The Nintendo Switch port of the SEGA Master System’s Phantasy Star, part of the SEGA AGES line, will be dropping in September. In addition, the extra features available in the port have now been detailed.
For Japanese users, the game includes a hiragana script option, as was present in the SEGA Saturn’s version of the game. There will also be a low-difficulty mode included for new players – it’s unclear right now if this will factor in the previous collection’s reward toggles, but it’s a safe bet based on previous interviews. Also included is a picture book of the various monsters in the game, which seems to be filled out similarly to a Pokedex, and a list of items and armour is also available for easy reference as to what they actually do.
One of the biggest extra features however, is the addition of a new map function. Previously, dungeons weren’t mapped out meaning you’d have to actually draw a physical map to keep track of where you were. Now the game can keep track for you, should you so desire – another helpful feature to ease in new players.
Finally, the game features both the FM and PSG soundtracks, and a music player so you can listen to the tracks at your discretion.
Overall this is shaping up to be a very nice package, which is to be expected from M2. Unfortunately it’s not yet clear when exactly the first two games in the line, Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV, are set to launch; both games are due some time this month. We’ll keep an eye out for concrete release information.
This information comes from the official SEGA AGES site, which has received a bit of an overhaul. Several screenshots are also available on the site, but we’ve popped them below for convenience.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
Tags: m2, nintendo switch, phantasy star, sega ages Posted in News | Comments Off on SEGA AGES: Phantasy Star Launches in September for Nintendo Switch, New Features Detailed
A new model company called Retro Electro has revealed that they are producing a miniature model Mega Drive for release in December 2018. The model will be 1:2.3 scale (approximately 122mm x 92mm x 30mm) and comes with an additional miniature Sonic the Hedgehog cartridge, controller and replica box based on the Sonic bundle. The prototype images show a European PAL model Mega Drive and there’s currently no word if models based on the Japanese and US systems are planned. Retro Electro have stated that their models are priced between £30-£40. Pre-orders will be opening soon and if you want to bookmark Retro Electro’s website so you don’t miss them then you can click this link.
Do you want to learn a little bit more about the 2nd SEGA Saturn model in European territories? Well now you can! Simply visit the SEGA Saturn (Model 2) page in our Hardware section! This new article features a brief history on the system, details regarding its launch as well some of its strengths and weaknesses. We also have a brief system specification and some lovely, high quality images of the system.
Retro-Bit’s new line of fully licensed SEGA controllers for consoles and PCs have been given a formal release date of November 2018. The controllers will be featured at Gamescom 2018, specifically at Game Outlet Booth #A041 in Hall 04.2 of the Koelnmesse Convention Center from the 21st to the 25th of August 2018. Below is the full list of controllers that Retro-Bit are planning to showcase for launch in November:
Genesis Wired 6-Button Original Port Controller (Black, Clear Blue)
Genesis Wired 8-Button USB® Port Controller (Black, Clear Blue)
Genesis Bluetooth® Controller (Black)
Genesis Bluetooth® Receiver
Megadrive Wired 6-Button Original Port Controller (Black, Clear Blue)
Megadrive Wired 8-Button USB® Port Controller (Black, Clear Blue)
Megadrive Bluetooth® Controller (Black)
Megadrive Bluetooth® Receiver
Saturn Wired Original Port Controller (Black, Slate Grey)
Saturn Wired USB® Port Controller (Black, Slate Grey)
Saturn Bluetooth® Controller (Black)
Saturn Bluetooth® Receiver
As you can see, the previously announced Dreamcast controllers are no longer listed, even after previously being showcased at CES 2018. Could the Dreamcast controllers be coming later? Retro-Bit’s press release does mention that the controllers listed above are a part of the “first line” of controllers, so it could be the case that the Dreamcast controllers come in the second line.
Etrian Odyssey Nexus, a Western release of what Japan knows as Etrian Odyssey X, has been announced by Atlus. The title will release in America and Europe on February 5th 2019.
Nexus is essentially a Sonic Generations-type deal of the past Etrian dungeon-crawler titles, featuring classes, characters, and so forth from across the series’ history. The game is also touted as the series’ final installment on the Nintendo 3DS, of which there have been quite a few. As such, it’s intended to be a grand send-off for the series’ dual screen days – and it certainly sounds like one.
It’s not the only Etrian-style title on the way for 3DS though, as spinoff Persona Q 2 is also on the way – set for a November 29th 2018 release date in Japan. Still no word on a localisation for that title, however.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
In 1994, Digital Illusions were developing a game for the Mega Drive called Hardcore. The game was to be published by Psygnosis and nearly made it to release, but ultimately it was canned as Psygnosis began its focus on the next generation of consoles.
Now, a new team called Strictly Limited have been given the license to the original game data and with the help from some of the Digital Illusions developers, they will finish the game and release it for PS4 and PS Vita in 2019.
Hardcore is currently the working title of the game, but a digital and physical release has been promised. You can see the game in action by clicking the embed below:
Super Night Riders is an arcade-style, time attack racer by the one-man French studio, neko.works. The studio has stated that Super Hang-On is a big influence on the game and that’s certainly a good enough reason for us to check it out. The game is available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One as a digital-only release.
Tanglewood is a brand new Mega Drive game that you can buy and purchase in the year of our Lord, 2018. A lot has been said of its development in 68000 assembly language and using an actual Mega Drive development kit. It’s certainly one of the more interesting Mega Drive homebrew developments in recent years, but for all its authenticity to developments of the time, is it any good?
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight have been re-confirmed for the West, as well as a Limited Edition including Persona 4: Dancing All Night, remastered for PS4.
Both games were previously scheduled for a 2019 release, back at E3 – but they’ve now been bumped up to this year. The titles see you tapping buttons in time to the rhythm and grooving to iconic tunes from the Persona series, with remixes by talents such as Hideki Naganuma of Jet Set Radio fame. An aforementioned limited edition, the “Endless Night Collection” has also been confirmed, which includes both games and the previously Vita-Exclusive Persona 4 Dancing title, now in HD as a digital download.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
On the SEGADriven YouTube channel today is our first look at an After Burner fan game. This game is called Master Burner and it apes the super scaler look of After Burner but replaces the characters for those from the Touhou Project series. Check out our video to see the game in action:
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