Sega: Ultimate Megadrive Collection

[Strafe Mcgee]

I must admit, I've been looking forward to this game for quite some time. Nearly 50 old Megadrive classics bundled together into a compilation that can be played through without needing to dig out the old megadrive. Anyway, the game's been out for a few days for 360 and PS3, here's the list of all the games in the collection.

Mega Drive:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
E-SWAT
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe 1-3
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star 2-4
Ristar
Shining Force 1&2
Shining in the Darkness
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic 1-3 & Knuckles
Sonic 3D
Sonic Spinball
Streets of Rage 1-3
Super Thunder Blade
Vectorman 1&2

Master System:

Golden Axe Warrior
Altered Beast
Phantasy Star
Congo Bongo
Shinobi
Space Harrier
Alien Syndrome
Fantasy Zone
Zaxxon

Now, this is a spectacular list of games, but what would everyone else like to see in the 'Ultimate Megadrive Collection'? I'm a little miffed that Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, and Rocket Knight Adventures aren't here but at the same time I'm overjoyed that Dynamite Headdy, Comix Zone, Fantasy Zone and Golden Axe Warrior were included. So, what's your take on this? Are compilations a waste of time? Should this have been made available as a PSN or Xbox Live download? And, most importantly, do we REALLY need all three golden axe and streets of rage games when we could be playing Gunstar Heroes?

 

[JokerGrin]

Yeah I've got it. Only played Gain Ground so far, but so good to see them again. Reproduced extremely well. One thing that does grate is the lack of Revenge of Shinobi. Shadow Dancer would have been nice too.

But still, easily worth the money.

EDIT: Looking forward to playing E-Swat again. First game I ever completed. Also Golden Axe with my brother, so we can have our traditional real life fistfight for who gets to play the dwarf.

 

[captainwolfos]

Wonder Boy in Monster World ;-;
Best. Game. Ever.

I could just download the rom, but considering I've already done so once and found that the controls were temperamental and overall the rom was nowhere near as good as playing the original game, there's really no point XD

 

[bodyklok]

I keep on thinking about getting this game but I think I'll jsut wait untill it's cheap. BTW Golden AXESESESE yhooray.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

Wonder Boy in Monster World ;-;
Best. Game. Ever.

I could just download the rom, but considering I've already done so once and found that the controls were temperamental and overall the rom was nowhere near as good as playing the original game, there's really no point XD

Agreed, can't believe I forgot about that one in my rant...

 

[Fightbulb]

I'm just stoked that both Vectorman games and Comix Zone are in there. Those games really defined the console for me, and will make this collection a definite purchase for me.

The only Megadrive game I'm missing on this is X-men 2. Think of how amazing that game would be with online co-op. It's obviously never going to happen, but a man can dream.

 

[GothmogII]

No Earthworm Jim? Aww....

 

[MarsProbe]

Looks like a good compilation (It has the 4 best megadrive Sonic games, that's good enough for me). It would have indeed been nice to also see Gunstar Heroes and Rocket Knight Adventures on there though.

Also, I personally think it could do with some Castle of Illusion & World of Illusion to round it out...

 

[Aardvark]

My copy arrived last night, complete with LP of Megadrive tunes.

Now I've gotta find the damn record player.

I had a game of Sonic 1 and Shinobi, two games I never actually played. Brings back a feeling of delight I haven't felt since... well, since I finally perfected Sub Zero's fatality on my Megadrive.

 

[ulterior motive]

Yeah it's amazing, and totally worth it. Shinobi III is the manliest game ever concieved. Some of these games totally suck, but the main Sonic games, Streets of Rage 1-3, Golden Axe, Shinobi Arcade, Gain Ground, Dynamite Headdy, Mean Bean Machine, and Vectorman 1+2 are still amazing games today. If you like RPG's, it's even better.


Alien Soldier and Gunstar Heroes are great, but I guess you could just get them in the Treasure Collection or whatever it's called. Not as cheap as a collection like this, though.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

Alien Soldier and Gunstar Heroes are great, but I guess you could just get them in the Treasure Collection or whatever it's called. Not as cheap as a collection like this, though.

Wow, I wasn't awarew that there was a Treasure collection and a quick google reveals it to be true! Shame I don't have a PS2 any more...

 

[sonicspin]

I must admit, I've been looking forward to this game for quite some time. Nearly 50 old Megadrive classics bundled together into a compilation that can be played through without needing to dig out the old megadrive. Anyway, the game's been out for a few days for 360 and PS3, here's the list of all the games in the collection.

Mega Drive:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
E-SWAT
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe 1-3
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star 2-4
Ristar
Shining Force 1&2
Shining in the Darkness
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic 1-3 & Knuckles
Sonic 3D
Sonic Spinball
Streets of Rage 1-3
Super Thunder Blade
Vectorman 1&2

Master System:

Golden Axe Warrior
Altered Beast
Phantasy Star
Congo Bongo
Shinobi
Space Harrier
Alien Syndrome
Fantasy Zone
Zaxxon

Now, this is a spectacular list of games, but what would everyone else like to see in the 'Ultimate Megadrive Collection'? I'm a little miffed that Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, and Rocket Knight Adventures aren't here but at the same time I'm overjoyed that Dynamite Headdy, Comix Zone, Fantasy Zone and Golden Axe Warrior were included. So, what's your take on this? Are compilations a waste of time? Should this have been made available as a PSN or Xbox Live download? And, most importantly, do we REALLY need all three golden axe and streets of rage games when we could be playing Gunstar Heroes?

What's wrong with streets of rage?

 

[minoes]

I would have included G-LOC: Air Battle and Outrun.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

What's wrong with streets of rage?

Nothing, but I'd have been happy with one of the series and a couple of other better games instead. Same with Golden Axe.

 

[ulterior motive]

What's wrong with streets of rage?

Nothing, but I'd have been happy with one of the series and a couple of other better games instead. Same with Golden Axe.

Yeah, Golden Axe III is HORRIBLE. I think it was either never released outside of Japan, or never released at all...I don't remember which. All of the Streets of Rage games are good, though. 1 is a little dated, but still fun. 3 is hard as hell but still fun. 2 is fucking awesome. No complaints here.

 

[Antiparticle]

I was overjoyed when I first heard that this game (games compilation, whatever) was coming, I bought it right away when it was released, and it did not disappoint! It was so awesome to play all those great games again! Not just the Sonics but also games like Golden Axe II, Dynamite Headdy, Comix Zone, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, Streets of Rage 3, Phantasy Star III, and Vectorman, all of which I had a lot of fun with back in the old days. It was nostalgia overload! Plus I get to try a bunch of games I never played the first time around. All the games can be started up and exited quickly and easily, support savegames, the controls are configurable, there are unlockable extras, you can give a rating to each game and pick your personal favorites... it's one excellent compilation. Of course there are more games I would have liked to see included, most notably Sonic 3 & Knuckles (how the Hell could they not include that one?!), but overally it's a Mega Drive fan's dream come true. Totally awesome.

 

[EzraPound]

Sweet! I own Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic 1 & 2, Dynamite Headdy, Rocket Knight Adventures, Jurassic Park, etc.

A few notes:

- Alex Kidd does not hold up well compared to other 2D platformers. The clumsy gameplay, boring level design, and rock-paper-scissors gimmick all conspire to sink it.

- Altered Beast is unrepentant garbage (I believe this has been known since the Genesis' graphics seized seeming remarkable), but can be hilarious due to crap voice samples and all-around innaneness of the conceit.

- There are several good Genesis strategy games that should be on the list, but aren't for self-evident reasons: Herzog Zwei comes to mind (one of the best games of the 16-bit era), but also Pirates! Gold & King's Bounty.

- It's a frickin' crime that more Yu Suzuki fare isn't on the list: Out Run, anyone? Hang On? After Burner? Noone appreciates this guy like they should. Even Sega, apparently.

- Aladdin was easily one of the best platformers on the Genesis, but it's not here - I'm guessing because the licensing is still complicated. Still, sick game.

So:

Castlevania: Bloodlines
Aladdin
X-Men 2
Pirates! Gold
Herzog Zwei
Out Run
Super Hang-On
After Burner/After Burner II
Virtua Racing
Rocket Knight Adventures
Contra: Hard Corps
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim 2
Gunstar Heroes
Eternal Champions

Genesis does what Nintendon't

 

[Fudj]

I just Nerdgasmed when i read Shining Force 1+2 as well as phantasy star 2-4, my alltime favorite RPG's from when i was a kid.

 

[MrGFunk]

And, most importantly, do we REALLY need all three golden axe and streets of rage games when we could be playing Gunstar Heroes?

Streets of Rage games for me are a big draw to buy this. All three are a definite.

I want Rings of Power because I have the game but a "friend's" brother sold my Megadrive and I haven't replaced it.
I have replaced my "friend".