Don’t Expect A Skies Of Arcadia Port Or Sequel Anytime Soon

Too bad that this Director's cut didn't have the sound quality of the original..

Just rerelease it on switch! Hd port please!

I played through it on the Gamecube, honestly I fail to see why this game is so highly regarded. It felt like a bog standard JRPG to me.

See, this is the problem with SEGA. They make an awesome game and instead of making a sequel they make Sonic. Then years pass and instead of making a sequel they make another Sonic. Then more years pass and instead of making a sequel they make another Sonic. And then more years pass...

In the same genre, I thought Grandia II on the Dreamcast was a much better game. At least the fighting was great. I recall the fighting in Skies of Arcadia mostly being tedious and annoying.

@Nomad

Are you trying to say that another Sonic is on the horizon?

Definitely one of the best games I've ever played and it's sad that it didnt do well in sales. Here's hoping for a remaster on Switch.

Recently replayed it on my softmodded Wii U through Nintendont in the Off-TV mode, such great experience.

@Nomad I remember back then when there was a rumor that a remaster/remake/port of Skies of Arcadia was going to be released for the PS3, but that led to nothing. I'm still waiting for a sequel to Billy Hatcher & The Giant Egg (there's so many things they could have done with that IP too...) or at the very least, a new/proper port or remake, as the original PC version is no longer available for purchase and they never bothered to add it to Steam like most of the other odd PS2/GC PC ports they've done in the past.

We need this on Switch! Such an amazing game that not many people have played. Someone please start a petition

In all honesty I wouldn''t be surprised if this was one of the IPs they throw away the master of years back.

Amazing game and my very favorite game on Dreamcast. I for one would love a port but clearly it’s not happening given the reception at the time :/

@KyleHyde I remember those PS3 rumors too. I think those turned out to be Valkyria Chronicles. The fact that Vyse and Aika are in that game greatly endeared it to me.

So, fun fact, selling my Skies of Arcadia Legends disc is my biggest gaming regret. I mean, I got Nocturne and P4 for it, which were both great games, but I still miss being able to replay Skies. Sigh...

Skies of Arcadia still remains one of my all time favourites - it was an impulse buy as Grandia 2 had been delayed, the latter being one of my other favourites from the era. I fear that the only HD version we'll ever get is through emulation and upscaling.... the wait continues....

I enjoyed the game and it would be nice to see a sequel but not a remake of the original unless they improved it quite a bit.

So many games not coming to Switch or ones we needn't wait for. I wouldn't have known about them if it wasn't for this site. Exciting!

Hopefully it will get an Ages Port, along with Shenmue, Daytona, Sega Rally etc

Makes me wish 2 things.
1 Sega would do more with its non-Sonic ips
2 Nintendo would bring Gamecube games to the e shop (we even have gc controllers like!)

@Aneira haha of course 😄

@KyleHyde Billy Hatcher was a really fun game and another example of SEGA making a great IP and then letting it fall by the wayside.
They have so many great IP's that they are not bothering with.
At least we are getting remakes of Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2.

@sikthvash At least we're getting HD remasters of Grandia 1 and 2. I've given up waiting for Skies.

My personal favorite RPG of all time — that game ruled on Gamecube. Not sure how it would hold up now though, almost 20 years later.

I just picked this up on the Dreamcast.

@Nomad I suspect the problem is that they don't sell and anything with the Sonic name attached does :/.

Skies is an all time favourite RPG. It's just so positive and well put together. It completely nails that sense of adventure.

Great game. It would be beautiful to have a sequel.

What a mistake from the director. If people want to experience your best work, why would anyone wish it to stay behind a 20 year-old wall? Even if the Gamecube version was 'more than enough,' why not let more people experience that perfect version?

One of my all-time favorites. I agree that Gamecube had the definitive version, I just wish they would port that version to Switch.

Fantastic game. An HD remaster would be a dream.

A fantastic game that I have replayed many times, including recently. Now if only this and Billy Hatcher were shown some love...

@StuTwo Exactly right and why they keep churning out Sonic games.
Such a great cast of characters in Skies too.

I want to play this game but the Gamecube version goes for upwards of £70 on eBay so there's no way I can affordably play it. It's all well and good saying the GC version is the definitive edition but it's not really accessible any more.

@Gerald Actually, Reiko Kodama also happens to be the lead producer of the Sega Ages series. This article doesn’t mention it, but I recognize her name, and checked several outside sources to confirm. She is also known as “Phoenix Rie” form the time when Sega did not allow staff to include their real names in game credits. Some of her early work was as an artist on Phantasy Star and some of the early Sonic games.

With that said, I skimmed a couple of recent interviews she’s done. She does not directly state that a Sega Ages port of Skies will not happen. But the overall tone of her commentary she might be inclined to leave the game in the past. She does say that the game was complex to develop, given its two combat systems. At the same time, she acknowledges that there is fan interest in doing something else with the IP.

That usually is the case with many SEGA games on GameCube, I mean can you really say you've enjoyed SA1 or SA2 until you've connected your GBA to the Chao Garden?

Even Billy Hatcher has the closest thing to a NiGHTS port on the GBA locked behind the GC version.

Never played it ,but should it not be part of the sega ages line

Excellent game that I have a copy for on the Dreamcast and Gamecube.

So it’s another SEGA issue then.

Loved this game so much. It had such a great vibe to it. Kinda like Final Fantasy meets the Wind Waker.

@Nomad I understand and agree with where you're coming from to a degree, but there was a point after the Dreamcast forced Sega into bankruptcy that they announced they'd focus on Sonic only because that was the only franchise that turned a profit. It's only recently after successful publishing deals like Bayonetta and the hype surrounding Shenmue that they're starting to dip their toes back into being an actual game company and not just a hedgehog factory.

No sequel, but if Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 can have their Director's Cut on more recent hardware after being released on the GameCube, then I see no reason why SoAL can't.

Grandia 2 was and still is the true hidden gem of Dreamcast era. It is way better than SoA.

This article makes me sad. Skies of Arcadia was the finest jrpg on Dreamcast that also had a superior version ported to the Gamecube. So, like Panzer Dragoon Saga, it appears as though it'll fade away as nothing more than a fond memory for those who played it. Shame on you, Sega.

That's a shame and a totally missed opportunity. I would be perfectly happy with a straight port to the Switch. Though an HD coat of paint would be ideal. I'm sure they could just hire some outside studio to do them job and they could sell it, make a few bucks, and be happy, and we could play it on a modern, amazing hybrid device and we'd be happy too. Win/Win.

My favourite jrpg of all time (yes, even better than Final Fantasy 6!), so my heart skipped a beat when I saw that picture, even though I've given up hope of ever seeing an HD version. I'm planning to bring out my Dreamcast again and replay it, and thoroughly looking forward to that.

Just port the gamecube version id honestly would pay $60 for it i absolutely loved the game.

Skies of Arcadia was far and away my favorite game on Dreamcast and one of the few IMO that holds up well today. I’d love a sequel or HD port, especially since I never truly finished the original.

@Nomad I know nobody wants to hear this, but I don't think every good game needs to have sequels.

And especially not every JRPG needs to have sequels.

Man why does Sega kept looking down on their IP like this, Skies of Arcadia on the Dreamcast was awesome and was even better on GameCube since you don't need 2 disc. It's like they don't have any passion for the stuff they own anymore. An HD remastered for Switch would be nice, it doesn't need to get sequel if making sequel could ruin the IP like that certain other IP that they already ruin.

There's quite a few great Sega games, even pre-Genesis, that have never been re-released.
Just do an HD version like Shenmue 1&2 at minimal cost, the GameCube disc isn't cheap these days.

I own both and would gladly buy it again on the Switch.

@Aneira Grandia 2 combat was better but overall I prefer SOA. I recall the ship battles being impressive at the time.

I'm frankly still amazed we managed to get Valkyria Chronicles 4 (albeit a decade after the original) from Sega...and then only after years of seemingly futile fan pleas as they continued to milk that Hedgehog to the point of desiccation. Who knows, maybe at some point they'll throw us another bone and give us a port or sequel to Skies of Arcadia, Phantasy Star (kudos to M2 for restoring the original), Shining Force, Panzer Dragoon Saga, or Dragon Force (you know, a Sega AGES compilation of those RPG/SRPG IPs would be an instant megaton announcement)...but I wouldn't hold my breath. We'll be fortunate to see even one of those again, sadly.

I had so much fun with this game. Honestly I'd love to have another opportunity to play it.

In a heartbeat.

@sfb it does make you wonder what the selection process is for the Sega Ages line up. I assume the Public Vote meant sweet FA going on the last lot of games selected for Ages release (not saying I don’t like them, but I was surprised with GLOC and 2 Puyo Puyo Games)

I found SoA to be a quality game - one of the greatest JPPGs of all time, though? Nah. I still played through it twice, but that was enough. Lots of cool ideas, though. It certainly had a unique vibe, if non-unique characters.

eye think a rerelease Should happen

I would had added "section" to this part of the article (after "comments" and ".") if I either its creator or one of its creators: "Tell us in the comments."

Here's a crazy thought... how about Nintendo creates something - I don't know, let's call it a virtual console - where we can buy and play Gamecube games on the Switch?

Kodama isn't even the right person to ask about a sequel. Someone like Shuntaro Tanaka, who wrote and directed Skies of Arcadia, and the first Valkyria Chronicles (who Vyse and Aika cameod in) is the more appropriate person to ask.

@Gerald I can’t claim to have special insight into the Sega Ages game selection process. But it seems that, given M2’s painstakingly thorough approach, progress is never going to be brisk. Obviously they have mostly focused on Sega’s older titles so far; progress might be even slower when they (hopefully) tackle later eras.

With that said, it sounds like M2’s version of Virtua Racing is (typically) excellent. Looking forward to the western release. I enjoyed that game during its initial arcade run, and on Genesis and Saturn as well.

What a great legacy in gaming that Sega has. So it’s natural that many of us want it to remain alive and accessible.

@GrandScribe

Haha, glad this is the first comment. I still have my Dreamcast version just because of this (and other) flaws with the gamecube version.

@Chandlero

Yeah, it's sad that the first game laid the groundwork for improved games in the future...that we never got. It'd be awesome to get an open world SOA,

I would love to have a HD remaster of Skies of Arcadia its a great game despite its numerous flaws i.e. that insane encounter rate without a white map and that magic system which generally wasn't that useful. Just the thought of how gorgeous the game could be especially if they took a page out of Breath of the Wild's book and how much more enjoyable it would be with updated mechanics is driving me a little bit crazy with desire. I'd be a bit disappointed but still quite happy if they never remastered Skies of Arcadia but made a proper sequel to the game.

@oji question for you.. your softmod Wii U can you play using the game pad as a controller too? I can only use it as a screen..

I don't want a sequel, I just want the original available for others to play easily and legally without forking out a lot for either the DC or GC versions. Its been nearly 20 years for both versions, a generation or 2 of RPG gamers have grown up having no easy way of discovering this hidden gem, just what they've heard from other gamers lucky enough to own/play it.

Come on SEGA, the Shenmue collection worked like a charm. Even if you don't want to give it a physical release, at least give a HD Remaster a digital release. As my ex-fav game of all time (Xenoblade 2 finally topped it), its sad to see it go under the radar for many gamers and I can't tell friends to play it because they probably don't want to pay the high price for second hand copies, let alone buy retro systems.

You own a vast amount of Dreamcast classics people are fond of SEGA. Enough of the Mega Drive rererererereleases.

Sad to hear this I remember reading talks about a HD release. It would really make fans happy with a remaster but a whole remake would be special.

"Don't expect a port"

Nothing that was said here denied the possibility of a port.

@Link-Hero i have to go through the Wii channel on the Wii u ... sorry I'm not very technical with these things so any help would be appreciated

@Link-Hero @Alexkidd1985 to sit and play Skies of Arcadia using my game pad to control would be ace

A lot of Dreamcast classics need a second life already.

It's a shame we're not likely to see this on the Switch. I loved my Dreamcast back in the day, for some reason though this game slipped by me.

All it needs is a Sega Ages release based on Legends, but with the DC version's soundtrack.

Being back Billy Hatcher please sega

I partially disagree with Kodama. The game is one of the best on the Dreamcast, but it bogged down but a handful of issues I think it really deserves to have fixed. Otherwise I kind of fear it will fall further into obscurity than it already is.

Faster paced battles and adjustment to encounter rates would be great in a new release. Expanded story scenes and character arcs alongside it would also be great.

Oh well... I guess Sega has other RPGs they rather use now that they own Atlus.

Why do you do this?

@Nomad I rofl! you kept going and going (I guess just like how Sega kept going in going).

@RedRaven723 umm fine a way to get it. Lots of used system and game shops and EBAY. You will NOT be sorry.

This is a game i missed out on because I didn't have a DC or a GC. I'd love to at least see a port of this. I would do that then have to pay so much for a copy on eBay.

Sega's misuse and neglect of their non-Sonic properties is practically a crime.

Hopefully I can get this game on the GameCube cheap or reasonable price someday!

@Alexkidd1985, yes I can. You have to untick the 'Don't use GamePad as controller' option from the 'Advanced' tab in TeconMoon's WiiVC Injector before injecting Nintendont. For more details on a building process google the aforementioned tool's name.

You know who else think this is lame? My Mom.

@Nomad Very true! I've got the Grandia 2 HD game on Steam, but it will be nice to have them on Switch ^_^

I guess I'm a classic console snob. I like the idea of old classics played on their original hardware. And there's something satisfying about having a great game on old or obscure hardware that's not available elsewhere. When I play Virtual Missile Command on the Atari Jaguar, I think, "So good... So rare! And it's all mine!" But before I get too excite about my old games, I do think some caution is necessary when talking about digging up these old games and "just make an HD port!" For the masses who don't have a nostalgic connection to these games, they usually don't hold up as well over 20 years as you might imagine. It's easy to love a game you loved as a kid, but when you play someone else's childhood favorite that you've never played before, it's easy to see the harsh reality of old age.

@Pally356 Both the Dreamcast and GameCube are dirt cheap there's no reason not to own either one. Also the Dreamcast is so easy to hack all you need is a CD-R, a PC, a good internet connection, a program to help you convert Dreamcast iso to cdi and you can play an inferior burn version of Skies of Arcadia just fine on the Dreamcast then when you get the sense of enjoyment from it you can go and buy the real version and continue from there using your VMU save files.

I still have mine with the case and manual. My precious

I haven't played through the GC version yet, but I plan to do so at some point. I've heard nothing but good things and I've seen the airship battles on Youtube. Looks good! Shame they won't be doing an HD re-release. Of all the garbage that gets an HD release, I think this one deserves it.

Well that just sucks. Sega missing out on some good sales here!

i would ABSOLUTELY love a Sequel to this game, perhaps Nintendo would be willing to work with them on it after all look at what they did with Bayonetta and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, they saved those franchises

still all this talk of Skies of Arcadia has me feeling nostalgic so i'm going to get on my GameCube and pop this in

The legacy SEGA lines never have anything interesting, just boring genesis ports. Would be amazing to start seeing some Dreamcast games. Can't even get Jet Set Radio which already had an HD release...

NOOOOOooooo。。。. . . . .

I absolutely loved this game on Dreamcast. Then I absolutely loved it on Gamecube many years later until I got to the part where they forgot to finish the game (meaning my memory card died and deleted all of my Gamecube save data when I was like 90% of the way through the game). I would buy a remake, sequel, prequel, reboot, seboot, bootmake, makequel, or ANYTHING even remotely related to this game if they made one.

@Chandlero Indeed, it sounded pretty poor, and apparently there were things cut like for ship customization or something?

The game was a slog. The battles last an eternity. If they remastered it they would need to speed it up a bit. The world and story we're cool, if not particularly memorable. Could look brilliant in HD.

While I feel that Grandia II is the superior Dreamcast RPG, Skies of Arcadia still holds a place in my heart.

One of the key differences that would make a port reasonable with SoA is that the game is hard to acquire on either piece of hardware: Both the Dreamcast version and the GameCube "director's cut" are expensive items, with both going from $60-80 typically.

Grandia II's DC and PS2 versions are much cheaper, and it's getting an HD remaster along with its predecessor. Furthermore, if there's a demand there, then why not do it? I would love to see the Sega Ages series extend to Sega CD, Sega Saturn, and Sega Dreamcast, and Skies of Arcadia would no doubt be among the most requested titles from that era.

Ok...that sucks. But WHERE ARE THE GRANDIA REMASTERS? Last we heard those were due out in "winter 2018"......

@Nomad
In the last few years, new games in various series have been released. Puyo Puyo, Valkyria Chronicles, Yakuza, 7th Dragon, and Virtual On have all gotten new entries. There's also a new Sakura Wars coming worldwide next year, Shenmue 3 is coming, and Streets of Rage 4, which people just would not stop complaining about, is finally coming soon as well. Oh, and Toe Jam and Earl: Back in the Groove was a thing too. (You can say that Sega isn't the publisher for the last 3, but they still own the IPs, and allowed for those sequels to happen.)

This "Sega only makes Sonic" thing is absolute horse poo, and it always will be. Just because a game YOU want a sequel to isn't being made doesn't mean they are neglecting their other franchises.

53 likes on this comment. Good lord.

@OdnetninAges yeah Sega have been doing a really good job lately bringing out new games in some of their other IP's.
I can see you are a sega fan, I am one too, and yeah it hasnt been an easy road for them after the Dreamcast.
I can understand them needing to focus on releasing whatever games they need to for them to stay profitable, like Sonic.
Personally I'm happy with how they have been going lately, I'm really looking forward to Panzer Dragoon this year.
I would love to see new games for Skies of Arcadia, Alex Kidd, Golden Axe, Altered Beast etc. one day.
I wasnt intentionally sprouting bullpoo, it was just a quick lighthearted comment. I didn't think anyone would take it seriously.

Edit: let's not forget Monsterboy and the Cursed Kingdom. While not developed by Sega it was honoured by tham as a tribute to Wonderboys 30th aniversary, and is a fantastic game.

@Nomad
Even worse is that Sonic Team went to $%#% and seems unable to make a good sonic game nowadays.

They said not to expect a port OR sequel. Maybe that means we can expect a port AND sequel very soon!

@Orpheus79V absolutely, that would be perfect! As much as I liked playing through it a 2nd time on the Gamecube, the lower music quality (and it being out of sync with the editing) really hurt.

what a craptastic attitude. Does he expect people to go buy a Gamecube and an expensive used copy of his game to play it?

I feel like fate is punishing me. I borrowed this game from a friend, only kicked it off, gave it back because of life and other games I was busy with, and would never see this game re-released so I'd have my second chance. My friend since sold it, and outside of emulation or paying likely an exorbitant high price for it, I'll continue to pine for it. In this retro-nostalgia driven period, it behooves me that Sega would sleep on this gem. One day, I guess...

This is why Sega's fiscal earning ain't doing so well, they kept breaking down on what their fans are excited about and release crap that no one wants. Everyone would love another Skies of Arcadia and even a remastered of the original so make it already. Turning it down now will just kill your fanbase for that franchise, that is the one thing you don't want to do here Sega. Learn from your past mistakes and give your fanbase what they want. It's easy money for you and a win for them too. In the end everyone wins. Also those Yakuza games better come to Switch soon too. Continue to ignore and you'll lose more fans who are excited for the series.

a remaster on the current console would please us. please do another HD remaster from skies of arcadia legends.

SoA was an excellent JRPG game for its time.
I am one of the few that loved the random encounters, some games a just structured to not be a walk in the park adventure.

FFVIII had a trading card battle mini-game that was unique, while SoA had the excellent turn-based battle-engine using tiles instead of cards for the firing the Canons of the Airships. Amazingly fun and intense once you understood the mechanics.

I purchased SoA, both the Dreamcast and the Gamecube versions and still have them in my collection. Just waiting for the Switch version now. Wont be coming out for at least 2 years but will come out, even if it does get unofficially ported but Im hoping for an official release of the digital-only game.

I have played both the Dreamcast and GameCube versions. Never finished the Dreamcast one though. Grandia II was a Dreamcast game and it now has an HD Switch port. It would make more sense to bring Eternal Arcadia(with subtitles) to the Switch. Eternal Arcadia is the Japanese uncut version of Skies of Arcadia. Legends was just a polished up remaster. Additional stuff and slightly improved graphics and still a fun game to enjoy. Bringing Legends to the Switch would be an optimal choice in my opinion. The only thing that should be changed (to save money) for a Switch port would be just the graphics and include a Japanese audio feature in my opinion. That's what Nintendo did with the Grandia HD Collection. So why not Skies of Arcadia? Please bring it back.

@Nomad I mean, your not wrong, lmao. They do still make Persona tho

I don’t really care that skies of Arcadia gets remastered but what I would really love is this game be brought switch. Mainly because older systems are very expensive to replace if something happens to them and I would just love to be able to play games that I played in the past with no issues and this is one of my all-time favorite games.

an HD port of this game would be fantastic. Please make it happen!