The Mega Drive Mini is out on the 4th October 2019 in the UK and will most likely be an ideal stocking filler for big kids over 30.
Sega have done a one up over Nintendo and included double the amount of games for their version of the mini 16-bit Mega Drive but the question is which games should you play first when you unbox the Mega Drive mini?
Mega Drive fans can’t go wrong with these classics that will keep you busy and fill you with instant warm and fuzzy nostalgia before you delve in to the RPG’s included with it.
So, here’s Retroheadz recommendation of the 10 Mega Drive mini games to play first.
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Licensed games especially movie ones are normally rushed affairs that usually leave gamers disappointed.
However, Castle of Illusion is a beautiful platform game that will instantly transport you back to your younger self as you attempt to rescue Minnie Mouse from the dastardly witch Esmerelda.
Back in the day this was as close as you could get to being in a Disney cartoon and even today its fun to play.
We also wish that they included the amazing Quackshot but for sheer nostalgia and fun Castle of Illusion is a great way to unlock those hazy memories of your old-skool Mega Drive days.
Gunstar Heroes
Gunstar Heroes is a technical marvel.
It’s an insane Run & Gun from the famous Japanese developers, Treaure and is a game that took the humble Mega Drive to new heights.
It’s bright, colourful and unrelenting in its action packed levels and big boss fights. Luckily you have a whole host of weapons in your arsenal (which you’ll need) and is a joy to play once you get the hang of it.
Road Rash 2
We loved the original Road Rash but Road Rash 2 took the series to new heights with more bike to buy and the introduction of the nitro class of bikes made us all drool with anticipation when it arrived back in 1992.
The game is still great fun to play and will still have you shouting at the screen when you go over a crest of a hill and collide with an oncoming car or wild animal that is chewing the cud in the middle of the road.
Along with the classic cut scenes and longer harder levels that come along as the game progresses you’ll be instantly hooked again as you aim to buy the Diablo 1000N and literally fly over the hills and with Road Rash 2 you can do it with a mate too. Brilliant!
Golden Axe
Before Streets of Rage came along there was Golden Axe.
The barbarian fantasy-based hack and slash game was a port from the arcades and was great fun when it first came out.
Golden Axe will take you back to that time again when you first had a Mega Drive, especially the early adopters and whilst it has aged a lot, nostalgia will override this.
Kid Chameleon
Kid Chameleon hasn’t aged that well but what it lacks in graphical finesse it makes up for in other ways.
With over 100 levels and the ability to put on new hats to gain new skills to complete the levels it’s a bit cerebral and challenging then your typical platform game. You can read an in-depth review of Kid Chameleon that Retroheadz did here.
Streets of Rage 2
Oh boy!
Streets of Rage 2 is without doubt one of the most memorable games to come out on the Mega Drive. It’s pure class from the way it looks (awesome) to the soundtrack (amazing) and the sheer fun and replay-ability it has (tons).
This was the Mega Drive at it peak and it shows it and once you load it you’ll be instantly hooked again.
Want to know more? Read Retroheadz review of Streets of Rage 2 to find out why it’s worthy of your precious time.
Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master
Shinobi 3 is pretty awesome, it took an age to come out back in the day because it took quite a long time to develop it but once out in the wild it was clear to see a lot had gone in to it and the wait was worth it.
Now you are a button press away from loading up a fantastic looking and technically awesome game.
It’s not the easiest game in the world but the variety of levels, great boss fights and classy feel this game gives out will keep you hooked.
Oh, and when you see the horseback section for the first time in years’ you’ll be amazed that this is running on the humble Mega Drive.
Tetris
Yeah we know it’s just Tetris but this is not any Tetris.
Oh no, this is the rarest game ever on the Mega Drive and its been included on the Mega Drive Mini and you know that once you start it will be hard to put it down.
Just remember there are other games to play on the Mega Drive Mini too including the also addictive Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, also known as Puyo Puyo.
Darius
The Mega Drive was home to quite a few side scrolling Shoot ‘Em Ups and whilst the Mega Drive mini does come with Thunder Force 3 (We prefer Thunder Force 4) it does come with the freshly developed Darius and for this reason will be well worth checking out on day one because it eschew the nostalgia and give you something new and unseen to play on your new favourite mini console.
It could be great, it could be a turkey (we doubt it), no one knows and that’s worth finding out pretty pronto isn’t it?
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
If you are opening your Mega Drive mini on Christmas day then this will literally take you back to Christmas ’92 and all the hype that came with it will instantly flood your memory banks.
Luckily the hype was justified and Sonic 2 in our opinion is the best Sonic game ever made. It has better controls than the first Sonic game and is bright, colorful and is still fantastic fun to play.
There will obviously be a ton of nostalgia mixed in whilst playing it but you won’t feel disappointed or a bit meh, instead you will be taken back to a time when things were simpler and far more fun and that’s priceless in our opinion.
What Mega Drive Mini Games Will You Be Playing?
Which games are you hyped up about playing again? Let us know in the comments below.
