Top 5

Stupendously enjoyable levels on the SEGA Megadrive [Top 5]

Mike Pollitt | Wednesday 5 January, 2011 11:07

In the early to mid nineties, two empires were locked in a titanic struggle for world domination. Head to head they went, trading blow after bitter blow. First came the 8-bit console, then 16, then 32. Surely, we tweenagers thought, surely they will stop now before this madness destroys us all? Ha, they scoffed, and presented the N64. And so Nintendo saw off Sega, and a beautiful rivalry was dead. But as so often, conflict begat creativity, and us proud Master System and Megadrive owners were treated to one hell of a ride. Here are five levels from games of the era which make Snipe come over all nostalgic for the days when Left, Right, Up, Down was the start of a cheat taking you all the way to level 12.

Sonic the Hedgehog, Level 1

Snipe received the Megadrive + Sonic package one frosty Christmas morning long ago, after years of begging and months of threats. The crunchy noise the cartridge made when pushed into the console, the flashing Sega logo, the feel of the controller nestling in our palms…it was a special day. Even withstanding that in my ignorance I didn’t know you had to press start to begin the game, and so spent the first half hour watching the demo in the mistaken belief that I was controlling the little blue creature myself. Come back to me, childhood! All is forgiven.

Aladdin, Magic Carpet

Disney’s second Golden Age coincided with the rise of the consoles, and when the two combined it was magical. Aladdin was not the best film, nor the best game from this period. But it was damn good. This level still thrills – genuine danger at every moment, heart in mouth all the way.

Earthworm Jim, Level transition

The attentive among you will note that this level is in essence identical to Aladdin’s magic carpet ride above. I confess, I like speeding through air and collecting strange objects. It’s a thing I have. In the game you were a space earthworm who could lasso enemies with your own body, or something. It was brilliant. I never got past level 3.

The Lion King, Just Can’t Wait to be King

See Disney Golden Age comments, above. The Lion King is one of the best five films ever made. There is no argument with that. Snipe invites anyone to point out a flaw. The game is impossible. But just listen to the music! Enough to put a smile on even the grumpiest Zazou.

Brian Lara Cricket

Snipe makes absolutely no apologies for a.) including a game that doesn’t have levels and b.) uploading a YouTube video the first minute of which is someone navigating menus. This game was incredible. For years it was the only way a young Englishman could dream that the Aussies would ever lose a game of cricket. How times change. Snipe used to love bowling 5 overs of yorkers which our impatient friend couldn’t resist trying to slog out of the ground, then embarking on a gritty Atherton-inspired chase, filled with leg glances, elbows over the ball and nudges into the gap. Bliss.

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