I really enjoyed my Sega Saturn and absolutely loved my Dreamcast, but oddly enough, I never owned a Genesis.  I figured I'd get some old school gaming goodness at a reasonable price by picking up Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.  There are a few games that are relatively fun.  I've actually played the old Sonic games before (who hasn't?) and those are still kinda fun.  However, most of the games on this collection just aren't doing it for me at all.  I'm not judging them by today's standards.  I can't imagine a lot of them being any good even 15-20 yrs. ago.  On the other hand, I can still pick up and play countless SNES games and have a blast.  Sorry all you Genesis fans.  I'm just not feeling it.  Give me the Ultimate Saturn Collection, the Ultimate Dreamcast Collection or an Ultimate AM2 Collection full of Arcade titles.  Anybody else around here just playing a lot of these for the first time?

Well, although there are many great games in it, lots are bad as well. I believe the collection only contains games made by Sega, so many classics are missing.

Wow really? Vector Man, Comix Zone, Phantasy Star IV, Shining Force, Ninja Gaiden III, Streets of Rage 2, Beyond Oasis, Dynamite Headdy, Gain Ground, Space Harrier, Sonic Spinball? None of those are doing anything for you?

Oh god dude, Dynamite Headdy is shit. I think Flicky is awesome though.

Of course these games have been aging for quite a while, and without any nostalgia you might not find them as good. I'm sure you wouldn't think as highly of some of those NES games if you wern't playing them as a kid.

Just one little problem: that's not true. Plunk anyone new to gaming (which you pretty much have anymore if you want to truly be free of bias) in front of these games, and you'll keep hearing the same stories we said when we were little: how great these games are, even -especially?- in comparison to what came later. But then, this is to be expected, since they haven't spent as much time under the shower of marketing Kool-Aid.

Graphics and pop-culture references age. Good games do not.

Uhh, yea, good games can age. You mean to tell me every game we thought was good as a child is good now? Doubtful. Some of the games I loved as a child, but my friends can't get into them. I completely understand it.

This package has the original Shinobi on it, and other arcade games for you. Sorry it isn't for you. For some of us, it is something. Streets of Rage (1 and 2), all the Phantasy Stars and others all say hello, and are enjoyable.

If someone says Streets of Rage wasn't ever any good, I have to question that in a SERIOUS way. Same with Columns. And if they are disappointing, I would through a bunch of the SNES games in the same boat.

Dude, Shining Force 1 and 2 are downright fantastic games. Sharp, colourful graphics for the time. Simple, yet enjoyable combat system, and an overall addictive nature to both games.

I must have played through both of them 5+ times back in the day.

agreed 100 times over.  These games still top my list of favorite games.  downright amazing, and shining force 3 was one of those rare gems on the saturn... if only they would port those last 2 scenario's stateside...