History YMMV / Action52

** The theme for ''Ooze'' on the Genesis version, which was done by Nu Romantic Productions, who were responsible for the soundtracks of ''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl'' and ''VideoGame/KidChameleon''.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZlYGN5W2Yg The theme]] from ''Cheetahmen''. No one is sure how it happened, but it did. Additionally, it got many, many remixes on the [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Japanese]] video site Website/NicoNicoDouga.

** The ''Dam Buster'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgsObE_8HHI theme]]. LetsPlay/{{Northernlion}} approves!

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZlYGN5W2Yg The theme]] from ''Cheetahmen''. No one is sure how it happened, especially when every other song on the cartridge ranges from "mediocre" to "Beethoven's Ode to Pain," but it did. Additionally, it got many, many remixes on the [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Japanese]] video site Website/NicoNicoDouga.

* FanNickname: The Haunted Hill main character is unofficially called "Mrs. Tits" by many people, due to WebVideo/AngryVideoGameNerd calling her that in his video on the game.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Who know that Farsight Studios, the developers of the Genesis version, not only survived the failure of the game, but went from strength to strength as developers of casual games, including the well received ''VideoGame/ThePinballArcade''? And that studio founder and producer of the game, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Obernolte Jay Obernolte]], went on to have a successful career in politics, jumping from mayor all the way to being elected to US congress?

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The "Haunted Hill" main character is the only character besides the Cheetahmen to get any sort of attention, mostly due to her sprite having [[GagBoobs noticeable assets]].

* SoBadItWasBetter: The Genesis version of ''Action 52'' is nowhere near as infamous as the NES version, in large part due to actually being fairly competent, yet still subpar. Games in the Genesis version are far less prone to crashing and are at the very least playable, but they're still quite bland, unmemorable, and still lacking in the lack of ambition found with the NES version, which is at least [[SoBadItSGood funnier]] in [[ObviousBeta just how unquestionably busted it is]].

* PortingDisaster: The "[[BlatantLies fixed]]" version of ''Cheetahmen II'' is even worse than the original, as none of the bugs were removed and new ones were inserted.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWXOQD-VAmY Check out the Cheetahmen commercial.]] (Mostly) great animation, the Cheetahmen's personalities stand out, and their voice actors aren't completely terrible. Seriously, this was BEGGING for an AnimatedAdaptation right off the bat. If the games were any good this would have been a no brainer. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcTuEdtvvuQ Here's an 80s show theme done for fun.]]

* PolishedPort: The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version, while still by no means a good game, was a marked improvement over the NES version. At the very least, while the NES version is infamous for how broken and glitchy it is, the games on the Genesis version are all functional and playable.

** In ''Manchester'', you can't pass a certain point because of flames being in the way. However, you can fall through the floor to get past a stack of note blocks.

** In ''Dedant'', the player can [[DenialOfDiagonalAttack only shoot upwards]]. If enemies reach the bottom row, death is almost guaranteed unless you hide at the edges of the screen where no enemy or their projectiles (not even the homing ones) can get you.

** ''Micro Mike'' is probably the hardest game on the cart, in which you fly through a tunnel at breakneck speed and hitting anything kills you.

*** Level 5 in ''Cheetahmen''. This is the first level where you play as Apollo, who has the misfortune of being a TierInducedScrappy, as his only attack is a crossbow that is almost impossible to aim, due to the wonky jumping physics. The enemies and their positions are absolutely ''not'' designed with Apollo's attack in mind, as they are all very small targets that home in on Apollo right below his shots incredibly quickly, making them almost impossible to hit. As if that wasn't bad enough, while this level does contain a warp that lets the player skip it, taking the warp [[GameBreakingBug cause the game to glitch out]], making the warp useless.

* GoodBadBugs: Glitches to get around the glitches. There are many of them, some of which ''have'' to be used to complete the level:
** In ''Manchester'', you can't pass a certain point because of flames being in the way. However, you can fall through the floor and walk past a huge stack of note blocks.

*** Level 5 ''Cheetahmen''. This is the first level where you play as Apollo, who has the misfortune of being a TierInducedScrappy, as his only attack is a crossbow that is almost impossible to aim, due to the wonky jumping physics. The enemies and their positions are absolutely ''not'' designed with Apollo's attack in mind, as they are all very small targets that home in on Apollo right below his shots incredibly quickly, making them almost impossible to hit. As if that wasn't bad enough, while this level does contain a warp that lets the player skip it, taking the warp [[GameBreakingBug cause the game to glitch out]], making the warp useless.

* PolishedPort: The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version, while still by no means a good game, was a marked improvement over the NES version.

*** Level 5 ''Cheetahmen''. This is the first level where you play as Apollo, who has the misfortune of being a TierInducedScrappy, as his only attack is a crossbow that is almost impossible to aim, due to the wonky jumping physics. The enemies and their positions are absolutely ''not'' designed with Apollo's attack in mind, as they are all very small targets that home in Apollo incredibly quickly, making them almost impossible to hit. As if that wasn't bad enough, while this level does contain a warp that lets the player skip it, taking the warp [[GameBreakingBug cause the game to glitch out]], making the warp useless.

** Aries (in the 2nd level) and Hercules can jump in mid-air by pressing jump just after attacking. This trick carried over into ''Cheetahmen 2''.

* JunkRare: Getting an actual cartridge of either ''Action 52'' or ''Cheetahmen 2'' will cost you upwards of at least $300, making it one of the most expensive NES games. But $300 for a unfinished glitchy mess of a game? Not worth it unless you're a collector.

* PortingDisaster: The "[[BlatantLies fixed]]" version of ''Cheetahmen 2'' is even worse than the original, as none of the bugs were removed and new ones were inserted.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong:

** What's more shocking, that's only what it sounds like using a ROM Utility, in-game? ''[[FromBadToWorse Even]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9JK6-OghsI worse.]]''

* GameBreaker: Debug Mode in ''Alfredo and the Fettucini''. It's also required for the final boss, [[spoiler:the original Alfredo]].

** The attempted FanRemake ''VideoGame/Action52Owns'' gave us [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_zwR6Fzz8U this]] rendition of the ''Sombrero'' theme and an absolutely ''rocking'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlbE4x-ABWU rendition]] of the theme of ''Non Human.''

** Also [[AllThereInTheManual interesting to note that the game's manual states]] the Lollipops' story is something about the main character trying to rescue his girlfriend and it gets darker as he goes. Makes you wonder what kind if NightmareFuel the game could have been if it was developed better.

** Also interesting to note that the game's manual states the Lollipops' story is something about the main character trying to rescue his girlfriend and it gets darker as he goes. Makes you wonder what kind if NightmareFuel the game could have been if it was developed better.

** The level 1 theme from ''Lollipops'' is a variation of the [[Music/FrankSinatra Frank]] and Nancy Sinatra duet "Something Stupid."

* AccidentalInnuendo: Some game names are rather unfortunate: "G-Force FGT"[[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke Many interpret the "FGT" as "Faggot."]][[/note]], "They Came...", "Thrusters."

*** Levels 3 and up in ''Bleeps and Blips''