I’m proud of my carefully selected four hundred game library and am not joking when I say that I regard its formation as one of my most notable achievements. Many hours of searching yard sales and sniping auctions have gone into building it.

Yet, when I look at the rows of games neatly arranged on their shelves, I feel a distance has opened between me and my games. Some things have happened to diminish the sense of rapport I always had with these games.

This is made all the odder because of my love of replaying games. I once played for adventure, I now play to remember the past. How nice it is to be able to return to what won’t change. Final Fantasy III, that wonderous RPG, I’ve now played many times. I also like Squaresoft’s simpler precursor Final Fantasy II which is admired by many and rightly so.

I think sometimes that I’m angry with my game library because I know I can’t replay them all. I would like to, but the time is not there. It is this, I think, that produces the slight sense of alienation that I feel when I’m together with my games now. They need to find other gamers soon…ideally that would be the son I hope to have some day, but if not him than other game lovers.

Gazing upon the multi-colored line of games aligned upon my shelves every genre is represented from Shmups to Puzzle Games, looking at them I felt like I once did walking the campus at Western Michigan years after I graduated. A girl I had dated in college came walking up to me with a baby in her arms. Rather then pretending we didn’t know each other we stopped and chatted pleasantly; then we both walked on, having enjoyed our light encounter.

That’s the way I feel now, when among my games. I might pull down my copy of Raiden Trad, play a level or two then put the game back in its clamshell and move on. Once I was passionate about Raiden Trad. Memorizing the enemies’ formation and their lines of fire all in order to beat the game but when I play it now, it’s a light encounter. And so life moves along.

Consumer Protection: Sega 32X


The Sega 32X add-on system for the Sega Genesis was one of Sega’s biggest blunders. The system was an attempt to extend the life of the Sega Genesis and provide revenue while the Sega Saturn sales slowly grew. Unfortunately for Sega the 32X was a big cumbersome piece of hardware that to put it frankly; sucked.

There were technological problems too numerous to mention upon launch which instantly turned many people off. The public at large would see the 32X for what it was an inferior product that couldn’t compete with the true next generation consoles such as the Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64 and the Sony Playstation. The 32X at the time would be known as the “poor man’s entry into next generation” games.

As you can tell from the previous two paragraphs I don't think much of the 32X and I certainly don’t advise the purchase of the system for the following reasons. It has small game library (34 Titles not counting CD titles.) Of these games only eleven are worth playing. Those 11 games are going to cost you an arm, a leg and any sense of financial well-being in the case of Spiderman: Web of Fire. Lastly, the 32X looks like a mushroom cloud of black plastic has exploded from your Genesis.

If you choose not to heed my warnings and go through with the purchase of a 32X at the very least you should be informed; an educated consumer is a good consumer.

Where to Find a 32X: eBay

The best place to go when looking for a Sega 32X system is going to be eBay. There are always a number of 32Xs up for auction and can be found for a reasonable price. ($40-$80.) Before leaping in and making the first bid this is the checklist you should run through and make sure the auction includes all of the following:

• Genesis 32X Unit.
• Connector Cable
• Conversion Cable
• Sega A/V Cable
• AC Adapter (The same Adapter used for Genesis Model 2 and Game Gear.)
• Plastic Spacer (For Genesis Model 2)
• 2 Electromagnetic Shield Plates (Metal Tabs, for use with Genesis Model 1)



Once you’ve gone through the checklist and made sure each of those parts is included in the auction here is the 32X compatibility with each Sega Genesis model.

Sega Genesis Compatibility



If you have the Model 1 Genesis, the Electromagnetic Shield Plates slide into the cartridge slot that allow for the machine to fit on top of the Genesis.



If you have the Model 2, there is a plastic spacer that fits in the cartridge part of the 32X that allows it to fit properly into your Genesis.



If you have a Model 3 Genesis you’re shit out of luck. The 32X is not compatible with this system nor with the Sega Nomad. Also steer clear of the CDX because while it is compatible with it you’re going to have a number of problems with spacing and balance.

Along with all the items listed above to get the full benefit of the 32X add-on it is essential to have a six-button control pad as a number of 32X games require it.

11 Sega 32X Games Worth Playing

1. Virtua Racing Deluxe
2. Virtua Fighter
3. Knuckles Chaotix
4. Doom
5. Star Wars Arcade
6. Blackthrone
7. Kolibri
8. Shadow Squadron
9. Tempo
10. Zaxxon Motherbase 2000
11. Spiderman: Web of Fire

In the world of classic gaming there are two diametrically opposed sides when it comes to the issue of collecting sealed games. But we're all adults here. Insults aren't thrown about. Rather the merits of each side are calmly expressed in a free exchange of ideas. Games should be played not looked at! It's an investment retorts the other side and on the argument goes on countless message boards and game rooms across the world.

You ask 100 gamers their personal opinion on sealed games and you'll get 100 distinct answers. As the old saying goes opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one. So here's mine.

My opinion that is; get your mind out of the gutter!

I'm not a fence-sitter in fact I despise fence sitters. Take a side and stick with it has always been my motto. I admire a person who takes a firm stand on an issue whether I agree with them or not. So what side of the fence do I stand on?

I stand in opposition of collecting sealed games.

One could argue simply the high price tags these games fetch would be enough to turn many collector's off but that's not the reason for my distaste toward sealed copies. The reason I don't personally collect them is for the simple fact that these games have no history.

A game that is hermetically sealed off from the world by a thin layer of plastic is lifeless. No one has ever enjoyed it besides those who find in enjoyment in looking at it. This is similar to someone who enjoys looking at a beautiful woman more than kissing her; it's just not right. Much like women need to be kissed, a game should be played. In fact to me a game is given life when it's placed into the system for the first time and it appears on screen much to the joy of its user. That first play is the beginning of the game's history.

Throughout the years the game's history grows with each play. The laughter of friends as they buoy for position in Mario Kart, The brawls that erupt when your friend "accidently" blows your Worm apart with dynamite when handing the controller over to you for your turn, and long 10 hour marathons a good RPG evoke become part of the game's history. The game becomes unique.

What it basically comes down to for me is this. Opened games have a history. A painting, a statute, a monument as well as a used video game, have a unique past. This past consists of the creative process that shaped it, and the people who have played it before you. When we play a particular game, we remain conscious of its special quality because the life of the original, much like a diamond's structure, is encoded in its history.

We sometimes refer to this as the "aura" of a product, that special glow "embedded in the fabric of tradition." Never do I believe was it the intention of the people that created these games for them to sit inside their original packaging, they were meant to be played and admired in this way. Not to sit on a shelf in original plastic wrap. Each person is entitled to collect what, and how they wish. For me the appeal of having a sealed copy of a game is nonexistent. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it; it's just not what I like to collect.

Pac-Man and Splatterhouse 3 have two things in common; they were both made by Namco and they both have Ghosts. That’s where the similarities end. Splatterhouse 3 has the distinguished honor of being one of the first games reviewed by Sega’s Videogame Rating Council where it earned an MA-13 rating. Rightfully so, this game ranks up there with some of the bloodiest games ever created.

Taking place five years after the events in the Splatterhouse 2 everything seems to have fallen into place for Rick Dexter. He has a loving family. A rewarding career in parapsychology and he also dabbles in the stock market. He’s practically Gordon Gecko incarnated. In fact he’s done so well in the market that he’s bought a huge mansion in upstate Connecticut. All was right with Rick’s world until...

The Evil One once more begins to haunt Rick’s every waking moment. There’s no relief found in sleep either as the Evil One appears in Rick’s nightmares, causing him to toss and turn and wake his wife Jennifer. There’s no escaping the Evil One. Rick tries to hide all this from his family but he can’t for long as the demons of his youth reappear and turn his beautiful Connecticut Mansion into a Splatterhouse.

Rick knows there’s only one way to save his family from these Lovecraftian monsters and that is to once more don the Terror Mask.



The graphics in this game are brilliant for its era. The Terror Mask itself is in a gray area neither good nor evil yet it helps Rick along the way. The mask looks like your standard 1960’s goalie mask for the most part, but with glowing red behind the eyes and the mouth.
The character of Rick Dexter is brilliantly rendered and comparisons to Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th fame are made quite often. See I just did it there. The monsters that stalk the halls of the mansion each have their own unique appearance. From the color of their skin, to their anatomy of weird faces and legs each monster takes on a personality all their own. Plus these monsters are no pushovers.

They don’t simply go down when you punch them rather they’ll gradually show the effects of your fists pounding their faces. You literally pound their face into a bloody green pulp before they finally evaporate. The look of these monsters is something you’d only be able to conjure from your worst nightmares or watching any Japanese anime.

Speaking of nightmares, the cut scenes are exactly that. Spliced throughout the game are these incredibly creepy scenes focusing on what’s happening to your family as you’re fighting your way through the mansion trying to get to them. Each time a cut scene comes up the anxiety builds, you begin to feel helpless as if you won’t be able to reach them in time. This is another great aspect of the games presentation.

The last thing that is great about the games presentation is the mansion itself. The house in this game is a character in its own right. It’s the minor details that make this game great. The detail the designs took in decorating each room adds to the overall appeal of the game. Each room in the mansion has that “lived in” feeling as if prior to these events Rick and his family were living happily here. However the mansion is far from picturesque as the demons from the netherworld have turned it into the devils playground.



The kitchen has bloody sinks. The foyers have ghostly heads that dance around and end tables with decrepit doilies that someone’s long dead grandma made. The bookcases with the cobwebs, the blood dripping down the walls creates a great overall atmosphere.
This game has the classic beat’em up formula. You’ll use the directional pad to move, the A button to “Hulk” up, the B button to punch/pick up items and the C button to jump. Rick has the standard move set of Punch, Jump, Jump Kick, Pick-Up Throw and Choke.

When I had the controller in my hands playing the game the one thought that crossed my mind was how smooth everything felt. It’s comparable to Streets of Rage 2. Both game’s controls are just fantastic with no lag or chunkiness that some games in this genre suffer from. Another similarity between the two is the use of weapons. Rick is able to pick up baseball bats and axes among other foreign objects, but be careful because if an enemy punches you a ghost head appears and carries your weapon away. These weapons are essential as they can help you make quick work of your enemies and time is of the essence. This isn’t your common beat ‘em up. Strategy becomes a major component of the game especially when it comes to Time Management, Route Planning and the use of power-ups.

Each Stage/Level of the Mansion has a certain amount of time in which you can complete the level. You must make each movement count and always keep your eye on the clock moving quickly and with purpose through the mansion. There are a number of ways you can make your way to your destination but you must plan to take the quickest route possible or else your family members will fall into the hands of the Evil One’s demon spawns.

Each time you clear a room of monsters you can hit the pause button which will bring up a floor plan and then you’re able to choose which path to take. This isn’t like a maze however the quickest path is clearly evident, but if you don’t want to take it the games is open enough to let you take whatever route you choose. I enjoyed the freedom this allowed me sometimes to the detriment of my loved ones who were being tortured.



The other notable feature is the introduction of the Eldritch Orbs which will fill a power meter at the bottom of the screen when collected. By pressing A you will “Hulk” up into a monstrous version of yourself with the help of the Terror Mask which becomes fused to your body. When Rick is in this monstrous form you deal significantly more damage to your enemies. This increased damage will help you make your way quicker through the mansion. Bear in mind however that you need to use these orbs strategically because you don’t want to use them all up before getting to the Boss of each level as they are truly tough bastards.

This game is fairly expensive by my standards and prices continue to rise for the title. You can expect to see a CIB copy now a days going for between $40-$50. The game is popping up less frequently and the demand for it has increased among collectors.

This game is one of the definitive beat 'em up and has some replayability as you can take different routes through the house. The game can be beaten in an afternoon by those dedicated enough so you may not be getting a lot of bang for your buck with this title. This one is extremely difficult to judge if it's worth it or not. The game is great, the price is steep, I see this game as not depreciating in value anytime in the near future so I'm going to go ahead and say that this game is in fact worth it.

Score- 8.5 (Very Very fun -- its essential gameplay aspects are cool and interesting, but may not be implemented in the best way.)