Sega Genesis Mini Review

A crapload of games.  Some heavy hitters.  A low price.  A cute, but authentic appearance.  This is the Sega Genesis Mini.

I remember it well.  It was Christmas Day.  My parents walked me over to the Christmas tree and showed me a big wrapped package with my name on it.  I ripped open the wrapping, knowing in my heart there was a Super Nintendo inside...until I saw a sleek black console, not gray box-like one.  It was a Sega Genesis and despite not being what I wanted, it's the source of a lot of childhood memories.  So when I saw this mini console, I got curious.  Would this mini get it right and or would it be just another terrible Genesis mini?

Right of the bat, I must say the aesthetic is spot on.  It looks just look a real Genesis shrunk down.  The power switch, reset button, and volume slider are present.  Heck, the cartridge slot even opens, but obviously you can't put in any games because the console isn't much bigger than the included controllers.

It looks genuine while taking up less space that a PS4 box.

The two controllers look pretty close to the real thing.  The controls are of each game are responsive and if there is lag, it was so minor I didn't notice it.  The d-pad feels a little off from the real thing, but it doesn't break the experience.  What DOES break the experience is the fact that they chose to go with the three-button controller instead of the six-button ones.  This is quite baffling as some of the games are best played with the six-button controller.  The games can still be played, but it's awkward.  Why couldn't just ONE of the controllers have six buttons.

Why they went with the 3-button controller instead of the 6-button is beyond me, but at least it works well.

As for the games, there's a pretty strong collection here.  There are games like Sonic 2 and Alisia Dragoon that I remember fondly.  There are also a number of games I am playing for the first time, such as Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hard Core.  On the whole, I'm happy with the list of titles.

The games library is mostly hits with a few misses mixed in for spice.

The collection isn't perfect, however, as a lot of the heavy-hitters aren't here.  This isn't too big a deal as the missing games have been included in so many collections and shoddy mini consoles it's not funny.  What IS a big deal is the fact that some of the console's trash made it in for some reason?  I actually don't mind that Sonic 3 and Golden Axe 2 aren't in, but why is Tetris here?  Who asked for Mega Man: The Wily Wars?  I've never liked Alex Kidd, but that keeps finding his way into these collections.  There are better games they could have added without touching the classics that have been in a trillion collections.  Where's Gods?  Rocket Knight Adventures?  X-Men 2: Clone Wars?  The Adventures Of Batman And Robin?  Nowhere to be found.

The games play fine with some minor hiccups here and there.  Sometimes sound effects skip or are late.  Also, there are only two screen sizes.  Most games look best in the smaller size, but some don't look good in either.  I mean, poor Alisia Dragoon.  Did it always look this bad?  Another minor complaint is saving and exiting a game.  I am certainly thankful for the save and/or exit function and the fact you can do it two different ways is a plus.  You can either press and HOLD the start button or physically hit the reset button.  Using the controller method feels clunky and harder than it should be.  It's the same with exiting a game.  Hitting the reset button is a somewhat smoother experience, but it requires getting up from your comfortable seat and lumbering over to the console.  Once again, it's just a minor complaint, so no biggie.

With the Genesis Mini, we have a cute exterior and a pretty strong interior.  The games work just fine, with responsive controls and graphics that have held up as well as can be expected.  There are some games that shouldn't have been included that are, while other should have been but weren't.  The decision to go with the three-button controller instead of the six-button controller is the biggest flaw.  There are a few sound issues, but they're very minor.  Saving and exiting games is clunky process, but at least it's there.  If nothing else, it's a good value as you're getting some of the console's best games at a nice, tidy price.  The small flaws can't take that away.  It could cost hundreds or potentially thousands of dollars to hunt down the cartridges and put this collection together yourself.  Check it out, especially if you have any interest in old-school gaming.