I watched this video in 2012, when I was 12. I'm now 21 and am a proud owner of a working Model 1 Sega CD and Sega 32X. Thank you for getting me into game collecting, Mark. I'll miss the old days. :'-)
The 32x didn't fail because the console itself was bad. It failed because Sega was at war with itself. Sega of America made and pushed the 32x while Sega of Japan put out the Saturn and ordered the 32x discontinued. Sega had also released and discontinued the Sega CD shortly before, so as you might imagine people were sick of buying Sega's crap only to have support for it pulled shortly after. If Sega had waited to release the Saturn and shown the 32x proper support, or better yet released the 32x as is own console like originally planned the system wouldn't have failed as badly. Instead they trolled their fanbase one to many times and ended up destroying themselves.
+exorphitus Or Sega could have just waited to release the Saturn and not make an add-on for an aging console that was going to be last gen anyways by the time the Saturn actually came out. Sega really shot themselves in the foot with those Genesis add-ons (Sega CD and 32X. Especially with the 32X.). The 32X was ill-convinced right from the start. What where they thinking? They might have been better off hyping the Saturn before it came out and releasing more games for the Genesis in the meantime.
exorphitus I can confirm this. I worked for one of the largest wholesale distributors at the time and we had meetings with Sega US in which there were also Sega Japan reps. These guys seemed to hate each other! The translators where always embarrassed.
If you don't have the cable to connect the 32x to the Genesis, you could do a quick and dirty hack that I did when the cable for mine broke; Just grab some wire, and connect a wire to each hole on the 32x's AV in, then you just connect the other ends on the wires to the same holes on the Genesis, then you tape the mess of wires together. Tada! Now you can play Truxton, eventhough it doesn't require the 32x.
My friend had rented one back in 1996. We played star wars arcade, Virtua fighter, doom, and great arcade ports of after burner and space harrier. I forgot it also had good ports of NBA jam tournament edition and WWF wrestlemania the arcade game.
You are missing a couple of metal pieces that are supposed to go into the console flaps. They were to touch something inside the genesis, and that's why there are connectors at the front (and back?) of the 32x.
I remember the year these came out... Within 6 months the 32X, Sega CD, and all related accessories were in the 75% off bin (actually it was more of a wall because our store had bought a lot of that stuff.) Interesting enough they were sharing the clearance bin with all the Nintendo Virtual Boys.
Noah Lipsey Eduardo Garduño Also doesn't help that AVGN is a character :) Never owned a 32x myself... would be nice to pick up along with a Nintendo Virtual Boy.
Haha Virtual Boy is so terrible though! That's bad for the console itself. The only reason 32X is "bad" is because of marketing and the multiple wires. But it's got great games, like Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri, After Burner, Space Harrier, Virtua Fighter, etc.
After Burner... I'm in. The Virtual Boy probably isn't all that good but some off the stuff looks interesting :D Would probably cause bleeding from the mind BUT... for a bargain bin price I wouldn't complain :p
Noah Lipsey The 32X is garbage. The Sega CD is worth owning yes, because it had a lot of great games for it and compliments the Genesis's design very well if you have the right models. In that regard it's like the Famicom Disk System. But the 32X looks horrible, possibly the ugliest console of all time. AVGN said it best, it looks like a tumor. If I ever used it at all, I'd want to take it out immediately after I was done playing. But I can't do that, because it runs off its own damn power adapter. And as for the games...only 34 titles were released for it, only a few worth playing. Knuckles Chaotix and Kolibri are ok, but everything else you mentioned are arcade ports. Good ports yes, but ports nonetheless and today there exist better ports on better systems like the Saturn. The only port for it that's better than any other console release that I know of is Mortal Kombat II.
Here's an interesting (or not) bit of video game info... The Atari 7800 had a planned add-on such as this. The Atari 7800 XM homebrew project drew it's inspiration from the original design. Of course, all the grandiose plans, for the Atari 7800, we're squashed once Atari changed hands from Warner Communications to Jack Tramiel.
Yes you can do that and someone on Sega 16 is making a Wolfenstein port for the 32X as we speak. The limit of adressable cartrige space on a 32X is the same as a Genesis. 4MB however using bank switching, meaning going from 1 ROM chip to another, you can theoretically make a game infinate in size.
If I remember correctly you don't need both the 32X AV cable and the 32X conversion cable. The conversion cable should be so you can just use the AV or RFU from the Genesis. That Conversion cable is to Daisy chain the 32X with the Genesis for the Video input from the Genesis, but if you use the AV or RFU from the genesis you shouldn't need that 32X AV cable. I think, this was 25-27 years ago, my memory may be a bit off. :)
It would've been great if Sega released the 32X as a separate console instead of an add-on (as they were originally going to), but no, they decided to release it as an add-on.
Retro Gaming Cables in the UK sell a variety of brand new cables, not official Sega cables of course, but they're made to a very high standard in the UK, and not China or some big factory for 30 cents a piece. Well worth it! Make sure if you have an NTSC Model 1 Genesis (not a Mega Drive) you choose the "V/U" shaped 8 pin plug, and not the C shaped one. The benefit of these cables is that you don't need the adapter cable on the end of the 9 pin mini din cable for the Model 2 Genesis/Mega Drive. Less clutter, less mess. I think there's a stereo audio cable available too, just to give better results.
I just picked up a 32X yesterday and it turns out that AVGN was right about it damaging Genesis games. I played Sonic 2 on the 32X for 5 minutes and it just stopped working! It wouldn't even work on the Genesis with the 32X disconnected!
I've got a 32X, but I've only got 6 games for it. However, I like the 32X. It's not the greatest system ever made, but it has some fun games on it. Definitely worth it if you're a collector or are curious. My 32X however, doesn't have the connector for the original Genesis model, but I do have the part of the wire that works on the Genesis 2.
In the UK, a good 32x costs about £80 ($133) and Knuckles Chaotix in good condition about £200 !! A bit extreme in the thought you can just emulate it for free.
I got myself a 32X from a pawn shop, today. Unfortunately, they only had Doom for the 32X. So, I went and got Doom for my first 32X game.The 32X doesn't seem to be a bad addon, if you don't mind the extra wires and extra adapter.
Yes, all Sega 32Xs and Sega CDs are compatible with all Sega Genesi. However, you need a special additional cable to use the 32X on a model 1 Sega Genesis.
@Bassboostz It'll work on the Model 1 if you also get a Conversion Cable, which is expensive as Hell; It'll work on the Model 2 if you get some sort of spacer (Not sure about the name), no need to get the Convertion Cable; It'll work on a CDX; It'll not work on the Genesis Model 3.
The reason why that extra video cable was required, was because the Genesis video display processor couldn't output the additional colours needed for the 32x. Everything would've had to be filtered through the Genesis, limiting it to 64 on-screen colours out of 512. That cable bypassed this issue. This is also the reason why the Sega CD was limited to the same palette as the Genesis. But as for games... check out Afterburner and Space Harrier, both faithful ports of arcade classics.
Awesome! I had my Sega with 32x and Sega CD back in the day! I was talking with some of my friends about it and they didn't even remember these existed. Thanks for proving me right
@Ketorulz No thumbs down, but that statement was almost completely wrong. The 32X has 2 SH-2 processors at 23Mhz with 32-bit instruction sets. It did add RAM, but not enough. It added 256kb to the Genesis 64kb, and had two 128kb framebuffers, which went mostly un-used. In other words, it was pretty much its own console, just borrowed parts off of the Genesis.
@MrAzazel666 - No, not the spacer. The expansion piece that plugs in the side of the Genesis, in the part that would normally plug into the SEGA CD. What was THAT for?
I'm not very well informed about the inside-workings of a 32x, but since it turns a 16-bit console into a 32-bit one, i strongly assume there's at least one additional processor in there, and that you have to connect the 32x and the genesis with an additional cable means it has to have its own video output or some kind of output that cannot be received by the genesis through the cartridge slot, all aspects that dont apply to a game genie
Going retro with the old genesis model 1 sounds fun, but it's more wires and complication than just getting it with the Genesis 2. Especially if you do the connection with the Sega CD as well. You'll need a mixing cable which is expensive to find. You'll need the Gen Model 1 cable adapter which is also hard to find. And then, the sound also doesn't come out of the 32X games unless you have stereo output from the SEGA CD and the mixing cable in place. Go with model 2. 3 power adapters.
I bought one of these from a guy on Craigslist for $10. Didn't come with the cable but I later found it at Play N Trade for $8 and tested it with a copy of Doom. Worked :D
This is also true. You're right on the ball. I hope there's some more people out there that also notice this, too. People even say the Genesis is bad because of the 32x/Sega CD! What an outrage! They probably don't own
Wait...you're running it without the grounding pieces in the Genesis cartidge slot? Also, no mention of the spacer that goes under it, which is a different height between the Genesis 1 and 2 models?
Joseph Bertini The prongs aren't needed, but from my experience with the system growing up (as I eventually somehow lost the prongs), not having them messes with the colors in both Genesis and 32x games. The games still run fine, but the colors are all screwed up, either becoming dim and dull or just changing to completely different colors entirely.
I remember when I was a kid, and I got one of these for my Birthday. We went to Kay-Bee Toys, and Picked it up with Doom. I was really excited, but when I got home it wouldn't work. I was also using a Genesis 1. Took it back about 3 times before I got one that would work right. But still had problems with the games sometimes. I have bad memories with this addon. But good video!
love love loved Star Wars Arcade and Doom as a kid with my 32x. Was so sad when it failed. Wait did he not show the metal clips? Did he just straight plug it in? Were there 32x's that didn't need the metal clips? I'm jealous if so
there was mean to be a Sega Neptune Console which is a genesis and a 32X built into one console, but soon got scraped afterwards due to the release of the sega saturn. u can check at wiki for it which shows the prototype console as well
I used to watch CGR videos when I was at home sick from school. Now 14 years later I decided to revisit as I'm home sick from work with a nasty case of Norovirus, and I'm honestly feeling better already(-:
You think THIS is bad? For crimbo I got a new Headset for my 360, and that had 1. A wire which goes into the controller 2. a USB port which goes into the Xbox 3. An extender for that because it was no-where near long enough 4. A wire that goes into the TV and 5. An identical, save for colour, wire, which also goes into the TV, with no indication of which goes where, and eventually gotten to work by pure luck. By comparison, the 32X has 3 wires, one of which is very short and all are very simple.
You can get lucky. I found a unit alone from a guy who couldn't test it for about 10 on eBay. Then I used my game gear power cord and found a 9 pin mini-din cable for sale on the net and I was able to patch together a working 32x for under 25 bucks (I already had the game gear power adapter and a 2nd generation Genesis. If you have a 1st gen, it's a whole different story).
Get Knuckles Chaotix, it's definitely worth it. I've emulated it, but nothing is more satisfying knowing you've connected "everything" and got it working on your TV.
And the 32X, as life support, in my opinion, does it's job well, DOOM, MKII, and Knuckles Chaotix especially were all great games, and in a game like Knuckles Chaotix you can tell how much the 32 Bit power of the 32X improves the animation quality just look at how good those sprites are animated dude.
was there ever a 32X that didn't require a external adapter and also for some reason i vaguely remember metal clips that were needed when connecting the 32X to the genesis.
The real mess starts when you try to use your UK Mega Drive, Mega CD and 32X, all together. The PSUs for each are kinda big, and won't sit directly next to each other on a 4 way power socket strip. Makes life difficult if you don't have an abundance of power sockets in the room.
I believe so? I had it hooked up to my sega genesis cd and had the stereo cables from the sega cd and stereo still worked with the 32x. Don't see why it wouldn't work with the headphone jack
Thank you for the actual technicalities. I am doing an IT/Arts double degree, and anything that expands my mind with technological peripherals is complementary to my learning. I've got some questions for you though, to really test you: Do you know what a SH-2 processor or framebuffer really is? I have learnt about instruction sets.
Question: what's with the red eyed squirrel in the opening logo? PS. Is it possible to make new titles for 32x with special software? Also, what's the maximum megabit limit for a title for the 32x
that,s the only weird thig i hate about the 32x,why it needs another video cable,i know the genesis lacks a video passtrough input in the cartride port and can only display 64 colors. but sega just could had use dithering methodes to dither 32768 color video into 64 color video without leaving artifacts. in that case you also could,ve play 32x games on the nomad screen!!!
If I were to purchase the 32X, I would have to get a model 2 Genesis. Since that's a Model 1 Genesis shown in this vid, don't you have to put some sort of Metal prongs inside the Genesis cartridge slot or something like that? -kidThunder
Even I'm a Nintendo Gamer/Fanboy that leans over to Super Nintendo and other Nintendo Systems. The 32X (at that time in November 1994) was not worth to buy, but now its worth to buy thanks to EBay, Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. Also to Sega Fans, Good Luck with those 3 Bigass AC Adapters for your Genesis, CD and 32X cause the Super Nintendo only has 1.
Did you know that?: The 32X is Called Megadrive 32X in outside of north america but in asia its called the Super 32X also you need an sideways power strip which you can found on ebay it need to be sideways not like power strips from every electronic store you need sideways one like sega created so you can use mega drive,super 32X and mega cd!
I still don't have the chord I need to hook the 32X up to my model 1 Genesis, and I'm not going to buy it on eBay for $30 to do so. Instead, I'll just keep it on my model 2. If I can get a package deal, then I'll hook it up.
32x is worth its weight in gold if you mod it/buy one modded for S-video, so all your Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X games look so much better. It also usually doesn't have a problem with an overclocked Genesis unlike the Sega Cd that usually locks up.
well the Genesis even though it was not on the American or Japanese model was RGB scart compatible. which is going to be much better than as video if you can find somebody that can do that mod its way better. Adam at figure it out did a review about that and I tried it and it was way better
+john Francis koziol Jr (Drivin2Insanity) It depends on how you're playing the game. If you're on a CRT TV SVideo and RGB will be essentially the same though technically RGB is the cleanest signal. RGB really shines when using an upscaler to put it onto a 1080p screen. However using Svideo or RGB does have some downsides. Composite video may not look as nice but games were built to take advantage of it to allow the Genesis to display colors and effects it shouldn't be able to. The waterfall on Sonic and the baroom lights on Streets of Rage 2 are great examples of things that look significantly different when not using the composite video.
Were there many Mega CD/Sega CD games that required the 32X? I understand the AV output on the back of the original Mega Drive only produces monaural audio, you need to use the headphones output for stereo, does the 32X have any additional sound capabilities to produce additional sounds that don't get processed by the sound chips in the Mega Drive. Sega really should have forgone the Mega Drive 2 and released the 32X as its own console, I believe that's what the neptune was supposed to be.
sega genesis is great and i dont know about the 32x but genesis has the best 2d side scrollers and platformer. I enjoy all your sega reviews and i wish you continue to do more :) Thanks for taking your time to show and remind us how great the legacy was.
I need to implore for assistance, getting 32x was a dream come through I had since i was 12 and saw star wars arcade in a glass cabin in a local toy store. I just had the machine comming back from repair with a new scart lead, becausr details in yhr graphics were missing. I have a model one mega drive and I am experiecening problems I have tried to hook up alla cables but then suddenly I have no room for the scart one, I need help what am I doiung wrong?
actually they did make a 32X system, but it was quickly canceled because of the poor reception from the add on, the add on was more of a test, the sega cd add on would have been compatible with the 32X machine as well
Wasn't there metal clips that you had to insert if you had a model 1 genesis. I had bought a used 32x with everything except the metal clips that was in the instructions and it never worked for me.
Hehe, well, it's just advertising/hype. But then again there was no standard high definition standard back then, was there?. Among the 16-bit consoles, the Genesis did have a higher horizontal resolution display than the SNES. Though the TurboGrafx-16 output a higher vertical display than both of them.
wonder why SEGA didnt make the add on a bit more ergonomic like the power base convertor which looks pretty cool as a sort of megadrive hat..also i reckon they should have released it with virtua fighter or racing like a peripheral...anyway..i still want one.
I love AVGN, but he is the channel to go to when you want to laugh at a crappy game. CGR is more of a genuine reviewer for when you just wanna know about the system. I like both, but everyone keeps saying AVGN was wrong about the 32X. He was reviewing as a comedic review just to be clear.
I entirely agree with you. Most people from what I've seen give Sega's old stuff bad reputation over moot points and AVGN misunderstandings! Their stuff wasn't perfect, but it was certainly much better than what people keep saying! I doubt many people who stomp on Sega's classics even own the one they're stomping on.
I watched this video in 2012, when I was 12. I'm now 21 and am a proud owner of a working Model 1 Sega CD and Sega 32X. Thank you for getting me into game collecting, Mark. I'll miss the old days. :'-)
Do you have the plastic extension piece for the Model 1?
@@jmullner76 The plastic extension piece only applies to the model 2.
@@julianchrobak-prince1915 Ah, sorry. I read it as a Model 1 Genesis and a Sega CD. Sega CD model 2 has the extension piece for the Model 1 Genesis.
I picked up literally the last one the local K-Mart had. They were using the cover of the box for display, so the stuff was kinda dusty.
The 32x didn't fail because the console itself was bad. It failed because Sega was at war with itself. Sega of America made and pushed the 32x while Sega of Japan put out the Saturn and ordered the 32x discontinued. Sega had also released and discontinued the Sega CD shortly before, so as you might imagine people were sick of buying Sega's crap only to have support for it pulled shortly after. If Sega had waited to release the Saturn and shown the 32x proper support, or better yet released the 32x as is own console like originally planned the system wouldn't have failed as badly. Instead they trolled their fanbase one to many times and ended up destroying themselves.
Let me guess, Sega had a civil war.
+TheMamaluigi300 Yep
+exorphitus Or Sega could have just waited to release the Saturn and not make an add-on for an aging console that was going to be last gen anyways by the time the Saturn actually came out. Sega really shot themselves in the foot with those Genesis add-ons (Sega CD and 32X. Especially with the 32X.). The 32X was ill-convinced right from the start. What where they thinking? They might have been better off hyping the Saturn before it came out and releasing more games for the Genesis in the meantime.
exorphitus I can confirm this. I worked for one of the largest wholesale distributors at the time and we had meetings with Sega US in which there were also Sega Japan reps. These guys seemed to hate each other! The translators where always embarrassed.
Normlally, I'd say you're a Sega Heda, exorphitus, but yeah. Sega of Japan needs more say in those things.
If you don't have the cable to connect the 32x to the Genesis, you could do a quick and dirty hack that I did when the cable for mine broke; Just grab some wire, and connect a wire to each hole on the 32x's AV in, then you just connect the other ends on the wires to the same holes on the Genesis, then you tape the mess of wires together. Tada! Now you can play Truxton, eventhough it doesn't require the 32x.
32X had a lot of great games for it. For the time it had the best home ports of Space Harrier and After Burner
My friend had rented one back in 1996. We played star wars arcade, Virtua fighter, doom, and great arcade ports of after burner and space harrier.
I forgot it also had good ports of NBA jam tournament edition and WWF wrestlemania the arcade game.
You are missing a couple of metal pieces that are supposed to go into the console flaps. They were to touch something inside the genesis, and that's why there are connectors at the front (and back?) of the 32x.
May The 32X Be With You. :)
I remember the year these came out... Within 6 months the 32X, Sega CD, and all related accessories were in the 75% off bin (actually it was more of a wall because our store had bought a lot of that stuff.) Interesting enough they were sharing the clearance bin with all the Nintendo Virtual Boys.
He likes 32x but AVGN hates it?
AVGN is a nintendo fan, and hes lame as well, which kinda explains why he likes SNES better than Sega Genesis.
Noah Lipsey Eduardo Garduño Also doesn't help that AVGN is a character :)
Never owned a 32x myself... would be nice to pick up along with a Nintendo Virtual Boy.
Haha Virtual Boy is so terrible though! That's bad for the console itself. The only reason 32X is "bad" is because of marketing and the multiple wires. But it's got great games, like Knuckles Chaotix, Kolibri, After Burner, Space Harrier, Virtua Fighter, etc.
After Burner... I'm in.
The Virtual Boy probably isn't all that good but some off the stuff looks interesting :D
Would probably cause bleeding from the mind BUT... for a bargain bin price I wouldn't complain :p
Noah Lipsey The 32X is garbage. The Sega CD is worth owning yes, because it had a lot of great games for it and compliments the Genesis's design very well if you have the right models. In that regard it's like the Famicom Disk System. But the 32X looks horrible, possibly the ugliest console of all time. AVGN said it best, it looks like a tumor. If I ever used it at all, I'd want to take it out immediately after I was done playing. But I can't do that, because it runs off its own damn power adapter.
And as for the games...only 34 titles were released for it, only a few worth playing. Knuckles Chaotix and Kolibri are ok, but everything else you mentioned are arcade ports. Good ports yes, but ports nonetheless and today there exist better ports on better systems like the Saturn. The only port for it that's better than any other console release that I know of is Mortal Kombat II.
Here's an interesting (or not) bit of video game info...
The Atari 7800 had a planned add-on such as this. The Atari 7800 XM homebrew project drew it's inspiration from the original design. Of course, all the grandiose plans, for the Atari 7800, we're squashed once Atari changed hands from Warner Communications to Jack Tramiel.
I agree mark the 32x is awesome and even if u don't have 32x games it improves ur sega genesis color palette
The video encoder in the 32X is awesome. It rids the Genesis video signal of any jailbars that's plagued in almost every Genesis.
Yes you can do that and someone on Sega 16 is making a Wolfenstein port for the 32X as we speak. The limit of adressable cartrige space on a 32X is the same as a Genesis. 4MB however using bank switching, meaning going from 1 ROM chip to another, you can theoretically make a game infinate in size.
Everyone says the the 32x and Sega CD suck, but idgaf, I'm getting them for my Model 2 Genesis
Idgaf? Dafuq does dat meen
i dont give a fuck
If I remember correctly you don't need both the 32X AV cable and the 32X conversion cable. The conversion cable should be so you can just use the AV or RFU from the Genesis. That Conversion cable is to Daisy chain the 32X with the Genesis for the Video input from the Genesis, but if you use the AV or RFU from the genesis you shouldn't need that 32X AV cable. I think, this was 25-27 years ago, my memory may be a bit off. :)
It would've been great if Sega released the 32X as a separate console instead of an add-on (as they were originally going to), but no, they decided to release it as an add-on.
Or integrate it within the Sega Saturn
These days, I play this on my retropie. It's much easier than trying to track down everything and the life support wires lol
Where did you find the time and energy to plug in BOTH cords? Phew! Tiring!
Retro Gaming Cables in the UK sell a variety of brand new cables, not official Sega cables of course, but they're made to a very high standard in the UK, and not China or some big factory for 30 cents a piece. Well worth it!
Make sure if you have an NTSC Model 1 Genesis (not a Mega Drive) you choose the "V/U" shaped 8 pin plug, and not the C shaped one.
The benefit of these cables is that you don't need the adapter cable on the end of the 9 pin mini din cable for the Model 2 Genesis/Mega Drive. Less clutter, less mess. I think there's a stereo audio cable available too, just to give better results.
I just picked up a 32X yesterday and it turns out that AVGN was right about it damaging Genesis games. I played Sonic 2 on the 32X for 5 minutes and it just stopped working! It wouldn't even work on the Genesis with the 32X disconnected!
+Adam D I always put my Genesis carts into the 32X. It never damaged any of them.
+John DiLoreto No. Both the 32X and Sonic 2 cart were both clean when I used it. My 32X still isn't working to this day.
I've got a 32X, but I've only got 6 games for it. However, I like the 32X. It's not the greatest system ever made, but it has some fun games on it. Definitely worth it if you're a collector or are curious.
My 32X however, doesn't have the connector for the original Genesis model, but I do have the part of the wire that works on the Genesis 2.
Lol the song in the beginning is actually a porn song. I heard it on a porn before.
Jonathan Garduno wtf
In the UK, a good 32x costs about £80 ($133) and Knuckles Chaotix in good condition about £200 !! A bit extreme in the thought you can just emulate it for free.
"Bottom line, the 32x sucked and it was one of the biggest failures of all time."
This isn't a shitty AVGN review. This is an awesome CGR review.
TnVGaming Some people take the internet too seriously.
I know the Nerds videos on the things were funny asf, but they weren't as bad as he said.
@John DiLoreto or they just had that opinion to begin with
I got myself a 32X from a pawn shop, today. Unfortunately, they only had Doom for the 32X. So, I went and got Doom for my first 32X game.The 32X doesn't seem to be a bad addon, if you don't mind the extra wires and extra adapter.
You would also need the electromagnetic shields for the 32X.
Yes, all Sega 32Xs and Sega CDs are compatible with all Sega Genesi. However, you need a special additional cable to use the 32X on a model 1 Sega Genesis.
@Bassboostz
It'll work on the Model 1 if you also get a Conversion Cable, which is expensive as Hell;
It'll work on the Model 2 if you get some sort of spacer (Not sure about the name), no need to get the Convertion Cable;
It'll work on a CDX;
It'll not work on the Genesis Model 3.
The reason why that extra video cable was required, was because the Genesis video display processor couldn't output the additional colours needed for the 32x. Everything would've had to be filtered through the Genesis, limiting it to 64 on-screen colours out of 512. That cable bypassed this issue. This is also the reason why the Sega CD was limited to the same palette as the Genesis.
But as for games... check out Afterburner and Space Harrier, both faithful ports of arcade classics.
Awesome! I had my Sega with 32x and Sega CD back in the day! I was talking with some of my friends about it and they didn't even remember these existed. Thanks for proving me right
If I remember a picture of it:It has a red port on the top or bottom that can connect to that cable so you can play on a TV,so it should work.
@Ketorulz
No thumbs down, but that statement was almost completely wrong. The 32X has 2 SH-2 processors at 23Mhz with 32-bit instruction sets. It did add RAM, but not enough. It added 256kb to the Genesis 64kb, and had two 128kb framebuffers, which went mostly un-used. In other words, it was pretty much its own console, just borrowed parts off of the Genesis.
@MrAzazel666 - No, not the spacer. The expansion piece that plugs in the side of the Genesis, in the part that would normally plug into the SEGA CD. What was THAT for?
I'm not very well informed about the inside-workings of a 32x, but since it turns a 16-bit console into a 32-bit one, i strongly assume there's at least one additional processor in there, and that you have to connect the 32x and the genesis with an additional cable means it has to have its own video output or some kind of output that cannot be received by the genesis through the cartridge slot, all aspects that dont apply to a game genie
Going retro with the old genesis model 1 sounds fun, but it's more wires and complication than just getting it with the Genesis 2. Especially if you do the connection with the Sega CD as well. You'll need a mixing cable which is expensive to find. You'll need the Gen Model 1 cable adapter which is also hard to find. And then, the sound also doesn't come out of the 32X games unless you have stereo output from the SEGA CD and the mixing cable in place.
Go with model 2. 3 power adapters.
I had a 32x... The low count of games hurt... It ended up braking my heart. But now, after all these years, I have 4givin. Still I love Sega
I'm told having the 32x plugged in provides a minor graphical improvement to regular Genesis games. Is this true?
yea it will improve the colors. im not sure about anything else though
I bought one of these from a guy on Craigslist for $10. Didn't come with the cable but I later found it at Play N Trade for $8 and tested it with a copy of Doom. Worked :D
I don't embellish. Just got lucky.
This is also true. You're right on the ball. I hope there's some more people out there that also notice this, too. People even say the Genesis is bad because of the 32x/Sega CD! What an outrage! They probably don't own
It works perfectly with my model 1 genesis, but not so much with my model 2, which is why I'm glad to get the patch for the crossover cable.
Wait...you're running it without the grounding pieces in the Genesis cartidge slot? Also, no mention of the spacer that goes under it, which is a different height between the Genesis 1 and 2 models?
I thought for the sega genesis model 1 you needed to put in metal prongs in the cartridge slot in order for the 32x to function.
Joseph Bertini The prongs aren't needed, but from my experience with the system growing up (as I eventually somehow lost the prongs), not having them messes with the colors in both Genesis and 32x games. The games still run fine, but the colors are all screwed up, either becoming dim and dull or just changing to completely different colors entirely.
32x alone in 2019 is like 50 plus and with all the cords and other items like 80 plus.
80$ for a 32X ? I'd gladly buy one at that price. Sadly they're much more expensive in europe
I remember when I was a kid, and I got one of these for my Birthday. We went to Kay-Bee Toys, and Picked it up with Doom. I was really excited, but when I got home it wouldn't work. I was also using a Genesis 1. Took it back about 3 times before I got one that would work right. But still had problems with the games sometimes. I have bad memories with this addon. But good video!
love love loved Star Wars Arcade and Doom as a kid with my 32x. Was so sad when it failed.
Wait did he not show the metal clips? Did he just straight plug it in? Were there 32x's that didn't need the metal clips? I'm jealous if so
+joshua powell metal clips are for the model 1, he might have just forgotten to mention them.
+Brandon Ottinger (JaqenH'ghar80) I use mine with a model 1 and don't use the metal clips.
it also origionally came with metal tabs you had to install into the gen
there was mean to be a Sega Neptune Console which is a genesis and a 32X built into one console, but soon got scraped afterwards due to the release of the sega saturn. u can check at wiki for it which shows the prototype console as well
I used to watch CGR videos when I was at home sick from school. Now 14 years later I decided to revisit as I'm home sick from work with a nasty case of Norovirus, and I'm honestly feeling better already(-:
You think THIS is bad? For crimbo I got a new Headset for my 360, and that had 1. A wire which goes into the controller 2. a USB port which goes into the Xbox 3. An extender for that because it was no-where near long enough 4. A wire that goes into the TV and 5. An identical, save for colour, wire, which also goes into the TV, with no indication of which goes where, and eventually gotten to work by pure luck. By comparison, the 32X has 3 wires, one of which is very short and all are very simple.
You can get lucky. I found a unit alone from a guy who couldn't test it for about 10 on eBay. Then I used my game gear power cord and found a 9 pin mini-din cable for sale on the net and I was able to patch together a working 32x for under 25 bucks (I already had the game gear power adapter and a 2nd generation Genesis. If you have a 1st gen, it's a whole different story).
Get Knuckles Chaotix, it's definitely worth it. I've emulated it, but nothing is more satisfying knowing you've connected "everything" and got it working on your TV.
you can get the wire on amazon for under 10 dollars with shipping
@dogeymon83 The spacer was so you could use the 32X with the model 2 Genesis. It wouldn't fit properly without the spacer.
To quote the AVGN, the mess of wires is a perfect analogy for what the 32X was: it was just the Genesis running on life-support.
And the 32X, as life support, in my opinion, does it's job well, DOOM, MKII, and Knuckles Chaotix especially were all great games, and in a game like Knuckles Chaotix you can tell how much the 32 Bit power of the 32X improves the animation quality just look at how good those sprites are animated dude.
Yeah, its a set up you just want to have there, not move it around a lot. I keep the 32X constantly plugged in, backwards compatibility rules.
was there ever a 32X that didn't require a external adapter and also for some reason i vaguely remember metal clips that were needed when connecting the 32X to the genesis.
@DreJr
Because it's an extension of the Genesis, not a stand alone console.
The real mess starts when you try to use your UK Mega Drive, Mega CD and 32X, all together. The PSUs for each are kinda big, and won't sit directly next to each other on a 4 way power socket strip. Makes life difficult if you don't have an abundance of power sockets in the room.
I've been waiting for this review from CGR for a looooonnnngggg time.
Hi, great video, big memories. By the way what's the song that plays in [00:02,00:08] segs? Is a Cowboy Bebop theme song? Thaks.
I believe so? I had it hooked up to my sega genesis cd and had the stereo cables from the sega cd and stereo still worked with the 32x. Don't see why it wouldn't work with the headphone jack
Thank you for the actual technicalities. I am doing an IT/Arts double degree, and anything that expands my mind with technological peripherals is complementary to my learning. I've got some questions for you though, to really test you: Do you know what a SH-2 processor or framebuffer really is? I have learnt about instruction sets.
Question: what's with the red eyed squirrel in the opening logo?
PS. Is it possible to make new titles for 32x with special software? Also, what's the maximum megabit limit for a title for the 32x
You're hooking up a 32X to a Super Nintendo?
I hope that you include Sega CD with the 32X in part 2!
that,s the only weird thig i hate about the 32x,why it needs another video cable,i know the genesis lacks a video passtrough input in the cartride port and can only display 64 colors.
but sega just could had use dithering methodes to dither 32768 color video into 64 color video without leaving artifacts.
in that case you also could,ve play 32x games on the nomad screen!!!
i have a question
are you using your new flip camera or your old camera
If I were to purchase the 32X, I would have to get a model 2 Genesis. Since that's a Model 1 Genesis shown in this vid, don't you have to put some sort of Metal prongs inside the Genesis cartridge slot or something like that?
-kidThunder
Get the Genesis, the 32X and the Sega CD, and don't forget the powerstrips because you'll need some with all these big AC blocks
So to play a Sega CD 32X game you'd need all three wall warts plugged in?
+DB Pooper And TV.
@gamerincoeparated No you can't use this with any other consoles other than the Genesis 1 and 2, CDX, JVC x-eye are compatible.
Even I'm a Nintendo Gamer/Fanboy that leans over to Super Nintendo and other Nintendo Systems. The 32X (at that time in November 1994) was not worth to buy, but now its worth to buy thanks to EBay, Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. Also to Sega Fans, Good Luck with those 3 Bigass AC Adapters for your Genesis, CD and 32X cause the Super Nintendo only has 1.
Did you know that?: The 32X is Called Megadrive 32X in outside of north america but in asia its called the Super 32X also you need an sideways power strip which you can found on ebay it need to be sideways not like power strips from every electronic store you need sideways one like sega created so you can use mega drive,super 32X and mega cd!
I still don't have the chord I need to hook the 32X up to my model 1 Genesis, and I'm not going to buy it on eBay for $30 to do so. Instead, I'll just keep it on my model 2. If I can get a package deal, then I'll hook it up.
I'm glad that I'm finally going to get my own 32x soon in the mail.
32x is worth its weight in gold if you mod it/buy one modded for S-video, so all your Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X games look so much better. It also usually doesn't have a problem with an overclocked Genesis unlike the Sega Cd that usually locks up.
well the Genesis even though it was not on the American or Japanese model was RGB scart compatible. which is going to be much better than as video if you can find somebody that can do that mod its way better. Adam at figure it out did a review about that and I tried it and it was way better
+john Francis koziol Jr (Drivin2Insanity) It depends on how you're playing the game. If you're on a CRT TV SVideo and RGB will be essentially the same though technically RGB is the cleanest signal. RGB really shines when using an upscaler to put it onto a 1080p screen.
However using Svideo or RGB does have some downsides. Composite video may not look as nice but games were built to take advantage of it to allow the Genesis to display colors and effects it shouldn't be able to. The waterfall on Sonic and the baroom lights on Streets of Rage 2 are great examples of things that look significantly different when not using the composite video.
you've never played games on a PVM have ya?
Were there many Mega CD/Sega CD games that required the 32X? I understand the AV output on the back of the original Mega Drive only produces monaural audio, you need to use the headphones output for stereo, does the 32X have any additional sound capabilities to produce additional sounds that don't get processed by the sound chips in the Mega Drive. Sega really should have forgone the Mega Drive 2 and released the 32X as its own console, I believe that's what the neptune was supposed to be.
sega genesis is great and i dont know about the 32x but genesis has the best 2d side scrollers and platformer. I enjoy all your sega reviews and i wish you continue to do more :) Thanks for taking your time to show and remind us how great the legacy was.
@VoidKeepe
It would be cool though, maybe if you would build the 32x into the case of the mega drive?
Long day at the office huh.... mark ?
LOL
Cant wait to see the Sega 32X reviews
I need to implore for assistance, getting 32x was a dream come through I had since i was 12 and saw star wars arcade in a glass cabin in a local toy store. I just had the machine comming back from repair with a new scart lead, becausr details in yhr graphics were missing. I have a model one mega drive and I am experiecening problems I have tried to hook up alla cables but then suddenly I have no room for the scart one, I need help what am I doiung wrong?
@LeeMan00 do the regular genesis games look better on the 32x than just running than through the genesis?
The only games in the Sega 32X library worth owning are Knuckles' Chaotix, Tempo, and maybe the Sega CD-32X version of Night Trap.
actually they did make a 32X system, but it was quickly canceled because of the poor reception from the add on, the add on was more of a test, the sega cd add on would have been compatible with the 32X machine as well
Unfortnately it is now very expensive, in the UK it costs about 120-200 dollars
Wasn't there metal clips that you had to insert if you had a model 1 genesis. I had bought a used 32x with everything except the metal clips that was in the instructions and it never worked for me.
I don't think the Nomad has a port for the cable that connects the 32x to the Genesis.
Hehe, well, it's just advertising/hype. But then again there was no standard high definition standard back then, was there?. Among the 16-bit consoles, the Genesis did have a higher horizontal resolution display than the SNES. Though the TurboGrafx-16 output a higher vertical display than both of them.
What was the Serial port or whatever on the back of the Genesis used for?
wonder why SEGA didnt make the add on a bit more ergonomic like the power base convertor which looks pretty cool as a sort of megadrive hat..also i reckon they should have released it with virtua fighter or racing like a peripheral...anyway..i still want one.
The Genesis M1 only needed prongs when attached to the M2 Sega CD
So...if the 32X has it's own power supply doesn't that mean it works with the Nomad?
I remember returning my 32x because I had no idea how to connect it. Very sad time in my life. :(
You didn't mention the pain in the butt connectors you had to put in the 32X. I got so frustrated getting those set-up properly.
I had to build my own video video mixing cable, and it sucked moving it around cause the terminals were homemade.
I love AVGN, but he is the channel to go to when you want to laugh at a crappy game. CGR is more of a genuine reviewer for when you just wanna know about the system. I like both, but everyone keeps saying AVGN was wrong about the 32X. He was reviewing as a comedic review just to be clear.
I wonder what would happen if you pluged the power base converter on to of the 32X?
Do you have the name of the steel drum song that plays during the later part of this video?
@Striker694 That may well have been intentional, since Mark is a big TimeSplitters fan. A very understandable thing.
I entirely agree with you. Most people from what I've seen give Sega's old stuff bad reputation over moot points and AVGN misunderstandings! Their stuff wasn't perfect, but it was certainly much better than what people keep saying! I doubt many people who stomp on Sega's classics even own the one they're stomping on.
how much did this thing cost? I vaguely remember the 32x.