Highlights from the 16-bit cartridge catalog include ClayFighter, Earthworm Jim 2, Fatal Fury 2, OutRun, Super Street Fighter II, Super Hang On, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron, Virtua Racing and After Burner II. Curated games from the Sega CD library include Sonic CD, Ecco the Dolphin, Ecco: The Tides of Time, Final Fight CD and the FMV classic Night Trap. Seven bonus titles also come bundled with the console, most of which are ported from other systems or were never released. It’s impossible to please everyone but it feels as though Sega has done an above-average job with its game selection. I was a bit down on the partial game selection that Sega previously revealed but the full collection has really come together. NBA Jam and General Chaos would have pushed it over the top for me, but we can all dream. The inclusion of Sega CD titles is particularly intriguing as the introductory $299 price tag of the add-on optical disc hardware prevented many from enjoy these titles in the 90s. The console started life as a Japan-only project – the Mega Drive Mini 2 – but eventually decided to make a model for sale in North America. Unfortunately, the global semiconductor shortage limited Sega’s ability to manufacture the machine. As such, Genesis Mini 2 consoles manufactured will only equal one-tenth the total production of the original Genesis Mini. I am still holding out hope that Sega will reconsider making a Dreamcast or Saturn miniature console.

Games List

After Burner 2 Alien Soldier Atomic Runner Bonanza Bros. ClayFighter Crusader of Centy Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf Earthworm Jim 2 Elemental Master Fatal Fury 2 Gain Ground Golden Axe 2 Granada Hellfire Herzog Zwei Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar Midnight Resistance OutRun OutRunners Phantasy Star 2 Populous Rainbow Islands Extra Ranger-X Ristar Rolling Thunder 2 Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi Shining Force 2 Shining in the Darkness Sonic 3D Blast Splatterhouse 2 Streets of Rage 3 Super Hang-On Super Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers The Ooze The Revenge of Shinobi ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron Truxton VectorMan 2 Viewpoint Virtua Racing Warsong Ecco the Dolphin (Sega CD version) Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega CD version) Final Fight CD Mansion of Hidden Souls Night Striker Night Trap Robo Aleste Sewer Shark Shining Force CD Silpheed Sonic The Hedgehog CD The Ninja Warriors Devi & Pii Fantasy Zone Space Harrier II (+Space Harrier) Spatter Star Mobile Super Locomotive VS Puyo Puyo Sun