Growing up, I was a Nintendo kid.  I had a Game Boy, a Nintendo, and a Super Nintendo.  Needless to say, I missed out on Sega’s golden Genesis age.  For this reason, I was very excited about the release of the Sega Smash Pack on the Game Boy Advance, which features three Genesis games (Ecco the Dolphin, Golden Axe, and Sonic Spinball) on one cartridge.  For the most part, I was very impressed.  The Smash Pack does a fairly decent job of recreating the gameplay of these three games.  However, there were a few inaccuracies throughout the cartridge, which are sure to disappoint Sega purists.  Even though some corners were cut, the Sega Smash Pack is a tremendous value for old school Sega fans.

The first game in the pack is Ecco the Dolphin.  The graphics and essential gameplay are on par with the original game.  You are a dolphin who sets out to save the world after a giant whirlwind steals away all the creatures in the ocean (except you, of course).  Through the game you swim through the ocean searching for glyphs and defeating enemies to proceed and unravel the mystery of what happened.  The environments are detailed and sport vibrant colors, and the character models are on the level of the Genesis version.  However, the great original soundtrack is all but absent.  While there is some degree of music (as in one song that loops throughout the entire game), it doesn’t provide the same level of ambience that was present in the original.

Golden Axe is the next game in the pack.  In Golden Axe, you play as one of three characters (each with different attributes) that are out to avenge dead family members.  The action is basic beat ‘em up fare with a fantasy twist, pretty much Streets of Rage with swords and dragons.  The graphics do a good job of emulating the Genesis version, although the colors are a bit drab.  The AI is also very frustrating.  Many times after you knock an enemy off screen, they’ll charge at you from out of sight, making it very hard to counter against them.  If this wasn’t enough, the characters handle a bit clumsily and awkward, and many times combos don’t link up correctly, leaving you open to severe beatings.

Sonic Spinball is perhaps the most accurate of the translations.  The game is basically pinball with a Sonic the Hedgehog touch.  The uplifting music is the same as the original, and the frantic gameplay is intact.  The sheer speed of the game is impressive, and the graphics are colorful and vibrant.

While it definitely could have been better, the Sega Smash Pack is still worthy of a look from nostalgic gamers from the 16-bit era as well as people who didn’t play these games the first time around.

Gameplay: 7.5
Ecco and Sonic Spinball play almost exactly like their Genesis counterparts.  However, the numerous problems plaguing Golden Axe (frustrating AI and awkward controls) should’ve been addressed.

Graphics: 8.0
For the most part, the games display the same good graphics and detailed sprites as Genesis versions, although they appear a bit darker and the colors a bit more washed out on the Game Boy Advance screen.

Sound: 7.0
The music and sound for Golden Axe and Spinball are fairly good translations of the original tunes, although the lack of the original soundtrack for Ecco is a big disappointment.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
Putting three classic Genesis games on one cartridge is a great idea and a great value.

Multiplayer: 7.5
While Sonic Spinball and Ecco are one-player games, Golden Axe sports an up to four-player battle mode. 

Overall: 7.5
The Sega Smash Pack was a great idea that lost a little bit in the execution.  However, if you can look past the inaccuracies, then the Smash Pack is a great idea and an outstanding value. If you are a gamer who is looking for some old school action, it is worth your attention.