Updated: Sega sent out the official PR blast for the Sega Genesis Mini this morning and while what we reported on was thought to be correct. There are a few changes. First, the Sega Genesis Mini is only getting the 3-button Genesis controller. The West is also just getting a single SKU that includes two controllers.
The Mini is based on the original Sega Genesis. The single SKU is priced at $79.99 and will be available on Sept. 19, 2019. There’s also a website follow the news, http://genesismini.sega.com/.
The announced game line-up also slightly change, as we figured it would. There will still be 40 different games, we just only know about the following;
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier 2
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
Following the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Classic consoles, Sega announced they were going to be working on their own retro console.
Only expect, they wouldn’t be handling any of it and the work would be dolled on to ATGames. The very same company that has released those really crappy Atari and Sega Genesis retro consoles in the past. Of course, Once fans of the Sega Genesis heard about the news, well, it wasn’t pretty. I was also pretty upset about the announcement. The outcry was enough to make Sega rethink their plans and call of their agreement with AtGames. Thankfully.
Since then, Sega’s been quiet and many weren’t sure if they would still seek to release their own retro console. Then a few days ago, the schedule for Sega Fes 2019, which is a fan meet-up, listed the Mega Drive Mini and suddenly people couldn’t stop thinking about what was about to happen. Then yesterday, Sega finally dropped the bomb and announced that they would be releasing the Sega Genesis Mini in the West and the Mega Drive Mini in the East.
YES!
The console is being worked on entirely in-house and Sega’s M2 team, the same team behind the Sega Ages titles, would be working on the software. They haven’t stated if they’ll be using their own emulation software or another existing emulator. Save state support is also being included.
Even Yuzo Koshiro, the composer widely known for his work on the Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle series (and multiple other games) will be pitching in and will be creating new music for the console menus. Talk about one-upping the competition.
The Sega Genesis Mini will ship with the 3-button controller, while the Mega Drive Mini will ship a 6-button USB version of the updated Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controllers. There will be two variants of the system as well, at least for the Japanese release. A single controller system priced at $70 and a two controller system priced at $90. Expect to see both go on sale on September 19, 2019. No word as of yet if the system will have Bluetooth support, so we can use our 8bitdo controllers. Hopefully, it will. Also, judging from the stream, it looks like those who attended the event were able to check out system earlier.
Sega has also confirmed that their return console/s will include 40 different games.
- Castlevania Bloodlines
- Comix Zone
- Gunstar Heroes
- Madō Monogatari
- Puyo Puyo Tsu
- Rent a Hero
- Shining Force
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier 2
- Wrestleball
Some of the games listed, as well as those that haven’t been announced, are Japan-only titles. Meaning the East and West versions of the systems will have different titles. Similar to what Nintendo did for the NES and SNES Classic. So far, I see several games I’m looking forward to. I just hope we’ll see some other classics, such as Contra: Hardcorps, Golden Axe 1/2, Phantasy Star 2/4, the entire Streets of Rage series, Altered Beast, Shinobi, Ristar… You know what, I’m just going to stop. There’s just way too many games I’d love to see on the system.
Hopefully, emulation is good and there’s basically no slowdown. Which has been my main concern with the SNES Classic. That said, I’ll be counting down the days until the system is available and will be putting the cash for two of them. If the Nintendo retro consoles were in high demand prior to their releases, we can expect the same thing to happen with these.
Should these be popular enough, maybe Sega will give us a Saturn mini or something similar. Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?
