Sega 3D Classics Collection Review: Must-See Details & Screenshots

If you came of age as a gamer in the 1980s or 90s, Sega was probably one of your first loves. The games have lived on over the past couple decades in the form of rereleases and emulators, but they have been tough to come by on their most natural platform, the 3DS. That changes with the release of Sega 3D Classics Collection, which rounds up several of the best old-school Sega games in one package. The games play as well as they ever did, and look better than before thanks to subtle 3D shading on Nintendo’s handheld.
Game: Sega 3D Classics Collection
Consoles: 3DS (reviewed)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Release Date: April 26
Nine games are included from the get-go, and there is also a 10th that’s unlockable. They come from the Master System (1986-1992) and Genesis (1989-1998), and represent a lineup close to the founding fathers of old-school Sega gamedom. You get Altered Beast, Fantasy Zone II, Fantasy Zone II W, Galaxy Force II, Maze Walker, Power Drift, Puyo Puyo 2, Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunderblade at the start. Meet certain requirements (no spoilers here) and you can also shake free the original Fantasy Zone.
There’s not a rotten game in that bunch, although there was so much good stuff available that it’s natural to look over what’s included and long for what is missing. Past Sega roundups, such as Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, boasted essential classics such as the Phantasy Star and Streets of Rage series. Since games from those days took up so little memory, leaving them out seems like a cynical move to save some stuff for the inevitable follow-up.

The presentation of each game is pixel-perfect, and the decision to not go all-out with 3D, but instead use it as something of a highlighter to add an extra sheen, pays off. Games play out like animated dioramas, with colorful backgrounds popping thanks to the 3D, while the hero and enemy sprites stand out in the forefront, making it easier to focus on the action and separate it from the rest of the visuals. Sega could have taken another step, though, to better utlize the bottom screen, which is reserved as a title and touch-to-pause function. A scroll of  trivia, instruction manual or behind-the-scenes videos would have deepened the sense of history and nostalgia surrounding the games in the collection.

Anthologies of great games are nearly always solid value for the money, and Sega 3D Classics Collection qualifies as a steal, despite some of its omissions and its failure to use the 3DS touch screen in a meaningful way. If you’ve always wanted to go back and conquer some of the games that tormented you in your youth, this is as great a chance to do that as you’re ever likely to have. Jumping through rings as Sonic, bashing mythological creatures heads in in Altered Beast and zooming through space in Galaxy Force II are all just as fun as they were decades ago, and they doubtless will remain as addictive decades into the future. They sure don’t make ’em like this anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s590J_s05M

ORDER: Sega 3D Classics Collection here

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Sega 3D Classics Collection Reviews Around The Web:

“The emulators’ robust feature set and extremely well implemented 3D make these games feel like much more than re-releases of old games.” –Nintendo Life
“A great value package, full of worthy games that look and play wonderfully on the 3DS.” –God is a Geek
“Sega 3D Classics Collection is an uneven package.” –Destructoid

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Sega 3D Classics Collection Screenshots

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The publisher provided a review copy.