Forgotten Worlds (World) (v1.1)

Forgotten Worlds is a side-scrolling shooter that originally hit arcades in 1988 before landing on home consoles. This version, labeled v1.1, is a later revision of the SEGA Genesis port. The game was developed by Capcom and published by Sega for the Genesis, bringing its arcade action to a wider audience in the early 1990s. If you've played the coin-op original, you'll find this port familiar, though it had to adapt to the hardware limitations of 16-bit consoles.

The player controls a soldier equipped with a rapid-fire gun that can be rotated in eight directions using the D-pad. You fly through horizontally scrolling levels, blasting endless waves of enemies and dodging their projectiles. Power-ups drop from destroyed foes and let you upgrade your weapon, add homing missiles, or increase your speed. A unique mechanic is the ability to spend collected zenny (money) at shops that appear between stages to buy better guns, shields, or extra lives. The game supports two-player simultaneous co-op, which is essential for surviving the later, more chaotic levels.

Today, Forgotten Worlds is a solid pick for fans of old-school shooters who want something a bit more strategic than pure run-and-gun. The currency system adds a layer of decision-making that many contemporaries lack. It's not the deepest port on the Genesis - the graphics and sound are good but not showstoppers - yet it remains a fun, challenging experience if you can look past the occasional slowdown. If you enjoy games like Ghouls 'n Ghosts (also Capcom) but prefer a sci-fi setting, this is worth a few credits.