Mega Drive compilation for PS3, 360

By Robert Purchese Published 6 November, 2008

SEGA wheeling out the old guns.

SEGA has decided to put together a Mega Drive Ultimate Collection for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Expected early next year, the bundle will be stuffed full of fond memories, from Alien Storm to Ecco the Dolphin, and from Space Harrier to all of the Streets of Rage and Sonic games.

Another reason SEGA hopes you consider the package is higher resolution graphics, or 720p output to be precise. This will apparently grant these golden-oldies a new lease of life, but may end up simply highlighting the retro wrinkles of the elderly flock.

Of course, the best of these games will have been offered up on Xbox Live, PSN and Virtual Console, but then there's no stopping some of you.

Head over to our SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection gallery for a trip down memory lane.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (50) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • cyacomini #1 3 years ago

    not another one...

    Tell me Sonic CD is on the way and i'll show some purchasing intent!

  • chiz #2 3 years ago

    Isn't this just an emulator with an upscaling filter?

  • PlugMonkey #3 3 years ago

    I remember when the CD format was first adopted for games, all the journos breathlessly reported that you could fit every MegaDrive game ever made onto a single CD. And yet, whenever one of these compilations comes out it invariable contains about eight games, and then they try and charge you £40 for it.

    :(

  • DFawkes #4 3 years ago

    Why isn't this coming out on Wii? It could manage!

    Actually, it'd probably highlight how horrendously bad value the VC can be in some cases.

  • Widge #5 3 years ago

    I will wait until the face off to decide which version to get

  • insincere_dave #6 3 years ago

    Thank goodness someone is preserving these under-exploited rarities for posterity!!!

  • miiiguel #7 3 years ago

    Will they have Achievements?

  • S.J.Rogers #8 3 years ago

    ''Why isn't this coming out on Wii? It could manage!''

    Come on, You and I both know the Wii could not handle old MD game's...

    It has trouble turning on.

    V glad i sold mine...

  • T4RG4 #9 3 years ago

    Sad, sad... comes with rose tinted glasses, money making rip etc.

    Now, if Super Monaco GP was one of the titles, I'd buy it!

  • Garulon #10 3 years ago

    "Why isn't this coming out on Wii? It could manage!"

    Are you sure? Some of these monsters have stereo sound!

  • kangarootoo #11 3 years ago

    Oh be still my beating heart.

    Retro gaming is a big fat lie, and the sooner people wake up from it the better.

  • DFawkes #12 3 years ago

    Looking at the images, it's basically the versions from XBLA (Streets of Rage 2 and Sonic 2 at least). They look fine in HD using that weird smudge filter thing (that's the technical name), but hardly need it. Still, I'll probably have it anyway.

  • the_dudefather #13 3 years ago

    @Garulon

    and BLAST processing, only the 360 or PS3 can manage it
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 15:36

  • Garulon #14 3 years ago

    WTF are the DreamCast games, Sega? Daytona? Ecco 3D? Jet Set Radio? Space Channel 5? Skies of Arcadia?

    Hellllo? SEGA? HEELLLLLOOOOOO!

  • Thunderbolt #15 3 years ago

    Got a similar version of this on PSP let me tell you some of these games are OLD! And not in a good way either.

    Something to be said for remembering games through the red-tinted glasses.

    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 15:42

  • polar #16 3 years ago

    Meh.

    Has Sonic 3 been release on Live Arcade? I'd like to revisit that old chestnutt, but not the others.

  • SeesThroughAll #17 3 years ago

    +1 @ the Sonic CD comment.

    Sonic Blu-Ray FTW :p

  • cyacomini #18 3 years ago

    If it REALLY was in HD - it would look like this....



    http://im g292.imageshack.us/img292/487/2...

  • krudster #19 3 years ago

    More than 40 games in total, apparently.

  • RedSparrows #20 3 years ago

    Give me a disc with old DC classics on and then I'd be interested. Rush 2049 first, I don't care if it's not your property, just do it.

  • kangarootoo #21 3 years ago

    "More than 40 games in total, apparently."

    Providing an opportunity to be excited, then disillusioned, then bored... 40 times.

    Whoo.

  • indafunkyhouse #22 3 years ago

    Revenge of shinobi makes this worth getting alone!! I loved this game back on the megadrive

  • wanderingkid #23 3 years ago

    Dreamcast or even a Saturn collection would be so much more appealing it's true!

  • johnboy_johsnon #24 3 years ago

    List over at seganerds that come. Quite reasonable list of games, might be worth a look, especially given the Phantasy Star games are there:

    http://ww w.seganerds.com/2008/11/06/sega...

  • mcwildcard #25 3 years ago

    Toejam & Earl or STFU

  • B0MBJ4CK #26 3 years ago

    No Gunstar Heroes, No dice Fullstop

  • schnide #27 3 years ago

    One word people, and if you don't know it then Google it:

    Emulation

    Any of these games can and should be played on any modern PC or naughty console, and I suggest you do so that Sega can stop making lazy money like this and do something original - like doing one of their IP's justice, for instance.

  • Gnort #28 3 years ago

    Like DFawkes said, it's just that smudge filter that they used on the XLBA releases. I prefer the chunky pixels, tbh.

  • B0MBJ4CK #29 3 years ago

    Agreed that blurry stuff makes it look like fuzzy felt

  • PinkSpider #30 3 years ago

    "Give me a disc with old DC classics on and then I'd be interested. Rush 2049 first, I don't care if it's not your property, just do it."

    Yes!

    I have my DC plugged in with Rush 2049 next to it. But stunt mode (disco level) + online + scoreboards = some kind of win.

    That and the rest of the DC stuff.

  • kangarootoo #31 3 years ago

    "One word people, and if you don't know it then Google it:
    Emulation"

    Absolutely. Despite my bluster, I realise that some people actually have genuine fun playing ancient games (those people are mad of course, but hey at least it keeps them out of the courts).

    However, whooping it up because some publisher has generously given you the opportunity to spend £10 or £20 on a bunch of titles that are by any reasonable standard of depreciation worth about 14 pence each is just lunacy.

    And you should all be ASHAMED of yourselves.

    ;)

  • Cappy #32 3 years ago

    Hah! I bet each version has a few exclusive games as an incentive to get a few people to buy both.

    Most people are better off hunting down the Sega Ages releases for the PS2, hard to find imports but at least than you can pick out exactly what you want, Gun Star Heroes, Panzer Dragoon, Dragon Force, NiGHTS into Dreams etc. without getting some garbage you don't want stapled onto the side.
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 16:48

  • DFawkes #33 3 years ago

    From johnboy_johsnons' link:

    Multi-player Option: Two players can now enjoy select titles together on the same console at home.

    Wow! Now I see why it's on 360 and PS3, I was fed up of playing Golden Axe 1-player on Mega Drive! I think they worded that strangely there.

  • homerramone #34 3 years ago

    Ooo - wiggles fingers in the hope that theres a version of Toejam with prettier looking graphics !

    I already have this for the Wii VC and I think certainly gameplay wise its still a class game !

  • Skywise #35 3 years ago

    This collection is missing a lot of my favourite Sega MD games, especially Eternal Champions :(

  • DFawkes #36 3 years ago

    No Sword of Vermillion, no sale.

  • toythatkills #37 3 years ago

    "If it REALLY was in HD - it would look like this....
    http://im g292.imageshack.us/img292/487/2...    "

    That's so lazy. This is what 2D HD Sonic should look like. I'd buy it.

    http://or ioto.deviantart.com/art/Green-H...
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/08 @ 17:43

  • gennero #38 3 years ago

    IS ROAD RASH 1 & 2 GONNA BE ON IT?

    now they are great games :D

  • onyx_elite #39 3 years ago

    Ecco II: The Tides of Time! I'm in.

    Do we really need all the Sonic games released again? I know that when it comes to retrogaming Sega don't seem to think they've done anything else but come on there were hundreds. So far I've played Sonic Spinball on the megadrive, the DS and the Gamecube. I believe it was on a compilation for the PS2 as well. I'd like to see the likes of Terminator (not judgement day, the hard as nails first one where the first enemy was a bloody giant robot that you had to kill with grenades), Predator. Mick & Mack: Global Gladiators and all the Strike games (Desert Strike, Jungle Strike, Urban Strike).

    Props for Dynamite Headdy tho...

  • CapnCloudchaser #40 3 years ago

    It's actually a really big update, with 40 games, including Sonic, Streets of Rage etc.. Although I was sold at Shining Force 1 & 2. Glad I didn't buy SF2 on the VC now!

    It's certainly the biggest compilation to date, and for me personally, 40 games makes it a must have.

  • cawley1 #41 3 years ago

    As a retro gamer I am used to defending these sort of compilations whenever possible, but having just had a look at the list of games on the linked site, I have to say that they are in danger (been inspired?!) by the lazy Namco Museum/Classics titles that have been doing the rounds since the good ones on the PSone ten years ago (retro in itself!)
    The titles are the same ones that are on the PS2/PSP compilations, on the handheld Megadrive thing you can get from Argos, and on Live Arcade/Virtual Console.
    Why can they not copile the PS2 Sega Ages titles from Japan onto a Blu Ray disc, or get some arcade perfect ports onto the discs?
    I have the luxury of a number of 'homebrew enabled' systems, and along with buying these releases when the titles on offer warrant it, I have a PSP stuffed with the kind of Megadrive and SNES releases that will never see light of day again.
    C'mon lazy videogame companies, if you are doing retro compilations, be brave and change the list of titles over the various platforms and generations!

  • LeSpank #42 3 years ago

    Get lost Sega, no one wants this. Do Sega Rally, Virtua Cop, Daytona... pretty much any arcade game from the mid/late 90s on a disc or on one of the download services and you will get far more money and respect. Why am I even typing this?

    I hate you so much Sega.

  • BarcaAzul #43 3 years ago

    Ill buy it just for streets of rage I and II

  • FooAtari #44 3 years ago

    Like schnide said, with emulators why would any pony up £40 for 20 year old games.

  • Daikon #45 3 years ago

    Only games published by Sega are on the list. No Gunstar Heroes though...
    Also missing in action are Afterburner, Space Harrier II, Turbo OutRun and Castle of Illusion.
    Still, with Phantasy Star II - IV and Shining Force games included looks like I'll be getting this ^_^

    The games come with achievements and trophies.

  • 3william56 #46 3 years ago

    Who's idea of the best of the MD was this??

    No Thunderforce, no Gunstar, no Desert/Urban/Nuclear Strike no sale.

  • neonemesis #47 3 years ago

    Well, the Roadrash/Strike games won't be there because they were EA games, not Sega published. Still, there does seem to be a lot of other classics such as Toejam and Earl, Castle of Illusion etc. that could have easily fitted on there. Kinda mystifying considering utter rubbish like Super Thunderblade is present. Considering I own the MD Collection PS2 already and still have a huge pile of original carts, I don't think this warrants a purchase for me.

  • Bulbatron #48 3 years ago

    This collection looks pretty good to me. I assume then that Golden Axe will be the Megadrive version, rather than the version released on XBLA. I rather liked the Megadrive version. But what about Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 1 & 2 and Ecco the Dolphin? Will they be the same as the XBLA version - or are these now appearing EXACTLY as they were on the Megadrive (aside from the upscaling).

    And yes, I would have to ask why games such as Afterburner, Toejam & Earl, Eternal Champions, World of Illusion (preferred that to Castle of Illusion), Outrun and Space Harrier II are not being included.

    It would also be nice to see a few bonus games from other consoles, such as Sonic CD or from the arcade such as Golden Axe - Revenge of Death=Adder.

    Having said all that, it's nice to see Golden Axe II and the original Streets of Rage in the collection.

  • Ryze #49 3 years ago

    I WANT THE ARCADE VERSION OF DAYTONA USA WITH ONLINE PLAY ON THE 360 & PSP, SEGA.

    UNTIL THEN - FUCK OFF WITH THE RECYCLING.

  • m0thr4 #50 3 years ago

    Yay... 32 Megabytes of games on a Blu-ray disc for £25... now that's value for money. Sign me up Sega.