It's the one with Sonic CD, Sonic R, Sonic Fighters and the Game Gear Sonics. I'm thinking about picking this up but would like to hear some opinions beforehand. So, how good is the emulation?
Sonic CD and R are a port of the PC versions, so you are getting the better version of Sonic R, but the OK version of Sonic CD. Sonic R also runs faster and looks much better (Not to mention has all the PC game options) then the Saturn version, so Emulation on that part is good. Fighters emulation seems fine, no major slowdown. Gamegear games run fine, but they were never meant to run on a TV, so it looks weird. In general, you are getting a pretty good deal if you never played the 3. It won't last you very long, but a good deal if you get it on sale.
Sonic CD is pretty damned good here but the Game Gear games are pretty worthless BUT if you get the Japanese version you get all 3 Streets of Rage games.........so it's win win win
Ah, thanks! That helps. About the Game Gear ones, are there any display options, i.e. filters, display size, etc? While the Mega collection is pretty cheap over here the price for "Gems" is not as low as for the US or Europe versions (as seen on ebay). A lot of Gamecube games are still pricier than I had expected. Oh yeah, forgot about Street of Rage. That's nice too. Seems to be a good set after all.
Yeah, they use the exact same emulator SADX uses for GG games, so there are two modes: Small boxed view, and one that fills up the entire screen). However, the games are easier since you can now use save states.
only problem being that unlike the ps2 version, the GC cant output below 480 lines. Also, the controller isn't ideal - no idea if the hori fighting ontroller helps though. other than that, Sonic CD speaks for itself.
The version of Sonic R included as part of the Gems Collection isn't actually emulated, but was ported from the PC release by just one (very talented) person who even managed to improve on that once-definitive edition's draw distance, making it possibly the most complete take on this game you can get for any system - unless somebody else feels like updating or even rewriting the PC code for more recent technology, that is! On the subject of Sonic R, is it true that the GameCube release features a four-player split screen option? I may have to track that one down if this is the case, and to clarify Sonic The Fighters runs under the same Model 2 emulator that Sega had created for certain titles in its AGES 2500 budget series (such as VF2, which had certain portions remade due to the source material allegedly going missing and some elements not being compatible with the newer hardware). As for Sonic CD, why did PAL territories have to suffer with the US soundtrack? I know both different sets of BGM exist on the disc, but does anybody know how to switch them? Even with my PS2 set to English, I'm forced to play this classic with the sound muted because I simply cannot tolerate Sega Of America's butcher-job...
It's called lazy localization. Basicly they just took the american version and converted it to pal. In all honesty Cez see if you can get the jpn version. It's got the jpn/pal music for sonic cd and has bonanza bros and all three streets of rage as unlockables.
Sonic Fighters gets really boring really fast. Hasn't aged well. Graphics have a cool blocky look tho.
Sonic The Fighters hasn't stood the test of time very well, and to be honest the idea was never really worth making into a standalone game - why didn't AM2 just go with its original (and accidental) concept of including Sonic as a hidden character in Fighting Vipers? As with Fighting Vipers, much of Sonic The Fighters is built around an upgraded version of the Virtua Fighter 2 engine, which explains various similarities including the "blocky" look mentioned before.
EMULATE....of course I'm not encouraging piracy but you can find purer examples of the games on the internet. This is perhaps most relevant to Sonic CD, the PAL/J soundtrack is not only superior in the way it sounds but also due to the way it compliments the pace and style of the gameplay.
I bought it when it came out. Sonic CD was great. Sonic R was the butchered PC version (missing effects, worse controls, loading screens between each menu, etc.), though the draw distance is vastly improved. Sonic Fighters as others have said hasn't aged well. The others I didnt bother with.
