still deserve your time thanks to their enduring quality, even if most people will have forgotten about them.
They've run the gamut in their cultural impact from rivaling Nintendo to nuts, another game maker. With games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2Space Channel 5, and Fantasy Stars OnlineSega cemented itself in gaming history forever. Let's rank these games and others, considering how well they hold up and how their overall quality is.
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10
The typing of the dead
Resident keystrokes
House of the dead series are still fun to play, especially in an arcade setting, but there's just something more enticing and magical about it Typing of the Dead. Instead of blasting zombies in levels that are on-rails, players must type out words.
It's a borderline educational game, but no school had this in the classroom because of the violence, that's for sure. Typing of the Dead is well worth remembering in Sega's catalog because it shows how experimental and weird it is as a company.
9
Space channel 5
Undercover reporters
Sega has a long history of music rhythm games, and among them all, Space channel 5 stands out. Sent to investigate an alien uprising, reporter Ulala manages to crack the case. The levels are on rails and have players dancing to the beat, along with exploding aliens.
With good crowd work, players can save more civilians and get a bigger posse in each level. With infectious music and some genuine surprises, Space channel 5 is an ear mask of a video game.
8
Streets of Rage 2
Quarrel With A Purpose
Some franchises continue forever, however Streets of Rage is one that existed purely on the Sega Genesis for three games, and then Sega was made for decades. Among them all, Streets of Rage 2 still feels like the best overall experience.
Players can choose one of four characters when playing alone, but of course there was two-player co-op back in the day as well. It's a relatively short game that can be finished in an afternoon, but aside from that, the pixel art is still colorful and the beat 'em up gameplay is solid.
7
Shining the Holy Ark
Before Camelot jumped ship
Shining the Holy Ark
- Released
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December 20, 1996
Shining the Holy Ark is one of many Brilliant game that Sega produced, and this was a first-person dungeon crawler. What sets it apart, beyond that, is that Camelot Software Planning developed it, which most people might know from the Mario sports spin-offs or Golden sun.
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Players can form a party, enter dungeons, and battle monsters in turn-based battles. Golden sun fans will especially get a lot out of Shining the Holy Ark today, and while the game is nothing extraordinary, the sprite work and overall design make it very playable today.
6
Shenmue
Ahead of its time
Shenmue
- Released
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December 29, 1999
- ESRB
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t
Shenmue was an important Dreamcast game that was far beyond what other action games were doing in 1999. The game took place in a more open world in a city that expanded over time, which cannot be compared to the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 now, but it was still pretty amazing for a Dreamcast game.
It was also an action game filled with quirky characters and a mystery that players invested in. It was the promising start of what fans hoped would be a long-running series, and while Sega's lofty goals were not met, Shenmue is still a very important match for them.
5
Fantasy Stars Online
Development of a franchise
Fantasy Stars Online started on the Dreamcast, but then grew so big that it branched out to other consoles. Also, it would receive updates for years, even though it wasn't an official MMO; it had DNA from one. What was so captivating about the game was its simple design, almost like one of the first 3D Diablo clones.
Players could create their character, go hunting alone or with friends, and continuously grind for items and loot in one of the most addictive action RPG experiences of all time, helping to develop Fantasy Stars franchise.
4
Valkyrie Chronicles
World War II with magic
Valkyrie Chronicles
- Release date
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2009 – 2009-00-00
- Network
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MBS, Tokyo MX, Chiba TV, tvk
- Directors
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Yoshitaka Makino
Valkyria Chronicles reinvented the tactical RPG genre, and it's puzzling why more games didn't copy its design. Set in a fantastical version of Europe, two nations clashed when a neutral territory got caught in the middle.
On missions, players could choose their character or vehicle to move in real-time, with enemies on the map also shooting back. When the players were ready to attack, the action paused. Thanks to this real-time effect, each mission is more harrowing and captivating.
3
Bayonetta
Hairy potter
Bayonetta was developed by PlatinumGames, but Sega was a big backer before Nintendo fully invested in the franchise. This action game was a spiritual successor to Devil May Crywith the titular witch attacking with four weapons: two in her hands and two on her feet.
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As players dodged attacks, time slowed down, and as players performed combos, Bayonetta could use her hair for spells, from summoning giant demons to creating guillotines to decapitate the angelic enemies. Over the top in all the best ways, Bayonetta is still an action legend.
2
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Hawaii is your playground
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the eighth principal Yakuza game in the franchise, the first to take place entirely in North America via Hawaii, and the second to feature a turn-based battle system. Most of the Yakuza games could make the list, but this post goes above and beyond to create something memorable.
The turn-based battles and Job system were fun to experiment with, the paradise of Honolulu was fascinating, the mini-games were on point, and the side quests were just as crazy and well thought out as previous entries. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth requires a serious investment of time, but there are so few games like it out there.
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The Attitude Era
Without Sonic, Sega might be nothing today, and choosing just one game seems like an impossible task. That said, if there was a game that best represented Sonic series and Sega as a company, it would be Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Bigger and better in every way, this entry added Tails, co-op and Super Sonic for the first time, which are now hallmarks of the franchise. The music was surreal, the pacing felt believable and the artwork was top notch. In 1992, Sega fans could never dream that video games could get any better than this, and while video games have certainly evolved, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is still a wonder.
