Top Seven: Sega Genesis

Wii coverage draws to a close today with the top seven Sega Genesis games to play on the Nintendo Wii.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog - Sure, this won't be the hedgehog's first appearance on a Nintendo system, but it's awesome that Mario's bitter rival is earning money for Nintendo now.

2. Herzog Zwei - The first modern Real-Time Strategy game, Herzog Zwei, appeared on the Genesis and no one knew quite what to make of it. It went on to be one of the most sought-after games for the system.

3. Phantasy Star III - Back when I was a littler boy, Phantasy Star III was the most anticipated role-playing game for the Genesis. I saved all my birthday money to buy the game, which retailed for about eighty dollars and sent away for it mail order because no store in town carried it. Six to eight weeks later I got a response back: the game is no longer available, would I like to buy a different game instead? I chose the far less popular and less good Sword of Vermilion and always wondered how much better Phantasy Star III was. Now I shall know!

4. Earthworm Jim - "Looks like you hit the tree there, Jim." A brilliant and oft-overlooked platformer.

5. Joe Montana Football - The only sports game I've ever loved. On offense - long pass and on defense - blitz. Beat the computer at an difficulty with ridiculous spreads.

6. Michael Jackson's Moonwalker - I'm quite certain Nintendo won't be offering this one for download. It featured Mr. Jackson rescuing kidnapped children using the art of dance.

7. X-men - Sniktity snikt! A very difficult X-men themed adventure game with a diabolical puzzle at the end. Since the game's thirteen years old, I don't mind spoiling it. Before beating the final boss, the player faces a monolithic computer and is told to reset the computer to progress. A generation of gamers searched the level in question trying everything to reset the computer, but to no avail. The solution was to press the "reset" button on the Sega Genesis itself. This was absolute last thing that a player was willing to do right before a final battle and no other game had broken the fourth wall so completely until Metal Gear Solid's Psycho Mantis came along.