• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Megadrive/Genesis Mini: Sept 19 release date, $70, M2 doing the emulation, 40 Games (inc Castlevania)

Chittagong

Gold Member
Actual image of the device
56209368_10215690666193532_4420968622713733120_n.jpg

its-so-beautiful.gif
 

Kazza

Member
News of the PAL version has just come through:

glamshot_eu.jpg


Summary:
Autumn 2019
£70/80 euros

Games (10 of 40):
  • Altered Beast
  • Castlevania Bloodlines/The new Generation
  • Ecco the Dolphin
  • Space Harrier 2
  • Shining Force
  • Mean Bean Machine
  • Toejam&Earl
  • Comix Zone
  • Sonic 1
  • Gunstar Heroes
It looks like it'll be two 3-button controllers rather than a single 6-button controller (although the Megadrive in the picture looks to be an actual original fully-sized one rather than the mini, as you can see from the controller ports not being USB ports)

I wonder if they will run at 50Hz or 60Hz? (Edit: I forgot, it seems that all regions' versions (PAL,JAP,NTSC) will be included for each game)

Sega Europe tweet:

 
Last edited:

Kazza

Member
These are the two games lists compared (minus the common games):

JAP
  • Madō Monogatari
  • Puyo Puyo Tsu
  • Rent a Hero
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  • Wrestleball
PAL
  • Altered Beast
  • Ecco the Dolphin
  • Mean Bean Machine
  • Toejam&Earl
  • Sonic 1
I would imagine that both Sonic 1 & 2 will be coming to both. I doubt we'll see Madō Monogatari, Puyo Puyo Tsu, Rent a Hero and Wrestleball in PAL regions. Wrestleball looks a lot like an Amiga game called Speedball. I played the Amiga version, but I'm pretty sure that the (much better) sequel was ported to the Megadrive, so I wouldn't mind that being included instead. Swapping Puyo Puyo Tsu for Mean Bean Machine is probably a wise move.

I'd say the PAL version is winning out for me so far (unless the games run at 50Hz). Then again, I actually owned the Japanese version back in the day, so that carries more nostalgia for me.
 

Kazza

Member
Is anyone bothered by the 3 button controller being swapped out for the 6 button one? I always thought the 6-button one just looked like a deformed 3 button controller, but I supposed it comes down to what you used back then. I never serious got into Street Fighter 2, so never had a reason to buy one

Not many other games seemed to utilise the 6 buttons anyway, and many that did (SoR3 for example) had alternative input options:

Comix Zone
Eternal Champions
Ranger-X

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Streets of Rage 3
The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Virtua Fighter 2
Virtua Racing

Since the controller ports are USB, I'm sure you'll be able to use the new Retrobit controllers if the 6 buttons are important. I suppose the reduced cost of the 3 button ones allowing them to bundle a second controller mattered more to Sega Europe.
 

Maguro

Member
Is anyone bothered by the 3 button controller being swapped out for the 6 button one

Yes, it's the best controller ever made for 2D games in my opinion. The d pad and buttons are of superior quality. It sits in your hand so comfortable.
Even better than the Saturn V2 controller. And a loooot better than the crappy three button MD controller.

Not talking about the shitty China repros on eBay.
 
Last edited:

Lucumo

Member
Only ever had 3-button controllers and didn't even know 6-button ones existed until later. I really like having a 3-button one, although one of each would have been preferable, I guess? So far, the Japanese version wins because Sonic 2 > 1. Ideal for me would be Sonic 1, 2, Madō Monogatari, Ecco the Dolphin and either Puyo Puyo Tsu or Altered Beast for the non-shared ones.
 

Kazza

Member
Yes, it's the best controller ever made for 2 games in my opinion. The d pad and buttons are of superior quality. It sits in your hand so comfortable.
Even better than the Saturn V2 controller. And a loooot better than the crappy three button MD controller.

Well, that's a shame then. I'll probably just use my Satrun pad then (I have a USB adaptor for it.

Of course, if Sega really wanted to go hardcore, then they should have bundled in a couple of these babies:

320px-ArcadePowerStick_MD_JP_6B.jpg
 

Maguro

Member
Well, that's a shame then. I'll probably just use my Satrun pad then (I have a USB adaptor for it.

Of course, if Sega really wanted to go hardcore, then they should have bundled in a couple of these babies:

320px-ArcadePowerStick_MD_JP_6B.jpg


Also if you ever wanna use the arcade stick, don't use the US or EU one. Only the japanese Mega Arcade stick has micro switches in it. Arcade sticks without micro switches are pure trash sadly.
 
Is anyone bothered by the 3 button controller being swapped out for the 6 button one? I always thought the 6-button one just looked like a deformed 3 button controller, but I supposed it comes down to what you used back then. I never serious got into Street Fighter 2, so never had a reason to buy one

Not many other games seemed to utilise the 6 buttons anyway, and many that did (SoR3 for example) had alternative input options:



Since the controller ports are USB, I'm sure you'll be able to use the new Retrobit controllers if the 6 buttons are important. I suppose the reduced cost of the 3 button ones allowing them to bundle a second controller mattered more to Sega Europe.

I think it was more about being 'authentic', in that the og console only shipped with the 3 button, Mega Drive 2 came with the 6 button.
 

Kazza

Member
I think it was more about being 'authentic', in that the og console only shipped with the 3 button, Mega Drive 2 came with the 6 button.

That's definitely a possible reason.

Even if it means we don't get Street Fighter 2, I hope we still get other Capcom games (Strider, Ghouls and Ghosts etc)
 

Kazza

Member
Here's the Genesis Mini:

hero_lg.jpg


$79.99
Sep 19th
Two 3-button controllers

Games selection looks to be the same as the PAL version (so far):

- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier II
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Sonic The Hedgehog
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes


 
Last edited:

Lone Wolf

Member
Not having the 6 button controllers is disappointing as it will limit the games. SEGA should be putting 100 games on here both old and new. How many times are we going to recycle Genesis/Mega Drive collections?
 

Chittagong

Gold Member
Definitely hope they are willing to sell a 6 button to us separately. That failing, I’ll just get the Japanese mini and use the controller from it.
 

JORMBO

Darkness no more
Even though I haven’t really played any of my other mini consoles I will still buy this day one :)
 
Already, Sega appears to be busuiness-ing my interest out of this toy. The total list may not be extensive, but games like Contra: Hard Corps, Beyond Oasis, and Comix Zone benefit from having the six-button controller, while any fighting game immediately becomes an exercise in frustration without the added inputs.

Sure, maybe Sega will sell a six-button controller separately, but now the total expenditure will be over $100 and include two hunks of plastic I have no desire to own. Alternatively, one could import the JP model and deal with whatever differences exist in title lineup, although that would likely still cost close to, or over, $100.

Since I don't expect Sega will create any special package for Westerners who want the mini-console and a six-button controller, the remaining 30 games will need to be something special to keep me interested.
 
Last edited:

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I have pretty much every Genesis game I ever knew about on Steam. I'll wait for a Saturn mini but only if they include all the rare Sega games that are like $300 now and also Burning Rangers.
 
The US changed it to Genesis during to some naming conflict with the name Megadrive.
More recently, and specifically in the "Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works" book, Dave Rosen, then-Chairman of Sega of America, has claimed there were no legal issues with the name; he merely didn't like "Mega Drive" and personally came up with "Genesis." Whether this is true, only those involved truly know, but either way, now there are competing stories.
 

Andyliini

Member
Releasing Castlevania on this is a cultural deed, as it has not been rereleased ever since it originally released in 1994. For this game alone, I'm planning on getting this. Castlevania could still see a rerelease before this if Konami puts it in Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Great news nonetheless, if Nintendo has no plans for new Mini consoles, hopefully Sega could make even more of these. I doubt it though, they probably would not even consider anything else than Mega Drive for Mini treatment.
 

Gandara

Member
Very disappointed in the 6 button controller is not being included in the American/PAL releases. The Genesis and Saturn 6 button controllers were some of the best controllers I've ever used. As someone stated before, they are probably "emulating" what came in the hardware packages when released.
 

Chittagong

Gold Member
Very disappointed in the 6 button controller is not being included in the American/PAL releases. The Genesis and Saturn 6 button controllers were some of the best controllers I've ever used. As someone stated before, they are probably "emulating" what came in the hardware packages when released.

But how come Japan gets six buttons then?
 

ultrazilla

Member
Castlevania on this is amazing! Hopefully they can get Contra on there! Seriously though, so hard to pick from all the greats. Gunstar Heroes. Dynamite Heady. Gaires. ThunderForce IV.
 
But how come Japan gets six buttons then?
Yeah, I don't see the regional difference as having anything to do with nostalgia, but rather penny-pinching to maintain certain retail prices, since they're only offering the West a single model with two controllers.
 
Last edited:
Won't sell much at all. Sega and Atari have spammed collections and mini-consoles out the ass, there's a reason why Nintendo could get away with their VC prices and why the NES/SNES minis were big successes, because they don't spam their games everywhere with mostly the same games so their value stays.
 

cryptoadam

Banned
Seems better than the PS1 Classic, and if it comes with the 6 button controller showing more brains than Sony already.

Real question will be as always how much can this thing be hacked.

EDIT: only 3 button controller am sad :-(.

SNES controller always blew the Genisis controller out of the water.
 
Last edited:
And they put the 6 button controller in it (unlike Sony with the PSClassic that had the first revision of their 32-bit console)... good call Sega!
 

JordanN

Banned
If they're going to resell the same system again, why not include the CD and 32X?

Even though a lot of people played Genesis, they also skipped the add-ons because there was a lot of trash, but it also had some good gems too.

WZhWBdE.jpg
 
Last edited:

Lucumo

Member
Can someone with a Twitter account tell Sega Europe to fuck off for not including an AC adapter? Even NA gets one. Well, there goes my interest in buying one. "Ready to plug and play" my ass. Pretty sure that's deceptive marketing.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
This already looks loads better than the PS1 classic.
 

cryptoadam

Banned
So whats the chance with sports games? Probably won't make it due to licensing? Genesis was always known for its sports games. Maybe they could get some mutant league titles at least?
 

Kazza

Member
So whats the chance with sports games? Probably won't make it due to licensing? Genesis was always known for its sports games. Maybe they could get some mutant league titles at least?

I'm hoping for some sports titles too. Despite being generally ignored by most retro channels, sports games were a big part of the Megadrive experience. Some, like Tommy Lasorda Baseball (known simply as Super League Baseball in Europe), had unlicensed versions elsewhere. I hope they can get EA on board too with some of their sports games (actually, Road Rash 2 and Desert/Jungle Strike would also be cool additions)
 

Kazza

Member
Very unlikely out-of-left field prediction: they will include the Mega CD version of Snatcher. They already have Konami on board after all...
 

Komatsu

Member
With M2 doing the emulation I expect this to be the gold standard when it comes to curated retro mini-consoles. It'd be great if they included Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
 

andrespi

Member
More excited for this (just as I was for nes and snes classic), than any future ps5, VR, streaming, or modern games or any other modern platform. As soon as preorders open in europe, I'm gonna order one.
Now give me a saturn mini (and also a gameboy classic by nintendo) and I'm set for life.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom