Classic Game Room HD - HERZOG ZWEI on Sega Genesis Part 1

Part 1 of 4. Classic Game Room was the FIRST classic video game review show on the Internet in 1999. Returning in 2008 with new episodes, Classic Game Room breaks out a review of HERZOG ZWEI, the realtime strategy game for the Sega Genesis. Herzog Zwei is a game where you play realtime strategy against an opponent as a transformable jet fighter that turns into a giant robot, like a Transformer (Jetfire anyone?) or a Veritech fighter from Robotech (Jetfire anyone?). Similar in style to Command and Conquer yet different in every way from Command and Conquer, Herzog Zwei is a challenging game that allows you to command an army of tanks, missile launchers, bikes, armored cars and gun turrets and wage war against a mysterious blue alien race of tanks and transforming robots. Capture bases, waste enemy units with your giant Go Bot and blow their headquarters to bits. If you want to learn some tips and tricks and how to play Herzog Zwei watch the four part review for gameplay. Tips and tricks flow out of this gameplay rich review because CGRHD is a master of Herzog Zwei and believes that it needs to come out on Xbox Live Arcade XBLA or PS3 Playstation 3 Network so that the rich multiplayer mode of the game can be brought back to life. Technosoft created this game in 1989 and it was released for the United States version of the Mega Drive (Megadrive) in 1990. The Mega Drive had many games from Technosoft including THUNDER FORCE 2, Thunder Force 3 and Thunder Force 4 (Lightning Force aka Lightening Force). Save your game with codes from Herzog Zwei, and this video series shows some codes for Herzog Zwei along with gameplay tips, tricks and strategy! Classic Game Room was the original classic video game review show on the Internet in 1999-2000, now on DVD. The reviews on the HD series are reviewing PS3, PS2, Genesis, NES, Atari and Xbox 360. XBLA. videos review reviews show

[@Siluvian]

Just bought this at the flea market, PERFECT condition! With the hard case and manual for three dollars!! Guy did not know he had treasure on his hands!

[@monolithgeometry3221]

I think with nearly 45,000 views for this upload alone, Herzog Zwei should be solidified as one of the all -time all great games, not only on Sega Genesis but on any console, any era.....Herzog is obscure and that is the ONLY REASON it hasn't soared into more mainstream popularity. I would love to see this game back in some capacity, and I know i'm not alone.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

65k.... 👍✌️

[@allieboy181]

Yeah I don’t think so bro lol

[@SlowDaddie]

I remember this game. It was like the OG Starcraft. Really awesome. Can't believe my brother and I managed to play it split screen, RTS game with Genesis controllers! Kids nowdays be cryin about Xbox/PS4 controllers for RTS I'm like BITCH back in MY day we had HERZOGZWEI!

[@niklasekelof7319]

I had a 4 hour long battle with my brother which ended in a stalemate due to fully upgraded turrets on all positions. It was epic. Sadly the cartridge stopped working not long after that.

[@GameDeath]

Herzog Zwei is one of the first RTS games in the world produced in 1989. That title itself makes the game kickass up-to-date.

[@eduardobaez1599]

I still love this game to this day.

[@kaox44]

Lord Karnage, I would crush you in this game. I played this game since 1991 to this day.

[@DillTurnips]

Used to play this ALL THE TIME with my cousin. great memories, and great game.

[@ronelm]

Anyone who played this game fell in love with it. It was non stop action and fun till bitter end. Split screen with a friend led to some awesome epic matches.

[@stranger030577]

This is still my favorite game ever. Just watching it makes me want to play it and I haven't played any video games for several years.

[@tonyrodrigues9425]

I have fond memories of this game👍

[@jdunnatl]

I used to play this endlessly back in the day. Excellent game!

[@aerodigital]

This was a true childhood gem, never played it enough. Very advanced for its time. It is like Starcraft but you man one of the vessels, the main vessel. So many wonderful things to say about it. Im going to play on emulator tonight at work.

[@kaox44]

Very underrated game...just like The Guardian of Legend.

[@Grooveraider]

I'll never forget when I picked up Herzog Zwei for $9 from a bargain bin at "The Good Guys" the same year it released in the U.S. It was the best money I ever spent. Zwei got me loving strategic war games like Dune: Battle for Arrakis.

[@MrBito862]

Hours of fun back in da day..miss playing this game

[@SonicFortress]

Still one of my favourites. I was late to it but not by much.was on the megadrive poster and saw the reviews in 89 and it looked great but i didnt pick a copy up until the 90s-might have got it for just £10.and we all played it constantly!

[@arkan5000]

This and Future Cop LAPD were the games that basically made the MOBA genre of today

[@punjab380]

I'd forgotten all about this game I was a Sega guy back in the day I loved this title was good on 2 player mode lol I remembered the music soon as the video started thanks for the nostalgia trip

[@pumataino]

This game is also on my top ten all-time list. I used to spend many hours of my youth playing this game over and over memorizing every level and finding different ways to destroy the enemy base. My best friend in middle school and I could literally spend an entire day locked in an all out battle. Great memories! I wish they would have released this on the Wii's Virtual Console because unlike you, I did sell my original cartridge though I held on to it for over 10 years!

[@Gamer12250366]

I still spend hours playing this game. It's awesome.

[@hemidesign]

best game ever...

[@FireSmithJo]

Was Addicted to this as a kid

[@sinistermoon]

Awesome video man! I can not wait for part 2.

[@Fresjr66]

Wow talk about memories. As a kid I remember wanting to buy this game soo bad but the game store only had 1 copy only for rent. So I rented it as much as I could and played it for hours and hours lol This is by far my most favourite game I played on my sega back in the day lol thx for the post, good memories :)

[@TresobYr]

I concur! This is one of the best, most satisfying games ever made. Not only is the 1P mode utterly addictive, I wasted countless hours playing against friends in the VS. mode. I have no idea why this game hasn't been remade for new systems other than it being a kind of cult classic and no one knowing how to pronounce the title. It also has one of the best musical scores outside of FF and Zelda.

[@xos]

I love how you actually take time to write in the description box so when I've missed the game in the past I can find out even more about it :D

[@RB271]

This game is leaps and bounds ahead of it's time.

[@Skriak]

I didn't realise playing this that it was the first of a new genre! Makes you think... I can't help but wonder if Mark likes many other RTSes now.

[@TheRealSpoony]

Oh and was one of my favs of all time as well

[@Foreststrike]

Possibly THE first and grandfather of all RTS Strategy Games, this is the game that set it off for the genre. =D

[@neonana74]

Many people always say Dune II was the first to invent the RTS genre, but imo it was Herzog Zwei. (I loved both games btw)

[@insanepopcorn]

i loved this game so much, you could individually select tracks from the options menu at the start of the game... I put them on a cassette for my walkman when i was 11.

[@EZDoes1t]

Agreed, one of the best game ever made... I still have my original copy as well. Great review, looking forward to watching the rest now.

[@importon]

This really is an awesome game. for them to put this complex fun and balanced game together in the late 80's when most games were about as deep as a puddle is amazing. I remember winning some matches agains my 4th grade friends that would last all day. very satisfying

[@okeep1]

one of my all-time favorites...

[@Skriak]

4 parts? Wow, Mark loves this game. I feel compelled to give it a go, at the very least.

[@Skriak]

I've played this. It's certainly entertaining, and I can understand Mark's love of it, even if I don't find myself enthralled for too long.

[@JCMac777]

Oh man. I used to play this game a lot.

[@20Lord]

Great game on Sega Mega Drive. I used to love it.

[@oejam]

this is my fav megadrive (genesis) game, i still play this game up to today with a friend of mine, it seems where not the only 2 nuts who love this game to bits, nice

[@JDGuitar82]

Playing this game in two player is so exciting.

[@Synthnode]

I can't believe I missed out on this game. It looks like so much fun. I remember always seeing the title, but I guess I never took an interest, because I couldn't tell what it was about.

[@jashugan007]

Wow, I remember Thexder. I played that on my friend's computer back in the day. The intro played Moonlight Sonata.

[@redxsage]

It always astounds me when game reviewers have over the years stated, "You can't do a Real Time Simulator on a console..." Each time I've noted they obviously had never played 'Herzog Zwei'.

[@GhostOfSide3]

Just bought this off of Ebay, complete, for $30. Taking your recommendation and it looks pretty cool. Never got to play this one "back in the day."

[@Schabistyle]

WOW I just found my Mega Drive Cartdridge of Herzog Zwei. I fortog the name and Im so happy i have found it. Great Game

[@Theorendil]

I bought this game for my Genesis, or MageDrive as it was caled in my country, because of the amazing cover art when I was eight or nine years old. ME and my younger brother played it for a couple of hours and returned it to the store because we couldn't understand what the Frak was going on! We got Fantasia instead... As you can probably tell, I wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed when I was a kid.

[@Kemahudson]

I used to love this game.

[@saigokun]

This looks like a good game. 'Herzog' (One) first appeared on the MSX system in 1988.

[@TheRealSpoony]

This game is now called = AIR MECH free-to-play on steam...not an ad just started playing it....fun fun!!!

[@Relugus]

With so many online games and MMORPGs available, its amazing that no one has used the concept of this game to make an online RTs. Just thinking of what could be done with this game, with the potential for improved A.I. and interface (imagine a DS version; that could totally trump any other RTS by having you controlling the robot/jet AND being able to point and click on the map using the pen).

[@HoosierLine]

Herzog Zwei is German for Duke 2 The last word is pronounced as " Zu-Vi ". In the German language the "W" would be pronounced as a "V" . Thought I would clear that up. Actually studied the German language in grade school way back when. ;-)

[@HoosierLine]

I actually like this game too and thought it was pretty cool for the time. would like to see a remake of it with today's graphics and gameplay.

[@Cosmic_Abraxas]

HoosierLine There is a pseudo remake of this game on Steam. It's called Airmech.

[@OddballAZ]

This was a game before its time.

[@neonana74]

I know, but many video game magazines don't seem to share our opinion. For them the RTS genre starts with Dune II, for me it starts with Herzog Zwei. Maybe there was even a niche product I didn't know that had the first RTS elements.

[@Grooveraider]

That's hilarious, Herzog Zwei was out long before the Dune strategy games.

[@YadonTheCat]

Wow, what an interesting game!

[@PuppetMasterKuruku]

Herzog Zwei is, indisputably, a must-play. The kind of thing where you just quit your websurfing and review reading, give the game some time to learn how to play, and probably end up adding it to your list of personal favorites. The fact that it hasn't appeared on any services like GameTap, XBLA, or the Virtual Console is disappointing. I wish it could've been in Sega Genesis Collection (though it would've been 3rd-party) along with Toejam & Earl, which was absent for no good reason.

[@Xevonarin]

Wow awesome music, sadly I no longer have a genesis, but I will download this for an emulator :)

[@ThisIsEDX]

Herzog Drei would be an awesome game.

[@Windsail7]

wow ive been looking for this game

[@ultris07]

There's apparently a Remake of this game on the Xbox 360 under the title of "AirMech Arena", as it is very similar and offers different styles of fighting. Check it out if you can. It's currently free and is multi-player, you can also have more than two people in a match. It offers a level up system which is unique, in that it only works per map. Meaning you can't take your stats into the next map. There are some challenges, but you are not required to do them, EXCEPT for the solo mission intro challenges. It's really challenging and highly worth the grab, in my opinion.

[@aquapendulum]

Wow, the first RTS ever made!

[@LocoGlimmerMan]

Great Video and awesome memories of Herzog Zwei. The remake is called "Airmech." check it out on google chrome. it's great to see it again in today's graphics.

[@Humster]

The memories....

[@AnnoyingAssassin]

Wow, this is like Supreme Commander's dad with how the concept works!

[@Relugus]

Running out of fuel or damage cause your plane to explode; hovering over one of your bases will repair and refuel you. You make vehicles and units by switching to the menu screen and selecting a unit and command for the unit then pressing A. You then have to wait for them to be made. Once made you carry them and drop them to where you want to put them, you can also pick them up and repair/refuel them by hovering over a base you control.

[@IcarusAsbestos]

This is my favorite Genesis game ever. I wish I still had my old genesis cart. I should have never sold this game.

[@vittau]

This game reminds me of Unreal Tournament's Onslaught mode. Also, that intro was soooo Thunder Force hehe (also by Techno Soft). =P

[@godsadog]

well true there are not many games with german titles but i used to see a few during my lifespan xD But I figuered out that Japanese like to use German titles, f.e. for mangas ("Elfenlied") and computer games. Yeah German sounds pretty strange if it's not ur mother language, that's the reason why I don't see why to use German game titles at all. Once again: I love your reviews, you are the best game reviewer for me on youtube and you are getting better at it every episode! Thx!

[@IdeonFukkatsu]

This reminds me of warhawk on ps3. Mainly the base capturing part.

[@Wexfyf]

My favorite genesis game is thunder force 2, but I've never seen the first one.

[@Jebula999]

Airmech is the modern version of this game

[@ImperialPimp]

Its really hard ! Best to play it against a friend. Some of our highschool-era battles lasted 6, 8 even 10 HOURS !! The Sega Genesis transformer & machine would get REALLY HOT then!!

[@thesynthguy_1428]

2:49 Is crap flashing all over the screen supposed to happen? Or is it just my macbook? EDIT: I don't see it anymore, odd

[@rapforlifeman2875]

+asher collier im sorry to say bro but it must be your skux macbook

[@thesynthguy_1428]

No it's not my MacBook I played the video on my phone and it's still there

[@rapforlifeman2875]

asher collier i was joking mr minecraft

[@thesynthguy_1428]

Eh, I'm not a huge fan of minecraft anymore. I just won't bother to change the profile pic

[@rapforlifeman2875]

asher collier if ur wondering why my profile is mlp my sis trolled me lol

[@CaptainLumpyDog]

@LegendaryMysticGohan Yesss! Yesss! Best Transforming Police Game EVAR.

[@IcefrenzyXD]

We need a sequel

[@nibelung34343]

my top 5 favorite games 1ddr 2gradius 3 flightsimulator 4street fighter 5 metroid

[@RetroBirdGaming]

After hunting this game on ebay for so long, I finally got it for 15 bucks.

[@Soulmindseeker]

@immaculatus - COOL , Thanks , it´s so nice know the meaning of games´names .

[@ryanc519]

what causes your plane to explode? What are the functions of the different robots? How do you make them? I am pretty much clueless.

[@ThePacosWorld]

Dose anyone know where to download this game or possibly buy it

[@patrickshort1246]

Airmech came out and is on steam it is similar and takes the idea from this

[@garywintle8023]

There's emulators such as Kega Fusion. The game is quite hard to find in cartridge form but not impossible. My brother got it and its an amazing two player experience. Its one of the best games on the Megadrive.

[@TradingWithAnEDGE]

Best game ever (Duke 2)!!

[@ryanc519]

Could anyone please briefly teach me how to play this game? I got the import version of this and simply could not understand the mechanics behind this game. Please help thanks.

[@nilocke]

Good memories of being destroyed by my big brother for entire weekends at a time with this game.

[@cheef825]

also on steam!

[@punjab380]

You should do "gain ground" it was another of my favorite Sega games I'd like to see it reviewed by someone

[@DEFkon001]

I had this game! I loaned it to a friend.. who loaned to a friend.. that moved roughly 1,500 miles away. Except I never knew it... I just thought i lost it or it was stolen.. Happy ending to that story is that nearly 20 years later he tracked me down on facebook - said "dude I got something of yours I need to mail to you, I've had for far too long." So he mailed me a secret package and when I opened it.. My jaw hit the ground.. OMG OMG OMG I was 12 years old again!! =)

[@VentKerel]

@kurojin97 It's 'Hertsog tswy' with the 'e' pronnounced like the 1st 'e' in 'everything'.

[@CrashNicker]

@aquapendulum Wrong! At least because Herzog Zwei is a sequel to Herzog on the MSX. And Stonkers on ZX Spectrum is often considered to be the first because of... well, it's age.

[@ryanc519]

The ultimate goal is to destroy the blue bomber and its units on the map, right? Or do I have to take over their bases? How do I release the units that I have made and how do I drop them to the appropriate places? There is always a hand signal showing which tells me that I can't make any units, but in fact I have no units on the map.

[@godsadog]

mmh your point is pretty good thanks for your answer

[@adamsholzhaus8196]

You forgot to mention that equipment i.e. tanks, boats, etc have limited fuel and ammo and you can pick them up and hover over a base to resupply them.

[@felicity4711]

I have unpleasant memories of this game. My friend and I rented it. I just wanted to fly the Veritech around, and was depressed when it was more of a strategy game where you manage resources. Im no good at that.

[@synthem9389]

ahh, been looking forward to this review. heard you talk about it so often i became very, very curious indeed. one bit of criticism, though: i'm afraid that after all the parts, i'll probably want to buy this game. once again. yes, CGR directs me straight to the gutter. and don't tell me you didn't put that gutter there, Marc. if i push you into the Grand Canyon, and i shouted at you, while you're falling, "i didn't put the Canyon there!!!", you wouldn't shout back, "oh, okay then!". would you?

[@Grooveraider]

Oh god, my favorite gaming magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Herzog Zwei such low ratings that year in their Review Crew section - I was pissed. Trust me, there were no other RTS games like Zwei at the time. But then the RTS games started springing up on the PC Engine. NEC soon got Nectaris / Military Madness and a few others before Dune II.

[@jetpackman01]

Took me a long time to figure out just what the hell I was doing for a while in this game (I don't have the manual). However, when I did, I had hours of enjoyment.

[@Aberusugi]

Well those people arguing that would fail to realize that Dune 2 came out after HZ. It's a common misconception. HZ is definitely real-time strategy.

[@Indead]

Yeah at my nearby classic game store, they sell this game with box and manual for 50 dollars.