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Sega Genesis Mini: Retro-style ad reminds us of anti-Nintendo '90s slogan

Genesis Does want to remind you that it's 30 years old.

Mark Serrels Editorial Director
Mark Serrels is an award-winning Senior Editorial Director focused on all things culture. He covers TV, movies, anime, video games and whatever weird things are happening on the internet. He especially likes to write about the hardships of being a parent in the age of memes, Minecraft and Fortnite. Definitely don't follow him on Twitter.
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Mark Serrels
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Watch this: The Sega Genesis Mini is so rad
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It was always a very pretty console.

 Sega

As Sega Genesis Mini's Sept. 19 release date draws near, reviews are out and its "Genesis Does" trailer harked back to a '90s rivalry Wednesday. Sega celebrates the 30th anniversary of the original console's US release with a retro-style commercial, but removes the iconic "what Nintendon't" because the companies are pretty friendly these days. 

We've embedded the new and old commercials below so you can get both versions of the catchy jingle stuck in your head.

The retro mini-console costs $80 in the US, £70 in the UK and $140 in Australia. If you're in a territory where Genesis was known as Mega Drive, Sega released a trailer for you too.

The Europe and Middle Eastern launch will be delayed by two weeks "due to unavoidable logistical challenges," Sega said last month.

CNET sister site Gamespot was among the first to report about the Sega Genesis Mini, which was first announced in late March at Sega Fes 2019 in Tokyo.

The console will come preloaded with 42 games:

  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 (This is a compilation of the first three Mega Man games)
  22. Street Fighter 2': 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. Virtua Fighter 2
  34. Alisia Dragoon
  35. Monster World IV
  36. Kid Chameleon
  37. Road Rash II
  38. Eternal Champions
  39. Columns
  40. Dynamite Headdy
  41. Strider
  42. Light Crusader
Watch this: Remembering the Sega Dreamcast at 20

The new device will be based on the original Model 1 Sega Genesis -- not the second version that made the rounds toward the end of the console's lifespan -- and 55% of that console's size. It comes packaged with two replica three-button USB controllers, one USB-to-Micro-B power cable and one HDMI cable. US customers will also get a power cable as part of the package.

1-1559642098-virtua-fighter-2-3

You can battle it out in Virtua Fighter 2.

 Sega

The trend of rereleasing "mini" versions of once popular consoles was kickstarted by Nintendo with the NES Classic (and later the SNES Classic). Sony  followed suit with the less well-received PlayStation Classic. Ever since those consoles were announced, the countdown was on for Sega to jump in.

You can find out more and preorder at Sega's official site.

Originally published March 31.
Update Aug. 14: Adds Genesis Does trailer.

Take a look at Sega's beautiful, doomed Dreamcast (pictures)

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