Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

SEGA Smashpack delivers a trio of classic experiences straight from the Genesis era, each reshaped for the portable Game Boy Advance. Golden Axe brings back its iconic beat-’em-up action with responsive controls and a surprisingly smooth framerate on the smaller screen. Whether you’re cleaving skeletons as a barbarian or firing spells as a dwarf, the pared-down button layout on the GBA handles all core moves—jump, attack, and magic—without feeling cramped.

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Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball flips the formula by plunging you into pinball-style levels, where momentum and precision reign supreme. The directional pad and face buttons map intuitively to flipper controls, and the sense of speed remains intact, making those loops and ramps satisfyingly fluid. While some nuances of the original physics occasionally feel tweaked, it never detracts from the thrill of ricocheting across Sonic’s mechanical pinball arenas.

Ecco the Dolphin rounds out the package with its serene but challenging underwater exploration. Swimming mechanics transfer well, letting you weave through coral forests and caverns with a satisfying sense of inertia. The button for sonar ping and dolphin boost work exactly as expected, though the precision required for some platform-style leaps may take a moment to master without the Genesis’s analog feel.

One standout feature is Golden Axe’s link-cable multiplayer support. Teaming up with a friend transforms the side-scrolling brawling into a cooperative frenzy—one partner can take on giant cyclops while the other collects health potions, adding a fresh social dimension to the on-the-go experience. Just keep in mind that two SPAs and a link cable are required, which can be a minor convenience hurdle.

Overall, SEGA Smashpack’s gameplay package feels faithful and fun. From fast-paced brawling and lightning-quick pinball antics to methodical underwater puzzles, each game captures its original spirit while accounting for the GBA’s strengths and limitations. It’s a versatile compilation that appeals to nostalgia seekers and newcomers alike.

Graphics

Visually, SEGA Smashpack toes the line between retro authenticity and necessary downscaling. Golden Axe’s fleshy palette of reds and blues remains bold, although finer background details occasionally blur when the screen scrolls quickly. The GBA’s 240×160 resolution forces a more compact view, but character sprites retain their heft, and enemy animations never drop too many frames.

Sonic Spinball surprises by preserving the vibrant neon hues of its Genesis pinball tables. Bumpers and ramps glow distinctly, and Sonic himself animates with all his trademark speed blurs. Occasionally, flicker appears when too many sprites overlap, yet it’s never so severe that you lose track of the action—proof that the GBA hardware can handle sprite-heavy spectacles when carefully optimized.

Ecco the Dolphin’s underwater environments translate beautifully on the GBA screen, with gentle gradients suggesting depth even in the system’s limited color palette. Coral formations, rocky outcrops, and distant schools of fish all convey a sense of scale. The only compromise comes in subtle lighting effects—some darker caverns look flatter than their Genesis counterparts, but the overall mood remains impressively immersive.

All three titles benefit from crisp pixel art that stays true to the originals. Character movements, splash effects, and magic pulses in Golden Axe, for example, still pack a punch. Color bleeding is minimal, and the reduced scanlines of the handheld display give each frame a polished tabletop look that vintage purists will appreciate.

In sum, the graphical presentation on SEGA Smashpack offers a nostalgic trip with only minor concessions. Whether you’re pulverizing skeletons, ricocheting Sonic around bumpers, or guiding Ecco through sunlit reefs, the visuals are expertly tuned for portable play without sacrificing the charm of the originals.

Story

While none of the three titles are narrative powerhouses by modern standards, each offers enough context to drive your motivation. Golden Axe opens with a classic damsel-in-distress premise: the tyrannical Death Adder conquers your land, and only a group of unlikely heroes can rescue the king and princess. The storyline unfolds between stages via simple cutscenes, keeping your quest clear and your objectives straightforward.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball relies more on setting than plot. You dive into Dr. Robotnik’s Pinball Zone to free critters trapped in capsules and foil his latest mechanical scheme. There’s no dramatic exposition, but the playful tone and blinking machines convey the stakes: rescue your friends and shut down Robotnik’s carnival of cruelty.

Ecco the Dolphin presents the most evocative narrative of the bunch. You play as Ecco, a dolphin separated from your pod after a mysterious storm. The story gradually unfolds through in-game dialogues and text descriptions, transforming what begins as a simple survival tale into a time-tossing odyssey. You’ll leap between prehistoric seas and alien dimensions in search of your missing family, giving Ecco more emotional heft than the other two titles.

Despite their age, all three stories maintain a sense of progression and reward. Golden Axe’s barbarian odyssey, Sonic’s pinball rescue mission, and Ecco’s oceanic adventure each satisfy distinct fantasy urges. There’s enough narrative glue to make the gameplay sessions feel purposeful, whether you’re bashing skeletons, chasing ring-collecting demons, or exploring sunken ruins.

For modern players seeking deep narratives, these stories may feel rudimentary. But in context—early ’90s arcade-style design—they hit all the expected beats. SEGA Smashpack’s package reminds us that some of the best gaming tales were ones you wrote yourself through repeated runs, high-score chases, and shared multiplayer thrills.

Overall Experience

SEGA Smashpack is a potent travel companion for anyone craving retro action on the go. The cartridge fits seamlessly into the Game Boy Advance library, and load times are virtually nonexistent—a welcome change from some heavier GBA ports. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or a long train ride ahead, each game runs with minimal downtime between sessions.

From a value perspective, three full titles on one cartridge feel like a steal, especially considering Golden Axe’s addition of link-cable multiplayer. There’s enough diversity here to stave off repetition: one moment you’re button-mashing through hordes of skeletons, the next you’re juggling Sonic through pinball flippers, and then you’re diving through underwater mazes with Ecco.

Audio performance is solid across the board, with chiptune tracks that evoke faithful recreations of the Genesis sound. Jacking up the volume on a GBA SP brings out surprising depth in each title’s music, though headphone users may notice occasional channel limitations. Dialogue and sound effects remain clear, ensuring you never miss that critical “1UP” fanfare or the chime of a collected ring.

On the downside, the absence of save states means you’ll need to rely on the built-in password system (Golden Axe) or challenge yourself to shorter, high-score-oriented runs. It’s a deliberate design choice that preserves authenticity but may frustrate players accustomed to modern conveniences.

Overall, SEGA Smashpack succeeds brilliantly as a nostalgia-fueled compilation. It offers finely tuned versions of three distinct Sega classics, each with its own flavor and appeal. If you’re hunting for portable retro thrills—be it side-scrolling brawls, pinball craziness, or aquatic exploration—this cartridge is a compelling pick that stands the test of time.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10