Sega Mega Drive Collection - PS2 /PSP

[Wools]

I just picked this up on PS2 after waiting for ages since Retro Gamer reviewed it in November but it's finally here!

From just the start up menu the nostaligia pains are felt. Everything's swathyed in a Sega blue with Sonic as the loading bar.

First things first, the games.

Alex Kidd In The Enchanted Castle
Altered Beast
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attach starring Chuck D. Head
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco II: The Tides of Time
Ecco Jr.
Kid Chameleon
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium
Ristar
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Super Thunder Blade
Sword of Vermilion
VectorMan
VectorMan 2
Virtua Fighter 2

There are more to unlock as well along with a few arcede games. Emulation is done to a tea with 60hz selectable along with Progressive Scan as well. Every game is able to be blown up full screen or can be personally changed to suite the game's original ratio.

I would like to say that the selection on offer is astounding and the extras are absloutly brillant as well with a selection of interviews being intresting to watch and not just Sega PR. The only negative points of the package are the exclusion of Streets of Rage and a few others but those minor points are simply outweighed by the choice of games on offer and the love that these titles have been put together with.

It's simply a brillant package of Sega nostalgia. Everyone, buy it!

[Extra Terrestrial]

That will be the first thing I buy when I pop in town tomorrow morning. This is the sort of software that very much renders the Mega Drive line-up on the Virtual Console rather useless as they cost a wallet-smacking ?6 per game(!)

There is only one omission from the list you have written Wools (unless it is a wishful unlockable), where is Streets of Rage?

[Ratso]

Having owned the US NTSC version for a while I can only concur with these opinions. I'm very relieved to hear that 60Hz is in (I realise that Sega have been doing this as standard for years but I'm never surprised by anything when it comes to PAL conversions).

Whilst some of the 'missing' games, such as the aforementioned Streets of Rage series prevent this from being truly definitive, I can only echo the comments of Retro Gamer magazine (and thh gamesTM Retro section) that this compilation sets a new benchmark in the areas of presentation, emulation and content. For owners of both PS2 & Wii this makes the idea of downloading the slow, bordered, over-priced MD titles from the VC - that are also featured on here - a non-starter.

[Wools]

No Streets of Rage my friend, as I said it is the negative point.

I would of liked to have seen Streets of Rage, Virtua Racing and a few other classics but seeing the substantal collection on offer I dont mind too much.

[Kotatsu Neko]

I've had this on the PSP for a good while, and I'd say it's good emulation spoilt by the terrible PSP d-pad, and the super smudgy screen. It also lacks save states, which for me (along with the brilliant classic controller) make the Wii Genesis games streets ahead of this. More expensive for sure, but I'll pay the extra for a better experience.

Or just play them under PC emulation, as I'd of thought most of us have been doing for about a decade.

[Extra Terrestrial]

No Streets of Rage my friend, as I said it is the negative point.

I blame the lack of coffee in my system, sorry!

Either way - Streets of Rage or not - it is still a bargain that everybody should pick up.

[Ratso]

I assume there will be a second volume incorporating the missing Sonic games, the SOR and others. Perhaps some 32X carts that a lot of fans (such as me) have never played would make it quite collectible.

[hudson]

No Revenge of Shinobs either is a bit of a let down for me, otherwise it looks good.

[Wools]

I've had this on the PSP for a good while, and I'd say it's good emulation spoilt by the terrible PSP d-pad, and the super smudgy screen...the Wii Genesis games streets ahead of this. More expensive for sure, but I'll pay the extra for a better experience.

Or just play them under PC emulation, as I'd of thought most of us have been doing for about a decade.

I wouldent say they offer a better experiance as this compliation is full screen 60hz and 480p with a lovely stick to play it with, at least on the PlayStation 2. All for ?20.

I'm a huge fan of Emulation and will continue to be but when a company makes a compilation as good as this I will be more than happy to splash out. Not only will my purchase hopefully make projects like this more likely to happen in the future but I can play my favourite releases on the Mega Drive on my lovely TV and not on my awquard laptop.

[Johnny]

Been playing the PSP US version (Genesis? Bah!) since it came out. Great comp, best retro collection ever IMO.

Roll on vol 2 w/SoR 1-3, Virtua Racing, After Burner, Space Harrier etc etc etc

[JamesS]

Does the PSP version not have save states. then? That's a bit crap. The PS2 version does (and gives you 3 save slots per game, which is quite nice).

[jonnyalpha]

The PSP version certainly does have save states. You can have multiple saves for each game. It also does a global save which I assume keeps track of unlockables and the screen size option that you pick for each game since it remembers how you'd set up each game every time you start it.

I can't imagine finishing a game like Decap Attack without the save function although I did do it back in the day.

[dvdmike]

I played Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master for about 2 hours on friday loving this

[Kotatsu Neko]

The PSP version certainly does have save states. You can have multiple saves for each game. It also does a global save which I assume keeps track of unlockables and the screen size option that you pick for each game since it remembers how you'd set up each game every time you start it.

I can't imagine finishing a game like Decap Attack without the save function although I did do it back in the day.

Really? I tried saving my game in Sonic and a few others and it reset me back to the title page when I quit and reloaded.

[dvdmike]

I can confirm that the Uk MD collection does I just got to chemical zone 1 and saved. If you exit out and then load I was in the same place with the same time on the clock