The console wars of the late 80's / early 90's were just fantastic.  The Genesis was a massive step up from the NES and was just amazing to behold at that period in time.  I feel as though some of the best side-scrolling shooters were released during this time and because of our graphical advances since, not many of them are made anymore.  Insector X was amazing looking at the time and this game holds a special place in my heart for a less-than-great reason.

<center> https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/8/2/47582_front.jpg
[source](https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/8/2/47582_front.jpg)</center> 

Developed by Taito, this game used very similar controls to pretty much any shooter in the time period in that one button controlled your main weapon which was upgradeable and the second button did a "special" attack, which seemed to be completely random.  

<center> https://segadoes.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/insector-x-u-013.jpg
[source](https://segadoes.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/insector-x-u-013.jpg)</center>

A lot of people are unaware of this because the arcade didn't have much North American market penetration, but the original game was very cartoony and cute whereas the home version of the game had more of a dark and spooky feel to it.  Take the above image as opposed to the original arcade version.  
<center>http://obsoletegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Insector-X-Gameplay-screenshot-3.png
[source](https://alchetron.com/cdn/insector-x-c5c9969f-ed31-4b0e-ab4d-fe4c3cbae20-resize-750.jpg)</center> 

I think most people who aren't children (and perhaps most who are) would say they prefer the more "adult" version of the game.  

This game was basically like every shooter at the time where the stages became gradually more difficult with huge bosses at the end of them all.  The ultimate objective was to kill the Queen Bee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bvi9wA6Wqc
*they didn't make trailers in 1989 for low-level games so here is a longplay video by [Debyaka](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHhQ3eucZHlVRy0GYo6PlKA)*

<h3> My past with the game </h3>

I mentioned that my past with this game is "less-than-great" and is something I feel bad about to this day despite the fact that it happened many years ago:  I was in the attic for some reason and discovered both the Genesis and this cartridge hidden up there pre-Christmas.   I removed the Insector-X game from the box and took it down the street to my buddy's place to play it before it was even gifted to me.  I had actually defeated the game before it was even given to me on Christmas day and had to pretend on the 25th to be excited about a game that I already knew everything about.  

My parents were impressed with how quickly I became really good at this game I had never played before... or at least as much as parents can pretend to be interested in what their kids like, anyway.  I don't know if I ever told them I did this:  I am sure that now, 30 years later, they would probably laugh if they remembered it at all.