Sega Mega Drive Collection

Sega Mega Drive Collection for PlayStation 2 is Sega’s PAL-region anthology of 16-bit games, released in Europe in late 2006. Developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Sega, it is the regional counterpart to Sega Genesis Collection in North America. The PS2 disc brings together 27 games originally associated with Sega’s Mega Drive library, spanning the late 1980s and 1990s, and presents them through a dedicated collection interface rather than as a single new adventure.

The selection covers a broad cross-section of Sega’s output. Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 supply fast side-scrolling platform action, while Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Ristar, Kid Chameleon and Comix Zone offer very different takes on jumping, combat and stage-based progression. Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time take the action underwater, and the collection also includes the child-focused Ecco Jr. Its lineup lets players move from one original game to another without asking them to commit to a single genre or series.

Action games form another major part of Sega Mega Drive Collection on PS2. Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, Golden Axe III, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi and Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master represent arcade-style combat in a variety of settings. Other inclusions shift the pace again: Columns is a falling-piece puzzle game, Bonanza Bros. is a screen-by-screen heist game, Gain Ground is a tactical action title, and Super Thunder Blade is an on-rails helicopter shooter. Sword of Vermilion and the three Phantasy Star role-playing games provide longer quests alongside shorter arcade-oriented sessions.

Each title retains its own original rules, controls and objectives, so the kind of play changes from game to game. Players steer Sonic through zones while gathering rings, guide the heroes of Golden Axe through enemy-filled fantasy stages, explore the worlds and systems of the Phantasy Star sequels, or tackle Vectorman and Vectorman 2 as robot-led action platformers. Virtua Fighter 2 appears here in its Mega Drive form, while Flicky and DecapAttack round out the range with further score-focused and platforming play. Where the original game supported it, the collection also offers a second player, making selected titles suitable for local shared play.

Digital Eclipse’s PS2 package adds collection features beyond the 27 Mega Drive games. Progress can be saved at any point, which is particularly useful for games that were originally built around passwords, limited continues or long sessions. A museum area supplies background material and game-related artwork, while a hint section and Sega Cheat Sheet provide help for individual titles. More than half an hour of unlockable interviews with Sega of Japan staff are included, and the PS2 version also contains five unlockable arcade games: Altered Beast, Future Spy, Tac/Scan, Zaxxon and Zektor.

This version is specifically the PAL Sega Mega Drive Collection, not a remake of the included games or the similarly named later compilation for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Its regional title reflects the console’s European name, whereas the same 2006 project was sold as Sega Genesis Collection in North America. The PS2 and PSP editions share the central Mega Drive catalogue but have different arcade bonus selections, giving the PS2 release its own set of unlockables. For players exploring Sega’s 16-bit catalog through a PlayStation 2, the collection links mascot platformers, role-playing adventures, brawlers, shooters, puzzles and arcade history on one disc.