Awesome Possum (USA) (Beta)

Awesome Possum (USA) (Beta) is a SEGA Genesis platformer from the early 1990s that was never fully released in its intended form. This build is a beta, meaning it contains unfinished elements and likely differs from the final commercial version that eventually hit shelves. The game was developed and published by Tengen, though exact dates for the beta remain unclear. It fits squarely into the Genesis library as one of the many Sonic-inspired titles that flooded the system after the blue blur's success, but with an unusual educational twist centered on environmental awareness.

What you actually do in Awesome Possum is guide the titular possum through side-scrolling levels, running and jumping much like in Sonic the Hedgehog. The core objective revolves around collecting litter and other pollution items while avoiding enemies and hazards. The TRUSTED catalog summary confirms it's a Sonic-esque platformer that focuses on environmental issues, so expect standard platforming mechanics with a conservation theme. Power-ups and speed boosts appear, but the beta may lack some polish or level layouts present in the finished game. It plays like a typical Genesis action-platformer of the era.

Today, this beta is worth checking out if you're a collector or curious about prototype builds of familiar titles. It's not a masterpiece - reviews of the final game were mixed due to its derivative nature and simple gameplay - but as a historical artifact, it shows how developers tried to combine fast platforming with an educational message. Compared to other Genesis platformers, it's a niche curiosity rather than a must-play, but for fans of lost media and early 90s design, it offers a brief peek behind the curtain.