One element of SEGA’s origins that doesn’t get too much attention is there pre-video arcade developments. SEGA used to have pedigree with the development of electro-mechanical arcade games and in this video we take a look back at a selection of these games and discuss how they could be archived for future generations:
The most recent games in M2’s SEGA AGES lineup for Nintendo Switch, Fantasy Zone and Shinobi, finally have Western release dates. You’ll be able to get your hands on them on January 23rd.
Both games will cost £5.99, and include a slew of upgrades over their original incarnations. Fantasy Zone has all of the added content from the 3DS version, as well as an overhauled HUD akin to M2’s ShotTriggers lineup. Shinobi has a rewind feature that’s been improved over its implementation in previous AGES titles, and the AGES mode has benefits such as Joe being able to take more than one hit, and use his melee attack with a button rather than context-sensitivity. He also has his white garb from the later titles, as a cool nod for longtime fans.
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.
For the first time since its original 1992 arcade release, Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder is receiving a port. Arcade1Up are releasing a home version of the arcade game complete with 4 player cabinet. Also included in the package are ports of Shinobi, Altered Beast, Wrestle Wars and the original Golden Axe for good measure.
If you’re unfamiliar with Arcade1Up, they produce near full-size, licensed arcade cabinets for the home. They can be bought with extras like risers and stools to make them closer to their full-size counterparts. Due to the size of the units and their robust build quality, they often retail for around £300.
While there is currently no release date for the cabinet, the unit has been shown at the latest Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The next game to join the SEGA AGES lineup for Nintendo Switch will be the arcade shoot-em-up Fantasy Zone.
As expected, this release of the game will include the extra content introduced in the 3D Classics release of the game, such as Upa-Upa Mode (which lets you switch between power-ups freely, charging you for ammo rather than for each weapon), a ‘Coin Stock’ that accumulates over your playtime (so you can jump into the game with a loaded inventory of coins if you want), and bosses from the Master System version implemented as extra bosses in the arcade version. As you play and accumulate more coins, you’ll also unlock more options, such as increased power-up ammo, and the ability to change how many coins enemies drop when defeated.
There’ll also now be a time attack feature that gives you infinite lives, HD rumble support, the standard replay and ranking functions of the other AGES releases, and a massively overhauled HUD. The HUD is notable, as it’s actually very in-line with M2’s separate ShotTriggers line of shmup ports.
There’s no solid date on Fantasy Zone’s Switch release right now, but we’d expect it to show up within the next two weeks. Over here, it’ll probably launch alongside the recently released Shinobi port.
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.
SEGA has revealed its next offering for the SEGA AGES line on Nintendo Switch, and it’s the arcade party game Ichidant-R. Somewhat similar to Namco’s Point Blank, the game sees you playing a variety of minigames to progress.
There’s a slew of new features for this release, such as a Helper Mode to make casual playthroughs more feasible – but most interesting is the Mega Drive Mode, which brings over the various additional features that port had. The RPG-style Quest Mode and Free Mode for practising the games are included here, as well as a Competition Mode that supports up to 4 Players (something the arcade version previously couldn’t do). To go along with this, there’s also Netplay support for the Arcade version.
Key for Western players though, is that the previously unreleased English localisation of the game is also included, a la Puyo Puyo’s AGES release.
There’s currently no solid release date for Ichidant-R, but we’d expect to see it pop up in Japan over the next two weeks, as was the case when Columns 2 was announced. Meanwhile, tomorrow Western players will be able to get their hands on Puyo Puyo and Space Harrier, which have been available in Japan for some time.
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.
Columns 2: The Voyage Through Time is joining the SEGA AGES for Nintendo Switch lineup in Japan this week, bringing with it a slew of bonus features.
As previously reported, extra content includes a Endless Mode, an unlockable gallery featuring the art used in the SEGA AGES series’ cameo-rich intros, netplay, and even a single-player version of the original Columns. This marks the first time Columns 2 has seen an international release, too!
SEGA AGES: Columns 2 will launch on Thursday 8th August, so about 4pm UK time on Wednesday 7th August. It’ll be 999 JPY.
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.
SEGA has confirmed that Columns 2: The Voyage Through Time will be the next game to join the SEGA AGES lineup. Notably, this is the first time the game has ever seen a release in the West – it was previously exclusive to Japanese arcades and a JP-only Saturn compilation.
The game’s standard modes, Flash Columns and Vs Columns, will have you clearing puzzle stages and battling it out for Columns supremacy with a friend, respectively. In addition, new rulesets and Netplay have been added, plus a new mode – Endless Columns, which simply challenges you to get the best score. One particularly surprising addition for this release though – Columns 1! The well-known Mega Drive version of the original game will actually be included in this release, though modified a bit – there’s no multiplayer, as it’s based on a version of Columns produced by M2 for a Japan-only Yakuza 0 PSP app. Talk about deep cuts.
One last cool tidbit is that beating Flash Columns stages in this release will actually unlock content for an in-game art gallery. Here, you can unlock the art used for the characters in the SEGA AGES intros to view at your leisure, as well as profiles for the characters.
On the whole, the beefed up content in this port has certainly put it on our radar – going off previous releases, it’ll probably be released next week in Japan. No news for the West, but again based on the other titles of late, it’ll probably be released alongside Space Harrier in the future.
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.
UPDATE 24/06/19 – SEGA AGES Space Harrier will launch June 27th 2019, M2 has confirmed. Due to timezones this means it should arrive around 4pm UK time on Wednesday 26th.
SEGA has released some fresh details on what to expect from SEGA AGES: Space Harrier for Nintendo Switch, suggesting it might be the next title in the line to release.
The port includes the 3DS version’s bonus content, such as Haya-Oh from the Master System port as a secret boss fight. There’s also a new mode, in line with the other difficulty-mitigating features of other AGES releases – Koma-Inu Barrier. This gives Harrier a barrier that allows him to collide with enemies and obstacles, formed by the dogs that usually help the boss of Stage 17.
Yes, this game has puppy helpers. Yes, this is probably the best version of Space Harrier ever.
It’s been noted by some that this is actually somewhat similar to a feature in the PS2 remake of Space Harrier, so much like how 3D After Burner II had a mode styled after Climax, it’s cool to see an idea backported to the original arcade hardware.
There’s still no release date for the port, but we’ll let you know when one shows up.
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.
Sound the SEGA AGES alarm, because the latest title in M2’s lovingly crafted range of Nintendo Switch ports is almost upon us. Wonder Boy in Monster Land will be the next title released in the range, arriving this week, May 30th, in the Japanese Nintendo eShop.
Mooted features for the release include the Trial Mode content from the previous SEGA Vintage Collection release, as well as a single button mapping for the game’s “Alchemy” system and an additional difficulty setting.
Unfortunately, things have gone quiet on the Western front – SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo and Virtua Racing are still nowhere to be seen. Hopefully they show up sooner rather than later, and we’ll let you know if they do get release dates confirmed.
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.
SEGASonic Bros is a cancelled arcade puzzle game from the creator of Puzzle Bobble that was recently discovered and dumped for preservation. Thanks to some spectacular modding by Dustin O’Dell, the game is now playable on the Mega Drive! We take a look at this version in our latest video:
Want to play the game yourself? Simply download the ROM from Dustin himself by clicking here.
SEGADriven and its original content are copyrighted to their respective authors. Media related directly to SEGA is copyrighted to its respective authors. Any comments on SEGA-related materials do not represent SEGA themselves. All rights reserved 2008-2019.
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