If you walk into your favorite retro gaming store, pawn shop or thrift store and they offer you forty five plus Sega Genesis games for thrity bucks would you take it. I know that this seems like a dream but dreams sometimes do come true. Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, for the Xbox 360, helps this dream comes to fruition. If the Sega Genesis was part of your childhood, like it was for me, then this game will bring you straight back to the late eighties and early nineties.

When you put this great amalgamation of the best Genesis games from the early nineties, don’t expect amazing graphics, but do expect HD blast processing. All the titles included have been ported to the Xbox 360 surprisingly well, but not in widescreen (huge bummer). The simple menus will not confuse you, but do not blow you away. If you like anything from RPGs to dolphin sims, this title gives you the player a massive amount of variety and range of games that will not be surpassed this generation. I can say this because retro game collections have fallen off the map due to the popularity of downloadable games via Xbox Live, Playstation Network and the Virtual Console. If you do not have access to any of these services then this game may be the only way to get your retro gaming fix. Many of the games included in this collection are very hard to find or way too expensive for anyone to play otherwise. At around sixty cents per game only Altered Beast is worth less than that amount (I kid). Each game has the ability to save, which is awesome for busy gamers. Along with local co-op, for games that support it, each game keeps up with its predecessor on the original Genesis (Streets of Rage Co-op is necessary, damn that game is tough).

Implementation of the controls on the Xbox 360 gamepad are well done for most games, but somewhat convoluted for others. For example, Comix Zone, the third item is mapped to the left trigger, which is a little strange and sometimes awkward. And the only way for the game to show you the controls is a picture prior to starting the game, so I hope you have a good memory. I am not going to comment on the sounds because it is basically the same as the old Genesis, but it is a bit clearer. I understand that this is only a collection, but it would have been cool to get a connector for the Xbox 360 to hook up a Genesis control, but it may be impossible.

Extras included with each game are the box art and game art included and accessible from the main menu prior to launching any game. Some of them are completely hideous, but at least they don’t have pizza grease dried on them. With the art, there is a write up, by a certain podcast host, that includes some history and fun facts for each title. These little tid-bits are welcome, but I wish there was more info for each title because most gamers were not a part of the industry and its members when we were in our pre-teen years.

As for the achievements, they are well balanced and not frustratingly tough. Not every game has an achievements, so for you Gamerscore lovers, check out the guide for more information (they aren’t too hard). The only thing missing in this title is online play. Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection would be absolutely perfect if online co-op, online leader board and other capabilities were present. I am assuming that these mechanics were not included to keep the price of the game down because this is would be the second or third time we own each one.

This title, minus its few short-comings, would be a great addition to any Xbox 360 collection. Backbone Entertainment has succeeded in making a great collection of Genesis titles. If you have a retro gaming craving that needs sustenance then Sonic’s Ultimate Collection will suffice. Thirty dollars for 47 Genesis games is an amazing sixty or so cents a game. I would recommend this title to anyone who wants to relive their Sega Genesis past and play some of the best games from the late eighties and early nineties.

Full list of Games Included:

· 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

Plus 9 UNLOCKABLE GAMES:

· 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)

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