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10 games we want to see in Sega's AGES range
Sega is opening the doors of its vaults with the AGES range – here are 10 titles we'd love to see released on Switch
Presumably fed up of waiting for Nintendo to confirm plans for the Switch Virtual Console, Sega have announced that they’re starting their own retro range on the console in the form of the AGES collection. Pitched as a selection of vintage classics from the Japanese company's illustrious history, this line of games will cover all of the firm's hardware platforms, including Master System, Mega Drive, Saturn, Dreamcast and even coin-op releases.
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Fighters Megamix
When you talk about Sega fighting titles, the name Virtua Fighter is bound to crop up. So why then have we neglected to include it here? Simple: on the Saturn, Sega released Fighters Megamix, a title which not only included the best fighters from Virtua Fighter but also pulled in the cast of Fighting Vipers, another quality coin-up brawler. The result is a match made in heaven; the game boasts the depth and playability of Virtua Fighter, but also has the enclosed arenas and innovative armour damage of Fighting Vipers. There are also a bunch of hidden characters to unlock, including Janet from Virtua Cop and the car from Daytona USA. Yes, you read that right – you get to fight as a car.
Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder
Golden Axe is one of Sega's most famous arcade hits, and with good reason; the Double Dragon-style gameplay, when fused with the Conan the Barbarian-like setting, results in a truly amazing premise for a side-scrolling brawler. The 1989 original was ported to the Mega Drive with great success, but it is the 1992 arcade-only sequel that remains the high point of the series. Revenge of Death Adder takes everything that was so swell about the first title and ramps it up; bigger sprites, more characters, larger levels and much more besides. Sadly, it would have been impossible to port to the Mega Drive without compromising in several different areas; instead, home players got Golden Axe II, which was essentially a reskin of the first game, and Golden Axe III, a title which – while different from what had gone before – was decidedly average. With the AGES range confirmed, Sega can right this wrong and finally give us a home port of one of its best coin-ops.
Skies of Arcadia
Every console needs a good JRPG in its library and in the Dreamcast's case, it was Skies of Arcadia. Set in a world populated by floating islands and flying pirate ships, this seminal release remains one of the 128-bit system's most notable games, boasting countless hours of riveting gameplay. A GameCube port followed shortly afterwards but it's been far too long since Sega actually did anything worthwhile with this franchise. A release on Switch would be the perfect tonic, and would allow this incredible game to be experienced by millions of new players.
Burning Rangers
It's hard to believe it now, but the Saturn didn't have its own Sonic game as such; it got a port of Sonic 3D (a Mega Drive game originally), Sonic R (a bit like Mario Kart, but without actual karts) and Sonic Jam (a compilation of Sonic's Mega Drive outings) but no "original" Sonic entry. Please don't assume this means that Sonic Team were sitting idle during the 32-bit era, though – not only did they make the amazing Nights: Into Dreams, but they also produced Burning Rangers, one of the console's most technically adept titles. Set in the future, you assume the role of high-tech fire-fighters who have to enter flame-covered buildings and rescue survivors. Burning Rangers has a unique voice-guided navigation system and stunning 3D visuals, complete with impressive explosion effects. It's arguably one of the Saturn's best games, and therefore a prime candidate for inclusion in the AGES line-up.
Golvellius: Valley of Doom
Herzog Zwei
While this isn't technically a first-party Sega release, Sega recently purchased the entire back catalogue of developers Technosoft, so they now own this unique take on the Real-Time Strategy genre. In truth, this was an RTS from a time when the term didn't even exist; it pre-dates the likes of Dune II and Command & Conquer, placing you in a transforming plane which is capable of picking up units and dropping them off on the battlefield. The aim is to destroy your opponent's base, and you can send soldiers into smaller bases dotted around the map to increase your options. In two-player, Herzog Zwei is quite unlike any other video game – apart from the recent PC title AirMech, whose creators cite this Mega Drive game as a spiritual forerunner.
Shining Force III
Sega's Shining series continues to this day, but original developers Camelot (previously known as Sonic! Software Planning) are no longer involved, and have since moved on to create titles like Golden Sun, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for Nintendo. Shining Force III was the company's final contribution to the series, and is widely regarded as its zenith; released in three parts in Japan, only the first chapter was localised for release in the west (needless to say, it's worth a fortune these days), so the Sega AGES line gives the company a chance to properly adapt the entire story for global release and give players one of the finest tactical RPGs in existence. Oh, and while we're here, it would be amazing to have an AGES port of Shining the Holy Ark, another Saturn-based instalment in the franchise.
Sonic CD
Scud Race
Like Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder, Scud Race (known as Sega Super GT in North America) is one of those unique Sega games that never saw the light of day outside of arcades. Released on Sega's powerful Model 3 arcade hardware in 1996, the game was rumoured to be coming to the Saturn and then the Dreamcast, but neither port happened; as a result, this is a title that only a select few Sega fans were lucky enough to play back in the day. It's every bit as good as Daytona USA and Sega Rally, and features a wide range of officially-licensed cars, such as the Porsche 911 and McLaren F1.
What are the Sega AGES games you want to see?
