Sonic Mega Collection

It’s the perfect melding of classic old-school gaming on the newest generation of video gaming consoles.

The problem? I thought you'd never ask. No "Sonic CD." If you've ever played "Sonic CD" on the Sega CD you'll know why it NEEDS to be in this collection of great Sonic Genesis titles.

If I thought the first SONIC was good, I was completely blown away by the second game.

Good, but could have been so much more. [Dec 2002, p.240]

This title is a vastly preferable alternative to a myriad Sonic Advances in the style of Nintendo's Mario rehashes.

Fantastic gameplay.

Perhaps the best compilation ever. [Dec 2002, p.128]

If you already have some of these games, I'd advise just blowing the dust off the old Genesis, because there isn't enough good extra stuff here.

A retro classic.

Sonic fans owe it to themselves to pick this up. [Dec 2002, p.72]

Pastel graphics comprise the visuals, and the audio ranges from passable (Sonic 2) to outright atrocious (Spinball).

The extras included in Mega Collection could have been spiffier, but they're interesting enough and round out the package well.

If you own a Sega Genesis and only Sonic games, it may be time to trade them all in and buy this single disc; you will save space and come back with even more then what you left with.

If you're fiending for Sonic the Hedgehog and either don't have or are unwilling to drag out a dusty Genesis from the closet, don't hesitate to give it a shot.

Lost however is some of the speed and flow of the previous games; a little too much in the way of exploration involved for a Sonic game (if you want to find all the bonus level entrances anyway).

The controls are top-notch -- even the thumbstick is usable, and it works flawlessly.

While a great collectible, the Sonic Mega Collection is still full of games that most of us fans still probably own in one form or another and it is also a bit too similar to "Sonic Jam."

For $40, this is one of the greatest compilation games ever released.

A wonderful little collection that, while not perfect, is a great value.

Sega, however, has seen fit to present the games in such an unflattering collection as to present players with a difficult choice: Do I support the half-assed porting of some of gaming's most treasured titles to current systems, thus ensuring that future retro releases for the company will be as dismal? Or do I withhold my money and wait for Sega to release an unfettered, improved version of the games -- a release that may not come due to supposedly lackluster performance and a dearth of interest?

The ultimate compilation of Sonic adventures. [Dec 2002, p.218]

If you have a girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse who doesn’t get into games that much, plug in this title and go right to "Mean Bean Machine." You’ll have so much fun you won’t hardly believe it.

It features five great sonic games, and Sega can be excused for including two mediocre titles.

Those who don’t own the Genesis originals or Sonic Jam will find SMC well worth $40; those already possessing most of the included games have little reason purchase this GameCube disc.