Sega Genesis Mini
The Sega Genesis Mini
Also known asMega Drive Mini
DeveloperSega, M2
ManufacturerSega
TypeDedicated home video game console
Release date
  • WW: September 19, 2019
  • EU, ME: October 4, 2019
Lifespan2019–present
Introductory price
MediaInternal flash memory
Operating systemLinux kernel
System on a chipZUIKI Z7213
Memory256 MB of RAM
Storage512 MB flash storage
Controller input2 controller ports
PowerAXP223
Dimensions154 mm × 39 mm × 116 mm
SuccessorSega Genesis Mini 2

The Sega Genesis Mini, known as the Mega Drive Mini in regions outside of North America, is a dedicated console modeled on the Sega Genesis. The Mini emulates the original console's 16-bit hardware, and includes 42 games made available through emulation software by M2. It was released in North America and Japan in September 2019 and in Europe and the Middle East in October 2019. A follow-up, Sega Genesis Mini 2, was released in October 2022 and includes 60 games from the Genesis and Sega CD.

Hardware and accessories

The Mini is half the size of the original Sega Genesis. Inside the unit is an ARM-based SOC ZUIKI Z7213[4] and 512 MB of flash memory.[1] It includes either one or two (dependent on region's bundle options) full-size replica controllers that connect through USB (thus original controllers are incompatible),[5] a USB-to-Micro-B power cable (USB AC adapter in North America), and an HDMI video cable.[1] There are separate releases for North America, Europe, Asia and Japan, as the Mini reproduces the original console's decal and color variations in those regions.[1][6] Korea is a slight exception, as the Mega Drive was released there by Samsung as the Super Gam*Boy and Super Aladdin Boy; none of these names appear on the Korean Mini.[7]

All of the games have a save state feature to pause and resume progress and can be played in either the original 4:3 aspect ratio with optional wallpapers or stretched to 16:9 widescreen with HUD elements modified to fit onto the screen.[8] Certain games have regional variants that can be accessed by changing the system's language settings (e.g. switching the system language from English to Japanese will change Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine into Puyo Puyo.)[2][9]

The North American and European models of the Genesis Mini come bundled with two three-button controllers, while the Japanese model comes with two six-button controllers.[5] Officially licensed six-button controllers made specifically for the Mini are also sold separately in North America and Europe.[10] Official model accessories of a miniature Mega-CD, a miniature Super 32X, a miniature Sonic & Knuckles lock-on Genesis cartridge, and a miniature Sonic the Hedgehog standard Mega Drive cartridge were also sold separately in Japan.[11] Miniature replicas of the Sega CD and Sega 32X in both the North American and European versions were also manufactured but only distributed to select members of the media.[12]

The Mini 2 system is modeled after the Mega Drive 2 variant of the original console and comes bundled with over 50 games and a single six-button controller in all regions. It uses the same SOC chip as the first Mini, albeit with more memory and storage. In addition to the first Mini's emulation features, the Mini 2 includes the option to emulate the sound outputs of the original Genesis or Genesis 2. Like with the original Mega Drive Mini, a set of model accessories consisting of a miniature Mega-CD 2, a miniature Virtua Racing cartridge, and a miniature Sonic CD disc was released in Japan alongside the system, including compatibility parts with the first Mega Drive Mini and its accessories. Additionally, a USB-powered Cyber Stick controller based on the original flight stick controller produced by Sharp was released alongside the system in Japan and provides analog input for After Burner II, Night Striker, and Starblade.[13][14]

Games

Sega Genesis Mini

The Sega Genesis Mini features 40 Sega Genesis games, with the selection varying depending on the region. In addition to these titles, the game includes two bonus games, Darius and Tetris, which are new conversions made for the Mini system that were previously never released for the original console.[15]

Games Copyright NA/EU[16] Japan[17] Asia[18][19]
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted CastleSegaYesNoNo
Alien SoldierSegaNoNoYes
Alisia DragoonGame ArtsYesYesYes
Altered BeastSegaYesNoNo
Beyond OasisSegaYesYesYes
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey MouseSega/DisneyYesNoYes
Castlevania: BloodlinesKonamiYesYesYes
ColumnsSegaYesYesYes
Comix ZoneSegaYesYesYes
Contra: Hard CorpsKonamiYesYesYes
Darius[lower-alpha 1]TaitoYesYesYes
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine[lower-alpha 2]SegaYesNoYes
Dyna Brothers 2SegaNoYesNo
Dynamite HeaddySegaYesYesNo
Earthworm JimInterplay EntertainmentYesNoNo
Ecco the DolphinSegaYesNoNo
Eternal ChampionsSegaYesNoNo
Game no Kanzume OtokuyouSegaNoYesYes
Ghouls 'n GhostsCapcomYesYesYes
Golden AxeSegaYesYesYes
Gunstar HeroesSegaYesYesYes
The Hybrid FrontSegaNoYesNo
Kid ChameleonSegaYesNoNo
Landstalker: The Treasures of King NoleSegaYesYesYes
Langrisser IIExtremeNoYesYes
Light CrusaderSegaYesNoNo
Lord MonarchNihon FalcomNoYesNo
Madō Monogatari ISega/D4 EnterpriseNoYesNo
Mega Man: The Wily WarsCapcomYesYesYes
Monster World IVSega/LATYesYesYes
MUSHASega/M2NoYesYes
OutRun 2019SegaNoNoYes
Party Quiz Mega QSegaNoYesNo
Phantasy Star IVSegaYesYesYes
PowerballBandai NamcoNoYesYes
Puyo Puyo 2SegaNoYesYes
Puzzle & Action: Tant-RSegaNoYesYes
Rent a HeroSegaNoYesNo
The Revenge of ShinobiSegaNoYesYes
Road Rash IIElectronic ArtsYesYesYes
Shining ForceSegaYesYesYes
Shining Force IISegaNoNoYes
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja MasterSegaYesNoNo
Slap Fight MDTatsujinNoYesYes
Snow Bros.TatsujinNoYesYes
Sonic SpinballSegaYesNoNo
Sonic the HedgehogSegaYesNoYes
Sonic the Hedgehog 2SegaYesYesYes
Space Harrier IISegaYesYesYes
Street Fighter II': Special Champion EditionCapcomYesYesNo
Streets of Rage 2SegaYesYesYes
StriderCapcomYesNoYes
Super Fantasy ZoneSunsoftYesYesYes
Sword of VermilionSegaNoNoYes
Target EarthExtremeNoYesYes
Tetris[lower-alpha 3]Sega/The Tetris CompanyYesYesYes
Thunder Force IIISegaYesYesYes
ToeJam & EarlSega/ToeJam & Earl ProductionsYesNoNo
VectormanSegaYesNoNo
Virtua Fighter 2SegaYesNoNo
Wonder Boy in Monster WorldSega/LATYesNoYes
World of IllusionSega/DisneyYesYesYes
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō TōitsusenSegaNoYesNo

Sega Genesis Mini 2

The Sega Genesis Mini 2 features 53 games released for both the Genesis and the Sega CD add-on peripheral. Like the original Mini, the Mini 2 also features seven additional games that were never released for the Genesis, including both unreleased games and new arcade ports.[20][21]

Games Copyright Platform NA/EU[22] Japan[23]
Aah! HarimanadaSegaGenesisNoYes
After Burner IISegaGenesisYesYes
Alien SoldierSegaGenesisYesYes
Atomic Runner ChelnovPaon DPGenesisYesYes
Bonanza Bros.SegaGenesisYesYes
Captain TsubasaKoei TecmoSega CDNoYes
ClayFighterInterplay EntertainmentGenesisYesNo
Columns III: Revenge of ColumnsSegaGenesisNoYes
Crusader of CentySegaGenesisYesYes
Desert Strike: Return to the GulfElectronic ArtsGenesisYesNo
Devi & Pii[lower-alpha 4]SegaGenesisYesYes
Earthworm Jim 2Interplay EntertainmentGenesisYesNo
Ecco the DolphinSegaSega CDYesYes
Ecco: The Tides of TimeSegaSega CDYesYes
Elemental MasterSegaGenesisYesNo
Fantasy Zone[lower-alpha 1]SegaGenesisYesYes
Fatal Fury 2SNKGenesisYesYes
Final Fight CDCapcomSega CDYesYes
Gain GroundSegaGenesisYesYes
Gambler Jiko Chuushinha[lower-alpha 5]Game ArtsGenesisNoYes
Golden Axe IISegaGenesisYesNo
GranadaEdiaGenesisYesYes
HellfireTatsujinGenesisYesNo
Herzog ZweiSegaGenesisYesNo
Honō no Tōkyūji: Dodge DanpeiSegaGenesisNoYes
Lunar: Eternal BlueGame ArtsSega CDNoYes
Lunar: The Silver StarGame ArtsSega CDNoYes
Magical Tarurūto-kunSegaGenesisNoYes
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky LipEdiaSega CDNoYes
Mansion of Hidden SoulsSegaSega CDYesYes
MegapanelBandai NamcoGenesisNoYes
Midnight ResistanceG-ModeGenesisYesYes
Nadia: The Secret of Blue WaterBandai NamcoGenesisNoYes
Night StrikerTaitoSega CDYesYes
Night TrapHasbroSega CDYesYes
The Ninja WarriorsTaitoSega CDYesYes
The OozeSegaGenesisYesNo
Out RunSegaGenesisYesYes
OutRunnersSegaGenesisYesNo
Party Quiz Mega Q 2022[lower-alpha 6]SegaGenesisNoYes
Party Quiz Sega Q[lower-alpha 6]SegaGenesisNoYes
Phantasy Star IISegaGenesisYesYes
Popful MailNihon FalcomSega CDNoYes
PopulousElectronic ArtsGenesisYesYes
Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-RSegaGenesisNoYes
Rainbow Islands ExtraTaitoGenesisYesNo
Ranger XSegaGenesisYesYes
The Revenge of ShinobiSegaGenesisYesNo
RistarSegaGenesisYesNo
Robo AlesteSega/M2Sega CDYesYes
Rolling Thunder 2Bandai NamcoGenesisYesNo
Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of DestinyKoei TecmoGenesis / Sega CDNoYes
Sewer SharkHasbroSega CDYesNo
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of ShinobiSegaGenesisYesNo
Shin Megami TenseiAtlusSega CDNoYes
Shining Force CDSegaSega CDYesYes
Shining Force IISegaGenesisYesNo
Shining in the DarknessSegaGenesisYesYes
SilpheedGame ArtsSega CDYesYes
Sonic 3D BlastSegaGenesisYesNo
Sonic CD[lower-alpha 7]SegaSega CDYesYes
SorcerianNihon FalcomGenesisNoYes
Space Harrier II[lower-alpha 8]SegaGenesisYesYes
Spatter[lower-alpha 1]SegaGenesisYesYes
Splatterhouse 2Bandai NamcoGenesisYesYes
Star CruiserExtremeGenesisNoYes
Star Mobile[lower-alpha 9]MindwareGenesisYesYes
StarbladeBandai NamcoSega CDNoYes
Streets of Rage 3SegaGenesisYesNo
Super Hang-OnSegaGenesisYesNo
Super Locomotive[lower-alpha 1]SegaGenesisYesYes
Super Street Fighter II: The New ChallengersCapcomGenesisYesYes
Tenka Fubu: Eiyūtachi no HōkōGame ArtsSega CDNoYes
Thunder Force IVSegaGenesisYesYes
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on FunkotronSega/ToeJam & Earl ProductionsGenesisYesNo
Tōgi Ō: King ColossusSegaGenesisNoYes
TruxtonTatsujinGenesisYesYes
Vectorman 2SegaGenesisYesNo
Viewpoint[lower-alpha 10]SegaGenesisYesYes
Virtua RacingSegaGenesisYesYes
VS Puyo Puyo Sun[lower-alpha 11]SegaGenesisYesYes
WarsongExtremeGenesisYesNo
Wondermega CollectionSegaSega CDNoYes

Production and release

The Sega Genesis Mini was first announced at the Sega Fes show in April 2018.[1] The announcement was part of a trend of releasing smaller versions of retro video game consoles.[5] It was delayed in September, missing the console's 30th-anniversary window,[24] when Sega dropped its partnership with AtGames,[1] whose 2017 Sega Genesis Flashback was critically panned for its production quality.[2][5] Instead of using AtGames's Flashback software on a Japan-exclusive Mini, Sega handled the entire production of the system.[2] The system was released worldwide on September 19, 2019,[1] except in Europe and the Middle East, where it was delayed until October 4, 2019, due to distribution issues.[25]

M2, who previously collaborated with Sega on the Sega Ages and Sega 3D Classics Collection series, produced the Mini's ports.[1] Sega emphasized first-party production quality in its marketing for the Mini,[5] as the company returns to the hardware business after last producing the Sega Dreamcast in 2001.[26] The menu music was written by Yuzo Koshiro, who was also the composer of the compilation's Beyond Oasis, Streets of Rage 2, and The Revenge of Shinobi.[2]

Since its release, the first Sega Genesis Mini console had sold over 300,000 units by the end of March 2020.[27]

A followup, the Sega Genesis Mini 2, was announced on June 3, 2022 and was released worldwide on October 27, 2022.[28][29] Koshiro returned to write the menu music.[30]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 A newly developed Genesis port of the arcade version created specifically for the Mini.
  2. ↑ If the system language is set to Japanese, Traditional Chinese, or Korean, the game is replaced with Puyo Puyo.[9]
  3. ↑ A new port based on Sega's 1988 arcade version, not to be confused with the extremely rare 1989 Mega Drive version.
  4. ↑ A title that was originally developed in 1992 but never released for the original console.
  5. ↑ Subtitled Katayama Masayuki's Mahjong Dojo
  6. 1 2 Updated titles based on the original Party Quiz Mega Q. Mega Q 2022 features trivia up to the year 2022 whereas Sega Q features trivia based on Sega titles.
  7. ↑ Players can choose between the North American and European versions of Sonic CD (Japanese and North American versions in the Japanese language setting), which each have different soundtracks, upon selecting the game in the menu.
  8. ↑ An enhanced port of Space Harrier II featuring enhanced sprite scaling and smoother framerates. A new Genesis conversion of the original Space Harrier is also included, accessed by selecting Space Harrier II from the game selection menu.
  9. ↑ A Mega Drive port of Star Mobile originally released for the Sharp X68000 computer in 1991, which finished development in 1992 but was never released.
  10. ↑ Viewpoint is considered a bonus game in the Japanese version of the Mega Drive Mini 2 because the Genesis port was not released in Japan before its inclusion.
  11. ↑ A Genesis port of the versus mode from Puyo Puyo Sun, originally released for the arcades and the Sega Saturn.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Robson, Daniel (March 30, 2019). "SEGA Genesis Mini Release Date, Price and Initial Games Lineup Revealed". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kohler, Chris (March 29, 2019). "Sega Will Release The Genesis Mini On September 19". Kotaku. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  3. ↑ 정동진 (2019-08-30). "오락실 추억 소환...세가, '메가 드라이브 미니' 7만9800원 판매". Beinews.net (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  4. ↑ "ZUIKI Z7213 | 瑞起｜ZUIKI｜ARM SoC ソリューション". March 14, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Good, Owen S. (March 30, 2019). "Sega Genesis Mini releases in September with 40 games, including Sonic the Hedgehog (update)". Polygon. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  6. ↑ Wong, Alistair (April 2, 2019). "Sega Mega Drive Mini To Have Asia-Specific Version With Sword of Vermilion And More". Siliconera. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  7. ↑ 남지율 (2019-09-27). "최고의 미니 레트로 게임기, 메가 드라이브 미니". Ilovepc.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  8. ↑ Glagowski, Peter (June 15, 2019). "The Genesis Mini will be a real treat for retro enthusiasts". Destructoid.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "'ASIA EDITION' SEGA MEGADRIVE MINI (GENESIS MINI) : Unboxing & Game play". YouTube.
  10. ↑ Watts, Steve (May 21, 2019). "Sega Genesis Mini Announces 10 More Games, Optional 6-Button Controller". GameSpot. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  11. ↑ McWertor, Michael (June 4, 2019). "The Sega Genesis Mini is getting its own ridiculous mini tower". Polygon. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Here's what the Sega Mini 'Tower of Power' (which isn't being sold in the west) looks like up close". Destructoid. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Sega Announces a USB Cyber Stick Controller for the Mega Drive Mini 2". Nintendolife.com. June 24, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Mega Drive Mini 2 Interview". Famitsu. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ "This Week in Games - A Wooloo for You". Animenewsnetwork.com.
  16. ↑ "Genesis Mini". Genesisminisega.com.
  17. ↑ "メガドライブミニ". Sega.jp (in Japanese).
  18. ↑ "メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）". Asia.sega.com (in Chinese).
  19. ↑ "메가 드라이브 미니（Mega Drive Mini）". Segagames.co.kr (in Korean).
  20. ↑ "Sega has announced a Mega Drive Mini 2, including Mega CD games". Videogameschronicle.com. June 3, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Mini 2 titles 12 to 22 announced". Gematsu.com. June 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Genesis Mini 2 | SEGA". Genesis Mini 2 | SEGA.
  23. ↑ "収録タイトル | メガドライブミニ2 | セガ". メガドライブミニ2.
  24. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (September 19, 2018). "Sega delays its Mega Drive Mini to 2019 for an overhaul". Polygon. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  25. ↑ Glagowski, Peter (July 29, 2019). "The Genesis/Mega Drive Mini has been delayed in Europe". Destructoid.com. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  26. ↑ Grant, Christopher (April 13, 2018). "Sega Genesis Mini (aka Mega Drive Mini) announced". Polygon. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Sega Europe Limited Annual Financial Statements". gov.uk. March 2020. p. 4. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Genesis Mini 2". Sega.jp.
  29. ↑ Lane, Gavin (July 13, 2022). "SEGA Genesis Mini 2 Confirmed For North American Release This October". Nintendolife.com. Hookshot Media. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Yuzo Koshiro Confirms He's Back for Vital Mega Drive Mini 2 Music". Nintendolife.com. June 7, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.