Sega offers a better way to play Genesis games, flips Wii owners the bird

By Stephen Munn | December 8, 2008

Did you grow up playing games on the Sega Genesis? Do you still have a place in your heart for that system? One option to satisfy that craving is to find a Sega Genesis or Megadrive on eBay and play that, but if you want to do it for even less, there is a better way. If you’ve got a PS3 or an Xbox 360, Sega has your back.

Sega’s got another upcoming Genesis game compilation with more than forty titles confirmed, including all of the Genesis Phantasy Star games. Phantasy Star I was on Master System, and that appears to be the only reason it was omitted from this collection. Assuming it’s not one of the unlockable titles (last month’s press release mentioned unlockable Master System Games) I would have to call that an oversight. Rename the collection if you have to. Why? Because I would pay this compilation’s asking price of $30 just to be able to play a compilation of the four Phantasy Star games on my Nintendo DS or PSP. Check below for a list of games in this compilation.

Then ponder the fact that Wii owners can get many of these games on Virtual Console at eight dollars a pop against the fact that this compilation has only been announced for PS3 and 360. If they put Phantasy Star on here, I’m selling Sonic Mega Collection and grabbing this for PS3.

Source: Sega

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (November 6, 2008) – SEGA® Corporation today announced the development of Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. This compilation will feature the best first-party games from SEGA’s venerable 16-bit Genesis years as well as feature bonus content from its 8-bit Master System and 1980’s arcade era games library. Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection is slated to ship to retailers in North America in Spring of 2009.

“Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection is a must-have for any die-hard SEGA fan,” says Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing for SEGA of America, Inc “Fans have been chomping at the bit to get a chance to relive fond memories from these classic games, that time has come and it’s being presented this time in HD.”

Developed by Backbone Entertainment, Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection contains over 40 classic SEGA games in one package; making it the largest collection of SEGA first party games ever offered. Featured games include Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2 and 3, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Shinobi III, Space Harrier, and fan favorite Streets of Rage. The games in the collection have been reproduced with the utmost detail and accuracy to the original games. In addition, Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection can output the games in 720p with higher resolution graphics for HD televisions, bringing a new visual richness to playing these classic titles.

Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection™ for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system is set for release in the spring of 2009.

THE LARGEST SEGA GENESIS COLLECTION TO DATE!

Take a trip back in time with over 40 titles from the SEGA Genesis™ era, including your Sonic The Hedgehog favorites, for only $29.95! In classic single-player and multiplayer battles, you’ll take down a huge variety of enemies, including Sonic’s nemesis Dr. Eggman (AKA Dr. Robotnik), shuriken-flinging ninjas, hordes of altered beasts and the world’s greatest fighting champions.

FEATURES:

• THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF CLASSIC SEGA TITLES. All the favorites are here including Sonic The Hedgehog, titles from the Phantasy Star™ series, as well as three titles from the Streets of Rage™ series, to name a few.

• UNLOCKABLE CONTENT. Unlock arcade games and interviews with the original game developers as you earn Achievements on the Xbox 360® and Trophies on the PLAYSTATION®3.

• ALL TITLES UPGRADED TO HI-DEF. The classic 2D style never looked so good! Each of the titles has been converted to hi-def (720p) and will be a blast to play using the intuitive controls of the Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3 systems.

• MASSIVE MULTIPLAYER OPTIONS. Play these classics together with a friend from the same console at home.

GAMES INCLUDE:

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 MBM
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco II: The Tides of Time
E-SWAT
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe I
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Ristar
Shining in the Darkness
Shining Force
Shining Force 2
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic and Knuckles
Sonic Spinball
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 3
Super Thunder Blade
Vectorman
Vectorman 2

*Unlockable games to be revealed soon!