Menacer

The Menacer: A Light Gun Peripheral That Failed to Shine

Imagine a time when light guns were all the rage, and Terminator 2: The Arcade Game was the ultimate shooting experience. Enter the Menacer, a peripheral released by Sega in 1992 for its beloved Genesis and CD consoles. Was it just another toy, or did it have something special to offer? Let’s dive into this question and explore what made the Menacer tick.

The Design and Functionality of the Menacer

With three detachable parts and a sleek design, the Menacer aimed to be more than just a light gun. It communicated with TVs via an infrared sensor, making it a step up from its predecessors like the Master System Light Phaser. But did these features make it stand out? Critics found the pack subpar and repetitive, while reviewers recommended certain games over others.

Games Compatible with the Menacer

The Menacer came bundled with six games, including Terminator 2: The Arcade Game. But what were these games like? Let’s take a look:

• Rockman’s Zone: A scrolling screen where criminals return fire. Sound familiar?
• Space Station Defender: Memorize enemy sequences to survive.
• Whack Ball: Breakout meets color-changing bricks.
• Front Line: Defend tanks and airplanes from aerial attacks.
• Pest Control: Detect cockroaches on a small screen. Yum!
• Other Notable Games: Terminator 2: The Arcade Game, Mad Dog McCree, Body Count, Corpse Killer, and Who Shot Johnny Rock?

The Verdict on the Menacer’s Performance

Sega Force reported that the controller lasts about 18 hours on new batteries. The Menacer lasts 20 hours, while the Super Scope can last 50 to 140 hours. The Menacer has no power switch and automatically turns off after 30 seconds without input. It does not have a ‘turbo’ mode for continuous fire.

Mac Senour designed the six-game cartridge, which includes games like Rockman’s Zone. Critics found these games to be subpar, with poor graphics and gameplay. For instance, Mega called Rockman’s Zone “not a very inspiring game” due to its slow pacing and bland graphics, comparing it to other titles of the era.

Reviews and Recommendations

Critics were not kind to the Menacer’s games. GamePro criticized Space Station Defender’s washed-out graphics and poor audio. Mega found Whack Ball easy but not worth playing for long. The magazine rated Pest Control the lowest, giving it a score of 12%. Sega Force ranked Front Line last, calling it “truly awful” and saying it would only succeed with more developer support.

However, some games shone through. Sega Force recommended against purchasing the pack until more games were released, citing its poor quality. But they praised Terminator 2 as a must-have for Menacer owners, noting its accuracy and registration speed. Neil West of Mega also reviewed Terminator 2 positively, stating that Whack Ball works well with it.

The Revival of the Menacer

In 2005, Radica revived the Menacer with a direct-to-TV dedicated console featuring the original six-game cartridge. This revival brought back memories for many gamers who had forgotten about this peripheral. The Menacer’s small library made collecting easier, according to Ken Horowitz.

Favorite Games and Haptic Suit

Edward Fox of The Centre for Computing History said his favorite Menacer game is Terminator 2 when used with the Aura Interactor haptic suit. This combination made the experience even more immersive, but it was a luxury few could afford.

The Legacy of the Menacer

The Menacer is remembered as a critical and commercial flop due to poor game quality, lack of titles in support, and a weak developer presence. Many reviewers recommended waiting for more games before purchasing the peripheral. The gun itself had some positive features, such as its design and accuracy, but also had drawbacks like inconvenient options buttons and tedious recalibrations.

So, was the Menacer just another toy, or did it have something special to offer? It’s a question that still lingers in the minds of many retro gaming enthusiasts. The Menacer may not have been a success, but its legacy lives on through the memories of those who played with it and the lessons learned about game design and peripheral development.