Make Money For Nothing.... LITERALLY!!! (Sega Megadrive)

Member Name: gf6141a20

Product:	Sega Megadrive
Date:	13/05/06 (640 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, cheerful fun for all the family. A great laugh and addictive

Disadvantages: Can be a little dated on some games

The Sega Mega-Drive is a superb console machine of the past. Utilising all Sega's knowledge of the arcade market, the games were invariably fast, furious and addictive.

Indeed, is there anyone in the UK, sorry, the WORLD who hasn't heard of Sonic the Hedgehog?

I have to admit, the reason I write this review is that boyfriend bought one for our 8 year old and she loves it. Despite arguing with him that it was too old and outdated for her to like it, I have to concede that she's never off it, often preferring it to the XBox (fortunately for us!).

So what is the thing about the Mega-Drive which enchants kids so much? I thought about this for a while and then realised. The games are so simple to play. It's as simple as that.

We got her some games with it (second hand of course, new ones are harder to get than golddust!), and I looked at the ones she plays. Sonic the Hedgehog (1, 2 and 3) - run along in a straight line and jump on enemies; Golden Axe - run along in a straight line and hit things until they die; Micromachines - go fast and turn corners... And so it continues. There are no massive 3D landscapes to get frustratingly lost in, no frantic 20 button combinations to memorise, and no steep learning curve.

With just about any game on the Mega-Drive, you can literally pick up and play. Further, the joypad only has 3 buttons, A, B and C. To move you get a flat 'pad' called the 'D-pad' which is to the left of the buttons, press the right hand side to move right etc.... Simple and easy for any beginner - or the average 5 year old.

The console itself is a black 'box' type shape with a slot on the top for you put the games into. Simple and cheap looking, it has 2 red buttons on it, one for power and one for reset (when you're that frustrated you want to quit - but know you will have one more go ;-)). It fits with the general simplistic level of the console.

The games themselves come on cartridges, no easy to scratch CD's. The downside is you can't copy them (which we would never do as honest citizens who fully approve of the need for preservation of copyright for fat cats), the upside is that you can throw them at a wall and they'll still work (well, a child can). This is great when 6 year old decides to start hurling things in a tantrum because her sister got one level further than her...

The graphics are also cheap and cheerful. But this adds a lot to the gameplay in many ways. You dont have expansive 3D environments to gawp at, so you can concentrate on playing. It's all in 2D, and uses basic colours and 'blocky' pixel graphics. The thing is, because you dont concentrate on the scenery, you can find yourself getting immersed as you are able to concentrate totally on the gameplay. It's human nature, you become more involved in doing something than you do in watching something....

So this is why the kids enjoy it, but why should I buy it for them? Yes, its good quality gameplay that will keep them entertained for hours, but is it worth it? They have a PS2 and hardly touch it I hear you cry (anyone who buys a 6yr old a PS2 is either rich or stupid anyway!). Well, the console can be bought for about £30 in most second hand shops, and about £5 at any reasonable car boot sale. Indeed, ask a few of your friends and you will find a lot of them have a spare one in the attic anyway! It was popular you know!.

But even better, the games are only £1-£2 each wherever you get them, and you always find them at car boot sales and such like. This adds some spice as you will actually find something useful at a car boot sale from now on!. So for £35 you can set them up for 6 hours... then £1 a week and you keep them happy for days at a time! They also think its a treat because they get to play a computer while you sit there playing the brand new XBox 360 undisturbed ;-)

So, its fun, its addictive and its cheap. But there is one other reason you might buy a Sega Megadrive... They are old and no longer produced. They were also extraordinarily popular during their time, so are childhood memories to a lot of people. This combination inevitably needs to a high demand and a low supply... these things do eventually break down after all.

So purchase one in mint condition, store it in your attic under a protective cover, and bring it out in 5-10 years time. No bank will offer interest to match the profit you make on it when you sell it. Especially if you can find new pads or games in their boxes with manuals.... I know people who collect figures etc... who are collecting mint condition Mega-Drive stuff already....

The only problem is making sure you don't get tempted yourself!

Summary: Excellent arcade gameplay, starting to become worth good money