Introduction
Remember that unreleased game that you really wanted to play in 2022, Star Mobile? Well now you can!
The whole mini driven craze started with the first Sega Genesis and NES/Famicom mini, followed by SNES/Super Famicom mini and people were amazed by it, but…
Sony came in with PlayStation 1 mini and, things kinda went downhill from there, thankfully Sega delivered another iteration named Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Mini 2 and oh my, they should keep on doing it
The console
This everything you get with the box:
The console itself (with working power/reset buttons) – Width 120.8 mm x Height 32.3 mm x Length 116.5 mm – Video output: 720p, 480p
A HDMI cable
A power cable (micro-USB)
A power adapter (US market)
One controller – Width 140 mm x Height 2.8 70 mm x Length 29 mm cable length 2m
Sadly, you did read that correctly, it comes with a single controller, which works flawlessly, buttons just feel correct but would be amazing if it came with two of them, but oh well. If you have the previous mini, you can use that controller as well, so that’s some redemption
Second part I personally dislike, the US market gets a power adapter, we in the EU. nope, but it’s a standard 5v usb to micro usb, which leads me to problem, well “problem” no.3
Why micro usb in 2022? Was it that hard to put a usb C like everyone is doing right now? C’mon Sega, don’t do me dirty.
Aesthetically console differs from the first version, and I have to say, I’m digging the fresh new look. It’s light, and easy to carry around or store(?) Sure, maybe someone will take it to a friend for some nostalgic gaming 🙂
The OS
The Sega Genesis Mini 2 has a simplistic set of menus, but they are functional, especially the sorting options. You can sort games by title, release date, recently played, listing CDs first, or by the number of players (note: there are 20 multiplayer games on offer in the Mini 2, with support for up to two people).
The options menu is slim, but these are the options:
A toggle for full screen support or the proper aspect ratio (4:3)
Nine wallpapers
Classic or new sound effects
The ability to toggle the display to look like a bookshelf of game cases, or the traditional game box images
Support for up to eight languages
Four save slots per game
That’s kinda all there is to it.
When playing a game, you can press the “mode” button on the top right of the controller, which will bring up the save/load and “return to title” menu. That button is extremely convenient and not in the way at all, so you won’t accidentally press it, and the menus are responsive.
The games
Here’s the full list of games in the Sega Genesis Mini 2:
North America and Europe
After Burner II
Alien Soldier
Atomic Runner
Bonanza Bros.
ClayFighter
Crusader of Centy
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
Earthworm Jim 2
Elemental Master
Fatal Fury 2
Gain Ground
Golden Axe II
Granada
Hellfire
Herzog Zwei
Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar
Midnight Resistance
OutRun
OutRunners
Phantasy Star II
Populous
RAINBOW ISLANDS -EXTRA-
Ranger-X
Ristar
ROLLING THUNDER 2
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shining Force II
Shining in the Darkness
Sonic 3D Blast
SPLATTERHOUSE 2
Streets of Rage 3
Super Hang-On
SUPER STREET FIGHTER II THE NEW CHALLENGERS
The Ooze
The Revenge of Shinobi
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Truxton
VectorMan 2
Viewpoint
Virtua Racing
WarsongEcco the Dolphin (Sega CD)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega CD)
Final Fight CD (Sega CD)
Mansion of Hidden Souls (Sega CD)
NIGHT STRIKER (Sega CD)
Night Trap (Sega CD)
Robo Aleste (Sega CD)
Sewer Shark (Sega CD)
Shining Force CD (Sega CD)
SILPHEED (Sega CD)
Sonic CD (Sega CD)
THE NINJA WARRIORS (Sega CD)Devi & Pii (Special Content)
Fantasy Zone (Special Content)
Space Harrier II + Space Harrier (Special Content)
Spatter (Special Content)
Star Mobile (Special Content)
Super Locomotive (Special Content)
VS Puyo Puyo Sun (Special Content)
Japan
After Burner 2
Alien Soldier
Bonanza Bros
Chelnov
Columns 3
Crusader of Centy
Devi to Pi
Fatal Fury 2
Fantasy Zone
Gain Ground
Granada
Harimanada
Honou no Toukyuuji: Dodge Danpei
Magical Taruruto-kun
Majandojo
Megapanel
Midnight Resistance
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Out Run
Party Quiz Mega Q 2022
Party Quiz Sega Q
Phantasy Star II
Populous
Puyo Puyo Sun
Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R
Ranger X
Shining in the Darkness
Sorcerian
Space Harrier 2
Spatter
Splatterhouse 2
Star Cruiser
Star Mobile
Super Locomotive
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Tatsujin
Thunder Force IV
Tougi Ou: King Colossus
Viewpoint
Virtua RacingCaptain Tsubasa (Sega CD)
Ecco the Dolphin CD (Sega CD)
Final Fight CD (Sega CD)
Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega CD)
Lunar: The Silver Star (Sega CD)
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip (Sega CD)
Mansion of Hidden Souls (Sega CD)
Night Striker (Sega CD)
Night Trap (Sega CD)
The Ninja Warriors (Sega CD)
Popful Mail (Sega CD)
Robo Aleste (Sega CD)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms III (Sega CD)
Shin Megami Tensei (Sega CD)
Shining Force CD (Sega CD)
Silpheed (Sega CD)
Sonic CD (Sega CD)
StarBlade (Sega CD)
Tenka Fubu: Eiyutachi no Houkou (Sega CD)
Wondermega Collection (Sega CD)
So, you’re wondering, why list both? Well, you have all the above, regardless of where you bought it. How? Simple, just switch your language to Japanese and viola, you have it all.
Interestingly, a few marquee games have been tweaked, which is something I want to see more in Mini releases. Phantasy Star II has the option to speed up movement and contains an easy mode exclusive to the Mini 2. OutRun has new music, and Rainbow Islands Extra has additional content via the titular “extra mode”, which was previously exclusive to Japan.
Conclusion
If you’re the person that’s into retro Sega games, or you know someone who is one of them, this is probably the best present you can give them this year. Just scroll through the list of games Phantasy Star II, After Burner II, The Revenge of Shinobi, and OutRun and The Ooze, I never thought I would be playing that in 2022.
P.S. You can also mod it, but that’s a whole different story
If you want one, you can find them on Amazon, since it’s their exclusive, or if you’re lucky, directly from Sega.com
