The SEGA Mega Drive is still worth caring about

The SEGA Mega Drive, or also known as the SEGA Genesis, was originally released in 1990. The console went on to being one of the greatest video game consoles of its day.

This is due to the fact that it housed many great classics like Sonic The Hedgehog, Earthworm Jim, Alex the Kidd and more. It went on to selling over 35 million units during its time on the market.

If you have not heard, the SEGA Mega Drive is now available in South Africa as AtGames have developed their own version of the classic console, and have released it here.

Apex Interactive sent me one to play with for a few days, which got me thinking; why should we still care about this console when there are PCs, PS4s, and mobile gaming devices?

From the moment I turned it on, it was apparent that this is nostalgia at its greatest. Forget the PlayStation Store and its over-priced PS2 classics “re-built” for the PS4.

Forget an emulator on your PC or mobile device which could play these exact games found on this model. The SEGA Mega Drive is the closest you are going to get to the experience which you had as a child with the hardware and software that comes with it.

The console has a couple of fantastic games built-in, which will keep you busy for ages. The system uses classic controllers which mimic the same design as the release model.

Although they feel a little cheap, they still manage to bring out the most of the classic feel when used. Remember when controllers has cords? Well at least the classic model has got rid of them, which means they take AAA batteries.

The classic console also has a cartridge slot for those who may still have a few games around their house, although 25 years later I highly doubt that anyone would have these around.

Playing through the games was fun, although at times I could not help but feel that the hardware and software is extremely dated. This adds to the classic gaming experience you would expect from such a system.

But coming from a Windows 10 PC and PS4, it took time to adjust to the poor frame rate and controls. The console also feels like it battles to keep up at times.

Now I am sure the same issue was present back in the 90s, but surely there has to have been some sort of hardware tweak that could improve on the frame rate.

Saying that, the specs of this model are not clear so I can’t tell you if it’s just emulated via software, or if it actually running on the SEGA Mega Drive bios.

Enough about the hardware, the experience is all you should worry about as the console manages to bring to life the classic gaming nostalgia we all long for every now and then.

Games are still as great as you remember them, Sonic and Alex Kidd still bring all those intense moments back to life and Mortal Kombat is still better than the one we play today.

Although the built-in library has been padded with some rather lacklustre titles, there are a couple cult classics which you will love.

Is the SEGA Mega Drive still relevant? It is hard to say. Sure it defined gaming back in the 90s and it gave birth to many of the franchises we still love today.

This console, however, is built for those who either want to collect actual SEGA Mega Drive catridges, or have a soft spot for a certain title which they want to play again.

The SEGA Mega Drive is still worth caring about, but not as much as you would a PC or PS4. The model out in SA is for an acquired taste as it lacks a few titles which have been fan favourites for years like Earthworm Jim.

You will play a few games and then switch if off, only to return when you have some friends over or just feel like playing an old game.

With that said, if you believe that you need to own this classic piece of history, then you should go ahead as it will surely bring back some memories.

It is something neat to own, although you will never fully utilise it as much as your current gaming hardware.