Sega Ages
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Sega Ages is a series of compilations and rereleases of classic Sega video games across several platforms, primarily developed by M2. The first set of games was released for the Sega Saturn primarily in Japan, and another set was released on the PlayStation 2 in Japan, known as Sega Ages 2500. Some of the 2500 titles were released in North America and Europe in Sega Classics Collection. There is also the Sega Ages Online series on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 in Japan, and a new series for the Nintendo Switch will be released on the Nintendo eShop in 2018. The Sega Ages series differs from most "retro" video game rereleases in that rather than compiling a number of games, most of them contain only one game and are instead sold at a very low price.[1]
Sega Saturn series
Sega released several Sega Ages games for the Sega Saturn in Japan:
| Title | Release | Games included |
|---|---|---|
| Sega Ages Vol.1 Syukudai ga Tant-R | 1996 May 24 | Puzzle and Action: Tant-R |
| Sega Ages Vol.2 Space Harrier | 1996 Aug 9 | |
| Sega Ages OutRun | 1996 Sep 20 | |
| Sega Ages After Burner II | 1996 Sep 27 | |
| Sega Ages Rouka ni Ichidant-R | 1996 Dec 27 | Puzzle and Action: Ichidant-R |
| Sega Ages Fantasy Zone | 1997 Feb 21 | |
| Sega Ages Memorial Selection Vol.1 | 1997 Feb 28 | Flicky, Head On, Pengo, Up'n Down[2] |
| Sega Ages Columns Arcade Collection | 1997 Oct 30 | Columns, Columns II: The Voyage Through Time, Stack Columns, Columns 97[3] |
| Sega Ages Memorial Selection Vol.2 | 1997 Nov 27 | Doki Doki Penguin Land, Samurai, Sindbad Mystery, Star Jacker, Monaco GP, Ninja Princess[4] |
| Sega Ages Power Drift | 1998 Feb 26 | |
| Sega Ages Phantasy Star Collection | 1998 Apr 2 | Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star IV[5] |
| Sega Ages Galaxy Force II | 1998 Jul 2 | |
| Sega Ages I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibouken/I Love Donald Duck: Guruzia Ou no Hihou | 1998 Oct 15 |
These versions of Space Harrier, Out Run, and After Burner II were released in North America and Europe on a single disc called Sega Ages, published by Working Designs under their Spaz imprint in North America. It was a best-seller in the United Kingdom.[7]
Sega Ages 2500
Sega Ages 2500 is a series of budget-priced games published by Sega, released for the PlayStation 2 console in Japan, with each game sold individually. Initially, these were part of a joint venture with D3 Publisher called "3D AGES" (SEGA D3 spelled backwards). These releases were primarily remakes of classic arcade titles with modern 3D graphics and new gameplay features, but also included 2D remakes (the Phantasy Star games) and ports (Virtua Racing and Bonanza Bros.).
Sega assumed control of the project with the release of Decathlete, and the 3D AGES development studio was retired with the release of Phantasy Star Generation 2. At this point, the direction of the series shifted focus from remakes to compilations of emulated titles, and ports (enhanced or otherwise) of classic Sega games. Sega produced these titles themselves, but the actual development work was frequently outsourced to other studios, most notably M2.
The notable exception to this shift away from remakes came with the final release in the series, Fantasy Zone Complete Collection, which included a compilation of classic games as well as a remake of Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa done in a style contemporaneous with the original. The protracted development of this game took over two years, following which Sega decided to retire the series.
List of complete series' titles
| Vol. | Release | Title | Developed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-08-28 | Phantasy Star Generation 1 | Jam Co., Ltd. | |
| 2 | 2003-08-28 | Monaco GP | Tamsoft Corporation | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 3 | 2003-08-28 | Fantasy Zone | Sims Co., Ltd. | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 4 | 2003-09-25 | Space Harrier | Tamsoft Corporation | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 5 | 2003-09-25 | Golden Axe | Sims Co., Ltd. | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 6 | 2004-01-15 | Puzzle & Action: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros. | Jam Co., Ltd. | Included in Sega Classics Collection, Bonanza Bros. advertised first. |
| 7 | 2003-12-18 | Columns | Sims Co., Ltd. | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 8 | 2004-02-26 | Virtua Racing -FlatOut- | Vingt-et-un Systems | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 9 | 2004-02-26 | Gain Ground | Warashi | |
| 10 | 2004-03-18 | After Burner II | Sims Co., Ltd. | |
| 11 | 2004-03-25 | Hokuto no Ken | Sims Co., Ltd. | Remake version that also includes the same original title for Sega Master System. |
| 12 | 2004-05-24 | Puyo Puyo Tsū Perfect Set | Enter | |
| 13 | 2004-05-27 | OutRun | Sims Co., Ltd. | Included in Sega Classics Collection. |
| 14 | 2004-07-29 | Alien Syndrome | h.a.n.d. | Included in North American version of Sega Classics Collection. |
| 15 | 2004-07-29 | DecAthlete Collection | Vingt-et-un Systems | Contains: DecAthlete, Winter Heat, and Virtua Athlete 2K. |
| 16 | 2004-10-14 | Virtua Fighter 2 | Sega | |
| 17 | 2005-03-24 | Phantasy Star Generation 2 | Sega | Original Mega Drive version of Phantasy Star II is included along with the remake |
| 18 | 2005-08-18 | Dragon Force | Sega | |
| 19 | 2005-04-28 | Fighting Vipers | Sega AM2 | |
| 20 | 2005-10-27 | Space Harrier II: Space Harrier Complete Collection | M2 | Contains: Space Harrier II, the Master System and arcade versions of Space Harrier, and Space Harrier 3-D. |
| 21 | 2005-10-27 | SDI & Quartet: Sega System 16 Collection | M2 | |
| 22 | 2006-02-23 | Advanced Daisenryaku: Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen | Chicken Head | Co-published by SystemSoft Alpha |
| 23 | 2005-12-22 | Sega Memorial Selection | Jam Co., Ltd. | Contains: Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, Borderline, Tranquilizer Gun, and Head On, as well as remakes of each game. |
| 24 | 2006-06-29 | Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi | M2 | |
| 25 | 2006-02-23 | Gunstar Heroes: Treasure Box | M2 | This volume also contains Dynamite Headdy and Alien Soldier. |
| 26 | 2006-04-27 | Dynamite Deka | Sega of China | |
| 27 | 2006-04-27 | Panzer Dragoon | Land Ho! | |
| 28 | 2006-09-28 | Tetris Collection | M2 | Contains: the classic Tetris, Bloxeed, Flash Point, and Tetris New Century. |
| 29[8] | 2007-03-08 | Monster World Complete Collection | M2 | Contains: Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, Wonder Boy in Monster World, and Monster World IV. |
| 30 | 2007-07-26 | Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition | M2 | In addition to remake titled Galaxy Force Neo Classic, there are the original arcade and its Master System and Genesis ports. |
| 31 | 2007-10-25 | Dennō Senki: Cyber Troopers Virtual-On | M2 | |
| 32 | 2008-03-27 | Phantasy Star Complete Collection[9] | M2 | Contains: Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star II Text Adventure, Phantasy Star Gaiden, and Phantasy Star Adventure. |
| 33 | 2008-09-11 | Fantasy Zone Complete Collection | M2 | Contains: Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II, Fantasy Zone Gear, Super Fantasy Zone, Galactic Protector, Fantasy Zone: The Maze, and an original "what if" remake, Fantasy Zone II: System 16 Version. |
Several other titles were cancelled due to the discontinuation of 3D Ages, namely: Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Bare Knuckle, Sonic The Hedgehog, and Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium.
Sega Classics Collection
A compilation of nine of the Sega Ages 3D remake titles were released in North America and Europe in 2005 and 2006 respectively for PlayStation 2.
| Title | Sega Ages Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco GP | Vol. 2 | |
| Fantasy Zone | Vol. 3 | |
| Space Harrier | Vol. 4 | |
| Golden Axe | Vol. 5 | |
| Bonanza Bros. | Vol. 6 | also includes Tant-R |
| Columns | Vol. 7 | |
| Virtua Racing | Vol. 8 | |
| Out Run | Vol. 13 | |
| Alien Syndrome | Vol. 14 | in North America only |
Sega Ages Online
In Japan, there are six Sega classic game releases that are available on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 that use the Sega Ages Online label. On May 22, 2012, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Hang-On, The Revenge of Shinobi, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, and Monster World IV were released on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 in all regions but they only use the Sega Ages Online label in Japan. These emulations were handled by M2.
Nintendo Switch
A Sega Ages line developed by M2 will be coming to the Nintendo Switch worldwide in Q3 2018 as Nintendo eShop downloads. The first ten games will be Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Columns II, Gain Ground, Out Run, Phantasy Star, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Space Harrier, Thunder Force AC, and Thunder Force IV.[10][11][12][13] Sega plans to initially release at least 15 arcade, Master System, and Mega Drive/Genesis titles for the Nintendo Switch, as well as titles from the Saturn and Dreamcast libraries over time.[14] The service debuted for the Nintendo Switch worldwide on September 20, 2018 with Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV.
| Title[15] | Original system | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Mega Drive | 20 September 2018 |
| Thunder Force IV | Mega Drive | 20 September 2018 |
| Phantasy Star | Master System | TBA |
| Alex Kidd in Miracle World | Master System | TBA |
| Gain Ground | Arcade | TBA |
| Space Harrier | Arcade | TBA |
| Out Run | Arcade | TBA |
| Columns II | Arcade | TBA |
| Thunder Force AC | Arcade | TBA |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive | TBA |
| Virtua Racing | Arcade | TBA |
References
- ^ "The Return of Old Games: Part 3". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine (6). Emap International Limited: 125. May 1996.
- ^ "Back of Memorial Selection Vol.1 box; picture from GameFAQs". Retrieved 21 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Back of Columns Arcade Collection box; picture from GameFAQs". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Back of Memorial Selection Vol.2 box; picture from GameFAQs". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Back of Phantasy Star Collection box; picture from GameFAQs". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sega of Japan Hardware Archive: First-Party Saturn Game List". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "Sega Retro Pack: Round Two". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 18. Emap International Limited. April 1997. p. 12.
- ^ Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection on segaretro.org
- ^ SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection on mobygames
- ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/04/sega_ages_is_officially_coming_to_nintendo_switch_in_the_west
- ^ https://kotaku.com/a-ton-of-classic-sega-games-are-coming-to-the-switch-1825293548
- ^ http://www.japanesenintendo.com/post/177838286484
- ^ Craddock, Ryan (September 12, 2018). "The Second Batch of Sega AGES Switch Titles Will Include Sonic 2, Out Run And More". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ McFerran, Damien (April 16, 2018). "Alex Kidd And Gain Ground Join Sega's AGES Line-Up On Switch, Saturn And Dreamcast Games Coming". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ ©SEGA. "SEGA AGES（セガエイジス）". SEGA AGES（セガエイジス） (in jp). Retrieved 2018-09-22.
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