SUGC Sells, Rates Well
Tristan Oliver | February 16, 2009
Promising Numbers Despite Fan Criticism
The lack of lock-on between Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles–and more recently, Sega’s explanation of why it was left out–had many in the Sonic fan community venting both on our story and at community forums about Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, recently released for XBOX360 and the Playstation 3. Those familiar with emulation set out to show just how easy it is to combine the two games, assuming Sega is using the same emulation techniques.
But all of that frustration may be trumped, as it appears Sega’s strategy for the game has been vindicated by early positive reviews, and indications of strong sales.
Early Metacritic averages for SUGC show a score of 87 out of 100. That figure is derived from two scores that round out to 8 out of 10 from GameDaily and Games Radar, and two scores of that are equivalent to 9 out of 10 from big names–IGN and GamePro.
GamePro’s review, in part, took another jab at Sonic Unleashed:
All in all, Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection is an extremely solid assemblage of some of the Genesis’ greatest hits, and with extras and achievements, hidden interviews and an entire museum of concept art thrown in for good measure, it’s definitely worth a look from old school gamers looking to re-live the glory days when a hedgehog didn’t need a lame Werehog gimmick to prove that he was the baddest mascot around.
Those positive reviews are translating into promising sales figures for North America. A Gamasutra report, citing figures from Amazon.com, put SUGC in the top spot for sales for last week for the Playstation 3, beating out LittleBigPlanet and Grand Theft Auto IV, among other big names. On the XBOX360 side, the compilation is #3 on the charts, below Halo 3 but beating out Left 4 Dead and Gears of War 2.
With all the hubbub surrounding Sega’s rationale for leaving out Sonic 3 and Knuckles, we want to know if you think Sega deserves all this praise for Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, both in the press and at the cash register. Sound off in the comments section below.
Filed Under Gaming News, Sega
the games cool but sonic 3 special stage controls suck
It may not have S3&K in it but it’s a Sega Genesis Collection, not a Sonic collection (Despite what the awful title suggests). However I think more people would have preferred Sonic 3 and Knuckles locked on in the end over Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles as individual games.
PJMan: I think its okay that Sonic 3 & Knuckles isn’t in their, I wasn’t really good at the old Sonic games anyway, but I enjoyed them. It’ll tick off some of the “old-school” fans, but it seems a solid collection overall. Funny that some people assume its only full of old Sonic titles.
It’s pretty obvious that sites like Gamepro would prefer 30 remakes of Sonic 1-3&K
@Sonic41: Actually I own a genesis and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. So I know I don’t care. However I bought this to enjoy the games I would have never otherwise gone out and purchased. It’s a very good collection and gives me a chance to try some great (and awful… I’m looking at you Fatal Labrynth) games for the first time
heh, This game made me fall in love with Alien Storm and Beyond Oasis.
sheesh the werehog may even make the critics forget sonic 06…. well I guess sega asked for it.
I would really like to get my hands on this game! It would be fantastic to play the originals again! It’s been so long! I can’t remember half of the level names 0.o could play online I’ve heard but I think I’ll wait to play them on the big screen :ED
Just make sure not to play them with the filter in 16:9 mode. Looks awful.
I don’t care if you say these games are in HD. Unless you redraw them, these games look just the way they would the day they came out. You can’t make a pixel look better.
So it’s selling well then… Meh, whatever. I’m still not buying Sonic 1, 3, etc. for the 2nd time and Sonic 2 for the 3rd.
Sonic-wise, Sega needs to learn that there are so many Sonic collections out there along with this gadget called an “emulator” that soon all the people who are Sonic fans will have the Genesis games. Me? I never had a Genesis, and yet I’ve got Sonic 1, 3 (and S&K), etc. on my computer and the Playstation 2, and then Sonic 2 on both those and my Wii.
Soon, if they keep making collections, unless they really focus more or less on games outside of Sonic, it’ll become pointless.