Review: Sega 3D Classics Collection

Not all who wander are classics

When I was growing up, there were Sega kids and Nintendo kids. Initially I was part of the latter clan, before wising up and embracing all walks of gaming. All of those conversations about how Sonic was cooler than Mario, or why “blast processing” was better than the Super FX chip are silly now in hindsight, but it’s fascinating to see how young minds react to certain brands and marketing.

As a result of these shenanigans a lot of you missed out on a number of Sega games, but Sega 3D Classics Collection aims to rectify that.

Sega 3D Classics Collection (3DS)
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: December 23, 2015 (JP), April 26, 2016 (US)
MSRP: $29.99

First, some history! Over in Japan, there are actually two 3D Classics Collections. Originally released in 2014, the first one has a number of popular games that were already released on multiple platforms (Out Run, Streets of Rage, and so on), but the second (the one we’re getting this month, featured here) is partially comprised of titles that have never been released in the US before. If you want the full list, you can find it here.

As you may have surmised, several games have been done to death over in the states, like the first Sonic and Altered Beast. But a few, specifically Puyo Puyo Tsu, Maze Hunter 3-D, and 3D Power Drift, are new localizations, and 3D Fantasy Zone II W has additional content added to it. I’m of two minds with this proposition. On one hand, Sega has released a few of these so many times that I’ve become numb to them.

I just cannot get excited about Sonic 1 when I’ve played it on just about every console and portable ever made, despite the fact that it’s a great platformer that has withstood the test of time. I feel even more apathy for Altered Beast. Several of my colleagues still love it, partially due to nostalgia, but I just cannot defend it. It hasn’t held up (especially here, with the worst 3D effect of them all) and it was debatably notable even at its launch. Thunder Blade (which is already on the 3DS eShop) is a decent action game, but nothing special. The Fantasy Zone series on the other hand (you get both in this collection), was, and always will be, classic. Defining the term “cute ’em up,” they’re lovely shooters with an endearing and timeless art style. I relished the chance to play them again.

So where does that leave the newcomers? All over the place. Maze Hunter 3-D, which reminds me a bit of that ill-fated X-Men NES game. It’s cool to play something I never really knew existed for sure, but that feeling is fleeting, and the definition of “classic” for this one is a stretch. Puyo Puyto Tsu, the second in the series, is the polar opposite. It’s a great representation of a franchise that’s criminally underrepresented in the US, and if you’ve been hearing about Puyo Puyo your entire life without actually having played it, this is a perfect opportunity to do so.

It’s no Out Run, but Power Drift wears its colors as a silly racing game proudly, and is good for a session every now and then. Tracks are more vertical than players are probably used to, and there’s an insane number of them on offer. Galaxy Force, allegedly one of Michael Jackson’s favorite arcade games, is basically unheard of in most gaming circles and was a joy to play for the first time. The environments are insanely detailed, and it gives the original Star Fox a run for its money when it comes to the space shooter genre. You can really see how it influenced Sega’s own Panzer Dragoon series in later years.

It’s really important to note the attention to detail as well. Some of these games were partially recreated, and in the case of Thunder Blade and Galaxy Force II, an entire optional sound set even re-recorded from an original arcade machine in a Sega of Japan’s warehouse. Each game also has a set of in-house options, from multiple control schemes, to difficulty settings, to screen sizes. Power Drift even sports four gear types and every game lets players fully customize every button input. These aren’t just ROMs dumped on a cart and sold for $30.

Sega 3D Classics Collection is an uneven package, but nothing outside of Altered Beast is what I would consider a “bad game.” With several useful features and 3D effects that actually have effort put into them, it was a joy to play some of these for the first time, while reliving some great memories from others. Since the games that are available on 3DS already are generally priced at $6 each, nabbing 10 titles for $30 with a physical box and some extras isn’t a raw deal.