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[Xenon]

Definitely a decent lineup overall I think it's better than the SNES for me. That dude who put cowabunga in the ad needs to be fired

 

[Bar81]

Europe/NA final 12:

- Tetris - Darius - Road Rash II - Strider - Virtua Fighter 2 - Alisia Dragoon - Columns - Dynamite Headdy - Kid Chameleon - Monster World IV - Light Crusader - Eternal Championsi

No M.U.S.H.A.

 

[Kazza]

Still waiting for the Asia list.

Me too, I was just looking at the website, but it hasn't been updated yet.

Definitely a decent lineup overall I think it's better than the SNES for me. That dude who put cowabunga in the ad needs to be fired

Oh, I forgot all about that. I joked that it was just some intern who didn't know what the Turtles were, but looks like I might have been right. Definitely a firing offence

 

[Bullet Club]

If Sega don't release the Mega CD & 32X accessories I'm sure somone at Aliexpress will.

Europe/NA final 12:

- Tetris - Darius - Road Rash II - Strider - Virtua Fighter 2 - Alisia Dragoon - Columns - Dynamite Headdy - Kid Chameleon - Monster World IV - Light Crusader - Eternal Champions

Nice. Yes , VF2 is a dud but the rest are good.

That dude who put cowabunga in the ad needs to be fired

Yep, what a prick.

 

[cireza]

No M.U.S.H.A.

Pick the Asia version.

 

[Kazza]

Pretty satisfied with the list overall.

Biggest disappointments:
No sports games
A couple of duds (just average, not bad games though)
No Aladdin/Quackshot
No variation between EU/NA systems

Biggest surprises:
Konami games
Road Rash 2
Capcom games
Disney games

Before the first batch of games announcements, I was pretty much expecting the recent Megadrive Collection in Mini form, so this whole thing has been much better than I expected. The music and UI all looks great too. The only question now is which version (leaning Asian...)

 

[cireza]

No variation between EU/NA systems

Totally agree with this. I would have liked a French version really reminiscent of the games I played and loved in France. Games like Soleil, Dune II, Chuck Rock, Dragon Ball Z were actually important releases in France, to name a few. Codemasters games as well, like Psycho Pinball or Micro Machines.

 

[Bar81]

Pick the Asia version.

Yup, thanks. Assuming it has English which it should, then even without the last 10 games announced it seems like the version to get if you don't speak Japanese.

 

[FranXico]

No Sonic 3?

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Rodolink]

This is how you do a Classic Mini console, kudos for SEGA! Im really happy, cant wait to get mine
Imagine the PS Classic went this way. Now Im hoping for a N64 and GB :3

 

[Wonko_C]

NA/EU list got crappier with each reveal, guess JP version is the one for me then. Ideally my list would have a mix of games from both and a sprinkle of Asian exclusives:


Alien Soldier
Alisia Dragoon
Altered Beast
Assault Suit Leynos/Target Earth
Beyond Oasis
Castle of Illusion
Castlevania Bloodlines
Comix Zone
Contra Hard Corps
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco the Dolphin
Ghouls & Ghosts
Golden Axe
Gunstar Heroes
Landstalker
Light Crusader
M.U.S.H.A.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Monster World IV
Outrun 2019
Phantasy Star IV
Puyo Puyo Tsu
Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
Revenge of Shinobi
Shining Force
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Slap Fight MD
Snow Bros.
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition
Streets of Rage 2
Strider
Sword of Vermilion
Thunder Force III
VectorMan
Virtua Fighter 2
Wonder Boy in Monster World
World of Illusion
Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Toutsusen
+
Darius
Tetris

That's pretty much it for me unless they reveal another Asia exclusive.

 

[nush]

I'm getting the Japanese version, the lineup is much more solid.

 

[Oemenia]

I really hope M2 can take the time to improve these games. There's ROM hacks out there that add colour and emulators can even eliminate slowdown.

 

[JunkerWoland]

Monster World IV is a big addition to the North American version, but I remain on the fence. Overall, I'm not thrilled by the NA line-up and controller choice. There's also the part of me that thinks many of these titles have the potential to eventually be repurposed as SEGA AGES releases.

 

[cireza]

There's ROM hacks out there that add colour

These are palette swaps (you are probably refering to stuff made by Pyron), you don't add colors. However they can't pick the work from someone and include it in a commercial product this easily, and it might not be to the taste of everybody anyway.

Games should play exactly as they were.

 

[Crew 511A]

Definitely a decent lineup overall I think it's better than the SNES for me. That dude who put cowabunga in the ad needs to be fired

That was probably a reference to Kid Chameleon. I seem to remember Sega hyping up as a "cool dude."

I really can't believe VF2 was included. What an abomination.

 

[Bar81]

Games should play exactly as they were.

Agreed, for better or for worse the games are what they are. You have ever drives if you want to undertake revisionist history.

 

[Oemenia]

These are palette swaps (you are probably refering to stuff made by Pyron), you don't add colors. However they can't pick the work from someone and include it in a commercial product this easily, and it might not be to the taste of everybody anyway.

Games should play exactly as they were.

Yeah I was referring to his work but AFAIK hackers can now go beyond the MDs colour limit.

 

[MrCunningham]

Europe/NA final 12:

- Tetris - Darius - Road Rash II - Strider - Virtua Fighter 2 - Alisia Dragoon - Columns - Dynamite Headdy - Kid Chameleon - Monster World IV - Light Crusader - Eternal Champions

No sports games are a disappointment :O

Virtua Fighter 2? Why do they keep including this one in collections, when they could have got Mortal Kombat, or Gauntlet 4 instead? The original Virtua Fighter 2 is one of my favorite arcade games of all time, and VF2 on the Genesis/ Mega Drive isn't bad... but it's not really the greatest choice for "nostalgia gaming".

Eternal Champions is alright for nostalgia reasons.

Alisia Dragoon is dope, great choice. Did not expect this one, but I am happy it is there.

Kid Chameleon and Dynamite Heady are good.

I love Strider for the Genesis, so neat to see it here. But would have preferred Rocket Knight from Konami. Oh well.

Road Rash II - thanks EA!

Monster World IV - Official English release is good. Great choice!

Light Crusader - A solid action RPG.

Columns - another puzzle game. Nice choice.

Darius - didn't expect this one? :O

Tetris - I have to give Sega respect for Tetris.


Overall, I can;t complain to harshly. I would have liked to see Herzog Zwei in the collection , and at least one sports game. But generally, this is a good list with a few exceptions.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

or Gauntlet 4 instead?

What's especially weird about the omission of Gauntlet 4 is that was one of M2's very first videogame ports (if not their first).

So, M2 is handling everything for the MD Mini, but one of their own seminal titles isn't included.

 

[MrCunningham]

What's especially weird about the omission of Gauntlet 4 is that was one of M2's very first videogame ports (if not their first).

I figured they would have gotten in contact with Warner Bros. interactive to obtain the Gauntlet license. I was expecting one Mortal Kombat game to be there as well. But... maybe it is out of their budget? Also, as I said in my predictions, Guantlet 4 would be a great inclusion for 4 player multitap. Something the US/ EU needs to justifying purchasing more than two controllers.

Herzog Zwei was made by Technosoft and published by Sega. How could they leave this two player RTS out? I thought it was a shoe-in for sure. I wish Sega could dump VF2 and replace it with this.

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

I figured they would have gotten in contact with Warner Bros. interactive to obtain the Gauntlet license. I was expecting one Mortal Kombat game to be there as well. But... maybe it is out of their budget? Also, as I said in my predictions, Guantlet 4 would be a great inclusion for 4 player multitap. Something the US/ EU needs to justifying purchasing more than two controllers.

Herzog Zwei was made by Technosoft and published by Sega. How could they leave this two player RTS out? I thought it was a shoe-in for sure. I wish Sega could dump VF2 and replace it with this.

Alas, twas not in the stars. Personally, I would've loved a multitap so that I could play Columns III. Gauntlet 4 could've been another incentive to add multitap support.

 

[MrCunningham]

Alas, twas not in the stars. Personally, I would've loved a multitap so that I could play Columns III. Gauntlet 4 could've been another incentive to add multitap support.

I will never understand why Sega keeps pushing VF2 in these Genesis/ Mega Drive collections? Does someone there really love this port? VF2 for the Genesis was released in 1997 at the very end of the console's life. There really is little nostalgia for this version of the game. It's not even a bad game, but there are so many better choices to put in its place. Replace it with Herzog Zwei, which is one of the most influential RTS games of all time, and still fun to play with two players, Sega owns the rights to it along with all other technosoft games.

 

[cireza]

Yeah I was referring to his work but AFAIK hackers can now go beyond the MDs colour limit.

I have quite a bit of knowledge about this and it requires that you be much more precise because what you say here is extremely vague. It is on real hardware or emulator ? What is the limit for you ? Are you talking displayed on screen, or the overall 512 palette ?

There are many techniques that exist and were used during the life of the console, you can probably do stuff on emulators that the console can't do, there is a technique discovered late in the console life that was not used in commercial games that extends the palette to 4096, and is anyway not practicable for real gameplay etc...

So, M2 is handling everything for the MD Mini, but one of their own seminal titles isn't included.

We don't have the full picture here. Obviously Sega tried to have much more games under licence from third parties and were refused for whatever reason.

 

[Spukc]

it's still wank that we can't get sonic 3&k

 

[MMaRsu]

No Sonic 3 or Knuckles what an ultimate fucking failure

for fucks sake sega

 

[MrCunningham]

We don't have the full picture here. Obviously Sega tried to have much more games under licence from third parties and were refused for whatever reason.

It's true that we don't have the full picture here. But I find it hard to beileve that WB would refuse to support this. They have been handing out licenses to just about any one else. Like the 1up Guantlet arcade machine, and even Mortal Kombat was includded with the ATGames Genesis/ Mega Drive Flashback collection. I just never saw this as a roadblock.

This last list is generally good, with some interesting obscurities. But I can't help but think there are a few lesser games taking up spots for better choices. Don't get me wrong... this is still a fantastic list of games overall. But I'd make a few minor changes ;P

 

[Hudo]

Just out of curiosity: Are the games on the Japanese Mega Drive Mini also playable in English? Because I kinda want the 6-button controllers instead of the 3-button ones that we get in the west...

 

[cireza]

It's true that we don't have the full picture here. But I find it hard to beileve that WB would refuse to support this. They have been handing out licenses to just about any one else. Like the 1up Guantlet arcade machine, and even Mortal Kombat was includded with the ATGames Genesis/ Mega Drive Flashback collection. I just never saw this as a roadblock.

This last list is generally good, with some interesting obscurities. But I can't help but think there are a few lesser games taking up sports for better choices. Don't get me wrong... this is still a fantastic list of games overall. But I'd make a few minor changes ;P

I think Sega Japan made some good efforts, but Sega West is a bit of a letdown. I can't believe that everyone they asked would refuse either.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

A game by Falcom.

SEGA had a temporary partnership with Falcom to make exclusive releases so this was likely a cheap license.

So conflicted about thiis to be honest. So happy to see Alisia Dragoon and Monster World 4 on there but no Cotton, Pengo, Pulseman and Rocket Knight Adventures hurts. (Own the latter)

America/Europe adds VF2 which is dumb that it feels like they should have added Rocket Knight there. Especially when Capcom now have 4 games and Konami just two.

This is the ultimate Puzzle game Mini at least with Tetris, Columns and Puyo Puyo on one mini.

Darius is a nice surprise despite me not being into shooters. Well done SEGA!

Pre-Ordered the JP Version and cancelled the EU one because honestly...the exclusives are awful in comparison. Even with 5 Text Heavy exclusives you can find a patch in English so it is all good.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Pretty satisfied with the list overall.

Biggest disappointments:
No sports games
A couple of duds (just average, not bad games though)
No Aladdin/Quackshot
No variation between EU/NA systems

Biggest surprises:
Konami games
Road Rash 2
Capcom games
Disney games

Before the first batch of games announcements, I was pretty much expecting the recent Megadrive Collection in Mini form, so this whole thing has been much better than I expected. The music and UI all looks great too. The only question now is which version (leaning Asian...)

Is there a link to the music? Missed it due to work.

Damn. Double post! Expected some responses since. >_>

 

[Oemenia]

I have quite a bit of knowledge about this and it requires that you be much more precise because what you say here is extremely vague. It is on real hardware or emulator ? What is the limit for you ? Are you talking displayed on screen, or the overall 512 palette ?

There are many techniques that exist and were used during the life of the console, you can probably do stuff on emulators that the console can't do, there is a technique discovered late in the console life that was not used in commercial games that extends the palette to 4096, and is anyway not practicable for real gameplay etc...

Right I had assumed that hackers were able get more colours on screen. I could've sworn that the Lion King and Street Fighter hacks looked closer to the SNES versions now.

The DF video recently showed a demo of the system displaying a huge palette, can you expand on that?

 

[Zog]

I'll wait and see how well the emulation is before I buy one but I am interested.

 

[Xenon]

That was probably a reference to Kid Chameleon. I seem to remember Sega hyping up as a "cool dude."

I really can't believe VF2 was included. What an abomination.

Yeah VF2 is interesting to see but no one would actually play it.

 

[Tarin02543]

I'll wait and see how well the emulation is before I buy one but I am interested.

same. Might invest in a mega sg instead.

 

[cireza]

The DF video recently showed a demo of the system displaying a huge palette, can you expand on that?

This is probably related to the DMA (direct memory access) used between the CPU and VDP (video display processor). The CPU actually has direct access to the VDP's memory and can push directly pixels with their colors, bypassing the standard use of the VDP (that implies using sprites, layers and affecting them one palette of 16 colors from the 4 palettes available).

Using this method, and other tricks on top of it, you can push the 512 colors limit to 4096 colors. However, DMA is so demanding for the processor that you cannot run any gameplay logic, and you are limited to half the vertical resolution. We could however imagine so kind of application with the Mega-CD running the game. But it would still mean that the way to build what is displayed would be radically different from what the consoles are made for.

This video sums it up :

 

[Sebastian Suola]

I am not a Genesis/Megadrive expert, so can someone help me? I am wondering whether I should order the Japanese version. I am based in Europe and the European version would cost me 86 euros in total, whereas the Japanese version would cost me 110 euros with all the fees (based on today's exchange rate). Do you guys think it's worth it? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger just because of the controllers. But it sucks that the Japanese version doesn't have Sonic 1. I have a soft spot for Sonic 1 in particular

 

[Fox Mulder]

It's a good list, I'm sure we all have improvements. I don't see the need for an original port of Darius at all on a Genesis mini. Could have been Musha or filled another huge hole in the lineup.

Hacking will certainly happen and let you put the real classics on there though. A Genesis to me needs sports, outrun, rocket night adventures, desert strike.

No Sonic 3?

Sonic 3 and Knuckles clearly has legal issues. We've had many Genesis compilations now in various forms, but these were last released in 2011 on Steam, last released on consoles in 2009.

 

[RAIDEN1]

Sega must really hold VF2 the genesis version in higher regard than it deserves.....its 'virtua fighter 2 lite' why you would bother contemplating this version when the REAL DEAL was widely available at the time on the Saturn I do not know....it will remain a mystery as to why Sega bothered putting ANY resources in this project at a time when the Megadrive/Genesis was on the way out and the big focus was on the Saturn....

 

[Starlight Lotice]

I love Youtube's Awful Transations.

For SEGA Fans that is.

 

[Crew 511A]

Sega must really hold VF2 the genesis version in higher regard than it deserves.....its 'virtua fighter 2 lite' why you would bother contemplating this version when the REAL DEAL was widely available at the time on the Saturn I do not know....it will remain a mystery as to why Sega bothered putting ANY resources in this project at a time when the Megadrive/Genesis was on the way out and the big focus was on the Saturn....

That and it's just a really, really bad port. In my opinion, it's the worst game for the Genesis Mini.

 

[Kazza]

Is there a link to the music? Missed it due to work.

Sounds like it could be a remixed mash-up of various Megadrive games (it starts off sounding like Star Light Zone from Sonic and goes on from there). I like the SoR sound effects.

 

[theclaw135]

No M.U.S.H.A.

M.U.S.H.A. is in legal limbo. The original western publisher, as well as the Wii VC publisher, are both defunct.

 

[Kazza]

The final Asian 12 have been announced:

- Assault Suit Leynos
- Columns
- Strider
- Alisia Dragoon
- Snow Bros.
- Slap Fight MD
- Road Rash 2
- Shining Force 2
- Monster World 4
- Langrisser 2
- Tetris
- Darius

メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）

「メガドライブ（Mega Drive）」於1988年誕生，是SEGA的第5台家用電視遊戲機。「メガドライブ（Mega Drive）」自發售後已過了約30年之久，將當時的回憶濃縮並以手掌大小的尺寸重新再現的，便是由SEGA呈獻的這台「メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）」新遊戲機器了。

asia.sega.com

Looks to be the same as the Japanese one, but with Dynamite Headdy and Lord Monarch swapped out for Shining Force 2 and Strider (Asian version has two Shining Force games now). From the Western versions you lose VF2, Kid Chameleon, Dynamite Headdy, Light Crusader and Eternal Champions.

I'm gonna think it over, but I think the Asian one will be the one for me.

 

[TLZ]

Just remember that you can all probably hack this later and add the games you want. It's not that big a deal what they offer. I know it makes it easier, but they were never going to be able to please everyone.

 

[Kazza]

Hope this helps everyone choose which region to buy (PlayAsia should be able to assist if you want to import). Also important is the fact that the Western versions come with the 3 button controller, whereas the Japanese/Rest of Asia versions come with the 6 button controller.

Colour code:

All regions
Western exclusive
Japanese exclusive
Rest of Asia exclusive
Western/Japanese semi-exclusive
Western/Rest of Asia semi-exclusive
Japanese/Rest of Asia semi-exclusive

All regions:

Alisia Dragoon
Beyond Oasis
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Comix Zone
Columns
Contra: Hard Corps
Darius
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 2
Space Harrier 2
Streets of Rage 2
Super Fantasy Zone
Tetris
Thunder Force III
World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck

EU/NA exclusive/semi-exclusives:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Altered Beast
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Earthworm Jim
Ecco the Dolphin
Eternal Champions
Kid Chameleon
Light Crusader
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic Spinball
Sonic the Hedgehog
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
Strider
ToeJam & Earl
Vectorman
Virtua Fighter 2
Wonder Boy in Monster World

Japanese exclusive/semi-exclusives:

Assault Suit Leynos
Dyna Brothers 2
Dynamite Headdy
Game no Kanzume Otokuyou
Langrisser II
Lord Monarch
Madō Monogatari I
MUSHA
Party Quiz Mega Q
Powerball
Puyo Puyo 2
Puzzle and Action: Tant-R
Rent a Hero
Slap Fight MD
Snow Bros
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
The Hybrid Front
The Revenge of Shinobi
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen

Asian exclusive/semi-exclusives:

Alien Soldier
Assault Suit Leynos
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Game no Kanzume Otokuyou
Langrisser II
MUSHA
OutRun 2019
Powerball
Puyo Puyo
Puyo Puyo 2
Puzzle and Action: Tant-R
Shining Force 2
Slap Fight MD
Snow Bros
Sonic the Hedgehog
Strider
Sword of Vermillion
The Revenge of Shinobi
Wonder Boy in Monster World

Decisions, decisions...

 

[MrCunningham]

Darius

You know, I was a little confused by Darius on this list, because I do not remember this game ever being released on the Mega Drive or Genesis. I do know about Darius 2. Doing a small google search reveals that Darius 1 is actually a brand new game made by M2 just for the Genesis Mini. They literally ported the Darius 1 arcade game for this collection. Maybe they couldn't get Gauntlet IV (which I was hoping would be included) and decided to do something new instead? It makes this port even more interesting. The Darius II port was already pretty good for the system, mind you.

EDIT:

Mega Drive Mini Port Of Darius Is "Totally New" And Not Based On "Fan Work", Says Sega

A new conversion is approaching fast!

www.nintendolife.com

Yeah, this is a brand new Genesis/ Mega Drive game. It always astounds me that this console is still recieving new games.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

The final Asian 12 have been announced:

- Assault Suit Leynos
- Columns
- Strider
- Alisia Dragoon
- Snow Bros.
- Slap Fight MD
- Road Rash 2
- Shining Force 2
- Monster World 4
- Langrisser 2
- Tetris
- Darius

メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）

「メガドライブ（Mega Drive）」於1988年誕生，是SEGA的第5台家用電視遊戲機。「メガドライブ（Mega Drive）」自發售後已過了約30年之久，將當時的回憶濃縮並以手掌大小的尺寸重新再現的，便是由SEGA呈獻的這台「メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）」新遊戲機器了。

asia.sega.com

Looks to be the same as the Japanese one, but with Dynamite Headdy and Lord Monarch swapped out for Shining Force 2 and Strider (Asian version has two Shining Force games now). From the Western versions you lose VF2, Kid Chameleon, Dynamite Headdy, Light Crusader and Eternal Champions.

I'm gonna think it over, but I think the Asian one will be the one for me.

I wonder why Asia gets Langrisser 2 when it is Text heavy. Did it get a Chinese translation?

I am honestly surpprised that SEGA didn't get Pengo in there which I believe it isn't only expensive to own but is a competent obscure game by themselves.

The games on offer are amazing but I do think they could have gotten Pulseman/Cotton/Rocket Knight in there somehow. Perhaps the Mini may offer DLC in the future?

The Japanese Super Fantasy Zone box is messing with my OCD being the only small box on show too. >_<

 

[Kazza]

Starlight Lotice I did find this online, but it could possibly just be a fan translation: