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Fatal Rewind

Sega Genesis

Sega Genesis

This is a vertical platformer with horizontal wrap-around. For the entertainment of the futuristic masses, you play a criminal that has been inserted into a mechanical body with the promise that if you succeed in surviving through all the levels (there are many and they are hard), you will be set...

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Developer
Raising Hell Software

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Sega Genesis

Requirements
Sega Genesis

Downloads
Platform

Publisher
Electronic Arts

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

This is a vertical platformer with horizontal wrap-around. For the entertainment of the futuristic masses, you play a criminal that has been inserted into a mechanical body with the promise that if you succeed in surviving through all the levels (there are many and they are hard), you will be set free. You start each level at the bottom, near pooling liquid which will soon rise, at your immediate peril. Navigate the level from bottom to the exit at the top before the liquid rises and kills you. There are many other foes that fly around, causing you damage and basically annoying you to spit. Most levels must be navigated through a series of keyed gates, doors, or portals. These shaped keys are scattered around the map and must by picked up and used only on the gates they match individually. Twist: You can only carry one special weapon (triple shot, laser beam, or vertical shot) and one tool (key, liquid-freeze, or a red herring) at a time. This game requires a lot of memorization of enemy movement patterns and optimum routes. A unique feature is that when you die, you can watch a replay and take over at any point to continue your game. You can also hit the HELP button at the start of each level to view a map, helping you plan your route.

Fatal Rewind

Overview & History

Released by Electronic Arts in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, Fatal Rewind (originally known as The Pest in Europe) is a grim, cyberpunk-themed action-platformer developed by The Code Monkeys. Players assume the role of Yorick, a cybernetically enhanced prisoner forced to participate in a deadly, televised gladiatorial game show orchestrated by a sadistic corporate overseer named Drop. To win back his freedom, Yorick must navigate a series of biomechanical maze-levels infested with grotesque mutants, heavily armed turrets, and labyrinthine hazards. What truly sets this title apart historically is its integration of video-rewind technology as a core gameplay mechanic, blending gruesome dark humor with fast-paced, trial-and-error arcade action.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional side-scrollers of its era, Fatal Rewind revolves around the titular 'rewind' function. As Yorick progresses through the hazardous, vertically and horizontally scrolling levels, players can record their gameplay in real-time and physically reverse time upon death or failure. This allows Yorick to rewind past fatal traps, reposition himself, and orchestrate complex puzzle solutions by manipulating his past actions. Combat relies heavily on Yorick's versatile arsenal, including projectile energy blasts, close-quarters melee strikes, and deployable mines. Each arena presents a claustrophobic puzzle-box layout where managing your rewind meter is just as vital as dodging enemy fire. The presentation drips with 90s dystopian edge, featuring digitized sound effects, gritty pixel art, and a synthesized soundtrack that amplifies the frantic, high-stakes nature of Yorick's televised execution.