SEGA seems to be upping its game with its recent announcement of a brand new online hub where you can log in and play some of the greatest Megadrive games from yesteryear. SEGA removed a whole wave of sub-par ports from iOS about a year ago and promised to do better and this seems to be a part of that promise. They are promising that Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2 and Revenge of the Shinobi will be emulated perfectly to replicate the original machine. In SEGA's own words:
The SEGA Mega Drive Classics Hub will be launching on Steam April 28th as a free update & there's no need to purchase games you already own on Steam to use it!
The new-look system is based on a bedroom of an early nineties SEGA fan with dynamic time-of-day conditions, retro SEGA paraphernalia, a shelf full of MEGA Drive games (including the ones you own) and of course a CRT TV! That’s not all, every single MEGA Drive game will now feature Steam Workshop support allowing you share modified versions of your favourite retro SEGA titles!
In addition to these new features, the new SEGA Mega Drive Hub also includes:
- Spot-on emulation
- Local co-op for games that support it
- Optional graphic enhancement filters
- The ability to save at any point in the gameplay
- Full controller / keyboard support
The list of games available are:
Golden Axe™
Altered Beast™
Comix Zone™
Ecco the Dolphin™
Gain Ground™
Shinobi™ III: Return of the Ninja Master
Vectorman™
Crack Down™
Shadow Dancer™
Space Harrier™ II
Ecco™ Jr.
Alex Kidd™ in the Enchanted Castle
Bonanza Bros.™
Super Thunder Blade™
Kid Chameleon™
Ristar™
Galaxy Force II™
Columns™
Eternal Champions™
Fatal Labyrinth™
Bio-Hazard Battle™
Columns™ III
Sword of Vermilion™
Virtua Fighter™ 2
Ecco™: The Tides of Time
Alien Storm
Decap Attack™
Flicky™
ESWAT™: City Under Siege
Golden Axe™ II
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
Shining Force
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Streets of Rage 2
Alien Soldier
Light Crusader
Gunstar Heroes
Streets of Rage
Shining Force II
Shining in the Darkness
Beyond Oasis
Dynamite Headdy
Golden Axe III
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Streets of Rage 3
Revenge of the Shinob
Vectorman 2
Wonder Boy in Monster World
All in all this seems to be a step in the right direction and alongside the 3D remakes being released for the Nintendo 3DS, it finally seems like SEGA is getting its act together... about time for a company with a marvelous gaming legacy.