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The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is a hardware add-on system developed by Sega for the Sega Genesis console.

Released worldwide in 1994, the 32X was designed to extend the Genesis' lifespan by giving it significantly enhanced 32-bit processing power and texture-mapped 3D capabilities. It was succeeded by the Sega Saturn.

The 32X went under different names in the regions that it was released in. In Japan, it was named the Sega Super 32X (Japanese: セガスーパー32X Sega Sūpā 32X). In North America, it was sold as the Sega Genesis 32X. It was dubbed the Sega Mega Drive 32X in Europe, Mainland Asia, and Australia. In Brazil, it was named the Mega 32X. It was distributed in South Korea by Samsung as the Samsung Super 32X (Korean: 삼성수퍼 32X Samseong Supeo 32X).

General Overview[]

The 32X attaches to the Genesis by plugging into the console's cartridge slot, designed as a permanent addition to a Genesis setup, acting as both a means of playing 32X cartridges and a passthrough device for playing standard Genesis games. The 32X's video encoder is of a slightly higher build quality than those usually found in later iterations of the Genesis, potentially resulting in a slightly clearer image when playing Genesis titles. A plastic spacer piece comes included with the 32X to ensure that it fits into the console securely.

The 32X is designed to play its own game cartridges, which are designed to take advantage of the enhancements of the system. The cartridges cannot fit onto the cartridge slot of the standard Genesis console (or any console produced since), and the setup is designed that it doesn't interfere with an attached Sega CD unit. But, like the Sega CD, the 32X can't function on its own.

On the topic of the Sega CD, when both it and the 32X are attached to the Genesis, it creates the Sega CD 32X set-up, which allows the user to play any of the six enhanced Sega CD 32X software titles. Its ability to access a wider palette of colors allows for higher quality FMV than a standard Sega CD, whose FMV games were often criticized for their lack of color and detail.

Despite the lower price and its positioning as an inexpensive entry into 32-bit gaming, the 32X was commercial failure, due to a shallow library of titles, the oncoming arrival of the Sega Saturn, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo 64, bad market timing, and the resulting market fragmentation of the Genesis. Not helping things, was that many developers did not want to make games for an add-on system that was a technological dead end.

Drawbacks[]

One major issue is that before the system is even switched on, the 32X requires its own AC adapter, and a second connection to the Genesis console from the back of it. If the user also has a Sega CD, this means no less than three power adapters are required (plus a fourth for a TV). Both the AC adapter and 32X Connector Cable are bespoke units - the AC adapter is more common, as it is identical to that seen with the second model Genesis (though is not often covered by universal AC adapters), but the 32X Connector Cable is unique to the 32X and was not sold separately (though third parties variants exist).

Furthermore, Sega's AC adapters of the day were designed so that the transformer was located around the plug area. This often resulted in several bulky units obstructing surrounding sockets. Due to the extra space required just to plug the console into the wall, Sega eventually released their own Sega Power Strip in North America.

Dynamite Headdy[]

A port of Dynamite Headdy was planned for the 32X, but due to the system's low popularity, it was cancelled.

Technical Specifications[]

The 32X specs have been moved to their own page.

External Links[]

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