SEGA Mega Drive Collection Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 2 February, 2007

Sweet 16.

Version tested: PlayStation 2

Normally with a retro compilation the first thing you want to do is rant about how rubbish everything is. There's bound to be something wrong with the graphics - they'll be flickering, slowed, stretched, bordered, upside down, whatever - and the menus will be awful, too. The controls will be mapped to the wrong buttons, or the disc will be the wrong colour, and sometimes when you stand on the 50th pixel from the left the collision detection's different to how it was 48 years ago. And of course that's only half the legitimate stuff (and only half legitimate stuff, as you'll note).

So from my perspective this new SEGA Mega Drive Collection is a complete disaster. I really have no idea what to complain about. You can play games at the original size, stretch the 4:3 image to fit the screen or blur them across a 16:9 fill if you prefer. You can eliminate borders, and play at 50 or 60Hz, and in prog-scan. Everything's full-speed. You can use the analogue or the d-pad, and play around with the buttons. You can save and load anywhere you are, which is so completely alien to 16-bit that I sort of genetically disapprove of it even though it's excellent. You can switch back to the game-select menu easily, too - the menus themselves are sturdy, logical and inconspicuous - and there's even ad-hoc wireless multiplayer fun to be had on the PSP.

'SEGA Mega Drive Collection' Screenshot 1

Sonic. Before the dark times. Before Tails.

Things start to look up when you analyse the list of games. There may 30 or so, but there's still quite a lot of fluff. Does anyone really care about Golden Axe 3? Can't we just please forget about Alex Kidd? Surely his insipid brand of sub-Sonic one-hit-kill platforming hasn't just had its day, but needs to have an actual day appointed so that we can all gather together and beat sticks on the floor to drive remnants out into the open where they can be thoroughly stamped upon? And while I admire the resolve of the programmers who converted Virtua Fighter 2 to the Mega Drive, isn't its inclusion here just a matter of reliving their irrelevance? Like putting highlights of a Man United reserve team game on the TV would be? (Or, come to think of it, is?)

Except that's completely disingenuous. Like dismissing 24 just because Kim Bauer continues to draw breath. SEGA Mega Drive Collection has some stuff in it you probably won't bother with (Flicky may have survived the above paragraph, but it'll be lucky if I don't devote a screenshot caption to its rancidness), but for once there's a lot to praise. Sonic the Hedgehog and his sequel are in, as is Ristar - and that's a solid core of platforming, upon which the conversionists at Digital Eclipse have added the likes of Altered Beast and the original (good) Golden Axe. Hard to complain about getting three Phantasy Star RPGs, too. They might not have aged all that gracefully, but patient gamers will lose entire lifetimes to their completion. Sword of Vermillion's a thoughtful inclusion as well, dovetailing into the Phantasies, and "graphics whores" will probably enjoy the VectorMan games. You've even got Columns, for people who like puzzling on the train, although the last time I went near one (a train, not a column), I found myself bewitched by Comix Zone. That looks gorgeous on the shiny PSP screen, its vibrant comic colouring inviting all sorts of interest from the drunk tramp sat next to me.

'SEGA Mega Drive Collection' Screenshot 3

Altered Beast - like that one out of Hollyoaks, but with a typo. Although, actually...

A select-button menu allows you to adjust video options for each as you play, "reset" the game or return to the main menu, and each entry on the start screen comes with a little "Museum" prompt, so you can read about how, for example, 1990 first saw Robo and Mobo fighting to bring justice back to Badville, "a city with a high crime rate and an extremely unfortunate name". Which is certainly more fun than playing Bonanza Bros., anyway. The same being true of the "Extras" - interviews with a range of SEGA programmers including Rieko Kodama, Kataoka and Katagiri, and additional unlockable games like Astro Blaster and Super Zaxxon. It even spells out what you need to do to unlock each bonus, which is more than can be said for a lot of these compilations. The requirements aren't ridiculous either - the last compilation game I covered seemed to want me to play for 48 hours before I could set eyes on Yuji Naka's favourite tie, or something. Here it's mostly trying games out or achieving particular feats of gaming skill, rather than endurance.

Which leaves very little to criticise. Even the price is reasonable. There's the inescapable spectre of a second volume hanging over the main menu screen when you suddenly realise there's no Streets of Rage, and that latter-day Sonics are absent, but, for once, it took a while to notice, because instead of thinking up nasty ways to stick daggers in its eyes, what I actually did with SEGA Mega Drive Collection was have fun playing it. In these days of paying over the odds to download crippled Virtual Console games, and pretending not to notice how many Microsoft points are on your credit card, this latest compilation takes on an even greater value and may even - whisper it - encourage a few of us to finally take the original boxes out from under the bed, and consider putting them lovingly in the attic.

8 / 10

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • manuel_garcia #1 5 years ago

    Nice to see them get a retro collection right for once. Lets hope Capcom etc follow suit.

  • jiveguy #2 5 years ago

    I once saw "Sega Megadrive!" scrawled across a telegraph pole. An early attempt at internet fanboyism?

  • krudster #3 5 years ago

    In this instance, both PSP and PS2 versions were reviewed, so there's no predominant platform.

  • BrokenSymmetry #4 5 years ago

    The review states: "Like dismissing 24 just because Kim Bauer continues to draw breath". I don't get this analogy. Isn't Elisha Cuthbert the best thing about 24?

  • krudster #5 5 years ago

    Are you kidding? How many times does the silly moo have to get caught by some madman and ruin everything?

  • itamae #6 5 years ago

    I agree with the review, this is an excellent collection that is well worth its asking price. Here's hoping for a second one with Landstalker, Shining Force and all three Streets of Rage.

  • Aretak #7 5 years ago

    "Are you kidding? How many times does the silly moo have to get caught by some madman and ruin everything?"

    Or worse, a mad cougar.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #8 5 years ago

    So basically if anyone owns a PS2 or PSP the Megadrive section of Virtual Console is virtually useless now.

    Just a couple of questions. Do the games run full speed like the NTSC counterparts? Or does the 50/60hz option affect speed too?

  • Xerx3s #9 5 years ago

    Moo? moo moo moo!

  • caligari #10 5 years ago

    This is one of those games that'll make an excellent gift for those PS2 owning friends who still struggle with the most basic of 3D games.

    I'll also be picking it up so that I don't have to splash close to £40 on a real version of Phantasy Star 4 for my trusty old Mega Drive.

    Oh, and just for the hell of it-

    The Mega Drive PWNS the SNES. \o/

  • Agent_Llama #11 5 years ago

    Decisions... PS2 or PSP version... Eek... (But whatever, I can't wait to get this, but I'm ill off work, so shouldn't *technically* go into town today...)

  • Xerx3s #12 5 years ago

    Does anyone really care about Golden Axe 3?

    I do. ;_;

  • karstux #13 5 years ago

    Two things are missing from an otherwise excellent article:

    a) some kind of mention of the reviewed platform(s). Okay, the PSP was mentioned, and the comment about a 16:9 option indicated a standalone console, so the PS2 was likely. But I shouldn't have to read the comments to be sure.

    b) a list of the games. Should be a no-brainer.

    Or am I supposed to know things like these before reading reviews?

  • Eraser #14 5 years ago

    How many games does it include and how does the quality of the games rate against the Wii's virtual console?

  • brooza #15 5 years ago

    I think it's got 16 games, but it may just mean 16-bit

  • MrFlintBlackman #16 5 years ago

    SNES collection will never happen.....................well until Nintendo go bust or something.

    I bet Nintendo reget doing Mario All-Stars, because just like they did with the GBA they could have release all the games separately and made more money.

    Btw the graphics were new so it would have sold.
    Edited by 1 at 02/02/07 @ 09:03

  • Aretak #17 5 years ago

    karstux: a) Try looking at the top of the review again, perhaps towards the left hand side. See if you notice anything.

    b) Why would a list of the games need to be included in a review? That's the kind of thing which goes in a news article about the game, and can be found in five seconds on Google.

  • Aretak #18 5 years ago

    "How many games does it include and how does the quality of the games rate against the Wii's virtual console?"

    It has 28 games, and they're full speed, unlike the crippled versions on the VC. The latter point was mentioned in the review.

  • f00b_inc #19 5 years ago

    Elisha Cuthbert is so damned hot

  • Rusta #20 5 years ago

    That lady on on the dragon.....mmmmmmm.....opps done it again

    /hides wet patch

  • Der_tolle_Emil #21 5 years ago

    I guess I was so overwhelmed by the 50/60hz (although I own neither a PS2 or a PSP) that I must have overread the next sentence "Everything is full speed". Guess it's time for the weekend! Luckily a 3 day weekend so I can enjoy the superbowl on sunday.

    With that many games in it I bet it is even cheaper to get this and a used PS2 than to get the games one by one on VC - if every title even makes it to the VC.
    Edited by 1 at 02/02/07 @ 10:05

  • nickthegun #22 5 years ago

    "The Mega Drive PWNS the SNES."

    You take that back or i'll send my dad round....because he can have your dad!


    Ahem.......heh...if the shoe had been on the other foot, I think a SNES Collection would be a better prospect than the Megadrive one.

    Regardless, I imported this a few (many?) months ago and its as good as the review says. Gain Ground and Kid Chameleon were really good additions, especially Gain Ground which was one of my favourite megadrive games evar.

    Its the kind of retro collection we need nowadays. We have all done MAME to death so just dumping a few roms on a disk and saying 'here you go' just isnt good enough anymore.

    This disk is all about the presentation as much as anything else and you can see Sega are really celebrating the fact that they created some great games.

    I think its set a benchmark for other retro collections to aspire to, to be honest.

    Oh, and since im drivelling on, I imported this and Sonic Rivals on the same day and have played the original Sonic for longer than the new one, which is pretty telling.

  • jglover4 #23 5 years ago

    "Here's hoping for a second one with Landstalker, Shining Force and all three Streets of Rage."

    I broke out my old MD and copy of Landstalker just a year or so back. It's still ace. Although the green maze is still horrid :).

  • andromeda #24 5 years ago

    that screenie of sonic made me go all gooey

    /boots up DgenPSP ;)

  • jonsaan #25 5 years ago

    I've had this on import for ages. Yes, it's better than a lot of retro releases but it still only stayed in the psp for about 4 hours. I've never played it since.

  • IAmBatman #26 5 years ago

    > b) Why would a list of the games need to be included in a review?

    Why put 'facts that many readers will find useful in their buying decisions' in a review? I'm amazed you needed to ask.

  • bdc #27 5 years ago

    Erm, don't mean to sound stupid, but I couldn't for the life of me find where it says what console(s) this review is for >_>

  • Rusta #28 5 years ago

    Its for the Sega Megadrive, cashconverters have loads!

  • Nobuo #29 5 years ago

    I had this on preorder until Picodrive S60 3rd edition came out. Full speed, full sound emulation on my mobile is still a lot more appealing than a better version on the PSP simply because my N73 fits in my pocket and I always have it on me.

    "Sonic. Before the dark times. Before Tails."

    lol. If you ask me, Sonic games didn't start to suck until slightly after Knuckles was introduced. Things like Shadow, Big, and calling Robotnik "Eggman" can go balls.

  • groovychainsaw #30 5 years ago

    For those of you who complain about the list, go to the top of the article, click on the ps2 version to get to the game page, and click on the news article linked there - voila - list of games. Looks pretty good, i must say....

  • soylent_grey #31 5 years ago

    "Can't we just please forget about Alex Kidd?"

    No sir, I think not. And damn you for letting those words ever cross your mind.

  • abigsmurf #32 5 years ago

    It's usuallly helpfull to state what system a title is for in the review

  • jglover4 #33 5 years ago

    "and calling Robotnik "Eggman" can go balls."

    He was always "Eggman" in Japan.

  • caligari #34 5 years ago

    Pick up a copy of this AND the recent Gunstar Treasure Box (Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy and...I've forgotten what else!) - then all your retro needs are covered.

  • Hughes. #35 5 years ago

    I usually avoid compilations as they always seem to have bags of chuff shoved on to make it seem worth paying full price for the 2 or 3 ancient games you're nostalgic about, but I've had this on pre-order for quite a long time. For Smash Bros, I used to think that was great, but then I was always playing 2 player when very drunk, so that may have coloured my judgement.

    Volume 2? Wiz 'n Liz!

  • SomaticSense #36 5 years ago

    For who are pining for Streets of Rage and are angry (like I was) at Sega's continued treatment of us Euro SoR fans need only go here:

    [link url=http://www.bombergames.ne t
    ]http://www.bombergames.ne t
    [/link]

    For those that aren't already aware, a few other SoR fans were clearly pissed off as well, so went off and went off and did their own homage. It's free, only 71mb, and it really is extremely good if a little buggy (early stages, and a major update is apparently due soon).
    It is exactly how you remember the games, combining SoR2 gameplay with levels taken from all 3 games into a sort of SoR 'Trilogy' game. It's so faithful and the quality so surprisingly high, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the original developers also helped out (would explain why it's not been involved in some kind of lawsuit due to copyright issues).

    Sorry for what appears to be spamming, but more people need to play this game.

  • WinstonChurchill #37 5 years ago

    Although just after the cougar, in the "bunker", she comes out the shower!

  • yegon #38 5 years ago

    As per usual, Europe gets stiffed again - Shadow Dancer is absent from the EU version. Not a great loss imo, but its the principle.

  • Beats #39 5 years ago

    Just got this on the PSP and it's fantastic!
    It's just like Xmas day 1992 all over again.

  • Agent_Llama #40 5 years ago

    PS2... PSP... PS2... PSP... Oh god...

  • Azazel #41 5 years ago

    Altered Breast. arf

  • dudefella #42 5 years ago

    "He was always "Eggman" in Japan."

    Yes but the Japanese are stark raving mad and there was good reason for the name change!

  • JayPee #43 5 years ago

    What platform?

  • rez606 #44 5 years ago

    PSP MEGA DRIVE FAB!

  • ronindennis #45 5 years ago

    I got it, was pleased with the 50hz-60hz option, as well as all the games being on proper speed. It raises one question that I've not yet seen answered (but maybe some of you have): On the Virtual Console, who is responsible for the quality of the Sega games - Nintendo or Sega?

    Because it's really fucken unbelieveable that Sega can release a Euro compilation of Genesis games that are without borders and up to speed and somehow can only supply a rom with borders and slow speed for Virtual Console. It's equally unbelievable for me that Nintendo would insist that Sega offer subpar versions. If localisation is the issue (as is often said), what is the difference between a cleaned up 28 game compilation (less than a euro per game) and a crappy, unedited game for 8 euro's?

    Or should we kneel down and thank Digital?

  • SeesThroughAll #46 5 years ago

    I believe the only reason that this compilation is so good is the sheer quality of the Sega MegaDrive library... One of the best ever. Sega simply couldn't have gone wrong :)

  • MaskedDave #47 5 years ago

    Are there any two player games in this?

  • CaptainBen! #48 5 years ago

    There are some superb games on this collection, but I got this game for the PSP yesterday and it's already quite evident that the Sonic games at the very least aren't as robust as the originals. For example, when you get any kind of speed up, things in the background (eg trees) turn oddly translucent and the sound clips seem considerably lower quality. Also, I swear I'm getting less bounce off of the power-ups and the rings look different. I guess I was hoping for a perfect conversion of Sonic - surely the PSP could handle that? Hopefully, I'll soon get used to it being a good game on its' own merits as it were, rather than a not-quite-perfect translation.