Video Game Review: Generation of Gamers Enters Time Machine With ‘Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection’

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HollywoodChicago.com Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0
Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – For an entire generation of gamers, Sega’s “Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection” is going to be insanely addictive flashback machine, a disc that opens a window to countless hours spent in front of games like “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Altered Beast,” “Golden Axe,” and “Phantasy Star” and brings them kicking and screaming to the world of HD and trophies on the PS3.

“Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection” includes an amazing 40 Sega Genesis titles and nine Sega Master System and arcade games on one disc at a purchase price just under $30. It’s a title that hasn’t garnered a lot of headlines and won’t rock the gaming world like the upcoming “Killzone 2” and “Resident Evil 5” have the potential to do, but you won’t find a much better value all year long.

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection was released by Sega on February 10th, 2009.
Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection was released by Sega on February 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sega

Even if you only enjoy half the games in the “Genesis Collection,” the average cost of around 50 cents a game still makes it a steal.

Of course, I’m not about to get into the strengths of “Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head” or the weaknesses of the original “Streets of Rage” (the first one really wasn’t so good). There’s no point in reviewing each title. As a whole, the games look great even if the graphics are dated and the ability to save any game in the middle of it is fantastic.

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection was released by Sega on February 10th, 2009.

Every game includes a “Museum” feature, where you can see the original cover art and learn a bit about the history of the title with some trivia thrown in. You also rate each game in the “Collection,” allowing you to sort the games in the order you really enjoy playing them.

You mostly just want to know what’s in there, right?

GENESIS GAMES: “Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle,” “Alien Storm,” “Altered Beast,” “Beyond Oasis,” “Bonanza Bros.,” “Columns,” “Comix Zone,” “Decap Attack,” “Dr. Robotnick’s Mean Bean Machine,” “Dynamite Headdy,” “Ecco the Dolphin,” “Ecco: The Tides of Time,” “E-Swat,” “Fatal Labyrinth,” “Flicky,” “Gain Ground,” all three “Golden Axe” games, “Kid Chameleon,” all four “Phantasy Star” games (with the original being a master system/arcade unlockable), “Ristar,” two “Shining Force” titles, “Shining in the Darkness,” “Shinobi: Return of the Ninja Master,” the three “Sonic” titles, “Sonic 3D Blast,” “Sonic & Knuckles,” “Sonic Spinball,” all three “Streets of Rage,” “Super Thunder Blade,” and two “Vectorman” titles.

MASTER SYSTEM/ARCADE GAMES (all unlockable as you proceed through the game): “Golden Axe Warrior,” “Phantasy Star,” “Shinobi,” “Alien Syndrome,” “Zaxxon,” “Altered Beast,” “Congo Bongo,” “Space Harrier,” and “Fantasy Zone”.

We could spend all day discussing what Genesis games we would have given the boot and what we would have replaced them with. Honestly, I’ll never play “Ristar” and would have enjoyed a “Toe Jam and Earl” or “Earthworm Jim” title. And I’ll probably barely touch the “Phantasy Star” games or “Ecco” but would have paid more for a little “Double Dribble”.

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection was released by Sega on February 10th, 2009.

The fact is that there are very few people out there with working versions of all of these games, much less ones that have been polished up for 720p and trophy-enabled. Yes, you can now feature trophies for “Altered Beast” in your PS3 profile. Sweet.

Several of the games have even been given new multiplayer options although none are online-enabled. Find a kid raised on the current generation of gaming and introduce them to some of the titles that made you a gaming addict in person.

Is “Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection” perfect? The lack of online multiplayer and a few of the title choices make it a fall just a bit short, but you won’t find a much better deal than 49 games for this price. Heck, $30 won’t get you far in an actual flashback arcade, much less one you can take home with you.

‘Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection’ was released and developed by Sega. It is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older). The version reviewed was on the PS3 but the title is also available on the XBox 360. It was released on February 10th, 2009.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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