Retro Megabit

Slowly but surely I’m managing to find complete boxed hardware for my Sega collection. Much like the Sega CD I mostly ignored the Sega 32X for decades after it’s release.

Below is my newly acquired boxed Sega 32X and it’s in really great condition.

I was actually a bit surprised at how large the box is. When I met up with the seller I found that it barely fit in my backpack. Seeing it pictured here next to the Genesis cases will give you some sense of the scale.

This was a local classifieds find (Kijiji) and cost me $150 CAD (~$114 USD). I feel I did better than the typical asking price of $200 CAD that I often see a Retro Game Swaps. I even did better than what appears to be the original retail price of $200 CAD as seen on the Compucentre price tag. Normally I remove all stickers but in this case I think I’ll keep it. There’s some history here.

I’d like to say this Sega 32X is complete but it’s not. However, it is so very close. The manual is in French and I’m sure it would have also come with an English manual; which is missing. It’s also missing the Audio/Video Cable. Aside from that everything is accounted for. Including an odd expansion port cover to be placed on the Sega Genesis console CD expansion port (if you don’t have a Sega CD connected to your Genesis).

I’ve read that this expansion port cover (called the 32X Extension Unit) was included for FCC compliance but isn’t actually needed.

I believe this is a very early version of the Sega 32X and possibly among the first. The silver metal brackets seen in the image above are called Electro Magnetic Shield Plates and it didn’t take Sega long to ditch them; similar to how Sega removed the 32X Extension Unit accessory.

Below are detailed instructions of how to install your 32X Extension Unit onto your Sega Genesis console.

It’s an interesting bit of trivia that this piece of hardware wasn’t needed at all; ever.

I’ve had a loose 32X for a few years now but it was only this summer when I finally dug it out and took it for a test drive. Of my seven 32X games Space Harrier is the only one that I’ve been interested in playing.

Back in the day I was a huge fan of Space Harrier II for the Genesis and this is what I’d be comparing the 32X Space Harrier to. And despite being told “Get Ready!” I was not prepared for how fast and smooth the 32X Space Harrier was going to be. This is what Space Harrier was meant to be! (…and in the Arcades it was)

It plays incredibly fast and is a very intense experience compared to Space Harrier II. Yes, Space Harrier is still a simplistic game and a product of the Arcade era but it’s still a fun ride.

Anyone have any 32X game recommendations? Will the Sega 32X surprise me like the Sega CD and end up being an add-on worth having?

Sega 32X “Just stick it in your Genesis!”