SEGA's idea to release the back catalogue of Sonic's Mega Drive/Genesis titles proved to be a hit on the Gamecube. The recent multi-platform release of [Sonic Heroes] and its subsequent success (though disappointing to most Sonic fans) did ensure Sonic's path to other consoles of the time.
So later, Sonic Mega Collection Plus (SMC+) is released on Xbox, Playstation 2 and PC. Initial news of the new compilation with 'Plus' amended to the title immediately caused fan stir about this addition being the inclusion of cult favourite Sonic The Hedgehog CD (Sonic CD). Unfortunately this was not the case.
Instead, the 'Plus' denotes that we get all the games of the previous Sonic Mega Collection with the addition of the Game Gear outings (previously included in Sonic Adventure DX as unlockable games oddly omitting Sonic 2) and some extra content (less than SMC in fact) but all at a budget price.
This feature details the European Xbox version as I do not own the PS2 version.
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OVERVIEW
Like SMC, SMC+ is basically an elaborate menu system holding emulators and collection of ROMS again provided by VR-1 of Japan with improvements in their emulation.
The graphical style is completely different and more stylish to the previous SMC and there is less loading.
The New Menu Art
As before, some games are playable by default and there are more to be unlocked. All versions of SMC+ between the regions are the same.
Two additional Mega Drive/Genesis titles are included: The Ooze and Comix Zone which were only included in the Japanese version of SMC have now been included although not playable by default unless you already have a Sonic Heroes file saved.
As for fans who know these games inside out already there is not much to be found other than the extra material which consists of case art, videos and comic covers, however there are a few non-Sonic games to be unlocked.
For in-depth info on the Sonic games in the collection, click on the title screens below to be taken to their respective features.
Default Games - Mega Drive/Genesis |
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The original and some say the best. This is how Sonic was presented to the world in 1991. This compilation has the 3 versions of this game. The default version that you play is the tweaked Japanese release. The code to switch between the versions is detailed below. |
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The sequel which had the gaming world going crazy. This game introduced the character of Miles 'Tails' Prower and Sonic could become Super Sonic with all the Chaos Emeralds in his possession. |
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The 3rd instalment and first part of a mega adventure. The compilation also brings emulation of the save state functions of the original cartridge. |
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As the name suggests, play as either Sonic or Knuckles in a new adventure concluding what began in Sonic 3. The locked-on versions e.g Sonic 3 and Knuckles must be unlocked. |
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Sonic 3D Blast/Flickies Island Sonic's first foray into 3D and last Mega Drive/Genesis title. This game was not created directly by Sonic Team and was also released on the Saturn. Playability seems to have actually improved slightly with the use of the analogue stick on the Cube's controller. |
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SEGA of America's spin-off title. Sonic infiltrates Robotnik's Veg-O-Fortress embedded inside an active volcano and protected by a pinball style defence system. The version on the PAL compilation of SMC is the correct European/PAL one. |
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Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine A Puyo Puyo clone set against Dr Robotinik's works drones. Eliminate the beans by stacking 4 same coloured beans together. Attack the opposition by creating combos. Yee harr! Does get quite challenging on the last few rounds. |
Default Games - Game Gear |
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Sonic's 8-Bit debut. This is a different adventure from the 16-Bit counterpart where Sonic must save South Island. There are differences between the Game Gear and Master system counterpart. |
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The third outing sees Dr. Robotnik having his hands on a Chaos Emerald. He must be prevented from using it! |
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Sonic Drift Racing (Sonic Drift 2) Sonic and pals take to their karts through several zones again in this unlikely sequel. The original Sonic Drift was never released outside of Japan but you can find more about that game on the Sonic Drift Feature. |
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Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine The 8-Bit port of the Puyo Puyo clone originally for the Mega Drive/Genesis. |
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Possibly one of the least known 8-Bit titles. Play as either Sonic or Knuckles and adventure to Silver Castle. This game also has the distinction of being made into a TV controller console. |
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An isometric challenge where Sonic has been robbed of his abilities to jump or run at speed. |
Unlockable Games |
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Play through a multitude of generated Sonic 3 Special Stages. |
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Play Sonic 2 with Knuckles and explore old zones like never before. Collect all the Chaos Emeralds to become Super Knuckles. |
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Possibly the ultimate 2D Sonic adventure; 3 playable characters becoming super then hyper, 26 acts in 13 zones with 14 special stages and 3 bonus rounds with different endings on offer. |
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This is a port of an arcade game from 1984. Flicky is the blue bird saving his/her friends from hungry house cats. It is a loose connection to the Flicky Birds in Sonic 3D. |
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One of the Mega Drive/Genesis later titles released in 1995 and a cult favourite platformer. Ristar is on a mission to save a solar system being terrorised by an evil force. He is under considerable pressure as the planetary hero has already been captured. It's connection to Sonic stardom is through Ristar's designer Yuji Uekawa who was involved with some of Sonic's animation in later titles. It is one of the platforms most impressive titles and had a Game Gear version. |
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A stylish and unique beat'em up set inside a comic book. Sketch Turner is an artist in New York when one day as he draws a thunderstorm brings his comic to life. It was created at STI (makers of Sonic 2 and Sonic Spinball) and shows some impressive use of the 16-Bit hardware. |
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You play as a strange viscous substance which is the remnants of a once Dr. Craine looking for revenge against his corrupt employers. This cartoony action/puzzle game came at the end of the systems life and was rather inventive. It is another game created by STI and has become a rarity in the consoles library. |
Each game in the collection plays exactly as it's Mega Drive/Genesis original and the controls (for Sonic games) fit well with an Xbox Type S controller. A nice touch is being able to use either the analogue or the D-Pad but on the Xbox the D-Pad is awful. Any games that have two player modes (Sonic 2, 3) are emulated successfully also.
XBox Controller S
At any time during play press the white button (Xbox) to be given a menu containing:
Resume - Back to the game.
Game Title - Reset the game back to its title screen.
Save Game Data - Save at the current point in the game.
Load Game Data - Load a previously saved point.
Controller Configuration - View the current controller configuration and select between two others.
View Hints - Any hints (cheat codes) that have been unlocked can be viewed.
Exit - Return to the main game menu.
There is now the ability to save progress at any point during a game which will tends not to be too much of a problem for the Xbox but will eat a PS2 memory card in no time.
For some reason in this version the gameplay window has an irritating border around it. Luckily a click with the right analogue stick (Xbox version) removes it.
For PAL Xbox owners, the video can seem a little jerky. This happens if your Xbox is set to PAL 60. To remedy this set your console to 50Hz mode in the system setup before starting.
New in this compilation is a hint system which is basically a collection of cheats for each game that become unlocked. You can call upon these during a game by pressing the white button on the controller.
Each game has the US version of its manual in digital format for onscreen viewing. They can be moved about and zoomed in and out.
The compilation has very few options for the player. They are:
Hints - View the hints you have so far unlocked.
Controller Configuration - Adjust the button layout from 3 default settings. Some games (like Sonic Drift) still cannot have their buttons reassigned though.
Credits - View the credits for the compilation.
Extras
Disappointingly, the extra material in this version is slightly weaker than in the previous SMC. The comics and illustrations are included but dropped are the Sonic CD movies in favour of movies and storyboards from Sonic Heroes, these being for the introduction with both early and finished versions for both teams in the game.
IMPRESSIONS
For the most part this newer compilation is neither better nor worse than the previous one on balance.
On one hand there are improvements (more games) and on the other there are items from the previous Mega Collection removed in the reduction of the museum and Sonic CD is still missing.
The menu system feels much better with its new cooler visuals and less loading between the main sections is better.
Overall emulation quality is superb for the Mega Drive/Genesis but not so good for the Game Gear which suffers with some audio issues. The improvements in emulation are welcome though this is mostly is for sound and the new save/load abilities.
Game Gear games on such large screens feels odd because of the aspect, so why the Game Gear games rather than the Master System/Mark III versions. Well I'm going to guess this is probably because the Game Gear versions sport more colours and would look better.
And no 8-Bit Sonic The Hedgehog 2! What is that about? Considering this is one of the most popular games in the early franchise it makes no sense.
Reducing the extra content is irritating considering they had more storage to use (1.5GB storage on a Gamecube disc vs the 4GB+ on a DVD) and it feels a bit like a cynical attempt to plug Sonic Heroes. Perhaps SEGA's reasoning was people with Xboxes and PS2's were not much of a Sonic fan but if that's what they thought why bother releasing the compilation in the first place? They could have bolstered the museum slightly by using all of the previous compilations museum content and brief history of each of the platforms these games were on as initial thoughts.
And still no Sonic CD. Perhaps other more obscure Sonic games such as SEGASonic The Hedgehog or Sonic The Fighters would have been good additions?
Overall it represents a good compilation if you don't already own the previous one, and when taking into consideration that these were released at roughly half price of a typical game.
CHEATS AND TIPS
Unlock Hints
Hints for each game are unlocked after they are played for 3 hours. This does not strictly mean playing the game - it just need to be running. After 3 hours, exit out and the hints will be available in the Options area or when you load the game and press the white button.
Old Skool Codes
The codes for all the Sonic games are the same as their original Mega Drive/Genesis and Game Gear versions. For the cheats on each game checkout their respective pages via the links above.
You will have to perform some button translation for the Xbox pad however assuming default configuration.
Mega Drive/Genesis |
Xbox |
A |
X |
B |
A |
C |
B |
Start |
Start |
Game Gear |
Xbox |
1 |
A |
2 |
B |
Start |
Start |
Unlocking The Extra Games
Games are unlocked depending on how many times they are played. This simply means loading the game. You need only run the game long enough to access the title screen and then exit.
Sonic Team fans are awarded these games more quickly if there are save states from other games present on the system.
To access the unlocked games you will have to exit the games menu back to the main menu then back into the games menu to be notified that a game has been unlocked.
Unlock Blue Spheres Game (Sonic 1 and Knuckles)
Load Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic 3D Blast 20 times each.
If there is a save from Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 or 2, then this is unlocked automatically.
For a list of some passwords checkout the Sonic and Knuckles page.
Unlock Knuckles in Sonic 2 (Sonic 2 and Knuckles)
Load Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sonic Spinball 20 times.
Unlock Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Load Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles 20 times to unlock this massive game.
Unlock Flicky
Load Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 30 times.
If there is a save state from Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 and 2 present the game is unlocked automatically.
Unlock Ristar
Ristar is unlocked when Blue Spheres, Knuckles in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 and Knuckles have been loaded 30 times.
Cheats
DOFEEL - Time Attack
ILOVEU - Level Select
MUSEUM - Fight only Bosses
MIEMIE - See hidden items
MAGURO - Tone deaf sounds
SUPER - Super hard mode
SUPERB - Very hard difficulty
XXXXXX - cancels all codes
Unlock The Ooze
Unlock everything but Ristar.
Unlock Comix Zone
Load all the Mega Drive/Genesis titles 50 times or alternatively having played all games for a total of 30 hours.
Unlock Comix Zone and The Ooze (Alternative)
These are automatically unlocked is there is a save file from Sonic Heroes present.
Different versions of Sonic The Hedgehog (1)
Before proceeding, the Z Button will need to be identified. To do this start the game and enter the controller configuration menu and look at the mapping on the diagram. By default on an Xbox controller it is the R Trigger. It can be changed if necessary.
On the information screen before playing the game enter the following:
Japanese Version 2 (default): Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,UP,DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT. A chime should sound.
Japanese Version 1: UP, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, Z. A chime should sound and JP with appear in the top-right of the screen.
It's unknown whether the US or European versions are on the collection.
MISC INFO
- Release Dates: Europe 04-02-05, US 02-11-04, Japan 09-12-04, PC Europe 31-03-06 US 09-03-07.
- All the tile screens.
- There have been reports of some anomalies effecting specific areas of certain games. The reason given was slightly buggy implementation of the emulation of the Mega Drive/Genesis' Motorola 68000 CPU. The odds of the average game encountering these though are very low.
- SEGA included the compilation with some double packages. They were: Sonic Mega Collection Plus with Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (2005, Xbox), SEGA Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus and Shadow the Hedgehog (2009, PS2) and Sonic PC Collection (2009, PC).
- The game runs fine using Xbox 360 backwards compatibility.
Related
Sonic Mega Collection Feature (Gamecube)
SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis Console Feature
SEGA Game Gear Console Feature
