Sega Mania Issue 2 Review

The second issue of Sega Mania dropped through the letterbox recently and I thought it worth posting about as this is the first issue I have paid for, the copy of issue one I received as a free review sample. Between the two, the team behind the magazine have been very communicative and quick in providing updates via their Twitter and YouTube channels. This level of communication is reassuring and whilst they are effectively learning on the job with all of the highs and lows that entails, they've not been shy in telling people about this. That is to their credit and long may it continue. 

Back to the issue at hand and, following on from the first issue's 1990 focus, issue two takes us to 1991 and the year of the Game Gear. With 68 pages (including the cover), there have been some changes since the first issue which I think are for the better, and demonstrate that the editorial team are keen to make the magazine the best it can possibly be. They've also expanded the team (there are four writers! - thank you Captain Picard).

Starting off with an open and honest editorial about how the first issue went and how things are progressing, we're quickly into a review of the year 1991. Back to my school days at Tanfield Comp, Computer and Video Games magazine, Mean Machines... ah, the memories. Anyway, this is followed by two pages of opinion pieces by the rest of the crew, and then the News Zone, that lovely mix of "in the era but not quite of the era" reporting. It works, what else can I say? Future news has a piece about a new Dreamcast game, Intrepid Izzy, which is a cool looking platformer for Sega's final home console. Not bad considering the machine was discontinued twenty years ago. A single page is given over to 1991 news from other, less worthy, areas of the videogames market, four pages focus on Sonic the Comic (which I vaguely remember) and then we have a profile piece on OGDuffy, a retrogaming YouTuber. 

The review section is packed again this month, with the likes of G-LOC: Air Battle, Sonic The Hedgehog, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and loads more. In fact, twenty five titles get the review treatment, some of which cover multiple formats. A single page covers reader responses to the first issue, there's a two page interview with Audio Sprite, two pages go to a report on RetroSix and an interview with founder, Luke Malpass, and then we have a lovely two page cover spread of a Game Gear. What? It's not porn!

Collector's Corner features a lovely interview with RetroFaith, who is another YouTuber who, like OGDuffy, you should really check out. The collection she has, just from the pictures in this piece, is impressive. 

The Capitalism Zone features three reviews, including one that turned out to be a tad controversial. I'm not going into it as the Editor has responded to this in fine style (and I agree with him on this) and that is all that needs to be said here. There are single pages on TV shows of the year and notable films. Of the two films highlighted, the under-rated The Last Boy Scout gets a good write up and The Rocketeer, one of my favourite films of all time, also gets the love it deserves. Seriously, if you've not seen that film yet, watch it now!

The final section in the mag is the cheats page, which nicely covers the games in the review section. It's a cute touch and one I hope they continue with in future issues.

All told, the second issue of Sega Mania is a doozy. The humour is still there and there is a sense of style that differentiates the mag from others on the market. Is it different from the first issue? Yes. Is it improved? Definitely. So much so that as soon as they announced their plan for subscriptions, I paid for a three issue sub. I'm more than happy to see more of what the team can do and support it that way. No doubt this magazine will change as it grows and as the team become more adept at this publication malarkey. If you can, check out the Sega Mania website and buy a copy. If you like it, give them a sub. In my humble opinion, this is another niche videogaming magazine that most definitely deserves support.   

Sega Mania - Magazine Review

Sega Mania joins the growing list of fan-made printed magazines that continue to flourish in the digital age. Inspired (i.e. kicked up the arse to actually follow an idea - their words, not mine) by the successful launch of Amiga Addict, Sega Mania aims to replicate the tone and feel of the UK Sega magazine market of the 1990's. Oh, it's a modern day publication alright, and one that is aimed at those who either lived through the halcyon era of  "Dreamcasts and Game Gears, and sixteen bit consoles" (these were a few of my favourite things...) or are modern day enthusiasts who hark back to those simpler times. I mention Dreamcast but as the team have chosen a chronological order and are starting in 1990, it'll be a few issues yet before we start talking of Seaman...

Public disclosure first (not that Madam, I am a (semi) respectable software tester!): I received this copy free of charge. There was a shout out saying they had copies for review. I asked and, a few days later, received a very serious looking brown envelope. The views you are about to read are my own and have not been prepared or cleared by anyone from Sega Mania.

With that out of the way, what do you get for the cover price of £4.99? 56 pages (including covers) of high quality stock and great colour reproduction. Text is well spaced and there is a clean look about the design. Adverts are present but not intrusively so.

After the obligatory welcome note from the Editor, we get a history of the founding of the magazine, what inspired it and why it has ended up in reader's hands now. There's a brief retrospection on the year 1990 (31 years ago, FML!); The Asylum, a page each for introduction/commentary from the other two writers of the magazine that is funny and makes some very valid points; a news section covering both old and new news - that Master System Table is immense!; and one modern day review, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX for the PS4. Now hold on. Put the pint glass down and think about this. Yes, it's a Sony console and this is a Sega magazine, but hey, it's still a Sega title. 

The Review Zone comes next and I like what they have done here. For each review, they have added the most recently available price for that title on eBay. If I were interested in one of these games, I'd also check out my local retro games shop, Games Galaxy in Consett, about which I have talked before. Their prices are usually decent and they have a wide range of UK and import stock. The number of times I have nearly walked out of there with a PC Engine... Sorry, I digress. 

The reviews take up 18 pages and, whilst they aren't scored, you are left in no doubt as to whether or not the game is worth playing. The following games, all released in Europe in 1990, are reviewed with the format listed in brackets:

Chase HQ (Master System)

Columns (Mega Drive)

Strider (Mega Drive)

Golden Axe (Master System/Mega Drive)

Gauntlet (Master System)

Super Hang-on (Mega Drive)

World Cup Italia '90 (Master System/Mega Drive)

Revenge of Shinobi (Mega Drive)

Submarine Attack (Master System) - a superbly honest review about a game so difficult, you can't get past the first level. I know this because I tried myself (First rule of emulation club is that no-one talks about emulation club... well, second rule actually, first rule is the VPN...).

Paper Boy (Master System) - this is in black and white because they thought it looked cool. It does!

Ghouls N Ghosts (Mega Drive)

Super Thunder Blade (Mega Drive)

Alex Kidd in The Enchanted Castle/Shinobi World (Mega Drive/Master System)

ESWAT (Mega Drive)

Space Harrier II (Mega Drive)

Following the reviews is the Music Zone, featuring a pair of cracking interviews - Duett and (local lads) Kobra Force. I admit, I had not heard of either of these before but each interview contains details of their respective Bandcamp pages and both are well worth listening to. 

Next up is the Capitalism Zone, which looks at a couple of books: Console Wars by Blake Harris (tempted by it but the writing approach does put me off. Great review though) and The Games That Weren't (already got it and reviewed here); the Retro-Bit Official Sega 6-button Mega Drive Arcade Pad (also tempting) and a note on Panini Super Play cards, one of which arrived with the magazine(!). Nineties fashion gets a page and a half, or at least, examples of modern-day retro clothing  - and boy, do I remember slap bands!

Movie Zone is two pages of film reviews, covering The Hunt For Red October (I reviewed the SNES tie-in for RVG here), Robocop 2, Days of Thunder and Darkman. I can only find fault with one thing here (and this may, as per the note that came with the mag, have been fixed as they were aware of typos and formatting issues which have been corrected for the paying customer print run). In The Hunt For Red October, Tim Curry played the Medical Officer of the boat, not the Political Officer. That was Peter Firth who (SPOILERS) Ramius kills shortly after leaving port. I know, I am a pedant, but that is one of my all time favourite films. Sorry...

The last few pages of the mag are taken up by a hilarious Ian Beale comment piece (yes, he's not real, but the point he makes is extremely valid!), a catalogue page from Index (remember them???) featuring all that lovely Sega goodness, and a letters page. Much like the style of magazines past they wish to celebrate, these are very funny, as are the replies. 

And it's that approach that defines what Sega Mania is. It's a hoot, a genuinely hilarious magazine that offers nothing but love and respect for all things Sega. I chuckled at the irreverent comments, the direct asides to the reader and the overall tone. They address the reader as one of their own, bringing back memories how the videogames magazine that existed back when I was a teenager treat the reader. 

The first issue of Sega Mania is brilliant. It's funny, more than a tad silly but, most importantly, a damn good read. You can check out their website here, where you can buy the first issue either in print or as a download. It's definitely worth the £4.99 cover price and I'll certainly be buying the next issue when it's released. Great work all round!