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Sansan

Sega Genesis

Sega Genesis

Sansan (サンサン) is an online service allowing people living in Japan to play the abstract strategy board game Go with other subscribers over the internet on a Windows PC. However, at its launch in 1994, a version for the Sega Mega Drive was also made available. This version of the game allows playe...

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Developer
White Box

Released on
1994

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Sega Genesis

Requirements
Sega Genesis

Downloads
Board Game

Publisher
Sansan

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Sansan (サンサン) is an online service allowing people living in Japan to play the abstract strategy board game Go with other subscribers over the internet on a Windows PC. However, at its launch in 1994, a version for the Sega Mega Drive was also made available. This version of the game allows players who have a Sega Mega Modem to connect over a 33.3kbps or ISDN line to play other members who have a Sansan ID. However, as of 2011, there are no known Mega Drive-compatible Sansan servers. A local two-player version of the game is also included for play.

For whatever reason, the Mega Drive version did not last very long — it is one of the rarest and most sought-after Mega Drive games; Sega of Japan’s official archive doesn’t list it (despite Sansan Co., Ltd. having T-series code T-147) and a ROM was not dumped until February 2011. The Windows PC version of the service continues to this day.

Sansan

Overview & History

Released exclusively in Japan in 1993 for the Mega Drive (known internationally as the Sega Genesis), Sansan (also known as *San San*) is an obscure, culturally rich puzzle-platformer developed by Sanritsu Denki. Loosely inspired by Chinese folklore and traditional Asian aesthetics, the storyline follows a mystical protagonist navigating treacherous, shifting realms to restore cosmic balance after ancient elemental relics are stolen by a subterranean demon horde. Despite its charming pixel art, vibrant color palette, and atmospheric traditional-fusion soundtrack, the game flew under the radar during the 16-bit era due to limited distribution and heavy competition from blockbuster platformers, ultimately becoming a highly sought-after collector's item for retro enthusiasts today.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrollers, Sansan uniquely blends fast-paced platforming with spatial puzzle-solving mechanics across various vertically and horizontally looping stages. Players must manipulate and rearrange floating elemental blocks while dodging hostile mythical beasts. The protagonist's primary move set relies on a magical staff strike used to break, push, and stack blocks to create safe pathways or trap pursuing enemies. Players can also perform a charged aerial somersault to reach high ledges and unleash a short-range elemental burst when their chi meter is full. Each stage requires careful routing and block-management, as trapping yourself or breaking a vital platform leads to instant failure. Boss encounters at the end of every world demand quick reflexes, testing the player's mastery of both block manipulation and platforming precision.