Mega Drive Mini 2

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Mega Drive Mini 2
Manufacturer: Sega, M2
Distributor: Amazon
Built-in games: 60
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥9,980 (10,978)9,980e
CERO: C
Sega Mega Drive
JP
(Genesis) 		¥9,980 (10,978)9,980e
CERO: C
Sega Mega Drive
US
ESRB: Teen

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The Mega Drive Mini 2 (メガドライブミニ2), sold in North America as the Sega Genesis Mini 2, is a miniature Sega Mega Drive 2 console with 60 built-in Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD games. It was released in October 2022 in Japan as a successor to the Mega Drive Mini.

Hardware

As a successor to the original Mega Drive Mini, the unit is designed to resemble the Sega Mega Drive 2 (or Sega Genesis Model 2) at 55% the size of the original, but is incompatible with any of the original games or controllers, relying solely on its built-in library of emulated games and slots for two USB peripherals. Video is output at 720p 60Hz via HDMI.

The hardware for the Mega Drive Mini 2 is largely the same as its predecessor, though with larger internal storage to include Mega-CD games. Much like its predecessor, Sega acquired the rights to feature games by a variety of third-party publishers in the Mega Drive Mini 2, including the likes of Game Arts, Namco, Capcom, Interplay, Electronic Arts and Taito.

The original plan was to create an entirely new mini console, though parts shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic led to those plans being shelved and the Mega Drive Mini 2 to be made instead. This also resulted in a smaller production run than the Mega Drive Mini, as well as limited retail distribution through Amazon.

All models, including the Western model, include only one USB Six Button Control Pad, though all controllers manufactured for the Mega Drive Mini are also compatible. The Western model is also sold in Japan as a separate product.

Technical specifications

  • Output: 1 HDMI port
  • Storage: 8 GB NAND flash
  • Other: 2 USB controller ports

Features

The Mega Drive Mini 2 presents the user with a graphical interface displaying the covers of every game included on the system. Ten covers are displayed on the screen at a time, but the user can choose to display all games at once by pressing B, displaying their spines. The games can even be sorted alphabetically, by release date, by genre, by the number of supported players, or have Mega-CD games listed first. The menu music is once again composed by Yuzo Koshiro.

Changing the system language in the settings menu will also change the menu interface to match the selected language, changing to a Japanese Mega Drive-themed menu for Japanese, and a Genesis-themed menu for English. Most of the covers will also change to match those of the respective region, and alternate regional versions of the games can be played, however not all games have an alternate regional variant available and will remain the same.

During a game, the user can call up System Menu at any time. From this menu, the user can save their progress to a savestate, with each game supporting up to four savestates.

The settings menu gives the user the ability to alter the display in various ways. Games can be displayed in a 4:3 aspect ratio or they can fill the entire screen, along with an optional CRT filter that blurs the image and displays scanlines. When playing in a 4:3 ratio, the user can choose to have one of two wallpapers displayed around the game screen to fill the blank space. The menu also includes a QR code that takes the user to a site hosting the original game manuals when scanned using a smartphone or tablet. New to the Mega Drive Mini 2 is a setting to choose between emulating the audio output of a Model 1 or Model 2 Mega Drive. Viewing the staff credits will display the boot ROM screens in the background.

List of games

While both editions of the Mega Drive Mini 2 contain 60 games, the lineup has been adjusted to better suit the region. Note that Sangokushi III is listed twice for both versions of the game, though both are officially counted as one game.

Japan

Mega Drive

Mega-CD

* - North American version available.

North America / Europe

Mega Drive

Mega-CD

Production credits

Promotional material

Artwork

Japan

  • Devi to Pii JP cover

  • Fantasy Zone JP cover

  • Futari de Puyo Puyo Sun JP cover

  • Party Quiz Mega Q 2022 JP cover

  • Party Quiz Sega Q JP cover

  • Sanrin San-chan JP cover

  • Space Harrier II JP cover

  • Star Mobile JP cover

  • Super Locomotive JP cover

  • Viewpoint JP cover

North America

  • Devi & Pii US cover

  • Fantasy Zone US cover

  • OutRun US cover

  • Rainbow Islands Extra US cover

  • Space Harrier II US cover

  • Spatter US cover

  • Star Mobile US cover

  • Super Hang-On US cover

  • Super Locomotive US cover

  • VS Puyo Puyo Sun US cover

Physical scans

Mega Drive, JP

Mega Drive, US

External links

  • Official website: JP, US

References


Mega Drive Mini 2
Versions | Comparisons | Hidden content | Development | Merchandise
Six Button Control Pad | Cyber Stick | Mega Drive Tower Mini 2 | Mega Drive Mini 2 Carrying Case
Book
 Mega Drive Mini 2 Perfect Book (2022)
Music
 Mega Drive Mini 2: Celebration Album (2022) | Mega Drive Mini 2: Multiverse Sound World (2022)
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