Final Genesis Mini Lineup: What’s Here And What’s Missing
Today was the day Sega revealed the final ten (or is it?) games for the Genesis Mini they plan to release this fall. Unlike the junky “Genesis Flashback” put out by AtGames in years past, this will be a much classier, much better built mini-console developed by M2, the best retro emulation studio in the world.
One, Tetris. Tetris was never officially released for the Genesis because Nintendo had exclusive console and handheld rights through most of the 90s. A prototype was developed by Sega in Japan before they realized this. Sega claims this Genesis version of Tetris will be a new version developed for the Mini, but have a look at the prototype’s logo vs. the confirmed title screen. Exactly the same.
Don’t worry, Sega, we won’t tell. Oops…we just did.
The other surprise is Darius, which was NEVER ported to the Genesis, not even behind closed doors. M2 made this port themselves, because M2 loves to go the extra mile when developing conversions (and that’s why we love them). The other games confirmed today: Virtua Fighter 2, Alisia Dragoon, Monster World IV, Kid Chameleon, Road Rash II, Eternal Champions, Columns, Dynamite Headdy, Strider, and Light Crusader. That brings the final list up to 42, two MORE than originally promised.
Also, contrary to what we assumed, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is not in it. Anywhere. We’re not sure what the issue is — maybe difficulties emulating the lock-on cart technology, but they already solved that back when Sonic Mega Collection came out for the Gamecube. It’s highly unlikely that M2 would be unable to replicate what was done on a fifth-generation machine. We’re just assuming Sega voluntarily withheld it, for whatever reason.
Genesis Mini will go on sale September 19 for $80.00. Here is the final confirmed game lineup:
- 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
- Earthworm Jim
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2
- Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Thunder Force III
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Streets of Rage 2
- Landstalker
- Mega Man®: The Wily Wars
- Street Fighter II®: Special Champion Edition
- Ghouls ‘n Ghosts®
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
- Beyond Oasis
- Golden Axe
- Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball
- Vectorman
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
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Tetris®
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Darius
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Road Rash II
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Strider®
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Virtua Fighter 2
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Alisia Dragoon
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Kid Chameleon
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Monster World IV
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Eternal Champions
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Columns
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Dynamite Headdy
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Light Crusader