The Western release date for the SEGA Ages port of Phantasy Star has finally been set. Western Switch owners will get to play the game on December 13th 2018. US pricing has been set at $7.99.
The SEGA Ages port of Phantasy Star includes some new features like a dungeon map display, a bestiary, an equipment list and support for both original audio and the FM Sound Unit audio. Development, as always, has been lead by M2.
A fresh batch of screenshots showcasing the M2 SEGA Ages port of Out Run for Nintendo Switch have surfaced. Check out the gallery below to see how the port is shaping up:
This port appears to be heavily based on the previous 3DS port (also by M2). It appears we have new songs with one track in particular called Radiation -Nostalgia Ver.- (perhaps a chiptune version of Radiation from Out Run 2006?), we’ve got a CRT filter that’s made to emulate the look of the original arcade cabinet and an expanded widescreen (but bordered) resolution. The car sprites are also based on the later Shenmue II port of the game which alters the car graphics to make them more indistinct from actual cars like the Ferrari Testarossa. This is likely to avoid a licensing issue.
The Switch port of SEGA Ages is still due to release in Japan sometime this year for 925 yen. There is currently no word on a release date for the rest of the world.
UPDATE 22/11/18 Eurogamer have now confirmed that Out Run will launch worldwide early next year.
In an interview with Game Watch, M2’s Naoki Horii has revealed a lot of details about the Switch line of SEGA Ages ports.
Some key highlights include plans to port Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to the system and include elements originally removed from the game due to console limitations. Also revealed are plans to port Dreamcast games to the Switch and Horii confirmed there’s 3 key titles that the team are currently working on, but didn’t mention which ones.
The current batch of SEGA Ages ports will be a part of what M2 are calling, “season one”. They are planning 15 games for this season and the previously announced Thunder Force AC port will include additional stages and more colours than its original release. The team are also using fan feedback to help enhance their port of Gain Ground.
There has also been confirmation that the Model 1 emulation they are using for Virtua Racing allows them to improve the game. There is even talk of potentially porting the Model 1 Star Wars Arcade game if they can get authorisation to use the Star Wars license.
M2 have also revealed that they are planning to do a 2nd season of SEGA Ages ports once they’ve completed work on the first 15 games.
The SEGA Ages line currently consists of ports of Sonic the Hedgehog, Thunder Force IV and Phantasy Star which is currently Japan exclusive. A port is due for a Western release but there is currently no release dates. Other titles confirmed for a SEGA Ages release include Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Gain Ground, Space Harrier, Out Run, Columns II, Thunder Force AC, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Virtua Racing. 4 more unannounced games will round out season one.
The next title in the SEGA Ages line of Nintendo Switch ports will be Virtua Racing.
Virtua Racing hasn’t received a home console port since the PS2 remake that was included in the SEGA Classics Collection and SEGA Ages 2500 line in 2004. Once again, M2 will be handling development duties but there is currently no set release date.
See below for the first screenshots of Virtua Racing in action on the Switch:
Virtua Racing joins Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV in the Nintendo Switch’s SEGA Ages line. Future SEGA Ages releases also include Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Gain Ground, Space Harrier, Out Run, Columns II, Thunder Force AC and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
There’s been scarce mention of M2’s SEGA Ages ports making it to the West, but all of a sudden (and only the day after the Japanese launch), Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV have landed on the Nintendo Switch’s eShop for Europe.
Each game is price €6.99 for Europe and £5.99 for UK. These ports are enhanced with development lead by M2 and contain new features like Sonic’s Mega Play mode from the arcade and the addition of the drop dash from Sonic Mania. Check out the launch trailer below:
Weekly Famitsu have revealed that the next batch of SEGA Ages titles to release on Switch will include Columns II, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Out Run and more interestingly, Thunder Force AC. Thunder Force AC is a weird little title in that it’s an arcade port of Thunder Spirits for SNES. Thunder Spirits itself is also an altered port of Thunder Force III for Mega Drive.
The only new features revealed at this time are that Columns II is getting an online versus mode, while Out Run will featured newly arranged music tracks. There are currently no screenshots, video or release dates set for these titles at this time.
The SEGA Ages line for Nintendo Switch is still currently Japan exclusive. Development on these ports is lead by M2 who previously worked on the SEGA Ages ports to 3DS.
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
UPDATE 19/07/18 – Additional information has now been released on the first two titles.
Sonic 1’s added features include a Spin Dash toggle, a Ring Keep Mode for beginners, the Mega Play arcade version, and two Time Attack modes – a full Mega Play run, and a Green Hill Act 1 run, seemingly based on the Mikado Arcade’s speedrunning challenge. By far one of the coolest additions however, is that Sonic Mania’s Drop Dash is being added to the game!
Thunder Force IV meanwhile adds the Styx Mode, previously exclusive to Saturn. However it will also include online leaderboards and a Kids Mode to make the game less punishing. There also seems to be an option to reduce slowdown, which can affect the game’s difficulty.
ORIGINAL POST
The first two titles in the new SEGA AGES line for Nintendo Switch, Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV, have been confirmed for an August release by Famitsu. Previously, SEGA has stated the titles will receive a worldwide release – so unless things have changed, we’ll be getting them in the West next month too.
Coming from porting wizards M2, SEGA AGES is as of now set to include a range of SEGA Mega Drive, SEGA Master System and Arcade titles. Currently confirmed titles are Sonic the Hedgehog, Thunder Force IV, Phantasy Star, Gain Ground, and Alex Kidd in Miracle World. M2 has also stated they’d like to expand to later SEGA consoles – but that hinges on the sales of these titles, and is likely a very long way off.
These aren’t just standard ports however – for instance, Sonic 1 includes the Sonic 2 spin dash, a Ring Keep mode for beginners, and even the rare Arcade version of the game, from SEGA’s Mega Play unit. Thunder Force IV meanwhile features Styx Mode, which lets you use the ship from Thunder Force III – this feature was previously exclusive to a Japan-only Saturn collection!
Pricing is set to 999 JPY, which works out at about £6. A bit steeper than the previous 3DS ports, but likely justified by the added features over those ports. We’ll keep an eye out for any concrete updates on the Western release of these titles.
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.
Some more details have come to light since the announcement, mostly courtesy of Sam Mullen, producer at Atlus USA. Most notable of these is the confirmation that the set will include more than just Mega Drive titles – arcade games will be included too. In addition, Mullen confirmed that “every game will have something new.”
Finally, it’s been revealed by Thunder Force IV’s presence at SEGA Fes itself that it includes “Styx Mode”, previously exclusive to the Saturn’s Thunder Force Gold Pack 2. This mode allows you to play as the Thunder Force 3 ship.
More info on the new AGES series will be released at tomorrow’s “Classic Game Stage” event, as part of SEGA Fes. We’ll bring you any new announcements that come from it.
ORIGINAL POST
M2 are back and are leading development of up to 15 new SEGA ports of classic titles for the Nintendo Switch.
The new SEGA Ages collection will feature ports of Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star and Thunder Force IV which is currently playable on the show floor at SEGA Fes 2018. It is likely that Thunder Force IV will end up being the first title in the series to launch, but there is currently no news on a release date.
In a rather surprising turn of events, SEGA have committed to bringing the 3DS compilation title SEGA 3D Reprint Archives 2 to the West under the new name of SEGA 3D Classics Collection.
The collection bundles together the previously released M2 versions of 3D Sonic The Hedgehog, 3D Galaxy Force II, 3D Thunderblade, 3D Altered Beast, 3D Fantasy Zone II but with 2 exclusive ports of 3D Power Drift and 3D Puyo Puyo 2. Also included are two 3D Master System titles; Maze Walker and Fantasy Zone II.
Also confirmed are new SEGA 3DS themes. While no specifics are currently available outside a “coming soon” release date, we can assume that the Dreamcast console theme could well be one of them as SEGA have previously teased the release of that theme.
SEGA 3D Classics Collection launches on the 26th of April in America, exclusively for 3DS. There is currently no word on a European release.
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