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Sega has a rather long history of making their legacy titles available to modern platforms. In some cases, they probably jumped the gun too early, with the Sega Saturn receiving thirteen titles in the original "Sega Ages" line-up in Japan (Working Designs managed to bring a few of those titles in a compilation for the west under the title "Sega Ages"). In recent years, Sega has teamed up with M2 to bring those titles to the current generation, with their efforts producing arguably some of the best-performing iterations yet. This thread covers M2's latest iteration of the Sega Ages series of games on the Nintendo Switch, though we can also talk about any other classic Sega game offerings, such as Sega 3D Classics for Nintendo 3DS (mostly good), Sega Ages Online for Xbox 360/PS3 (unsure of these), or even Sega Forever on mobile (mostly lol).  Sega Ages website  Sonic the Hedgehog Release Date: September 20, 2018 Original release date: June 23, 1991 (North America) Original platform: Mega Drive/Genesis One of the first two releases for the Sega Ages series is Mr. Needlemouse's first 16-bit adventure, in which he must move quickly to defeat Teddy Roosevelt and his dastardly automatons. To the disappointment of many, this isn't the Christian Whitehead version that's still on mobile. Most of the features in this release are similar to M2's previous 3D Classics version, with a couple of new additions. The Drop Dash ability from Sonic Mania is added to the game alongside the Spin Dash, which can be toggled from the options. And in addition to the International and Japanese versions of the game, M2 has also included the Mega Play version of the game. The Mega Play is basically Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive-equivalent of Nintendo's PlayChoice-10, an arcade cabinet running Genesis hardware. This version of the game features much stricter time limits for each stage, the inability to collect 1-Ups, the inability to go into Special Stages (and by extension the inability to collect emeralds), and the omission of two zones: Marble Zone and Labyrinth Zone. Should I buy this game? The problem here is that Sonic the Hedgehog is available all over the place, either as a cheaper individual title or in the many Genesis compilations released over the years. The biggest draw to this version would be the Mega Play version, as it is the first time this particular version has been given an official digital release. Personally, I think the Mega Play version is great, despite it being a cut-down version of the game, mostly because it trims away arguably the two worst Zones in the game, making for a much breezier, arcade-y experience. Maybe throw it on your wishlist and wait for a sale if you're interested in that.  Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Thunder Force IV) Release date: September 20, 2018 Original release date: July 24, 1992 Original platform: Mega Drive/Genesis The second of the two launch games for the Switch Sega Ages line-up. Back on September 17, 2016 at Tokyo Game Show, Sega announced that they acquired Technosoft's library of games. While not necessarily a large list of games, among those is the Thunder Force series of shmups, with the third and fourth entries being considered among some of the best shmups on the Sega Genesis. Thunder Force IV is the fourth game in the series, renamed Lightening Force [sic] in North America for some unknown reason. If the name bothers you, you can change the region which will make all instances of Lightening Force change to Thunder Force IV. This is the first time the game has gotten an official digital release. A lot of the extras featured in this release are carried over from the Japan-exclusive Thunder Force: Gold Pack 2 for the Sega Saturn, including a "Kids Mode" that makes the game a bit easier, an option to reduce the slowdown that plagued certain sections of the Genesis original, and the ability to use the Styx from Thunder Force III which has a different powerup configuration. Should I buy this game? If you like shmups or at least have a bit of interest in looking at one, go for this. And if you find it too difficult, don't let the "Kids Mode" name dissuade you from trying out that easier mode. The Thunder Force games get a lot of acclaim from Genesis and shmup fans, but they aren't really casual-friendly. I'm bad at shmups but I find the game enjoyable, with repeated playthroughs making me better each time at least. It helps that the game has a killer soundtrack.  Phantasy Star Release date: October 31, 2018 (Japan); December 12, 2018 (Worldwide) Original release date: December 20, 1987 Original platform: Sega Mark III/Sega Master System Sega's answer to the mega-popular RPG Dragon Quest, Phantasy Star became one of the Master System's most critically-acclaimed titles, spawning three sequels during the Genesis era. Combining elements of science fiction and swords-and-sorcery fantasy, a story that was pretty robust for a 1987 console RPG, and some fancy first-person-perspective 3D maze dungeon crawling, the game is both a landmark title in the Japanese RPG genre and kind of a tough game to go back to. The game lacks a proper map, making dungeon navigation require the player to either memorize layouts or, as we used to do back in the day, graph paper everything out. UI elements are limited by the Master System's specs, only displaying some information (such as current health) while obscuring others (such as maximum health). Purchasing and finding new weapons and armor doesn't really explain what improvements they provide until you actually equip them on your characters. As groundbreaking as the game was, quality of life improvements in modern titles make the lack of them in Phantasy Star a difficult proposition for both new and returning players. As such, M2 went above and beyond with this release of the game. The game is played in a window, with the "wallpaper" regions of the playfield occupied with toggleable UI enhancements that make the game much easier to get into without compromising the integrity of the original Master System game. A standard health/mana display for each character has been added to the wallpaper area, giving you current/max health and mana information at all times. In addition, an auto-map is provided when entering a dungeon, mimicking the graph paper mapping of yore, but also providing markers for doors and other points of interest as well as telling you which direction you are facing in case you lose track of your cardinal direction. The Sega Ages application pause menu features lists and explanations for all of the weapons, armor, items, and magic spells in the game if you are ever unsure of what something does. M2 even included a new gameplay mode that rebalances the game's leveling progression to be less grind-intensive. And if for some reason you don't want the additional UI quality of life tools, you can toggle them off to have a more authentic Sega Master System experience. Should I buy this game? YES! If you ever wanted to give the original Phantasy Star a try but found it to be too impenetrable or too dated, give this release a try. All the quality of life improvements and new gameplay mode that M2 added to the game make it a more accessible experience without compromising the original game. This is one of the more ambitious releases in the current Sega Ages line-up.  Out Run Release date: November 29, 2018 (Japan); January 9, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: September 25, 1986 Original platform: Arcade (Sega OutRun) Yu Suzuki's classic arcade driving game, Out Run probably needs no introduction. It was one of Sega's most popular arcade titles in the '80s, inspired quite a few imitators (specifically Square's Famicom/NES racing game Highway Star, more famously known in the west as Rad Racer). Less about "racing" and more about driving around in cool settings while listening to some chill tunes, Out Run not only led to many imitators, but overshadowed a lot of Sega's driving game legacy, from the earlier Hang-On to the later Power Drift, until the release of Sega's 3D racing games such as Virtua Racing and Daytona USA. This release of the game has most of M2's previous 3D Classics version of the game's features retained, such as the widescreen mode, 60fps, gyro steering, the "Tune-Up" upgrade system (which is an unlockable) and the new music tracks that were in the previous version, plus extra music tracks pulled from the Sega Genesis version, OutRun 2 SP, and more. The game actually defaults to the updated features version of the game, and upon completing the game you unlock the original arcade version. Should I buy this game? If you already own the 3DS version, probably not. If not, then go for it. Maybe you're one of those NES kids that grew up loving Rad Racer and are like "I wish it was on that Switch NES thing" or whatever, like I was, and maybe didn't play Out Run until years later, like I did, and then you'll fall in love with Out Run and kinda forget that Rad Racer was a thing, like I often do. In which case, get it. Also, debate in this thread over what the best music track in the game is (the answer is Magical Sound Shower).  Gain Ground Release date: December 27, 2018 (Japan); March 27, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: November 1988 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System 24) Gain Ground is a strange concept for an arcade game. It looks like a run-and-gun ala Commando or Ikari Warriors, but plays much slower and more deliberate. You start with a few characters with drastically different abilities, with the opportunity to gather more characters with even more different skills. Enemy placements and attack patters feel more puzzle than action. If Gain Ground was labeled with a genre, it would probably be a weird real-time strategy prototype. Play the role of a group of people from a far distant future trapped in a computer combat simulation program gone haywire, as you navigate a battlefield that requires careful planning and the right abilities to survive. While the Genesis version has been released several times on various compilations and digital distribution platforms, this is the first time the arcade version has been available via digital distribution. The major differences between the two are the additional vertical space in the arcade release, three player support for the arcade (International version; Japanese version only supports up to two players), and the lack of extra stages found in the Genesis release. M2's additions to the game include a "Full Member Mode," which gives you all the characters at the beginning, giving you the chance to try out all the characters so you can get used to them, a Rewind feature, and the ability to rotate the screen clockwise or counterclockwise for TATE display, which gets rid of the wallpaper for the most part. Speaking of wallpaper, the default wallpaper is a recreation of the arcade cabinet's side banners, which show all of the characters and their statistics (weapon type and what direction weapons fire). Should I buy this? This is one of my favorite Sega arcade titles. It's also one of the most difficult titles to recommend to anybody. If you happen to own one of the many Sega Genesis compilations that have Gain Ground on it, give that a try. If you like what you played or are at least curious if the arcade version might be better, then sure, go for it.  Alex Kidd in Miracle World Release date: February 21, 2019 (Japan); March 27, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: November 1, 1986 Original platform: Sega Mark III/Sega Master System Move over, Super Mario Bros., because here comes Alex Kidd, the guy who can do more than jump and move to the right! He lives in a world where the screen can scroll DOWNWARD (WHAT???) and he can jump into WATER (OH NO) to SWIM (OH poo poo) instead of DIE (WICKED) and he defeats bosses by playing jan-ken-pon (HUH?) (that's paper-rock-scissors) (oh)! Also he can PUNCH, ride a MOTORCYCLE, and FLY A COPTER, and eat an ONIGIRI (jelly donut)(hamburger in some versions). Alex Kidd in Miracle World is probably the most famous Master System game, and it's an alright game for the most part. M2 didn't add a whole lot of new additions for this version, but they're neat little extras, including some new sprite artwork cutscene stills for stages, a Rewind feature, and FM sound. The default wallpaper border includes the answers to the paper-rock-scissors boss fights so you can just kinda glance at those to get through them instead of doing the guess work on it, and if you don't want to rely on those you can always change the wallpaper. The most important feature is the region selection includes "International," "Japan," and "Hamburger" which is the Japan version but with Alex Kidd eating a hamburger instead of an onigiri. There's a leaderboard challenge mode if you're interested as well. Should I buy this? This is probably the least impressive release in the series, to be honest. Grab this only if you want to get your Alex Kidd on.  Virtua Racing Release date: April 25, 2019 (Japan); June 27, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: August 1992 Original platform: Arcade (Model 1) Yu Suzuki, years after getting folks to play a driving game in which you drive instead of race, has returned with a new concept: a driving game in which you race instead of drive! While not the first 3D polygonal racing video game, Virtua Racing managed to impress arcade fans with features, framerate, and design that rivaled previous attempts. It also ushered in a new era of Sega arcade racing games, leading to games such as Daytona USA and Sega Rally Championship. M2's port of the game runs at 60fps and is displayed at a 16:9 aspect ratio (the "Deluxe Type" Virtua Racing arcade cabinets featured a widescreen CRT monitor, one of the earliest arcade games to use such a display, with the "WIDE VISION" label affixed to the cabinet, referenced in the Sega Ages menu screen). It also features online play and eight player local co-op. Should I buy this? YES! This is the first time the game has been available digitally, with the last release being the PS2 Sega Ages version that appears in the Sega Classics Collection compilation in the west.  Wonder Boy: Monster Land Release date: May 30, 2019 (Japan); June 27, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: August 1987 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System 2) Wonder Boy: Monster Land is the second game in the confusing naming lineage of the Wonder Boy series, but the first game of the genre it would be mostly associated with, as a side-scrolling action RPG (the original Wonder Boy is probably more remembered for its NES port by Hudson Soft as Adventure Island). While this game received a Master System port in the west (under the title Wonder Boy in Monster Land replacing the colon with the word "in", the arcade version was a Japan-exclusive title until recent years, with the PlayStation Store receiving a localized version of the game years ago. The M2 additions to this game are kind of slim, with "Power Up New Game" being the most substantial addition, allowing players to start a new game with all the equipment they accumulated in a previous run. "Money Hungry Mode" is more of a challenge score-attack mode that only changes one thing: it fixes a glitch in the original game where you could mash directions to earn more cash from the hidden money spots of the game. Should I buy this? It's an action RPG but for the arcade, with all the limitations of being an arcade game being present and none of the benefits of long-form console RPG play. The game is fun and a neat curiosity, but the lack of any significant additions make this release a bit anemic. Maybe wait for a sale.  Puyo Puyo Release date: March 28, 2019 (Japan); August 22, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: October 1992 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System C2) Puyo Puyo is the Japanese version of what most western Genesis-era video game fans probably remember as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. The first game was originally released on the MSX in 1991 as a single-player endless puzzle game ala Tetris, but the franchise really took off when the Sega Mega Drive and arcade versions introduced two-player versus, which became the staple gameplay format. Compile, the company who originally owned the series, sold the rights to Sega back in 1998 when they were struggling financially (they eventually closed down in 2003). As such, after the inability to release a console port of Tetris (despite having the arcade rights to it) and dabbling with puzzle games like Columns and Baku Baku, Sega secured a major puzzle game franchise in their roster of franchises that was mostly just popular in Japan. Only in recent years with Puyo Puyo Tetris did Sega finally decide to give the series a worldwide attempt again. Apparently, there have been debates over whether an English-localized arcade release of Puyo Puyo ever reached the west, and whether the arcade ROM that was distributed on the internet was legit or was an elaborate fan work. This release features both the Japanese and International (English) versions of the arcade game, possibly laying that debate to rest. M2's additions to the game include the ability to rotate Puyos in both directions (the original game only allowed one rotational direction) and the "quick turn" rule that was introduced in its sequel (if your Puyos can't rotate in a narrow well, the colors will flip). You can toggle off those controls to have a more accurate arcade experience. This game also features online play. Should I buy this? Puyo Puyo is my favorite puzzle game series, but the first game is kind of rough, even with the added quality of life rotational features. The main problem with this first game is that it lacks the siginificant gameplay rule introduced in its much-better sequel where you can offset opponent's garbage puyo combos with your own combos, a comeback mechanic that feels more like a competiton of who can combo the most consistently and time it properly. As such, this game comes down to "who can make combos the fastest" with no comeback mechanics to speak of: if you or your opponent bust out a large combo fast enough, that person is guaranteed a win. Maybe buy it on sale, or better yet, grab Puyo Puyo Champions instead, which costs only a few bucks more. Only recommended for completists or for people who really love Theme of Puyo Puyo like me.  Space Harrier Release date: June 27, 2019 (Japan); August 22, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: December 1985 Original platform: Arcade (Sega Space Harrier) One of the earliest, if not the first, rail shooters, Space Harrier is yet another Yu Suzuki classic arcade title. Move a running flying dude around through the FANTASY ZONE (GET READY) as you soar and shoot through a surreal world that may or may not contain several pop culture references as a badass soundtrack plays. This release includes a lot of the additional features that were added to the 3D Classics version of the game, including widescreen mode and an additional boss that was console-exclusive. The newest additions include "KOMAINU Barrier Attack," an option that makes two komainu flank Harrier on either side, providing protection against slamming into environmental obstacles and enemies, but not against enemy fire. It's basically an easy mode. There's also a joystick control option where you can play using the JoyCon gyros as if it were a joystick if that's your thing. Should I buy this? I would say yes, but if you already have the 3D Classics version for the 3DS it doesn't add much, and you lose out on the cool 3D feature. But if you don't care much for the 3D on that or don't own a 3DS or are moving on from the 3DS to get into the Switch Train and still need your Space Harrier fix then go for it. I believe your only other option for a rail shooter similar to this one would be SNES Star Fox on that SNES Online emulator thing.  Columns II: A Voyage Through Time Release date: August 8, 2019 (Japan); October 17, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: August 1990 Original paltform: Arcade (Sega System C) Columns is one of those puzzle games folks either despise or apathetic to, with a few fans here or there. Two of the games were released on the Sega Genesis and made it to the west: the original Columns and Columns III which features a versus puzzle style system similar to the previously mentioned Puyo Puyo as well as supporting up to five player games. Columns II, meanwhile, was a Japanese-exclusive arcade title that got a Sega Ages port on the Sega Saturn which was also Japan-exclusive. This is the first time the game has received an official digital release in the west, and it is sort of the bridge between the two titles. "Flash Columns" from the home ports of Columns returns as the main game mode, with an added hazard in the form of skull jewels that appear in the well after a while, replacing an existing jewel, that forces the well upward with the crush bar if cleared. If you're familiar with the versus mode gameplay of Columns III, it is here as well, except limited to two-players and, instead of building up meter to deploy the crush bar on your opponent at opportune times, performing combos immediately triggers the crush bar. M2's additions to the game include the ability to set the jewel pieces a static design based on the original Columns design (by default, each stage changes the design of the pieces which may be difficult to keep up with for some), a toggle for the skull hazards, and an "Infinite Columns" mode which adds a new line of jewels to the bottom of the well periodically instead of a stage-based game. The game also features online play and, as a neat option for local multiplayer, if you play in tabletop mode, you can set the opponent's playfield to the opposite side of the console at a 180 degree angle from you, give the two of you a head-to-head setup rather than sitting side-by-side. M2 has also included the Sega Genesis version of the original Columns as a bonus (apparently this version is based on the port included in the Japanese-exclusive Ryuu ga Gotoku 0: Free to Play Application for PlayStation Vita app). And as a neat little bit of fanservice, there's the "Jewel Box" menu, a sort of achievement system for clearing each stage of Flash Columns mode. Every five stages cleared gives you an illustration of one of the sign-holding characters from the opening video of each Sega Ages game, with their name and their game of origin. Should I buy this? If you don't like Columns, this game won't change your mind. It's a neat curiosity for being something that was exclusive to Japan for so long, though. If you do like Columns, this game is more challenging, so give it a shot in that case. I'm still working on that Jewel Box thing.  Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R Release date: September 26, 2019 (Japan); October 17, 2019 (Worldwide) Original release date: June 1994 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System C2) The Puzzle & Action series is a weird spin-off of Bonanza Bros., at least in aesthetics. Three games were released in the series, with very few of them getting releases in the west. The third game, Puzzle & Action: Treasure Hunt, got an arcade release in North America about two years after the Japanese release, but the Saturn port was exclusive to Japan, since by the time the arcade version arrived in North America, the Saturn was already discontinued. The first game, Puzzle & Action: Tant-R, got a western localization as part of the Sega Classics Collection for the PS2, a decade after the game's original arcade release in Japan. This is the first time the second game in the series has been given an English localization and release for the west. As to what the game is like, some compare it to WarioWare as it's a series of quick mini-games, but they're not as rapid-fire as WarioWare. They're more comparable to Namco's arcade and PlayStation lightgun series Point Blank, sans the lightgun. One or two players progress though a series of mini-games, ranging from counting objects to solving puzzles to reflex-based challenges, losing a life each time a challenge is failed. M2 added an online multiplayer mode, a "Helper" option for arcade mode that gives player a bunch of extra lives and fewer challenge requirements (for those that want to give each mini-game a try or to just blitz through the game), and as an added bonus, the Mega Drive version of the game (Japanese-only, since this game was never released outside of Japan). Should I buy this? YES! Maybe. The lack of extras may seem disappointing, but the fact that they localized a 25-year-old arcade game is cool as hell. Since the game is an arcade mini-game collection ala Namco's Point Blank, there's probably limited appeal to folks wanting more robust offering, especially on the single player side of things. However, it makes for a great multiplayer game.  Shinobi Release date: October 31, 2019 (Japan); January 23, 2020 (Worldwide) Original release date: November 1987 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System 16) Sega's answer to Namco's Rolling Thunder, Shinobi is an arcade action platformer in which you control the titular shinobi, Joe Musashi, as he runs around a city and other places saving children from Bad Guys. The first game in the franchise, it differs from the probably more familiar at this point Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. As a Rolling Thunder-like, you die in one hit from most attacks, but bumping into enemies just knocks you back. Several stages take advantage of multiple levels/floors/background planes, which you can jump up and down into by holding up/down and pressing the jump button. The main difference between the two games, however, is that Shinobi requires you to rescue all the children in a stage before you can exit the stage. In some stages, this is a linear affair that doesn't seem like much; in others, you need to do a little backtracking or go out of your way to save them. M2 added an "AGES Mode" to the game that gives Joe Musashi a white ninja outfit, more reminiscent of his later games. Beyond the cosmetic change, it also allows him to take two hits instead of one (his outfit changes to a red color when he has expended one hit), and his melee and ranged attacks always have their max powered-up upgrades on. The game also features a stage select option (as a toggle) but you can only choose stages you've already cleared. This game also has a Rewind feature much like the recent Sega Genesis Classics compilation, though it will only go back ten seconds at a time rather than being more flexible. For folks wanting to perfect their playthrough of the game, maybe for speedrunning or whatever, the game will also save a replay of your playthrough, complete with information on what inputs you executed through the run. Should I buy this? Yes! While this game was previously available on Wii Virtual Console (rip) and Xbox 360's digital distribution platform, they were more or less just the emulated arcade game. This is arguably the best way to play the game now considering all the quality-of-life features added to make an extremely difficult and unfair-at-times game into a Hyperbolic Time Chamber of Getting Good at Shinobi. The new AGES Mode doesn't make the game much easier, but the Rewind feature does give you a convenient tool to learn the layout of stages if you want to master the game for speedrunning or what have you. And you can still toggle all those features off and play the original arcade version if you so choose.  Fantasy Zone Release date: November 28, 2019 (Japan); January 23, 2020 (Worldwide) Original release date: March 28, 1986 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System 16A) Fantasy Zone is the classic Sega "cute-em-up" that's like if Defender was about murdering everything on screen rather than protecting people and also you can go shopping. This version is based on the previous Nintendo 3DS iteration, 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros., and features a lot of the additional content from that version, sans the stereoscopic 3D of course. The major new addition to the game is online leaderboards and a Time Attack mode that challenges you to clear the game as fast as possible with a 20 minute time limit and unlimited lives. Should I buy this? YES! However, if you already own the 3DS version, maybe. The Time Attack mode is great fun and all the additions from the 3DS version are still here, so it's a matter of how much Fantasy Zone you want in your life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COMING SOON Sega Ages Japanese Website - lists current and upcoming games Puyo Puyo Tsuu (2) Release date: January 16, 2020 (Japan); February 20, 2020 (Worldwide) Original release date: October 1994 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System C2) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Release date: February 13, 2020 (Japan); February 20, 2020 (Worldwide) Original release date: November 21, 1992 Original platform: Mega Drive/Genesis Thunder Force AC Original release date: December 1990 Original platform: Arcade (Sega System C2) G-LOC AIR BATTLE Original release date: 1990 Original platform: Arcade (Sega Y Board; R-360 Cabinet) Herzog Zwei Original release date: December 15, 1989 Original platform: Mega Drive/Genesis Mercury Crusader fucked around with this message at 23:50 on Feb 20, 2020 |
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Oct 22, 2019 11:02
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Other Sega Legacy Options ------------------------------------------------------  Sega Forever website Sega Forever is (was?) Sega's attempt at a Sega Ages-like offering for iOS and Android. Free-to-download (with ads) applications with a one-time purchase to remove ads is the business model used for the brand, which gives you a pretty decent idea if you want to actually put money down later. The brand began on June 22, 2017 with five Genesis games, with Sonic the Hedgehog being the Christian Whitehead mobile remake, and the other four using an emulator. Most games can be played with a controller but who needs that when you can just mash your thumbs into your screen? Here's the problem with the service: most of the games are just Genesis games on an emulator. The emulator used to be garbage, but now it's, uh, passable but still not that good. Thankfully they're free downloads so you can mess around with it a bit to see if you can tolerate it. The games that AREN'T Genesis games running on those emulators are games that were previously available for purchase on iOS/Android made free-to-play, modified to incorporate ads, and paying the in-app purchase to remove the ads basically reverted them back to their old purchased version. As far as I can tell, if you bought the old versions before the Sega Forever initiative, those are still available for you to download without the Sega Forever ad nonsense. The last game was released on April 4, 2019 after an inconsistent release schedule, and based on the silence that came afterwards, Sega is pretty much done releasing new games for it. ---------------------------------------- List of Games That Aren't Genesis Emulator Apps: ---------------------------------------- After Burner Climax - The last game released for the service (until further notice), an arcade title originally released in 2006. This is actually the mobile port that was released originally in 2013 but then pulled from digital stores in 2015. Crazy Taxi - This is the 2012/2013 mobile port carried over as part of the service. It's actually a pretty good port of the game, and most importantly, it has The Offspring and Bad Religion soundtrack. RECOMMENDED Sonic the Hedgehog - This is the Christian Whitehead remake, as mentioned before. RECOMMENDED Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - This is also the Christian Whitehead remake. RECOMMENDED Sonic CD - This is the Christian Whitehead remake as well. RECOMMENDED Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II - So yeah, this was made part of Sega Forever. Hilariously, Episode I is still available as a regular purchase. Super Monkey Ball: Sakura Edition - This was originally a mobile game made for iOS and Windows Phone in 2010. The Android version was released in 2018 for this service, with the iOS version getting re-released as part of this whole thing. You control the game by tilting your phone, so take that as you will. Virtua Tennis Challenge - This was originally a 2012 release repurposed for Sega Forever. ---------------------------------------- Genesis Emulator Games ---------------------------------------- Altered Beast Beyond Oasis Comix Zone Decap Attack Dynamite Headdy ESWAT: City under Siege Gunstar Heroes Kid Chameleon The Revenge of Shinobi Ristar Space Harrier II Streets of Rage Streets of Rage 2 Vectorman Golden Axe Classics - A single app that contains Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, and Golden Axe III Phantasy Star Classics - A single app that contains Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, and Phantasy Star IV Shining Force Classics - A single app that contains Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force, and Shining Force II ------------------------------------------------------ Mercury Crusader fucked around with this message at 20:14 on Oct 22, 2019 |
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Oct 22, 2019 11:04
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Been playing the virtua racing switch release recently, trying to get 1st on each track. It's so good
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Oct 23, 2019 00:03
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I hope they removed the trapped chests in Phantasy Star from random encounters. No fun having some money explode and take half your party health. Who thought that was a good idea?
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Oct 23, 2019 00:24
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Sega releases so much stuff on pc that I keep waiting for the Phantasy Star sega ages version to come out for it and keep getting disappointed it doesn't. PS1 even before the sega ages treatment is way more playable than trying to play 2 or 3 as is.
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Oct 23, 2019 01:12
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Scalding Coffee posted:I hope they removed the trapped chests in Phantasy Star from random encounters. No fun having some money explode and take half your party health. Who thought that was a good idea? Traps are still in. The chance of a trap depends on what enemy type you're fighting; you eventually get a sense for which ones have a notably high chance of leaving traps behind (or can look it up on GameFAQs) and can avoid those or use Myau's Trap magic if you don't want to take the risk.
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Oct 23, 2019 01:32
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Sivek posted:Sega releases so much stuff on pc that I keep waiting for the Phantasy Star sega ages version to come out for it and keep getting disappointed it doesn't. I'm bummed out Sega rarely puts their legacy stuff on PC, Steam or otherwise. I have all these different iterations of Sega Ages across multiple platforms, but some of them are reaching retro status already, so it's like a weird turducken of collecting a retro console to play retro-er games. It would be nice to have them on a platform that persists outside of the time-limited console cycles.
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Oct 23, 2019 04:19
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https://twitter.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1188627887408041984 Japan is getting Shinobi on October 31. Which means the rest of the world will probably get it alongside whatever the next game after it is (Thunder Force AC probably) in, like, December.
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Oct 28, 2019 15:35
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Mercury Crusader posted:https://twitter.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1188627887408041984
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Oct 28, 2019 16:43
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Please, please, please port OutRun 2 to the Switch. I don't care if you have to strip the Ferrari logos off of everything, just give me that game so I can finally retire my PS2. edit: And give me Fantasy Zone 1 and the remake of 2 already, damnit
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Oct 30, 2019 05:44
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Around 80% of the reason I still have my 3DS cable around to charge up and use the system is so I can playthrough Shinobi III 3D whenever I'm in the mood, it's such an amazing port of a sick game.
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Oct 30, 2019 06:31
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The Sega Ages ports are the only reason I regret getting a 2DS XL over a 3DS. 3D Space Harrier was sick.
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Oct 30, 2019 20:57
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https://twitter.com/sega_city/status/1189718086468784128
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Oct 31, 2019 11:52
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Buy the phantasy star port it is incredibly good. First person dungeon crawlers forever
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Oct 31, 2019 12:20
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Shinobi is back baby, awoo (Altered Beast wolf howl)
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Oct 31, 2019 15:01
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Freshly announced: Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone This is based on the arcade version, with the additional content from the 3DS port making an appearance. Features Include:
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Nov 16, 2019 07:18
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 now give us FZ2
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Nov 16, 2019 07:29
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The Kins posted:
These are the kind of additions I crave. Gimme more of that Fantasy Zone goodness. Speaking of Fantasy Zone, the game that confuses me the most is Super Fantasy Zone, in regards to development and publisher. Namely, Sunsoft was involved in it, so does that make it a Sunsoft game? Does Sega technically own the rights to the game? That whole thing never made sense to me.
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Nov 16, 2019 09:33
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Sega owns the rights in some capacity because Super Fantasy Zone is unlockable in Yakuza 0
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Nov 16, 2019 10:10
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https://twitter.com/MercuryCrusader/status/1195654852879122432 I spent way too much time playing Columns II to do what are essentially cheevos. I feel bad about this as I could've spent that time learning how to play Puyo Puyo better.
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Nov 16, 2019 11:59
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Give us Fantasy Zone: The Maze! 
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Nov 21, 2019 09:31
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A bunch of these games are half-off in Europe right now - Sonic, Alex Kidd, Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Virtua Racing. Genesis Mini's $50 for the next week or so in the US, too. Mercury Crusader posted:Speaking of Fantasy Zone, the game that confuses me the most is Super Fantasy Zone, in regards to development and publisher. Namely, Sunsoft was involved in it, so does that make it a Sunsoft game? Does Sega technically own the rights to the game? That whole thing never made sense to me. Yes, it's a Sunsoft game and Sega has to pay them a cut whenever they put it out again.
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Nov 25, 2019 03:10
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https://twitter.com/SEGA/status/1215317309595631618 Sega's release schedule of these games outside of Japan is getting kind of ridiculous. I feel like they're just gonna wrap things up quietly once the rest of their announced games are released whenever.
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Jan 10, 2020 00:34
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Both Shinobi and Fantasy Zone are out for the international markets if you aren't buying them from the Japanese eShop like I probably should be doing because Sega of America is slow as poo poo getting these games rolled out. The next two games coming up in Japan are both personal favorites of mine, Puyo Puyo 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. https://twitter.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1216902741177458688 https://twitter.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1217707241702166528 Puyo Puyo 2 doesn't have an international/English version as far as I can remember, unlike Puyo Puyo 1, so I'm curious to see if they'll translate the game or not for the western market, or if they just won't bother bringing the game over. What makes Puyo Puyo 2 a weird candidate at the moment is that the Switch SNES Online thing has the SNES version of the game available, so I wonder if enough people are interested in buying the arcade version. (me, I'm that person that's going to buy it) EDIT: Oh right, Puyo Puyo 2 is already out in Japan. Apparently it doesn't have a translation for the game itself, but the menus and such are in English. Sonic 2 is getting Knuckles, and it will also get the Sonic Mania "Drop Dash" ability added in. Mercury Crusader fucked around with this message at 08:36 on Jan 24, 2020 |
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Jan 24, 2020 08:12
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We better get Fantasy Zone II.
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Jan 24, 2020 08:19
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Give us sonic 3 or give us death
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Jan 24, 2020 19:19
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https://twitter.com/SEGA/status/1225464170293972992 The turnaround for these two games is a lot faster than the last two. I'm surprised.
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Feb 7, 2020 14:49
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Do I really need a thirty-third way of playing Sonic 2? No. But also yes.
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Feb 7, 2020 14:51
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So does Sega just ignore that the far superior Christian Whitehead ports exist out of spite or something
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Feb 8, 2020 03:32
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I assume the point of this iteration of the Sega Ages line is to offer, at bare minimum, the most original version of the game they could provide (some situations like changing artwork in Shinobi still happens for potential legal reasons), and then M2 builds upon that. The Christian Whitehead versions of the Sonic games are remakes so they would be counter to that I suppose. Though it's not like they're oblivious to Whitehead's work; both Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 under this version of Sega Ages add the Drop Dash ability from Sonic Mania. That being said, I still don't know why those versions aren't offered in more places. Maybe it's some contractual thing with M2. Sonic CD is still the only one of the three that is offered on Steam. The Android/iOS versions are still available under Sega's lazy Sega Forever branding, so at least there's that.
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Feb 8, 2020 05:38
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Sega Mobile works separately from the rest of Sega, Whitehead did those remakes for them, and the rest of Sega doesn't want to play ball with the mobile division.
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Feb 8, 2020 20:14
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SCheeseman posted:So does Sega just ignore that the far superior Christian Whitehead ports exist out of spite or something Sega has a million different divisions and they're all somewhat independent and don't interact or coordinate even when it makes sense to do so.
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Feb 9, 2020 06:37
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That is also very much not new-- see Sonic 2 vs Sonic CD. SEGA seems to exist as one of those colony organisms that only holds together because making money is the conglomerate equivalent of the need to eat and replicate.
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Feb 9, 2020 07:23
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The next Sega Ages game in Japan is Herzog Zwei. New features include:
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Jun 30, 2020 12:43
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Is this the first Techno Soft release since Sega acquired them? Hopefully it trends towards Thunder Force series.
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Jun 30, 2020 12:53
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falz posted:Is this the first Techno Soft release since Sega acquired them? Thunder Force 4 and AC were already Sega Ages
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Jun 30, 2020 14:18
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They need to get past the Genesis era and start some Saturn and DC Sega Ages
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Jun 30, 2020 16:43
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Between this, the neo geo pocket color games possibly coming out, and link's awakening, I am considering getting a switch (when they release the new version later this year, it's gotta be coming, right?)
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Jun 30, 2020 16:47
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Empress Brosephine posted:They need to get past the Genesis era and start some Saturn and DC Sega Ages Yes, very much this. We know M2 can make a really great collection of Genesis games. Cool. Let's see Saturn, DC, and 90s arcade stuff that hasn't gotten love like Revenge of Death Adder.
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Jul 1, 2020 23:05
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| # ? Apr 23, 2024 22:11 |
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I'm not usually an RPG guy, but 'Phantasy Star' grabbed me by the balls. Could not recommend it enough.
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Jul 3, 2020 03:27
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