Arrow Flash on the Sega Mega Drive is a side-scrolling shooter where players control Zana Keene, a pilot defending Earth from an alien attack using a prototype transformable fighter-mecha inherited from her grandfather. Gameplay involves navigating horizontally scrolling stages (with one vertical stage), shooting down enemies, and collecting power-ups for weapons and support ships. A key feature is the ability to transform between a fast-moving jet with concentrated forward fire and a more maneuverable robot with wider attack angles and homing missiles. The titular “Arrow Flash” is a powerful special attack unique to each form. Reception to Arrow Flash was mixed; while its anime-inspired presentation, transforming mechanic, and character design were praised, it was often criticized for its short length and somewhat repetitive gameplay. Some reviewers found it to be a solid and enjoyable shooter, while others considered it average within the genre.
Boxed, No Manual
2200
£28
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition – Sega Mega Drive (1994)
Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition on the Sega Mega Drive is a side-scrolling action platformer that serves as a “what-if” sequel to the original movie. The story picks up after Dr. Alan Grant escapes Isla Nublar, only to witness Costa Rican soldiers and InGen agents arriving, leading him to believe they intend to weaponize the dinosaurs. Players can choose to control either Dr. Grant, armed with various weapons, or a Velociraptor, utilizing its claws and teeth, with the goal of stopping InGen’s plans and escaping the island. Gameplay is less focused on survival horror than the first game, offering a faster pace and more direct combat, with the ability for both characters to kill enemies and explore more open-ended levels. Reception was mixed; some critics appreciated the improvements in gameplay and the novelty of playing as a Raptor, while others found the level design confusing and the overall execution lacking polish.
Complete
2201
£28
Sonic 3D: Flickies’ Island – Sega Mega Drive (1996)
Sonic 3D: Flickies’ Island on the Sega Mega Drive, presented a departure from traditional 2D Sonic gameplay by utilizing an isometric perspective, giving a pseudo-3D appearance. The story involves Dr. Robotnik enslaving the Flickies, birds with the ability to warp through rings, to aid his search for the Chaos Emeralds, prompting Sonic to rescue them. Gameplay revolves around defeating enemies to free the Flickies, which then follow Sonic; collecting five Flickies allows progression to the next section of the level. While retaining elements like rings and power-ups, the focus shifted to a more exploratory, collectathon style of platforming. Reception to Sonic 3D Blast on the Mega Drive was mixed; some appreciated the visual novelty and soundtrack, while others criticized the slower pace, less fluid controls due to the isometric view, and repetitive gameplay compared to previous Sonic titles.
