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Sega Genesis

Sega Genesis was the first of the 4th generation of consoles to gain market share in the US. The Sega Master System failed in comparison to NES, in spite of its superior technical capabilities when compared to NES. Sega decided to create something that would compete. For inspiration, they looked to the Sega System 16 arcade hardware, and the Amiga and Atari ST computers. Although the Genesis sold poorly in Japan, it did well in the US and other countries until the SNES came out. 29 million units were sold during its lifetime.

Specifications
CPU: Motorola 68000 at 7.67MHz and a Zilog Z80 at 3.55MHz as a sound CPU
System RAM: 64KB for 68000, 8K for Z80
Video RAM: 64KB, couldn't be accessed by CPU, only by Video Display Processor
Sound RAM: 8K
System ROM: 2K
Resolution: 256x224 to 320x480 pixels, 61 on-screen colors out of 512 available (up to 1536 via raster effects and shadow/highlight)
Graphics Performance: 2 scrolling playfields, 1 sprite plane, 1 window plane, per-tile priority; 64/80 sprites on-screen, 16/20 per line, 256/320 pixels per line, per-sprite priority; hardware scrolling
Sound: Yamaha YM2612 with 6 FM channels (the 6th could play PCM if driven directly by the Z80, no DMA), and a Texas Instruments SN76489 compatible device built into the VDP that provides 3 square wave channels and 1 white noise channel
Media: Cartridge, 4MB, but up to 32 MB with bank switching
Interface: 2 controllers (9-pin, compatible with Atari 2600), EXT port, expansion port, composite and RF out, stereo audio, stereo headphones on original unit
Price: Originally $199
Genesis 6-Pak
Genre: Compilation
Players: 1 or 2
ESRB: KA for Animated Violence
Rarity: 3
4 out of 4 stars

This cartridge includes 6 Genesis classics: Columns, Golden Axe, Revenge of Shinobi, Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, Super Hang-On.

Mega Turrican
Genre: 2D Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB: E for Animated Violence
Rarity: 2
4 out of 4 stars

Called Turrican 3 on Amiga, this is classic Turrican fun.

Sonic and Knuckles
Genre: 2D Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB: KA Suitable for All Ages
Rarity: 2
4 out of 4 stars

Sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Replaces Tails with Knuckles.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genre: 2D Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB: KA
Rarity: 1
4 out of 4 stars

Sequel to the original. Adds Tails and two-player co-op to the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Genre: 2D Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB: KA for Comic Mischief
Rarity: 2
4 out of 4 stars

Sequel to the Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Originally, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic and Knuckles were supposed to be one game, but it was split in two due to cartridge costs.

Turrican
Genre: 2D Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB: N/A
Rarity: 4
4 out of 4 stars

The same as on C64, but with lesser music. Nowhere near as good as the Amiga version.