Sega Genesis Classics Review

"The Original Experience"

Campaign

This package puts together over fifty classic retro Sega titles into one awesome experience. It's really interesting as this isn't just some list of games you can pick and play through. When you start the game you end up in a room, it's a Sega room and one a kid from the old days might have played games in.

You can adjust the time of day and take in your awesome, large shelf of titles. You can sit there and shuffle through them, taking in that sense of nostalgia if you have it. Once you've selected a game, say Sonic the Hedgehog you take that game and shove it into the Genesis. In case you're wondering, this is also known as the "Sega Mega Drive Classics" based on region.

There's a full console right under your little TV and then you play it. You can back out from the TV at any moment to adjust settings such as visual styles, pause or even save what you're currently playing. If that's not enough, you can take on challenges or even matchmake for online multiplayer across a selection of games. It's a really neat setup and one that does feel refreshing. I may not have been around for the releases, but I still had a Genesis when I was young and it brings back those warm memories of sitting up to a horrible TV playing the games.

Gameplay

These are old games, they're all pixel based though they look very crisp. You can adjust the visuals further if you'd like for an old school look though that would be odd honestly. Everything plays well being a simple selection of buttons. You can also do some button mapping if you'd like to as well. There's everything in this package from RPGs, to brawlers and of course many platformers. There should be something for everyone and it's great to shift through the games recalling old memories or giving a new series a chance for the first time.

Here are the games: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Alien Soldier, Alien Storm, Altered Beast, Beyond Oasis, Bio-Hazard Battle, Bonanza Bros., Columns, Columns III: Revenge of Columns, Comix Zone, Crack Down, Decap Attack, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, Dynamite Headdy, ESWAT: City Under Siege, Fatal Labyrinth, Flicky, Gain Ground, Galaxy Force II, Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, Golden Axe III, Gunstar Heroes, Kid Chameleon, Landstalker, Light Crusader, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom, Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium

Ristar, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force, Shining Force II, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Spinball, Space Harrier II, Streets of Rage, Streets of Rage 2, Streets of Rage 3, Super Thunder Blade, Sword of Vermilion, The Revenge of Shinobi, ToeJam & Earl, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron, Vectorman, VectorMan 2, Virtua Fighter 2, Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, Wonder Boy in Monster World
Sega Genesis Classics Review Xbox Wallpaper Screenshot

The Conclusion

The Sega Genesis Classics is a great way to check out an amazing library of releases from one of the most iconic consoles. It did feel as though some titles were missing, especially when you'd get part one and then three of a series while missing the second. That being said I was impressed with the many heavy hitters.

There's a nice balance of obscure titles with the big ones you would expect. The setup for this game feels wholesome, and it's an experience to see that cartridge get shoved into the console. There are some excellent titles that make up this package and this is just something else. The way they presented this is perfect and it would be wonderful to see other classic collections do something similar.

Read our Sonic Generations Xbox One X Preview
View our Game Hubs


Sega Genesis Classics Review on Xbox One X
Review Code Provided by Clevercomm

Rating Overall: 8.0

Gamerheadquarters Reviewer Jason Stettner