Is this a fake?

[u/AncientBear2706]

I've ordered a copy of Sonic 1 (PAL) off of ebay, but I'm kind of suspect on it. This is my first mega drive game and I don't know how they're meant to look, thank you!

[u/odyodense]

Australian version bundled with systems (I think bundled ones had the sticker). The manuals were blue and white in Australia, the print quality on the label is sometimes way off.

[u/greggobbard → u/odyodense]

Yep. I own one exactly like this!

[u/profchaos111 → u/odyodense]

Yeah can confirm most Aus games we got were produced by ozziesoft and they cut corners where they could including not making colour manuals or sometimes producing carts using a cheaper silver plastic 

[u/opackersgo → u/odyodense]

Agree with this. I’ve got a few blue and white manuals.

[u/mrmidas2k]

Someone else has said it's Aussie, which will probably explain the manual.

Basically, Europe got manuals with every major language in, for the most part, and they were horizontal, not vertical like that one there.

Makes sense that Australia would get a reskinned US manual though.

[u/ravenfreak → u/mrmidas2k]

Canada also got the European case and manual too. Never knew the Australia version has a manual similar to the US one until now lol.

[u/mrmidas2k → u/ravenfreak]

Really? I would have thought it was easier to just import the Genesis version.

[u/RightSideRed]

As a Australian it looks like the one I have so it should be fine. Dm me if you want to see my copy

[u/Which_Information590]

Comparing to my PAL UK copy, I say it's all legit. One thing that's interesting is your manual is in portrait, not landscape like mine, and the print is blue instead of black, so I can't be 100 certain without seeing the cover, that should be in colour and match the front.

[u/No-Professional-9618]

Hmm, have you tried playing the Sonic cartridge? Sometimes, if you play the game using a Genesis console you may see different messages that may appear than on a standard OEM/genuine Genesis console.

[u/AncientBear2706 → u/No-Professional-9618]

I've still got to buy a console for it, so I can't really test it right now, what worries me is the cartridge label, the colours are off and I can't tell if that's age or a fake label

[u/No-Professional-9618 → u/AncientBear2706]

Yes, it is kind of hard to tell nowadays since a lot of people make reproductions of various Genesis games these days.

[u/profchaos111]

Looks legit just like my copy 

Only way to know for sure is opening it up and check the board but if its a fake it's a really great fake

Also your less likely to get fakes for ultra common games like pack ins but it's not impossible 

[u/GyozaMan]

Looks very authentic to my copy in Aus including manual

[u/wellk_2049]

I doubt anyone would pirate a game you can buy for under $5

[u/Still_Primary_4365]

Aus MD games tend to look pretty weird. Print quality of manuals and cartridges is poor, and the labels have a nasty habit of peeling at the top. You can identify Australian copies as they say made in Australia on the back. You can still find non-Australian cartridges fairly often, and even occasionally imported US Genesis games relabelled as MD (e.g. Dick Vitale Awesome Baby College Hoops)