Sega Nerds

Mini Retro Review - Sega Classics Collection (PS2)

by Warren on May 30th, 2007

It’s hard to believe a game from 2005 falls into the Retro Review section, but then again, it is 2007, 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, (I can’t afford anything on PS3) 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 been recreated from the ground up with a low budget in mind and it shows, unfortunately.

Golden Axe’s sprites have been replaced with low-polygon models. Outrun’s backgrounds are fully rendered in three glorious, low-budget dimensions. So when the game was initially released, the key issue in most reviews was “Not Outrun! You don’t mess with Outrun!” or some nonsense about the reveiwer’s dislike of “modernizing” the games. While the graphics are the worst aspect of the game, they have definitely been upgraded in Classics Collection. So if you have trouble accepting any changes to old games, this is your worst nightmare.

No game in this set is 100-percent arcade accurate. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not a bad thing, though. They’re still fun games, and Alien Syndrome is a better game then the original as far as I’m concerned.

When multiplayer takes place, this game excels. Monaco GP, Virtua Racing, Golden Axe and Bonanza Brothers are still fun, remakes or not. Tant R is a great four-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 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 than Sega Genesis Collection, is that I don’t already 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, ya know?

That being said, I can’t help but think this collection would have been better received had Sega included the true arcade counterparts 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 $20 for 10 import PS2 games is a great value.

Summary 

The real downside to Sega Classics Collection is the games just aren’t the same versions as before. However, the games are honestly lots of fun, and if you know what to expect it’s a great value. Think of it this way - all the games here are well worth $2 each (I actually payed $2 for the whole collection) whether or not the games are true “classics” in any sense of the word.

7/10

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POSTED IN: Retro, Review, Sony PlayStation 2