Mega CD & 32x: Sega proved singlehandedly that the console upgrade is a dangerous path to follow. NEC got it right with the PC-Engine, because of the amount of great CD-only games, but Sega had very few absolute killers that required the purchase of the CD-addon for the Megadrive.

Silpheed was hailed as a modern classic, with its blend of pseudo-3D graphics and 2D gameplay, and Robo-Aleste continued Compile's Musha/Spriggan series with some great rock music. Other notables were a version of Lords of Thunder, and Sol Feace, a slightly upgraded version of the cart Sol Deace.