Sega Mega Drive Mini Released Today -- And It Looks Pretty Amazing

There's a new tiny console in town and it's ready to be gift wrapped in time for Christmas.

And just like September, the Sega Mega Drive Mini has arrived out of nowhere and too quickly. But it promises to be that blast from the past that gamers have grown to love -- in lock-step with other popular similar devices like the mini SNES and the Mario NES mini.

It's a great concept and really cool to see more retro consoles coming out like this one. If nothing else, this little console should provide heaping piles of nostalgia as some of us re-live out teenage conquests. Or elementary school conquests. And sometimes dorm room conquests. Now I feel old.

But there's a lot to look forward to in this micro system. For one, the lineup of games is excellent. Like... seriously. Contra? Sonic? Earthworm Jim? Street Fighter? Echo the Dolphin? Even Phantasy Star and Beyond Oasis get their day. The full list of games below:

1.      Sonic The Hedgehog
2.      Ecco the Dolphin
3.      Castlevania: Bloodlines
4.      Space Harrier 2
5.      Shining Force
6.      Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
7.      ToeJam & Earl
8.      Comix Zone
9.      Altered Beast
10.     Gunstar Heroes
11.     Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
12.     World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
13.     Thunder Force III
14.     Super Fantasy Zone
15.     Shinobi III
16.     Streets of Rage 2
17.     Earthworm Jim
18.     Sonic The Hedgehog 2
19.     Contra: Hard Corps
20.     Landstalker
21.     Mega Man: The Wily Wars
22.     Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition
23.     Ghouls 'n Ghosts
24.     Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
25.     Beyond Oasis
26.     Golden Axe
27.     Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
28.     Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
29.     Vectorman
30.     Wonder Boy in Monster World
31.     Tetris
32.     Darius
33.     Road Rash II
34.     Strider
35.     Virtua Fighter 2
36.     Alisia Dragoon
37.     Kid Chameleon
38.     Monster World IV
39.     Eternal Champions
40.     Columns
41.     Dynamite Headdy
42.     Light Crusader

The Mega Drive Mini comes with the above mentioned 42 games preloaded on emulation software modeled after the Genesis Model 1 (the original system launched in 1988 in Japan). It's 55% the size of the original console. It comes with two replica three-button USB Genesis controllers, one USB Micro power cable, and an HDMI cable.

It's worth noting that none of your original controllers or power cables or games -- or really anything -- will work on the Sega Mega Drive Mini. Still, the system is a replica of the original, even including the Mega CD expansion opening and shutting and the cartridge flaps opening and shutting. In fact, you can buy miniature cartridges (that don't work -- mind you -- but do look pretty cool) from various retailers to make your Sega feel as real as the original.

You can buy the Sega Mega Drive Mini for around 79.99 USD and it should be out and available everywhere today. All the reviews we've read look pretty strong and it seems like SEGA did a pretty solid job on this one, especially considering some of the cult classic hits they included. We can't wait to try one ourselves!