@Damo
I think I was overly optimistic because Amazon.jp still hasn’t shipped my Mini 2 preorder! Its status has been “now shipping” for the past 2 days, but I’m getting nervous as currently it’s no longer an “in stock” item at Amazon. STRESS.
I hope you order is proceeding smoothly, at least.
Edit:
So 2 hours after venting my fears above, I get the shipment notice from Amazon.jp! Whew 😅
Oh wow what a difference! I was excited to hear Producer Okunari-san reveal that the team improved the scaling in this re-release for the MD Mini 2, but just wow!
Plus IIRC, it's supposed to have Space Harrier 1 bundled in with the same smooth scaling.
EDIT:
Yes indeed, per the Spacer Harrier II's description on Sega's Japanese MD Mini 2 website, it does include a smooth-scaling version of the original Space Harrier, too! Here is a quick translation:
What if the Mega Drive had 3D scaling capabilities? This bonus game answers that historical What If question. We resurrected this 3D shooting game and Mega Drive launch title, using new tech to make it more like the arcade experience. Furthermore, we included the original Spacer Harrier, a game considered impossible to port faithfully to the original Mega Drive. You'll now be able to start the game in either Space Harrier or Space Harrier II mode!
This is great news - thanks for the tip! I wasn't even aware Sega was doing this. I'll check out a few while I'm waiting for Amazon Japan to ship my Mini 2.
I saw they still have the original MD Mini manuals posted, too!
This review lured me off of Nintendo Life and over here to Time Extension for the first time. The site is looking good and I really should have visited sooner, as a regular console gamer since the early 80s! It's nice to see familiar faces, @Damo, and many people here in the comments.
My Japanese version is winging its way across the Pacific as we speak. The first MD Mini has been my most-played mini console to date, so I preordered the Mini 2 as soon as I found out M2 was still involved. Watching producer Okunari-san present the several waves of game announcements over the year has really hyped me for what Sega is offering this time.
There are some games on the Western version (Genesis Mini 2) that I'll be missing out on, but either way there are many hours of great games to be enjoyed here. For me, the Jpn version has a great lineup I know I'll enjoy - eclectic choices like Nadia, Harimanada, Majandojo, and Tenka Fubu, some great-looking games like Chelnov, Ranger X, Popful Mail, and the Lunar RPGs, and some dearly-missed games from my teen years like Granada, Final Fight CD, and Silpheed.
So much good gaming on its way, so little time to play it all!
I procrastinated about preordering from Amazon Japan for months, then Strictly Limited emailed that they opened their preorders, and I finally decided to splurge.
The mini cab was just too cute to resist. And I'm really looking forward to playing the Arkanoid games properly, with a spinner. I remember Rastan and Bubble Bobble fondly, too, and QIX was probably my most-played Gameboy game, back in the day.
Definitely an impulse buy for me, but the package just appealed to me more than, say, a PS4 and a few used games would.
I preordered my Mega Drive Mini direct from Amazon JP with my US credit card. It arrived last Saturday and I've been enjoying it at home quite a bit! My main reasons for choosing the Japan version over the US Genesis version were the JPN exclusives like Assault Suit Leynos, MUSHA, and Revenge of Shinobi. Although, oddly enough I've played more Road Rash 2 than anything else!
The 6-button controllers are neat but I haven't played SFII yet and so haven't even used that upper row of buttons.
The console's default display language is Japanese, but switch it to English and it shows the US versions of the game cases in the library screen as well as letting you play US versions of each game (i.e. play Target Earth instead of Leynos). That feature was really a classy inclusion by Sega and M2. Overall, super happy with this purchase!
Comments 106
Re: Review: Mega Drive / Genesis Mini 2 - Sega's Sequel Scores CD Support
@Damo
I think I was overly optimistic because Amazon.jp still hasn’t shipped my Mini 2 preorder! Its status has been “now shipping” for the past 2 days, but I’m getting nervous as currently it’s no longer an “in stock” item at Amazon. STRESS.
I hope you order is proceeding smoothly, at least.
Edit:
So 2 hours after venting my fears above, I get the shipment notice from Amazon.jp! Whew 😅
Re: Space Harrier II Shows Huge Improvement On Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Mini 2
Oh wow what a difference! I was excited to hear Producer Okunari-san reveal that the team improved the scaling in this re-release for the MD Mini 2, but just wow!
Plus IIRC, it's supposed to have Space Harrier 1 bundled in with the same smooth scaling.
EDIT:
Yes indeed, per the Spacer Harrier II's description on Sega's Japanese MD Mini 2 website, it does include a smooth-scaling version of the original Space Harrier, too! Here is a quick translation:
Re: Sega Publishes Game Manuals For Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Mini 2 Titles Online
This is great news - thanks for the tip! I wasn't even aware Sega was doing this. I'll check out a few while I'm waiting for Amazon Japan to ship my Mini 2.
I saw they still have the original MD Mini manuals posted, too!
Re: Review: Mega Drive / Genesis Mini 2 - Sega's Sequel Scores CD Support
This review lured me off of Nintendo Life and over here to Time Extension for the first time. The site is looking good and I really should have visited sooner, as a regular console gamer since the early 80s!
It's nice to see familiar faces, @Damo, and many people here in the comments.
My Japanese version is winging its way across the Pacific as we speak. The first MD Mini has been my most-played mini console to date, so I preordered the Mini 2 as soon as I found out M2 was still involved. Watching producer Okunari-san present the several waves of game announcements over the year has really hyped me for what Sega is offering this time.
There are some games on the Western version (Genesis Mini 2) that I'll be missing out on, but either way there are many hours of great games to be enjoyed here. For me, the Jpn version has a great lineup I know I'll enjoy - eclectic choices like Nadia, Harimanada, Majandojo, and Tenka Fubu, some great-looking games like Chelnov, Ranger X, Popful Mail, and the Lunar RPGs, and some dearly-missed games from my teen years like Granada, Final Fight CD, and Silpheed.
So much good gaming on its way, so little time to play it all!
Re: Hardware: The Taito Egret II Mini Is A Doorway Into True Gaming History
I procrastinated about preordering from Amazon Japan for months, then Strictly Limited emailed that they opened their preorders, and I finally decided to splurge.
The mini cab was just too cute to resist. And I'm really looking forward to playing the Arkanoid games properly, with a spinner. I remember Rastan and Bubble Bobble fondly, too, and QIX was probably my most-played Gameboy game, back in the day.
Definitely an impulse buy for me, but the package just appealed to me more than, say, a PS4 and a few used games would.
Re: Hardware Review: Should You Import The Japanese Mega Drive Mini?
I preordered my Mega Drive Mini direct from Amazon JP with my US credit card. It arrived last Saturday and I've been enjoying it at home quite a bit! My main reasons for choosing the Japan version over the US Genesis version were the JPN exclusives like Assault Suit Leynos, MUSHA, and Revenge of Shinobi. Although, oddly enough I've played more Road Rash 2 than anything else!
The 6-button controllers are neat but I haven't played SFII yet and so haven't even used that upper row of buttons.
The console's default display language is Japanese, but switch it to English and it shows the US versions of the game cases in the library screen as well as letting you play US versions of each game (i.e. play Target Earth instead of Leynos). That feature was really a classy inclusion by Sega and M2.
Overall, super happy with this purchase!