Gemfire

The Good
When this game originally came out, I wasn't that much of a fan of Koei (Nobunaga's Ambition and Romance of the 3 Kingdoms weren't very involving to me), but lately, I've taken a liking to strategy RPGs (Fire Emblem and Ogre Battle for GBA). While Gemfire isn't strictly an RPG (no leveling up characters), it does remind of one of my favorite games for the Amiga--Cinemaware's Defender of the Crown. What differences there are (Gemfire's use of magic, crop-raising and selling, vassal system, strategic battle system, monster system, etc) are generally improvements over DotC and the other Koei games I've played.

The Bad
The graphics are good for a Genesis game of the time, but it's nothing flashy, either--and doesn't hold a candle to Defender of the Crown's visuals. Not much emotion or characterization, and no nude silhouetted make-out scenes by the fire. Plundering and sabotage take part in both games, but it's not as involving in Gemfire. No tournaments for land or glory that I've seen.

The Bottom Line
A strategy/war simulation game set in a land similar to Medieval England (even the province names are familiar sounding and evoke Robin Hood and the Norman invasion), except with magic. You are to prevent the Gemfire--a crown with an unholy jewel with the power to call a powerful fire dragon--from being used to destroy the world.