Sega Vintage Collection

[Ganelon]

Sega released the first 2 of its vintage collections (Alex Kidd and Monster World) this week and will release the next 2 (Streets of Rage and Golden Axe) the following week. These collections are apparently ported by M2 (the JP company known for its faithful faithful Sega Ages ports) and are only planned for Xbox Live. However, most of the individual games will be available on all platforms.

Can anybody who's played them tell us how accurate the emulation is and what bonus features it has? I hear that the collections offer sound tests and different region versions of each game (doubtful that Bare Knuckle III will make it over with Ash in it though). For Monster World, is there any reason to buy this version for folks who already own the PS2 Monster World Complete Collection? Since the Virtual Console version of Monster World IV is translated, I reckon the translated MWIV will be here as well. That could be one reason to give this collection a try.

Super Hang-On is in particular interesting since it's the arcade version. I'd be very interested if Sega kept going with these and continued with a more in-demand series such as OutRun.

[Friendly]

Who cares for this super old stufff that has been ported dozens of times and can be played on most devices known to man, and on several different emulators ?

How about games like Planet Harriers? Star Wars Trilogy Arcade? Etc.

What's it with Japanese game companies not porting some of their most interesting titles (eg. Irem's R-Type Leo, Cave's ESP ra.de., Progrear [yeah, I know, different publishers, so what])?! ffs.

[Fudoh]

Bought both collections yesterday. They're very nice.

Super Hang-On is fantastic and it's actually the first accurate home version of the '87 version. It's a pity that SHO is bundled with Alex Kidd (which I don't like) and Super Shinobi (which everybody should have elsewhere already and doesn't include the first japanese print with Spiderman intact).

The Monsterworld Collection is obviously missing Dragon's Trap which is a shame, since it's my favorite in the series. Emulation is good. Graphical presentation is ok. The horizontal scaling is slightly off. You can use dot-by-dot scaling for perfect graphics, but this way you end up with a game screen narrower than 4:3. If you set the games to real 4:3, you get slight wobbling on horizontally scrolling backgrounds of objects.

Monsterworld has an english version of MWIV which is the only thing that makes it better than the PS2 version. The PS2 version runs in 480p via component and looks very nice. Unless your LCD totally sucks at upscaling 480p YUV, the 720p HDMI of the XBox doesn't look this much better.

[Fudoh]

@Friendly:

Super Hang On hasn't been ported since the so-la-la Mega Drive version in '89 and it's still one of Sega's greatest racing games.

[Friendly]

@Friendly:

Super Hang On hasn't been ported since the so-la-la Mega Drive version in '89 and it's still one of Sega's greatest racing games.

Really? I thought there were lots of ports.

Ninja edit:

It was released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1989. Super Hang-On was also released for the Sharp X68000 computer in Japan. The game also appeared on several Mega Drive compilations, namely Mega Games I (bundled with the console as Mega Drive Magnum Set), and Sega Genesis Six Pack. It is also released from its arcade version on the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on September 14, 2010 and later for the other regions on May 3, 2012.

[Fudoh]

Ok, I stand corrected. Didn't know about the Wii port which is surely incredible. The rest (maybe except for the X68k version) is pretty mediocre though.

SHO (and the like) are always hard to setup in MAME because of the analogue steering control. The 360 version feels really great and enjoy it a lot.

[Ruldra]

Can't say for the other versions, but the MegaDrive version of Super Hang-On is nothing compared to the arcade original. It's so slow paced it's not even worth playing it.

The arcade version was only ported to the Wii but now you can play it on the PS3 and 360. It's a very welcome addition. Will definitely pick it up for the PS3.

Also, let's not forget the online leaderboards, which will make the game even more fun. Can't even imagine how crazy the competition will be to get the best time in the expert course.

[mesh control]

What's it with Japanese game companies not porting some of their most interesting titles (eg. Irem's R-Type Leo, Cave's ESP ra.de., Progrear [yeah, I know, different publishers, so what])?! ffs.

QFT

[Mischief Maker]

Or if you want legal copies of classic Genesis games for dirt cheap DRM-free with a bundled emulator, you can always snatch up the bunch they're selling on gamersgate. They just released the Phantasy Star Collection. Phantasy Star 2 is mine forever!

http://www.gamersgate.com/games?q=megad ... collection

(You can also buy the titles individually)

Phantasy Star 4 is overrated drek. Phantasy Star 2 was the best jRPG ever created.

[Ghegs]

Maybe worth noting that on a JP360 these collections appear to be mixed-language. All the frontend menus are in english, but the text within the games is in japanese. I'm guessing the collections check the system's region and uses the same region roms?

[Fudoh]

They might just default to japanese, but you can chose the ROM language in the options, so you can play japanese on a PAL 360 or english on a japanese one.

[Ghegs]

Ah alright, I just played the trials and didn't spot those options.

Speaking of, a bad idea to allow only one of the games to be played in the trial. I would've wanted to give a Super Hang-On and Super Shinobi (which, I should note, I don't have anywhere else) a go, Alex Kidd is just mehhh.

[Marc]

Worth the fee just for Super Hang-On, super excited to finally have a proper version of this I can just plug and play. Probably never happen, but I'd shell out for PowerDrift and OutRunners in a heartbeat.

[GaijinPunch]

Phantasy Star 4 is overrated drek. Phantasy Star 2 was the best jRPG ever created.

lol wut
only if you like grinding for ages.

[ZellSF]

Super Hang-On is in particular interesting since it's the arcade version. I'd be very interested if Sega kept going with these and continued with a more in-demand series such as OutRun.

They can't even manage to keep their current OutRun games in the market because of licensing issues...

Speaking of, a bad idea to allow only one of the games to be played in the trial. I would've wanted to give a Super Hang-On and Super Shinobi (which, I should note, I don't have anywhere else) a go, Alex Kidd is just mehhh.

Might not be Sega's idea, Braid's developer at least noted that Microsoft demands the trials be pretty short. Which is why I'm slightly angry whenever someone commends Microsoft on their "every game has a trial" system.

[JBC]

Planet Harriers?

At least we finally got House of the Dead 4.

[Marc]

You did. Git. A bit baffled why it's PS3 only actually.

[JBC]

Orite

[Friendly]

You did. Git. A bit baffled why it's PS3 only actually.

Because Kinect has so much lag that it's only good for stuff like "Cuddle my Balls" (or whatever that pre-school game in which you throw balls at animal babies is called).

[Jonathan Ingram]

A bit baffled why it's PS3 only actually.

The same reason why HoTD3, HoTD: Overkill, Time Crisis 4, Razing Storm, Deadstorm Pirates, RE: Ubmrella Chronicles/Darkside Chronicles aren`t on the 360 either - Microsoft hasn`t provided the means to play games of this nature.

[JBC]

A bit baffled why it's PS3 only actually.

The same reason why HoTD3, HoTD: Overkill, Time Crisis 4, Razing Storm, Deadstorm Pirates, RE: Ubmrella Chronicles/Darkside Chronicles aren`t on the 360 either - Microsoft hasn`t provided the means to play games of this nature.

I own all of those except RE Chronicles now , but haven't gotten to spend much time with them since I've been away on a job. Might pick up Child of Eden one day, but not sure if it's my style. I genuinely feel bad for 360 users not being able to play lightgun shooters :/

[Ghegs]

I genuinely feel bad for 360 users not being able to play lightgun shooters :/

The Top Shot Elite is available for 360, there just aren't many games that utilize it. But this is all getting very off-topic.

[Friendly]

I genuinely feel bad for 360 users not being able to play lightgun shooters :/

No need; all they have to do is pick up a PS3. Just like PS3 users have to pick up a 360 to play shoot 'em ups.
In case you didn't know: The law was recently changed, and you are now allowed to have more than one game system.

[JBC]

I genuinely feel bad for 360 users not being able to play lightgun shooters :/

No need; all they have to do is pick up a PS3. Just like PS3 users have to pick up a 360 to play shoot 'em ups.
In case you didn't know: The law was recently changed, and you are now allowed to have more than one game system.

There aren't enough advantages or exclusives between each system to warrant a second $300 purchase in today's economy. I know, I owned both for years and played games for each equally. In the end, PS3 won out and I found my 360 superfluous. I understand it's a matter of preference, and am not attempting to incite a console war but I sold my unit nearly a year ago and haven't regret the decision at all. However, if my role was reversed and I exclusively owned a 360 it would suck balls that I couldn't play lightgun shooters, since they are the best thing ever. I dont feel like I miss out on much shmupping on modern consoles, either. It's just not the same anymore, so I mostly stick to MAME.

Back OT, I mostly stick to MAME

[Kiken]

Maybe worth noting that on a JP360 these collections appear to be mixed-language. All the frontend menus are in english, but the text within the games is in japanese. I'm guessing the collections check the system's region and uses the same region roms?

Yeah, the language is switchable between multiple regions in-game. Also, the consoles and carts change depending on the region of your hardware (on a US console they'll be Genesis units with calssic US carts, on a JP Console they'll be Mega Drive units with classic MD carts).

I finished playing through MWIV (for the nth time) and started up MWIII. Could Shion be any more awkward to use at the beginning of the game?

[stryc9]

I finished playing through MWIV (for the nth time) and started up MWIII. Could Shion be any more awkward to use at the beginning of the game?

Believe it or not, yes. Just check out the Master System version. You practically have to be on top of an enemy to hit it with Shion's tiny sword.

[No_not_like_Quake]

Very well done emulation on the Monster World collection, except in MW IV, I noticed some slight glitching on the bottom of the screen, particularly when the genie appears. Perhaps it was in the original too.

[Kiken]

Very well done emulation on the Monster World collection, except in MW IV, I noticed some slight glitching on the bottom of the screen, particularly when the genie appears. Perhaps it was in the original too.

Yeah, I had that happen in the final underground fortress part. I never noticed this on the original cart... although, I guess it's possible that some of it might be hidden in the overscan. One odd little thing that I did notice is that when this collection saves, it'll display the current on-screen palette as a bunch of little squares in the lower right of the screen.

[Drum]

Phantasy Star 4 is overrated drek. Phantasy Star 2 was the best jRPG ever created.

:vomit on both counts.

Have we bitched about how there's no Revenge of Death Adder on the Golden Axe collection? Because we should totally do that, at length.

Also, is Planet Harriers good? It had some neat ideas but I heard mixed things.

[Marc]

Damn Alex Kid fucking sucks.