SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection review

Segas Mega Drive Ultimate Collection (also known as Sonics Ultimate Genesis Collection in different countries) takes 40 games that appeared on the 16-bit console and puts them onto one handy disc with a simple menu so you can get straight into them with little fuss. Games include:-

  • Alex Kidd In The Enchanted Castle
  • Alien Storm
  • Altered Beast
  • Beyond Oasis
  • Bonanza Bros.
  • Columns
  • Comix Zone
  • Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
  • Dr. Robotnik’s MBM
  • Dynamite Headdy
  • Ecco The Dolphin
  • Ecco II: The Tides Of Time
  • E-Swat
  • Fatal Labyrinth
  • Flicky
  • Gain Ground
  • Golden Axe I
  • Golden Axe II
  • Golden Axe III
  • Kid Chameleon
  • Phantasy Star II
  • Phantasy Star III: Generations Of Doom
  • Phantasy Star IV: The End Of The Millennium
  • Ristar
  • Shining In The Darkness
  • Shining Force
  • Shining Force 2
  • Shinobi III: Return Of The Ninja Master
  • Sonic 3D Blast
  • Sonic And Knuckles
  • Sonic Spinball
  • Sonic The Hedgehog
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 3
  • Streets Of Rage
  • Streets Of Rage 2
  • Streets Of Rage 3
  • Super Thunder Blade
  • Vectorman
  • Vectorman 2

However there are a few gems in here I remember from the past so it was interesting and nostalgic to have another fiddle with them. Notably, the games I was most excited about were Golden Axe, Altered Beast and Streets of Rage. Of course there were others I was curious to play too having never played them, including the Golden Axe sequels, Shinobi III and the Phantasy Star RPGs.

So, what you get is the original games playing through what must be an emulator on the disc. There are limited continues on some of the arcade titles but it’s nice to see you can pause the game and save the state in one of three save slots. Of course this means you can save as you go and see later levels from games you’ve never seen before. Altered Beast was one of those games, I never knew you turned into a Tiger as well!

On the back of the box it says the games are ‘now in HD’ but this isn’t really the case. In fact, playing these lo-res games on a 42” HD plasma TV shows every pixel in the game and weirdly they did look better playing on a small CRT telly back in the early 90s. They have included a ‘smoothing’ mode which attempts to fix the pixilation but this actually makes everything looks like it’s been coated in wax and in some ways ruins the nostalgia.

Of course, Sonic’s in there too but I’ve never been a Sonic fan so these ones haven’t been touched. And if you liked playing Ecco the Dolphin back in the day, that’s in there too. Annoyingly, there’s no Revenge of Shinobi which, for me anyway, goes down as one of the best 2D platform fighting games ever made.

So, is it worth the money – especially if you’ve already shelled out for some Sega classics before on the Wii and on the Xbox Live Marketplace? If you’re under 25 I’d leave this one well alone. These games are only really fun because they remind older gamers of a time when gaming was more simple and immediate. It also brings back loads of memories. For anyone that didn’t play these first time around, they’re really nowhere near as good as people remember them and you really are best playing the games of today.

There’s plenty in here to keep older gamers amused and there’s extra trivia and unlockable videos as you go, not to mention lots of easy achievements and trophies to earn. This latest collection from Sega gets 6 out of 10.

SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection review pics

SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection review screenshots

Related: Sonic Chronicles The Dark Brotherhood review, Sonic Unleashed review, Youtube SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection review

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1 Response

  1. GiantHaystax says:

    Nice production values on the video. bit of a harsh review though I think. Personally I think it gives good value for money. I think this kind of pack appeals to both younger and old gamers. Young gamers can enjoy the simplicity of them and bright colour/cartoon style presentation. Older gamers like them for the nostalgia. Gamers in between these 2 age groups i.e teenagers don’t like them because there nowhere near today’s standards and can’t enjoy them on any level.