Sega Genesis Mini 2 review: the greatest retro mini console ever made has been ruined by censorship

On October 27th Sega Sammy released a sequel to their Sega Genesis Mini console, based around the form factor of the Genesis Model 2 from 1992. In so many ways this new mini console is a major improvement. It has 61 games, as opposed to 40, it has Sega CD games, a much better interface, and an incredible selection of quality deep cut titles that grants access to some of the best 16 bit games ever made. It’s wonderful, and the quality of the emulation is impeccable.

At the same time, however, SEGA has decided to cut an entire level out of Bare Knuckle III, the Japanese version of Streets of Rage 3. They have done this without informing their fans. It’s not advertised or talked about anywhere. They just went ahead and did it. The reason for this was most likely to get around a boss character named Ash, who was represented as a stereotypical leather clad homosexual. This character was so controversial in 1994 that he was removed from the US version of the game. Censorship was never the right approach to this peculiar design choice by SEGA, and it is not the right approach now.

What else could be arbitrarily cut from the games of the Sega Genesis Mini 2? So far it seems like just this one thing. But SEGA needed to be more transparent with this decision. Any way, please enjoy our comprehensive review of the SEGA Genesis Mini 2. An outstanding product that, sadly, is marred by a very bad decision to censor art.

- CCP Management

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Chapters:

0:00 - Sega Genesis Mini 2 has entered the club
1:17 - history of the Sega Genesis model 2 hardware
2:45 - review of the Sega Genesis Mini 2 as hardware
4:19 - the Sega Genesis Mini 2 doesn’t seem good enough to join the club
4:52 - review of the Genesis Mini 2 software features and interface created by M2
12:02 - the mode button on the 6-button controller is extremely useful
13:52 - credits, legal notices, and discussion about the ARM SoC that powers the console
14:59 - all that really matters is the games & hacked consoles have too many problems
16:20 - the Genesis Mini 2 includes Sega CD games and 61 games in total
20:26 - the Ninja Warriors (Sega CD / Taito / 1993)
23:32 - correction on my systemic mispronunciation of “Zuntata”
23:55 - Devi & Pii (Genesis Mini 2 / Sega / 2022)
27:11 - Shining Force 2 (Genesis / Camelot Software / 1994)
30:29 - Crusader of Centy (Genesis / NexTech / 1995)
34:09 - Super Hang-On (Genesis / Sega / 1989)
37:50 - Rolling Thunder 2 (Genesis / Namco / 1991)
40:57 - Night Trap (Sega CD / Digital Pictures / 1992)
46:22 - Fantasy Zone (Genesis Mini 2 / M2 / 2022)
49:58 - Truxton (Genesis / Toaplan / 1989)
53:15 - Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis / Sega & Ancient / 1994)
56:37 - Bare Knuckle 3 is also included, but Sega removed the level with Ash
1:00:45 - Elemental Master (Genesis / Technosoft / 1993)
1:04:26 - Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis / Sega / 1989)
1:07:41 - Silpheed (Sega CD / Game Arts / 1993)
1:10:52 - Super Street Fighter 2 (Genesis / Capcom / 1994)
1:14:44 - Spatter (Genesis Mini 2 / M2 / 2022)
1:16:51 - Sonic CD (Sega CD / Sega / 1993)
1:22:12 - Ristar (Genesis / Sega / 1995)
1:25:20 - Herzog Zwei (Genesis / Technosoft / 1990)
1:29:47 - Space Harrier II (Genesis Mini 2 / M2 / 2022)
1:34:40 - Final Fight CD (Sega CD / Awave / 1993)
1:38:22 - Puyo Puyo Sun VS (Genesis Mini 2 / M2 / 2022)
1:41:34 - Robo Aleste (Sega CD / Compile / 1993)
1:44:13 - Phantasy Star II (Genesis / Sega / 1990)
1:47:46 - Shining Force CD (Sega CD / Camelot Software / 1994)
1:51:43 - final overview of the Sega Genesis Mini 2 / availability issues
1:58:05 - the Sega Genesis Mini 2 should not have removed Ash