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

Bar81

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

Easy call for me, Asia has the best collection: Musha Aleste, Strider, Super Shinobi, Assault Suit Leynos, Castle of Illusion, Sonic, Slap Fight MD.

Nice work Asia team :messenger_fistbump:

US team - you continue to fail...
 

Kazza

Member
Will the Asia release be primarily in English? Will the Europe release be based on PAL roms?

I remember hearing that the Japanese version will have all regions, so I don't see why the PAL one wouldn't (also, all regional versions were included in the recent PS4/PC etc collection).
 
Starlight Lotice Starlight Lotice I did find this online, but it could possibly just be a fan translation:



We will soon see but that would be interesting if they used a Fan Translation.

Lord Monarch looks interesting but have no idea how it is played. XD

I wonder how you change the games to english? Can you change the Menu UI as well?

Gone for Japanese Version myself. Some games on the Asian version I own on the Wii's VC whereas some of the Japanese games included have never been ported before.

Looking back. They did 42 to double over Nintendo's SNES efforts but they really should have gone for 50 as they could easily get the other great games in there. Even the sequels to Shinobi/Golden Axe plus the other games people want.

Surprised that the Western version excluded MK and Sub-Terraria. Would have been great to get those in.
 
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cireza

Banned
Lord Monarch looks interesting but have no idea how it is played. XD
Lord Monarch is pretty awesome. It is a strategy game where you need to build your kingdom, and conquer the other kingdoms on the map. You have little guys that work autonomously to expand the kingdom. You have to manage your money in order to have the right number of persons to expand in the most optimal way possible.

The leader is in the main castle (and I think needs to be there in order for the money to actually increase), but you can take him out on the field.

On top of that a number of special actions can be made, such as building bridges, exploring caves, fighting wandering monsters to progress, find treasures etc... The game looks like it has a good sense of humor as well.

The game is also very well done, being a late MegaDrive game, with pretty graphics, different zoom options for the field and many artworks.

I got stuck at a mission where it seems that the goal is not to eradicate the enemy lol.

I really hope that it will get a translation one day...
 

Kazza

Member
Lord Monarch is pretty awesome. It is a strategy game where you need to build your kingdom, and conquer the other kingdoms on the map. You have little guys that work autonomously to expand the kingdom. You have to manage your money in order to have the right number of persons to expand in the most optimal way possible.

That sounds great. I loved strategy games, but the only one I remember playing on the Megadrive was Megalomania (I loved the voice samples: "We've nuked them!"). Luckily I also had an Amiga, and later a PC, so could get my strategy fix there.
 

Kazza

Member
For the Asian one does anyone know, did many Megadrive games get Chinese translations back in the day? I'm living in China now studying Chinese, so it would be pretty cool to be able to "study" Chinese at the same time as playing games. Plus I think I prefer the game selection too.
 
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 :(

Now that I looked into it more I feel that the Asian version might be the best for me. It has Sonic 1 and Castle of Illusion, both games that I love. I’m just wondering whether the Japanese version has any ”must play” exclusives on it?

By the way, many thanks to the dude who made the exclusives list with the color codes!
 

nush

Gold Member
For the Asian one does anyone know, did many Megadrive games get Chinese translations back in the day? I'm living in China now studying Chinese, so it would be pretty cool to be able to "study" Chinese at the same time as playing games. Plus I think I prefer the game selection too.
If they are they will be in Cantonese not Mandarin. The Asian versions are basically made for Hong Kong.
 
Lord Monarch is pretty awesome. It is a strategy game where you need to build your kingdom, and conquer the other kingdoms on the map. You have little guys that work autonomously to expand the kingdom. You have to manage your money in order to have the right number of persons to expand in the most optimal way possible.

The leader is in the main castle (and I think needs to be there in order for the money to actually increase), but you can take him out on the field.

On top of that a number of special actions can be made, such as building bridges, exploring caves, fighting wandering monsters to progress, find treasures etc... The game looks like it has a good sense of humor as well.

The game is also very well done, being a late MegaDrive game, with pretty graphics, different zoom options for the field and many artworks.

I got stuck at a mission where it seems that the goal is not to eradicate the enemy lol.

I really hope that it will get a translation one day...

Reminds me of Little Kings Story. So is it a Tower Defence game?

I noticed the options are in English at least! I wish Falcom came back to these games...

Getting tired of the "No Sonic 3" comments now. If people want the game, play it on literally any other collection out there. It is not ideal to be omitted but there are great games here that are just as good.
 
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KellyM

Member
Why Thunderforce 3 though? Its not as if the superior Thunderforce 4 is stuck in legal limbo - like M.U.S.H.A
I actually think the reason Sega didn't add Thunder Force 4 or Lightning Force to the list is because Sega is are selling Thunder Force 4 on the switch. You will notice that they didn't add The Genesis version of Outrun, Gain Ground or Virtua Racing to any of the lists, It because they want people to buy the Sega Ages Switch version done by M2. Overall, I am happy and have pre-ordered the mini system.
 
Not to me. You have to conquer the enemies on the map.

Oh okay then.

I just had a random thought about the Mini.

If it has a clock in the Menu.....do you think that there is one more secret game that they are keeping quiet about until it goes past Christmas?

I ask this as many years ago, we had a ton of complaints about Alex Kidd being absent in Transformed a whole month before it was revealed by someone that they set the Date after Christmas and Alex Kidd was revealed.

So if there is a Clock on the system (any region), do you think that Rocket Knight/Sonic 3 & Knuckles/Cotton/Pulseman will appear on Christmas as a sort of final "Gift" to the fans?

Speculating as revealing everything now seems to be a little too open with the fans. Just something interesting to note as they may like to surprise us after post-launch.
 

Kazza

Member
Getting tired of the "No Sonic 3" comments now. If people want the game, play it on literally any other collection out there. It is not ideal to be omitted but there are great games here that are just as good.

Amen! The ROM is still available on Steam at a reasonable price (and frequently discounted during sales) and can officially be used in any emulator of your choice. It looks like they were going for one game per franchise (although they did break that rule a few times), so it might not have been included anyway.


So if there is a Clock on the system (any region), do you think that Rocket Knight/Sonic 3 & Knuckles/Cotton/Pulseman will appear on Christmas as a sort of final "Gift" to the fans?

Speculating as revealing everything now seems to be a little too open with the fans. Just something interesting to note as they may like to surprise us after post-launch.

Don't do this to yourself, man

shanny.gif
 
Amen! The ROM is still available on Steam at a reasonable price (and frequently discounted during sales) and can officially be used in any emulator of your choice. It looks like they were going for one game per franchise (although they did break that rule a few times), so it might not have been included anyway.




Don't do this to yourself, man

shanny.gif

Exactly! Many people likely own the game in multiple forms to whine about it not being in the collection.

Cotton isn't in but I am still buying the JP version because the games in are still great ones.

I love speculating and not too bothered if there are no more but it'll be interesting if they did the same thing as Transformed's scenario. 😉
 

Fat Frog

I advertised for Google Stadia
Amen! The ROM is still available on Steam at a reasonable price (and frequently discounted during sales) and can officially be used in any emulator of your choice. It looks like they were going for one game per franchise (although they did break that rule a few times), so it might not have been included anyway.




Don't do this to yourself, man

shanny.gif
Enough of Sonic 3 and even Sonic 1, 2 (you can play them almost everywhere, even on smartphone in 16/9 with real bluetooth controller).

Let's be enthusiastic for forgotten gems like Alisia Dragoon, Masaya games and even Treasure's 200 dollars Yuyu"4 players on the mini WTF"Hakusho...
 
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Kazza

Member
I love speculating and not too bothered if there are no more but it'll be interesting if they did the same thing as Transformed's scenario. 😉

That's the spirit! Everyone here knows that there are plenty of "other means" of playing whatever Megadrive you want, but it's still been a lot of fun waiting for these announcements every few weeks.

Also, if you buy Sonic 3 on Steam you can legally use the ROM in conjunction with an update called Sonic 3 AIR, which adds widescreen and the spin dash among various other tweaks:



Any potato PC can run it.
 

Ryllix_

Member
The game list is incredible. This may be the best of the classic consoles, and I say that as someone who loves my SNES classic.
 
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Fat Frog

I advertised for Google Stadia
Japanese gamers don't use emulation that much, that's why this mini could be a hit there. (With Bloodline, Hard Corps, Hakusho, there are over 1000 dollars of rare games included)

The Japanese Mini has all the niche games to seducing otakus, the huge Saturn fanbase (The Hybride Front, Musha, Hakusho... Sega didn't bring Ranger X to prevent penis explosions in Japan.)

Compared to the Japanese Mini, the western version is almost a casual console lol...BUUwuURP.
 
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Kazza

Member
The fact that people can still be upset after Sega provided a (mostly) solid selection of 42 games speaks volumes about the strength of the console's library as a whole. Just for fun, which 42 games would people include in any Megadrive Mini Classic 2?

Here's my pick for a new Western version (includes some games from the current Asian/Japanese versions):

Sonic 3&K :messenger_smirking:
Rocket Knight Adventures (surprised this wasn't on the first Mini)
Streets of Rage 1/3 (I would personally go for 3)
Golden Axe 2/3
Quackshot
Aladdin
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hyperstone Heist
MUSHA
Hellfire (rock hard, but underrated shooter)
Thunderforce 2 (number 4 is the best, but I don't think Sega want any overlap with Sega Ages)

Outrun/Super Hang-On (the original was sorely lacking in driving games)
Desert Strike/Jungle Strike
Alien Soldier
Mickey Mania (although I'd prefer they save this for a Mega CD mini)
Sunset Riders (Konami already on board)
International Superstar Soccer Deluxe/FIFA/Sensible Soccer (needs at least one football/soccer game)
NHL (I believe there was a version without real teams/players)
Madden (see above)
Mutant League Football/Mutant League Hockey
Phantasy Star 2/3

Sonic 3D (they would definitely be more than one Sonic game, and they might be able to include the "deluxe" version patched by the original creator himself)
Ristar
Revenge of Shinobi/Shadow Dancer
Vectorman 2
Mortal Kombat 1/2/3
ESWAT: City Under Seige
Crusader of Centy
Alien Soldier
ToeJam & Earl 2 Panic on Funkatron
Shining Force 2

Earthworm Jim 2
Super Monaco GP
Battletoads (maybe Microsoft will play nice, since Sega is helping their new PC gamepass project)
Afterburner 2 (good arcade port)
Alien 3 (don't Sega still own the rights to Alien?)
Super League (unlicensed EU/JAP version of Tommy Lasorda Baseball)
Ecco: Tides of Time
Gauntlet 4 (M2's first ever game - surprised not to see this on the original Mini)
Micro Machines (great multi-player fun)
Mystic Defender (underrated early action-platformer, but licensing?)
Snow Brothers (already on other versions)
Ranger X (really need to 6 button controller for this one)



These are some I had to cut out from my original list (you can see a slight Amiga bias here, haha):

Theme Park
Lemmings (timeless puzzle game, earns extra nostalgia points)
Speedball 2 (another Amiga game - futuristic sports)
Cannon Fodder (really fun Amiga port, RTS/action)
Megalomania (another Amiga RTS)
Syndicate (really cool strategy game)
Road Rash 3 (didn't make the cut because it was a bit too similar to Road Rash 2)
Forgotten Worlds (another decent Capcom arcade conversion)
Zombies Ate My Neighbours (never played this, but it looks interesting)


I think this second list is as strong as the actual first Western Mini. Now if you had to compile a list for a third mini, that's when I think you would start to see a definite drop in quality.
 
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Kazza

Member
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...

I added this list to the OP, but it lost all colour formatting. Is there any way to paste this while maintaining the colour, so that I don't have to colourise it all over again?
 
Another MD Mini will confuse the casual gamers thinking they are getting Sonic but instead get the incredible Rocket Knight.

I would say another one would add 30.

Sonic 3D Blast
Rocket Knight Adventures
Ranger X
Crusader of Centy
Chiki Chiki Boys
Forgotten Worlds
Mercs
Ristar
Pulseman
Panorama Cotton
Darius 2 (forget the name)
Arrow Flash
Sub Terraria
Stell Empire/Empire of Steel
Ys 3
Shining in the Darkness
Surging Aura
Bahamat Senki
Desert Strike
Jungle Strike
Gauntlet 4
Vectorman 2
The Ooze
Ecco Tides of Time
Valis S
El Viento
Earnest Evans
Red Zone
Truxton or Hellfire
Gley Lancer

I will think of more but those are from the top of my Head.
 

Bullet Club

Member
It's on PlayAsia as well. A bit pricey.

 

Fox Mulder

Member
Getting tired of the "No Sonic 3" comments now. If people want the game, play it on literally any other collection out there. It is not ideal to be omitted but there are great games here that are just as good.

And I think it's a bit dumb to say just play it on Steam. Nintendo wouldn't leave a mainline Mario off any of their classics.

I don't play anything on PC/Steam and Sonic 3 or Knuckles hasn't been released in any console collection since 2009. The old last gen collection stuff was also poorly emulated by Backbone. M2 does a better job today which is why anyone is even excited about another Sega Genesis box after years of AtGames trash. But people will hack it anyways, so whatever.
 
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And I think it's a bit dumb to say just play it on Steam. Nintendo wouldn't leave a mainline Mario off any of their classics.

I don't play anything on PC/Steam and Sonic 3 or Knuckles hasn't been released in any console collection since 2009. The old last gen collection stuff was also poorly emulated by Backbone. M2 does a better job today which is why anyone is even excited about another Sega Genesis box after years of AtGames trash. But people will hack it anyways, so whatever.

I understand it is frustrating for people and I doubt SEGA would omit it if they could but you are seeing many people saying they won't buy the Mini because of it, which is even dumber.

I remember people complaining when Yoshi's Island wasn't added to the Virtual Console to the point that people were assuming Nintendo does this out of spite. The situation is likely more complicated than we know and I think these casual fans are just fanning the flames at this point.

You are right about potential hacking which some will just add Sonic 3 & Knux anyway, and fans shouldn't have to do that but it seems to be the only way to get the games in and I can bet that almost everyone owns the games already to do it.
 
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Amen! The ROM is still available on Steam at a reasonable price (and frequently discounted during sales) and can officially be used in any emulator of your choice. It looks like they were going for one game per franchise (although they did break that rule a few times), so it might not have been included anyway.


I think the reason why they can sell the ROM is that the music has to be tied to that version of the game. But since M2 seems to be doing these partialy native ports, and are not just running ROM's off of an emulator, that might void the contract that Sega has with using the "Michael Jackson' music. The PC port of Sonic 3 had to have different music tracks because of this. Sega can reuse the music if they continue to package the game as a ROM, but ports are out of the question unless they change the soundtrack.
 
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TLZ

Banned
No, I think it just means you can play the Japanese versions of the games.

It also probably means the Euro version can play Contra: Hard Corps instead of Probotector.
Hmm. Ok. Since I got the Japanese version I was hoping I could play English versions. Anyway.
 
I'm still on the fence about the North American unit, but it's encouraging to see the NA product offering the ability to select regional ROMs. My current interest lies more in possibly importing the Japanese version, so hopefully we'll get similar confirmation for all relevant games (including Monster World IV) on the JP edition.
 
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lo zaffo

Member
Please let me understand.
When I'll have MegaDrive mini PAL/EU, if I were to switch language to Japanese, will I be able to play Dyna Brothers 2 ?? (Sorry for my English)
 
Please let me understand.
When I'll have MegaDrive mini PAL/EU, if I were to switch language to Japanese, will I be able to play Dyna Brothers 2 ?? (Sorry for my English)
No. You will only be able to play the Japanese version of the games included on the PAL system (where applicable). Earthworm Jim and Vectorman don't have Japanese releases, so I don't know how they'll appear in the Japanese system menu.
 
Has it already been mentioned that we get a brand-new System 16 port of Tetris, and not the very rare one? I've seen people (including official outlets) spreading this false information, so. In the end we get two brand-new titles for this system; Tetris and Darius - Dah-rai-us!

 
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RAIDEN1

Member
What I am trying to understand is, if you were looking to add new games later...like the SNES mini, how would the sound issues play out in terms of genesis games sounding better on certain models of the console, as the later editions did away with what made the sounds even be on a half-decent level....in terms of output would you be getting the TRUE sound?
 
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