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Sega Genesis Collection Preview
Written by Robert Falcon on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
AHHH...SEGA! Take a look inside this forthcoming collection.
"Genesis does...what Nintendon't." If you're old enough to remember this phrase then you're old enough to remember Sega's 16-bit console, the Sega Genesis. Before there was fancy CD technology and analog controllers, there was a simple three button pad with a directional stick and cartridges that carried the game data. And it was lovely, just lovely. Sure, some of the games were high-priced and didn't deserve attention, but many of them did. And now Sega is bringing back a number of these classics for a forthcoming compilation for the Sony PSP, the Sega Genesis Collection. 16-bit glory is yours once again.
The collection will include 28 faithfully emulated games, along with bonus content produced by the team at Backbone Entertainment. This content includes a few forgotten arcade classics, including Zaxxon and Tac/Scan, as well as bonus interviews with legendary Sega programmers. The names haven't been revealed yet, but we'd kill to see members of the Blue Sky team surface again, as well as Yuji Naka, creator of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Along with these bonus features, many of the games will be WiFi compatible, meaning that you can play with other players wirelessly, as if you would sitting in the living room during the yesteryear of gaming. So just when you think you have to brawl in Golden Axe by yourself, surprise! You've got a fellow player helping you whoop ass as you guys fight over health food and magic vials.
OK, so here are the games in alphabetical order. There are some favorites scattered here, as well as some titles you may have never heard of. Regardless, it's a boisterous collection...
Alex Kidd In the Enchanted Castle- A fun kids-themed platforming game where our hero punches enemies with a boxing glove and battles in rock/paper/scissors fashion.
Altered Beast- A classic arcade game where the players brawl through many strange enemies, adapting new beastly forms to help them out. "Rise from your grave!"
Bonanza Bros.- A cute two-player game where players have to work together to pull off the perfect heist while avoiding the cops.
Columns- A classic puzzle game where players have to stack rows of gems together to eliminate them from the playfield. It's no Tetris, but it's still fun.
Comix Zone- A fun action game where you play a comic book artist trapped in his own creation, fighting off dozens of minions.
Decap Attack Starring Chuck D. Head- A silly but enjoyable platforming game where an undead ghoul with a launchable head battles foes.
Ecco the Dolphin- This tuna-safe action game puts you in control of a dolphin who's out to solve an ancient mystery. Interesting controls are the highlight of this one.
Ecco: The Tides of Time- Everyone's favorite dolphin returns to battle yet another strange alien legacy, relying on friends and his skills to survive.
Ecco Jr.- A kids friendly version of the Ecco games, where kids use the dolphin's kid to solve puzzles and get ahead.
Flicky- A unique little arcade game that found a second life on the Genesis, Flicky focuses on the antics of a blue bird trying to save its young siblings in a house.
Gain Ground- A great strategic/arcade game where you have to choose certain players to eliminate a playfield loaded with enemies and obstacles.
Golden Axe- The classic arcade game returns, with three warriors teaming up to fight off the minions of Death Adder, who have taken over the local kingdom.
Golden Axe II- The soldiers return once more to battle an all new evil, fueled by the hatred of Death Adder and everything that is peaceful. Typical sequel.
Golden Axe III- Although this game never saw a US release, it has the most changes to the series, including new stage choices and two new characters.
Kid Chameleon- An entertaining platform game where a kid enters a virtual arcade to battle enemies, using power suits to his advantage.
Phantasy Star II- The Sega classic RPG returns, bringing with it many changes from the original Sega Master System game.
Phantasy Star III- Yet another RPG entry in the long-running series, this one takes a bit of different direction from the original game. Still, it's fun for fans.
Phantasy Star IV- This is probably the best RPG in the old-school series, with a terrific battle system and an even longer quest than before.
Ristar- A challenging and addictive platforming game where you control a star-faced hero with the ability to headbutt and reach things with his extendable arms.
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi- Joe Musashi's son comes back with a vengeance, and he brings a dog along to help him vanquish an ancient force of evil. Woof!
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master- Arguably the best in the Shinobi series, this one has Musashi slashing away at enemies with new abilities and skills.
Sonic the Hedgehog- The platforming classic makes its debut on the PSP, as Sonic battles the evil Dr. Robotnik for control over the Chaos Emeralds.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2- Sonic returns, this time with his new friend Tails, to challenge the Dr. and his deadly robotic hedgehog. Oh, and the Emeralds are back, too.
Super Thunder Blade- Take to the not-so-friendly skies in a heavily armed helicopter, blasting away at ground and air enemies aplenty in the city.
Sword of Vermillion- A unique and fun RPG that should definitely be played by those struck curious by the genre. Me? I never played it.
Vectorman- A brilliant triumph from the Blue Sky team, Vectorman's a delightful looking platforming with shooting action and bosses galore.
Vectorman 2- A sequel to the original, with even more challenging stages, more shape-shifting, and bonus goodies to be uncovered.
Virtua Fighter 2- Finally, we have this arcade classic, revamped for the Sega Genesis. Brawl your way to glory using a number of special power moves.
There's some great games missing from the collection, including Toe Jam and Earl, Gunstar Heroes, and Streets of Rage, which is a shame. However, it still looks like there's going to be quite a bit offered to classic gaming fans out there, and if the special features hold up, this'll be a must-buy. We'll be back with more coverage of Sega Genesis Collection soon as we near its winter release date.
