VT Emulation Network - Gens Review

Gens

Gens

A Sega Genesis / 32X / CD Emulator for Windows Reviewed on 7 / 30 / 2003 by Vincent T. Vantine

        Gens is the Open-Source Sega Genesis , Sega CD and 32X emulator that set the bar for all other emulators to achieve. Gens is parallel to none in all three consoles it emulates and was even used by Sega of America in a project to revive a couple of the Genesis classics.

        Gens is without a doubt the best Sega Genesis, Sega CD and 32X emulator ever created. Gens began as a high-end Sega Genesis emulator for Windows and later went on to become the best Sega CD and Sega 32X emulator as well. Gens supports all of the basics such as Game Genie support, joystick support and Save State support. Gens has everything that anyone could ever want in a Genesis, Sega CD or 32X emulator; great compatibility, excellent Genesis, Sega CD and 32X emulation, excellent audio and video, and to top it all off, excellent netplay.

        Gens is the first high-end emulator that I can truly say is suited for systems of all classes. On lower end machines, Gens exceeds the speeds of all current Windows-based Genesis emulators. On higher end machines, Gens can perform up to its full potential, utilizing hardware acceleration through many of its rendering modes. As if it couldn't get any better, Gens is compatible with virtually every version of Windows from Windows 95 to the latest Windows XP.

        Gens' Sega Genesis emulation can be described as almost nothing short of flawless. The compatibility list is completely astounding; almost every single Genesis game ever made is emulated perfectly. Gens is even able to run a few "odd-ball" titles such as Sonic 3 & Knuckles, which is a Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cartridge "locked on" to a Sonic & Knuckles cartridge. I have never encountered a title that Gens was unable to play, this is absolutely without a doubt the best Sega Genesis ever developed.

        Gens later went on to support Sega CD and Sega 32X emulation which was one thing that could only be done through AGES and Xega at a relatively low speed and quality. Gens can emulate many Sega CD titles and Sega 32X titles almost as flawlessly as it can emulate Sega Genesis games. Gens also supports the use of ISO files (software images of a CD) for faster load times and better usability. Wthin only a few releases, Gens quickly became the best Sega CD and Sega 32X emulator.

        The audio and video in Gens is second to none. Gens has some of the best audio that I've ever heard out of an emulator and aside from that, Gens even has the ability to use MP3 files in conjunction with the correct ISO in its Sega CD emulation in order to save disk space. The video is another high point of Gens, through the use of its rendering modes, Gens can operate under normal unfiltered Genesis-style video or use some of the more advanced display modes such as Scanline, to simulate the appearance of a TV screen or 2xSAI to smooth out the Genesis graphics and incorporate hardware acceleration into the emulation.

        Now, if all of what it can do isn't enough, Gens even goes a step further to incorporate netplay. Netplay in Gens is done through a Kaillera client built into the emulator. Through Kaillera, the user does not have to actually know the other player ahead of time and directly connect. Instead, through Kaillera, the user is presented with a list of severs and can enter the lobby of one and find a player to match up with. Over broadband, the speed and accuracy of the netplay is excellent. The only downside to Gens' netplay is that it can be a little difficult to synchronize ROM images.

        In short, Gens has everything a Sega Genesis, Sega CD and 32X gamer could ever want in terms of emulation; excellent compatibility at the game level as well as the operating system level, excellent speed on systems of all classes, a nice assortment of features, and finally, excellent netplay.

Emulator Information

Author: Stef

Netplay Support: Yes

Players Supported: 4

Homepage: Click Here

Platform: Windows 9x/NT

Version Reviewed: 2.11

Features Supported:
- Save State
- Joystick Support
- Multiple Rendering Filters
- Full-Screen Mode
- Vsync Support
- Netplay Support
- Cheat Device Support
- Sega CD Support
- Sega 32X Support

The Final Verdict

Compatibility: 10.0
Gens' compatibility can only be summed up in one word, "flawless."

Stability: 10.0
Gens' stability is rock solid on virtually every version of Windows

Video: 10.0
Standard rendering modes for lower end systems and hardware accelerated rendering modes for higher end systems, what more could one ask for?

Audio: 10.0
Gens emulates Sega Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X audio near perfectly.

Overall Rating: 10.0
Gens has absolutely everything that one could want in an emulator, and it does it all flawlessly. After all, we are talking about an emulator that was so well-made that Sega themselves choose to use it!