During the first day of Sega’s annual Sega Fes (live-streamed from Tokyo Joypolis in Japan), the company announced that, after a delay, the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Mini will release worldwide on September 19th, 2019. It’s been confirmed that 40 games will launch with the system, and two variations will be made available for purchase in Japan — one controller for 6,980 yen (about $60 USD) or two controllers for 8,980 yen (about $80 USD). The U.S. release will have the two-three button controllers for $80 USD. The consoles will also come with a USB cable for the power and an HDMI cable.
Out of the total 40 games, 10 were announced during the stream for Japan with 10 later confirmed for the U.S. on Twitter.
JAPAN
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Puyo Puyo 2
- Shining Force
- Castlevania Bloodlines
- Powerball
- Gunstar Heroes
- Comix Zone
- Rent-a-Hero
- Space Harrier II
- Madou Monogatari Ichi.
U.S.
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier II
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Sonic The Hedgehog
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
A few of the titles listed above were originally released only in Japan so it’s possible that some of these games could be replaced with other titles for the European and U.S. markets. Sega also said that the system will include different regional variations of some games (i.e. the Mega Drive Mini in Japan will include the U.S., European, and Japanese versions of Castlevania: Bloodlines). Sega didn’t mention if the overseas versions of the device would contain different regional variations, but it seems likely that it will happen
While Sega kept it light on the details about the Mini in its stage presentation, they did say the six-button controller would be the same size as the original and that the games would have a “save anywhere” function (which, in all honesty, is really needed for a lot of those older Sega games). The biggest surprise to me was that the menu music for the device is composed by legendary Streets Of Rage composer, Yuzo Koshiro, which is pretty awesome! The only negative thing so far about the system is that you won’t be able to play any of your Sega Mega Drive or Genesis cartridges due to the system being 55% smaller than the original model one version this is based on.
In a later presentation at Sega Fes, Sega announced that M2 (the developer behind Sega Ages) is creating the software for the device. During last year’s Sega Fes event, Sega originally announced that the Mega Drive Mini was supposed to be released in 2018 only in Japan and based on the same AtGames-developed technology that powered the U.S. exclusive Genesis Flashback HD. They decided to delay the unit until 2019, claiming that in order for it to achieve a higher level of quality, it would drop AtGames, develop the software for the system in Japan, and release the unit worldwide.
Sega dropping ATGames in favor of M2 is a big move for the company since this is the first console made in-house since the Dreamcast was released back in 1999. Over time, ATGame had gained a reputation for its poor emulation quality. When it was originally announced by ATGames on Twitter that they would be making the device, they received negative feedback from players across the world. Sega probably dropped ATGames to save themselves from hurt when they released the system.
On top of the Mega Drive Mini news, Sega announced that Project Sakura Wars is coming to the West on PS4 in Spring 2020. You can check out the announcement trailer with the following link —
To celebrate the Olympic Games returning to Japan next Summer, Sega presented four games based on the epic event. First from that list, which will start this summer, is Tokyo 2020 Olympics the Official Video Game for the PS4 and Switch. Available in Winter 2019 for the Nintendo Switch is Mario & Sonic At Tokyo Olympics. From the looks of it, it will involve the use of the Joy-Cons for a fully immersive experience. In 2020, Mario & Sonic At Tokyo Olympics Games will be released in arcades. Sadly (from the looks of it thus far) this will be exclusive to Japan but that could change if there’s a demand for it elsewhere. Lastly, coming to smartphones, is Sonic at the Tokyo Olympics. This will be delivered in 2020 and social elements unique to the app will also be added.
On the Sega Ages side of things, Shinobi, Fantasy Zone, Herzog Zwei, G-Loc: Air Battle, Wonder Boy in Monster Land (with the overseas version), and Ichidant-R (with the overseas version) are next in the lineup and will be coming West as well for Nintendo Switch.
Sega was celebrating the Sega Saturn’s 25th anniversary with the man who was the mascot for the system, Segata Sanshiro — who I think is always great to see (if you’ve never seen the commercials he was in for the Saturn, go check them out on YouTube because they are so good). A Sonic mascot even got the crowd to sing the Segata Sanshiro song to him! Also featured were the Yakuza voice actors cosplaying as their characters as well as Hiroshi Fujioka and Takenobu Mitsuyoshi announcing that some Yakuza news is coming in the next few days.
Sega is starting off 2019 strong. We’ll look forward to when they release these games and system in the upcoming years.
