Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection (2/10/2009 – $29.99)

via: http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2009/01/29/what-games-are-in-sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection.htm

So what classic Sega games are included in the upcoming Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection videogame compilation? Turns out, WHAT ISN’T included on the collection? Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection releases on February 10th in North America, February 20th in Europe and February 26th, 2009 in Australia.

Here is the full list of classic Sega games you can play from the get-go:

* Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
* Alien Storm
* Alien Syndrome (Arcade Version)
* Altered Beast 1
* Beyond Oasis
* Bonanza Bros. 1
* Columns
* Comix Zone
* Congo Bongo (Arcade Version)
* Decap Attack
* Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
* Dynamite Headdy
* E-SWAT: City Under Siege
* Ecco the Dolphin
* Ecco: The Tides of Time
* Fantasy Zone (Arcade Version)
* Fatal Labyrinth
* Flicky
* Gain Ground
* Golden Axe 1
* Golden Axe II
* Golden Axe III
* Golden Axe Warrior (Sega Master System Version)
* Kid Chameleon
* Phantasy Star (Sega Master System version)
* Phantasy Star II
* Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
* Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
* Ristar 1
* Shining in the Darkness
* Shining Force
* Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing
* Shinobi (Arcade version)
* Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
* Sonic 3D Blast
* Sonic & Knuckles
* Sonic Spinball
* Sonic the Hedgehog 1
* Sonic the Hedgehog 2
* Sonic the Hedgehog 3
* Space Harrier (Arcade Version)
* Streets of Rage 1
* Streets of Rage 2
* Streets of Rage 3
* Super Thunder Blade
* Vectorman 1
* Vectorman 2
* Zaxxon (Arcade Version)

Of the above, these are the games that must be unlocked

Golden Axe Warrior (SEGA Master System)
Phantasy Star (SEGA Master System)
Alien Syndrome (Arcade)
Altered Beast (Arcade)
Congo Bongo (Arcade)
Fantasy Zone (Arcade)
Shinobi (Arcade)
Space Harrier (Arcade)
Zaxxon (Arcade)

The collection itself is MASSIVE and contains pretty much every classic Sega game you could ask for at the super cheap price of $30 (which amounts to 60 cents per game!). If you haven’t heard of it before, here are the details.

Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection is a standalone release for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 that includes over 40 classic Sega games (for the Sega Genesis and Master System), including most of Sonic’s classic titles as well as ports of classic Sega arcade games. Every game in the collection will be upgraded to 720p resolution, most for the first time ever, to give gamers the best graphical quality that they have ever seen for these games.

Additionally, it looks like the collection will include EVERY SINGLE game ever released on a previous collection, including games from the Sega Genesis Collection (PS2, PSP), Sonic Mega Collection (GameCube), Sonic Gems Collection (both Japanese and Western versions on PS2 and GameCube) and Phantasy Star Collection (Game Boy Advance). Which means that if you haven’t bought those other collections, there is now no need to. Which makes me happy because I ALMOST picked up Sonic Gems Collection on multiple occasions. And if you do already own one of the above titles, then you will STILL want to own this disc cause it includes all those games AND MORE (which means I will want to buy it even though I already own Phantasy Star Collection, which is lacking Phantasy Star IV).

As you can see, most of the titles will be available to play from the moment you pop the disc in, but some of them are saved as unlockables. These include classic Sega Arcade games (Like Alien Syndrome and Altered Beast) and interviews with the developer that you can unlock by completing Achievements (Xbox 360) or earning Trophies (PS3).

Overall, even though most of these games are up for download separately on the Wii Virtual Console or Xbox Live Arcade, I think Sega is doing everyone a courtesy by making all these awesome games available in one package for such a cheap price and at high resolution.