The Sega Genesis CDX is the latest product from Sega in the 16 bit category. The CDX game player is fully compatible with the complete line of Genesis software, including both carts and Sega CDs. The CDX also supports standard audio compact discs as well as the CD+G format. The CDX is nicely equipped with a 6-button controller, a stereo A/V cable which supports composite video, SONIC CD, ECCO THE DOLPHIN CD, and a "Classics" disk containing STREETS OF RAGE, GOLDEN AXE (still only one player), COLUMNS, REVENGE OF SHINOBI, and MONACO GP.
The CDX is indeed portable. It weighs a mere 1.5 lbs., and measures 7.8 inches in length by 5.5 inches in width by 1.8 inches in height. It is only slightly larger than a traditional portable CD player, and considering the added functionality of the CDX over traditional CD players, the small size of the CDX is rather incredible. The CDX can operate on two AA size batteries, but unfortunately, only audio CDs can be played while using batteries. Genesis carts and game CDs require the AC adapter.
The cartridge slot on the CDX is located toward the rear of the unit, just behind a flip-up CD door. This slot contains a spring-loaded dust cover which firmly covers the slot when not in use. The flip-up CD door opens gently by pressing a small button near the front of the unit. The door raises to a 55 degree angle which allows for easy insertion and removal of disks. Unlike the Sega CD, disks cannot just be placed on the CD tray. Similar to many of today' s portable CD players, the spindle of the player has three ball bearings which hold disks in place even if the unit is inverted. This requires more effort to insert and remove disks, but it is a very minor inconvenience. Unlike older Sega CD players, the CDX contains all the controls found on a traditional CD player, allowing for fast forward/reverse, next/previous track, play, pause, and stop. You do not need to connect a game controller if you merely want to play audio CDs. The unit also has a reset button and a large power-on/off button(located between the two controller ports on the front of the unit). All of these buttons have a very solid feel.
A small backlit LCD display on the top of the unit displays the status of the player. The LCD is backlit only when the player is connected to an AC power source. This panel indicates the track being accessed, if the player has been paused, if the CD is being accessed, and the status of the battery. Strangely, the indicator always reads "Game" when the unit is powered on, regardless of the current function of the unit. I find it somewhat annoying for the indicator to read "Game" when an audio CD is in use.
The user's manual is clear and concise (but who reads manuals anyway?). If you purchase a CDX, I suggest you at least browse through the manual, as there are several warnings about possible ways to damage the player. In the April/ May issue of "Sega Visions", an article on page 110 states "(you) don't have to power down to switch between carts, or between carts and CDs." This statement is false, and it is directly contradicted by the user's manual. The manual says that you should ALWAYS turn the CDX off before inserting or removing a cartridge. Another note of caution... the cartridge slot door activates a switch that cuts power to the CD portion of the unit when the door is opened. The manual states that by "touching" the cartridge slot cover while data is being saved into RAM can "damage" the backup RAM. I haven't actually tried touching the door during a RAM save (for obvious reasons) so I don't actually know what happens.
Another slight (underscore the word 'slight') annoyance with the CDX is that the video cable plugs into the side of the unit and not the back. So, when the A/V cable is connected, it results in a two inch protrusion on the right side of the unit. This is only cosmetically annoying, and considering the compact nature of the CDX, it is an annoyance I can deal with.
Finally, due to the curved front of the CDX, the EA four-way connector and the Sega remote control unit will not fit directly onto the CDX. This can be overcome, albeit in a somewhat cumbersome fashion, with the use of a couple of expansion cables.
All in all, I consider the CDX to be a good value. If you add up the cost of a traditional Genesis, Sega CD, 6-button controller, stereo A/V cable, Sonic CD, and Ecco CD, the CDX is actually cheaper than purchasing all of these components separately. Throw in the CDX's portability and impressive, sleek styling and you get a nice entertainment package that is capable of playing a huge library of game software with good looks and style.
The CDX may not have a palette of 12.8 million colors or 32 channel wave table synthesis, but it is still capable of providing a lot of entertainment for years to come.
This review is Copyright (C) 1994 by Charles Laine for Game Bytes Magazine. All rights reserved.