Play ResQ Online

Summary

ResQ was shaping up to be a hidden gem for the Sega Mega Drive, a 2D action title that would have let players pilot a spaceship and then hop out for on‑foot combat. The game was being crafted by Tempest Software under a planned Psygnosis publishing deal, meaning it would have been a true Mega Drive exclusive if it ever saw shelves.

Development took place on 486‑class DOS PCs, while the visual assets were painted in Deluxe Paint II and III on Amiga 1200 machines. A prototype surfaced years later, stamped with an internal copyright from 1993, confirming how close the project came to launch before Psygnosis pulled the plug for reasons that remain unknown.

What really set ResQ apart were its bonus stages: third‑person, on‑the‑rails shooters rendered with primitive 3D polygons, a clear nod to the Super Nintendo’s Star Fox. Those rail‑shoot segments hinted at an early attempt to blend 2D action with a taste of 3D flair on the Genesis platform.