Sega Ages
Sega Ages refers to a number of compilations or re-releases of classic video games from developer and publisher Sega. A version was released in Japan for the Sega Saturn. A PlayStation 2 (PS2) release in Japan, known as the Sega Ages 2500, included 3D graphics and new gameplay features. In America and Europe, the Sega Classics Collection was released for PS2. There is also the Sega Ages Online series on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 in Japan.
The Sega Ages series differs from most "retro" video game releases 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]
Contents
Saturn version
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.
Sega Ages 2500
Sega Ages 2500 is a series of budget-priced, retro-themed releases by Sega, released for the PlayStation 2 console in Japan. 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, Bonanza Brothers).
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.
The number "2500" refers to the price of the games in yen.
The complete list of titles in the series:
| Volume | Release | Title | Games included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vol. 01 | 2003-08-28 | Phantasy Star Generation 1 | |
| Vol. 02 | 2003-08-28 | Monaco GP | |
| Vol. 03 | 2003-08-28 | Fantasy Zone | |
| Vol. 04 | 2003-09-25 | Space Harrier | |
| Vol. 05 | 2003-09-25 | Golden Axe | |
| Vol. 06 | 2004-01-15 | Bonanza Bros. | |
| Vol. 07 | 2003-12-18 | Columns | |
| Vol. 08 | 2004-02-26 | Virtua Racing | |
| Vol. 09 | 2004-02-26 | Gain Ground | |
| Vol. 10 | 2004-03-18 | After Burner II | |
| Vol. 11 | 2004-03-25 | Hokuto no Ken (北斗の拳?) (Fist of the North Star) | Remake version that also includes original Hokuto no Ken for Master System |
| Vol. 12 | 2004-05-24 | Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect Set | |
| Vol. 13 | 2004-05-27 | Out Run | |
| Vol. 14 | 2004-07-29 | Alien Syndrome | |
| Vol. 15 | 2004-07-29 | DecAthlete Collection | DecAthlete, Winter Heat, Virtua Athlete 2K |
| Vol. 16 | 2004-10-14 | Virtua Fighter 2 | |
| Vol. 17 | 2005-03-24 | Phantasy Star Generation 2 | |
| Vol. 18 | 2005-08-18 | Dragon Force | |
| Vol. 19 | 2005-04-28 | Fighting Vipers | |
| Vol. 20 | 2005-10-27 | Space Harrier Complete Collection | |
| Vol. 21 | 2005-10-27 | SEGA System 16 Collection: SDI & Quartet | |
| Vol. 22 | 2006-02-23 | Advanced Daisenryaku: Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen | |
| Vol. 23 | 2005-12-22 | Sega Memorial Selection | Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, Borderline, Tranquilizer Gun, and Head On, as well as remakes of each game. |
| Vol. 24 | 2006-06-29 | Last Bronx | |
| Vol. 25 | 2006-02-23 | Gunstar Heroes, Treasure Box | also contains Dynamite Headdy and Alien Soldier |
| Vol. 26 | 2006-04-27 | Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade) | |
| Vol. 27 | 2006-04-27 | Panzer Dragoon | |
| Vol. 28 | 2006-09-28 | Tetris Collection | |
| Vol. 29 [7] | 2007-03-08 | Monster World Complete Collection (aka Wonder Boy series) | Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy: Monster Land, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, Wonder Boy V: Monster World III and Monster World IV |
| Vol. 30 | 2007-07-26 | Galaxy Force II Special Extended Edition | |
| Vol. 31 | 2007-10-25 | Cyber Troopers Virtual-On | |
| Vol. 32 | 2008-03-27 | Phantasy Star Complete Collection[8] | Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star II Text Adventure, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure |
| Vol. 33 | 2008-09-11 | Fantasy Zone Complete Collection | 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 |
These are the other titles that were cancelled due to the discontinuation of 3D AGES:
Sega Classics Collection
Some of these games have been released in North America and Europe on the Sega Classics Collection for PS2, namely:
- Monaco GP (Vol. 2)
- Fantasy Zone (Vol. 3)
- Space Harrier (Vol. 4)
- Golden Axe (Vol. 5)
- Bonanza Bros. (in the form of Tant-R & Bonanza Bros.) (Vol. 6)
- Columns (Vol. 7)
- Virtua Racing (Vol. 8)
- Out Run (Vol. 13)
Alien Syndrome (Vol. 14) was released on the North American version of Sega Classics Collection, but was omitted from the European release to hold the game's PEGI 12+ rating.
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.
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection on segaretro.org
- ↑ SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection on mobygames
