| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Here is a review of the upgraded port of Sonic Mega Collection, released for the PS2 and Xbox, offering twenty games this time around. But is this upgraded port worth your time? Read on to find out!
The game roster includes all of the games from the original Gamecube Sonic Mega Collection, which are:
Sonic the Hedgehog (A-)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (B+)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (A+)
Sonic & Knuckles (B)
Sonic Spinball (B-)
Sonic 3D Blast (C)
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (A-)
Blue Sphere (C+)
Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (B+)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (A+)
Flicky (C+)
Ristar (A+)
For in depth reviews of all of these games, please consult my review of the original Gamecube version of Sonic Mega Collection, as this review is meant to focus on the new content and changes included in this "upgraded" version of Sonic Mega Collection.
In Mega Collection Plus, there are eight new games included: six Game Gear Sonic titles, and two new extra Sega Genesis games not related to the Sonic series (unlike Flicky and Ristar, the former having actual ties to the Sonic universe, and both being made by Sonic Team) but were made by the Sega Technical Institute. (who were responsible for Sonic Spinball, however)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear) is a standard platformer than initially could easily be written off as just a dumbed down, portable version of the Sega Genesis classic, but this couldn't be any further from the truth. The gameplay in this version is much slower paced and more platformer oriented, but at the price of compromising the speed/physics based platforming and exploration aspect or the console game which made it such a hit to begin with. (for the most part, anyways) The stages and bosses vary from pathetically easy to unfairly difficult, and the six Chaos Emeralds have to be found in the stages themselves, rather than in a bonus stage, interestingly. The graphics are decent, but the art lacks the flair and charm of the console game, same going for the music and sound effects. It's certainly not a bad game, and it can be fun, but it just dosen't hold a candle to the console version, and on it's own it's just a really generic platformer. (C)
Sonic Chaos is a vastly improved successor to the original Sonic Game Gear game (and it's equally mediocre sequel, which i will mention in my upcoming Sonic Gems Collection review) bringing the experience much closer to the console games. Thanks to improved level design, the game is much more open, allowing both high speed gameplay and exploration, and not to mention bringing a little of the level manipulation back. The game also allows you to choose between two playable characters-Sonic and Tails. While Sonic is same old, same old, Tails has the ability to fly, making him an ideal character to play with for beginners, and like with Knuckles from Sonic & Knuckles, it increases the games replay value considerably. Some cool new power-ups have been added, like a spring platform and a rocket board! My only real complain with this game may have to be that it's a bit too easy and short. The graphics are vastly improved, allowing for more elaborate art and locations, and the sound is equally improved.
Sonic Labyrinth is a game that barely anyone remembers-and for good reason! According to the story, Dr. Robotnik has stolen Sonic's shoes and replaced them with fake shoes that not only slow Sonic to a crawl, but also keep him from jumping! (but thankfully, he can still spin-dash) The game is played from an isometric viewpoint, not unlike Sonic 3D Blast, but it uses the same graphical art style of Sonic Chaos. (even going as far as to recycling a few of Sonic's sprites from the aforementioned game) However, the gameplay is restricted to Sonic spin-dashing out of control through several mazes, attempting to grab three keys within and get to the goal, occasionally grabbing a power-up. The gameplay is clunky, slow, boring, and just an all around mess. By the time i got to the second level, i just gave up on this game altogether. (F)
Sonic Drift was originally a japan only release (and yet we still got the sequel) but this collection finally allows us Americans to experience it after all this time-too bad we really weren't missing out on anything to begin with. You get to choose between four racers and three courses with six tracks each and two levels of difficulty. The gameplay is a very shallow, third rate hybird/clone of Mario Kart and Pole Position, with the main gameplay mirroring the former (except with even worse graphics and gameplay) and even featuring the item aspect of Mario Kart to a tee-too bad most of the power-ups are either useless or just broken! The game varies from too easy to too hard, and the small, constrained track designs leave very little room for error. The graphics are mediocre, as is the sound and music. Interestingly, you can play multiplayer in this game on this collection, but would you really want to play that after i described how poor the actual game is? And i don't need to point out how incredibly stupid and pointless it is for Sonic to be driving in a car. (D-)
Sonic Blast is the last Game Gear Sonic game, but it's certainly not the best. The main defining aspect of the game was obviously meant to be it's pre-rendered, 3-D character models, ala Donkey Kong Country, and while the models look decent, they considerably clash with the 2-D scenery. The music is dull and flat, same for the sound. On top of that, the gameplay is just a slow, dumbed down Sonic experience, with barely any of the sense of speed or exploration or anything of the fun things and touches that made the console games so loved. The special stages are probably the worst i've played in the series next to Sonic Advance's special stages. They also included Knuckles as a secondary playable character, but in this game his wall climb is barely of any use, and he couldn't glide his way out of a wet paper bag! Overall, this is a really dissapointing game. (D)
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Game Gear) is basically just a portable port of the Genesis game, inheriting the same, addictive gameplay, and even adding a puzzle mode and keeping the multiplayer, but downgrading the graphics and sound. I still don't like the ugly art style it borrowed from the old cartoon that this and it's console cousin were based off of. It's a nice game, but when you have the superior Genesis version available on this same compilation, you have to wonder why they even bothered including this one. (B-)
The Ooze is an old, mainly unknown Genesis game made by the Sega Technical Institute, and it was unknown for a good reason-this game is really mediocre. The gameplay is slow and boring, the graphics and art are hideous, the sound is equally crap, and the whole experience just feels really sloppy. (note: interestingly, this game was included in the japanese version of the original Sonic Mega Collection, but was inexplicably removed from the US Gamecube release) (D)
Comix Zone is one of the few new games included in this compilation that is actually worth your time! Played in a distinct, neat comic book style, this side scrolling beat em up is nothing short of fun. The graphics are decent, but the game has a really nice sense of style and music to compensate for this. My only real complaint would have to be how difficult this game is, what with you only having one life for the entire game and rarely ever being given a chance to continue. But overall this is a really nice addition, unlike most of the other new games here. (note: like The Ooze, this game was also in the japanese version of Gamecube SMC, but was likewise removed for the US release of it.) (A)
Outside of the games, some changes have been made to the compilation. For starters, an all new menu layout has been introduced to this version, and i personally prefer these over the Gamecube version, to be honest, and thankfully they're just as user friendly. Also, unlike the inferior PS2 version this version has perfectly emulated all of the games, just like the Gamecube version. (although the Genesis games have the black bar around the screen format by default, the click of a button thankfully fullscreens them) Another major addition that i welcome is the addition of Save State Features for all of the games in this collection! (although it is rather slow)
The Extras have been slightly altered however. For starters, some new illustrations have been added to the comics and art section (boo. frikity. hoo ) and all of the videos have been replaced with footage from Sonic Heroes. (a game i didn't particularly like either) So the extras are no better than the Gamecube versions lame extras, and are in some ways worse, depending on how you look at it.
Unfortunately, the extra games from the original Gamecube version still have to be unlocked, and while the Game Gear games are available immediately, The Ooze and Comix Zone are locked and are easily the most tedious and annoying to unlock!
But overall, if you're willing to look past it's few flaws, this is easily the definitive version of Sonic Mega Collection, offering lots of fun, classic games for a low price, even addressing a couple of complaints from the previous compilation, and it has perfect emulation and presentation! And yes, you can play this on your Xbox 360 if you desire. If you have the Gamecube version, you might be able to overlook this one, but if you don't have this compilation in any shape or form, definetely get this one-you won't regret it.
Grade: A
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #2 |
I find it quite strange that this is my least popular review, for some reason that i don't understand. |
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| NAC |
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Not very many people comment on the Your Reviews section. For example, my Sonic Unleashed review has been on this site for weeks now, and only one person (N64 Dude) commented on it. I was expecting a lot of negative comments since many people hate post 2006 Sonic games. Some comments would be nice.
Anyway, I have this game for the PS2, and it is a very great compilation. I think that the critic was a bit unfair to it. Just because the sound emulation is off a bit doesn't mean it only deserves a C. I must admit that many of the Game Gear Sonics aren't very good, there is almost no reason to play the Game Gear Sonic the Hedgehog when there is the Superior Genesis version right on that same exact compilation (unless you really like Sonic, of course). Nice review!
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #4 |
^Personally, i think he should give the Xbox version a try himself. I used to own the PS2 version but i was dissapointed in the not so great emulation, but the Xbox version is much better thanks to having the dead on emulation of the Gamecube version, and the save states and extra games of Plus.
Personally, i think Plus for Xbox should get around a B grade at the least, around A at the most.
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| Adamant |
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Reply with quote | #5 |
Worth noting that all the GG Sonic games can also be found on Sonic Adventure DX for the Gamecube (though they need to be unlocked, which can be a bit of a pain). Sonic Labyrinth isn't really that bad, either. Try giving it more of a chance, the stages do get more interesting as you go.It's a bit slow, and it doesn't have much to do with Sonic, but I found it quite entertaining. |
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #6 |
^Well, i'd discuss with you more in depth as to why Sonic Labyrinth is a terrible game, but right now i'm more focused on why my two recent reviews of "Pac-Man World 2" and "Sonic Advance" have yet to be posted after i submitted them around 3:00.
Also, i am aware of Sonic Adventure DX having all twelve of the Game Gear games, but you need to get all 130 emblems and complete all 60 missions to unlock them all, which is anything but a cake walk, and there are no Action Replay Codes to my knowledge to unlock them all at once. Also, the DX Game Gear games don't have the benefit of Save State Features.
Someday, i will do a review of Sonic Adventure DX, since it's what i consider the best of the 3-D Sonic games. (but that's not saying much, to be honest.)
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #7 |
^Oh yes, that's another game to put on my "Upcoming reviews" list. Stay tuned, people.
Upcoming Reviews: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Xbox 360), Midway Arcade Treasures Vol. 1 (Gamecube), Pac-Man World (PS1), Sonic Adventure DX (Gamecube) Rayman (PS1) Rayman 2: The Great Escape (N64) Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (Gamecube)
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| Luke |
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Reply with quote | #8 |
I don't usually look or post in the User Reviews section but I couldn't help but notice all these Sonic reviews. These must have taken you an awful lot of time to play and write about!
Also, I didn't realize how many games were packed into this collection. It's awesome! I almost picked up Sonic 3D Blast for the Saturn a week ago but now I'm glad that I didn't. I think I'd rather track this collection down instead.
I definitely commend your efforts on these reviews.
Good job!
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #9 |
^The Saturn port of Sonic 3D Blast is actually a considerable improvement over the Genesis version. It has much better graphics, an all new soundtrack (which is wonderful) support for the 3D controller (which came with Nights) all new special stages (which play like better controlling and easier versions of Sonic 2's special stages) and making it harder to get the emeralds. (one emerald per act, unlike the Genesis version) It's only real flaw is it's lack of save feature and it's LONG loading times. Otherwise it's actually worth checking out. |
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| Luke |
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Reply with quote | #10 |
So you're saying that the version of Sonic 3D Blast on these comps are the inferior Genesis port? I was assuming that they'd use the improved Saturn version. |
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| Nicholas Pozega |
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Reply with quote | #11 |
^You have to understand that Saturn games are EXTREMELY difficult to emulate, thanks to how the Saturn's hardware is designed. It dosen't help that 3D Blast Genesis isn't all that popular to begin with, so the demand to bring the Saturn port to a compilation is very much nil.
The Saturn port of 3D Blast DID get a PC port with a save feature, but it was missing some of the Saturn versions graphical effects and they changed the special stages AGAIN into not so great imitations of Sonic 2's special stages.
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