Vectorman

Vectorman was Sega's last major attempt to prove Mega Drive still had life. Pre-rendered graphics — a robot made of individually animated 3D spheres — produced a visual effect looking almost 32-bit, directly challenging Donkey Kong Country on SNES. Vectorman was a cleaning robot in a post-apocalyptic future with an environmental message, capable of transforming into different vehicles and shapes. Gameplay was solid run-and-gun with challenging boss patterns. Sega organized a $25,000 prize contest for finding the secret combination. Released during Mega Drive's decline, but remains one of the console's most impressive tech showcases.