32X
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| Released: | 1994-11-21 |
| Discontinued: | 1996-??-?? |
| Developer: | Sega |
| Type: | Hardware |
The Sega 32X is a hardware add-on for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive console. Originally codenamed "Project Mars", it was intended to deliver a 32-bit gaming experience to rival the Atari Jaguar while also maintaining backwards compatibility with Genesis / Mega Drive games.
It plugs into the cartridge slot of the Genesis / Mega Drive, requiring its own power supply and an audio/video patch cable to allow combined use of the Genesis audio and video hardware with that of the 32X.
Most typically, 32X games would use the Mega Drive to render background or screens while the 32X provided the foreground graphics.
Games
Music and Sound
The 32X expands the sound capabilities of the standard Genesis console by adding two additional sample channels (left and right) courtesy of the SH-2 chip.
Only 15 games in the 32X's library utilised this capability, with the rest relying on the Genesis's YM2612 and SN76489.
Games that used the SH-2 to add a stereo sampled drum track:
- Chaotix
- Space Harrier (32X)
- Spider Man Web of Fire
- Tempo (also includes a long sample for the intro theme)
- Toughman Contest
Games that fully utilised the SH-2 for resampling and multi-channel mixing:
- Afterburner
- Blackthorne
- Brutal Unleashed
- Kolibri
- NBA Jam Tournament Edition
- Star Trek Starfleet Academy
- T-Mek
- Virtua Fighter (32X)
- WWF Raw
Games that used it for standalone sampled audio:
- Star Wars 32X (including introductory theme)
- Virtua Racing
Links
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32X - Wikipedia.
- eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2017-we-play-every-single-sega-32x-game - DF Retro: we play every single Sega 32X game - Eurogamer.
- youtu.be/QHgd_nu4m8o - A Correction About The 32X - GST YouTube Channel.
