Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, (known in Europe or Brazil/Australia as Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection), is a 2009 video game compilation developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The compilation features 48 Sega games (49 counting two versions of Altered Beast) which were previously released for the Sega Genesis (including most of the Sonic the Hedgehog titles released for the system), arcades and the Master System. It is the sequel to the Sega Genesis Collection released previously for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, but contains 16 more games (in NTSC regions, including unlockable extras).
Overview Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection compiles 40 emulated games originally released for the Sega Genesis by Sega. Additionally, eight non-Genesis games are unlockable by completing achievements in select titles. Many of the games featured were originally included in the compilation's predecessor Sega Genesis Collection (2006). ++ Games included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis CollectionDefault gamesTitleGenreOriginal releaseDeveloperAlex Kidd in the Enchanted CastlePlatform1989SegaAlien StormBeat 'em up1991SegaAltered BeastBeat 'em up1988Team ShinobiBeyond OasisAction-adventure1994AncientBonanza Bros.Action1991SegaColumnsPuzzle1990Jay GeertsenComix ZoneBeat 'em up1995Sega Technical InstituteDecap AttackPlatform1991Vic TokaiDr. Robotnik's Mean Bean MachinePuzzle1993CompileDynamite HeaddyPlatform1994TreasureEcco the DolphinAction-adventure1992Novotrade InternationalEcco: The Tides of TimeAction-adventure1994Novotrade InternationalESWAT: City Under SiegeAction1990SegaFatal LabyrinthRole-playing1990SegaFlickyAction1991SegaGain GroundAction1991SegaGolden AxeBeat 'em up1989Team ShinobiGolden Axe IIBeat 'em up1991SegaGolden Axe IIIBeat 'em up1993SegaKid ChameleonPlatform1992Sega Technical InstitutePhantasy Star IIRole-playing1989SegaPhantasy Star III: Generations of DoomRole-playing1990SegaPhantasy Star IV: The End of the MillenniumRole-playing1993SegaRistarPlatform1995SegaShining ForceRole-playing1992Climax EntertainmentShining Force IIRole-playing1993Sonic! Software PlanningShining in the DarknessRole-playing1991Climax EntertainmentShinobi III: Return of the Ninja MasterPlatform1993SegaSonic & KnucklesPlatform1994Sega Technical InstituteSonic 3D BlastPlatform1996Traveller's Tales, Sonic TeamSonic the HedgehogPlatform1991Sonic TeamSonic the Hedgehog 2Platform1992Sega Technical InstituteSonic the Hedgehog 3Platform1994Sega Technical InstituteSonic SpinballPinball1993Sega Technical InstituteStreets of RageBeat 'em up1991SegaStreets of Rage 2Beat 'em up1992SegaStreets of Rage 3Beat 'em up1994Sega, AncientSuper Thunder BladeRail shooter1988SegaVectormanPlatform1995BlueSky SoftwareVectorman 2Platform1996BlueSky SoftwareUnlockable gamesTitleGenreOriginal releaseDeveloperAlien SyndromeShoot 'em up1987Sega R&D1Altered BeastBeat 'em up1988Team ShinobiCongo BongoAction1983Sega, Ikegami TsushinkiFantasy ZoneShoot 'em up1986Sega R&D1Golden Axe WarriorAction-adventure1991SegaPhantasy StarRole-playing1987SegaShinobiPlatform1987Team ShinobiSpace HarrierRail shooter1985Sega R&D1ZaxxonShoot 'em up1981Sega, Ikegami Tsushinki
According to Ethan Einhorn, the producer for the collection, the three "lock-on" games (Knuckles in Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Blue Sphere) were not included due to "tight development times", and that including them would have meant "dropping several titles from the collection altogether", specifically the aforementioned nine unlockable games since "they all required unique emulation solutions".
Reception
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.
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