Sega Ages

Sega Ages refers to a number of compilations or re-releases of classic video games from developer and publisher Sega. Two versions were released only in Japan: the first for the Sega Saturn while the second for PlayStation 2 (the latter known as "Sega Ages 2500"), which included 3D graphics and new gameplay features. In America and Europe, some 2500's games were released for PlayStation 2 as part of Sega Classics Collection. Finally, 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]

Saturn version

Sega released several Sega Ages games for the Sega Saturn in Japan:

SEGA AGES Saturn
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

[6]

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 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.

The number "2500" refers to the price of the games in yen.

List of complete series' titles

Titles in the SEGA AGES 2500 series
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
3 2003-08-28 Fantasy Zone SIMS Co., Ltd.
4 2003-09-25 Space Harrier Tamsoft Corporation
5 2003-09-25 Golden Axe SIMS Co., Ltd.
6 2004-01-15 PUZZLE & ACTION: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros. JAM Co., Ltd.
7 2003-12-18 Columns SIMS Co., Ltd.
8 2004-02-26 Virtua Racing -FlatOut- Vingt-et-un Systems
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.
14 2004-07-29 Alien Syndrome h.a.n.d.
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
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[7] 2007-03-08 Monster World Complete Collection M2 Contains: 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.
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[8] 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.

These are the other titles that were cancelled due to the discontinuation of 3D AGES, which are: Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Bare Knuckle, and Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium.

Sega Classics Collection

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

  1. ↑ "The Return of Old Games: Part 3". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (6): 125. May 1996.
  2. ↑ "Back of Memorial Selection Vol.1 box; picture from GameFAQs". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Back of Columns Arcade Collection box; picture from GameFAQs". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Back of Memorial Selection Vol.2 box; picture from GameFAQs". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Back of Phantasy Star Collection box; picture from GameFAQs". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Sega of Japan Hardware Archive: First-Party Saturn Game List". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection on segaretro.org
  8. ↑ SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection on mobygames

External links

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