Sega’s journey from the Master System to the Genesis is a fascinating tale of perseverance, strategy, and a bit of raw aggression. After struggling to gain ground against Nintendo in the 8-bit era, Sega of America was primed for a fight when the 16-bit war began. The Genesis had the marketing muscle, the edgy attitude, and, most importantly, the games to back it up.

But then along came NEC and the TurboGrafx-16, threatening to disrupt the carefully laid plans of Sega’s resurgence.

Enter Johnny Turbo. As the face of NEC’s American campaign, he was the loudest advocate for the TurboGrafx and TurboDuo, pushing back against what he saw as Sega’s (and Nintendo’s) stranglehold on the market. While his efforts were bold, and in some ways admirable, they also painted a target on his back. Sega was no longer a struggling underdog. It was a team that had just suffered through the Master System era, a team that was ready to go for the throat. And when NEC started stepping on Sega’s turf, the response was nothing short of bloodthirsty.

Marketing played a huge role in all of this, and Sega leveraged every advantage. I remember Strider being the first 8-megabit cartridge game (1 megabyte or 1024kb), and it felt like a huge deal at the time. That game alone likely pushed some undecided gamers toward Genesis, proving that Sega had the power to compete. Even though I wasn’t big on all of the “dude” games – Last Battle, Moonwalker – there were standouts like Streets of Rage that really solidified the console’s identity. But when it came to shooters? The Genesis library always felt a little thin. I can count on one hand (and maybe two fingers) the shooters that were truly worth playing. Truxton? Eh. Arrow Flash? Pass. Whip Rush? Not quite.

For me, the turning point came with NEC’s own games. As much as I had been a Master System fan and assumed I’d be all-in on the Genesis, everything changed when I saw Sidearms on the TurboGrafx. And then Keith Courage sealed the deal. There was something about NEC’s games—their color palette, their style, their energy—that made me rethink my console loyalties.

Looking back, the story of Sega, Johnny Turbo, and NEC’s attempt to shake up the market is more than just a footnote in gaming history. It was a clash of titans, driven by passionate teams and bold marketing strategies. Sega ultimately won the 16-bit battle, but the TurboGrafx still carved out a niche, and its legacy endures among retro enthusiasts. With today’s renewed interest in classic gaming, it would be great to see a revival effort that brings together not just one voice, but the entire chorus of people who made that era so exciting.