Sega Genesis Mini - Genesis

Nice job all around by Sega. This is a well-designed and well thought out little device with a lot of fun packed inside. I see a few ludicrous reviews on here, where people forgot to take their pills or whatever and resort to saying this device "SUCKS" or is "GARBAGE". Nothing could be further from the truth, and some people need to grow up. It was actually my cousin who was one of those "Sega kids", but I still got to play the Genesis some back in the day and have fond memories of Sonic, Road Rash and several other great games. Hardware-wise the original Genesis was somewhat more generic in internal design than the SNES and had some real limitations if you know what to look for. But it was still a fertile platform for fun and classic game play. In bringing this classic mini console to market Sega has seemingly followed Nintendo's lead in hardware design, having nearly identical internal specs and including power over micro USB, which will presumably be a vector for hacking this thing. That's a good thing! Then Sega upped the ante and doubled the number of included games compared to Nintendo mini consoles, including alternate international versions of the ROMs that you can access just by changing the language settings. However this probably means there is less internal storage available for any future hacking of the device, but perhaps they will get USB support working. Overall the game selection is pretty good with a small handful of weaker entries and a few glaring omissions. For example, although they were able to include two Disney-licensed Mickey Mouse games, the second-highest selling Genesis game of all time, Disney's Aladdin, is nowhere to be found. One would think it would have even made a great initial tie in with Disney promoting their recent re-hash of the film. Who knows, perhaps Sega tried. But still you won't lack for fun and entertaining game play here. The two included 3-button controllers seem nice and solid, very much like the originals. But I haven't used them. As a one-up on Nintendo this console did at least implement a way to get to the system menu using the controller by doing a long-press on the Start button. But an even better experience is with the officially licensed Retro-bit 6-button Sega game controllers. These give you the full 6 buttons you need for a couple of games, plus the Mode button on these gives you instantaneous access to the system/save menu from within games. Also the Retro-bit controllers have like a 12-14' long cable I think, so that is an improvement over the just okay 6' length of the included 3-button controllers. Well worth the modest additional cost. The user interface is simple but attractive, and has a funky new Sega-style synthesized music track. This will loop a few times and then the console will start going through demo mode of all 42 games. It's almost fun to just leave it on and watch it cycle through demos. The save state feature is basically equivalent to that provided by the Nintendo mini consoles, offering 4 save slots per game, but the implementation is not quite as polished. I believe you have to start the game before you can access the save states, rather than jumping directly into a saved state. Also the Nintendo consoles will add a little "time played" indicator to each save state, to give you even some idea besides the mini screenshot of where the save state is within the game, you know when you return to it weeks or months later. And I don't really see a way to manage save states, delete them, etc. Maybe I just missed it. Finally the emulation is done by M2, who are behind the emulation in virtual console and other ports of these classic games. Only one or two unofficial emulators come close to the same quality, so it's not really going to get any better than that. I find reports of lag curious. I can't detect any at all. Any form of emulation, including the Nintendo mini consoles, will have some minuscule amount however. At worst your TV may need some adjustment, but usually even that is not necessary. The games look, play, feel and sound right. Anyway, great job and congrats to Sega! This is a great item. As a bonafide Nintendo kid I'm happy to own this, and I hope Sega sells millions of them.

The Mini is unapologetically awesome, and bless Sega for doing this one right. At long last, Sega is rediscovering its groove and reigniting the 90s, which was arguably their decade more than anyone else's, including Nintendo. This reissue is confidently executed, competently crafted, and features 42 of the greatest, most diverse, and even surprising titles ever to grace the Genesis, including some unexpected cult classics like Toe Jam & Earl. Rather than focusing on the software which is proven and a real showstopper in the emulation department due to Sega's personal attention to the Mini, I'll focus instead on the hardware and packaging. Presentation-wise, Sega knocked it out of the park and through the windshield of an unexpecting passerby. The box screams 1991 nearly as loudly as its iconic ads screamed, "Sega!" with a perfect miniature replica of the Sonic Box as it was known nearly 30 years ago. I love this box. The system itself is just as convincing and features moving cartridge port dust cover flaps, or whatever they were called. Even the volume slider is there, and it slides with conviction and quality. I may spend just as much time admiring the proportions and attentiveness to detail as I will playing the thing. Maybe. The Genesis Mini rocks. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the previously unreleased games and blast the familiar and sorely-missed FM synth, courtesy of a proprietary Yamaha chip that has never been replicated. I think this chip should be celebrated for driving some of coolest sounds and tunes ever to grace a console. I applaud Sega for sticking to their guns with the 3-button controller, especially since we can get a first-party 6 button with ease for around $20. I recommend doing so for several of the games, but for 90% of the catalog you won't need it. While many complain it should have been included in lieu of the 3-button, I'd argue the true retro flavor would have been diminished significantly, as the Genesis was born into the world with just three buttons. It was only later in the 90s due to the popularity of games like Street Fighter 2 that Sega's wonderful 6-button controller earned a spot in Genesis lore, and like the Genesis Mini itself, it was worth every penny.

I had very little hope for this console, as SEGA has lost a lot of credibility in recent years by farming out their IPs to dubious 3rd parties which have done nothing but tarnish SEGA's reputation. I am happily surprised to say that this console is the first time in a long while that I have seen a genuinely good product from SEGA. The console itself feels of great quality and there is a lot of attention to detail here. I would dare say they even did a slightly better job than Nintendo did on their well respected NES and Super Nintendo classic consoles. Most importantly, the controllers are fantastic! Many complained that we only got the 3 button controllers, but I am so very satisfied with them. 90% of the Genesis library does not need a 6 button controller, and the 3 button controller is so much more comfortable. Props to SEGA for this choice. Not to mention, you can buy officially 6 button controllers for this console if you choose to. Now regarding the actual interface, it's not bad. I would say that it's not quite as polished as Nintendo's offerings, but it is fully functional and pleasant to look at. I really like that when you switch the language to other countries, you get the ROM from that region. Very nice touch. My main complaint with this system is that the library is slightly lacking. I understand it would be difficult to curate a collection that would please everyone, but there are certainly some title choices that don't make much sense to me. It would have been nice to see an option to expand the library, perhaps in line with what is available on the SEGA Genesis and Megadrive collection on Steam. As far as price, I feel that 80 dollars might be a bit too high, but only slightly. 60 dollars would have been a killer deal, but 70 is realistically fair. 80 is just on the hairy edge of questionable, given the lack of some great titles on the system and no official way to add more (yes, I am aware of unofficial methods to add games :P) And now, my biggest award to SEGA for this product. They made it available!!! Unlike Nintendo, they were able to produce a reasonable quantity of these systems and I had no trouble procuring one. No one had to fist fight each other over what is effectively a ROM box, and no filthy scalpers were able to prey on the general population. Good work SEGA.

I want so bad to give this a 5 star review but 3 button controller and game selection choice prevent that. Yes I dislike segas choice to go with 3 button controllers but on the plus side they are comfortable as heck, highly responsive, high quality, long cords and you get 2. But being that SF2 and Eternal Champions require 6 buttons this cause a dilemma of having to hit select to switch between punch and kick buttons. The game selection is great but not perfect but this is my opinion. I love all the games but feel Spinball, Tetris and Alexx Kid, Mean Bean are a waste of slots. Sega should have included Thunder Force 2 and 4, Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage 1 n 3, Sonic 3 n Knuckles, Musha, Centy, Tmnt Hyperstone Hiest, Rocket Knight. But aside from the few games I felt wasted spots you get many great titles, Sonic 1 n 2, Streets of Rage 2, SF2 CE, Eternal Champions, Thunder Force 3, Darius, Fantasy Zone, Golden Axe, Shining Force, Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra HC, Gunstar Heroes. The variety on this mini is unparalleled by any other current mini. You get variety and a goid classic selection of games that are almost spot on. The sound of ever game is pretty faithful. I recomend picking up a 6 button from 8bitdo or retro. I am sure with hackchi and a 6 button this will be a perfect 5 star mini.

Totally authentic, real Sega hardware, great controllers (exactly as I remember them from the OG Genesis), super cute miniaturized console (check out the size in the phone compared to my 15" MacBook Pro), and 42 games! Not gonna lie, I was giddy unboxing it (box looks great too... the whole package is authentic SEGA). Easy to set up, just plug it in to and HDMI monitor/tv and you're good to go. Only cons: it's a closed system, you cannot add or subtract games. Most games are classics, but it's missing a few that I had as a kid and wanted to get again were not available. Also, almost all the games work fine with the classic 3 Button controllers, with one notable outlier... c'mon, Street Fighter 2 blows when you have to toggle the punches and kicks with the start button! (to fix, I purchased 2X "Retro-Bit Official Sega Genesis USB Controller 8-Button Arcade Pad for Sega Genesis Mini". I recommend this specific model, because it's got 6 buttons, L&R, + Start & Mode buttons... which if you're a retro game nerd like me, can be plugged into your computer and used for emulation of other consoles that require more buttons). Fun extra, you can change the region to Japan (and other countries), and all the box art will change, as well as the language (can get confusing though, I had to use Google translate's AR to navigate my way back to English). Totally worth it!! Pull the tigger my friend.

I've been a gamer since 1974 when my parents brought an Odyssey home. Since then I've pretty much owned every single major console release. I worked in the industry from 90 to 97 and collaborated with people at Atari and Sega regularly. Why am I telling you this? Because I wanted to give you a point of view of someone who's been a gamer for over four decades and thinks you would appreciate my viewpoint. The Genesis Mini is a fantastic little piece of hardware. It's emulation is spot on and even the sound is accurate. I know there are those who would say that some things are off, but like I said I have been playing my original launch Genesis for over two decades and have become used to hearing it's sound chip. The sound emulation in the mini is excellent, so much so that I really can't tell the difference. I have to laugh at YouTube millennial reviewers putting the sound chip through audio scrutiny to get clicks, it sounds fine. Graphics performance is on par with my Genesis and I love the little 90s bedroom that has a slight traffic din coming from the Window. The 3 button controller is exactly like my standard Genesis 3 button, but I'm a little confused why they didn't include the 6 button. I understand that it didn't launch here with the 6 button, but it would have been nice to have it as the pack in. That being said I have picked up the RetroBit 6 button in both wired and wireless and they work and feel like OEM products, well done Retrobit. The build quality on the unit is excellent with little touches like opening cartridge flaps, working volume slider and power and reset buttons, just great little attention to details. Even the box is great for displaying. The absolutely best part about the Genesis mini is how easy it is to hack. Now it came with a nice menu system and you can switch between region and box art and that is all fantastic. But if you hack it and put Lunar on it you can run the entire Genesis, SegaCD, 32X library from a single device that is an official Sega product! Can't tell you how cool that is. You get to keep all the functionality, the quality, the look, and have all the games! Look up Lunar for Sega Genesis mini and buy one of these today!

It's like I am a kid again and I got my Genesis back. See my details below if case you arent convinced: System: Looks exactly like a model 1 Genesis system, with realistic switches to replicate the feel of turning the system on and resetting it. Comes with power input and HDMI port, complete with cords. Be aware that both cords (and the 3 button controllers that come with the system) are not very long. If you sit a distance away from your TV, you will need to buy a cord extension, which Amazon supplies. Menu: Very similiar to the SNES mini. Has a great look and feel with remixed songs from the games provided (which sound great). Has options to adjust the screen for original and stretched screen format. Can just pick a game and start playing. Gameplay/Sound/Visuals: Feels exactly like the old days! I had a genesis back in the day so it is amazing to get that feeling again. Gameplay feels natural and smooth, controllers are very responsive. Sound is fantastic, tons better than the god-awful At-Games model (seriously, do not buy it, it is horrible). HDMI output looks crisp and makes the games enjoyable to look at. Also has a save state/load state feature so you can turn off the system at any time. One thing I especially love is that you dont need to reset the system just to select another game!! You hold START and press EXIT. The SNES mini could of badly used this since I hate getting up just to change a game. Game selection: Great selection but I selfishly wish they had more. I played Sonic 3 to death as a kid so I would of loved to see that. I heard of people hacking this thing so that they can put more games on it, but I personally dont want to risk it in case I break this. Overall: GET. THIS. Especially before it is sold out everywhere, given this is available in a limited quantity.

As a collector of many classic edition, plug and play, small mini game systems, I can happily say Sega Genesis Mini DOES what others don't. It rises to the occasion and outshines early attempts by AT Games. In the Mini game system market a number of the small systems have been created over the years and only so many of them can be truthfully called quality products. Where as NES Classic and SNES Classic by Nintendo may have set off the phenomenon a fire and anew to the world Sega has set the bar with a new high quality standard here. In terms of build quality the system looks like an exact replication of the original Sega Genesis from the 1990's only much smaller! Way to cool! I was shocked to find small details like a cartridge slot which has flaps that actually move. To my surprise the Volume controls while does nothing still works as a moving piece. There is a working Power and Rest buttons and the expansion slot that can be removed where the Sega CD would have gone are all great tiny details that make this product a most have! The 2 included 3 button GamePads look and fill just like I remember and set nostalgia a blaze from a much more simple happier time in life. They quite simply put fill great! I love and adore almost all of the included 42 Digital Video Games that Sega hand picked for this snap shoot view and slice right out of a Gamers life from the 1990's! I highly recommend the Sega Genesis Mini as the emulation of the games, the sounds, the music, look and fill are all highly quality and near flawless! I have had a blast with the small unit and not a day has gone by that it hasn't been played sense its release 5 days ago! I can see myself playing on and off for years to come! P.S:Dear Sega......Dreamcast Mini when?!!!