Sega Genesis Mini

The Sega Genesis Mini, known as the Mega Drive Mini in regions outside of North America, is a dedicated console modeled on Sega's Genesis. The Mini emulates the original console's 16-bit hardware, and includes 42 games ported by M2. It was released in North America and Japan in September 2019, and in Europe and the Middle East the following month.

Sega Genesis Mini
The European Mega Drive 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–current
Introductory price
MediaInternal flash memory
Operating systemLinux kernel
System-on-chip usedZUIKI Z7213
Memory256 MB of RAM
Storage512 MB flash memory
Controller input2 controller ports
PowerAXP223
Dimensions154 mm × 39 mm × 116 mm

Hardware

The Mini is half the size of the original Sega Genesis video game console. 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 not released there by Sega but by Samsung as the "Super Gam*Boy" and later "Super Aladdin Boy"; none of these names or brands appear on the Korean version of the Mega Drive Mini.[7]

The North American and European Minis include three-button controllers, while the Japanese controllers have six buttons.[5] Officially licensed six-button controllers made specifically for the Mini are also sold separately in North America and Europe.[8] 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 are also sold separately in Japan.[9] Miniature replicas of the Sega CD and Sega 32X were also manufactured but only distributed to select members of the media.[10]

Games

The Mini includes 42 games though the exact selection varies by region.[1] Each Mini has a set of games exclusive to the region it was released. Switching the language menu allows for multiple regional game variations to be played. For example, Contra: Hard Corps can be played with the English or Japanese setting, but with other languages Contra is substituted by its European counterpart Probotector; switching the language from English into Japanese turns Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine into Puyo Puyo and vice versa.[2][11] There are no Japanese variants of Vectorman, Earthworm Jim, and Virtua Fighter 2 included as those games were never released in Japan. Two bonus games, Darius and Tetris, are new conversions (ports). They were never released for the original console and have been newly ported from their arcade releases exclusively for this compilation.[12] 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 or stretched to 16:9 widescreen with HUD elements modified to fit onto the screen.[13]

Games NA/PAL[14] Japan[15] China/Korea[16][17]
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Soldier
Alisia Dragoon
Altered Beast
Assault Suit Leynos
Beyond Oasis
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Columns
Comix Zone
Contra: Hard Corps
Darius[lower-alpha 1]
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine[lower-alpha 2]
Dyna Brothers 2
Dynamite Headdy
Earthworm Jim
Ecco the Dolphin
Eternal Champions
Game no Kanzume Otokuyou
Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Golden Axe
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon
Landstalker
Langrisser II
Light Crusader
Lord Monarch
Madō Monogatari I
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Monster World IV
MUSHA
OutRun 2019
Party Quiz Mega Q
Phantasy Star IV
Powerball
Puyo Puyo 2[lower-alpha 2]
Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
Rent a Hero
Road Rash II
Shining Force
Shining Force II
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Slap Fight MD
Snow Bros
Sonic Spinball
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Space Harrier II
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
Streets of Rage 2
Strider
Super Fantasy Zone
Sword of Vermilion
Tetris[lower-alpha 3]
The Hybrid Front
The Revenge of Shinobi
Thunder Force III
ToeJam & Earl
Vectorman
Virtua Fighter 2
Wonder Boy in Monster World
World of Illusion
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen

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 80s and 90s retro videogame consoles.[5] It was delayed in September, missing the console's 30th-anniversary window,[18] 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 on September 19, 2019,[1] except in Europe and the Middle East, where it was released on October 4, 2019.[19]

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.[20] The menu music was written by Yuzo Koshiro, who was also the composer of some games in the collection, including The Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage 2, and Beyond Oasis.[2]

Notes
  1. A new conversion based on Taito's 1987 arcade game.
  2. Replaces Puyo Puyo when switching to certain language(s) in the settings menu.[11]
  3. A new conversion based on Sega's 1988 arcade version, and is not the very rare 1989 Mega Drive release.

References
  1. Robson, Daniel (March 30, 2019). "SEGA Genesis Mini Release Date, Price and Initial Games Lineup Revealed". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  2. 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". 비아이뉴스 (BEI News) (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  4. http://www.zuiki.co.jp/products/z7213/
  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". 스마트PC사랑 (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  8. Watts, Steve (May 21, 2019). "Sega Genesis Mini Announces 10 More Games, Optional 6-Button Controller". Gamespot. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  9. McWertor, Michael (June 4, 2019). "The Sega Genesis Mini is getting its own ridiculous mini tower". Polygon. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  10. "Here's what the Sega Mini 'Tower of Power' (which isn't being sold in the west) looks like up close". Destructoid.
  11. "'ASIA EDITION' SEGA MEGADRIVE MINI (GENESIS MINI) : Unboxing & Game play".
  12. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-x-button/2019-06-06/this-week-in-games-a-wooloo-for-you/.147546
  13. Glagowski, Peter. "The Genesis Mini will be a real treat for retro enthusiasts". Destructoid. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  14. "Genesis Mini". Sega.
  15. "メガドライブミニ". Sega (in Japanese).
  16. "メガドライブミニ（Mega Drive Mini）". Sega (in Chinese).
  17. "메가 드라이브 미니（Mega Drive Mini）". Sega (in Korean).
  18. McWhertor, Michael (September 19, 2018). "Sega delays its Mega Drive Mini to 2019 for an overhaul". Polygon. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  19. Glagowski, Peter. "The Genesis/Mega Drive Mini has been delayed in Europe". Destructoid. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  20. Grant, Christopher (April 13, 2018). "Sega Genesis Mini (aka Mega Drive Mini) announced". Polygon. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
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