This remake of the arcade sprite scaling stunner OutRun is another entry in the Sega Ages 2500 series that is probably hindered as much as it is helped by the legendary reputation of the game it's trying to recreate; OutRun's staggering popularity ensuring everyone with even the mildest interest in the game has a clear enough idea … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.13: OutRun
Unlike the previous volume's extensive 3D remake of Hokuto no Ken, which took the original's bare bones and then teased them out into something more acceptably modern, Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.12: Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect Set has been treated to the very lightest of modern touches, almost as though they were aiming to change or update … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 12: Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect Set
We may now be eleven volumes in but the Sega Ages 2500 Series is still eager to surprise those that have stuck with it through thick and thin, this disc release of Hokuto no Ken setting itself apart from previous entries by not only offering players the now expected 3D remake of the titular game, but also … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.11 Hokuto no Ken
Between the fancy sit-down cabinet and the blisteringly quick sprite scaling, there was little doubt After Burner II would be anything other than huge hit when it launched in arcades back in 1987, even though the differences between this "sequel" and the already popular original are quite small. The game was so successful the numerous home ports … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.10: After Burner II
It's that time of year again! Time to have a rummage through the past twelve months of gaming and find out exactly what I did and didn't like, highlight something that pleasantly surprised me, spend a paragraph or three sticking the boot into a game that disappointed me for some reason five months ago, and … Continue reading And my game of the year is…
There's really not much out there like Gain Ground, even though it debuted in all the way back in 1988 and gaming has collectively had plenty of chances to produce their own take on this oddball mash of almost-genres since. The arcade original's vertically-orientated screen and every version's masses of projectiles bring classic shmups to mind, although the … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 9 Gain Ground
3D had already been done many times before Virtua Racing came along - just look at Atari's arcade game I, Robot or The Sentinel's tense puzzle-action on various home computers, both displaying colourful worlds made of filled polygons as far back as the 1980s - but it was Sega's 1992 Model 1 racer that marked a true turning point in … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 8: Virtua Racing -FlatOut-
The Mega Drive Mini 2 takes a very Sega approach to sequels, choosing to follow up the success of the original unit not with another selection of surefire hits but a curated selection of less celebrated titles instead. This is a playable window into the company's B-side: the sort of games people meant to play but didn't, wanted to … Continue reading Sega’s 16-bit mixtape
I've been looking forward to playing this one, especially after the drastic (and positive) course correction found in Vol. 6: Bonanza Bros. - the Sega Ages 2500 series might have finally found the magical happy spot between the opposing forces of authenticity, modernity, and budget. It's quite hard to muck up Columns anyway - there are just two gem … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.7 Columns
From an outsider's point of view Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.6: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros has the distinct whiff of OK SO THAT DIDN'T WORK BUT DON'T PANIC I'VE GOT A NEW IDEA about it. There is a conspicuous lack of 3D in this 3D AGES game. There are no new gimmicks, no well-meant attempts to graft … Continue reading Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.6: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros.
Kimimi The Game-Eating She-Monster 