Editing Sonic Mega Collection (section)

===GameCube version===
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators etc. -->
| MC = 75/100<ref name="MetaCube">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-mega-collection-2002/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' (cube: 2002): Reviews |access-date=June 13, 2021 |website=[[Metacritic]] |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516053635/https://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/sonic-mega-collection |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- Reviewers etc. -->
| Allgame = 3/5<ref name="AllgameNGC">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40661&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115043329/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40661&tab=review |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' - Review |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |website=[[AllGame]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=May 8, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| EGM = 21.5/30<ref name="EGMNGC">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-161-december-2002/page/239/mode/2up |title=Review Crew: ''Sonic Mega Collection'' |first1=Greg |last1=Sewart |first2=Miguel |last2=Lopez |first3=Chris |last3=Johnston |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=December 2002 |issue=161 |page=240}}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10<ref name="EuroGCube">{{cite web | last=Bramwell | first=Tom | title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' review | website=[[Eurogamer]] | date=March 19, 2003 | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-sonicmega-gc | access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>
| GI = 8.75/10<ref name="GICube">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-116-december-2002/page/128/mode/2up |title=Reviews: ''Sonic Mega Collection'' |last=Barber |first=Chet |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=Sunrise Publications |date=December 2002 |issue=116 |page=128}}</ref>
| GamePro = 4/5<ref name="GameProNGC">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/27043.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616092155/http://www.gamepro.com:80/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/27043.shtml |title=Review: ''Sonic Mega Collection'' for GameCube |author=Major Mike |website=[[GamePro]] |date=November 11, 2002 |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=April 24, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameRev = B−<ref name="RevolutionNGC">{{cite web |url=http://www.game-revolution.com/games/gamecube/action/sonic_mega_collection.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021215095638/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/gamecube/action/sonic_mega_collection.htm |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' - Gamecube Review |last=Liu |first=Johnny |website=[[Game Revolution]] |date=December 2, 2002 |archive-date=December 15, 2002 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.2/10<ref name="GameSpotCube">{{cite web | last=Gerstmann | first=Jeff | author-link=Jeff Gerstmann | title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' Review | website=GameSpot | date=November 18, 2002 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-mega-collection-review/1900-2897902/ | access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>
| GameZone = 8.8/10<ref name="GameZoneCube">{{cite web |url=http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20749.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124072134/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20749.htm |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' Review |last=Bedigian |first=Louis |website=GameZone |date=November 21, 2002 |archive-date=November 24, 2002 |access-date=December 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref name="IGNCube">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/12/sonic-mega-collection |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031004121529/http://cube.ign.com/articles/377/377158p1.html |title=GameCube: ''Sonic Mega Collection'' Review |last=Mirabella III |first=Fran |website=[[IGN]] |date=November 12, 2002 |archive-date=October 4, 2003 |access-date=December 4, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| NP = <!-- 16/25<ref name="NinPowCube">{{cite magazine |title=Now Playing: ''Sonic Mega Collection'' |first1=Alan |last1=Averill |first2=Christopher |last2=Shepperd |first3=George |last3=Sinfield |first4=Scott |last4=Pelland |first5=Steven |last5=Grimm |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]] |date=December 2002 |issue=163 |page=218}}</ref> --> <!-- Connected blurb lacks specific critical insight, and has thus been excluded -->
| NWR = 7.5/10<ref name="NWRReview">{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Michael |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4034/sonic-mega-collection-gamecube |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=December 16, 2018 |date=January 13, 2003 |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105042911/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4034/sonic-mega-collection-gamecube |url-status=live}}</ref>
| XPlay = 4/5<ref name="TechTVNGC">{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0%2C24330%2C3409782%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021219225001/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3409782,00.html |title=''Sonic Mega Collection'' (GCN) Review |last=Bemis |first=Greg |website=[[Xplay|Extended Play]] |publisher=[[TechTV]] |date=December 9, 2002 |archive-date=December 19, 2002 |access-date=April 24, 2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
Reviews for ''Sonic Mega Collection'' were "generally favorable" according to [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MetaCube"/> Chet Barber of ''[[Game Informer]]'' and Fran Mirabella III of ''[[IGN]]'' regarded it as one of the best compilations of its time.<ref name="GICube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/> Critics considered it a great value for ''Sonic'' fans and newcomers, especially those without access to a Genesis,{{efn|<ref name="GICube"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="GameZoneCube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/>}} and its low price tag was said to complement its value.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="EuroGCube"/><ref name="GameZoneCube"/> However, Michael Cole of ''Nintendo World Report'' and Johnny Liu of ''[[GameRevolution]]'' deemed it less essential to those who already own the originals or ''[[Sonic Jam]]''.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/> ''Sonic Mega Collection'' was a runner-up for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s annual "Best Platformer on GameCube" award, which went to ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''.<ref name=bestworst2002>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ |url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ |title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 |date=December 30, 2002 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=February 7, 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Critics lauded the faithful emulation quality of the Genesis games, which provided an authentic experience.{{efn|<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="EGMNGC"/><ref name="EuroGCube"/><ref name="GameProNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/>}} They emphasized that the controls adapted well to the GameCube controller.{{efn|<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="GameProNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/>}} Although Mugwum of ''[[Eurogamer]]'' faulted the preservation of the games' flaws, he and Mirabella noted that the split-screen multiplayer mode of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' was improved from the original Genesis version to run at a full resolution.<ref name="EuroGCube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/> The lack of some modern enhancements was lamented. Scott Alan Marriott of ''[[AllGame]]'', Greg Bemis of ''[[Xplay|Extended Play]]'' and [[Jeff Gerstmann]] of ''[[GameSpot]]'' pointed out the lack of a [[save state]] function, and Marriott added that high score and best time tracking should have been included.<ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/> Liu wished for an updated control scheme for ''Sonic Spinball'' that used the GameCube controller's shoulder buttons.<ref name="RevolutionNGC"/> Major Mike of ''[[GamePro]]'' and Miguel Lopez of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' felt that the games were showing their age, with Lopez arguing that they have held up less gracefully than the competing ''[[Super Mario]]'' series.<ref name="EGMNGC"/><ref name="GameProNGC"/>

The core ''Sonic'' games — ''Sonic 1'', ''2'', ''3'', and ''Knuckles'' — were praised as timeless classics, with Louis Bedigian of ''GameZone'' citing ''Sonic 2'' as the pinnacle for its level design and speed.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="EuroGCube"/><ref name="GameZoneCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/> However, he saw ''Knuckles'' as a step backward due to the level design's accommodation of the slower-moving [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]].<ref name="GameZoneCube"/> Unlockables like ''Ristar'' and ''Flicky'' were appreciated for adding value, with Bemis praising ''Ristar'' as a gem.<ref name="GICube"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="IGNCube"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/> ''Sonic 3D Blast'' and ''Sonic Spinball'' were criticized as weaker entries, lacking the series’ signature speed and polish.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="EGMNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/> ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'' was received more positively, with Liu calling it one of the best chain-reaction-based puzzle games and Bemis highlighting its appeal as a multiplayer game.<ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/> The omission of ''[[Sonic CD]]'' was a widespread source of disappointment, as it was considered one of the best ''Sonic'' games.{{efn|<ref name="GICube"/><ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="EGMNGC"/><ref name="EuroGCube"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/>}} Other noted omissions included ''[[Sonic R]]'',<ref name="GICube"/><ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/> ''[[SegaSonic the Hedgehog]]'',<ref name="GameSpotCube"/> ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'',<ref name="AllgameNGC"/> ''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'',<ref name="GameSpotCube"/> and the [[Game Gear]] titles.<ref name="NWRReview"/> Bemis and Cole criticized the unlocking process, requiring repetitive game launches, as tedious and poorly designed.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/>

The supplementary material was considered underwhelming and poorly executed for its lack of depth.<ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="EGMNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/><ref name="TechTVNGC"/> Cole and Mirabella negatively compared the presentation to ''Sonic Jam'', which they said had a more substantial interface and amount of content. Mirabella added that the video compression was low-quality, and Cole dismissed the menus' music and artwork as "so-so", comparing it to ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]''.<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="IGNCube"/> Marriott and Liu appreciated the comic covers and manuals, but said that they felt incomplete without context or additional content like print ads or character bios.<ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/> The inclusion of ''Sonic CD''{{'}}s intro and ending videos was bittersweet, highlighting its absence, though Liu remarked that the song "Sonic Boom" was "almost bad enough to rival the [[DK Rap|DK monkey rap]]".{{efn|<ref name="NWRReview"/><ref name="AllgameNGC"/><ref name="RevolutionNGC"/><ref name="GameSpotCube"/><ref name="IGNCube"/>}} Mugwum was annoyed by the menus' loading times.<ref name="EuroGCube"/>