Sega Classics Collection

It's hard to believe a game from 2005 is all ready some what "retro", but then again, it is 2008 and we've all but forgotten that neolithic barbarian's plaything known as the PS2. Speaking of old games, sitting in front of me right now happens to be a copy of Sega Classics Collection for PS2. Since I'm always looking for a good deal and I assume you are too, let's examine this collection of much disputed "classic" Sega games from yesteryear. Maybe it's actually worth picking up after all?

Sega Classics Collection is actually a compilation disc of Sega Ages 2500 games that are regularly released into Japan. These usually consist of 3D remakes of classic Sega titles made on the cheap and sold for 2,500 Yen (about 25 bucks.) Here in the US, we've only had a taste of the many, many Sega Ages titles released. Classics Collection includes Outrun, Space Harrier, Virtua Racing, Monaco GP, Tant R, Golden Axe, Columns, Fantasy Zone, Bonanza Brothers and Alien Syndrome. Sure, cheap remakes aren't going to garner as much praise as the undisputed classics in the beloved Sega Genesis Collection, but I actually enjoy them quite a bit.

The key issue most purists have with the titles is that obviously, the games have been remade. Everything has be recreated from the ground up with a budget and it's obvious. Golden Axe's sprites have been replaced with low poly models. Outrun's backgrounds are fully rendered in three glorious, low-budget dimensions. So, they key issue in most reviews was 'Not Outrun! You don't mess with Outrun!" or some non-sense about "modernizing" them. True, the graphics are the worst aspect of the game. Not to say the graphics are worse then the original titles, because they aren't. As much as I love the original titles, I'd be lying to myself and all the other game fans on the globe if I said they still looked good. If you have trouble accepting any changes to old games, this is your worst nightmare.

No game in this set is 100% arcade accurate. As far as I'm concerned, that's not a bad thing. They're still fun games. The included Alien Syndrome is a better game then the original as far as I'm concerned. This collection is especially fun in Multiplayer. Monaco GP, Virtua Racing, Golden Axe and Bonanza Brothers are still fun, remakes or not. Tant R is a great 4-Player party game that pre-dates Mario Party and Wario Ware. Sure, none of the games in the collection are going to win any game of the year awards, make anyone cry from the sheer beauty or change your life forever, but I had a good time playing them with my brother like we did when we were younger. You know, a time before you'd think a game was "bad" just because the general consensus told you to do so. Unless that general consensus happened to be your older brother, then you'd hate the game if you knew what was good for you.

The reason I enjoy the collection so much, even much more then Sega Genesis Collection, is that I don't all ready own these games. I've played stuff like Comix Zone, Sonic 2 and Ecco the Dolphin to death. Not that they aren't great games, but you just want a little something extra in a compilation disc every now and then. That being said, I can't help but think this collection would have been better received had Sega included the true Arcade counter parts as unlockables. Maybe this would have softened the blow of realizing all the titles are budget Japanese remakes. Perhaps the sheer audacity of calling the collection 'Classic' is what gained all the bad reviews? Let's pretend for a second that the title is actually 'Sega Ages Collection.' Suddenly a mere twenty dollars for 10 import PS2 games is a great deal.

The games just aren't the same versions as before. That's the only real downside to the title. The games are honestly lots of fun and If you know what to expect Sega Classics Collection is a great value. Think of it this way: all the games here are well worth two dollars each (I actually played two dollars for the whole collection) whether or not the games are true "classics" in any sense of the word.

- Gill Figno