New 'Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection' from Sega, 40 titles included

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 6th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Sega has just announced a positively massive collection of Genesis games entitled Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. There are 40 titles planned to be included in the collection from the outset with more unlockable content in addition to that, including more games and interviews with creators. The collection is being developed by Backbone, the same company responsible for Sega's current Xbox Live Arcade offerings (as well as a metric ton of other XBLA classic rereleases). Some of the games included include the Sonic the Hedgehog series, four Phantasy Star titles (!), the Vectorman series, Space Harrier, Columns, and even Kid Chameleon (it's also hinted that Eternal Champions will be included). All the games in the collection have been "converted" to high definition and will be output in 720p. To top everything else, the collection will retail for only $29.99. The only caveat thus far is that it appears the collection won't support any sort of online multiplayer, as the game details page notes that players can play "with a friend from the same console at home."

Still, 40 games for 30 bucks is a damned good deal, and one that older gamers will find particularly difficult to resist. The initial list of 40 games is after the break. Sega plans to announce the unlockable titles "soon."

[Via Joystiq]

Source - Sega's press release
Source - Sega's game details page

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

Tags: sega, sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection, ultimate-genesis-collection

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Billy Maze @ Nov 6th 2008 4:14PM

eternal champs and kid chameleon wow.....just awesome. If the streets of rage series isn't put on their though I am going to be PO'ed.

AoE @ Nov 6th 2008 4:35PM

Streets of Rage 1-3 are on there, also Vectorman!

Chester @ Nov 6th 2008 4:17PM

only $29.99, count me in!!!

craig64 @ Nov 6th 2008 5:07PM

Yeah, me too! You can't beat that!

Silverlotus @ Nov 6th 2008 4:22PM

It is interesting that the press release says four Phantasy Star titles, but only three are listed. Perhaps Phantasy Star 1 will be an unlockable game? If so, I'm sold. Otherwise, this seems to be mainly a rehash of earlier collections, which I expect many people already have.

What the Frack?! @ Nov 6th 2008 4:32PM

That would be dope. I think I will get it for my trip down Memory Phantasy Star Lane. Unlocking PS I would be an excellent bonus.

AoE @ Nov 6th 2008 4:36PM

I'm guessing it is since there are supposed to be some unlockable SMS and Arcade titles :)

bigjrussell @ Nov 6th 2008 4:22PM

Can't wait for this!!! Vectorman, nuff said!!!!

jeff @ Nov 6th 2008 4:25PM

No Toe Jam and Earl?!!

Thrombo19 @ Nov 6th 2008 4:29PM

If they stick ToeJam and Earl on there, this disc is almost perfect (especially if they make it so you can actually save your game anytime). Stick General Chaos on there, and its perfect. And this is coming from a SNES kid who never bought a genesis.

Jonman @ Nov 6th 2008 5:20PM

No TJ&E - no sale.

BFBeast666 @ Nov 6th 2008 4:27PM

Actually, the list overlaps nicely with the recently released Mega Drive Collection for PS2 and PSP, which includes most titles in the list APART from the "Shining..." series and the Streets of Rage series.

Must buy for me.

DukeFett @ Nov 6th 2008 4:50PM

So they're selling some of these same games for $5 on XBLA, and now we get 40 for $30? Yeah I'll take it, Shining Force! Amazing.
I sort of dread what the achievements will be

DBoyFlex @ Nov 6th 2008 4:52PM

Sign me up. Now when does this release?

DBoyFlex @ Nov 6th 2008 5:52PM

According to game rankings, Feb 2009
http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/954264.asp?q=genesis%20collection

Not much else is known right now. This is a must buy game. Sweet.

evilyoda @ Nov 6th 2008 4:53PM

Wow, Sonic Spinball, that game was good times. I was just wondering a couple days ago if that was ever going to go on XBLA.

ryan @ Nov 6th 2008 4:57PM

Shinobi 3! My fav 2d Ninja killer simulator!

ryan @ Nov 7th 2008 1:40AM

And to think we all paid over $30 for any one of these back in the day!

meatee @ Nov 6th 2008 5:12PM

With the advent of downloadable games at $5 a pop, I thought the days of big collections was over. Even though I already have the Genesis Collection on PS2 (which has the majority of these on it), I'll most definitely pick this up just for Beyond Oasis and the Shining Force games.

Feedback @ Nov 6th 2008 5:27PM

And heres me a month or two after buying a megadrive again to replay these games on my TV.

I'll get this anyway.

Wonder how achievements will actually stack up with so many games.

legendtaker117 @ Nov 6th 2008 5:39PM

I can see the The achievements going 99 like The Orange Box.

kaion @ Nov 6th 2008 6:03PM

Hope Landstalker is unlockible

Robert @ Nov 6th 2008 10:49PM

I was thinking that too - also, Crusader of Centy would be nice.

Swagman @ Nov 6th 2008 6:31PM

WOW!!!

This beats the snot out of paying $5 to $10 for each of these on Wii's Virtual Console. On this collection counting just the 40 announced games, that comes out to just $0.75 per game.

Sweet.

Buying all these games individually on Virtual Console would cost you at least $200, so this is certainly a sweet, sweet deal.

Now we just have to insure enough gamers buy this collection. If it is a success and SEGA makes a ton of cash on it, then you can bet there will be other collections as well. Looking at this list, there are at least another 30 to 40 1st party published, SEGA games to make up a second collection.

Landstalker
Gunstar Heroes
Sonic CD
Eternal Champions
Virtua Racer
Super Monaco GP to name just a small few.

And what about 3rd party Genesis collections? If a Genesis collection like this is successful, then why not a couple of collections filled to the brim with 3rd party SEGA Genesis goodness like

Strider
Ghouls n' Ghosts
Herzog Zwei
Rolling Thunder 2
Road Rash
Dragon's Fury
Flashback
Gaiares
Thunder Force III
Mega Turrican
Crusader of Centy
Weapon Lord
Ranger X

. . . the 3rd party Genesis collection could simply be an endless matter or quality titles.

And what about a Sega CD collection? Why have we never gotten one of those? Some of the best games from the era were on the Sega CD:

Sonic CD
Snatcher
Lunar: The Silver Star
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Flashback
Out of this World/Heart of the Alien
Silpheed

I guess a man can dream. But who knows. Maybe if collections like this are a success, we can see a lot more of them on 360?

I guy can dream, can't he?

Erwos @ Nov 6th 2008 7:13PM

$30 for a package that includes the Phantasy Star and Shining Force games?

Must buy.

Boff @ Nov 7th 2008 11:21AM

Couldn't agree more! Old-school RPG heaven!!!

Mazrael @ Nov 6th 2008 8:21PM

the Phantasy Star Titles upped to 720p... the first 3 were Master System.. gonna look like a bad paint job like sonic / Streets of Rage 2 did.. especially as the world map sprites were smaller.. might need a dynamic border & make the game image smaller...

I already got Sonic 1 & 2, Streets of Rage 2.. the Phantasy Stars could be good though - if they have progression chieves.. Sega keep coming up with rubbish ones..

£20 to £25 for 40 games might sound alright, but I'm only to play a few.. & then 1000 points spread over them.. it's going to be tighter than Half Life: Orange Box.. so no sale.. I just don't like the those low numbers, so far it's just Triggerheart Exelica & Command & Conquer 3..

Chase @ Nov 6th 2008 10:54PM

This is a must-have game. I can't wait for this to get released.

diesel dub @ Nov 7th 2008 2:42AM

This sounds awesome. All the goodness of my fave old Sega games for $30. I'm pumped.

HouseOfBacon @ Nov 7th 2008 9:12AM

You give me Sword Of Vermillion. I want it, so you give it.

Smacksmackums @ Nov 7th 2008 7:03AM

Comix Zone, Vector Man, and Streets of Rage...

I'm sold.

Jakkers @ Nov 7th 2008 8:59AM

No Road Rash? Booerns.

stukorn @ Nov 7th 2008 9:11AM

sonic 1-2 own two on arcade and all 3 on mega drive, still worth it. also streets of rage 1-2 woooooo, 3 was kinda crap.

folkie_1 @ Nov 7th 2008 9:44AM

If they throw in 32-X Knuckles Chaotix, I'm sold. If not, I'll still probably be sold on it, just much later for much cheaper.

grimy @ Nov 7th 2008 12:39PM

I love beyond oasis, combined with golden axe/streets, this pack is amazing!

codapop @ Nov 7th 2008 2:34PM

200+ points for finishing Kid Chameleon

Neo Asuma @ Nov 9th 2008 5:37PM

Streets of Rage 2 & 3, finally. Consider this a must-buy on my list.

Jcarpio @ Nov 11th 2008 8:47AM

I want this game as well. But there is a little game Sega has that would be hell of a lot of fun if it was on XBLA and online Multi. Daytona USA

yaroslav @ Dec 16th 2008 3:51PM

Ok, I just wanted to buy Sega Genesis or xbox live arcade or ps2 to play this games...
2 days past and like my christmas wish came true.
This is probably the best game I ever had...
If there is boogerman, this will best game in history of my life!
Now I can play good games in plasma hd tv!
Old games are much better then new 3d game!

greg @ Dec 25th 2008 11:45AM

it needs earthworm jim. most definitely

Nick Ketcham @ Jan 23rd 2009 4:52AM

I love how on Sega's website it says unlockables to be reveled.

I could see Sonic Cd in there. It does say Soinc's Ultimate Genesis Collection. So why not have the best sonic game? Then again that's a Sega CD game ;/

Boogerman
Dessert Strike
Toe Jam and Earl
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Earthworm Jim

Seriously if they put any of those titles on there I'll be in Heaven.

Caine707 @ Feb 1st 2009 6:58PM

This sounds awesome! Do you realize that these titles would have gone for $40.00 apiece back in 1991? Now you get 49 titles for 30 bucks. Lets call it 50 for easy math. That means $30/50 titles means 3/5 of a dollar per title, or a bit more than sixty cents per game. We are spoiled!

Anywho, I still own the sega Genesis and most of these games, but if I do get a PS3, I would get this so I wouldn't have to hook up my Genesis to play them.

Couple of other thoughts. Does the lock on for Sonic and knuckles and sonic 2&3 come with this too? I know sonic and Knuckles is included and sonic 2&3 are, but I don't know about the lock on.

2: I don't feel I can complain, but I think it would have been totally awesome if they included Sonic CD in here as a bonus since it was so popular back in the early nineties.