Hardware Review: The Terraonion Mega SD is a truly new generation flash cartridge

The Mega SD has a fairly smooth user interface, especially compared to other flash baskets on the market. You can change a wide range of settings and easily load ROM and CD images – these are stored on a Micro SD card inserted into the side of the cartridge. You will need to provide a BIOS file to run the CD titles (the BIOS must match the region of the game you are booting) and it is possible to assign multiple BIOS files to cover each territory.

By pushing and starting on your pad, you can call up a game menu that allows you to return to the Mega SD's main menu, enable cheat codes and save (or load) reports; eight different backup locations are available. The Mega SD simulates what a real world Mega CD system would do when it comes to internal storage; it has both internal memory (included in the Mega CD via a battery backup system) and the option of backup to a virtual memory cartridge. These, in fact, were cartridges that plugged into the Mega Drive's cartridge slot and gave players extra storage space (for some titles, like CD of brilliant strengthto have one was a requirement, because the progress of the first chapters of the game could be reported only by using the backup basket of RAM, the internal memory is not large enough).

The Mega SD is so smart that it even allows disk swapping – a process that was required for some of the larger versions of Mega CD, like Night trap, who recently saw the release on Switch. A hardware button on the side of the cartridge allows you to swap discs (assuming the files are in the right place on the SD card), but if you're too lazy to get up from your seat, the process can up + start & # 39; menu in the game as well.

Since the CD games of the 1990s struggled against the hardware and memory constraints of this period, it is not surprising that many mega-CD games have long loading times because the data is spooled the single-speed disk to the RAM of the console. . The Mega SD, as an SSD device, is not subject to these limitations and, therefore, significantly speeds up the loading time of many titles. However, some games are programmed to take into account the "search" times of a real disk, and the removal of loading times would cause a desynchronization of audio with visual elements (usually during cutscenes) . Fortunately, the firmware of the Mega CD actually contains a list of titles. Therefore, you should not notice a problem if you keep the cart firmware up-to-date.

The main function here is the support of Mega CD titles, but it should also be noted the Mega Drive titles (including Virtua Racing, which has proven to be a loophole for previous Flash cartridge models due to the inclusion of Sega's custom SVP chip) – you can also play Sega Master System games on this device, as well as take advantage of the enhanced FM sound module, released only in Japan. Unfortunately, backup state support is not possible when reading these 8-bit versions and support for Master System is limited to Mega Drive models that come with Master hardware. Integrated system; some revisions (including the portable nomad) do not have them and will not read the main system ROM without internal modification. 32X games can also be loaded via Mega SD, but you will need the 32X module itself to do so – and, as with the master system, in-game backup states are not supported. In fact, with the Mega SD connected to your base console via the 32X, you can not charge Mega CD or ROM main system – this is due to the way the two hardware elements "talk to each other". one to the other. This means that the few available 32X CD-ROM titles will not work on this device, but it's not a huge loss because they are not worthy of being written at home.

Oh, and as long as we are here, it should also be noted that the Mega SD will not work if your Mega Drive is already connected to a Mega CD, as this could cause hardware confusion. This might not seem like a big deal – especially if you buy one of these cartridges either to avoid investing in a Mega CD unit (which is now quite collectable and expensive), or to replace a unit that has failed – but this has serious consequences for those lucky enough to own a JVC Wondermega or a Sega Multi-Mega / CDX. Because these systems are all-in-one variants that merge the Mega Drive and Mega CD, you can boot only Mega Drive and Master System ROMs through the Mega SD.

One of the most interesting features of the Mega SD is what Terronion calls the "Mega Drive Plus" titles. Those who regularly read Nintendo Life are aware that there is a tendency to update SNES titles with CD-quality audio tracks that can be loaded via emulation or using a shopping cart. flash containing the appropriate technologies. Mega Drive Plus is essentially the same thing. the ROM of the game is loaded as usual, but the music is CD quality, which represents of course a considerable improvement over the built-in audio of the Mega Drive. The problem here is that there are not many of these specially modified titles yet, but the awesome version of Streets of Rage 2 – complete with a reinvented variant of Yuzo Koshiro's sublime soundtrack – shows the potential of future versions.

It's worth talking a bit more about compatibility here. The unit works correctly on the original Sega hardware and will work even on a Nomad (although an internal modi is needed to make sure you get an audio CD). Clones are more random; the unit refused to work on our Columbus Circle 16Bit Pocket MD, and if you own another variant, you can check online before ordering. The best platform with which to use the cart is undoubtedly the Mega Analog Sg, which offers incredible visual clarity and a host of other features.

In the end, the Mega SD is a remarkable feat of engineering; it takes a cumbersome optical drive and condenses it into an elegant and elegant cartridge, opening up the mega CD library without having to spend huge sums of money in titles like Shining Force CD, Snatcher and Lunar on the secondary market.

It also solves the problem of failing Mega CD units; Disk-based systems are not as resilient as those based on cartridges, and the question is when, not if, your own system drops the ghost. The counterpoint here is that the Mega SD is quite expensive, priced at € 232.00. Now, if you add up the cost of a Mega CD unit and some of the best games for the format, you will surpass this figure effortlessly – but at a time when many people are just emulating from such systems on their smartphone, it clearly stands for a product aimed at a very specific sector of the market – and this sector will adore it absolutely in pieces.

Thanks to Terraonion for providing the unit used in this notice.

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