This made me realize how long the passage of time felt when you're a kid, versus how quickly it feels now. I was only 11 years old when the 32X came out and of course, 21 when the DS came out. Well I'm 41 now, and to me, the release of the DS feels like only yesterday where as the 32X feels like a lifetime ago. It just doesn't seem like they were only 10 years apart.
my dad saw the 32x on clearance at Toys r Us for $20 here in Canada and he bought it not realizing that you also need a Sega Genesis... he bought I think 8 or 9 games on clearance as well that we couldn't play for over a year before we got enough money to buy a Genesis... so my first year with the 32x was basically looking at game covers, game manuals and a VHS tape with a preview from Sega
I got the 32X to play Mortal Kombat II close to arcade perfect as possible in this generation. Improved visuals, smoother animations, arcade voice samples, all characters including reptile. And the use of the 6-button controller is beneficial. Just a joy to play.
I think the most interesting part of this being the 30th anniversary of the 32X and the 20th anniversary of the DS is just to see the leap in technology between the two in 10 years. Impressive to look back on
Tom Kalinske was an underrated genius imho. Thank you for helping me pass the time while I wait in line for the 30th anniversary ps5. 👍32x and PS…. What a weird anniversary.
Adam I love how you break down everything down to hardware and software in your videos. It’s amazing to me that your channel ain’t bigger considering I’ve been watching your videos for years.
Doom CD32X Fusion is a revelatory experience. I highly recommend checking it out. Earlier in the week, I was sitting in amazement at how well Doom runs on OG Sega hardware and was overcome with immense gratitude for the retro gaming community. It includes Ultimate Doom, Doom II, Resurrection, and some Evilution. Super excited to see what else can be done by utilizing the Tower of Power.
Oh man, I remember the markdowns at K B Toy Store! I still remember seeing the large boxed Earthbounds, Atari Jaguars, and Virtual Boys, alongside the 32Xs for $20-$40. I always wanted to pick those up, but I was too stingy with my cash, and I knew the N64 was on the horizon. I never did, and now I regret it due to the insane mark ups in today's market.
I’m old so I remember the 32x as a kid. 😂😂 Never owned the attachment nor did I know any kids back then who did. Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were good enough for me.
The 32x and the Saturn failing in the america and europe nearly at the same time was probably the biggest reason why Sega started to port their games to Windows 95.
@@jahdorose8659had nothing to do with games. Adjusted for inflation the Saturn at launch was nearly $1,000. Video games were just a niche hobby in the 90’s and no one was paying anywhere near that or what Nintendo wanted for the N64 for a video game system. PlayStation won over consumers by costing the same as the Genesis and SNES was at launch. If it was about games the N64 wouldn’t have been nintendos worst selling system.
I had the complete opposite experience than you did, Adam. When I was in grade school in the mid-90s, I knew about the Sega Saturn. Heck, I remember that my mall’s Sears and GameStop had them for sale and on display to demo. I think that is where I got to play Nights into Dreams for the first time. As far as the 32X, I had no idea about its existence until learning about it from the Sonic Mega Collection on GameCube. On a personal side note: I initially wanted to get a Sega Saturn, but all of that changed when some of my friends got N64 consoles and I got to play Super Mario 64 and Goldeneye.
Adam I still can't believe you didn't know about the Sega Saturn until after you owned the Dreamcast. How does that even happen? You never saw the Saturn name in a magazine or seen it on a store shelf from 95-99+? Such a great console...picked up one in 98 or so for $50 at Toy's R Us...came with the 3 pack of games too. Loved it then and really love it now as a retro console, my favorite, even more than the Dreamcast. DC is a close 2nd.
I got into retro collecting in middle school over 10 years ago when I go a genesis and to me I had never heard of the concept of add ons but as a kid I absolutely loved the idea of the 32x and had to get one right away and I love it but wish it could’ve gotten more solid titles
When the 32X came out, I was a poor college student who just wanted to play Doom. In 1994, getting a PC was very expensive, so my choices were a 32X or a Jaguar. 32X was my choice because it had more games that I wanted than Jaguar did, and it was considerably cheaper to get it as the pack-in game. It was well worth it. I wound up getting Space Harrier, Blackthorne, and Virtua Fighter (which I did like). I just rented the rest of the games. Unfortunately, nothing on the Sega 32X looked or sounded as good as Donkey Kong Country did on the SNES.
Funny tidbit to share with you guys: I was sitting in a quiet college lobby watching this video. When I got to 15:45 I laughed out loud, but I happened to have gas and as I was laughing, I farted. I'm pretty sure other people in here heard it. XD Another funny tidbit more related to the video: My first experience with the 32X was at my friend's vacation lake cabin in Massachusetts. We were up there for the weekend, and he happened to have a Sega Genesis with a 32X, but he didn't know if it still worked (this was circa 2001-ish). At this point, I already sorta knew about the 32X, and I knew you needed to plug in that loopback cable. So, I hooked it up for him, we turned it on, and it was fully functional! I remember seeing the graphics for Metalhead and thinking "Holy crap, this is pretty awesome for a Sega Genesis game! :D". It was pretty mindblowing to see the Sega Genesis/32X combo graphics for the first time, with the advanced color palette and everything.
wow it’s been 20 years! I was there day 1! I remember taking the bus and going to buy one at the now defunct Canadian retailer “Consumers Distributing”. I was 16 at the time (yup I’m 46 now). The three games I bought immediately was Virtua Racing, Doom, and Star Wars Arcade! You know I have good memories of that time. All three of those launch games were good!
I know people like to make fun of the design of the 32X and call it a "mushroom cloud" but I actually kind of like it. It's super small and doesn't really take up a lot of room unlike the Sega CD.
I'd definitely like to get my hands on a 32x one day, it's just not something I'm actively looking for. The scene around it getting more busy is making me want one more though
I really like Knuckles Chaotix and it should get remastered on newer platforms, I believe Christian Whitehead said he wanted to remake it! Adam is that a after market adapter for the 32X with the CDX?
Cannot wait for your Saturn video! I was lucky to grab a model 1 Saturn right before COVID and the prices for consoles and especially games skyrocketed even more!
bought it at kmart for $80 with paperroute money. Loved it. Loved virtua racing, fighter. loved doom. Loved star wars. system taught me cable management. Sold it in 07 (in box) bought another during the pandemic (needs work but came with everything).
As a kid back then when I saw the 32x I wanted one but parents couldn’t get me one then but I remember thinking at time for me I saw the games coming for the 32x like Doom and Star Wars , Virtual racing which was cool but I also wanted more arcade games like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo to come to the 32x I dreaming of good arcade port of SSF2T on 32x and other arcade games such as Alien Vs Predator , Dungeon and Dragons , and Sega Rally for me Sega should have focused on good arcade games with extra content added to it and also a few more exclusive games like the Doom and Star Wars etc , but not rushing them out like Doom with missing content Sega should of delayed it made sure it had all of the levels that were cut out and if possible cause of the delay add extra content to it cause of the delayed showing to us loyal Sega customers if u wait we Sega make sure the game will be decent good packed with extra content but it’s easy to this all now in hindsight but as I was saying earlier for I wanted good decent arcade ports just like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo playing this in the arcade every day playing with Akuma pulling off super turbo combo moves the super meter added plus Akuma SSF2T was popping off in arcades here in Australia me and my cousin along with friends went to arcades every week end nearly all the time to play SSF2T , A vs P , Dungeon & Dragons , Sega Rally, we spent money on arcades theses were the days some great memories so yeah I remember with the guys we always spoke of hey we all wanted a good SSF2T to come to the Mega Drive Sega gave us SSF2 which played really great but the music was a big let down especially when got SF2 Champion Edition which played great and the music was better than the SNES and this is my opion only I felt it was closer to the arcade music and for the mega drive lacking the voices I always felt CapCom did us Sega FanBoys dirty with mega drive SF2CE and SSF2T CapCom could have done so much better but who knows maybe because of Nintendo squeezing CapCom balls for example look at one or two Konami games for MD/Gen like Rocket Night Adventures and Castlevania Bloodlines Konami did good with theses two yeah I know going off topic so as I was saying for me and my friends if the 32x had games like SSF2T with extra content that the arcade didn’t have like extra custom character , extra tag mode only for the 32x for Aliens vs Predator extra content like extra character , extra levels with multi paths and multiple endings we would bug parents even harder do all the chors and star working after school and week ends to try get the 32x but one more thing I also wished back then too was Sega did some more with its lock on tech like the cartridge they used for Sonic and Kunckles plus the SVP chip but who am I to say as I knew nothing about tech.
Great video Adam, but I've got to admit that I'm much more excited for tomorrow's video on the Sega Saturn. The Saturn and the N64 are tied as my favorite consoles of all time since I have so much nostalgia for both systems.
I’m looking forward to all the recent stuff coming out for 32x like the Doom Ressurection and the Neptune coming from Brazil which pretty cool I think they said that they might do new 32x games that would be awesome if they get talented people like Rheo Gamer from Brazil that did a port of Neo Geo game RealBout Fatal Fury for the less powered console mega drive / genesis which is really great just missing some things but man this good stuff Brazil got some really talented people that could give us great new 32x game and I’m all for it I want to see what the 32x can really do I would definitely buy the games
I've had a small handful of 32X games for years and have yet to play any of them. Not because I don't want to but because I still haven't gotten ahold of a working 32X. And with what they're costing now, I just don't want to risk it. I keep hoping for an Analogue 32X which I would buy immediately, but I kinda doubt that's gonna happen.
I'm not the biggest Star Trek fan, but I absolutely loved that Star Trek game on the Sega 32X. I actually ended up spending more time playing the pool mini-game in the lounge quarters than anything else! I got my " Spider-Man "Web of Fire" from someone who found it in a bargain bin, and the receipt was dated 1997 and on sale for just $4.99. What a steal!
The sega CD was kinda that "stopgap" console already, it's really mind boggling that they would release a second one, they should have just commited more on the sega CD.
Technology was moving way too fast in the 90's and SEGA, feeling an inferiority complex from Nintendo's powerful IP, felt they had to dive in head first into whatever the latest and greatest tech was, even if those were bad long-tern moves. I bet some at SEGA even knew it. Nintendo, on the other hand, being top dog, could afford to sit back and make more reasoned hardware decisions.
I bought 4 32x games for 25 cents each in 2007 at my local thrift store, but didn't actually get a 32X until like 2022. 2 of the games were CIB with their original price stickers from Canadian Tire which sold them for $84.99. The 4 games were Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing Deluxe, DOOM and Virtua Fighter. I actually played more of that 32X version of VF1 in the past few years than my Saturn version or the one on the Astro City Mini. Something about the 32X is still just really appealing to my rotting brain.
Come to think of it, I did see a 32X once at a friend's house in elementary school. I don't think he knew what it was and we just played regular genesis games on it. When I asked about it he said it 'fixed' something and I just sort of accepted that answer as I was like 8 years old or so
My cousin had the tower of power. I had internet access at that point so was fully aware that the Saturn was out but we also heard rumours about the Neptune. I hated the PS1 but had just gotten a PC so most of my money went to it at that point. But I remember heading into my local game store (I think it was either Babbage’s, Software Etc, KB Toys’ game spinoff) and was REALLY tempted when they clearanced it all like you said, but I too just couldn’t justify it. It didn’t help that around the same time Commodore went belly up and so my trust in the big players was shaken. (Cuz I really wanted a CD32, but has to settle for an A1200.) And 30 years. Damn. That hurts.
I remember seeing the 32x back in the day but i was saving up for the n64 at the time and when i saw the 32x it was a mess because of all the cords that it had and all the plugs you needed just to play it.
I'm really proud to say I own the PAL 32X here in Australia. Its kinda a rare bird the 32X in PAL. I run it on the Model II Mega Drive with a Krrikzz Everdrive.
I bought a 32x about a month ago. First time ever using one! Shame how expensive they’ve become. It’s a neat system, I appreciate what it is. Still haven’t played anything on it. Nothing really jumps out at me. But nice to have. I’m glad you did not pick 32x over PS1. W childhood Adam. Love these vids!
i finally picked up a 32X four months ago - I have most of SEGA's other systems they put out the west, so I figured I might as well go for broke. Honestly, I really dig the hardware and find some of the games very enjoyable. Admittedly, only 12 games have really interested me enough to warrant significant time investment so far (Space Harrier, Stellar Assault/Shadow Squadron, Virtua Racing Deluxe, Virtua fighter, Kolibri, Mortal Kombat II 32X, Cosmic Carnage, After Burner complete, Star Wars Arcade, Blackthorne and Doom 32X Ressurection!!), but it's been a fun ride. Looking forward to the Saturn video, as it was my first SEGA console and still my favourite.
Man this video made me feel old and that basically I have lived the best first half of my life if I live until 80...Only half left to go and probably the not so fun half!!!
@@AdamKoralik It is what keeps me going. Up to 102 Countries visited now..1 more this month and 9 booked for next year. Great video round-up BTW, just made me realise time goes quickly.
Hello Adam, great recap of the 32x! Although doomed from the start I've always loved the addon, mainly cause seeing it in ads alongside the Sega CD during the 90s have always enticed me. Then in 2002 I had the opportunity to buy the entire Tower of Power for 200 bucks and never regret. I have only 5 games for it and have to agree with you regarding Chaotix as a disappointment. But I love playing some Tempo, Star Wars, Kolibri and the best version of Virtua Racing ever, even today. Regards!
I sold a VG+ CIB copy of Knuckles Chaotix a few years ago for $90 on eBay. I regret that as it sells for a lot more now. I've found that I rarely regret buying something but I frequently regret selling things.
*Its depressing seeing how valuable these consoles & games are today. I got my Dreamcast for Christmas 1999 & I didn't truly appreciate the console so 2 years later the laser burned out so I just packed the console & the 80+ games up & carelessly shoved them into my parents damp shed. Years later I am clearing out the shed & stumble across the Dreamcast & the dozens of games I'd let waste away in a leaky shed. The games were ruined obviously & I checked the value of some of them & it made my eyes water the money I lost out on.*
I watched your 32X video when you did your generation videos. I believe it was a significant contributor for me to pull the trigger (I believe RGT85 as well with him writing a book on it). These both intrigued me to give it a shot & pick one up & I don't regret it. Also, I believe Top Hat Gaming Man started this "Poliginal" word as one of my friend who watches his videis so wanted to correct him & say it's "Poly-Gon-Al!" Anyhow, you're the third person I've heard used the word, the second being St1ka. I think this word needs a place in the Urban Dictionary.
Oh man I posted a 32X vid today also lol, only I had no idea about the 30 years as this was just a random vid 🤷🏼♂️ This was obviously way better though! Hope you’re doing well my friend!
Figure it out!!! I was a 32x kid and while I enjoyed the few games I had on it, it scared me away from the Dreamcast. But, make no mistake, the ability to play Virtua Fighter, Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing at home and it be a decent version was significant for the time.
I love the 32x, i feel Sega dropped the ball rushing the Saturn. I went playstation and avoided the saturn cause they did the genesis 32x dirty. By the way etsy has people selling doom reserection
With Doom 3.1 and Tomb Raider being worked in by geniuses, the 32x, 30 years later is the must have console of 2024! Oh and, yes I remember wanting this because 32 is better 16… is all about the bits, man!!!
Imagine a different timeline where 32x had a stacked 2d capcom arcade library. That, and other top tier i.p where 2d is working at its highest abilities with 3d backgrounds, removing the need to expose how underdeveloped the 3d components of the 32x
Your friend was right, Virtua Racing Deluxe is an awesomely programmed version, far superior to the Genesis cart and more faithful in feel than both the Saturn and PS2 ports. IMO it was the sole reason to hold on to a 32X.
I don't think it was obvious that people would completely ditch their old console when a new generation launched. I can understand the idea of upgrading an existing userbase consisting of millions of systems. The attachment was just too expensive and too cumbersome.
Had there been considerably more time between the 32X and the arrival of the mind-blowing 5th gen, I am pretty sure that gamers would have overlooked both the cost and the cumbersome nature of the add-on just to get their hands on the new polygon goodness, crusty as it may have been. The 32x could deliver experiences that were miles ahead of what the Genesis could do and eventually people would have warmed up to the idea. The #1 problem was that much better polygon pushers were very near on the horizon. Tech was moving too fast for the poor thing to get enough traction.
In the console market, there has never been a truly successful mid-gen upgrade. That remains true to this day. Yet, in the PC market incremental upgrades have always been very successful.
13:40 Don't worry, I had never heard of the Saturn at all when it was an active console. No one I knew owned one and I don't remember seeing it in stores or any ads for it.
Knuckles Chaotix is meh when you try to play it like the 16-bit games, but it gets more fun when you figure out how to repeatedly chuck your partner around and get their momentum to added on to yours to send each other flying around the level. Combat is also more fun when you throw your partner at enemies instead of yourself, since you hold the rings and not your partner and they can act as a one sided shield.
Still got my 32X (along with Sega CD)! Definitely gonna play some Virtua Fighter & Knuckles Chaotix today! (I actually do enjoy both of those games lol.)
Great video. I wish we had an alternative reality where SEGA scrapped the Saturn entirely and instead fully went onboard with 32X. The Saturn was objectively a mess in terms of its hardware with its insane architecture. Hard to work with, and little or nothing to show for it. The standalone 32X meanwhile, had potential. It could produce a generational uplift for an affordable price. That said, I don’t imagine it being able to compete with PS1 or especially N64. Unless if redesigned with CD capability in mind. Technology moved very fast back in early to mid 90s, with lots of dead ends. But perhaps 32X in this reality could carry them over till the Dreamcast, and without the whole 32X vs Saturn disaster, SEGAs reputation would still be okay by then, and Dreamcast would be a greater success.
I love my 32x. I have 2 (for both tower of power setups). I wish we could get modern day games that utilized all the hardware for the genesis and its addons at once
Good video buddy. I remember as a kid we knew of someone with a Saturn, but it was nowhere! Terrible, considering how great it is, especially for imports.
I grew up on the 32x. I had a lot of grandmothers! I am sure it was probably post-markdown. I never knew anybody else who had one! I remember mainly having two games that we played on it: Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 and Knuckles Chaotix. As a huge Sonic fanboy, I got a lot of enjoyment out of Chaotix mostly for the music and art. I have always thought the gameplay stinks.
There are two things the 32X still has 1. Barely any games. 2. More exclusives than the current Xbox and PlayStation combined. Of all the console generations we've had, this sure is one of them. I often wonder how the indie/homebrew scene for this compares to those of the Saturn and Dreamcast, I always wanted to collect all the SEGA systems, but never found, and am still looking for a reason for this one.
If by indie you mean original games, then it's basically non-existent. What we have is ports of existing games like Wolfenstein 3D or enhancements/hacks for games released for the 32X like DOOM.
I think, what SEGA should have done, is make the Saturn be the exact same hardware as the 32X with the Mega CD just built into one unit (maybe give the CD drive faster read speed) and then make the 32X more capable than it was, so we ended up with more like what we know the Saturn to be - or indeed what they had originally intended before they decided to go all in on 3D. If you have a Mega Drive you just buy the add-on and now you can play Saturn games through the CD unit or 32X cartridges, if you don't have a Mega Drive, you just buy the new console which plays all the same games (MD, Mega-CD, 32X and Saturn) just in one machine, that's why the Saturn has the cartridge slot on the back. If only.
32x was the true end of SEGA as a hardware company. People were willing to forgive the floundering SEGA CD as it was a neat risk at the time. But the 32x was beyond the pale.
I remember back in the late nineties seeing Emerson 3DOs for $99.99 at Media Play and $30 or $30 Jaguars and 32X units at KB*Toys. I thought about buying them, but I was still a kid and simply could not afford to and it was usually just the consoles that were plentiful, while the games were scarce. I remember reading an EGM annual buyer's guide to be wary of shady salesmen trying to convince parents of buying the 32X as a cheaper alternative to 32-bit gaming. It's amazing to think that what was once bargain bin rubbish is now valuable treasure. Worst regret looking at the big box Earthbound marked down to $19.99 and thinking that "this game looks stupid."
Love the 32X. I owned just two games with it.. NBA Jam TE and Virtua Racing Deluxe. Played the crap out of both. Have a Genesis again now as an adult. And the only thing that keeps me from getting a 32X again is the clutter of the wires and power plugs. I would probably be interested in the Neptune if it was released. And of course I wish they made more games for it. But to release the 32X and the Saturn so close to each other was not smart. I do think it would have been awesome if the Saturn could play 32x carts.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
This made me realize how long the passage of time felt when you're a kid, versus how quickly it feels now. I was only 11 years old when the 32X came out and of course, 21 when the DS came out. Well I'm 41 now, and to me, the release of the DS feels like only yesterday where as the 32X feels like a lifetime ago. It just doesn't seem like they were only 10 years apart.
I have a complete 32X set and enjoy playing it from time to time.
Mad flex
my dad saw the 32x on clearance at Toys r Us for $20 here in Canada and he bought it not realizing that you also need a Sega Genesis... he bought I think 8 or 9 games on clearance as well that we couldn't play for over a year before we got enough money to buy a Genesis... so my first year with the 32x was basically looking at game covers, game manuals and a VHS tape with a preview from Sega
I got the 32X to play Mortal Kombat II close to arcade perfect as possible in this generation. Improved visuals, smoother animations, arcade voice samples, all characters including reptile. And the use of the 6-button controller is beneficial. Just a joy to play.
Same. I ended up going back to the SNES version though.
Refresh Retrospective
Sega 32X is 30 Years Old.
Nintendo DS is 20 Years Old
Wow has time flown by
30 years later they're going to release Neptune in Brazil while technically 2025 it's going to be released
I think the most interesting part of this being the 30th anniversary of the 32X and the 20th anniversary of the DS is just to see the leap in technology between the two in 10 years. Impressive to look back on
I wanted one so much as a kid. Luckily I read game magazines monthly. And soon I knew about the Sega Saturn, and forget about the 32x.
So was I 😂
@knephsabir3245 we dodged a bullet. XD
@@itsasecrettoeverybody we dodged one of those big Mario bros bullets.
The 32X was for most of us, because nobody had parents that were going to drop $400 on a Saturn back in 1995.
Tom Kalinske was an underrated genius imho. Thank you for helping me pass the time while I wait in line for the 30th anniversary ps5. 👍32x and PS…. What a weird anniversary.
Doom Resurrection 32x is out. It's a port based on the Jaguar version of the game. You're supposed to use a flashcart to play it.
It looks very good. Must get it
They also have releases the CD32x port! It's awesome
Adam I love how you break down everything down to hardware and software in your videos. It’s amazing to me that your channel ain’t bigger considering I’ve been watching your videos for years.
Appreciated!
When I first played virtual racer, it was blocky in but it handled so beautifully and very smooth experience
Doom CD32X Fusion is a revelatory experience. I highly recommend checking it out. Earlier in the week, I was sitting in amazement at how well Doom runs on OG Sega hardware and was overcome with immense gratitude for the retro gaming community. It includes Ultimate Doom, Doom II, Resurrection, and some Evilution. Super excited to see what else can be done by utilizing the Tower of Power.
Oh man, I remember the markdowns at K B Toy Store! I still remember seeing the large boxed Earthbounds, Atari Jaguars, and Virtual Boys, alongside the 32Xs for $20-$40. I always wanted to pick those up, but I was too stingy with my cash, and I knew the N64 was on the horizon. I never did, and now I regret it due to the insane mark ups in today's market.
Love the series and channel Adam ❤
I’m old so I remember the 32x as a kid. 😂😂
Never owned the attachment nor did I know any kids back then who did. Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were good enough for me.
Some say it was the greatest video game add-on of all time... maybe... I mean at least one person at one point in time may have said that.
Doom is prolly my favorite game on the 32X
I remember seeing a 32X at KB Toys for $9.99 for over a year! Go figure, the day I decide to buy it, it was gone 🤦🏻♂️
IF SEGA truly supported the 32X, different outcome entirely.
@@jmcclain8237 Supposedly Daytona USA was 80% complete on 32x before it failed
@Haywood-Jablomie It would have been so awesome if it were an arcade powerhouse.
The 32x and the Saturn failing in the america and europe nearly at the same time was probably the biggest reason why Sega started to port their games to Windows 95.
@@AlexxHikaru Saturn was never going to be better or beat ps One of the reasons why Saturn didn't work PlayStation has better games
@@jahdorose8659had nothing to do with games. Adjusted for inflation the Saturn at launch was nearly $1,000. Video games were just a niche hobby in the 90’s and no one was paying anywhere near that or what Nintendo wanted for the N64 for a video game system.
PlayStation won over consumers by costing the same as the Genesis and SNES was at launch. If it was about games the N64 wouldn’t have been nintendos worst selling system.
I had the complete opposite experience than you did, Adam. When I was in grade school in the mid-90s, I knew about the Sega Saturn. Heck, I remember that my mall’s Sears and GameStop had them for sale and on display to demo. I think that is where I got to play Nights into Dreams for the first time.
As far as the 32X, I had no idea about its existence until learning about it from the Sonic Mega Collection on GameCube.
On a personal side note: I initially wanted to get a Sega Saturn, but all of that changed when some of my friends got N64 consoles and I got to play Super Mario 64 and Goldeneye.
Adam I still can't believe you didn't know about the Sega Saturn until after you owned the Dreamcast. How does that even happen? You never saw the Saturn name in a magazine or seen it on a store shelf from 95-99+? Such a great console...picked up one in 98 or so for $50 at Toy's R Us...came with the 3 pack of games too. Loved it then and really love it now as a retro console, my favorite, even more than the Dreamcast. DC is a close 2nd.
I got into retro collecting in middle school over 10 years ago when I go a genesis and to me I had never heard of the concept of add ons but as a kid I absolutely loved the idea of the 32x and had to get one right away and I love it but wish it could’ve gotten more solid titles
The 32X is the TH-cam Rewind 2018 of Sega Consoles.
Don’t remind us of that
Almost - except some people liked the 32X. I mean at least had some decent content. Unlike Rewind 2018, which was 100% cringe.
You could make the argument for the Saturn as well considering the treasure trove of games our Japanese counter part got.
When the 32X came out, I was a poor college student who just wanted to play Doom. In 1994, getting a PC was very expensive, so my choices were a 32X or a Jaguar. 32X was my choice because it had more games that I wanted than Jaguar did, and it was considerably cheaper to get it as the pack-in game. It was well worth it. I wound up getting Space Harrier, Blackthorne, and Virtua Fighter (which I did like). I just rented the rest of the games. Unfortunately, nothing on the Sega 32X looked or sounded as good as Donkey Kong Country did on the SNES.
Funny tidbit to share with you guys:
I was sitting in a quiet college lobby watching this video. When I got to 15:45 I laughed out loud, but I happened to have gas and as I was laughing, I farted. I'm pretty sure other people in here heard it. XD
Another funny tidbit more related to the video:
My first experience with the 32X was at my friend's vacation lake cabin in Massachusetts. We were up there for the weekend, and he happened to have a Sega Genesis with a 32X, but he didn't know if it still worked (this was circa 2001-ish). At this point, I already sorta knew about the 32X, and I knew you needed to plug in that loopback cable. So, I hooked it up for him, we turned it on, and it was fully functional! I remember seeing the graphics for Metalhead and thinking "Holy crap, this is pretty awesome for a Sega Genesis game! :D". It was pretty mindblowing to see the Sega Genesis/32X combo graphics for the first time, with the advanced color palette and everything.
wow it’s been 20 years! I was there day 1! I remember taking the bus and going to buy one at the now defunct Canadian retailer “Consumers Distributing”. I was 16 at the time (yup I’m 46 now). The three games I bought immediately was Virtua Racing, Doom, and Star Wars Arcade! You know I have good memories of that time. All three of those launch games were good!
I know people like to make fun of the design of the 32X and call it a "mushroom cloud" but I actually kind of like it. It's super small and doesn't really take up a lot of room unlike the Sega CD.
I'd definitely like to get my hands on a 32x one day, it's just not something I'm actively looking for. The scene around it getting more busy is making me want one more though
I really like Knuckles Chaotix and it should get remastered on newer platforms, I believe Christian Whitehead said he wanted to remake it! Adam is that a after market adapter for the 32X with the CDX?
Cannot wait for your Saturn video! I was lucky to grab a model 1 Saturn right before COVID and the prices for consoles and especially games skyrocketed even more!
bought it at kmart for $80 with paperroute money. Loved it. Loved virtua racing, fighter. loved doom. Loved star wars. system taught me cable management. Sold it in 07 (in box) bought another during the pandemic (needs work but came with everything).
As a kid back then when I saw the 32x I wanted one but parents couldn’t get me one then but I remember thinking at time for me I saw the games coming for the 32x like Doom and Star Wars , Virtual racing which was cool but I also wanted more arcade games like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo to come to the 32x I dreaming of good arcade port of SSF2T on 32x and other arcade games such as Alien Vs Predator , Dungeon and Dragons , and Sega Rally for me Sega should have focused on good arcade games with extra content added to it and also a few more exclusive games like the Doom and Star Wars etc , but not rushing them out like Doom with missing content Sega should of delayed it made sure it had all of the levels that were cut out and if possible cause of the delay add extra content to it cause of the delayed showing to us loyal Sega customers if u wait we Sega make sure the game will be decent good packed with extra content but it’s easy to this all now in hindsight but as I was saying earlier for I wanted good decent arcade ports just like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo playing this in the arcade every day playing with Akuma pulling off super turbo combo moves the super meter added plus Akuma SSF2T was popping off in arcades here in Australia me and my cousin along with friends went to arcades every week end nearly all the time to play SSF2T , A vs P , Dungeon & Dragons , Sega Rally, we spent money on arcades theses were the days some great memories so yeah I remember with the guys we always spoke of hey we all wanted a good SSF2T to come to the Mega Drive Sega gave us SSF2 which played really great but the music was a big let down especially when got SF2 Champion Edition which played great and the music was better than the SNES and this is my opion only I felt it was closer to the arcade music and for the mega drive lacking the voices I always felt CapCom did us Sega FanBoys dirty with mega drive SF2CE and SSF2T CapCom could have done so much better but who knows maybe because of Nintendo squeezing CapCom balls for example look at one or two Konami games for MD/Gen like Rocket Night Adventures and Castlevania Bloodlines Konami did good with theses two yeah I know going off topic so as I was saying for me and my friends if the 32x had games like SSF2T with extra content that the arcade didn’t have like extra custom character , extra tag mode only for the 32x for Aliens vs Predator extra content like extra character , extra levels with multi paths and multiple endings we would bug parents even harder do all the chors and star working after school and week ends to try get the 32x but one more thing I also wished back then too was Sega did some more with its lock on tech like the cartridge they used for Sonic and Kunckles plus the SVP chip but who am I to say as I knew nothing about tech.
Great video Adam, but I've got to admit that I'm much more excited for tomorrow's video on the Sega Saturn. The Saturn and the N64 are tied as my favorite consoles of all time since I have so much nostalgia for both systems.
Thank you for this, I've always appreciated the technology and have always had a soft spot for the mighty 32X since launch.
I’m looking forward to all the recent stuff coming out for 32x like the Doom Ressurection and the Neptune coming from Brazil which pretty cool I think they said that they might do new 32x games that would be awesome if they get talented people like Rheo Gamer from Brazil that did a port of Neo Geo game RealBout Fatal Fury for the less powered console mega drive / genesis which is really great just missing some things but man this good stuff Brazil got some really talented people that could give us great new 32x game and I’m all for it I want to see what the 32x can really do I would definitely buy the games
I've had a small handful of 32X games for years and have yet to play any of them. Not because I don't want to but because I still haven't gotten ahold of a working 32X. And with what they're costing now, I just don't want to risk it. I keep hoping for an Analogue 32X which I would buy immediately, but I kinda doubt that's gonna happen.
Really? The 32X is pretty reliable. I've never seen one fail.
You can get a polymega and play all your 32 carts off that with a megadrive/genesis module
@@AdamKoralik They do, I have a broken one that needs caps and/or a power regulator replacement
@@gregjarvis1232 I may have to look into that.
It's sad to see the insanity of price hiking the 32x has had in the last 2 years, absolutely disgusting.
I'm not the biggest Star Trek fan, but I absolutely loved that Star Trek game on the Sega 32X. I actually ended up spending more time playing the pool mini-game in the lounge quarters than anything else! I got my " Spider-Man "Web of Fire" from someone who found it in a bargain bin, and the receipt was dated 1997 and on sale for just $4.99. What a steal!
Hell yeah man!! Keep these series going!
The new homebrews of Doom for the 32x are crazy
The sega CD was kinda that "stopgap" console already, it's really mind boggling that they would release a second one, they should have just commited more on the sega CD.
Yes and no, history has recontextualized those platforms.
Technology was moving way too fast in the 90's and SEGA, feeling an inferiority complex from Nintendo's powerful IP, felt they had to dive in head first into whatever the latest and greatest tech was, even if those were bad long-tern moves. I bet some at SEGA even knew it. Nintendo, on the other hand, being top dog, could afford to sit back and make more reasoned hardware decisions.
I bought 4 32x games for 25 cents each in 2007 at my local thrift store, but didn't actually get a 32X until like 2022. 2 of the games were CIB with their original price stickers from Canadian Tire which sold them for $84.99. The 4 games were Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing Deluxe, DOOM and Virtua Fighter. I actually played more of that 32X version of VF1 in the past few years than my Saturn version or the one on the Astro City Mini. Something about the 32X is still just really appealing to my rotting brain.
Come to think of it, I did see a 32X once at a friend's house in elementary school. I don't think he knew what it was and we just played regular genesis games on it. When I asked about it he said it 'fixed' something and I just sort of accepted that answer as I was like 8 years old or so
My cousin had the tower of power. I had internet access at that point so was fully aware that the Saturn was out but we also heard rumours about the Neptune. I hated the PS1 but had just gotten a PC so most of my money went to it at that point. But I remember heading into my local game store (I think it was either Babbage’s, Software Etc, KB Toys’ game spinoff) and was REALLY tempted when they clearanced it all like you said, but I too just couldn’t justify it.
It didn’t help that around the same time Commodore went belly up and so my trust in the big players was shaken. (Cuz I really wanted a CD32, but has to settle for an A1200.)
And 30 years. Damn. That hurts.
I remember seeing the 32x back in the day but i was saving up for the n64 at the time and when i saw the 32x it was a mess because of all the cords that it had and all the plugs you needed just to play it.
I'll never forget my grandma buying me Star Wars for 32x and I sat there forever trying to jam it into my Genesis cartridge slot
Adam koralik i think your one of the nicest human beings on earth .i thank the higher source of power for fellows like yourself😊😊
I'm really proud to say I own the PAL 32X here in Australia. Its kinda a rare bird the 32X in PAL. I run it on the Model II Mega Drive with a Krrikzz Everdrive.
I bought a 32x about a month ago. First time ever using one! Shame how expensive they’ve become. It’s a neat system, I appreciate what it is. Still haven’t played anything on it. Nothing really jumps out at me. But nice to have. I’m glad you did not pick 32x over PS1. W childhood Adam. Love these vids!
i finally picked up a 32X four months ago - I have most of SEGA's other systems they put out the west, so I figured I might as well go for broke. Honestly, I really dig the hardware and find some of the games very enjoyable.
Admittedly, only 12 games have really interested me enough to warrant significant time investment so far (Space Harrier, Stellar Assault/Shadow Squadron, Virtua Racing Deluxe, Virtua fighter, Kolibri, Mortal Kombat II 32X, Cosmic Carnage, After Burner complete, Star Wars Arcade, Blackthorne and Doom 32X Ressurection!!), but it's been a fun ride.
Looking forward to the Saturn video, as it was my first SEGA console and still my favourite.
Lol. Your face when you point out they came out the same day. I could hear the losing horn from The Price is Right.
Man this video made me feel old and that basically I have lived the best first half of my life if I live until 80...Only half left to go and probably the not so fun half!!!
You travel, you're already doing better than like 98% of everyone else in the human experience.
@@AdamKoralik It is what keeps me going. Up to 102 Countries visited now..1 more this month and 9 booked for next year.
Great video round-up BTW, just made me realise time goes quickly.
@Whenitraveltheworld You do watch my travel channel right?
Hello Adam, great recap of the 32x! Although doomed from the start I've always loved the addon, mainly cause seeing it in ads alongside the Sega CD during the 90s have always enticed me. Then in 2002 I had the opportunity to buy the entire Tower of Power for 200 bucks and never regret. I have only 5 games for it and have to agree with you regarding Chaotix as a disappointment. But I love playing some Tempo, Star Wars, Kolibri and the best version of Virtua Racing ever, even today. Regards!
I Dont Collect For The 32X But Maybe One Day LOL
I only ever wanted the 32X for Knuckles Chaotix & yeah, I'm glad I decided to try the game on emulator, because man that game is unpleasant to play.
I sold a VG+ CIB copy of Knuckles Chaotix a few years ago for $90 on eBay. I regret that as it sells for a lot more now. I've found that I rarely regret buying something but I frequently regret selling things.
Fascinating retrospective on the console. I've learnt a fair bit and enjoyed hearing your personal experiences with the 32X. Thanks for the video!
*Its depressing seeing how valuable these consoles & games are today. I got my Dreamcast for Christmas 1999 & I didn't truly appreciate the console so 2 years later the laser burned out so I just packed the console & the 80+ games up & carelessly shoved them into my parents damp shed. Years later I am clearing out the shed & stumble across the Dreamcast & the dozens of games I'd let waste away in a leaky shed. The games were ruined obviously & I checked the value of some of them & it made my eyes water the money I lost out on.*
I watched your 32X video when you did your generation videos. I believe it was a significant contributor for me to pull the trigger (I believe RGT85 as well with him writing a book on it). These both intrigued me to give it a shot & pick one up & I don't regret it.
Also, I believe Top Hat Gaming Man started this "Poliginal" word as one of my friend who watches his videis so wanted to correct him & say it's "Poly-Gon-Al!"
Anyhow, you're the third person I've heard used the word, the second being St1ka.
I think this word needs a place in the Urban Dictionary.
Oh man I posted a 32X vid today also lol, only I had no idea about the 30 years as this was just a random vid 🤷🏼♂️
This was obviously way better though! Hope you’re doing well my friend!
Man I love the box art for the games.
Figure it out!!! I was a 32x kid and while I enjoyed the few games I had on it, it scared me away from the Dreamcast. But, make no mistake, the ability to play Virtua Fighter, Star Wars Arcade, Virtua Racing at home and it be a decent version was significant for the time.
Adam your so funny dude. You always cheer me up and I love for that. Big sega love all who watch this channel
I love the 32x, i feel Sega dropped the ball rushing the Saturn. I went playstation and avoided the saturn cause they did the genesis 32x dirty. By the way etsy has people selling doom reserection
With Doom 3.1 and Tomb Raider being worked in by geniuses, the 32x, 30 years later is the must have console of 2024! Oh and, yes I remember wanting this because 32 is better 16… is all about the bits, man!!!
Imagine a different timeline where 32x had a stacked 2d capcom arcade library. That, and other top tier i.p where 2d is working at its highest abilities with 3d backgrounds, removing the need to expose how underdeveloped the 3d components of the 32x
“If you look back on it now it seems like it was a terrible idea … because it was.” 😂
Your friend was right, Virtua Racing Deluxe is an awesomely programmed version, far superior to the Genesis cart and more faithful in feel than both the Saturn and PS2 ports. IMO it was the sole reason to hold on to a 32X.
I don't think it was obvious that people would completely ditch their old console when a new generation launched. I can understand the idea of upgrading an existing userbase consisting of millions of systems. The attachment was just too expensive and too cumbersome.
Had there been considerably more time between the 32X and the arrival of the mind-blowing 5th gen, I am pretty sure that gamers would have overlooked both the cost and the cumbersome nature of the add-on just to get their hands on the new polygon goodness, crusty as it may have been. The 32x could deliver experiences that were miles ahead of what the Genesis could do and eventually people would have warmed up to the idea. The #1 problem was that much better polygon pushers were very near on the horizon. Tech was moving too fast for the poor thing to get enough traction.
In the console market, there has never been a truly successful mid-gen upgrade. That remains true to this day. Yet, in the PC market incremental upgrades have always been very successful.
13:40 Don't worry, I had never heard of the Saturn at all when it was an active console. No one I knew owned one and I don't remember seeing it in stores or any ads for it.
I remember it being one of the prizes in the original McDonalds Monopoly.
Woooooooooooo Sega Saturn Video tomorrow!
They got stupidly expensive, hopefully can get one soon. I got doom on 32x just chilling in my closet. 😂
32X time with Adam
I never known there was a sega saturn until like 10 years ago because of you 😂
Wait, they panicked over the Jaguar…? Wow… At least we got Cosmic Carnage for Mark of CGR in the end.
And it's the 30th anniversary of Donkey Kong country
Knuckles Chaotix is meh when you try to play it like the 16-bit games, but it gets more fun when you figure out how to repeatedly chuck your partner around and get their momentum to added on to yours to send each other flying around the level. Combat is also more fun when you throw your partner at enemies instead of yourself, since you hold the rings and not your partner and they can act as a one sided shield.
Still got my 32X (along with Sega CD)! Definitely gonna play some Virtua Fighter & Knuckles Chaotix today!
(I actually do enjoy both of those games lol.)
Thank you for making this Adam, I've been wanting to start collection more games for the 32X, as well as get the console soon.
This is one piece of sega hardware I never played or saw in my life but I think it’s story is kind of interesting
You've got an SG-1000? Pico? Beena?
Oh man you got me on that one, the super obscure stuff… I just remember the genesis and sega cd but nobody had a 32x
Polygonal is indeed a real word, and your initial pronunciation was correct.
Surprised we haven't seen a Sega 32X Mini yet with the 34 games included.
Great video. I wish we had an alternative reality where SEGA scrapped the Saturn entirely and instead fully went onboard with 32X.
The Saturn was objectively a mess in terms of its hardware with its insane architecture. Hard to work with, and little or nothing to show for it.
The standalone 32X meanwhile, had potential. It could produce a generational uplift for an affordable price. That said, I don’t imagine it being able to compete with PS1 or especially N64. Unless if redesigned with CD capability in mind. Technology moved very fast back in early to mid 90s, with lots of dead ends. But perhaps 32X in this reality could carry them over till the Dreamcast, and without the whole 32X vs Saturn disaster, SEGAs reputation would still be okay by then, and Dreamcast would be a greater success.
You seen bloodsport 1988. Bloodsport became a huge inspiration for 1992 mortal kombat
I love my 32x. I have 2 (for both tower of power setups). I wish we could get modern day games that utilized all the hardware for the genesis and its addons at once
Good video buddy. I remember as a kid we knew of someone with a Saturn, but it was nowhere! Terrible, considering how great it is, especially for imports.
I grew up on the 32x. I had a lot of grandmothers! I am sure it was probably post-markdown. I never knew anybody else who had one! I remember mainly having two games that we played on it: Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 and Knuckles Chaotix. As a huge Sonic fanboy, I got a lot of enjoyment out of Chaotix mostly for the music and art. I have always thought the gameplay stinks.
I'd really love to have one of these, but they prices for the 32X alone are insane over here.
Ha! I’m older than the 32x, but just barely. Never had any Sega systems in the house growing up, though
There are two things the 32X still has
1. Barely any games.
2. More exclusives than the current Xbox and PlayStation combined. Of all the console generations we've had, this sure is one of them.
I often wonder how the indie/homebrew scene for this compares to those of the Saturn and Dreamcast, I always wanted to collect all the SEGA systems, but never found, and am still looking for a reason for this one.
If by indie you mean original games, then it's basically non-existent. What we have is ports of existing games like Wolfenstein 3D or enhancements/hacks for games released for the 32X like DOOM.
I think, what SEGA should have done, is make the Saturn be the exact same hardware as the 32X with the Mega CD just built into one unit (maybe give the CD drive faster read speed) and then make the 32X more capable than it was, so we ended up with more like what we know the Saturn to be - or indeed what they had originally intended before they decided to go all in on 3D. If you have a Mega Drive you just buy the add-on and now you can play Saturn games through the CD unit or 32X cartridges, if you don't have a Mega Drive, you just buy the new console which plays all the same games (MD, Mega-CD, 32X and Saturn) just in one machine, that's why the Saturn has the cartridge slot on the back. If only.
Happy holidays🎉
I never had a 32x but as a sonic fan I’m annoyed they never re released knuckles chaotix for whatever reason. Also nice shirt!
Never had a 32x (gen z) but thanks for the awesome video my guy ❤
32x was the true end of SEGA as a hardware company. People were willing to forgive the floundering SEGA CD as it was a neat risk at the time. But the 32x was beyond the pale.
I remember back in the late nineties seeing Emerson 3DOs for $99.99 at Media Play and $30 or $30 Jaguars and 32X units at KB*Toys. I thought about buying them, but I was still a kid and simply could not afford to and it was usually just the consoles that were plentiful, while the games were scarce. I remember reading an EGM annual buyer's guide to be wary of shady salesmen trying to convince parents of buying the 32X as a cheaper alternative to 32-bit gaming. It's amazing to think that what was once bargain bin rubbish is now valuable treasure. Worst regret looking at the big box Earthbound marked down to $19.99 and thinking that "this game looks stupid."
Love the 32X. I owned just two games with it.. NBA Jam TE and Virtua Racing Deluxe. Played the crap out of both.
Have a Genesis again now as an adult. And the only thing that keeps me from getting a 32X again is the clutter of the wires and power plugs.
I would probably be interested in the Neptune if it was released. And of course I wish they made more games for it.
But to release the 32X and the Saturn so close to each other was not smart. I do think it would have been awesome if the Saturn could play 32x carts.