Action 52

Action 52 is an unlicensed multicart video game compilation developed by Active Enterprises for the NES, and Farsight Technologies for the Sega Genesis. The NES version was released in 1991, followed by the Genesis version in 1993. A version of the game for the Super Nintendo was advertised in magazines, but never released.

Action 52 consists of 52 "New and Original" games that cover a variety of genres, with the most common being scrolling shooters and platformers. One of the more notable games is The Cheetahmen, Active's attempt at creating a franchise similar to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Action 52 became notorious among gamers for the poor quality and functionality of its games, and is often considered to be one of the worst games of all-time. Many video game collectors value Action 52 for its notoriety and rarity, as it initially retailed for the comparatively high price of US$199, or "less than $4 for each game".

Gameplay

NES

The games on the NES version cover a variety of genres, the most common being vertical shooters set in outer space and platformers. The games have major glitches, some of which cause them to freeze or crash due to programming flaws; there are also incomplete or endless levels, confusing design, and unresponsive controls. In the manual, each game has a one-sentence description, with some being described as completely different games and others incorrectly described or categorized.