Sega AGES Is Officially Coming to Nintendo Switch In The West

Ehh... I can tell I’m getting older, this news doesn’t even excite me as it would have about 10 years ago. 😕

This is really promising. When they announced the AGES collection for mobiles it was exciting but was disappointed it wasn't coming to consoles. Hoping for some more interesting titles to be announced before launch but it's a solid start.

I can’t believe I’m about to say this but even as a retro enthusiast I think I may have reached overload, and now find myself in the “give me something new, give me something novel” club.

Will wait and see if they do a retail release. 3DS got three physical collections of the 3D Classics in Japan.

Alex Kidd.

Woooohoooo

This launches before VC for Switch... SEGA does what Nintendon't again?

Altered Beast, After Burner, Streets of Rage, Virtua Fighter, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Shinobi

please and thanks

Here's hoping they get to the Arcade, Sega CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast library soon. Those are what I want the most.

Sega always does this and then there is no follow-through. It's always the same handful of titles. Unless they start releasing something like the SHINING series or some Saturn titles, I will pass.

This is good news! Hopefully they'll realise that they should release more of their old games on Switch.

....please just give me portable Monkey Ball 1&2! It doesn't even need any upgrades!

While none of these initial titles interest me, I hope they find success so we get Saturn and Dreamcast games. THOSE are the ones I’m interested in. I’ve played virtually every Genesis game I’m interested in already and most Master System games are kinda “meh.”

I would rather virtual console, but ah well, this is the way of things now

@SmaggTheSmug Nintendo Hamster Arcade Archives already came out so Nintendo was still first but they are slow though.

@ValhallaOutcast that would a rlly better choice... I would buy all

Nothing to me

What an amazingly unique set of titles. I've never played those before.

Here's a list of the 28 games on the 2006 Sega Genesis Collection on PS2/PSP. They should have just port this. But I figure this list is a good starting point for guessing what else may be coming.

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Altered Beast
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attack
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco Jr.
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Ristar
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Super Thunder Blade
Sword of Vermilion
Vectorman
Vectorman 2
Virtua Fighter 2

Think it’s just Thunderforce 4 out of that initial batch. Great shump

@rjejr To be THAT good will take.. ... ..

Only Genesis games I would be interested in going back to would be the Shining Force and Golden Ax games. Hopefully they expand to Dreamcast down the line, so many classics on that system

What I want are all the arcade versions of Golden Axe, especially Golden Axe 2 as that was never ported to home consoles back in the day

the first Phantasy Star would be nice

This was their ‘huge announcement’?

Question, is Ground Gain in the article the European name for "Gain Ground", or is it just this articles "Easter egg"?

A number of Saturn titles I want to play again and some I never had the chance to play: Nights, Burning Rangers, Shining Force 3, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Dragon Force, etc. Why do they test the waters with games we've played a million times instead of starting with the games that would really get people excited?

I only really got super into gaming in 2013. I never even knew Sega made game consoles until long after they were discontinued, and most of the titles I've never even touched. I'd kill to get a chance to play some of these games. Heck, play it safe and port SA 1 and 2 to the Switch, they've been pretty much everywhere besides Nintendo consoles in recent years, so why not? I'd also like to see Panzer Dragoon, since I've been a bit into rail shooters thanks to Star Fox, as well as Nights into Dreams.

Heck, just flood the eshop with titles new guys like me can try out. I'm barely able to hold the pretext that I'm able to finish my backlog before buying new games, this would just help me let down the facade

@jwfurness I sold my copy of Burning Rangers, and I miss it so much. I’ve come close to dropping $80+ on another copy a few times.

Sega did say that Saturn and Dreamcast games are possible, “if these sell well.” Ugh.

Physical or gee tee eff oh!

Ground Gain?

...

Not Gain Ground?

You had to use the Sonic 1 app icon to get my hopes up...

Why are people calling the Mega Drive, "Genesis"? Stop that crap at once!

BTW, Sonic is more at home on PC

@uhhhhhhhh This, a new Sakura Taisen game, remake of Shenmue 1 and 2. Maybe more I don't remember?

I'm all for having as much retro games as possible available on as many platforms as possible, but can we please move beyond the 16-bit era?

And speaking more broadly, it would be nice to purchase these games once and be able to play them on any other machine. Can't wait until we get either a Netflix-style service for retro games or some way to just buy the game once and play it on any platform.

@uhhhhhhhh

It was a combo of this, the Mega Drive/Genesis Mini and the Shenmue HD collection.

I would like to see Saturn games. That was a console I barely played. Also give us Samba de Amigo since the joycons are perfect or so they said.

I hope M2 is porting as part of this some of Sega's arcade games like OutRun, Afterburner II, Galaxy Force II, Super Hang-on, Power Drift and the like. I would not mind to have the games from the 3D classics line-up on my Switch.

@needmorecowbell The success of the VC, hundreds of indie games revisiting retro style, and multiple dedicated "classics" consoles has diminished my enthusiasm, as well.

Waiting for Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 to get ports. I don't care about Genesis games anymore.

With Ground Gain being an arcade game, and Thunder Force IV apparently being the Saturn version of the game (according to RGT85), the initial Ages lineup is looking pretty diverse already.

As far as Genesis goes, gimme all the Streets of Rage and all the Golden Axes. After that I don't care, just move on to Saturn and Dreamcast.

cool, I guess. The eshop desperately needs a "retro" section for these, the Neo Geo games, arcade classics, etc.

Personally, I'm hoping for proper emulated SEGA arcade games, rather than just MD ports/re-releases. Why play, say, MD "AfterBurner II" when you could be playing the arcade version. Or arcade "Space Harrier" instead of MD "Space Harrier II." Same goes for all other arcade titles too - "OutRun" (+2 please! it was on original XBox), "Golden Axe", "ThunderBlade", "Flicky" etc. etc. The Switch could easily handle these titles. I'd much rather these titles than yet another "Sonic the Hedgehog" re-re-re-release. I'd love to see "Get Bass" and the "House Of The Dead" series too. I don't just want crusty old MD games. I want those as well! Give me your all SEGA!!!

@Audiobrainiac

"Thunder Force IV apparently being the Saturn version of the game (according to RGT85)"

Wait, what? I mean, that's the only definite buy for me out of this first batch anyway but that's great news if true

Of these 5, I'll only purchase Sonic. Look forward to more things I'd enjoy in the future like Streets of Rage trilogy, Golden Axe trilogy, Super Hang-on, Nights into Dreams, Panzer Dragoon, Crazy Taxi, and the House of the Dead games.

Give me Vectorman!

I do hope SEGA re-release most of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive and Master System VC games as more Arcade games for the SEGA AGES Switch specially Black Belt and Last Battle those two games never got chance on American and European Virtual Console

@rjejr i have i think that same lineup on steam for like $3. i know that if i'm ever dead broke and cant buy any new games for awhile, ill be set for a year or 5...

I get it. Having choices is good. Give me a good price because I don't want pay for 5 games and that being equivalent to a full price collection.

Super Monkey Ball, please and thank you.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World??? No....give Alex Kidd in Shinobi World some love instead! That was an epic game!

I just want Sonic. Also, PLEASE do Ristar, SEGA! Ristar is so underrated imo.

So hoping for Shining Force 2 and Landstalker. I’ll be so happy!
Otherwise I’m kind of sick of these same initial releases; vectorman, shinobi III, ristar, comix zone, Columns... and somehow we always miss out on a digital form of locking on sonic 3 and knuckles or sonic 2 and knuckles. That gets me so irritated. These are all good games but how many times did I buy these over the years? WII, GameCube, 3DS, psp, ps3, vita... it’s sickening. What I’m most excited for are Dreamcast and Saturn releases... that’s going to be awesome!

If these sell as well on Switch as I think they're going to, this could be HUGE for classic Sega games. I just hope they opt for more actual classics that everyone knows and loves as opposed to more obscure Japanese arcade games.

All of the Genesis Phantasy Star and Sonic games are a must, imo.

I might get it depending on the line up but if they add Shining in the darkness and shining force 1 & 2 then it would be an insta buy for me regardless what the other games would be.

I really doubt that Thunder Force IV is a Saturn port.

@russellohh "ill be set for a year or 5.."

I felt that way w/ the 30 games for $30 Rare replay, then I played each 1 for 5 - 15 minutes and realized for a lot of those early games that was enough for me. Later games did keep me busy for awhile. And we still own that PS2 Sega disc. We just don't own a PS2 to play it on. Maybe PS5 will have backwards compatibility.

Will probably only go for Sonic with Mega Drive games, if they go into Saturn and Dreamcast then there's a lot more I want from other SEGA franchises (though I'll also pick up the Sonic Adventure games and Sonic Shuffle).

@w00dm4n It's there. That is an awesome game. It had the most impact on me as far as my gaming history goes.

I used to get excited about news like this, but I've paid for and played these games as many times as I'm realistically going to. Too many great new games coming out to replay older titles for the umpteenth time. All I really want at this point as far as retro is games are concerned is the chance to play Gamecube games again. For everything else, I've got my virtual console collections on the Wii U and 3DS, and the Mega Drive collection on the ps3.

@Atariboy I’m thinking it’s the Genesis port which was released under the name Lighting Force so...but hopefully they still port many of their coin ops!! 🤣

@retro_player_22 and @subpopz Sega said at FES that if this Ages collection sells well then they play to put Saturn and Dreamcast games on the Switch. So that means Panzer Dragoon, Shining Force III, Deep Fear, Skies Of Arcadia and more could genuinely happen this time.

@Atariboy Doubt all you want, it is.

I hope all you Retro/Sega fans are ready with your wallets! Let’s show Sega it was a good move! There’s no arguing that their classic library is better than the Neo Geo - and way more diverse!! 👍

Just when you think the Switch’s shoot em up library couldn’t get any better we’ll now be getting what many consider as the best ever 16 bit shoot em up - Thunder Force IV.

Here's hoping Sonic 2, Sonic CD and Sonic 3 & Knuckles get ported - and if/when Dreamcast games are on the table, Sonic Adventure 2.

Just bring us Skies of Arcadia and that's all right.

Sega already announced this the other day via Twitter

@electrolite77 with his collection he’d be an expert. I hope he’s right. He said the Saturn has no slowdown with a much improved frame rate over the original.

@imgrowinglegs Bummer! I used to have a bunch of the rare games including Astal, Shining Force 3 and Dragon Force. Of course, as a broke teenager, I had to sell those to buy the next system. Still kick myself every now and again. I imagine Sega could get close to retail price out of a lot of us for a Switch release of Panzer Dragoon Saga.

@Audiobrainiac It's the megadrive version (remember them saying they would like to bring Saturn games to the Switch if they are popular.) Besides, the scrolling has the megadrive wobble (ironed out on the Saturn.) but M2 being the M2 Gods that they are, they added Saturn features like Styx mode.

@GrailUK nice. At least there’s that.

Well it's definitely better than buying a console made by AtGames

I am a really big fan of Segas 16 bit glory. All my Mega Drive games found a nice home on my SNES classic, too.

But on my switch I would prefer playing arcade (or at least Saturn) versions of „Virtua racing“ or „Virtua fighter“ ..

Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon Zwei
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Sega Rally
Virtual Fighter 3
Shenmue
Shenmue II

@rjejr
Thankfully M2 is handling these releases so, unlike other Genesis collections we can expect top tier emulation and features.

And as a platform, it's not limited to just Genesis. Saturn and Dreamcast on deck. that's what's up.

Btw I know you're ignoring my DKC endorsement 😜

@JaxonH "I know you're ignoring my DKC endorsement"

I'm not ignoring it, long weekend, I'm catching up. But I knew you'd mention it again.

"Saturn and Dreamcast on deck"

Not "on deck", only if these sell well last I read. That's hardly "on deck". That's - BUY THESE OR YOU WON'T GET ANY MORE" hard sell marketing 101. They might come, or not, but they haven't said 100% that they will. Of course Ninteod said 100% Gamecube games would come to Wii U VC, still waiting. And dual Gamepad games too, still waiting on those as well. So we'll see what Sega brings to Switch.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2018/04/16/sega-producer-wants-saturn-and-dreamcast-classics-on-nintendo-switch/#57cbe9af2618

Sega - ageS
I see what you did there.

|sf>In theory this sounds promising. Sega & M2 did a fantastic job with the 3DS classics. Between the cartridge and the downloads, I bought at least one copy of each title. However, sometimes Sega hasn't released a wide range of titles (like Master System titles on Wii and Game Gear titles on 3DS).

I'll definitely support Phantasy Star and the majority of the Sega releases, but I hope that Sega will complete what they start. For example if we get Fantasy Zone, I'd want to see all four titles (including Fantasy Zone the Maze). Like someone else mentioned, the Master System had four Alex Kidd games, not three.

I was lucky to grow up in a household to parents who loved video games, so we had access to NES/Master System/Turbografx as kids. However, I've heard praise for Psycho Fox from the Master System, yet I've never played it. I just hope that Sega takes this ball and runs with it.

@rjejr
I think Nintendo never actually said GC was coming. I looked into it and I could find no statement made. I think there was a statement people misconstrued as a possibility, and they just ran with it and like the telephone game, and before you know it everyone was saying GC was confirmed.

But that was also on a failing console. Their worst failing home console in history.

This is their fastest selling home console in history (for time on the market). These games will sell. There is no maybe or if about it. People will buy these games- everything on the system is selling very well right now. Even third party games.

I would be shocked if they just decided not to release them. They say they want to make this a platform and that's exactly how you do it.

@rjejr Let's be honest, retro games sell well on Switch. It wouldn't shock me if Sega ends up putting out Saturn and DC games on Switch.

@JaxonH When the Wii U was up on Nintneod's website around launch there was a page talking all about it. One of the listings of things it would have was VC, were Gamecube was listed. They finally removed the word Gamecube after a year or two but it was up there for awhile. I saw it with my own 2 eyes or I wouldn't believe it either. They made have never had said ti out loud, but it was on the official Wii U page.

Maybe Sega doesn't want to add newer games to AGES, maybe it wants to only sell them as remasteres now that Crash has done so well and Spyro will likely do well as well. Maybe Saturn games will come to Ages but I wouldn't be surprised to see them go the Shenmue 1 + 2 route with other Dreamcast games. Of course there have already been a number of Dreamcast games releases elsewhere. Most of the big ones on Sony consoles - Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Sonic Adventure, either Skies of Arcadia or Grandia 2 have been ported. Maybe both.

I do think a few Saturn games will make it, maybe 1 or 2 Dreamcast games, but most of those notable ones won't be. Now when do we get those Gamecube games in any way shape or form? I really want Sunshine HD. Not holding my breath on Starfox Adventure, one of my favorite all time games. Would be so great remastered in HD with an additional jump button. Not having a jump button in GoW is already killing me. Did I tell you I pre-ordered GoW? I know it goes against my "not another FFXV Day 1 fiasco" current gaming plan, but that 20% Prime Day 1 sucked me in. I may still cancel it though, haven't told my wife yet, kind of waiting until ti's too late, but ultimately she hold's the purse strings.

@GrailUK Sega have already confirmed it’s the Saturn version.

@IronMan28 ninja'd me by 1 minute. You can read above in post #84 while I think Switch will get Dreamcast games, just not under this AGES banner. Kind of like how in damo's article earlier Nitneod will re-release it's older games on Switch but there won't be a "VC" section in the eShop any more.

Why release something as a digital download when you can sell it for more on a disc? Dreamcast games are disc worthy. Or at least HD remaster worthy. Or collection worthy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast_Collection

I don't know, AGES to me is "retro", Dreamcast to me is the first of the modern consoles, still. DC, PS2 and GC and Xbox, that's the beginning of modern gaming, where games stop being "retro". AGES sounds retro. Like how Nintneod never added GC games to VC. N64 was as far as they got. And I'm sure plenty of people see N64 as the beginning of modern gaming, but man I hate those graphics on all of those games, including Mario 64. So pointy.

Gamecube games will release on Switch some day, but they'll never be called VC. DC games won't be called AGES, but they'll come too.

@rjejr
I do believe we'll see Saturn and Dreamcast, down the line, but not GameCube.

Nintendo clearly withheld them from Wii U so as to not spend one of their few aces up their sleeve on a dead console. And with Switch doing so well on its own, with them having to pull out so many stops to get momentum rolling (first ever Pokémon on a home console, for example), I think they'll want to retain an ace or two up their sleeve if they need. And I think virtual console is one of those Aces, with GameCube being the crown jewel.

What I do think they'll end up doing is using Gamecube as fodder for 3DS ports and HD remasters on Switch. I don't think we'll ever see them released as virtual console. Not unless the system's momentum starts slowing and they need extra revenue to hit their numbers and revive interest.

What's unfortunate is that Wii and GC go hand in hand, and with the joycon, Wii games could actually run on the system and be sold as VC. But their next console might have similar controllers as well- I actually don't think they'll ever release a home console that doesn't have split controllers with motion ever again, so I guess it's not a huge missed opportunity.

Sucks, but I just don't see it happening. Thankfully GPD WIN 2 will solve all my portable GameCube needs. It's been the dream for over a decade. And next month it becomes a reality. Perhaps a hacked Switch (btw I already hacked my second Switch and am playing SNES and Genesis and GBA) 5 years from now could be running Dolphin, which means game cube and Wii with proper motion, and/or with mapped button controls. Console and handheld.

#theREALdream

@JaxonH "first ever Pokémon on a home console"

It's not a home console, it's a hybrid. Or a tribrid. Or a tablet and a dock. Or all of the above. But it's not nearly as limited as a home console.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

@rjejr
You know what I mean. Most definitely is a tribrid, but as such, part of that is being a home console.

Never before in the history of video games has a Pokémon released on a home console that connects to the TV, playable with a separate controller. HD at that.

That's really big. The question is, well it do as well as it did as a strictly handheld game. Will the 15 million people who buy the games on cheap handhelds upgrade to Switch in order to play.

@rjejr It's possible Sega does what they did with Xbox 360 they'll do with Switch, but I would love it if the ports were AGES instead. I say that because they could use a new coat of paint. Then again, a lot of things in life that should happen don't, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Uhh... It's Gain Ground, not Ground Gain.

@ValhallaOutcast @rjejr for the love of all that is holy Altered Beast is a terrible game. Please people stop asking for it and stop buying it.

I bought so many of the Sega 3D Classics on the 3ds. Altered Beast not only took time and resources to port that could have been spent on some actual good game but then it took up a spot on the 3D Classics Collection. Literally any of the other 3D classics that weren’t included are better games.

Look guys, I thought “RISE FROM THE GRAVE” was as cool as any kid back in the 90s when I played it at some kids house. My mother even freaked out about it like moms did back then. But 20 years later it only took 30 seconds of playing it on one of those mini sega plug and plays to realize the game is actually terrible.

I never bought it on the 3ds and even declined to buy the Collection. Now I ask the rest of the world to do the same. Our kids will inherit the world we leave them lets let Altered Beast not be part of our legacy.

I just want Sonic Adventure DX and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle

@LafayetteBlues What's your source?

I've seen a few seconds of footage that a YouTuber posted, proclaiming it's the Saturn port. But they're very similar looking, so until something more concrete pops up, I'll continue to doubt.

I'm not sure about their emphasis on bringing back the glory days of Sega to the modern age. Too many times have I seen Sega try to tickle the nostalgia glands and it is more like performing brutal rubs on said glands. I wish they would work towards putting effort into modernizing their franchises and dishing out new titles.

@IronMan28 "a lot of things in life that should happen don't"

I'm sensing that's a running theme in many of our conversations.

@JaxonH "Will the 15 million people who buy the games on cheap handhelds upgrade to Switch in order to play."

Well I've been saying for awhile now - in a lot of posts - that in order for Pokemon to sell well and Nitneod to sell Switch to kids to play it they need a cheaper Switch. And not just a cheaper Switch in general in the future, a cheaper Switch SPECIFICALLY for Pokemon, as that's probably their biggest kid game. Animal Crossing is big but I feel that has more adult appeal as well.

So, for Poekmon's relase they will NEED a Swtich that costs less than $299 otherwise parents are just going to tell kids "no". Nto b/c as a tribird the Swiotch isn't worth $299, it is, but parents may nto want kids chucking a $299 console into their backpack. 3DS sodl very poorly at $249, hence the quick drop a few months after launch to $179. XL has always, always, always been $199, probably the ceiling for a handheld. And of parnets to spend on a toy to get thrown into a kids backpack.

And yes, I know, every parent in the US is spending $500 on an iPad, but that isn't just to play games, it's to play games, watch videos, send email, do homework, videochat w/ grandma and grandpa. It's a computer. Switch, despite it's tribridness, is still a gaming console, ie a "toy", first and foremost. So I think a cheaper Switch will be released alongside Pokemon. I really do.

Not sure what that will be exactly. Could just be a Switch price drop to $279 or $249. Could be a Switch Labo Edition (Toy-Con set 1 can NOT use the dock, no matter how much you may want to, so why include 1 in the bundle?), could be a smaller screen SwitchMini, could be a smaller screen built in controls SwitchBoy. But I really do think by the time they release a full blown mainline Pokemon game on Switch - as opposed to Rumble or card game or match 3 game - there will be a cheaper than $299 Switch in some way shape or form alongside it.

@EasyDaRon Mind your language!

@Atariboy Sega and their Japanese press release.

@LafayetteBlues Nope, all the Japanese press release says about the Saturn is that the Sega Ages line started on that system. Nothing is said about Thunder Force IV being the Saturn version in the Japanese press release.

This article may explain why that YouTuber where this seems to have originated from, thought what he did.

https://nintendowire.com/news/2018/04/17/sega-ages-details-emerge-sega-fes-2018-saturn-dreamcast-games-possibility/

If my memories are correct, the Saturn version also included the ship from Thunder Force III as an option. I assume this YouTube guy saw this ship in photos or videos, and went from there with his assumptions. But then note how the article says that M2 is going to retain the slowdown from the Megadrive version, which is something that was removed with the Saturn port.

I'm not saying that it's not the Saturn version being used a basis of this release, I'm just saying that I very much doubt it. The presence of a feature from an earlier port doesn't mean that any code from that effort is being used. M2 has done this type of thing before, like spin dash in Sonic 1 and 60 fps in Outrun on the 3DS 3D Classics releases.

Doesn't mean that a single line of game code from a previous port with a similar enhancement was ever looked at.

Genesis games, Street Fighter games, and Activision's 2600 games are the only games I'll buy on every console known to man.

What they don't tell is if this collection (which is far worse than Sega Mega Drive Classics on the competition) will come as one or it will be 15 games that we have to / we can purchase separately.