Sega Ages


is a series of video game ports, remakes, and compilations published by Sega. It consists of Sega arcade games and home console games, typically those for the Sega Genesis and Master System. The series was launched on the Sega Saturn in 1996. Entries were published for the PlayStation 2 as Sega Ages 2500, a reference to its bargain ¥2500 price point. The series later came to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as Sega Ages Online, and finally to the Nintendo Switch as simply Sega Ages. The name Sega Ages is a palindrome, with "Ages" being "Sega" backwards — this was previously used by Sega in European marketing strategies from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The Sega Saturn and PlayStation 2 releases usually feature a singular game alongside extras such as remakes or developer info, and sold at a low price point. Most of these releases were exclusive to Japan. Three games in the Sega Saturn series - Space Harrier, Out Run' and After Burner II - were selected for Sega Ages Vol. 1, released in Europe in 1996 and in North America in 1997. Several games in the PlayStation 2 series were released in Europe and North America as part of the Sega Classics Collection compilation in 2005. The PlayStation 2 series was initially developed by 3D Ages, a collaborative effort between Sega and D3 Publisher, however Sega would soon develop the games in-house following the departure of D3 Publisher from the project.

Games

''Sega Ages'' (Sega Saturn)

The first Sega Ages series was released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn in Japan and concluded in 1998. Although the majority of the titles in this series remained exclusive to Japan, three games from the line - Out Run, Space Harrier and After Burner II, would be compiled into the video game compilation Sega Ages Vol. 1, released in Europe in 1996 by Sega itself and in North America in 1997 by Working Designs under their Spaz imprint. Despite the title, no additional volumes would be released in these territories.
TitleRelease dateIncluded games
Vol. 1 Syukudai ga Tant-R', Quiz Syukudai wo Wasuremashita
Vol. 2 Space HarrierSpace Harrier
Vol. 3 Out RunOut Run
Vol. 4 After Burner IIAfter Burner II
Vol. 5 Rouka ni Ichidant-R', Quiz Rouka ni Tattenasai!
Vol. 6 Fantasy ZoneFantasy Zone
Vol. 7 Memorial Selection Vol. 1Head-On, Pengo, Flicky, Up'n Down
Vol. 8 Columns Arcade CollectionColumns, Columns II: The Voyage Through Time, Stack Columns, Columns '97
Vol. 9 Memorial Selection Vol. 2Samurai, Monaco GP, Star Jacker, Sindbad Mystery, Ninja Princess
Vol. 10 Power DriftPower Drift
Vol. 11 Phantasy Star CollectionPhantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star IV
Vol. 12 Galaxy Force IIGalaxy Force II
Vol. 13 I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibouken/I Love Donald Duck: Guruzia Ou no HihouCastle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, QuackShot

= Released in North America and Europe as part of Sega Ages Vol. 1

''Sega Ages 2500'' (PlayStation 2)

The second series was released for the PlayStation in 2003 and concluding in 2008, known as the Sega Ages 2500 series - this title comes from the ¥2500 price point the game had. The series was created from Sega's interest in the success of D3 Publisher's Simple budget-title video game series, which features low-budget games at a low price point. This interest would lead to Sega and D3 Publisher forming a new subsidiary company in 2003, known as 3D Ages, with the sole reason to create games under the Sega Ages 2500 series. Later in 2004, D3 Publisher would leave the project and give Sega complete control of the company.
The main focus of the series was to remake older Sega video games with 3D visuals, alongside improved sound and gameplay. Following the departure of D3 Publisher, the series would soon shift into featuring compilations of other Sega video games alongside remakes of these games. The series officially concluded in 2008 after 33 entries, although several other Sega Ages 2500 games, featuring games such as Streets of Rage, Alex Kidd and Sonic the Hedgehog, were planned for release. 3D Ages was disbanded in late 2005 and absorbed into Sega.
Due to complications with Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sega was disallowed from releasing the games individually outside Japan. Instead, nine of the games in the Sega Ages 2500 series would be compiled into the Sega Classics Collection compilation for the PlayStation 2, released in North America by Sega in 2005 and in Europe by Conspiracy Entertainment in 2006.
TitleRelease dateIncluded games
Vol. 1: Phantasy Star Generation: 1Remake of Phantasy Star
Vol. 2: Monaco GPRemake of Monaco GP
Vol. 3: Fantasy ZoneRemake of Fantasy Zone
Vol. 4: Space HarrierRemake of Space Harrier
Vol. 5: Golden AxeRemake of Golden Axe
Vol. 6: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros.Remakes of Bonanza Bros. and '
Vol. 7: ColumnsColumns, remake of Columns
Vol. 8: Virtual Racing FlatOutRemake of Virtua Racing
Vol. 9: Gain GroundRemake of Gain Ground
Vol. 10: After Burner IIRemake of After Burner II
Vol. 11: Hokuto no KenRemake of Hokuto no Ken
Vol. 12: Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect SetPuyo Puyo 2
Vol. 13: Out RunRemake of Out Run
Vol. 14: Alien SyndromeRemake of Alien Syndrome
Vol. 15: Decathlete CollectionDecathlete, Winter Heat, Virtua Athlete 2K
Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2Virtua Fighter 2
Vol. 17: Phantasy Star Generation: 2Remake of Phantasy Star II
Vol. 18: Dragon ForceRemake of Dragon Force
Vol. 19: Fighting VipersFighting Vipers
Vol. 20: Space Harrier Complete CollectionSpace Harrier, Space Harrier, Space Harrier, Space Harrier 3D, Space Harrier II, Sega Mark III error screen demo
Vol. 21: SDI & Quartet: Sega System 16 CollectionSDI, Quartet
Vol. 22: Advanced Daisenryaku: Deustch Dengeki SakusenRemake of Advanced Daisenryaku
Vol. 23: Sega Memorial SelectionHead-On, Tranquilizer Gun, Borderline, Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, remakes of said games
Vol. 24: Last Bronx - Tokyo BangaichiLast Bronx
Vol. 25: Gunstar Heroes Treasure BoxGunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy, Dynamite Headdy
Vol. 26: Dynamite DekaRemake of Dynamite Deka
Vol. 27: Panzer DragoonPanzer Dragoon, remake of Panzer Dragoon
Vol. 28: Tetris CollectionTetris, Bloxeed, Flashpoint, Tetris New Century, Flashpoint
Vol. 29: Monster World Complete CollectionWonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, ', ', Monster World III, Monster World IV
Vol. 30: Galaxy Force II: Special Extended EditionGalaxy Force II, Galaxy Force II, Galaxy Force II, Galaxy Force Neo Classic
Vol. 31: Cyber Troopers Virtual OnRemake of '
Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete CollectionPhantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star Text Adventures
Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete CollectionFantasy Zone, ', ', Super Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II DX, Fantasy Zone Neo Classic, Galactic Protector, Fantasy Zone Gear

= Released in North America and Europe as part of Sega Classics Collection. Alien Syndrome was removed from the European release to lower the game's rating.

''Sega Ages Online / Sega Vintage Collection'' (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3)

The third series was released for the Xbox 360 that was both introduced and concluded in 2012. This series consisted of releases from the Sega Vintage Collection series, originally released in North America and Europe, as well as re-releases of games from the Sega Ages 2500 series - the latter games were only released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and had the Sega Ages 2500 name stripped from the title. The games were developed by M2 as opposed to being made in-house by Sega. Ten releases were made in total, making it the shortest of the Sega Ages series.
TitleRelease datePlatformIncluded gamesNotes
Sega Classics CollectionXbox 360, PlayStation 3Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Revenge of Shinobi, Super Hang-OnReleased in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
Monster World CollectionXbox 360, PlayStation 3Wonder Boy in Monster World, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Monster World IVReleased in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World.
Golden Axe CollectionXbox 360, PlayStation 3Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, Golden Axe IIIReleased in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe.
Bare Knuckle CollectionXbox 360, PlayStation 3Streets of Rage, Streets of Rage 2, Streets of Rage 3Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage.
Dragon ForcePlayStation 3Remake of Dragon Force
Dynamite DekaPlayStation 3Remake of Dynamite Deka
Gunstar Heroes Treasure BoxPlayStation 3Gunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy, Dynamite Headdy
Sega Memorial SelectionPlayStation 3Head-On, Tranquilizer Gun, Borderline, Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, remakes of said games
ToeJam & Earl CollectionXbox 360, PlayStation 3ToeJam and Earl, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on FunkotronReleased in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl.
Phantasy Star Complete CollectionPlayStation 3Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star Text Adventures

''Sega Ages'' (Nintendo Switch)

The fourth Sega Ages series is currently being released for the Nintendo Switch, available through the Nintendo eShop storefront. This series is being developed by M2, with lead producer Rieko Kodama from Sega. It was first announced in August 2018, with ten titles announced for the series. Sega has since stated that games from the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast would be made available later on.

Reception

The first Sega Ages volume was a best-seller in the United Kingdom. Next Generation rated it three stars out of five, saying it "holds up better than the Namco Museum series, and at a mere $40, these three games should be worth giving the ol' CD a spin." GamePro gave it a negative review, saying that the three games in the collection "were never all that good to begin with.... They all have their strong points, but lack those special qualities that make certain games forever great." The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly unanimously contended that the three included games were outstanding and praised their arcade-perfect recreations, though they felt the collection should have included more games and historical info, as other retro compilations of the time did. They gave it a 6.5 out of 10. Sega Saturn Magazine gave it a 91%, likewise praising the three included games and the quality of the conversions. Though they criticized that After Burner and Space Harrier were somewhat wasted since they had already received excellent ports for the Mega Drive and 32X, they felt the compilation was worth getting for Out Run alone.