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Sega goes Ultimate-ly retro

Forty first-party titles to be featured on new compilation for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, set for release in 2009.

153 Comments

It's a clear sign that Christmas is approaching when there are endless adverts for greatest hits and compilation albums on TV. Now Sega is getting into the compilation spirit with the announcement that the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection (Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection in North America) is in development--but the game won't be in the shops until next year.

Sonic The Hedgehog is just one of several confirmed games in the bundle.
Sonic The Hedgehog is just one of several confirmed games in the bundle.

Many gamers fondly remember their gaming days on the Sega Mega Drive (released as the Sega Genesis in the US), and the legacy of the 29 million-selling console lives on, particularly in Europe. Many of the games have since been remade or updated for newer hardware--Ecco the Dolphin was released last year for Xbox Live Arcade, for example--but now, Sega is pulling together its first-party titles into a new release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A previous collection was released for the PlayStation 2 and PSP in 2007.

Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection is being developed for Sega by Backbone Entertainment and will feature "over 40" first-party Sega titles, "reproduced with the utmost detail and accuracy to commend their originals," according to the publisher. The classic titles, including Sonic the Hedgehog 1,2, and 3, as well as Space Harrier and Streets of Rage 1,2, and 3, will also be able to output in 720p for the high-definition gaming generation. The collection will also include bonus 8-bit and arcade games.

The game is scheduled for release globally in early 2009.

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Teddy-Shah

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why still no revenge of shinobi? it need just that game to make this collection complete. good news is streets of rage, alien storm, e-swat are here. bt i wish they had include shadow dancer too

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DeftonesRule

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Sonic CD SUKED anything involving a CD before the dreamcast was utterly horrible. Def Buy though regardless and they most def need Shining Force. Those were the top of the sega rpg life. Eternal Champions, Golden Axe, Shinobi, X-men 1&2, Of course Sonic always can't be beat.

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GamerNY1

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Wowie! I love Sega!!!! This is going to be the staple of my classics collection. Thanks Sega!!!!

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MAXTHUNDER99

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Does anybody know if 2 player games will have online play for the PS3?

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MAXTHUNDER99

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[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

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Baramos6

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must buy

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Sagacious_Tien

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I want it!

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Smokescreened84

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Hopefully this will end up being a bette compilation than Gems was, Sonic CD was good, but the rest in the collection was disappointing and they really seem to love forcing Vector Man in their collections. Shame none of the Thunderforce games and Soliei isn't in the compilation by the looks of things, Thunderforce series, Soliei and Shining Force 3 would have been better additions than a few of the duds of the compilation like Vector Man and E-Swat and a few others, and where's Afterburner? They may not have been incredible, but they were fun games.

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braindead_hero

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There seems to be quite a few of these mega drive collections out I'd much rather see a Sega Saturn collection or even just putting some Saturn and Dreamcast games on PSN/XBLA will do

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navstar29

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I didn't know about this til now, omg, just got Street Fighter 2 HD off PSN, wonderful! Love the old school games with updated graphics. This is a MUST for me. Played all 3 Sonic's on my first ever game console. Sega Genesis.

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N-REAL

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This is a must! Oldschool os the best! :)

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Lord_Alan

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@Simulator_Shock: Uhh... it's called 'Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection'. That's your clue as to whether or not Sonic CD NiGHTS will be included ;)

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Toastman923

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OMG THATS AMAZING! HIGH DEF SONIC completes my life

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Amir29

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NICE!! My old school faves in HD and with trophies!!!!!! OMG!!! I think I need to change my underwear!!

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zskrabs24

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way to go and release a compilation on games that you can play for free using an emulator. if they are keeping the 2d graphics which they are probably doing it is not worth it. i love a lot of the games on here but not enough to pay money for them AGAIN if the graphics arent improved. There are so many games that could use a next-gen makeover with pretty 1080P graphics. There are countless games that i could lose days of my life to that were insanely simple and if remade today with better graphics, i would gladly blow $60 on them.

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darkentity

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oh nice. some phantasy star goodness. and shadow dancer!

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Simulator_Shock

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Please have Sonic CD, Nights into Dreams, on it!!

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gunshotx

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awesome!!! retro gaming at its best!

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IXIWhistIXI

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Games from back when sega was a decent company.

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ZhugeMarc

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Sonic CD. I demand it.

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da1writer

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How about the Earthworm Jim series too? Those were good games as well! Still crossing my fingers for Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix!

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addictedtochaos

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Freakin' Sweet. I will buy this first day out.

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Denji

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I am SO getting this lol

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godoftheds

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I might just have to buy this @hillsman I doubt it as they were all on the Saturn... which I don't think has ever gotten a compilation though I would also like to try NiGHTS and panzer dragoon saga

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Lord_Tik

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When will we get a comprehensive list of games on the disk? This is bordering on the must-buy already.

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84montecarlo

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hells yeah, thats all i can say!

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Hillsman

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Worth it for Sonic, Streets of Rage & Dynamite Headdy alone. Any chance of releasing NiGHTS HD, Panzer Dragoon HD and Radiant Silvergun?!?!

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Nexeus

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OMFG PLEASE LET IT INCLUDE PS!!!! I mean yeah I own the first sega collection thing with 2-4 but to play them in HD? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! seriously though, sega, you make mistakes but deep down I still love you. Make me happy boy...

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da1writer

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Hopefully Sonic CD is included, I've been wanting to see that on consoles (besides nintendo) for a long time, along with Knuckles Chaotix.

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frazzle00

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Woohoo, definitely getting this :D.

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CharlieFubar

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it has kid chameleon? that was the shisnik lol. And gain ground? that was awesome too....

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cooldude03

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props to oldschool, bring it on, the more the marrier

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Fareru

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Well, this should be nice to have :) I can't wait for the release. Unfortunately I don't have a Sega Genesis and thus I've been trying to emulate games but, it's just not the same :p I just can't wait! :D

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XblindwandererX

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It's about time.

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TexasAnMGrad2K

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They'd better have Revenge of Shinobi.

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DoMiNiC147

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I wonder if it will have sonic & knuckles.

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Tony-Baxter

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They should make one of Saturn titles!

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combatsoldier

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I love the oldschool feel this will bring. As long as it isnt anything like the last 360 2 editions then I will be more then happy. The more the oldschool the better.

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dragonps

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I'm unsure about this. If the game looks anything like sonic 2 on xbox live then I shall certainly not be buying it. I would rather play the original games on my Megadrive with a scart lead...the way they were intended to be played

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UnknownPerson55

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give me sonic1-3, sonic and knuckles, and streets of rage1-3 and ill be more than happy

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yanyatkai

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Good news! i will definitely buy it when it come out

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katamari

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Have the collection on the PS2. But this has Streets of Rage so consider it a solid buy for me!!!

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noones-my-name

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This looks great! I already have sega megadrive collection for ps2 so have most of the games on there but alien storm and streets of rage 1,2 and 3? All in high def? If its only £20 in england ill get it on release,even though i own the previous collection and streets of rage 2 on 360! But cmon sega,how about toejam and earl 1 and 2? Plus a few more sega 16 bit games i can think of!

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rbenns2

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I count less than a dozen games that are new to anyone who already owns the previous compilation and the Sonic Mega Collection. How about some new stuff?

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Zidaneski

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The only game I would get is Vectorman 2 cause I already bought the Sonic Mega Collection Plus and the Sega Genesis Collection.

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dobhran

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Here is the game list (Not including unlockables) 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 *Unlockable games to be revealed soon!

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awaltzforvenus

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My only real question is....what in all hell is the point of upscaling 16 bit graphics to 720p? I should point out that the original MD/Genesis had a graphical output of 320x224 pixels, with a palette of 512 colors. This would be a better release on the Wii and/or the PSP and DS.

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tudyniuz

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Can't wait for 2009:D

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DrD3V1L

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40 Mega drive games in one? :O! This will be a dream come true lol, If only they offered 200GS for each game. :)

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Naturalselectio

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SWEET!

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