Sega Genesis Classics

Name: Sega Genesis Classics
Item: Sega Genesis Classics
Rating: 4
Author: David Chapman

Game review by

David Chapman, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 10+

(i)

Nostalgic 16-bit game buffet has something for everyone.

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age 8+

Based on 1 review

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Positive Messages

This eclectic collection of old school games runs the spectrum of genres and characters, though most have basic stories and themes to set the stage for gameplay.

Positive Role Models & Representations

With so many titles in this collection, there's a wide range of character archetypes with a variety of motivations. Some barely have any info provided to give a sense of positive or negative goals.

Ease of Play

These are classic games with classic gameplay. Most titles are easy to pick up and play, and with features like the ability to rewind gameplay on the fly, the difficulty curve is never too steep.

Violence

Some games are more violent than others, occasionally featuring hack n' slash combat or heavy weapon combat with blood splatter on screen. But the visual style of these classic games are blocky and less detailed, reducing the impact of violence.

Sex

Some games use character models that feature female and male characters in revealing outfits, such as barbarians in loincloths and bikini armor.

Language

Consumerism

The Sega brand and the Genesis console are the key selling points of this collection, meant to strike a nostalgic chord with gamers.Some games in the collection, such as the Sonic franchise, went on to spawn numerous spin-off materials and merchandise, such as cartoons, comic books, toys, and other collectibles.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Sega Genesis Classics is a compilation of more than fifty video games originally released on the Sega Genesis console, which is collected for and available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows-based PCs. The games run the spectrum from casual puzzle games like Columns and arcade beat 'em ups like Streets of Rage to role-playing fantasies like Phantasy Star and fan favorite franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog. Age appropriate content is dependent on the individual games, with some being very kid-friendly for all ages and others having some mild content issues that might not be considered appropriate for young gamers, such as characters that wear loincloths or bikini outfits. Other games with hack and slash gameplay may show blood, but the pixelated visuals limits the impact of the violence.

Adult Written byGoruchDiogenes June 15, 2018

age 8+

Oi, Columns is hardly casual, you philistines. You must be thinking of Bejeweled and all it's mobile clones. THAT is casual. Columns is one third of the H... Continue reading

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What's it about?

SEGA GENESIS CLASSICS revisits this "golden" era of gaming by collecting more than fifty epic titles from the history of the Genesis timeline. Back in the heyday of the 16-bit console wars, the Sega Genesis was a "shining force" for gaming, letting players live out their fantasies as everything from werewolves and ninjas to alien rappers and comic book heroes. It even saw the debut of a certain blue hedgehog with a penchant for speed. Each game has been faithfully recreated, with a few new tricks such as online multiplayer, achievement and trophy support, mirror modes, rewind, and save game capabilities.

Is it any good?

It's hard to believe it in this era of 4k graphics and virtual reality, but there was a time when 16-bit images were king, and gamers milked all kinds of fun out of every available pixel. Players can revisit that period in gaming history with Sega Genesis Classics, a collection of more than fifty titles from the heyday of the Sega Genesis console. Of course, as with any collection, fans are going to have heated opinions on which games are included and omitted. Even so, you've got to give credit to Sega for including a huge range of themes and genres. There really is something here for just about everyone. In fact, there might even some fans of Wonder Boy out there.

Each game remains faithful to its original presentation, though it's the added little extra that make the collection shine. Things like the save status and rewind functions encourage players to try out different strategies without fear of a dreaded "Game Over". Meanwhile, options like the Mirror Mode take the familiarity of some classic experiences and switch things up, offering a fresh new feeling that relies on more than muscle memory. While it would have been nice to toss in some extra trivia or commentary on the games to appeal to fans, this still feels like a real love letter to the retro games and gamers that ultimately paved the way for the modern gaming hits of today.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the evolution of video games. What are some of the ways that gaming has changed over the year? What are some of the "timeless" qualities that make for a good game?
What are some of the content differences in games made for general audiences and more mature games? How does that content affect gamers of different ages?

Game details

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
Price: $29.99
Pricing structure: Paid
Available online? Available online
Developer: Sega of America
Release date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Arcade
Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Sports and Martial Arts, Superheroes, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Space and Aliens
ESRB rating: T for Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence