Generations Lost

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NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J
Generations Lost
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Time Warner Interactive (US, EU, UK), HIC Infocomm (KR)
Developer: Pacific SoftScape
Supporting companies: Pacific Coast Sound Works (audio), Time Warner Interactive (production, testing, some art)
Distributor: Sega OziSoft (AU), SF Interactive Media (SE rental)
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-12 T-48326 EU 1994-11 T-48326-50 UK 1994-11 £39.9939.99 T-48326-50 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x KR 1994? HIC-95002

Generations Lost is a Sega Mega Drive sci-fi platform game developed by Pacific SoftScape and published by Time Warner Interactive in November 1994. Created by the same team which previously made X-Men, the game is an action-focused cinematic platformer in the vein of Flashback, and was the only title ever produced by small software studio.

Story

“	How can you arrive where you started, and yet know the place for the first time? That is the enigma of Monobe, of the blood of Keptan, bold lone adventurer of Generations Lost. Your exploring will take you through many intricate levels, strung across the six sectors of a troubled world. What you possess are odd clues and strange powers that you must grow to understand. What you seek is the truth. Generations Lost. It's a quest for the identity not just of one, but of all. A strategy adventure enfolded in a riddle. And a gaming experience that will intrigue you... thrill you... and reward you like no other.	„
— US box

A young man named Monobe is trying to learn about the origins and destiny of his people. He is told by his tribal elder of the stories of old and given a set of technologically sophisticated armor and an arm-mounted gauntlet that projects a strange energy. He leaves his people behind and wanders through jungles and temple areas in search of answers.

Gameplay

The game combines the methodical, puzzle-based gameplay of cinematic platformers such as Flashback with the faster pace and combat emphasis of action platformers such as X-Men. The player takes on the role of Monobe, a young man who is searching for answers about the past of his people. Monobe is equipped with an arm-mounted device called an "E-Rad" and what is believed to be magic armor.

Monobe moves with and . He crouches with and stays crouched until he stands up with . While crouching, he can roll with and , which is sometimes necessary to fit through tight spaces. He jumps with and jumps off platforms with +. He punches with , which can be done while crouching or jumping.

Monobe uses the energy ability of his gauntlet with . At the start of the game, this shoots an "E-Rad" blast projectile, which can be used to destroy enemies. The E-Rad can also be used to generate an electric rope with + or + to climb up or down platforms. Using an energy ability expends the energy meter in the top-right corner of the screen. The meter quickly recovers, but trying to use an energy ability while the meter is low can result in no ability or a weakened version of the ability being performed instead. Throughout the levels, Monobe uncovers vaults that give him additional capabilities for his gauntlet and armor, which can be enabled through the inventory screen (accessed by holding  START ). He opens vaults or doors pressing while holding the D-Pad toward them. Monobe continues to have use of the energy abilities of his gauntlet when a secondary item is selected.

Monobe's armor can sustain multiple hits from enemies and hazards (including water, which shorts out his suit). Its status is depicted as a circle in the top-left of the screen. It is initially green but changes to yellow, orange, and red as it degrades. Levitating platforms found in the levels can restore his armor. Monobe loses a life when his armor fails, restarting at the beginning of the level or at a checkpoint. The game ends if he loses all of his lives. There is a password system for continuing.

Items

	E-Rad
	Shoots a projectile at enemies with . It can also be used to generate an electric rope with + or + to climb up or down platforms. Monobe can hang from the bottom of platforms (including moving platforms) using the electric rope.
	Fast E-Rad
	Shoots a projectile at enemies with . The recovery time for the energy meter is much faster compared to the standard E-Rad, so Monobe can fire multiple shots in quick succession, but the Fast E-Rad is limited in supply.
	Shield
	When selected, automatically defends against enemy attacks. It lasts until its bar is depleted from absorbing damage.
	Search and Destroy
	Surrounds Monobe in a circle of stars and seeks and destroys enemies. It lasts for a limited duration.
	Zapout
	Makes Monobe invisible for a limited duration.
	Door Key
	Opens locked doors.
	Extra Life
	Gives the player an extra life.
	Polyphase Conductor
	Collect 3 pieces to complete the third sector.
	Captain's Key
	Collect 3 pieces to complete the fourth sector.

Objects

	Recovery Platform
	Restores Monobe's shields when he stands on it.
	Power-Up Platform
	Increases the range and power of Monobe's energy gauntlet when he stands on it and charges up by holding +.
	Checkpoint
	Checkpoint where Monobe is revived after losing a life.
	Swing
	Gives Monobe the ability to swing from an energy rope by holding after jumping. He can make use of this ability until he passes another pyramid object.
	Vault Panel
	Opens a vault if Monobe stands in front of it and presses while holding the D-Pad toward it.
	Vault
	Contains items for Monobe to collect but must be opened using its panel first.
	Teleporter
	Teleports Monobe to another sector. Activate by standing on top of it and holding  START .

Sectors

	Sector 1
	Sector 2
	Password: AGES
	Sector 3
	Password: DUTY
	Sector 4
	Password: WARM

Production credits

Pacific SoftScape

• Design: Bruce Straley
• Art: Bruce Straley, Michael Gates
• Programming: Raymond Frericks Jr, Jeff Fort

Pacific Coast Sound Works

• Music, SFX: Josh Gabriel

Time Warner Interactive

• Producer: Mitzi McGilvray
• Director of Product Development: Bill Hindorff
• Lead Tester: Mike Kruse
• Cyborg Art: Fred Andrews
• Special Thanks: Steve Calfee, Dan Van Elderen, Mike Klug, Linda Blanchard, Doug Gray

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Generations Lost/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #65: "December 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #26: "December 1994" (1994-10-28)

Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1995-03: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Game Champ (KR) #1995-04: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Cool Gamer (RU) 60 Computer & Video Games (UK) 79 Digitiser (UK) 75 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 91 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 64 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 60 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73 Gamers (DE) PAL 53 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 67 Joypad (FR) 80 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 60 Mega (UK) PAL 83 Mega Force (FR) PAL 70 Mega Fun (DE) 45 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 77 Player One (FR) 80 Play Time (DE) PAL 60 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 74 Todo Sega (ES) 77 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 73 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 70

	70
Based on 23 reviews

Generations Lost

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE rental (SF)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Generations Lost/Technical information.

External links

• Generations Lost review by Brian Crimmins at Hardcore Gaming 101