A collection of all of Sonic's Mega Drive/Genesis titles on one disc. An absolute must have.
Sonic Mega Collection debatabley the best compilation game to date (well... next to Mega Collection Plus which has some of the Game Gear titles) The game features the trio of Sonic 1, 2 and 3. Sonic and Knuckles, 3D, Spinball and Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine are also present. There are also some unlockable games.
In Sonic 1, your goal is to run, leap and spin through the stage picking up rings and defeating enemies. Sonic 2 has the same goal, but Miles Tails Prower was added and so was the spin dash ability. Though 2 upgraded the original's formula, it wasn't overall as fun to play - though it is still a good game. Sonic 3 revolutionised the classic formula by adding new abilities and gimmicks to certain levels to help them feel more unique than they did in previous games. Sonic and Knuckles took the core game play from Sonic 3 and enabled you to play as Knuckles who would end up going through different routes in the levels because of his abilities. Sonic and Knuckles was a lock on cartridge so you could insert either Sonic 1, 2 or 3 in the cartridge's slot to get more games - these can be unlocked on this Mega Collection by playing the games a set amount of times.
The remaining pre-unlocked titles on this collection are mediocre at best - but since the other games are so good, the score is not downgraded. Sonic 3D Flickies Island (known as 3D Blast in some other countries) It is played from an isometric perspective and you run around an area and defeat all the robots to rescue the flickies and lead them to the goal ring. Sonic Spinball is extremely difficult - you control Sonic through a pinball machine in an effort to get the Chaos Emeralds, once you collect the set amount you will be taken to the next stage - I've never got past stage 2. And Mean Bean Machine well. It's one of those column stacking games, beans of different colours will fall down and you will have to make a group of the same coloured beans. The aim of the game is to make clumps of coloured beans so they will disappear and prevent your pit from filling.
The games' quality has been improved over the original releases. The screen is a lot clearer and the sound is in stereo. If you are playing the PAL release which are slower then the original releases, you can play them at normal speed and without boarders if you hold B whilst powering the GameCube, this will allow you to play the game at 60HZ as opposed to the default 50.
There are some extras in the game such as being able to watch some videos. These include a teaser for Sonic Advance 2, the American Sonic CD opening and ending video and the history of Sonic. In the extras you are also able to view the Archie Comic illustrations as well as see some concept are of the characters.
As for music, classic Sonic generally does have good music, even the games which I am not so keen on, I have to acknowledge that the music is good. The new music for Mega Collection's menus is nice and good to listen to.
The game will keep you occupied for a while. It's a great way to revisit those classics if you haven't played them for years. It's great value for money too. If you never had chance to play these classics before, want to see your old favourites in enhanced quality or just can't be bothered to get that Mega Drive/Genesis out, then this is a must.
Individual game scores
Sonic 1 = 9.5
Sonic 2 = 7.5
Sonic 3 = 10
Sonic and Knuckles = 8.5
Sonic 3D = 6
Sonic Spinball = 3
Mean Bean Machine = 5.5
Note. When I rate compilations I rate them according to the highest scoring game on it. I don't downgrade scores for bad stuff if the rest is so good that it renders the bad points irrelevant.
- Milesprower2k9 Original Reveiws