Sega Sends Seven Classics To XBLA

Seven titles from Sega's heyday are coming to Xbox Live Arcade with some added features that weren't included the last time they were re-released as part of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.

Included in Sega's dump of a selection of classic Genesis games for XBLA are Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Phantasy Star 2, Sonic and Knuckles, and Treasure's classic side-scrolling shooter, Gunstar Heroes (which is the only of these titles also coming to PlayStation Network).

Most of these games are already available on the 360 in the form of the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection compilation, which packaged 49 Genesis classics onto a single disc. So, why not just pick that up or why bother to buy the games again if you already own the Ultimate Genesis Collection?

Well, all the multiplayer games will feature network play, which should definitely be interesting for people looking to pick up Gunstar Heroes, a game arguably designed to be played with another person. There are also online leaderboards for comparing high scores and being befuddled by the people who can actually beat Comix Zone.

More importantly, at least for the hardcore Sega fans, is the fact that Sonic and Knuckles will be compatible with the XBLA versions of Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 when it comes to unlocking all the "lock-on" features. You might recall that these features, like being able to play as Knuckles in old Sonic games, used to require you to pop open the top of the Sonic and Knuckles cartridge, and stick in your Sonic 1/2/etc carts into the top. And you wonder why that technology never really took off.