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  • Sega Genesis Mini Games and Details: What and When?

    Sega Genesis Mini Games and Details: What and When?

    For a certain generation, the Sega Genesis defines what gaming looked like in the early 90’s. The slick, fast-paced action of Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage and Gunstar Heroes has always been synonymous with Sega. Now, we can look forward to the upcoming Sega Genesis Mini to recapture that classic gaming feel.

    Sega Genesis Mini Details

    The System

    The system itself is an adorable, miniature version of the Sega Genesis. Not the later redesign, mind you, but the chunkier original. The sleek black lines, glossy sheen and distinctly retro look all look great at the tiny scale.

    Much like Nintendo’s own NES and SNES Classic systems, this one will include perfect recreations of the original controller. The incredibly faithful reproduction is core the Genesis Mini’s charm. There are countless ways to play Genesis games already on the market, so the exact replica appearance is key to this product’s appeal.

    The Games

    A huge draw to this system is sure to be the high number of games on display. No less than 40 games will come included with the system, making it a huge value. Of the forty, Sega has announced twenty. They are as follows.

    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

    Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

    World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck

    Thunder Force III

    Super Fantasy Zone

    Shinobi III

    Streets of Rage 2

    Earthworm Jim

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2

    Contra: Hard Corps

    Landstalker

    Release Details

    The system is set to be released on September 19th in the US, UK and Australia. Interestingly, it will be released as the Sega Mega Drive in the UK and Australia, as per its original branding there. In the US, the system will retail for $80 MRSP. We’re excited to get our hands on the adorable collectible to go alongside our NES and SNES Classics!

  • Sega Dreamcast Classic: Could it be Coming Soon?

    Sega Dreamcast Classic: Could it be Coming Soon?

    The Sega Dreamcast Classic has just turned 20. The short-lived but influential console has a small yet iconic lineup of games. We’d love to see the system revived in the form of a Classic Mini system like the NES Classic. Could the Sega Dreamcast Classic be around the corner?

    Sega Dreamcast Classic

    dreamcast
    Polygon

    Coming Soon?

    As of this writing, Sega doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans for a Sega Dreamcast Classic. That doesn’t stop us from speculating what could make one a huge success, though. Released in 1998 originally, the ill-fated Dreamcast is a symbol of a different era of gaming. What could make a Classic Dreamcast an awesome time-capsule from the late 90’s?

    Must-Have Games

    The Dreamcast was home to some of the coolest games of the 90’s. Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, Shenmue, Soul Calibur, and Skies of Arcadia are the obvious inclusions. There are also deep cuts from the library like Canon Spike and Project Justice that would be awesome inclusions.

    Crazy Taxi, Power Stone and Jet Set Radio are also major fan-favorites of the system that are surefire inclusions in any Classic console. One game in particular strikes us as an interesting opportunity for Sega: Phantasy Star Online.

    Bring Back Online

    The Dreamcast was the first home console with built-in internet functionality. Precious few games used this functionality, chief among them being Phantasy Star Online. If Sega opts to make a Dreamcast Classic, we urge them to make the internet functionality work and include Phantasy Star with the system.

    It only makes sense for Sega to be the first to make a classic system with online capabilities. After all, they were originally the first to market with it in the late 90’s!

    How Likely is it?

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Sega has any immediate plans for reviving the ill-fated and much-beloved Dreamcast. The company has made a point of porting many of the classic Dreamcast library to other systems, including Steam.

    That doesn’t mean we can’t dream, though. Thinking back to the Dreamcast, it signaled the end of an era. Sega’s constant ambition and drive to innovate ended up spelling its doom. But man, were those some awesome games.

  • Sonic Mania Plus Gives Extra Life to Best Sonic Game in Years

    Sonic Mania Plus Gives Extra Life to Best Sonic Game in Years

    Last year’s Sonic Mania blew the doors off the losing streak Sega’s blue mascot has been on for decades. With the exception of a few middling-to-okay platformers, Sonic has been struggling to find his identity in a world without Sega consoles. However, the fan-led development of Sonic Mania has brought the character back to his roots. A year later, and it’s still one of the best things to ever happen to the series. What’s more, Sega has promised a beefed-up re-release later this month. The re-release, titled Sonic Mania Plus, introduces some new content and will be available digitally and physically.

    Sonic Mania Plus: Fresh Content for a Fresh Game

    The new Plus version of the game includes some interesting new content. First, the new Encore game mode remixes a number of the world from the base game. These remixes range from feeling like entirely new levels to some minor tweaks. For the most part, the minor changes are excuses to show off the powers of the new characters. Mighty the Armadillo and Jay the Flying Squirrel join the cast, each bringing their own special abilities. Mighty can ground-pound to damage enemies or open hidden passages. Jay can fly at high speeds, but is hard to control, much like the cape from Super Mario Bros 3. Both new characters are playable in the base game as well as Encore mode!

    Pricing and Release

    Sonic Mania Plus will be launching on July 17th in two forms: one physical, and the other digital. The physical copy will be $30 and comes with an art book. This is great for gamers who prefer to have hard-copies of their games, ensuring they aren’t tied to servers or updates to be playable. For those who already own a digital copy of the original Mania, though, the update is only $5. That brings the total to $25 overall for those who just want the digital copy of the game.

    In either event, this is a great deal. If you haven’t tried the game yet, we recommend the physical copy. The gorgeous box art and art book, coupled with the bonus of owning the game, are worth five more bucks. Alternatively, if you own the game already, spending five dollars to get the new characters and remixed single-player is a no-brainer. Either way, you have to check out this new release!

  • Tech Throwback: The Sega Genesis CD

    Tech Throwback: The Sega Genesis CD

    I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. Im going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today we are going to talk about the Sega Genesis CD

    When this CD-ROM accessory was released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis video game console, video gamers everywhere rejoiced. Let’s take a look at one of tech’s most beloved creations of the ’90s. While this was highly anticipated it was rarely adapted. The way this worked was you would purchase the Sega Genesis CD and plug it in to your existing 16 bit console allowing you to play PC like CD ROM games. The main benefit of CD technology was greater storage, which allowed for games to be nearly 320 times larger than Genesis cartridges. This benefit manifested as full motion video.

    The Games

    The Sega CD supports a library of over 200 games created both by Sega and an array of third-party publishers. Included in this library are six games which, while receiving individual Sega CD releases, also received separate versions that utilized both the Sega CD and 32X add-ons. Among the games released for the add-on were a number of FMV games, including Sewer Shark and Fahrenheit. Well-regarded games include Sonic CD, Lunar: Eternal Blue and Lunar: The Silver Star, Popful Mail, and Snatcher. And we wont even talk about the controversial Night Trap.

    Lets Play the Sega Genesis CD

    So for the small price of almost $300 I was able to get an original in box Sega Genesis with The Sega Genesis CD and one game.. Ecco The Dolphin. Ecco the Dolphin is an action-adventure game originally developed by Ed Annunziata and Novotrade International for the Sega Genesis CD.

    Since this is the only game I have and the only game I really remember from my brief time with my neighbors Sega Genesis CD. This is the game we are playing today. Basically you are a Dolphin, swimming around doing Dolphin stuff. Attacking enemies is accomplished by making Ecco ram into them at high speeds. Swimming can be made progressively faster by tapping a certain button. The speed can be maintained by holding it down. You can also perform a purely aesthetic spin in the air when jumping out of the water. Its ok and my nephews are loving it

    The Final Thought

    While this flopped, it was groundbreaking. Shortly after it would pave the way for the PlayStation and Sega DreamCast and for that we are grateful.

  • 16-Bit Nostalgia with the Sega Genesis Mini

    16-Bit Nostalgia with the Sega Genesis Mini

    If you grew up in the 90s, chances were good you had either a Sega or a Nintendo gaming console. Even though technology has moved on, many old-school gamers have fond memories of 16-bit, side-scrolling adventures of their youths. Hot on the heels of Nintendo’s own miniaturized retro consoles, the Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive to non-US markets) will be hitting shelves sometime in 2018.

    Call It a Comeback

    In essence, the mini versions of the classic consoles are emulators packaged inside novelty-sized replicas of the originals. After the success of the Nintendo minis, it’s no surprise that Sega is jumping on the bandwagon. But with videogames moving into 3D and VR, not to mention the vast array of mobile gaming apps, these consoles aren’t good for much more than pixilated nostalgia.

    Announced at Sega Fes 2018, the palm-sized device will be able to run familiar titles from the company’s catalog of games through your TV. No word yet on exactly which games will be available, but Sonic the Hedgehog will almost certainly make an appearance.

    Better Than the Flashback?

    This isn’t the first time Sega has tried to cash in on nostalgia. The company partnered with AtGames in 2017 to release the Sega Genesis Flashback, and it turned out to be a disappointment with underwhelming reviews across the board. Despite the lukewarm response to their first attempt, Sega hopes that the new Genesis Mini will prove competitive against their longtime rival Nintendo.

    The Genesis Mini’s release date isn’t yet confirmed, but the company is aiming to coincide with the 30thanniversary of the original console’s debut in October. Expect the price to be comparable to the $80 Super NES re-release.