Menacer

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The Menacer is a wireless lightgun created by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis video game console in 1992, as a response to the Super Scope. The Menacer is made up of three interconnected sections. The main section alone can be used as a pistol. A skeletonized shoulder stock can be added for extra support. The third removable section are twin sights that are clipped on to the top of the barrel. The Twin sights were impractical in use, as one could not effectively see what one was shooting at.

The Menacer is powered by 6 AAA batteries and was not connected by a wire to the console but by an infrared beam that relays signals to a receiver box that would ideally sit on top of the television. The receiver box has to be plugged into the console in the second controller port. The Menacer was advertised as the most accurate light gun ever. The Menacer retailed for $100 (USD).

The Menacer came with an exclusive 6-in-1 cartridge of mostly target shooting games. The games included on the cartridge are: Pest Control, Space Station Defender, Whack Ball, Front Line, Rockman's Zone, and Ready, Aim Tomatoes! -- the latter stars SEGA franchise characters ToeJam and Earl. While most games utilize the light gun as a means to shoot down objects, Whack Ball actually utilized the Menacer as a mouse of sorts. The Menacer works fully with the Sega CD, even though that system had two different light guns developed for it.

Sega and third-party developers did not develop many games for the Menacer. The only compatabile Genesis games that were made available in the United States were the 6-in-1 cartridge that was bundled with the peripheral, and T2: The Arcade Game. All other US Menacer games were for the 32X and/or Sega CD.

Radica Games has manufactured an all-in-one game based on the Menacer. The unit has the games from the 6-in-1 cartridge built into it.