On this day in 1987, SEGA released a science-fiction/fantasy role-playing game by the name of Phantasy Star for their Master System console in Japan. It was later localized in English and Spanish, ported to numerous systems, and spawned three direct sequels and several spin-off titles. Hugely successful and highly innovative for its time, Phantasy Star helped to lay the groundwork for the role-playing game genre alongside it’s contemporary, Final Fantasy, with both titles being released within days of each other. Today, it is regarded as one of the most important video games of all time, and has consistently been listed as one of the very best games of its kind.
SEGA is celebrating the series’ 25th anniversary with the release of the Phantasy Star Complete Collection, which is now available on the Japanese PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3 for the price of ¥800 (approximately $10 USD). Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, and Phantasy Star IV are all fully translated and playable in English, so these titles should not be overlooked by English speakers.
Originally released for the PlayStation 2 as part of the SEGA AGES series, the collection includes the following titles:
–Phantasy Star (Master System)
–Phantasy Star II (Genesis/Mega Drive)
–Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (Genesis/Mega Drive)
–Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (Genesis/Mega Drive)
–Phantasy Star II Text Adventures (Genesis/Mega Drive)
–Phantasy Star Adventure (Game Gear)
–Phantasy Star Gaiden (Game Gear)
Phantasy Star II Text Adventures is a compilation of eight visual novels, each centered around one of the main characters from Phantasy Star II and was first available through the SEGA Meganet modem accessory for the Genesis/Mega Drive console, while the eight stories — made available in two separate compilations — were later ported to the console’s SEGA CD/Mega CD add-on. Phantasy Star Adventure and Phantasy Star Gaiden were both released for the SEGA Game Gear in 1992, just months apart each other. Adventure was the first Phantasy Star title to be released for SEGA’s handled and features a different gameplay style than other titles in the series, being a first-person text-based adventure game that takes place during the events of Phantasy Star II. Gaiden, on the other hand, is a traditional role-playing game in the style of Phantasy Star I, which Gaiden is an indirect sequel to. It’s worth noting, however, that according to series continuity both Adventure and Gaiden are considered non-canon.
A complete high definition remake of the recent indie RPG Genesis/Mega Drive title Pier Solar and the Great Architects has been added to the Kickstarter pledging platform. If successful, developer WaterMelon plans releases on not just the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live Arcade, PC, Mac and Linux, but also the SEGA Dreamcast. Concepts, new art and more have all been detailed for what this new version will have are listed on the Kickstarter page.
Originally started in June of 2004, Pier Solar and the Great Architects was completed in early 2011 and was made available for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive and SEGA CD consoles. It is especially unique in that it had a 64 meg cartridge – Officially making it the largest game on the console ever. It is also the first ever game on the platform to optionally utilize both the cartridge slot and the SEGA CD add-on at the same time.
Valve’s Steamworks digital distribution video game service has seen the release of Sonic CD and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I on PC. The former is priced at 5 USD and was mysteriously delayed after it’s December console and mobile platform release while the later originally was released to numerous download platforms in late 2010 and costs 10 USD.
Along with this is the Casino Night Zone pinball table downloadable content for Sonic Generations themed after the iconic level from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Given away as a pre-order incentive for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, it costs 1.59 USD.
For this weekend only, all Sonic the Hedgehog games featured on the service are half off. The exception is Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, which is 75% off it’s normal price, making it just 5 USD. These deals will last until early Monday morning.
Additionally, all who purchase the Steam version of Sonic CD will receive Metal Sonic-themed armor equipable in Spiral Knights, SEGA’s free-to-play Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.
Sonic CD will be available tomorrow for Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360, priced at 400 Microsoft Points (5 USD), the PlayStation 3’s PlayStation Network in Europe for $5.00/£3.59/€4.49 /AUD$6.25 and iPhone, iPod touch, iPad for $4.99/AUD$5.49/Euro $3.99/UK £2.99. It will be released on the PlayStation Network in America on December 20th and for Android and Windows Phone 7 devices in the early 2012.
A conversion of the classic 1993 SEGA CD/Mega CD, this latest release will see the inclusion of selecting either of the soundtracks that were used in different regions, various optional gameplay tweaks and Tails as new unlockable playable character.
SEGA has announced via their blog, that Miles ‘Tails’ Prower will be an unlockable character in their upcoming remastering of Sonic CD. The original game was being developed during the creation of the character in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and was never previously in the title outside of a single basic cameo. No full details are known as to how he will be unlocked, but it is known that his flying ability will return as seen in the image above.
This new version of Sonic CD will be available for download sometime in December of this year, and it will be released on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, and various mobile platforms (iPod, iPad, Android and so on). It will not be available on any Nintendo platforms.
A price has not yet been announced, though it is likely to range between 5 – 15 USD, or 400 – 1200 Microsoft points. Mobile platforms should be noted for generally having the lower price points on release. Additionally, the game is available bundled pre-installed in mobile tablets purchased at numerous GameStop locations starting today. Click here for a link to various new screenshots of Sonic CD.
August 25th update: SEGA has officially announced the game, along with all it’s intended features and release platforms. This version will support the expected Achievements and Trophies for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions respectfully and will feature the European/Japanese soundtrack that many fans tend to prefer. A very notable new inclusion is also the option to switch between the Sonic CD and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 spindash.
Sonic CD will be available for XBLA, PSN, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Windows PC digital download, Android and Windows Phone. It will be available for purchase in late 2011. The trailer is after the jump.
Original post: Larry Hyrb, blog writer for Microsoft’s gaming division, has announced that Sonic the Hedgehog CD is available to play at PAX Prime 2011 for Xbox 360. A fan favorite in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic CD was a premiere title for the SEGA CD/MEGA CD add-on; it has been sparsely re-released on platforms prior to this. No further information has yet to be posted.
‘Xbox 360 Booth #432
Mass Effect 3 has landed… in the Xbox 360 booth! Come on by to check it out, along with a slew of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles: Trials Evolution, Skulls of the Shogun, Crimson Alliance, Splatters, Orcs Must Die, Ms. Splosion Man, Retro City Rampage, Sonic CD, War of the Worlds and Trine 2. ‘
Ecco: The Tides of Time is the 1994 Genesis/Mega Drive sequel to Ecco the Dolphin, both of which were developed by Novotrade International (now known as Appaloosa Interactive) and headed by the unexampled Ed Ettore Annunziata. Best known for their uniquely dark style of gameplay, sci-fi storytelling and incredible difficulty level, the first two Ecco the Dolphin games have gone on to become two of SEGA’s most recognizable games of all time.
Hit the jump to continue reading and to listen to different versions of the song.
I made this video back in 2007 or so, when I was first learning how to use video editing tools, and that is a little more than obvious. However, I feel my passion for the company and their games is very apparent and overrides most major complaints I have with it. I put a lot of love into this for no real reason other than a thank you to the thousands – Perhaps millions of great games SEGA has made that so much of us all over the world have loved through the years.
The song is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by the band Queen. After the jump is the list of games included in the video, along with the format they were recorded on in their correct order.
Originally started in June of 2004, Pier Solar and the Great Architects, the newest Indie release for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive has finally been completed. Not only is it the first SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive RPG to be released since 2005’s Beggar Prince, but it is the first original RPG for the platform in over 12 years. It is especially unique in that it has a 64 meg cartridge – Officially making it the largest game on the console ever. It is also the first ever game on the platform to utilize both the cartridge slot and the SEGA CD add-on at the same time if the player chooses.
The original shipment has already sold out due to heavy demand, but a second print line is in the works at the moment. To purchase or just read more up on the project, head on over to WaterMelon’s official site.
Also worth noting is that the title is being considered to have a release on the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live Arcade, or XBLA for short. It is very likely that the high demand may just help motivate the publisher make a decision sooner than later.
The SEGA Source 