Console: Nintendo Switch
Game Series: Sega Ages
Price: $7.99 each (NA)
(Sega / M2, 2018-2020)
"To Be This Good, Takes AGES!"
With so many incredible Sega classics having been given new life on the Nintendo Switch, it can be a challenge to choose a favorite!
This post is a tribute to an incredible lineup of classics that were meticulously emulated and reworked to breathe new life into ‘age’ old classics.
The Sega Ages line originally began life on the Sega Saturn, and later expanded on to the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PS3, and most recently the Nintendo Switch (and with a new Sega Ages logo to boot!).
Whether you're joining 8-Player online laps in Virtua Racing, or enjoying the new 8-Bit style cutscenes in Alex Kidd in Miracle World, the emulation stalwarts at M2, together with Sega, went above and beyond to recreate the original console and arcade experiences, and the hard work and dedication really showed throughout the 19 title series that released on the Switch.
During its run, M2 was able to include several quality-of-life additions and improvements to these classic, and beloved Sega titles. Some notable additions include various display settings (for that perfect vintage scanline filter!), the ability to choose regional rom variations, FM soundtrack variants for Master System games that were previously Japan only, and magical Arcade cabinet views (complete with Arcade ambient sounds!). Additionally, save states and rewind features are also standard across the line-up.
Not enough features? Well, fret not, as M2 didn't stop there! Each game also has some improvements specific to the title at hand. For example, Phantasy Star now has a live-map that tracks your adventures in the Agol star system (no need for that old notebook now!), Fantasy Zone has a new mode that allows you to play as Opa-Opa's brother Upa-Upa, and Gain Ground even has a 'tate-mode' (vertical screen mode) tucked away in its display settings. These are just some of the fine examples of the additional attention to detail that went into these new iterations that greatly improve the quality of life of these games.
While the Sega Ages line on the Switch may have reached its Game Over screen, it is a series that will continue to receive much play time for countless Switch gamers, and will no doubt be fondly remembered by old and new Sega fans alike. (Here’s hoping we may see a comprehensive physical release of this stellar collection, or a continuation of the series in some form in the future!)
What are your favorite Sega Ages titles on the Nintendo Switch?🕹🦔
*Bonus Stage: Don't miss the 'Staff Credits' in each Sega Ages title released (found in each game's Main Menu); they offer some really fun retro-shenanigans that will be sure to bring a smile!
For more on the Sega Ages line of games for the Switch visit Nintendo's website.