The Sega Astro City Mini - Review - Game Sack

[@pwnswoggle]

Dottori Kun was a JAMMA board that Sega sold with Astro City and other arcade cabinets because there was a weird law in Japan that said JAMMA cabinets could not be sold without any games in them, hence the description on the Astro City Mini.

[@darkcoeficient]

Thanks!

[@buttguy]

figured it had to be something like this. Thanks!

[@SmaMan]

Surprised they didn't just put Columns in there...

[@BlaizeV]

Be nice to see Sega finally move on from Genesis compilations on consoles into Arcade, Saturn and Dreamcast stuff instead.

[@souljastation5463]

They'll NEVER do that in the west, although outside the US arcade Sega stuff was pretty popular too. The only Mega Drive/Genesis-centric region was the US itself.

[@NotaPizzaGRL]

@@souljastation5463 The arcade games were popular in the US and the Dreamcast sold best in the United States. Genesis/Mega Drive also did well in a good chunk of Europe and in Brazil as well. For some reason its like companies like Sega forget that arcades were pretty popular in the United States. I mean some of the biggest arcade game makers were based here like Midway and Atari.

[@souljastation5463]

@@NotaPizzaGRL You're talking about the 70s and the early 80s. The US was the first country to abandon arcades, while in the rest of the west they were huge until the end of the 90s. Sure there still were arcades in the 90s in the US too, but not on the same scale, Sega bases their decisions on numbers, they have the sales numbers of their own arcade machines.

[@ForeRunnerODST]

It annoys me how other companies like Capcom put out multiple arcade collections yet Sega who has one of the richest histories in arcades rarely puts them out.

[@barakamathews1182]

Sorry if that no sega saturn2 and game gear 2 no way sorry,😔😔😔🙄🙄

[@nomadicmonkey3186]

When you've played countless versions of Space Harrier that you're able to tell it's a brand-new emulation from some rocks behaving odd. Mad props to you Joe.

[@krathoon2338]

Are we sure it is an emulation issue or do they behave that way in the arcade version?

[@MarcBarkyMarta]

Also, Joe, the Dottori Kun Arcade PCB was included with every Astro City cabinet when purchased in Japan. By law, they had to include some sort of test game with an arcade cabinet, and this is what Sega made (hence why they said that goofy text). Taito also included “Mini-vader” Space invaders with their cabs, and Konami included some kind of target shooting game.

[@realmidnightgamer]

I was about to comment this, as well. Thanks for adding it.

[@spiderjerusalem100]

Finally Sega releases some of their old arcade games instead of the same old Mega Drive games everyone already has. This looks great and i want one.

[@Hullabaloo75]

This is the only intro of any channel I'm subbed to that I do not skip. Riff is too tasty

[@subtledemisefox]

It helps that it's super short

[@ionmyke]

I'm pretty impressed with this one. I was expecting it to be more of a novelty (which is still is, really), but it's quite playable. The stick and buttons feel great, and the overall build is really high quality. SNK should seriously take notes, this blows the Neo Geo Mini out of the water, hardware wise.

[@manuel0578]

SNK is now a scam company owned by a journalist killer. Won’t buy anything from them anymore.

[@chico20m]

Everybody knows if someday SEGA launches a new console, Columns will be there.

[@danieledwards1490]

Probably be the pack-in game. Ha ha.

[@GregsGameRoom]

And Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier but not Outrun apparently (I’m looking at you Sega Genesis Mini.)

[@BasementBrothers]

I like Columns. One of my favorite puzzle games.

[@AlexToasterOven]

@@danieledwards1490 Not gonna lie, Columns Effect would be pretty sick

[@danieledwards1490]

If only SEGA had put a smiley face on a flash Columns jewel, we’d probably be on the 4th iteration of the Dreamcast right now!

[@themcadamsminute8494]

Since we won’t see you next week, HAPPY NEW YEARS GAMESACK!!!!

[@GameSack]

Thanks! There will be a new episode next week, though. My Paprium review for the Genesis / Mega Drive!

[@VGALife]

@@GameSack Anything special for #300 ?

[@sloppynyuszi]

@@VGALife I think it’s a hidden gems video with MJR. He’s been teasing it for a while now

[@Sheepy007]

@@VGALife the KFC Console

[@aryinc]

@@GameSack nice, you got it. I'm still waiting on any form of contact, hope it will happen. Very curious about the game.

[@TheCooterpuppet]

Thank you for taking the time to put in your own closed captions, so much better than random KZbin generated ones

[@level12fighter]

I love seeing Revenge of Death Adder on there. I've been looking for an official way to play that game forever.

[@DaveMire]

When Arcade1UP is not an option.

[@reagandow850]

Over all I’m really happy I bought the Astro City and it blows the Neo Geo mini out of the water and many of the other “mini” consoles as well but I must say I enjoy the TG-16/PC Engine mini more and still play it frequently.

[@chrisr529]

Thanks Joe. I love the way you edit your videos. Your tremendous effort is greatly appreciated.

[@importaku]

Dottori kun is what appears if you power on an astro arcade without a board attached, that's why it's included in here as a little extra for astro fans. Thats also why that description is a little cryptic as it is indeed always there every astro arcade has it built in.

[@Azuris190]

Bought a Gamegear last Month, the Desciption said that Shinobi comes with it. What was not mentioned that also Columns will come with it... Nobody wants Columns so the have to secretly sell it with other Games.

[@hakureicirno6059]

Dottori Kun is the test program for Astro Cities cabs when there is no board hooked to the cab. That's why it says "the one that is already there".

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

Can you confirm whether or not there was a legal obligation to include a built-in game, as one documentary on the Atari 2600 conversion of the original arcade game claimed? It's clever, if so. And a curious addition otherwise.

[@hakureicirno6059]

Not sure. System16 says it's for legal reason, while MAMEDev says it's a test program.

[@megavolnutt4629]

It was apparently legally motivated. There was a new law saying that arcade cabinets in Japan could not be sold without a game. So they slapped Dottori-kun in there with the intent for the owners and operators to replace it with a "real" game. Very cool that it was included on this mini, even if it was only for preservation and historical purposes

[@SotNist]

This made me realize that PS4 and PS5 controllers have mono of the art sound.

[@otaking3582]

At first I was gonna comment that I play with my headphones plugged in all time and they definitely have stereo, but then I remembered that they have built-in speakers.

[@turdhat]

I woke up in a terrible mood full of dread about going back to work tomorrow. Some Coffee, a little online therapy, various mood stabilizers and a new Gamesack made the whole morning better! Thanks Joe!

[@Not-Great-at-Gaming]

"You need to beat the entire game on one credit. Can you?" Looking at my user name... no.

[@dub2536]

I was gonna say that plus if you buy this item you should get unlimited credits. Dealbreaker IMO. Peace!

[@AnthonyFlack]

​@@dub2536 - The games that don't let you continue behave just like the original arcade games did. Use the save states if it bothers you. Credit-feeding arcade games usually ruins them anyway.

[@dub2536]

@@AnthonyFlack Hmmm. I wasn't aware it had to save states. I liked that first on my Retron 5, now on other consoles. I find it cool how my Neo Geo mini has 4 save states yet I get frustrated by the 5 credit limit especially for games such as "Metal Slug". I prefer to just have unlimited like my "Pandoras Box". Anyway, thank you for the advice! Peace!

[@AnthonyFlack]

@Orwellian Future Is Now - so don't play bad ones. Plenty of arcade games were designed to 1cc. As mentioned, Alien Syndrome doesn't even allow you to continue. If you don't like arcade games then an arcade mini is not for you.

[@AnthonyFlack]

​@Orwellian Future Is Now - oh, I see, you're one of those type. Think you know everything and don't listen. Plenty of games can be 1cced; I've done it, loads of people have done it and there are examples all over KZbin of people doing it. If you couldn't make it to the later levels in Alien Syndrome then it wouldn't even have later levels. Here's a few nice easy ones to get you started: Double Dragon, Wardner, Black Tiger. All can be 1cced without too much difficulty.

[@Orpheusftw]

Rad Mobile looks beautiful. Love that era of trying-to-be-3D, highly detailed sprites.

[@ToddJambon]

Hi, Joe. I don't think you've done a whole 3-hour episode dedicated to the greatness of Columns and the history of each version. We deserve this.

[@alexziska4532]

Odd but you can actually use the Japanese's Mega Drive Mini 6 button controller with the Astro Mini. The Mode button is used to add a credit.

[@Skyk0rn]

It's really amazing how Sega pulls off rereleasing the same couple of dozen of old games each year. They're really getting crafty at it to the point that it's even is an art of some sort. I wonder will they run out of ideas to repackage the same games over and over again or fans who were actually alive during the bit wars?

[@terencehill2320]

I was surprised you did not get the arcade riser kit for it. I purchased it with the small controller and the main unit and I loved this overall. I am also glad you covered the 36+1 game and I still don't get the description of the Dot game.

[@jockel9502]

Dottori Kun was according to System16 a game that came with Astro City cabinets to comply with law that required arcade cabinets to be sold with a game. That's why it's so primitive & cheaply made.

[@MixMasterLar]

Did not know this. Appreciate the comment

[@lukasperuzovic1429]

So a Cheap toss in board that allows what should be a empty base cabinet to be compliant with the law.

[@kingtom]

That explains the game's description then! The fact Sega included it as an inside joke on the Astro City Mini is hilarious.

[@lukasperuzovic1429]

@@kingtom That description could of been a mistranslation

[@Ultraslainmonkey]

Dottori Kun was a game that was put into Sega’s Candy Cabinets to test that it functions properly, it’s entirely purpose was to be switched out later for proper arcade boards!

[@GameSack]

I did not know that. Thanks for the info!

[@Ultraslainmonkey]

@@GameSack no problem!

[@robertgorby7856]

Joe, your post video vignette was absolutely hilarious. “200%!!! and it can be measured!!!”

[@BoozeAholic]

*REVENGE OF DEATH ADDER!!* , that's the one game that I wanted to see on Switch's Sega Ages. Too bad.

[@FallicIdol]

So did the world. Come on, Sega

[@darrentg6]

Got my Astro City Mini, and absolutely love it. Tied with my PC Engine Mini for my favorite mini console. I wish the scanline filter was better, and the graphical shimmering shouldn't be there; but overall it still delivers the goods, and I've long wished for a home console version of Revenge of Death Adder and this fulfills that. This is also the most affordable version of the original Cotton. I also love having the arcade versions of many of these games that had Genesis versions.

[@GamayObera]

2:45 I've heard about connecting an Magic NS adapter on USB port(s) increases compatibility with 3rd-party controllers and/or adapters when it's set on "Genesis Mini" mode.

[@Geferulf_TAS]

Hope you had a merry Christmas and are going to have a happy New Year! Excited to see Ep. 300! Here's to another year of Game Sack!

[@GuyManley]

Just tested all my Sega controllers, official and 3rd party. I found the Sega 6 button pads from the Japanese Mega Drive Mini and the 8bitdo M30 2.4G wireless controllers also work with this console.

[@Grindhead_Jim]

Virtua Fighter is such an underrated arcade fighter. Easy to pick up, hard to master. It's a crime this hasn't been released as a standalone remaster as smooth as the one on the SACM.

[@Newtonip]

The SOC underneath that shield is the ZUIKI Z7213 (quad core Cortex A7, probably around 1.3GHz to 1.5 Gz, Mali400 MP2 GPU), the exact same chip is found in the Genesis Mini. It's a rebadge of the extremely cheap Allwinner A33.

[@rushnerd]

12:12 ＴＡＴＥ　ＭＯＤＥ

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

(echo-y) TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!!!

[@cvl2955]

😎

[@Blueflag04]

TAAAAAAAAATE

[@doublebass1985]

The "ASStro City Mini"

[@Nobunaga1983]

?....it’s Better than most mini consoles

[@chichiboypumpi]

"All the best stuff is made in Japan" Marty McFly

[@otaking3582]

Definitely my favorite quote from anything ever.

[@VirajKathwadia]

I bought this with the accesories for it, thanks for giving what I believe to be a balanced review and also the relevant information for it, it is also my favourite mini console too, I mean sure it isn't perfect, would have loved to have seen outrun, afterburner and super hang on but hey it is what it is and at least we go space harrier, other than what I see as some minor emulation quirks it's still a solid system that I really love and enjoy.

[@yg1236]

heya! just wanted to show my support Game Sack! have been a huge fan for a very long time and I really love your guy's vids. happy holidays and happy new years!

[@Mamiya645]

Dottori Kun was included with new cabinets as a means of testing screen and input, it's a PCB that I wanted but was never able to get my hands on when I was collecting arcade games. Volume level mismatches are common in emulation even when we replace to caps as per specification and re-re-re-confirm that we're hearing with with our cabinets and superguns. Wish they'd reach out to collectors and ask for aid in verifying accuracy, we'd be happy to help.

[@emmettturner9452]

That description for Dottkri Kun seems to imply that it was built into an Astro City cabinet. If so, it was probably built into the monitor and played with adjustment controls, hence not having sound.

[@dariusq8894]

The official Sega Mega Drive Mini pads (ie. the 6-button ones) will work with the Astro City Mini, but not the 8-bit do versions. The Menu button will also act as the Coin button.

[@Horos_de_Vega]

Now, Sega, please release a Mark III/MS mini which includes games from the SG-1000 up to the MarkIII with FM sound.

[@gryphonofmight]

Any week with a bonus episode of GameSack is a good week for me!

[@buckeyechad1]

Great Timing! Just received mine today with a control pad. Beat E-SWAT in the arcade, hadn't played it again until today.

[@GameSack]

Nice, E-SWAT is always fun.

[@MarkDell]

I love my Astro Mini. I’m surprised you got so many accessories but didn’t get the dumb riser and stool. You can use it like a coin bank!

[@fireaza]

" *WAS* popular in Japan"..? You can still find these machines in arcades and shopping centers all across the country!

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

in case you wanted to know, the Super retrocade controllers work on the Astro city.

[@montarion]

The story behind that Dottori Kun game is that for various reasons you could not sell an arcade cabinet in Japan without a game board. So every Astro City cab they shipped with that super simple game to defeat this technicality! Taito did the same with Mini Vaders for their cabinets!

[@JimPlaysGames]

This video has stereo of the art sound double my playing enjoyment!

[@BlackMoore82]

I played The Revenge of Death Adder a lot in the arcades back in '92. Usually played as Trix. Good to see Gain Ground on the mini although I still have my Genesis copy. It remains one of my favorite Sega games.

[@Horzzo]

An English release was just announced through Limited Run and Worldwide Distribution, but I'm sure Joe knows that! I think I'm sold on getting one. I love the Neo mini and this selection of games is great.

[@smoothALOE]

Very cool mini. I don’t know if I’ll really want one if or when it’s released in The States, but as big of a fan I’ve become of Sega, especially from that era, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist.

[@ValcristhCR]

Thank you for making this sucky year way more manageable with your great videos.

[@YGZ]

I saw the Astro mini in my local video game shop here in Taiwan. I had to buy it and it has honestly been my best purchase so far this year!

[@sHART1780]

Nothing brings a smile to my face like a new sack on my screen.

[@oxwah]

It's been well over 30 years and we're still waiting for those new battle scenes for Space Harrier.

[@rockhyde7775]

I prefer vertical over horizontal shmups because most of them I don’t have to worry about hitting a wall or ceiling, the only thing I want to worry about are the enemy ships and bosses as well as their bullet patterns that fly my way. Bullet hell is awesome yo!

[@thorrollosson]

Game Sack delivers, always. One of my favorite memories of any convention was being part of a panel on the NWC in Phoenix. The convention was great, but the panel was a disaster lol. I remember looking out into the room and seeing them watch, visibly pained at the awkwardness of it all. Were it not for them I would have just flat out bailed from the room immediately 😸

[@stevesimmons6500]

dottori kun was included on all Astro City cabs because it was illegal to sell arcade cabinets without a game inside . lot of cabs were purchased to put various games in so this game was placed in as it says the game that is already in here

[@alicesavage69420]

Dottori-kun was used as a diagnostic test on many Sega arcade boards through the 90s. Hence, "the one that is already in there."

[@MrAlexthemachine]

The reason most arcade games are in mono is because Jamma doesn’t support stereo. The new Astro city cabinets included a stereo amplifier but it still needs to be connected separately from mb to amp in - amp out to speakers. Instead of jamma mono out through harness to speakers

[@retrojustplay7426]

A UK stockiest (Funstock) has these for pre-order....so finally going to get one with two of the controllers. Super excited.

[@escaperoutebritish]

On the one hand I hope this gets a release unscathed outside Japan. On the other hand, Dynamite Cop would be amazing on this.

[@tyler6644]

Hey Joe i appreciate the hard work you put into each and every video. You have no idea how much it means to me and many other people here!

[@ceticobr]

I've been waiting for this review. I really trust Joe's opinion on this kind of matter.

[@CoachTabe]

One thing Joe didn't mention, but Sega Lord X did, is that the controls on the base unit become painful from extended use because they're so cramped.

[@nastybedazzler]

I've tried watching this video twice already and am so exhausted from this week I've fallen asleep both times. Gonna give this another shot because this little console looks awesome. I seriously want one so bad, and that arcade stick looks solid as hell. I WANT IT.

[@mattmtdc]

Great video! Glad someone else noticed the First Blood/Golden Axe death scream. There's also one taken from Conan the Barbarian (when the giant hammer wielding foe is spiked against a rock). Thank you!

[@GameSack]

There are at least 2 first blood screams in there. The sound Galt makes as he's falling from the helicopter is used when the enemy is pressing their feet against villagers.

[@azure1259]

One of the KZbinrs that provided great entertainment all though the covid crisis, thanks so much for all the vids that provided a such a nice distraction for so many of us.

[@JoshuaJacobs83]

Happy holidays man. I hope you and your family are doing well. Thank you for all the content you keep giving us. I am very thankful for you

[@foojae]

Thanks for doing this Sack.

[@Locomamonk]

What a cool idea to review something new from japan, I never knew anything about this, but it looks really interesting, specially with all the options for controllers. Do more of these!

[@shiningwizard327]

I got mine along with the controller and pedestal piggy bank and chair (which is very necessary IMO) and I'm loving it!!

[@erebus015]

I always enjoy a healthy serving of warm gamesack, and with this episode I actually learned of a piece of hardware I had no idea existed. I am going to try to pick one of these up.

[@acecarrera1]

Sega should pay royalty to David Caruso and Sven-Ole Thorsen every time the enemies in Golden Axe die.

[@ni4ni775]

I always look forward to Game Sack videos. Thank you!

[@manuel0578]

The Capcom Home Arcade actually outputs at 1080p. But on a 4K screen, 720p also scales up nicely (x3). Those 720p mini consoles are only an issue if you’re still on a 1080p screen where it has to do interpolation. Even a 1440p screen would be much better (x2)

[@thegenerousdegenerate9395]

I would love to see his wife's face when he's yelling by himself in the basement recording his outros.😳🙄😌 Lol

[@joef3158]

He's married to a man

[@Wykesidefruitmachine]

@@joef3158 What??? 😂😂😂

[@stevesstuff1450]

@@Wykesidefruitmachine : He's single.... (broke-up with his girlfriend just over a year ago...), but hey! Y'never know, you might be in with a chance... Ha ha! :-D

[@PutlerHuyIo]

@@stevesstuff1450 how do you know all that?

[@stevesstuff1450]

@@PutlerHuyIo : Because if you'd followed his channel for several years, you'd have seen it....

[@jerellebeaver3325]

I always enjoyed columns over many of the other similar puzzle type games because im colorblind and the fact that they use shapes as well as colors. Real hard to play games when several different same shaped blobs look the same color to you.

[@RadioTails]

Puyo Puyo Champions, Puyo Puyo Tsu (Sega Ages Switch), & Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 do include a color blind options. That's cool if you are color blind and want to get into the Puyo series. Funny enough Crash 4: It's About Time also has color blind options as well. Not sure if it was needed, but it's neat they put the effort in.

[@andrejensen5240]

Keep up the good work Joe ☺. Game sack is the best retro gaming show on KZbin

[@DeathMetalDerf]

Thank YOU for yet another year of great videos, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, Gamesack! I look forward to seeing you again in 2021!

[@mukiex4413]

Mayflash Magic S-Pro and NS adapters will work on the Astro City Mini in Sega Genesis Mini mode! So will the Brook UFB!

[@tomhatesyou]

Let's get a mini system full of all of segas model 2 arcade games!

[@dgwhedges]

The Chucky Cheese near where I grew up in Chicagoland had Rad Mobile but I never knew the name of it until right now. I put so many tokens into it back then, the graphics were quite impressive for the early 90s.

[@Chicomite]

Have you seen the commercials for that new fancy TV? It's like a mounted screen that comes down and can rotate and pivot around to you guessed it, TATE MODE!!!! The commercials would have you believe it's gonna be some revolutionary new exercise tool, but I see it as a fancy 4K TV that goes tate.

[@MSorge13]

I had no idea this existed and yet here I am interested in getting one. Looks like they’ve done a very good job with it!

[@goemon74]

Joe the mayflash f300 fightstick works perfectly on this unit. Also the 8bitdo wireless black sega genesis adapter and the m30 8bitdo wireless sega genesis mini controller work on this unit. Try it

[@vileCR999]

I half expected Dave to jump out when Gain Ground came on haha

[@talideon]

I think Dottori-Kun is in there as a bit of a joke. It intentionally looks and plays like an '80s type-in game, as it was written to work around a law preventing the sale of bare arcade cabinets by putting in a game nobody would want to pay money to play, hence "the one that's already in there". The owner of the arcade was meant to swap it out for another game.

[@AnthonyRiddle]

I've collected all the mini consoles and an emulation handheld. I'm about to pull the trigger on expanding my collection to mini arcade systems now

[@fearanarchy]

So little things added up to a bigger issue for me. Between needing an extra controller, the ridiculous game slot count on stacking games, and that shimmer issue cannot be unseen. As a whole unit, I think the SNESC has more "greatest hits", and far less negatives to discuss.

[@angeles2425]

Its a great system imo. The SMD mini 6 button controller fully works with the Astro City mini.

[@fabithierry]

Finally Sega realeses the HIGH RESOLUTION GRAPHICS and STEREO - of - the - ART SOUND DOUBLE YOUR PLAYING ENJOYMENT!!!! God! I was waiting for this for so many years

[@JoeyJ0J0]

I was hyped for this , I still may get it eventually, I love the library, feels like a better version of the SNK arcade mini

[@matthiewg12]

Man episode 300 right around the corner. What a trip

[@s3np411]

I wish they put Fantasy Zone W on this.

[@badbirdkc]

Instead of a dumb little arcade cabinet, I wish the full size joystick was the console that just plugged in via HDMI.

[@TooBokoo]

Exactly. Instead of wasting production cost on a sh/tty little screen and tiny buttons that 99% of people will use for 5 minutes as a novelty and never touch again, they could've just built the console in the joystick unit and had it plug into your display. But, of course, with the dumb shelf collector mentality that's gotten popular, they know people will buy it because it looks cool on a shelf, rather than people wanting good functionality out of a unit.

[@SumeaBizarro]

Well, you can get arcade grade joysticks in many designs and parts that most function with PC or pi and you can have your own such setup already thusly. World is your oyster as long as you think twice how much 20-30 year old arcade games not in circulation need to be paid for.

[@sloppynyuszi]

This is more for display, than long term play, you can even buy a little lifter thing and mini chair to put infront of it

[@wadewilson5712]

you can buy those already off amazon for 250 , i got one thats 2 player with 2500 games but there are a lot of repeats for version being different patches and such and the pixal art of the games does not look good on a big screen so i play on a 20 in monitor. there are some great arcade clasics on it and rare arcade games and some wierd japanese ones and botleg chinese ones like street fighter 2 rainbow which is the glichy version

[@badbirdkc]

@@SumeaBizarro Yeah, I know I can get a Pi and a joystick. But there is something to an officially licensed, plug and play system of curated games that is more enjoyable than just a rom dump.

[@kildogery]

The ending was too funny.

[@AlterRaigo]

"EEEEEeeeeeeeee-swat"...that thing got burned into my brain when I got my first Megadrive lol!

[@AlterRaigo]

@Sandman Slim No, but now you make me wish I did.

[@AlterRaigo]

@Sandman Slim i just edited go with got...how that meant I had a "go" at it..? Wtf? Lol!

[@NotABot55]

@@AlterRaigo Mega Drive, Sega Hard Girls version. Wish granted.

[@vg4917]

Thanks sack. love the mini astro button feel. i even just press it when its off! i actually prefer the feel to the bigger arcade buttons on the astro stick, though of course the stick is better on that.