Sega to release Mega Drive Mini console with 42 classic games

Sega’s Mega Drive Mini will hit stores on September 19. Loaded with 42 gaming classics such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Alex Kidd it harks from a time when the developer ruled the console world. We took it for a test drive.

The Sega Mega Drive Mini console is out on September 19.

Sega’s most popular console release of all time is getting a re-release next month — abeit in a much smaller version.

The Mega Drive system was a smash hit in lounge rooms across the country in the early 1990s, as a string of legendary titles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Virtua Fighter and Alex Kidd saw the games developer go head-to-head with Nintendo for the home entertainment market.

On September 19, Sega will drop its highly anticipated Mega Drive Mini console, an original replica of the original Mega Drive release from 1990 — though at 55 per cent of the size — jam-packed with 42 classic titles.

It’s worth noting that unlike the third-party licenced Sega Mega Drive Flashback console, released in 2017, this is an officially endorsed release in the vein of the NES and Super Nintendo minis.

Sonic the Hedgehog gets a run with three titles included.

Leader Newspapers was given an early look at the system ahead of its release and are pleased to report that it not only scratches that nostalgic itch but is more than a worthy addition to the mini market.

We spent about 40 minutes on the console and were impressed with what we saw.

Load up is pretty straight forward and users are taken to a home screen of all 42 titles (complete with packshots).

A neat trick is the ability to change the language setting, which also changes the packshots to match — so if you’ve ever wondered what Altered Beast’s original box looked like in Japan, now’s your chance.

There’s also the option to adjust the screensize from the game’s original 4:3 ratio to wide-screen, and change the wallpaper.

Each game comes with four save slots — which will save the game to the actual moment that you pause — and a good mix of one and two-player titles are included.

We ran through a mix of titles including Sonic, Golden Axe, Street Fighter II and Virtua Fighter II and couldn’t have been more impressed.

Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition is as fast and furious as ever.

Response time for all titles was excellent with no noticeable lag time from the wired controllers, while the graphics were crisp and clear on a big screen while still retaining their 16-bit origins.

With a retail price that offers plenty of bang for its buck — at around $3.30 per game — this is perfect for those who want to hark back to their 16-bit gaming years when Sega ruled — or at least had one foot on the podium — as well as those who are keen to see the genesis of some of their favourite modern titles.

The Sega Mega Drive Mini comes with two full-size retro controllers.

THE HARDWARE:

The Mega Drive Mini is a true replica of the original Model 1 Mega Drive, launched in Japan in October 1988 and Australia in November 1990 and scaled down to 55 per cent of the size.

The box includes two full-size, Retro-Bit Sega Mega Drive 3-button controllers (wired), a USB to Mircro-B power cable and a HDMI lead.

GAMES:

Sega has pulled out all the stops here with an impressive catalogue of 42 games from across the Mega Drive’s original release life, including two making their console debut.

All games are official release titles and mastered from the original roms by M2, which previously worked on the Sega Ages and Sega 3D Classics Collection.

The bulk of the classic games are here including three Sonic the Hedgehog titles, Altered Beast, Shinobi 3, Earthworm Jim, Virtua Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2 and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle.

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is included with the console.

Also included is Tetris, a title that was originally developed for the Mega Drive but dumped after Sega realised it didn’t have the proper rights (a few copies did survive and are highly sought by collectors) along with Darius, an arcade title which was never released on the console outside of Japan.

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The full list:

Sonic the Hedgehog, Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania: The New Generation, Space Harrier 2,

Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Gunstar Heroes, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Thunder Force III, Super Fantasy Zone, Shinobi III, Streets of Rage 2, Earthworm Jim, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Probotector, Landstalker, Mega Man: The Wily Wars, Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition, Ghouls ’n’ Ghosts, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, The Story of Thor, Golden Axe, Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, Vectorman, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Tetris, Darius, Road Rash II, Strider, Virtua Fighter 2, Alisia Dragoon, Kid Chameleon, Monster World IV, Eternal Champions, Columns, Dynamite Headdy and Light Crusader.

Tetris makes its general public debut on the Sega Mega Drive Mini console.

WHAT IT COSTS:

The Mega Drive Mini will set you back $139.95 and is available for pre-order now.