Update #3: The final 10 games for the upcoming Sega Mega Drive Mini have been revealed including two surprise extra games in the form of a brand new port of Darius from Taito - a game which never originally came to the Mega Drive (although Darius II did) - and possibly the rarest game on the system, Tetris! Here is the entire batch of games to be included on the Genesis / Mega Drive Mini in the west, with the region exclusives at the top:
Mega Drive Mini - Complete Western Games List
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (region exclusive)
- Altered Beast (region exclusive)
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (region exclusive, sort of - it's essentially a reskinned Puyo Puyo)
- Earthworm Jim (region exclusive)
- Ecco the Dolphin (region exclusive)
- Eternal Champions (region exclusive)
- Kid Chameleon (region exclusive)
- Light Crusader (region exclusive)
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (region exclusive)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (region exclusive)
- ToeJam & Earl (region exclusive)
- Vectorman (region exclusive)
- Virtua Fighter 2 (region exclusive)
- Alisia Dragoon
- Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light)
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Comix Zone
- Columns
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Darius - brand new port!
- Dynamite Headdy
- Ghouls 'n Ghosts
- Golden Axe
- Gunstar Heroes
- Landstalker
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Monster World IV
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Road Rash II
- Shining Force
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier II
- Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition
- Streets of Rage 2
- Strider
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Tetris - ridiculously rare version!
- Thunder Force III
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
The full Japanese lineup was revealed via a Famitsu livestream featuring legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro himself. The Japanese version of the plug-and-play console has a couple of deep cuts and rare titles for fans - here's the full list of 42 games the console will have when it launches September this year, with the absolute exclusives at the top followed by the games only available on the two Asian variants:
Mega Drive Mini - Complete Japanese Games List
- Dyna Brothers 2 (region exclusive)
- Lord Monarch (region exclusive)
- Madou Monogatari I (region exclusive)
- Party Quiz Mega Q (region exclusive)
- Rent A Hero (region exclusive)
- The Hybrid Front (region exclusive)
- Yu Yu Hakusho Makyo Toitsusen (region exclusive)
- Assault Suits Leynos (JP and Asia only)
- Game no Kanzume Otokoyou - a Japan-only Sega Channel compilation featuring the following twelve games: 16t, Flicky, Putter Golf, Hyper Marbles, Shi no Meikyuu, Medal City, Paddle Fighter, Ikasuze! Koi no Doki Doki, Penguin Land MD, Pyramid Magic, Robot Battler, Teddy Boy Blues and Aworg (JP and Asia only)
- Langrisser II (JP and Asia only)
- MUSHA Aleste (JP and Asia only)
- Wrestleball (Powerball) (JP and Asia only)
- Puyo Puyo 2 (JP and Asia only)
- Puzzle & Action: Tant-R (JP and Asia only)
- Slap Fight MD (JP and Asia only)
- Snow Bros. (JP and Asia only)
- The Revenge of Shinobi (The Super Shinobi) (JP and Asia only)
- Alisia Dragoon
- Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light)
- Castlevania Bloodlines (Vampire Killer)
- Comix Zone
- Columns
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Darius
- Dynamite Headdy
- Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Daimakaimura)
- Golden Axe
- Gunstar Heroes
- Landstalker
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars (Rockman: Mega World)
- Monster World IV
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Road Rash II
- Shining Force
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier II
- Street Fighter II Dash Plus: Champion Edition
- Streets of Rage II (Bare Knuckle II)
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Tetris
- Thunder Force III
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
It was a brilliant surprise to see Sega bringing a 'new' game to the console, similar to Nintendo with previously unreleased Star Fox 2 on the Super Nintendo Classic Mini.
Finally, as if that wasn't enough, there's also a third variant that the rest of Asia outside Japan will receive. This version includes a mix of games from the Japanese and western consoles, plus five region exclusives.
Mega Drive Mini - Complete Asian Games List
- Alien Soldier (region exclusive)
- Puyo Puyo (region exclusive)
- Out Run 2019 (region exclusive)
- Shining Force II (region exclusive)
- Sword of Vermilion (region exclusive)
- Alisia Dragoon
- Assault Suits Leynos
- Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light)
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Comix Zone
- Columns
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'n Ghosts)
- Darius
- Game no Kanzume Otokoyou
- Golden Axe
- Gunstar Heroes
- Landstalker
- Langrisser II
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars (Rockman: Mega World)
- Monster World IV
- Musha Aleste
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Puyo Puyo 2
- Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
- Road Rash II
- Shining Force
- Slap Fight MD
- Snow Bros.
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier II
- Streets of Rage II (Bare Knuckle II)
- Strider
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Tetris
- The Super Shinobi (The Revenge of Shinobi)
- Thunder Force III
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
- Wrestleball (Powerball)
If you're thinking about reserving a Genesis / Mega Drive Mini, check out our pre-order guide for more information.
Update #2: Sega has confirmed the third batch of 10 games to be included on the Genesis / Mega Drive Mini in the west when it launches September this year. In addition to the 20 previously announced games (see below), the plug-and-play console will include the following:
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition
- Ghouls 'n Ghosts
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
- Beyond Oasis
- Golden Axe
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
- Vectorman
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
Japan gets a slightly altered list as revealed on Dengeki Online's YouTube channel, which includes The Revenge of Shinobi:
- Daimakaimura (Ghouls 'n Ghosts)
- Street Fighter II Dash Plus: Champion Edition
- Rockman: Mega World (Mega Man: The Wily Wars)
- Golden Axe
- The Super Shinobi (The Revenge of Shinobi)
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light
- Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
- Party Quiz Mega Q
- Yu Yu Hakusho Makyo Toitsusen
Not a bad list in either territory, with a strong showing from Capcom, although we'll definitely be looking into importing a six-button pad from Japan for Street Fighter. Spinball is unlikely to be the Sonic game the majority of western fans were hoping for, but there are 10 more games to come in the final announcement scheduled for June, so watch this space.
Update: Sega has confirmed the next 10 games for the upcoming Genesis / Mega Drive Mini in the west. They are:
- Earthworm Jim
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Streets of Rage 2
- Thunder Force III
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Landstalker
Several of these had been revealed a little earlier on a Famitsu live stream. The 10 new announcements for the Japanese edition of the mini console are as follows:
- Thunder Force III
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Musha Aleste
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
- Bare Knuckle II
- The Hybrid Front
- Landstalker
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Dyna Brothers 2
- Game no Kanzume Otokoyou
That final one is a Japan-only Sega Channel compilation featuring twelve games (16t, Flicky, Putter Golf, Hyper Marbles, Shi no Meikyuu, Medal City, Paddle Fighter, Ikasuze! Koi no Doki Doki, Penguin Land MD, Pyramid Magic, Robot Battler, Teddy Boy Blues and Aworg).
The big surprises on those lists are Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion. Sega's classic Disney games have been largely absent from modern systems and seeing this gives us hope that Quackshot might see the light of day too.
Original Story: Last September, Sega decided to delay the release of the Mega Drive Mini / Genesis Mini after the response to the announcement here in the west was bigger than it expected. The company also explained how it also wanted to achieve a level of quality fans would expect and brought in proven Japanese developers to help out.
Sega has now announced the system will launch worldwide on 19th September. It will be priced at 6,980 yen or 8,980 yen if you want two of the USB-based controllers. The device will include all the necessary cables and a total of 40 titles, with the first 10 for Japan now confirmed (thanks Gematsu).
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Puyo Puyo Tsu
- Shining Force
- Vampire Killer
- Wrestleball
- Gunstar Heroes
- Comix Zone
- Rent A Hero
- Space Harrier II
- Madou Monogatari I
In North America, the Genesis will be sold for $79.99 and in Europe the Mega Drive equivalent will cost €69.99 or €79.99 if you want two controllers. Both of the systems in these regions come packaged with the original 3-button controllers (see below). The library of games for the system in these locations is expected to be slightly different as well. Here are the first 10:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier 2
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
In addition to the information about the game line-ups, it's been revealed the talented team at M2 worked on the system's software, while Sega composer Yuzo Koshiro was responsible for the menu music. The miniature console also has HDMI output, four quick-save slot options for each game (allowing for immediate saves) and various language options (with games like Castlevania: Bloodlines changing its title based on the region language).
More details about the system will be shared on 18th April during a Famitsu live stream. Check out our pre-order guide for more information.
Will you be picking up a Sega Mini system this September? Tell us in the comments.
[source gematsu.com, via twitter.com, genesismini.sega.com]
Comments (395)
For sure! Day one buy for me!!
It looks like a quality product like the NES and SNES. The PS Classic was a joke!
Cool. I'm going to have to buy it just because it looks great 😅
$90 seems fair for a legacy system and forty games along with two controllers to play with family.
@Games isn't here for once
THANK THE LORD
You have no idea how mad I was when I got one of the genesis @games classic editions
@PBandSmelly
@games oh sorry for the ping, I was reffering to the company of the same name lol
Will the North American version be Genesis branded?
So Sega is taking a page from Sony and not reveal the entire game list? Fine by me but the final list better be impressive, at least they now decided to include some third party games on there like Castlevania: Bloodlines (Vampire Killer by Konami) and Powerball (Wrestleball by Namco). Well let's see what we'll get in September as the year comes by, hopefully North America gets a much better game list than the Japanese ones.
I’ve heard the Mega Drive wasn’t that popular in Japan with the Super Famicom having vastly dominated that market. (Edit about 4 million vs 17 million units sold) Does anyone know how the Mega Drive is currently viewed in Japan?
Is the west going to get a different lineup?
Because that lineup is already including a couple text-heavy Japanese-exclusives.
Rent-A-Hero has a fan translation but Madou Monogatari I I don't believe has even that.
I'll have to see the rest of the games before I decide on buying this. The Sega Genesis classics game has 50 of these games already to go, right? I'm guessing if it's hackable like the NES/SNES then that would be an X factor for me. Lots of hidden gems I'd put on there.
Here's hoping it's a quality product!
I'm going to wait if it don't have Chakan The Forever Man and Clayfighter on it I'm not buying it.
Not news for me but I know there are a lot of sega fans out there. Good for them.
M2 is doing the emulation and the software so it should be great. Let’s see the full game list and see maybe how/if it can be modded but this is looking much, much more promising than it did a year ago when it was going to be just another AtGames piece.
This is the first time Castlevania Bloodlines sees a re-release in any form!
I'm also interested in Madou Monogatari - if the international version doesn't include it, I'll be a bit sad.
Sounds like M2 is handling the emulation chores, which is certainly good news and assures us of high quality emulation. It's just a shame it's only happening now in 2019, when I don't have any need for it thanks to Analogue.
I hope AtGames is involved to a degree here. They got a lot of well deserved flak, but tried hard in 2017 to revamp their product and nearly got it perfected with the stealth release of their 2018 model.
So while I don't have much sympathy for them after so many years of no attempt at improvements, I imagine it's a disappointment for those at the company that finally spearheaded major improvements, to now be out of the picture.
So I wouldn't mind seeing Sega toss them a bone here, and take advantage of their retail connections and knowledge of the plug and play market with them handling distribution chores in North America. Getting product in this category onto store shelves year in and year out is the one thing AtGames excelled at for years.
This will lose my purchase if it skips out on Shinobi or Streets Of Rage.
Is it too late for Sega to redesign the Genesis/Mega Drive controllers? I have always hated them. Having those three big face buttons side by side was so awkward.
Hopefully Castlevania: Bloodlines is included in the American game line-up as well. Toejam and Earl and Contra: Hard Corps would be extremely welcome, too.
Sounds like the Genesis is finally getting the retro console it deserves.
@Ralizah Don't forget Mercs and Ghouls 'n' Ghosts from Capcom.
While this is cool to have as a collector's item, it's incredibly easy to just mod your SNES Classic and get all of these games on there. (Bought the Sega Genesis Classics collection for Switch, so I don't feel bad at all about it)
Hmm those look like usb controllers which is a little disappointing. However I am trying to zoom in on low quality pics so hopefully I am wrong. I am on the fence now that Analogue’s system is out. The game choice will decide for me.
Or... There are 50 games in the Mega Drive Classics collection for like fifteen quid, and you're not limited to the horrible Mega Drive controller.
Kind of tempting just for Bloodlines (Vampire Killer).
@Ryu_Niiyama
Why would you have to make a choice between this or the Mega SG? They are both completely different products offering different things.
@8itmap_k1d
And it comes with awful emulation for free! An even better bargain.
@8itmap_k1d
There's not 50 games on the Genesis collection for switch though. It's all sega games, no third party games at all! Heck they don't even have Sonic 3 or Sonic and Knuckles included in it either!
Edit: Checked my copy and it does have 50 games. Still no 3rd party or Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles.
@GameOtaku
That's where you'll want to mod it onto your SNES Classic, because I highly doubt this mini console will have Sonic 3 either due to licensing issues with the music.
@Spudtendo
There is no license problem with the music. It has been included in collections after Jacksons death with no troubles. It's just oversight on Segas part.
What snes mini? I don't own one nor do I want to.
@GameOtaku
I knew they'd released it before, but I thought that had been their excuse for not putting it on the latest Sega Classics collection for Switch/etc. My bad.
I don't see an AtGames logo... I just might buy this.
Looking at the side, there's no chance of a Mini Sega CD or Mini 32X in the coming years.
(well, okay... CD probably wouldn't be that great. I can't recall how worthwhile non-FMV first party games aside from Sonic CD there are. Shining Force CD yes. Maybe there's a chance of Final Fight CD. The rest I can think of wanting are unlikely third-party games like the Lunars and Keio. Dungeon Explorer seemed nice. And there was a shooter that somehow managed to get what looked like a free-motion 3D effect. Was that Soulstar?
Also Lords of Thunder. It's probably a downgrade from the TurboCD original but still better that than no re-release.)
I hope it has a headphone jack like the Genesis 1.
Speedball 2 Brutal Deluxe > Powerball
For those who don't know but still want this, just cross your finger that this thing could be mod later on cause I heard that Sega and M2 are not going to include every game from a franchise on this mini (unlike AtGames) for example franchise series like Vectorman, Ecco the Dolphin, Streets of Rage, Sonic the Hedgehog, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Outrun, Columns, Thunderforce, Phantasy Star, and Shining Force will only get one entry included on this mini with the rest of the slots for other Sega games or third party titles. That means if a particular game from a franchise such as Sonic 2 is already confirm for this, then yeah don't expect another entry of the same franchise such as Sonic 3 and Knuckles to be on here. Those 40 games will be a variety of different entry from different franchise.
@iescalie1
Seen the ps classic for $40 today at target smh
I wasn’t hugely interested but if M2 on board, first day purchase now
Will have to see the full list of games. Unless it's vastly different to this
https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/sega_mega_drive_classics
Then I'm not really sure what the point would be (other than being a collectors item)
Growing up I was very much a Nintendo kid, a few friends did have a Mega drive so I am familiar with them from playing at their houses etc but it doesn't have the same charm for me as the Snes mini
@retro_player_22
Both Puyo Puyo Tsu and Madou Monogatari 1 are included, and both games star Arle Nadja as the player protagonist. ...I guess that doesn't really count as being in the same series though.
With M2 handling the software, Ill actually buy this now.
Not sure if I like what they did with the poll, making people choose between two entries in a series, thus leaving out games that should be here.
Different line-ups for different regions... We all know why they did it.
Wasn’t interested until I heard “M2”....
Are not those games the same that are in the Sega classics for switch? If yes, I see no point on double dipping.
@Moroboshi876 Nintendo made the same. NES and SNES mini also have different line ups for different regions (even different designs for three regions). I had to import the other two versions =P
Welp- looks like I’m gonna camp out for this one like I did for my SNES Classic. Totally worth it.
Anybody else aching for a GameCube or N64 mini? Heck- what about GB GBC GBA minis???
@8itmap_k1d That is why I do not quite get why some people seem so mind blown by this news! Or that anyone is surprised by it. I understand that people are very assured that the emulation will be better, but I honestly don't think that I would notice a massive difference. I am also much happier being able to play them on the bus/train with the Switch. Cool that Sega are doing it though! Nintendo are trend setters :0)
@setezerocinco I think that we will see a few differences here and there...also ten less of them.
@setezerocinco I know, but I have the feeling this time they will be very different. And doesn't make it more right anyway.
Put Soleil/Crusader of Centy on there and all pay whatever your want
Needs support from EA. It's just not the same for me without Road Rash, Desert Strike, EA Hockey, Madden'92 and Bulls vs. Lakers. OK maybe just Road Rash would do it.
I’ll wait for the Digital Foundry analysis. John Lineman for president!
Looks like Sega are actually doing things right, M2 involved, wired controllers but you can already buy the mega drive classics package on all current gen consoles so aside from the Nostalgia what's the point? Now If it was a Saturn mini then that be different a must own.
Definitely want one. Delighted M2 are handling the emulation. Excited to see the full game list (and hope more can be added through modding like the NES/SNES minis). Love these mini systems. N64 mini next please or PC-Engine mini.
@GameOtaku I have Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the PC version of the collection. And the collection has 50% more games for a third of the price.
I'm not saying people shouldn't go for this if the emulation is especially good, I'm just suggesting that buying the much larger collection on PC plus two USB pads would still be cheaper than this piece of hardware.
I hope the inclusion of Castlevania Bloodlines here doesn't preclude its inclusion on the forthcoming Castlevania Anniversary Collection.
Picked up the Analogue option expecting the worst from this thing, but M2 is amazing. They do impeccable emulation work
Give me Sunsetriders or give me death!
Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Make it happen Sega.
Providing this is good quality, hell yeah, I'm buying it!
After the mess that was the ps1 mini i refuse to get excited over this until it's confirmed not to be trash
@Wesker those games are like £3 at the most for the cartridges. Also not hard to source.
Please have Warsong.
Would love it if they included some Mega CD games, would like to see the original Wolf Team Games.
But at least put some games on that have not been part of compilations (Micro Machines, Castle of Illusion, Sub Terrainia, or get EA on board Road Rash 2, Desert Strike etc)
It sounds so promising. Especially with M2 bringing the games over.
Just please be good.......We are looking forward to re-enacting the 16 bit wars in our home 😁
Playing Landstalker right now on the classics collection in Switch. Man if only I knew sega had games like that back then. It definitely belongs on this little machine.
@EarthboundBenjy surely bloodlines will be on the castlevania collection
Someone needs to remind Sega that the Saturn and Dreamcast existed and both have a great library of games that should be resurrected! I mean the Genesis/MD were great but they're released these games 20 times already, wish they would be as proactive with their later titles as well.
It's curious. People talk about the 50-game collection being available on the Switch as if it were high quality and had no input lag. Half of the games are just unplayable! The response time after you press a button in games like Sonic (both titles) and Kid Chameleon is just ridiculous.
If the same game list (which surely will be different) is present in the mini with top notch emulation this time, there's no comparison between both products. The collection is a disrespect in terms of emulation!
If Sonic 1-3 aren't on this then no deal. Yeah I know we have those released on everything but genuinely, being able to play them on the original controller, surely that's a no brainer? The casual nostalgia consumer (i.e. those who don't play much anymore) will expect them.
The actual Mega Drive Mini seem on the right of the bottom image is slicker looking imo (just that simple Gold logo and the the white rather than red for the details on the system and stuff all look a bit classier). The console and controllers look spot on, from what I can see, but this is all going to come down to the list of games, the quality of the emulation and how well the whole menu/UI is designed. . . .
@iescalie1 The PS classic is amazing, with a bit of trickery.
By the way, some games Sega really should be including in the UK version of this system imo are: Sonic The Hedgehog 1/2/3, Thunder Force III/IV, Gunstar Heroes, Street Fighter II Champion Edition, Golden Axe, Ristar, Dynamite Headdy, Contra: Hard Corps, Shinobi III: The Ninja Master, Turtles in Time: Hyperstone Heist (unlikely), Streets of Rage 1/2/3, Rocket Knight Adventures, Comix Zone, Mortal Kombat 2, Aladdin (unlikely), Ghouls N' Ghosts, Virtua Racing, etc. These are all titles that are right up at the top of the list of best Geneis/Mega Drive games ever or were just games that really defined the system.
If there's 40 games included then Sega really should be able to get basically all the expected ones minus a few that simply can't be included for licensing issues--but all the big guns really should be there.
And the fact that AM2 was confirmed to be working on the games for the system is a major plus point imo.
If Sega nails this then it could turn out to be an even more compelling system than the SNES Mini--and I'm saying that as a SNES guy through and through--just by virtue of the fact there's 40 games in there out the box.
I Don't Know if SEGA owns Garfield: Caught in the Act. but, please bring that to the Genesis Mini. it was a really fun Garfield platform game made by SEGA. SEGA even made a bundle for it and Sonic.
other than that, this is a pretty good list for a mini. im gonna wait and see what else they will reveal before buying it.
i don't remember if i played the other games on the Sega Genesis, since it was a long time ago. but, i did remember owning one.
@Aozz101x Let's not include stuff that no one but you and a couple of other people care about, please. There's only 40 games that are going to be included, wasting them on such a title when there's easily 40 truly must-haves for Genesis/Mega Drive is just not a smart or good move. I'm saying this as though Sega hasn't already made the choice, which it clearly has, but it's more about trying to not encourage this kind of misguided thinking in the future in case they actually listen to people like you with future system lineups--no offence. Much like Nintendo did with the SNES Mini, Sega needs to include basically the 40 best/defining Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time on there, or as close as possible to it. That's the right way to go about things--look at how Sony screwed up with the PlayStation Mini if you don't believe me.
@Elvie Surely it can't miss out those absolute classics? I would expect to see at least Streets of Rage 2 and Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master on there bare minimum. Those are two of the best games on the system, always near the top of any best Genesis/Mega Drive games lists, and they really show off its capabilities too. These are the kinds of games you absolutely put on a Mini system like this if you know what you're doing in the slightest--they're no-brainers and must-haves imo.
The big question is whether Sonic 3 & Knuckles is present.
@Atariboy Yeah, I'd personally have both of those in there. Not sure if Sega will include Mercs--don't know why I think that but I just do--but I hope it at least includes Ghouls 'n Ghosts.
@impurekind
Let's not include stuff that no one but you and a couple of other people care about, please There's only 40 games that are going to be included, wasting them on such a title when there's easily 40 truly must-haves for Genesis/Mega Drive is just not a smart or good move. im saying this as though Sega hasn't already made the choice, which it clearly has, but it's more about trying to not encourage this kind of misguided thinking in the future in case they actually listen to people like you with future system lineups--no offence.
There's always the PC version. i kinda expect that to happen, as much as i want it. and to be honest, i owned Garfield on PC and not the Genesis.
Comix Zone and Altered Beast are two games that i've played on the Wii, (Altered Beast on 3DS as well). i'd be shock if Altered Beast was not at all part of this mini. (and Altered Beast was probably one of the games that we'd own on genesis years ago.)
Much like Nintendo did with the SNES Mini, Sega needs to include basically the 40 best/defining Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time on there, or as close as possible to it.
SNES mini was a great mini, which i still need to own. i'm not worried at all about Genesis mini. weather or not they don't add my one and only request game. there's other games to look forward to and trying out.
look at how Sony screwed up with the PlayStation Mini if you don't believe me.
I Agree with You, the Playstation Mini's lineup wasn't great at all. the only thing, i care about is Persona on that list (since it's expansive to find on PS1, and even then, i can buy that on PSP, since i own a PSP now.) my Playstation list is far from being close of having the big games, that everyone likes. but i'd don't plan to stop getting PS1 or PS2 games anytime soon. i've already pick up Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2 for PS1 this month.
@Aozz101x Yeah, Altered Beast is kinda crap (nice visuals though), imo, but I do expect it to be on there just because it's a game that everyone totally thinks of when they think of Genesis/Mega Drive.
I'm thinking Sega needs to go for Top 40 best/defining/expected Genesis/Mega Drive games to really nail this. And, maybe it could even pull a "Nintendo" and include one unreleased or special edition version of some classic game that no one sees coming as an added bonus.
PS. Get a SNES Mini, hack it with hakchi CE and add any other games you really think should be on there (it also adds an option to return to the main menu with a simple button command), buy a couple of extensions so you can use the controllers from a decent distance, and it's basically the perfect retro console imo.
i won'T buy it, if they not include EVERY sonic games released, especially sonic 3 & knuckles (best sonic game ever released) - 100% perfect emulation too. c'mon sega, i am a fan since 1989, so gimme my fav. games with perfect emulation
If it’s got Zombies Ate My Neighbors, I’ll cream!
@KingMike
Dune megaCD was mind blowing
I've heard from one of the posters on IGN that apparently the UK version comes with the 3-button controller, which would be a bit of a bummer if true. Still, I think only Street Fighter II took full advantage of it so I wouldn't consider this a deal-breaker for me. The original 3-button controller is totally iconic, is the one that was originally bundled and most closely associated with it, the one most of us grew up with and therefor also associate with the system and have the most personal/fond childhood memories of, and it still works with 99.9% of all Mega Drive games perfectly. Either choice and it's all good to be honest.
@EarthboundBenjy They are the same IP but not the same franchise, Sega could put Sonic 2 on there and still include Sonic Spinball, Sonic 3D Blast, and/or Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine but other main entry such as Sonic 1, and Sonic 3 and Knuckles will be left out. Other examples includes Shining Force, that one may be included but if that one got in then Shining Force 2 will be left out but Shining in the Darkness could still be included cause though it's part of the same IP, it's not part of the main entry.
Hoping for Saga Saturn and Dreamcast mini consoles.
Knowing what Sega and M2 are planning and according to some info that not every entry will be in, this is likely what I believe the game lineup would be like if it ever got a North America release, not sure about Japan or PAL regions though. This is just speculations though, the actual lineup may be better or worst.
1. Sonic the Hedgehog
2. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
3. Shining Force II
4. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
5. Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master
6. Golden Axe
7. Altered Beast
8. Beyond Oasis
9. Wonder Boy in Monster World
10. Lightening Force
11. Castlevania: Bloodlines
12. Contra: Hard Corps
13. Rocket Knight Adventures
14. Merc
15. Super Street Fighter II
16. Strider
17. Mortal Kombat
18. Streets of Rage 2
19. Super Hang-On
20. Outrun
21. Space Harrier II
22. Comix Zone
23. Gunstar Heroes
24. Kid Chameleon
25. Dynamite Headdy
26. Toejam and Earl
27. Virtua Fighter 2
28. Ecco the Dolphin
29. Powerball
30. Super Smash TV
31. Earthworm Jim
32. Alex Kidd and the Enchanted Castle
33. Vectorman 2
34. Virtua Racing
35. Landstalker
36. Eternal Champions
37. Alisia Dragoon
38. Sunset Riders
39. Columns 3
40. Ristar
So nostalgic! ...but I was never really into the genesis. I'll pass.
M2 is at the helm, not AtGames. Can't believe people didn't get the memo.
I picked up a Mega SG from analogue, so I don't need a sega genesis mini.
If there are no third party titles, I'll likely pass, though I hope it's a good system. If NHL '94 was the only game on the system, I'd probably buy it.
@Elvie
Streets of Rage has to be there or I am out too.
@Elvie yuzu koshiro is making the menu music. That should be evidence enough that streets of rage and shinobi will be there. I mean there's almost double the amount of games compared to the snes classic.
Having said that, all the phantasy star games will probably be there as well seeing this
Personally I hope they include some of the now expensive genesis games, which Castlevania is one they already added. Other games that go for a lot of money now would be:
MUSHA
Crusader of Centy/Soleil
Alien Soldier
Also, if they add Turtles Hyper Stone Heist, that would be a blow at Nintendo for not adding the equivalent for the SNES classic, since it's probably the game most people were wanting.
Great - already pre-ordered it
https://www.amazon.de/Atlus-SEGA-Mega-Drive-Mini/dp/B07NVMYB7K/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=sega+mega+drive+mini&qid=1553961802&s=gateway&sr=8-7
Comix Zone can be played with the 3 button controller?
I've been waiting fo this for so long, super excited!
@iescalie1
Ageeed, can’t wait to buy this, the PS classic I didn’t even own for a week and sold it, instead I bought a PS3 and used its store to get a bunch of actually good PS1 games,
I still have my SNES classic as well.
@MeloMan
That part worried me, wonder why the went that route. Other than that I’m stoked for this, prolly gonna pre order it so I’m not stuck staying the night at Target like I did when the NES classic hit shelves.
@mikegamer
Is that good or bad though? I’ve read nothing but bad things about AtGames so I have to assume that’s a good thing.
I’m kinda excited for this, I was big on the genesis as a kid/early teenager, hey...they had blood in Mortal Kombat and that was a big deal back in the day! So as long as it’s decent like the excellent NES/SNES mini’s.
@impurekind
I love how easy that Hack was on the SNES mini, my system has about 120 games now with room for more but I just added games I knew were fun and several multiplayer games to take advantage of 2 controllers packaged with the system.
I love that it allowed you to pack in the box art with each game too.
Sega and M2 are making this machine so it must be really good. I am worried that Sonic 3 & Knuckles is not included once again for whatever reason, MJ's melodies that are not in the credits anyway or whatever, even though Sega could always replace them. Sonic 3's curse aside, the console is going to be the result of the best hardware and programming efforts, just wondering what games are going to be included finally and also if there could be a way to add more. Again, happy to see Sega caring about the quality, it looks like they want it to be compared to high-quality SNES Classic and not to low-quality PS Classic.
@Dilated M2 wrote the GBA emulator for Wii U, M2 wrote the Genesis/Mega Drive for Wii, they're good
@Aozz101x
The original Diablo on Playstaton PSX is one of the hardest I’ve found to get my hands on. Almost no one has that in their for sale collections. It’s not even that crazy expensive between $60-$150 or so, way crazier on Amazon nearly $400 the last time I checked. But still it’s hard to find when I go on the hunt. I eventually broke down and bought a PS3 and just loaded it up with classics from the online store, especially seeing what that PSX classic has on it.
Hmm, need all the Sonic, Vectorman, Shining Force, and Ecco games. In for sure if it has everything I'm after.
@Beatley82
If only I knew where to get the Roms I would have kept my PS classic. I would love to have had that system to keep Intelligence cube, but add Diablo, Warcraft, Mortal Kombat 3, Castlevania SOTN, Resident Evil 2, I could go on but you get the point.
I used to get things from Pirate Bay but I haven’t downloaded Roms or bootlegged anything in years now, maybe 6 years? Longer? It just became not worth it any more due to the massive load of viruses that plague Pirate Bay, and my current PC setting me back around $2,500 even my Laptop was $1,000 it’s just not worth it anymore.
I am curious though, unless you had the Roms on a hard drive that you collected a long time ago, curious what sites if any still exist out there.
Ooooooh boy count me in!
@Wavey84
Have you never heard of “Game Mode”? Nearly every HD and 4K smart TV has this option and it turns off all post processing effects and eliminates input lag on game consoles.
I had this input lag issue you stated on NES remix for WiiU and it was instantly fixed by turning Game Mode on.
I’m an old school gamer too, 36 years old and have plenty of experience with the old school consoles as I buy and sell these systems on EBay as a side business and test them on CRT. Even NES games on switch run perfect on my 4k Samsung as long as Game Mode is on.
Btw let's take a moment to celebrate fact that they add the option to change region and make that change the name of the game, this was a shame with the Snes where you had Contra 3 and not Super Probotector. That means Castlevania will change name and so I imagine they will have to have both roms on there (since there are distinct differences between them). This makes me believe there will then be the possibility to run the games in the pal 50hz standard for those that prefer that out of nostalgia. After all that is what this system is for.
I speculate that they wouldn't go through the hassel of doing this unless there were more games that would change names, which brings us to the possibilities we have:
Contra Hard Corps/Probotector
Crusader of Centy/Soleil
Beyond Oasis/The Story of Thor
Sonic 3D Blast/Flickies Island (would be awesome to get the new director's cut version)
Streets of Rage 2/Streets of Rage II
TMNT Hyperstone Heist/TMHT Return of Shredder
I would hope some sports games would be there, just cus I know many people in the west went to sega for that but I imagine licensing would be hard for these.
@MeloMan Yep. To Sega's credit, they made sure every game was compatible with the original controller, I believe. I never played Comix Zone that way, so I don't remember how it was implemented.
Well, seeing the 3-button controller for the NA version is not an exciting prospect to me. On the other hand, nice to finally see Castlevania Bloodlines released from the vault. It's my second favorite Castlevania(original style) behind Rondo of Blood. It also sounds like Sega's handling the user experience well with getting M2 and Yuzo Koshiro involved. I'm not worried about AT Games being involved on the manufacturing side if Sega is taking an active role. But I will remain cautiously optimistic.
@Dilated
There are several ROM sites still up, not to mention mega.nz folders that have all the games, and torrents too. It's still very easy to find these things if you use Google.
40 games that's what taking about Genesis what Nintendon't! I hope we get a 6 button controller down the line.
Can't wait for that Saturn classic.
@darthstuey That's interesting, but I'm not really into collecting physical media anymore, and don't have a retro gaming set-up.
Definitely getting. Great to see Castlevania
Have the PS3 Sega Collection & new one for Switch.
Castlevania Collection is coming later this year ..
Nintendo Online gives you a growing set of NES/SNES games too.
These retro consoles TV games are potentially on the outs (?).
Unless you hack these things (like PSX), it's not really worth it.
some may consider this a caShgrab, but from what im seeing so far, im willing to let sega grab may cash.
40 titles?! Guess SEGA's trying to revive their rivalry with Nintendo by offering twice as many games as the SNES Classic. SEGA does what Nintendon't!
Hey Sega, Sonic 3 & Knuckles will be on the Genesis Mini, right?
Ever thought about another sister site... SegaLife.com?
@Dilated Exactly. It's the easiest and neatest hack I've ever done on a system, where the finished result still looks 100% official but just with more games on there, and well worth it imo. It turns the SNES Mini into basically a perfect retro console for me. Well, I did have to buy those extension cables for the controllers too. But after those two things it was basically perfect.
@KennyBania
Yea but my fear was more concerning safer sites. For example there used to be a site that was simply “BitTorrent.com” it was clean, no ads and never gave me system issues.
Over time many of these sites were shut down through cease and desist letters.
Or worse, the sites began to be filled with ads for porno or other pop ups, and hosted many unsafe torrent files.
So my OP was more asking if there’s a safe site that still exists out there, I’ve been out of that world for so long that I am unsure if safe sites exist.
@GamerDad66
Here’s a thought I had about the Nintendo service. Nintendo games are playable “Offline” which means they are actually stored on the console itself. This is all fine and well where Nintendo games are concerned as they aren’t even 1mb in size, but if Nintendo adds SNES, N64 ect, it will require more and more HD space on the console unless Nintendo adds an Online requirement, then we would be streaming unfortunately.
It’s making me wonder if Nintendo will actually release more than just NES titles in the future on the service or if Nintendo will sell these titles sorta like Arcade Classics or the former Virtual Console. (just not call
It Virtual Console)
Maybe I missed it, but oddly enough I don’t see too many people talking about this possibility.
@sdelfin
I read about this on ign.com as well, AtGames isn’t involved in the unit at all.
It’s Sega and M2 which I’ve heard nothing but good things about.
As a kid maybe 12-13 years old, earlier I was a big Sega fan because they had Blood in Mortal Kombat (A,B,A,C,A,B,B on 1st grey title screen) you hear Scorpion’s “Get Over Here!” And the text turns red, classic Nostalgia hits me in the feels!
I remember playing a lot of odd titles on the console back then as I was still developing my taste in games, sadly I hadn’t played any RPG’s at that point other than Zelda but no real ones, so it was Mortal Kombat, Sonic, Evander Holyfield boxing, Two Crude Dudes, Altered Beast, Street Fighter, and anything else that had “good graphics” for that era lol I thought that was important back then haha!
I didn’t taste the glory of a good RPG until my cousin forced me to rent a little game on the 1st PlayStation Called “Diablo” after that came Final Fantasy VII, then Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast and I’ve been a fan of that genre ever since.
Now, Thunder Force IV, more Sonic The Hedgehog (one or all of 2/3/Knuckles), Street Fighter II Champion Edition (despite the UK version only having the three button controller), Golden Axe, Ristar, Dynamite Headdy, Contra: Hard Corps, Shinobi III: The Ninja Master, Turtles in Time: Hyperstone Heist (unlikely), Streets of Rage 1/2/3, Rocket Knight Adventures, Mortal Kombat 2, Aladdin (unlikely), Ghouls N' Ghosts, Virtua Racing, etc. . . .
@Dilated This thing is not going to be like the NES and SNES Mini and it won't sell out that quick. If anything it's going to end up like the PS Classic where it'll be at the bargain within months as most people who want these games already got most of them with the other platforms already.
@Dilated well, thank you for providing that info. It had been unclear up to this point if AT Games would be involved in some way. As I said, I wouldn't have really worried about them being involved if they were just handling the hardware and the case as the big problem with their HD Genesis was the software and emulation quality.
I wasn't as affected by RPGs as you were. I like some RPGs, but I'm picky. For example, I love Phantasy Star 4, and one of the things I like about it is how fast the game moves and how straightforward it is. The arcade-style action games that the Genesis/Mega Drive is so well known for remain my favorite types of games. I do need to try Skies of Arcadia. I never played it and have heard good things.
wait, so the Japanese version has the six buttons controllers while America has the three buttons version (as shown in both box pics)....hmmmm.
@PBandSmelly If you were sorry for the ping, you could have just saved yourself the trouble by actually calling them by their correct name, which does NOT have an @ in it. They're called AtGames...
But having said that, I couldn't agree more. Glad that the talented folks at M2 are taking care of the emulation. This should be good, and as soon as I can preorder one, I will.
@Dilated The Pirate Bay has actually never been a good source for games and/or roms, that's pretty much common knowledge for game hunters nowadays, but I can understand that if you haven't done anything for 6 years or more, that it's not quite clear where to go now. Nowadays, you should look to combine words like cool, dope, hustler and free with either the word rom or roms. Just Google any of those combos, and put 'em in your favorites...
@sevin0seven No, it doesn't. That first picture is actually from an original Sega Genesis. NOT the Mini that's going to be released. They probably just put that up for the sake of comparison or something.
@KennyBania ? Both are genesis emulation boxes. One hardware and one software. I have not decided which route I wish to take.
If Sega ever does make Saturn Mini I hope they bring back Segata Sanshiro to do commercials for it. Segata Sanshiro: "You must play Sega Saturn Mini!"
Yes! Day one purchase, of course if they pull a Sony then I will not buy.
@Ryu_Niiyama
Yeah, but there are enough major differences between them that it shouldn't even be a decision to agonize over.
You either want the Porsche (Mega SG) or the Kia (this emulator toy).
3 button controller? Why Sega! Why?
Wow Bloodlines is a big surprise and 40 Games!! This is how it’s done Nintendo!! 👍👍
No Sonic 3 & Knuckles; no buy.
Wait so the japan one has 6 face buttons and the western one only has 3. No fair.
@KennyBania I am glad you have made a clear cut decision. I have not and I shall decide once I see the games on offer. Have a nice day.
@Bomberman64 Nice, now my interest in this Mini console has been elevated considerably.
Here is hoping they put shadow dancer and shinobi 3 on offer.
@xzacutor I'm sure finding a wired 6-buttons controller for this is a piece of cake as USB controllers are everywhere now and since this mini uses USB controllers, it's likely controller like this one would work just fine.
Please be good. Original hardware looks so shockingly bad on modern TVs that well done emulator boxes like the SNES Classic are a big improvement. There’s something about using the proper Controllers too. So yeah, please be good.
Why on Earth use different Controllers in each region? Apart from a cynical attempt to force
multiple purchases of course. Good to see Sega still being Sega after all these years.
Putting Mega Man: The Wily Wars and Monster World IV on here will turn some heads in NA since neither game ever got a physical release on the NA Genesis back in the day
@BlueOcean Concerning S3&K, what would be a great solution would be if SEGA get someone to make custom music for it, of course inspired by the originals, and just patch it in, like let's say Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame! It would be the best way to shut those money-sucking people up.
@retro_player_22 Does it say that it uses usb controllers? I haven't found anywhere where it says that but it would be great in that case. So many good controllers for the MD are coming out and have come out. Like the 8bitdo or the officially licensed retrobit controllers, they're all usb so they would make a perfect match.
So, I just came back from amazon and what sega seriously needs to do is to get rid of or at least get the official new mega drive mini to show up before the hundreds of others that have been made...
@Bomberman64 Yep and it's not like there aren't good composers in Sega anyway.
Pre-ordered through Amazon...
Nintendo discontinued the Super NES Classic Edition too early, we won’t be seeing a 16 bit mini console wars this year.
@Bomberman64 A bunch of youtubers likely Spawn Wave and RGT 85 claim that the controllers does used USB instead of the regular 9-pin connection though they are not sure either as they're just speculating from what they saw in the conference trailer.
@Don Or likely Sega released the Genesis Classic Mini too late, that's okay though as the Super NES Classic Edition already competed against the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback HD and won anyways.
@Wavey84 I get 5ms on my HDTV when running the input lag test on my Super NT via the 240p test suite.
@Wavey84 I assume the 240p test suite is telling me my total input lag on my Super NT on my HDTV, since I get very close to 0 when running the same test on my original Super Nintendo connected via HD Retrovision cables to my CRT.
The Super NT itself has no inherent input lag, but some some of those 5ms will be from the controller adapter I've been using on my Super NT. It's a Classic Controller to SNES adapter from Ralphnet with a SNES Classic Edition gamepad plugged in.
It has to have some inherent latency since it's not just a simple wiring conversion like something such as a SNES to NES adapter would be.
Wow this just became a day one buy for me, Contra: Hard Corps did it.
Wow, great lineup so far. Since I didn‘t like the PSX Mini, in terms of presentation and performance, I‘ve become cautious, when talking about those retro mini consoles. But Sega seems to have a quality product starting. It is seducing me to preorder it.
Quackshot was amazing. One of my favourite Mega Drive games.
World of Illusion?! What the?!
I mean...Wow. First Capcom got Alien vs Predator now this?
@retro_player_22 I have that controller, and I use it on my Raspberry Pi!
Looking good, Sega, looking good!
SEGA DOES WHAT nintenDON'T
They got the disney rights?????
World of Illusion is my all time favourite co-op game. Played it to death with my brother growing up. Delighted to see Castle of Illusion too, one of the first games I ever remember playing.
Now that Disney are onboard surely Quackshot has to follow? Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaseeeee?
The Japanese version seems an essential purchase with Musha, Bloodlines and Contra onboard. Buying all 3 on cartridge would be Well over $1000. The Japanese Contra is interesting for the energy bar vs one hit death in the US release.
Surprise! Disney licenses! Great job, Sega! But with these particular 10 new games the Japanese version feels less necessary to have, isn't it?
This is huge.
They have the Disney license and giving us these gems which haven't seen the light of day on mega drive/ genesis collections before.
SEGA are really not holding back on this. I was expecting pretty much the same library of games that have been published on various collections over the years but they are producing some surprises.
Cannot wait to see the rest of this impressive library of games they are building
I wonder if Disney themselves are publishing the game of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive?
Dude... SOLD on Landstalker alone. I preordered mine.
This is looking to be pretty sweet!
Can't believe Earthworm Jim is part of this! My favorite Genesis game of all time! I am in with a bullet! Woo!
I never owned a Sega was always a nintendo guy back in those days, but I can tell this is a solid list so far as a gamer overall. I still probably won't be picking this up, but will have to see how the rest of the titles end up maybe something will get me to pull the trigger.
looks like im getting the japanese version because MUSHA.
Wow. Earthworm Jim Special Edition on Sega CD is my favorite game of all time. Having EWJ on this, plus both Mickey Illusion games, is insane!!! Please let Quackshot show up in the next reveal!!!
Wow, Castle of Illusion and World of Illusion. Sold
And with M2 handling the emulation, for me, this is now a no brainer
This is proof positive that SEGA listens to, and reaches out to their fans. They reached out to RGT 85 of all people on Youtube. He even said that the next 20 games are gonna be INSANE. I would be pleasantly surprised if they announce that they'll include Sonic 3 & Knuckles as a full game, and not as two separate games: Sonic 3 & Sonic & Knuckles.
FINALLY! A company who's not lazy in getting those third party licenses!
Its starting to look like a great line up, Castle of Illusion was great as was World and now we just need Quack Shot and Aladdin to join them. We just need Story of Thor which always seems to be criminally overlooked.
EDIT I've just found out that Story of Thor was called Beyond Oasis outside of Europe and have realised I have this on the Megadrive collection, that's my evening's entertainment sorted 😁😁😁
Man, this lineup is looking great!
@Painkiller_Mike Is this for real?? I love the six button controller, but I'm not a fan at all of the three button.
Looking good now I guess this same article will be updated for the remaining 20 more games then. At first I didn't realize why Sega are asking $80 for just 40 games but now I could understand, with the Disney and Konami games being on there are the real reason. Still it need classics like Strider, Merc, Warsong, and Rocket Knight Adventures to win me over though.
That is a very strong second 10. Good to see Sega re-releasing the Disney licensed games. I'd kill for a Switch collection of the following:
Castle of Illusion (Master System)
Land of Illusion (Master System)
Legend of Illusion (Master System)
The Lucky Dime Caper (Master System)
Deep Duck Trouble (Master System)
Castle of Illusion (Mega Drive)
World of Illusion (Mega Drive)
QuackShot (Mega Drive)
World and Castle of illusion made that appealing
Could we possibly now get to load the ‘Giga Drive’ with the genesis library? Oh boy....
Hey Sega.... us Westerns want MUSHA too!
Great to see the Mickey Mouse games in there, if they add Quackshot then I'm sold.
@BionicDodo Those Disney licensed games on Switch would be amazing. I have such fond memories of playing The Lucky Dime Caper.
EARTHWORM JIM???????
Wow!! The 2 Disney games are big!! Quackshot?? Aladdin?? Please??
Really pleased to see Sega pulling out all the stops. This is now a must have purchase. Agree with the comments regarding the World of Illusion co-op: it really is awesome. Can’t wait for the last 20 games and further surprises. Sunset riders? Virtual racing? Some EA titles
Wait.... Mickey Mouse games and Earthworm Jim? Am I reading that right? I gotta get this.
@Bomberman64 And in order for Hyperstone Heist to be added, SEGA and Konami would have to reach out to Nickelodeon, current holders of the TMNT. THEN we can shout a hearty "BOOYAKABUNGALA!"
@Wesker that would be awesome if they can strike up a deal with EA! Played the hell out of Road Rash 1,2 and 3, NHL 94, that Motley Crue pinball game and Desert & Jungle Stike!! Good stuff!
So far so good.
I'm thinking the library of games for this system is going to be solid*, especially with M2 handling the emulation, and the console and controllers already look spot on, so all that's left for me is to see how well the whole menu system and front end stuff is designed (it's an important aspect imo). If the menu is nice then I think I might just get myself one of these.
*A few other games I'm really hoping to see and seriously should be included with any true Mega Drive "Classic" system imo: Streets of Rage 1 and 3, Thunder Force IV (better have this since they included Thunder Force III and this is arguably a superior game and def far more technically impressive), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (in an ideal world), Ristar, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Columns, Mortal Kombat II, Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition (although not ideal for the three button pad), Mercs, NHL '94 (in an ideal world), Madden NFL '94 (in an ideal world), Gynoug, Road Rash 2, Virtua Racing (just because it's a showcase title), Aladdin (in an ideal world), Rocket Knight Adventures, Phantasy Star IV . . .
Ok thinking further, I’d love to see a Sega Master System mini even though it didn’t do that well in the United States, it was the superior hardware over the Nes system
Fantasy Zone 1&2
Teddy Boy
Woody Pop
Reggie Jackson Baseball
Great Baseball
Quartet
Fantasy Zone the Maze
Govellius Valley of Doom
Phantasy Star
Hang On
Bomber Raid
Enduro Racer
Lucky Dime Caper
Astro Warrior
Global Defense
Montezumas Revenge
And many many more!!! I’m forgetting a bunch! Certainly enough games to put something together!! And i also think that many Nes gamers who Didn’t buy a Master System back in the 80s would take an interest! ☺️
Warsong, and the entirety of the Sonics would be very welcomed, but I am very pleased of the current lineup!
Day one for me, but will keep an eye on reviews just in case. With M2 in charge of emulation and some unique offerings from third parties, this is shaping up to be a product worth supporting. For me anyways, I know I'll be getting my moneys worth.
I'm calling it now. The Genesis Mini will be better than the SNES Classic.
30 years later, SEGA still does what Nintendon't.
Since Disney is onboard anyway, why not put the Marvel games that Sega made for the Genesis back in the day on here anyway?
I would love to see Amazing Spider-Man vs the Kingpin and X-Men 2: Clone Wars added to this system. Those were two of the best games on the system.
Also, add in the first X-Men game if they can figure out a way to get around the wacky Reset button stuff.
I had a feeling that we probably won't see much of the other games that were already on the Sega Genesis Classic Collection and the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback for this thing this time. Alex Kidd, Ristar, Vectorman, Golden Axe, and Kid Chameleon had not being included at all. Hopefully they will later or I won't touch this. To me it's not Genesis without those five franchise.
@retro_player_22 If we get Golden Axe, then make it the second game. That is the best one on the Sega Genesis.
The Japanese console gets Musha!!!!! 😮
Finally, Contra Hard Corps!!! I’ll definitely be getting the Japanese version. 😉
I’m very pleasantly surprised by this, have mine preordered. They didn’t go the safe route and give us all the titles we’ve come to expect from the collections we’ve been getting but now we’re getting Disney, Konami, treasure, and folks we got earth worm Jim! I love me some earthworm Jim! Can’t wait to see what’s next. Also relieved we got two Sonics, I wasn’t sure about that as they were in the polls competing against one another. I think we can look at the Japanese release to get a few hints at titles we may still receive. I’d say shining force and speed ball or powerball are likely now. I really would like one of the vector mans or both and X-men was a childhood favorite but I don’t see that one happening, hope I can at least add it later.
I’m still wondering if they’ll be putting VF2 on to cover the 1 on 1 genre. Given the 3 button pad they’ve backed themselves into a bit of a corner, as MK and SF2 both play poorly on the 3 button pad.
Speedball would be a fantastic choice!
Sega seems to have learned from having ATgames make their mini consoles.
Those guys made one product that was semi decent and that was the handheld mastersystem
Can someone tell me, what does "M2" stand for and why it is so important (some commenters mentioned it above)?
Anyway, I am also interested in this thing.
@Elvie
Streets of rage is must if they want my money as well. It was an original pack in and I still have my Genesis and Streets of Rage but it would be nice to have this as well.
@retro_player_22 There's no way this is going without a franchise like Golden Axe. They've only announced half the lineup so far.
@opeter They're a very talented developer in Japan that is famous for emulating and porting classic games for a variety of different publishers, often with lots of bells and whistles added.
For instance on the 3DS and Switch where practical, arcade games in the Sega 3D Classics/Sega Ages line have their perspective widened to 16:9 by M2. And not by stretching and distorting the picture or by cropping and zooming in on a 4:3 picture, but by actually enlarging the view on the sides of the screen.
Obviously isn't worth doing for every game. A puzzle game for instance like Columns can't be expanded in a useful manner, so a static border such as the bezel artwork surrounding an arcade monitor is used to fill the empty space on the sides of the screen. But in games like Outrun, they're now true widescreen thanks to M2.
4:3 Outrun

16:9 Outrun

Just one of the many ways M2 goes above and beyond with each project they do, rather than settling for good enough.
MUSHA for Japan only, huh?
Fire whoever's in charge of the Western version.
I'm not gonna lie, I kind of wish this thing was nothing but Shoot-em-ups.
Pre-ordered
Now just waiting for the 32x mini add on to be released - would love to play virta fighter and virtua racing on that platform!
World of Illusion!! What a game that was. That's the ultimate nostalgia game for me.
@Atariboy: thank you for all the informations! Didn't know them, but now I see, how good they are at what they are doing
Street Fighter II with 3 button controllers. Sega, you shouldn't have. No, you really shouldn't have.
The first two sets were just fantastic. This third set is a bit less enthusing.
C'mon, include Rocket Knight Adventures, Ristar, and Sonic 3!
Reall happy you’re updating the original article rather than making new ones. Just my two cents. Anyway wow— crazy to see Wily Wars! I preordered this thing with half intention to cancel as it got closer but no way... there’s no way in heck I’m passing this thing up. This is turning out to be an amazing thing to own.
no McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure? I know this'll sound like a joke to people who haven't played Treasure Land Adventure, but people who have will understand.
Mega Man? Whaaaaatttt???!!
Alex kidd! I love that game. So glad my cousin offloaded it to me as a kid.
Mega Man The Wily Wars is a very surprising addition. I hope it's the 60Hz version, not the 50Hz version which wasn't PAL-optimized.
This is smashing the NES Classic out of the park, 30 games so far??
NINTENDO TAKE NOTE WHEN CREATING THE N64 CLASSIC
So what was the point of putting in 3 button controllers if you're only going to end up including Street Fighter II SCE anyways, Sega? Just replaced them with the six button controllers now or people will end up making complaints tearing you to shred. Either that or replace Street Fighter II with Strider or MERC.
The list continues to look stellar, but—I’m really hoping with the addition of Street Fighter 2, Sega considers releasing the six button controller in the West.
@Noid I’m with you pal! An amazing game made by treasure! Played it to death! McDonalds license could be an issue though. 😌
Wily Wars, eh? Hopefully it's not based on the 50HZ PAL region's English release... Then again, I can't really imagine them going through the effort of editing in the translation from that release into the original Japanese one considering this isn't purely a Mega Man/Capcom themed collection.
WILEY WARS!!! Wow. What a list. Can’t believe I’m going to have to buy Sonic for the twentieth time, but this is getting to be too good of a package to turn down.
I know Shinobi III is better but it’s predecessor would have been nice too in the West. Still a strong line up so far.
This is looking great!
@BanjoPickles Official Licensed 6 Button Retro Bit controllers will work with the Sega Mini. It’s confirmed through the website but also RGT 85’s channel as well.
Please update this post Nintendolife
Ah yes, the inferior SF2
@PBandSmelly ah, but on the superior 16-bit system.
Damn they are going in hard! Japan wins on Yu Yu Hakusho alone.
Ristar and Primal Rage plz.
@Hikingguy A controller is included, it’s just not the one you want.
SEGA are doing this right and it's great to see. That being said if there's no Quackshot then it's no dice from me.
Also does anyone remember what the platformer game was where you were two kids shooting goo guns whilst collecting MacDonalds M symbols (I think?) for no good reason? "Toxic" something or other?
@mousieone That means instead of $60, the whole package if you want to play Street Fighter II SCE the way it should be equates to $100 total. The Sega Genesis Mini is going to be $60, buying 2 six buttons USB Genesis controllers from Retro-Bit will be an additional $40 as it's $20 per controller (the regular non-USB one is only $15). Add that $40 to the Sega Genesis Mini's $60 and you got the same price as the PlayStation Classic.
That means that Sega just steal away $40 by not including the proper controllers everyone wants making the complete package $100, $20 more expensive than the Super NES Classic Mini which came with everything you need without any hiccups, $30 more expensive than the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback which came with 2 six button wireless controllers and 65 Sega Genesis/SMS/GG games, and $90 cheaper than the superior Analog Mega Sg with came with one free game and no controllers but could play everything Sega CD, Genesis, and SMS.
@8itmap_k1d But then you are limited to some genuinely noticeably awful input lag.
@retro_player_22 Wow so your buying a 60.00 system for 1 game?
The rest of them don’t really need it. Anyway whatever don’t buy. I simply mentioned it so people don’t think they have to import.
Frak me for forgetting people would rather complain about something that actually do something about.
If anyone feels that strongly about it don’t buy.
Damn. Just needs Quackshot, Aladdin, MKII, Sonic and Knuckles, The Lion King, XMen and Strider to put it over the top for me. With 10 more games left to be announced I'm sure half of these will make it.
Wily Wars. Awesome.
Though probably a guess that only Japan is going to get that Yu Yu Hakusho game. It's considered to be a great fighting game (pretty sure this is the fighting game and not the text adventure one) that has a pretty big import crowd (I do remember it's been one of the more expensive games for quite awhile). No surprise Sega didn't translate it originally as the anime was unknown to the west at the time.
@mousieone That one game is on the system right?
Holy beeeep That’s one hell of a good selection! Take note, Sony!
@mousieone Yeah you really don't need the six button for all the rest of the other games but knowing that you can't play just that other one properly makes your list of games incomplete as now you're really getting 39 fully playable games (well not really but do correct me) instead of 40. Then if you want to play that one game properly you had to shell out $20-$40 just to make it complete.
@Bunkerneath To be fair, the NES and SNES classic both had great lineups that covered many of the more famous games on the platforms.
The only one who dropped the ball on these systems was Sony who somehow ignored the vast libary of the PS1(which blows most other systems even those by Nintendo and Sega out of the water) and dumped crap on there.
Nintendo and Sega were both able to get both a Castlevania and Mega Man for their classic consoles. Sony was so lazy, their classic console somehow failed to get SOTN(which should have been the ultimate no-brainer pick) and any of the numerous Mega Man games that were on the PS1, which included Mega Man 8, Mega Man X4, Legends, etc.
Anyone who worked on the Sony Classic console should be hanging their head in shame when they see what Sega has done.
Even on their worst day, Nintendo could never screw up the way Sony has.
I've found this for pre-order at £61 on a website called Grooves Inc. Has anyone used them before? I've never heard of them so don't know if they're reliable.
WAIT! Wily Wars wasn't released in the US before last time I checked. Oh wait, I AM in the US. Is there gonna be a genisis version for the U.S.A., or am I just gonna miss out because I hate importing things?
Wily Wars. Hot damn.
It's a good lineup IMO. To my taste, if they were to include all games I want, there should be 100 at least but since this is not the case, I'm pretty sure it's going fine. I just hope emulation is perfect, but that's what M2 does.
The 3 button controller is not a problem for me because I hate SF for the MD. There's no comparison with SNES or arcade versions.
@MysticGengar Wasn't it released on the Sega Channel or something? I'm not that familiar with Sega history.
@Bunkerneath Of course they're gonna put at least 30 ROMs on the N64 Classic Mini. Especially since they're only 10 times the size of NES and SNES ROMs, on average, meaning they'd at least have to double up the device's internal storage as well. Easy, peasy...
I'd say you better keep on dreaming, because that's simply never going to happen.
@Krisi
Yeah. However, I'm pretty there was a physical in Europe in Japan or soemthing, or at least that was what I read. It hasn't been re-released since.
@ThanosReXXX Alot of people are also forgetting that Nintendo has to get Microsoft on board to play ball so they can get the Rare games on there.
Now, people are gonna argue that they don't need Rare to make the N64 Mini work, but let's be honest here. Rare's output helped the N64, and they are just as much a part of the system as Nintendo themselves were. Not having games like Perfect Dark, Both Banjo games, Diddy Kong Racing, and Jet Force Gemini would feel wrong.
Nintendo can't even really dip into a stellar third-party line-up like they did with the NES and SNES minis because the third party support for the N64 sucked.
Honestly, I don't get why people want to play an N64 mini so badly.
I would rather see a Game Boy Classic.
@Hikingguy You know because the pro controller is included with every Switch. And while we’re at this my older sister only had the three button controller for her genesis. I remember my childhood quite well thanks.
@retro_player_22 and they sucks for SF, but the system is really about high-lighting those games that haven’t gotten much love in a long time. The games we remember from our childhoods. People can be upset for SF, fine that’s fair but there are better options if that’s the game you want to play.
If I can just get a reasonable set up to host all these consoles, I'll be buying this one, too. Still don't have a convenient situation with the NES and SNES, but I'm close. It's the power cables that are the problem, believe it or not. I have a nice cheap HDMI switcher that is automatic, but I like bringing out the whole console to play. It's part of the charm and why I mostly don't mind the short controller cables. Interacting with the hardware and just looking at it and the almost perfect controllers all helps with the nostalgia.
@HikaruKitsune
MUSHA would be so nice. I have that cartridge, though. Target Earth (Assault Suit Leynos) and Herzog Zwei are the other ones for me. This is why I hope it is as easily hackable as the NES and SNES minis. All I need in extras are the games I own, those that are impossible to buy, or weird versions, and I feel okay using ROM copies of those, myself. (Even then, I have bought many games I own on cartridge many times over.)
@Hikingguy People who prefer Street Fighter on Sega Genesis and games that are 6-button only are pretty rare, as far as I know. I'd rather them keep the costs/maintenance down for the rest of us and have you and them pay a bit more because they care rather than make everyone pay for something they don't need or want. I do wonder how that game will "work" though. Did it have a 3 button solution?
Doesn't mean I'm not sympathetic. Of course it would be nicer for all of us to get what we want without paying more.
@Hikingguy and me pointing out that you don’t have to import a controller from Japan equates to you getting upset at me? Nintendolife was suggesting importing it in the post, I said you don’t have to and you go off on me !?!
It’s one game. Don’t complain, don’t buy. It speaks volumes louder.
@Caryslan Well, personally I wouldn't mind seeing an N64 Mini at all, even though I still own the original. But having a smaller one, with better image quality, filters, and a more than likely easily expandable set of games certainly does appeal to me.
And although I fully agree with you about the Rare games, it's not like Nintendo couldn't easily come up with 20 first party games to put on there:
Super Mario 64
Mario Kart 64
Mario Golf 64
Mario Tennis 64
Super Smash Bros
Paper Mario
Kirby 64
Yoshi's Story
1080 Snowboarding
Wave Race
F-Zero X
Zelda Ocarina of Time
Zelda Majoras Mask
Pilot Wings
Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon stadium 2
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Puzzle League
Sin and Punishment
Mario Party
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
Ridge Racer 64 (which, contrary to popular belief, actually is a first party title, developed by Nintendo's NST)
And besides that, even without the Rare titles, there are still quite a few games left, besides those first party titles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_64_games
Then again: if it's just as easy to hack as the previous Minis, then who cares if Rare's games aren't on there by default?
@aaronsullivan Well, if power cables are the problem, just get a bigger mains adapter hub. And all of the Minis can also be plugged into the TV directly, if you have USB ports on there, so that problem is quite easy to solve.
With them already including the two best Sonic games, imo, I'm happy enough to get Sonic Spinball rather than more of the Sonic platformers, if that is how it's going to play out.
It's a very solid list all round so far.
How are you supposed to play Street Fighter II with three bloody buttons? If I recall, you actually hold the start button and press a button or something really dumb, but goodness gracious me Sega. GIVE US THE SIX BUTTON JOYPAD.
@ROBLOGNICK Still, even with only the 3-button pad I'm very happy to have this game in the set since it's one of the very best games on the system. Yeah, the 6-button pad would have been ideal here for this particular game, but the 3-button pad is great for every other game, and it is after all the one that came with the original Mega Drive system, the one most people identify with the system and have greatly nostalgic memories of from their childhood's, so having it feels a bit more authentic to what these Mini systems are supposed to be all about imo.
All things considered this is looking like a very solid package all round as far as I'm concerned. Only thing I need to see now is the remaining games, the menu/UI (an important aspect of the overall exprience imo), and read some reviews of how good the actual emulation is (should be solid with M2 handling it)--but it's looking like this Mega Drive Mini is going to be the real deal.
Please add Aladdin, Please add Aladdin, Please add Aladdin, Please add Aladdin....
For anyone looking to the Genesis collection for Switch instead, the Sonic titles in particular have horrible input lag. Reviews seem to have left that out, but it's glaring when you can compare it to an actual console cart or the AGES release. M2 didn't port the comp and it shows. Wishing someone had told me about the laggy inputs before purchase
@Hikingguy Well, yes, any amount is pretty significant when you multiply it out per sale and they do sweat about these things. It's also an issue of durability, etc.
Start to switch rings a bell now. That is pretty terrible.
3 button controller for SF2 was awful. Having to press Start Button to switch from Punch to Kick made this (for me) unplayable. Hopefully the 6 button controller will be sold separately
Honestly Sonic Spinball is a lot more tolerable with save states; I've played it on PC with the Sega Classics collection and had fun with it
@mousieone A while ago I point out that with only 39 games feel incomplete cause Sega didn't include the 6 button controller as Street Fighter II SCE will not play properly with it but seeing as they are including the Wily Wars, that makes the final list more than 40 games as Wily Wars included 3 games in there already. I had to say this more than makes up for Street Fighter II SCE then. Of course because Sega was able to include 6 button games on the list though, wouldn't surprise me if one more (maybe Streets of Rage 3) show up on the final batch. Now we had 3 games on the list that make use of the 6 button controller (Comix Zone, Contra: Hard Corps, and Street Fighter II SCE). Of course with Comix Zone and Contra it's not that big of a deal but Street Fighter II SCE really does feel incomplete without one.
Great. Mega Man Wily Wars! This is really becoming a great collection. It will be weird playing SFII with the 3-button pad, though.
Oh, and by the way, Sega has proven once and for all the Nintendo could have included more games with SNES Mini and still sold it at the same price, which is what I argued from day one.
Remember all the people trying to blindly defend Nintendo for only including 20 (+1) games with an excuse like "licensing fees" or whatever other junk. . . .
Well, Sega's now releasing a first party Mega Drive Mini system with 40 games (with the emulation overseen by the stellar M2 studio), two classic wired controllers, and HDMI output.
So, even though the SNES Mini was pretty stellar (once I bought a couple of extension cables so the controllers could actually reach my chair and hacked it to include a few more of the essential titles as well as let me return to the main menu with a button combo), I say let's ask a bit more of Nintendo in the future.
If there's a SNES Mini 2 then I want say 40 (+1) games this time, Nintendo, and controller cords that can actually reach my frikin' chair, and a way to get back to the main menu without having to walk over to the console next to my TV and press the reset button on it.
Cheers.
@aaronsullivan MUSHA is probably THE single most important release, since a legit loose cartridge runs around $350-500+ these days.
@impurekind Just cause Sega could give you many doesn't mean Nintendo will. They're not the same company and Nintendo don't like giving quantity over quality. Like they mention in the past, the only reason Nintendo even sell the NES and Super NES Classic mini in the first place was to have something hot to sell for the holiday season due to the lacking Wii U sales flop and the launch of the Switch. Now that the Switch is a success they don't need to rely on the minis anymore. Nintendo is not in the market to continue making plug and plays.
@retro_player_22 Oh I know fine well Nintendo won't--doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking for it or that none of us should at least try (you never know).
Also, don't just throw around the "quality over quantity" argument willy nilly, because it's very clear that Sega is giving us the quality here too in this particular case--it's giving us both quality and quantity--at least based on everything we've seen and read and know thus far. In fact, to date M2 has generally given us far better versions of classic Sega games than Nintendo has given us with its own modern releases of classic first party games. Nothing nostalgic on Nintendo's modern systems has come even remotely close to the utterly stellar work M2 has done with the likes of the Sega 3D Classics range on 3DS for example. So there's a chance Sega might even one-up Nintendo in that department with the Mega Drive Mini too.
There's a very likely chance that when it releases the first proper in-house developed and manufactured Mega Drive Mini will in fact be an all round superior product to the SNES Mini, from the larger library of [hopefully typically brilliant quality M2 ported] games to the little extras like having proper controller cord lengths, possibly a simple way to return to the main menu from the controller, and so on.
So credit where credit is due.
@delt75 that or Lion King. There’s a much higher chance since they were able to get castle of illusion
If the Sega Genesis Mini/Sega Mega Drive Mini sells well I hope a Model 2 version be made to include games that were not included in this release.
Can't wait for this to be released Sega has done well so far with a stellar lineup of games and with M2 on board emulation should be spot on unlike the awfully rushed PlayStation classic.
It’s a thing of beauty:)
@retro_player_22
What? The Analogue Mega SG plays Mega CD games? I thought you had to get the 200$ addon for that and that it was just supported. In that case it's a steal.
This list is looking really good, honestly. Just include sonic 3 & Knuckles and this'll be perfect
I never had a Sega, but know enough to see this is a really impressive list.
So far, so good. I'm happy.
@retro_player_22 Ooh. That'd be a great list!
Still crossing my fingers for Jurassic Park, Sparkster and Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
It's a pretty strong line-up, and although I'm not in the market for another mini (I have plenty of original MD carts) I'd still like to see Alisia Dragoon, Rocket Knight, Alien Soldier, Musha Aleste, and Gleylancer on this thing.
Wily Wars has me pretty sold. Well done SEGA for realizing this can't just be filled with games that have been rereleased 10,000 times.
@Rinari nice, im sure ur dad is going to love it. Getting it back after all those years.
It really needs EA Sports games
Why don't we get "Gunstar Heroes?????"
I think putting Quackshot on it might be overkill at this point which is a shame, one of the best games on the system.
@forgottenarctic They haven't announced all the games yet. Have patience.
@Maulbert I'll keep my fingers crossed!
"To be this good takes AGES, To be this good takes SEGA"
@mrmememan "Genesis does what Nintendon't"
@forgottenarctic Read the article, Gunstar Heroes was one of the first ten games announced for the Sega Genesis Mini.
im hoping the final 10 would include sega cd titles.. c'mon sonic cd, lunar, snatcher, eternal champions, final fight and robo aleste, silpheed, monkey island, popful mail and shining force!!!
No hard feelings SEGA fans but this will die soon..
My issue with the inclusion of street fighter 2 is that it is a wasted spot. Clearly still good value at 39 games, but given Sega wanted to give us 40 games then they really should ensure those 40 games are playable: SF2 isn’t on a 6 button controller.
Swap it for MUSHA (Jap only at this stage) or California Games (awesome multiplayer fun).
@retro_player_22 I didn't realize that it was included on the American version, never mind.
Itll be hacked in a week. Then you can add whatever you want to it. These legacy systems are amazing. I wish NEC would release a PC Engine Duo mini. That would be the shizz
@Switch-a-Roony hopefully that’s right
Never played street fighter on sega is, is there any difference in the Sness en sega version?
It's a great list so far! I just hope this mini console plays well. I know it's wish full thinking but I would love for Desert Strike to appear on this console.
Yeah! And with Mega Man Wily Wars and Snow Bros. alone the console is worth it. Those carts are crazy expensive nowadays. It's the only official way to get the roms without having to sell a kidney.
@SleeplessKnight yes the US one while having the same games as the PAL one is being branded as a Genesis Mini.
Genesis Mini is better than the SNES Classic. Twice the games and an incredible lineup.
Road Rash 2, Fantastic
Shame they couldn’t get Desert Strike / Jungle Strike also if they were able to get EA on board
Sega of America HAS to include Tetris as well!!!
Cannot wait to get it and hack it to put the full library on it and the SMS library.
@Gerald I’m hoping western version has it.
They BETTER put Monster World IV on the western edition as well, or I'm just not interested.
@retro_player_22 yep they're not revealing the full lineup, but they just revealed the full lineup.
Can I just haz Contra and Earthworm Jim in the sega genesis classics collection. PLEASE. I don't want to plug yet another piece of hardware into my tv
I really can't believe that anyone cares. (Comments on this thread seem to be proving me wrong.) Another plug and play Genesis that is definitely (Maybe? Possibly? Not Gonna Be?) better than the last 50 of these that I can find at any local thrift store because these things are cheap, disposable, and utter junk. I might grab one when this is $5 in a discount bin. Otherwise, move on. Pointless hype.
@Wavey84
Agreed. Eternal Champions and Virtua Fighter 2 are arguably outright bad. Kid Chameleon is decent, but it's nowhere near as good as Ristar, Rocket Knight Adventures or Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Light Crusader is another one I could have done without. The rest of the new games are pretty good, but largely underwhelming compared to what's already been announced. I honestly thought they were saving a big reveal for the final 10 games. Looks like I was wrong.
A handful of meh choices but overall a really nice lineup of games there.
Is it me, or wasn't there a mega drive with about 80 pre-installed games and still the ability to play other MD cartridges? Why are people thinking this is good value for money?
No Rocket Knight Adventures? More like the Mega Disappointment.
@BlueOcean I still find it odd that Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles is on XBox but not the mini console. And Sonic 3 & Knuckles exists nowhere. I assume that the latter is an issue with the "lock-on" tech and licensing, kind of like Nintendo's problems with the SuperFX for a lot of their emulation projects (they finally got StarFox sorted out though.) But why are we not seeing Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles separately at least, while XBox gets it?
I doubt it has to do with MJ...he may have been involved in the entire game's music, but if it's not credited, the lawyers don't matter, unless they're afraid proof exists of unpaid creditable work.
Would have rather had ALADDIN on here than KID CHAMELEON. COLUMNS . . . no good either. I was really hoping for QUACKSHOT! since they had the other two Disney originals on there. DARIUS, though is a definite plus.
Aside from Road Rash 2, I'm not thrilled with the last ten games.
The amount of care put into this library is still extraordinary, though. It was never going to make everyone happy, but this is still a superb lineup overall.
No Sonic 3 or Rocket Knight Adventures IS disappointing, though.
The Mickey Mouse games tempt me.
NINTENDO Life.... the clue is in your name. Why are you even posting this??
What an amazing line-up, really. Even the rarest, the most expensive ones... And the way they teased us with the reveals... This is already the best mini ever, am I right?
@LavaTwilight I believe the big thing is most of the other plug and plays that have come out have poor emulation so the games run pretty poorly on most of those, so this is supposed to be a step above those.
Those Sega collections always seem to be missing Sonic 3 and Knuckles for some reason,but besides that it looks like a great collection
We.
Got.
F***ed.
Out.
Of.
MUSHA.
Thanks, Sega.
Light Crusader, Kid Chameleon, and Alex Kidd are garbage.
Weird that they are including some rare games like the awful Japanese version of Tetris and Darius but was kinda disappointed by the few titles they put in like Light Crusader, Virtua Fighter 2, and Columns. All three of those could easily be replaced with games like Ristar, MUSHA, and Rocket Knight Adventures. Anyways this is a passed, for me the lineup is missing way too many classics and most of the ones that were included aren't even classics, like c'mon Virtua Fighter 2 and Light Crusader when we were asking for Ristar and Rocket Knight Adventures for this long.
I was sure Hyperstone Heist would be there following a cowabunga-post on Sega’s Facebook page regarding the Mega Drive.
@dougphisig O ok. I thought they were officially licensed products, since they were sold at high-street retailers.
Solid lineup, at least from the perspective of someone who grew up with an NES and an N64, and played a few Genesis titles through the Sonic MEGA Collection on GameCube (though it is missing Ristar and S3&K, though I guess there's enough Sonic on offer)
I'm preordering this anyways, but I still have 2 questions: will the controller connect to the system via USB, and is the cable longer than SNES Classic and PS Classic controllers'?
Vectorman!
Deal !!
Now that is a stone cold amazing line up of games. Plenty of all time classics, a good handful of lesser known but still great games and a healthy dose of those rare/expensive collectors items that most mortals will never get to own.
And M2 on emulation duty? This will totally blow Nintendo’s mini consoles out of the water. I can’t wait
Odd, 3 button controller and SF2?
Why sega? Why?
I'm over these mini-consoles so whatever. just release all the games on the eshop/steam/etc..
I can't figure out what goes into the games these things house. Why not all the Sonic and Streets of rage games? Sega OWNS those..
It is an excellent line up of games. Never going to please everyone but very good overall.
Just miffed about the Controllers but I don’t think many of the games I’ll be playing use the extra 3 buttons anyway.
@Moroboshi876 It's not really the best, 8 of those games were garbage. Here are those eight:
Columns (Columns III would had been a better choice)
Tetris (would swap this for MUSHA, it's a rare game doesn't mean it's a good one though)
Virtua Fighter 2 (this could had easily been replace with Ristar)
Light Crusader (Crusader of Centy or Warsong would had been better choice)
Sonic Spinball (Sonic 3 and Knuckles or even Sonic 3D Blast would had been good over this)
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (replaced this with Rocket Knight Adventures and it would be golden)
Altered Beast (terrible pack-in game, would had prefer Outrun or Virtua Racing instead)
Space Harrier II (terrible sequel, why Sega never include After Burner 2 I would never know)
They actually got Road Rash 2!!! I want this now!
I am really surprised they missed of Virtua Racing. It was such a technical feat at the time vs superFX, and it is still playable today. I just hope this can be hacked without removing the M2 emulation.
@retro_player_22 Obviously they couldn't have satisfied everyone, but look at the other 34, and the way they teased us, creating hype, the price for the amount of games, the third-party surprises... I love my Nintendo minis, but let's face it: less games and mostly first-party.
pretty impressive line up of games. fingers crossed that they are spot on. But im confident seeing as sega took it in house
42? That rocks!
Man, what did Game Arts do to get Alisia Dragoon in there? Such an odd choice.
The selection in general has a lot of welcome diversity.
I would have bought this if we got Quackshot, or if the West got Target Earth (Assault Suits Leynos) but oh well.
Also I don't get all the hate (or lack of love) towards Kid Chameleon. That game is a masterpiece.
Slap Fight, Meeeeeeeeep!!
The overall quality and quantity of games is impressive, but there are a few notable omissions. Sonic 3+K, Streets of Rage 1&3, TMNT Hyperstone Heist, Ristar, and Rocket Knight Adventures off the top of my head. I'm still probably getting this though.
@NEStalgia The Wii actually had Sonic 3+K combined. You had to buy Sonic 3 and Sonic&Knuckles individually of course, but if you booted up S&K and hold the minus button, you could "lock on" to Sonic 3, just like the original Genesis. Naturally, you could lock on to Sonic 2 and Sonic 1 too (assuming they were bought , although Sonic 1 only has the blue sphere minigame). So I don't think it's an emulation issue if the Wii could do it, but rather copyright. I'm not sure if it's because of MJ or the Ice Cap Zone.
Upset about Quackshot and a couple of other games others have mentioned. Particularly Konami games. But it’s still a must buy.
@ChameleonBros Strange. Since there's zero proof of MJ's involvement I can't imagine that was an issue. If there was a legal dispute that they used content without credit and payment, that would easily have been raised in the 90's when he was still near peak popularity and would obviously have noticed the result of the game if he were following it enough to be involved.
That's not to say he doesn't have uncredited content in the game, he was known to ghost-write without credit for a number of other recording artists....only that it was truly gifted to the game without expectation of credit, if it was indeed included, and doubtfully a modern legal issue of any sort.
Ice Cap Zone interests me though. What's special about Ice Cap Zone that may cause a copyright conflict?
I wonder if any of these games will appear on the Switch in the Sega Ages line such as Road Rash 2?! Here’s hoping!
I wish Sega wasn't so shy about porting Sonic 3 & Knuckles...anywhere. I would've bought this otherwise
@LavaTwilight They were officially licensed by Sega, but Sega didn't really have much to do with their production, it seems they just let AtGames get on with it, without much (if any) quality control. Whereas these ones are developed by / in close conjunction with Sega themselves, and M2 are handling the emulation, who are generally considered one of the very best companies operating in this area.
So that's why some people are really hyped for it.
I'll pick this up just for road rash 2. Plenty of decent games on here though.
@NEStalgia Brad Buxer contributed to the Sonic 3 soundtrack to some degree. Buxer was a longtime collaborator with Michael Jackson, but before then he was in a band called The Jetzons. They had a song called "Hard Times" in 1982. The band unofficially broke up sometimes in the late 80s/90s (?). Ice Cap Zone is basically note for note, the same melody as "Hard Times".
Hard Times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2OWC5Hosv8
Ice Cap Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYxlqTpZ-24
No Battle toads!!!!!!
Thats a VERY solid lineup. Didn’t think I’d get this but it sounds worth it. This will definitely outsell the PlayStation mini
@GreatCrippler - The plug and plays you see in the $5 bin are made by AtGames. This is not that. The reason you see them in the bargain bin is pretty much the same reason why people are excited for this mini.
@antonvaltaz Okay, got it! I never got the other versions since I have the original consoles and all the games I want, except Golden Axe 3. So I'll be passing on this anyway but worth knowing why it's getting the hype, thanks!
Pretty nice line up. Looking forward to this.
Very good lineup overall, but I'm disappointed that Sonic 3 & Knuckles isn't on here. Granted, I have it on the Wii Virtual Console, but come ON Sega... more people deserve to play that masterpiece! I'll pick it up at some point though, since there's some Genesis games I want to try out, like Monster World IV (I never got it on the Wii VC).
@ChameleonBros Ohh, interesting. That one is new to me. The MJ stuff didn't seem litigious...but that ones a bit problematic I'd bet.
Who was the label? if BMG/SMI they could just make it Playstation exclusive, problem solved.
@Panopticon It's a janky platformer where the real cart is dirt cheap.
Slap Fight or MUSHA would provide more value (especially for those not inclined to drop $300-500 US on an actual MUSHA cart).
And there are much better Sega-published platformers than Kid Chameleon that didn't make the release (Jewel Master, Pulseman, Ristar)
A really nice eclectic mix of games, with enough diversity to warrant a place beside the Megadrive collection for my Switch. SOLD! (Although, unforgivable for missing Warsong on the western release boohoo.)
@marccarran NintendoLife was not created so we get news from just Nintendo platforms, it involve other Nintendo related news as well and that includes third parties product that are associated with Nintendo as well such as M2 who are working with Sega on this product.
@HikaruKitsune to each their own, I guess. KC is in my top 5 Genesis titles for sure. Great music, great platforming. Over a hundred stages that you can't see in a single playthrough, which encourages multiple runs. More power-ups (transformations) than Mario had at the time, and each power-up has 2 unique diamond powers. And if you are good enough to keep specific transformations through a variety of gauntlets, then you can find hidden pathways, i.e. keep the Cyclone power from 5 stages ago to fly up to an otherwise impossible to reach flagpole.
I play it at least once a year, and each time I make it to the end it feels like a legitimate accomplishment. The level of detail that went into its design, at least to me, is proof that it is anything but "janky."
@Sabrewing Alisia Dragoon is a Sega IP though, GameArt were just the developers. Even if GameArt were to be extinct or own by another company, Sega would still own Alisia Dragoon.
@NEStalgia The original release was on a label, "Pan American" but I can't easily find more info on it. The modern release is on an independent label called "Fervor Records".
I think context is important too. Sonic 3+K was a treasured Genesis game and was often seen as the pinnacle of classic Sonic before Sonic Mania came out (still is to some people). The last official releases of either Sonic 3 or Sonic+Knuckles were on Steam in 2011 and DS in 2010. For SEGA not to re-release either game on 3DS, Wii U, PS4, X1, Switch, and now their own Genesis classic, copyright has to be the reason in some way, imo. It makes no other sense otherwise, since weaker consoles emulated them just fine.
@ChameleonBros Technically back compatibility with X1 and ongoing digital distribution counts as a release. If there were copyright issues they'd have to pull the game from new sales since that counts as new licenses. That's the reason Forza games and movie games and such are discontinued from availability after a set time. So they're still "printing' new licences of the game on a daily basis (including running sales!) Not S3+K, but Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles separately.
Which just makes it all the weirder.
The Mini became an essential buy in a hurry — such a fantastic collection of games that reflect a different take on the breadth of the Genesis/Mega Drive experience than prior compilations (still sorely missing EA sports titles or the likes of NBA Jam; but nothing to be done on that front / they may not hold up), with platinum-level rarities like Wiley Wars and now Tetris (!) / Darius really pushing this above-and-beyond even Big N's mini efforts (the less said about Sony's dismal foray into the mini craze, the better).
If I may quibble (which, I think, is what the internet is for?), I had really been holding out hope for Rocket Knight, especially with the early announcement of the inclusion of Bloodlines showing Konami was onboard. It's a shame such a by-all-accounts stellar platformer has missed out on every Genesis compilation to date, likely because of the aforementioned Konami connection.
And it was downright rude of Sega to use "Cowabunga" in the teaser for the final countdown and then not include Hyperstone Heist — though, admittedly, Turtles in Time was the far superior Konami TMNT beat-em-up.
Sorry for the long post — major Genesis fanboy who became a Nintendo guy with 64, here.
Is everyone here just gonna complain about the games that AREN'T on the thing? Because, look. I get it. I'm mad Bubsy 2 isn't featured. But can we at least acknowledge the good things about this?
If the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini becomes a success maybe Sega could make another Genesis/Mega Drive Mini based off the Model 2 to include classic games that where not included in this release like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles.
Good list. I'd have loved populous on the system too, loved that game.
Oh my God, people are listening to me!
@presenttense I think Sega Ages titles are only games that came from Sega themselves. Road Rash was an EA game.
@BionicDodo
I know but I can dream 😂
@ChameleonBros It's interesting you say it like "well if the Wii could do it" as if it were an impressive feat since the Wii has three different ways to play it: GC mode, VC, and homebrew.
As someone who has tried all methods, I still find (despite the lack of 480p or 240p) the GC version to be the best. It's definitely the most Sonic-like.
Heck I'd argue the VC version is the worst way to play it on Wii.
@presenttense If you're doing dreams, then why not at the very least a physical Switch collection of Road Rash 1-3 and Skitchin'? Why even stop there, chuck in 3D, 64 and Jailbreak too!
I want mine to have a splash of white, not red. Like the one I had as a kid. When's this thing coming out anyway?
@presenttense I'm dreaming of Road Rash 2 on the Switch now.
@NEStalgia but there’s proof of brad buxer’s involvement who was a collaborator with Jackson. At the very least he needs to be paid out for license
@marccarran Sega doesn't have a dedicated console and have been releases games like these on Nintendo consoles since the Gamecube so...hardly an issue to complain about. Nintendolife does enough trash content that there are plenty other better opportunities to slam them.
Good list but man they need to figure out that Sonic 3 and Knuckles issue. I could give 2 poops for owning more versions of Sonic 1 and 2 again.
I've pre ordered two of these a month ago from my local gamestop. One for me and one for my sister. Growing up, we were never allowed to play videogames and this was one of the consoles that we always wanted to play.
@NinChocolate sounds that way. Maybe that's why S3&K will never be seen again, but it still remains unknown then why they don't include S3 itself while it's still for digital sale for XBox.
@NEStalgia They managed to emulate the lock-on feature on the GameCube collection many years ago. The mystery goes on...
That is a quality list of games. I have one pre-ordered from Amazon and look forward to picking one up. Hackers will figured out how to mod this thing and then I can add more games that I really want to play. This could turn out to be a real gem.
I go where the MUSHA and Assault Suits Leynos are. Will have to lean on my friends in Japan to import the Megadora Mini instead of getting the Genesis mini here in the States. Hopefully the Sega Genesis Collection cart for my Switch will make up the difference 🙂
If tSega had added Crusader of Centy, I would have given up on complaining about the inclusion of the 3 button pad but Sega didn't and instead gave us Virtua Fighter 2....what a cruel joke.
@AlienX Oh, I didn't mean that VC is the best way to play S3+K or that it's an impressive feat. I just brought up the Wii to emphasize my point about the issue being copyright and not emulation. I know that the game officially appeared on the GameCube/PS2 and even the Saturn.
Now we know Castlevania Bloodlines is already out on the Switch collection. There's nothing really that tempting in this list of games that will force an immediate purchase. The whole "mini" craze is probably over too. It was always about nostalgia, and as with anything nostalgic, you only need to experience 5 minutes of it to ease your feelings of nostalgia.
Alisia Dragoon! Yes, love that game.
I can't believe there are no EA Sports games
Yeah. Just pre ordered this. What an outstanding line up this little machines has. Love it
@N00BiSH Good point, Sega has done an awesome job here. Plus impossible to keep everyone happy as we all have our favourites. I can’t wait to get this bad boy!
Well, it has twice as many games as the SNES Classic. The biggest omission is Sonic 3 & Knuckles but otherwise a solid list. It's great that M2 and Sega are finally working on this console.
Okay, this has a better list of games than I was expecting. It might be worth buying just for The Wily Wars alone.
ROAD RASH 2!!!!! I'm sold!!!
@Wavey84 Mortal Kombat was never gonna be on it as the first few games are still indexed in Germany, which means they (or any product containing them) can't be advertised in any capacity or openly sold, except in adult shops only. Indexed games are basically handled like porn here.
They could have given NA and Europe their own exclusives of course, but it probably wasn't worth it for them.
This is honestly a great list. Especially since a ton of these titles are incredibly expensive at this point and completely out of reach for the average gamer.
At any rate, I can't wait to pick one up and get back to gaming. Hehe
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