While retro gaming has always had a huge following, things really got kicked off when Nintendo dropped both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Classics. Since then, even casual gamers have been slowly coming around and releasing that a game doesn’t have to be the latest and greatest to be fun.
Which means the retro scene has gotten even larger! That all said, we figured we help those who are just getting starting some information on several retro consoles that have either been released this year or will be later this year.
Because you can never have too many retro consoles, right?
Mega SG
Brought to by the Analogue, the same company gave us the Super NT (Super Nintendo) retro console. The Mega SG is able to play both the Sega Genesis/Mega CD and Sega Master System titles with the use of an adapter. With a Game Gear and several other adapters coming in the future. Similar to the Sega Powerbase Adapter. Capable of using the original Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controllers or the 8bitdo M30 2.4g.
The beauty of this system is unlike other retro consoles, the Mega SG emulates games via actual hardware. It’s as close as you can get to the original console, and it plays near identical. It even works with the Sega CD, if you have one laying around.
Analog promises that the Mega SG has zero lag, offers a ton of different filters/options and is faithful to the original Genesis. It also outputs to 1080p via HDMI.
The downside is you’ll need to own the carts to play them and at least for now, you can’t load ROMs onto the Mega SG. However, I don’t expect that to last for long as the Super NT was also the same. Which eventually was jailbroken, allowing it to play ROMs via SD cards.
The Mega SG is available now as a pre-order, priced at $190.
PolyMega
Ah, the PolyMega, and the only retro console that I am super-excited for. Why? Well, for starters this is the only retro console that will let you play both CD and cartridges. This is all due to the modular design of the system and the software-based emulation. At launch, there will be several modules that will let you play games for the following systems.
- Sega Saturn – Yes, I’m not kidding you.
- PlayStation
- Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
- Sega CD / Mega CD
- Sega 32X
- NeoGeo CD
- Turbografx 16 / PC Engine
- Turbografx CD / PC Engine CD
- NES / Famicom
- Super NES / Super Famicom
This means that we’ll have a system that’s capable of playing the arcade perfect ports of XMEN vs. Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Virtua Fighter 2, as well as the much sought after Panzer Dragoon Saga. Though, good luck finding that last title for cheap.
The PolyMega will also let you rip games right from your cart/CDs. That way you won’t need to scramble to find when you want to play your games. Should you not already have those games, you’ll be able to download from the PolyMega store. Which cartridge games starting at $3.99, and CD games starting at $5.99.
Sadly, the pre-orders are also over. So if you missed out (Like I did) you’ll have to wait until stores start to carry this system. Which is a bit scary. If the demand isn’t there, there won’t be enough systems to go around and we quite possibly could miss out on this. No word if PolyMega will sell them directly from their website or not.
Needless to say, I’m really really looking forward to the PolyMega. More information for the system can be found here.
Sega Genesis Mini
The newcomer to the list and a system that was only just announced. Being developed by Sega’s M2 team, don’t confuse this for atrocious ATGames Sega Genesis Flashback HD. It’s going to be far better than this. Sega Genesis Mini will release with the 3-button Genesis controller, HDMI output, save state support and will include 40 games. So far we only know about the following titles;
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Space Harrier 2
- Shining Force
- Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
- ToeJam & Earl
- Comix Zone
- Altered Beast
- Gunstar Heroes
It goes without saying that this will likely get modded shortly after the release date, so expect this thing to fly off the shelves.
The Sega Genesis Mini will be available this September 2019, for $79.99 in North America. It’s also currently available for pre-order at Gamestop and Walmart.
