Sonic Mega Collection Plus Comments by Tom Bramwell

Nintendo take note please: Classic games + decent price = No.1 hit.

A retro compilation that's actually GOOD VALUE? What is the world coming to? :-)

Does it have that isometric sonic game (think it was called Sonic 3D) by Travellers Tales ?

Well said Krudster. ALl the sonics plus extras for £20? I'll have some of that please.

Pity about Sonic CD though.

Good job SEGA, this is a great deal for fans.

On another note, GameCube Mega Collection owners can reassure themselves that they got way cooler boxart and what will undoubtedly be a much more rare version of the game (I believe the game wasn't produced in any huge quantities).

Well said Krudster. ALl the sonics plus extras for £20?

£30, actually. Before online discounts, of course. Simply have it at about £22.

£20, £22... I'm not fussing over £2 Blerkie. :)

Does it have that isometric sonic game (think it was called Sonic 3D) by Travellers Tales ?

Yes.

On another note, GameCube Mega Collection owners can reassure themselves that they got way cooler boxart and what will undoubtedly be a much more rare version of the game (I believe the game wasn't produced in any huge quantities).

Well it sold enough to get re-released on the Player's Choice range, and is still selling well as a new game, and is still in mass production.

It's £24.99 at Amazon, but you do get a 'free' t-shirt. Not sure what size it is though.....

Sonic CD would've made it for me... as it is, I'm just tempted...

Sonic CD and I've gone into my overdraft for this.

As it is I'll wait a couple of months.

Why haven't any of these collections included Sonic CD? Is there a proper reason why it keeps being left out?

I think it is something along the lines of the fact that the cost of re-writing the engine for conversion was too high to warrant it. It's a shame but hey-ho. Is there any plans for a Sonic MC ++ with it included and heroes at some point? :)

/pats modded xbox and gensx

"It's £24.99 at Amazon, but you do get a 'free' t-shirt. Not sure what size it is though..... "

I got one from Game, and it's effing massive.

The Sega t-shirt I got from Amazon with my Sonic Mega Collection was a medium, so that's gone to a mate's kid.

As for the game, I've got the Xbox version and the lack of 60Hz mode means it's surprisingly slow. I never thought I'd notice much difference, but everything just feels sluggish, which isn't what I want from a Sonic game.

If I set the Xbox to run at 60Hz/NTSC it's the correct speed, but not at all smooth. The homebrew Megadrive emulator I've had on the same Xbox for two years now runs better than this, which is disappointing.

I think I'll probably order a US copy and trade in my UK copy in Gamestation, or something.

Of course, if you don't mind playing at the speed the UK versions have always had, it's not a problem. And the menus are very nice and it's been well put together. It's just, for me, the lack of a decent PAL conversion makes a world of difference to my enjoyment of the game.

>Nintendo take note please: Classic games + decent price = No.1 hit.

Oh dear here I go.

I suggest you compare Nintendo's and Sega's bank balance first.

Sorry but had to be said. The mind boggles at the amount of money Nintendo have made with their NES classics.

As someone who can't remember Sonic CD the first time round - what was so good about it that has everyone pining for it so much everytime one of these compilations comes out?

I rented this for my xbox, and I found it rather poor. The frame rate lurches occasionally, and there were small grey borders around the play area. This put me off completely. I honestly just couldnt play it with the borders there. Anyone else have the same prob?

Well it sold enough to get re-released on the Player's Choice range, and is still selling well as a new game, and is still in mass production.

Hmm, alright. I was just always under the impression it didn't get produced in large quantities because it was always out of stock at major retailers (Online and street).

I've got the GC version and I'll be selling it for the PS2 version, reason : YOU CAN SAVE!

I know it's not the way it was intended but in this day and age I just can't play a whole Sonic game in one sitting, so saving is an absolute godsend, nice one sega!

also pats modded xbox and genesis emulator.... mmmmmmm

I think a lot of us just remember the hype about Sonic CD - it's Sonic! Filling a CD! (balderdash, claptrap, etc.)

You'd have thought some hastily written emulator would have sufficed though, rather than having to rewrite the engine. But then, hark to the power of MEGA CD...

Actually, lore tells us that Yuji Naka doesn't have the right to put Sonic CD in a compilation (since the game was directed by Naoto Ohshima, not him). In a interview with Gamespot, Naka said they "didn't had enhough disc space to put Sonic CD" what seems a pretty poor excuse. I mean, it's not even on the japanese Sega Ages 2500 release schedule.

So on the PS2 version you can save during any of the Sonic games? On the GC you can only save on games that originally had it, i.e not Sonic 1 or 2.

You can save in every game on the xbox version at least, don't know about the PS2. As a word of warning to other Xbox owners, there seems to be some issue with consoles set to 60hz - you'll find the scrolling in the megadrive games is jerky until you switch the console back to 50hz mode. For the gamegear games, it's the opposite. Slightly sloppy there...

"(why can't 2CD cases just pick a side? We've broken loads of them lately just by ripping cack-handedly at the flap on the side that usually opens)"

I bought a rough trade compilation a while back, and spent ages trying to get to the second CD. Turned out there was just one spindle with the CDs one on top of the other.

Sorry, this thread was about Sonic, wasn't it. Carry on...

/me buys for Valentine's present

Just to comment further on the Sonic CD thing, wasn't done by Mr Naka and thus he treats it like the black sheap of the sonic family.

He's only jealous cos it was also the best of the bunch.

*would

And the menus are very nice and it's been well put together.

Did they go back to the Gamecube 3D spinny thing menus with sharp 2D behind it because the early MC+ screens showed pretty poor looking low quality 2D menus.

Sonic CD is not included due to a copyright issue which means that it cannot appear on any other format other than Mega CD

/strokes PC version of Sonic CD

Oh, and one thing I wanted to say -- Sonic Jam on the Saturn is better than this new Mega Collection.

Did they go back to the Gamecube 3D spinny thing menus with sharp 2D behind it because the early MC+ screens showed pretty poor looking low quality 2D menus.

I can hardly remember what the menus really look like, but they're not fussy and are easy to navigate, which is what I mean when I say good menus.

Fantastic! Sonic 2 was my earliest gaming memory and my most beloved character of all time, as are Sega my most beloved games company. Nice on Sega! Even though I've got Sonic 3D, Sonic 1 and 2, I'll still be buying it. Keep rolling, Sega!

edit: Also, I remember a game called Dynamite Headdy. I haven't played it in years, but I've still got it knocking around somewhere. Another classic from Treasure, IIRC.

Treasure were the best game makers during the Mega Drive's hey day IMO. They made Gunstar Heroes, the best 16 bit era game ever. FACT.

What'd you think of Dynamite Headdy?

Alright, not as good as Treasure's other stuff, but better than most of the other shite you had floating around on the Mega Drive.

/Remembers 'Bubsy the Bobcat'

/Dies

"Nintendo take note please: Classic games + decent price = No.1 hit."

Other developers take note please: 2D graphics + killer gameplay + buckets of fun = No.1 hit.

Wanky 3D graphics + poxy movie license + bodged, hurried development + MeToo Gameplay = Commercial Lead Balloon.

Looks like a fully loaded slice of (Hedge) Hog Heaven. Almost makes up for the travesty of that recent SonicX cartoon.

/runs cackling down to the shops waving money
/wants original slinky Megadrive controller

I think the NES collection was a milk too far, but I agree with you william.

/runs back from the shops crying cos it ain't out in Oz yet

Wanky 3D graphics + poxy movie license + bodged, hurried development + MeToo Gameplay = Commercial Lead Balloon.

Sounds like a surefire commercial hit to me!

IFAIK, it's also missing the isometric Sonic arcade game, with trackballs.