Tom Mason's Dinosaurs for Hire - Sega Genesis - Action, Shmup (4K 60fps)
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🦖 Get ready for a prehistoric rampage! 🦖
Today, we’re tackling the outrageous action-platformer Tom Mason’s Dinosaurs for Hire, released for the Sega Genesis in 1993 by Sega. Based on the comic series of the same name, this quirky title combines anthropomorphic dinosaurs, over-the-top weaponry, and a healthy dose of humor. But does it deliver dino-mite gameplay, or is it extinct on arrival? Let’s find out!
Game Overview:
In Dinosaurs for Hire, you play as one of three sarcastic, gun-toting dinosaurs: Archie the T-Rex, Lorenzo the Triceratops, or Reese the Stegosaurus. As mercenaries for hire, these dinos are out to stop a mysterious alien invasion while cracking jokes and blasting everything in sight. Featuring side-scrolling action-platforming gameplay, the game leans heavily into its comic-book origins, blending chaotic gunfights with tongue-in-cheek humor and a unique visual style.
Pros:
✅ Unique Concept: Dinosaurs with guns. Need we say more? The premise is undeniably fun and creative, with plenty of personality injected into the characters and world.
✅ Three Playable Characters: Each dino has its own distinct personality and visual style, adding variety to the experience. While their abilities are mostly the same, their designs and animations give them flair.
✅ Solid Action Gameplay: The run-and-gun mechanics are fast-paced and chaotic, with a wide variety of enemies, power-ups, and weapons to keep things interesting. Fans of games like Contra will feel right at home.
✅ Colorful Graphics: The Genesis does a great job bringing the comic-book aesthetic to life. The sprites are large and detailed, and the environments are colorful and varied, ranging from cityscapes to alien-infested labs.
✅ Humor and Personality: The game doesn’t take itself seriously, with plenty of jokes, fourth-wall-breaking moments, and goofy dialogue that fits perfectly with the absurd premise.
✅ Fun Boss Fights: The bosses are creative and challenging, from mechs to alien creatures. These encounters add variety and test your reflexes and strategy.
✅ Cooperative Multiplayer: The two-player mode allows you and a friend to team up as dino mercenaries, doubling the fun and chaos.
✅ Great Soundtrack: The music is energetic and perfectly complements the action-packed gameplay. The sound effects, from explosions to gunfire, add to the arcade-like feel of the game.
Cons:
❌ Repetitive Gameplay: While fun at first, the action can become repetitive due to a lack of significant gameplay variety. It’s mostly running, shooting, and dodging, with little innovation in level design.
❌ Slippery Controls: The controls can feel a bit clunky at times, especially during platforming sections where precise jumps are required. This can lead to frustrating deaths in certain levels.
❌ Lacking Character Differences: Despite offering three characters, there’s little to differentiate them in terms of gameplay. Their abilities are nearly identical, which limits replayability.
❌ Cheap Enemy Placement: Enemies often appear in positions designed to catch you off-guard, leading to cheap hits and frequent deaths.
❌ Difficulty Spikes: The game can feel unfairly challenging at times, especially during later levels where enemy swarms and environmental hazards ramp up considerably.
❌ Thin Plot: While the humor is a highlight, the actual story is minimal and feels like an afterthought. Players expecting a narrative experience will find little here beyond its comedic elements.
Verdict:
Tom Mason’s Dinosaurs for Hire on the Sega Genesis is a chaotic, fun, and humor-filled action-platformer that stands out thanks to its unique premise and quirky personality. While its repetitive gameplay and clunky controls hold it back from true greatness, it’s still an entertaining romp for fans of run-and-gun shooters or those looking for a lighthearted, over-the-top adventure. Grab a friend, pick your favorite dino, and let the prehistoric mayhem begin!
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