Over 40 classic Genesis and Master System titles are being featured in the biggest collection of Sega titles ever assembled.
How many times has the Sonic the Hedgehog series been bundled together? Off the top of my head, I count six. But what about Sega's landmark RPG series, Phantasy Star? Did that obscure Sega Saturn release ever come bundled with the likes of Kid Chameleon or Comix Zone? Much to the chagrin of those who have purchased their collections in the past, Sega is firing its proverbial load into what amounts to the biggest collection of Sega classics ever assembled, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The collection itself contains over 40 titles (which can be viewed below, sans unlockable games) from the very best of Sega's Genesis and Master System era. From the original Phantasy Star series to obscure favorites like Beyond Oasis and Decap Attack, gamers will find it tough to choose a favorite amongst the bunch.
While the list of included titles is extremely impressive, Sega's previous track record in bringing its vintage games into the HD-era calls for cautious optimism. Having already released Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2 and Golden Axeon Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade platform, we've seen what happens when these classic titles are processed at higher resolutions without proper care, with the visuals appearing as though someone slathered Vaseline all over your television.
It's also disappointing to see that this collection, being offered as a full retail release, may be lacking features from their online-enabled XBLA counterparts, with Sega claiming that you may "Play these classics together with a friend from the same console at home." As a consolation prize, Sega does promise unlockable content in the form of developer interviews, achievements (as well as trophies for PS3 users) and extra games. If I may be so bold as to make a prediction to that last point, I have a strong feeling that we'll be counting Sonic 2 & Knuckles as well as Sonic 3 & Knuckles as unlockable titles. Call it a hunch.
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is currently scheduled for Winter 2009 and is set for a retail price of $29.95. The gargantuan list of included titles are as follows.
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
Dr. Robotnik's MBM Golden Axe I Golden Axe II Golden Axe III Sonic and Knuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Streets of Rage Streets of Rage 2 Streets of Rage 3
What I never get about these collections is that I can fit hundreds of ROMs plus an emulator onto a DVD. So why does a collection only feature 40 games?
AuntyEthel: What I never get about these collections is that I can fit hundreds of ROMs plus an emulator onto a DVD. So why does a collection only feature 40 games?
AuntyEthel: What I never get about these collections is that I can fit hundreds of ROMs plus an emulator onto a DVD. So why does a collection only feature 40 games?
Price concerns?
How expensive can it really be to knock out a compilation like this as opposed to designing and programming a complex 3d game?
If Knuckles Chaotix doesn't make it on there, I'll eat my 32x.
Also I know for a fact that EVERY Genesis game ever made (incl. 32x) will fit onto a single DVD. With only a leeetle compression. And they're still playable in that form. (A good number of emulators seem to support .zip'd ROMs now?)
Well at least I can feel sorta good about this. I may not own a PS3 but the value of the game versus buying each game on the wii's VC is about a hundred times cheaper. Glad I did not buy any of those games.
I will definitely be picking this up. Shining Force, Phantasy Star, Golden Axe, Sonic, Streets of Rage - that's exactly what I'd list as my Genesis top picks.
Mstrswrd: They still havn't put Phantasy Star onto a compilation disc, so I'm going to have II, III, and IV, and not be able to play them.
If you really want to play Phantasy Star, I suggest the GBA Phantasy Star Collection. I wouldn't hold off just for the first one though - the later ones are much better. I'm very happy about Phantasy Star IV showing up though.
Virgil: If you really want to play Phantasy Star, I suggest the GBA Phantasy Star Collection. I wouldn't hold off just for the first one though - the later ones are much better. I'm very happy about Phantasy Star IV showing up though.
Oh... thank you... I didn't even know that existed.
The list is really darn nice, especially the fact that it contains Streets of Rage and Phantasy Star on a single disk. No Strider? C'mon Sega, the people want Strider!
wow!!! my all time favorites are all here ->> shinning force, golden axe, fantasy stars, streets of rage!!! you get my cash sega!... umm.. maybe not... i'll go dig my closet for my megadrive and these cartridges :P (yep.. its called megadrive here)
I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
With free emulators and oh-so-hackable Xbox 1's for like $50 (hell, even an old Pentium 3 PC would probably emulate these games well), I seriously have to wonder who still buys these compilation discs. I mean, I think every gamer that's been around for more than 5 years already owns 90% of these games in some form or another.
Sega's just trying to make a quick buck, all to fund the next crappy Sonic game. Once again, they have earned my ire.
Indigo_Dingo: I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
What?! You're a new gamer? Oh.... well.... I'm sorry. ;D
Looks like a pretty good list, I wanna know what the unlockables are gonna be as well though and let's hope they don't retail it at the price of a full game.
Indigo_Dingo: I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
Take it from a guy who came in a little earlier than you, some of these are really ****ing fun, When the Pricetag for us Aussies comes out see if you should wait. in the mean time, Youtube should give you an idea on each game.
In other news WHERE THE FUCK IS MY SONIC CD YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!
Indigo_Dingo: I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
What?! You're a new gamer? Oh.... well.... I'm sorry. ;D
Looks like a pretty good list, I wanna know what the unlockables are gonna be as well though and let's hope they don't retail it at the price of a full game.
When doi you have to enter gaming to be considered old school? I think 3 generations as a passionte gaming officially moves me out of "new".
Indigo_Dingo: I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
What?! You're a new gamer? Oh.... well.... I'm sorry. ;D
Looks like a pretty good list, I wanna know what the unlockables are gonna be as well though and let's hope they don't retail it at the price of a full game.
When doi you have to enter gaming to be considered old school? I think 3 generations as a passionte gaming officially moves me out of "new".
Indigo_Dingo: I have no idea what any of those games are - I came into gaming in the 5th generation (with the N64, I didn't cross that way). As such, I have no reason to think this would be any good.
What?! You're a new gamer? Oh.... well.... I'm sorry. ;D
Looks like a pretty good list, I wanna know what the unlockables are gonna be as well though and let's hope they don't retail it at the price of a full game.
When doi you have to enter gaming to be considered old school? I think 3 generations as a passionte gaming officially moves me out of "new".
Usually, the border is between SNES and N64.
That was last generation. Logically now we move it up another console generation.
Eventually people who started in the 7th are going to have to be considered older gamers.
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Sega Announces Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Over 40 classic Genesis and Master System titles are being featured in the biggest collection of Sega titles ever assembled.
How many times has the Sonic the Hedgehog series been bundled together? Off the top of my head, I count six. But what about Sega's landmark RPG series, Phantasy Star? Did that obscure Sega Saturn release ever come bundled with the likes of Kid Chameleon or Comix Zone? Much to the chagrin of those who have purchased their collections in the past, Sega is firing its proverbial load into what amounts to the biggest collection of Sega classics ever assembled, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The collection itself contains over 40 titles (which can be viewed below, sans unlockable games) from the very best of Sega's Genesis and Master System era. From the original Phantasy Star series to obscure favorites like Beyond Oasis and Decap Attack, gamers will find it tough to choose a favorite amongst the bunch.
While the list of included titles is extremely impressive, Sega's previous track record in bringing its vintage games into the HD-era calls for cautious optimism. Having already released Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2 and Golden Axeon Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade platform, we've seen what happens when these classic titles are processed at higher resolutions without proper care, with the visuals appearing as though someone slathered Vaseline all over your television.
It's also disappointing to see that this collection, being offered as a full retail release, may be lacking features from their online-enabled XBLA counterparts, with Sega claiming that you may "Play these classics together with a friend from the same console at home." As a consolation prize, Sega does promise unlockable content in the form of developer interviews, achievements (as well as trophies for PS3 users) and extra games. If I may be so bold as to make a prediction to that last point, I have a strong feeling that we'll be counting Sonic 2 & Knuckles as well as Sonic 3 & Knuckles as unlockable titles. Call it a hunch.
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is currently scheduled for Winter 2009 and is set for a retail price of $29.95. The gargantuan list of included titles are as follows.
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
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