Update [Thu 5th Mar, 2020 14:45 GMT]: The first screenshots from the game have appeared online and the game's page has also gone live on the Japanese Sega Ages website.
Original Story [Wed 4th Mar, 2020 12:45 GMT]: Sega has announced the next entry in its Sega Ages range: G-LOC: Air Battle. A sequel to After Burner, this 1990 arcade release is perhaps most famous for being one of the titles that supported Sega's insane R360 arcade cabinet.
The news was revealed in this week's issue of Famitsu, along with the welcome confirmation that it would be the arcade version rather than the less-impressive Mega Drive / Genesis port. Three difficulty levels will be featured, as well as online leaderboards and a new 'Ages' mode, alongside the default 'Arcade' mode.
When G-LOC was ported to home systems back in the '90s, there wasn't a single platform that could do its Super Scaler-powered visuals justice. That didn't stop Sega from trying, of course; as well as the aforementioned 16-bit port, the game was also released on the Master System and Game Gear, while US Gold would licence it for conversion on home computers, like the Amiga and Atari ST (along with a cheeky new title, G-LOC: R360, which referenced that amazing cabinet mentioned earlier). However, the original arcade version has never been accurately ported to any home system, which makes this latest Sega Ages release all the more exciting.
There's no word on a release date, but we're already looking forward to this more than we were Sonic 2 and Puyo Puyo 2. What about you?
[source japanesenintendo.com]
Comments 54
Wow, that's one impressive arcade cabinet.
Yeah, I’d be mega sick trying that arcade cabinet, it’s insane 😂😂
Still waiting...G- Loc taking a loooonnnng time to hit! But at least finally it will be a “newer” Ages game like Virtua Racing! I still say Sega is dragging ass with the Ages lineup!! 🙄
Finally a Sega Ages release I don't already own in some other comparable version. Probably going to get this one when it comes out.
I've always wanted to play it. I remember when I went for a school trip to London many years ago Hamleys toy shop had the rotating cabinet in the store. It was roped off and I seem to remember it costing £2 or £3 a play which was pretty extortionate at the time. It looked so amazing though, But I didn't play it.
I reckon nowadays that cabinet would just give me motion sickness. The switch version probably will also. Lol.
Step in the right direction. Sega needs to go into its back catalogue of arcade games that have rarely or even never had home console releases if it hopes for this Sega Ages to work. Especially those that never got releases outside Japan.
Maybe even go so far as translating story heavy games if it seems financially viable. Saying that i don’t expect a digital copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga making its way via Sega Ages. Was it the source code that was lost?
I remember playing after burner climax on a arcade machine. somehow the machine gave the impression your moving when you wasn't sort of like star wars battle pods..Also it saves money as i bet the rotating arcades don't look cheap. And on these ones the aren't moving you can just step out of it if you start to feel dizzy. Also prop cycle made you feel like you was moving with the wind blowing in your face etc.
@bones prop cycle was insane great game tho also have you ever tried final furlong so funny to watch someone play that 😂
For god's sake, Sega, Saturn games !!!
M2 being known for, sometimes, rewriting the very code of the game itself when necessary (Virtua Racing), give us some saturn Games !
Panzer Dragoon Saga cannot be stuck in the past or in the emulation world ! It has to come back, one way or another !
Speaking of that, where is the Panzer Dragoon remake we were promised ? Is there a release date, yet ?
I played this when they had it at the Trocadero in London, was great fun but very expensive and short
People complains about a line-up that was announced ages ago (no pun intended). Guys, they announced a dozen plus games and they're only releasing them. And said that AFTER these releases they would probably jump to 32-bit games. Be patient.
Looks good but my dream release is still Sega’s Star Wars Arcade. Hopefully something can be arranged for this to happen
I think you can get an actual pilots licence quicker than beginning a game in this arcade.
@Gs69 My mates got a prop cycle in his arcade, pretty fun.
@bones Climax had a fully hydraulic and moving cabinet just like this one, albeit not as furious as this one though.
@smashboy2000
G-LOC Air Battle was not released on the 3DS.
I'd love to see Slipstream finally get it's chance to shine, unlikely though.
I played this game in the arcade and it's really good, regardless of the revolutionary cabinet. I played the stand-up version and it was a great Afterburner-style flight shooter. They made ports for Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive, but they were not nearly as good as the arcade version. This will be the first time the game is available to play at home in all its glory. Maybe it was released in the obscure PS2 Sega Ages series, but no one has those discs. Sega is doing well to release this on Switch.
@YANDMAN it’s as much an experience as a game would love to own one not sure the mrs would allow it tho
Now this the kind of stuff I like to see with SEGA AGES
Great to see a game that A) fans actually want and B) one of Sega's later Arcade titles in the same vein as Virtua Racing. I'd love to see Daytona USA 1 and 2/SCUD Racer at some point, along with Sega Rally Championship (I LOVED that game's soundtrack on the Saturn!). As for the older Arcade titles, I've always had a soft spot for Zaxxon and Congo Bongo. Just wish Sega/M2 would simply release an Arcade compilation, but we'll take what we can get, I guess.
Too bad that arcade cabinet would be more at home as a theme park attraction than in your typical corner arcade; I'd say the vast majority of gamers (myself included) never got to experience it due to the cost alone being prohibitive. Looks like it would've been one wild ride, though. One thing Sega did better than anyone else back in the day was build innovative and incredible arcade cabinets.
Ah, I’ve never played this one. Looking forward to this, nice one Sega.
@TheWingedAvenger My mystake.
I mixed it with Galaxy Force II !
I erase my original post. Thanks.
@Moroboshi876 I hope you’re right about next line up. I’m worried that they’ll call it a day and complain sales were not high enough
One of the most exciting releases in the AGES range yet for my money.
More Arcade games would be very welcome but I hope they move onto Saturn games soon. I have a decent Saturn setup but those games would really benefit from a bit of spit and polish.
I remember playing this at an arcade in Trondheim when I was a teenager. I used all my money getting the highscore to get on the wall of the arcade. Never played anything like it after that..
@smashboy2000
Galaxy Force II is an awesome Sega arcade game!
HOLY CRAP YES. I loved this game back in the day. Will snag.
@TheWingedAvenger It is indeed ! ^^
To anyone who has any doubts about buying this game: know that the director of its development team was Yu Suzuki, who in the 80s and 90s was infallible. Outrun, Super Hang-On, Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter... do these ring a bell?
@Bobobiwan It's still set for this winter, as in The first part of the year. My guess is that it'll be shadow dropped in the next Direct, whenever that is
@TheWingedAvenger No, not heard of these. Are they any good?
Come on Sega it is taking ages for you to listen ‘WE WANT SATURN AND DC TITLES’
I had this on the ..... wait for it.... Master System!! And I loved it so I hope that they can do the biz and get this right!!! Totally hyped for this!
I couldn't believe my eyes when i saw this game in the arcade for the first time as a kid. That cabinet was just bonkers at the time and I loved it. It might not be my first choice for a Sega Ages release but I'm glad to see Sega dipping their toes in the arcade waters at least, so I'll be very tempted to pick it up.
Pretty much the pinnacle of arcade cabinets alongside monsters like Ridge Racer Full Scale. They just don't make 'em like that any more.
@Bobobiwan The most we got on the remake was that it would be coming this month.
I remember seeing this thing in the arcades when I was a kid. Man, they were ahead of their time.
Used to play this at Metroland in Gateshead back in the day.
The top of the 360 loop had a hairline crack in it and they used to check it after every ride in case it was getting any bigger!
The cabinet had to have an attendant with it throughout the day......can you imagine an arcade doing that these days!
Never played the arcade version. Can’t wait!
@OorWullie
Yes mate would love to see slipstream, have it on emulation but controls are iffy as usual:( that's the downside with mame unfortunately.
Would be fun/insanity to try Monkey Ball in this cabinet!
The company that made the Flip Grip is going to make a home version of the arcade cabinet, right??
At the end of the day, Sega is doing better than Nintendo with retro releases. At least we finally got the DK arcade games.
@Tandy255 I miss the Virtual Console of the Wii days.
@GamingFan4Lyf The 3rd anniversary would have been a good time to add GBA or N64 games to NSO.
As much as I love playing After Burner, this first person version of the game just isn't my cup of tea. Not that it's bad, just that the control never felt good to me.
@TheWingedAvenger Though I like Yu Suzuki as a game designer, I'm not a fan of this game or the very first Virtua Fighter. The only few games I do care from the dude is Virtua Fighter 2 and then 4 from there on (also doesn't like VF3), Super Hang-On is good, After Burner is fantastic, Thunder Blade is great, OutRun is outstanding, Virtua Racing I only care about the arcade version, and Space Harrier is fun, as for Shenmue I only like the first one.
@retro_player_22
The console version of Virtua Fighter was garbage, but the arcade version was good if you consider the time period. But yeah, Virtua Fighter 2 was much better. Virtua Racing also was great in the arcade but made a bad impression on people when Sega ported it to the Mega Drive.
This looks less fun than afterburner.
This looks promising so far. I wonder of they can use the Labo for it.
The legendary R360. I heard so much about this cabinet, and then finally got to play it at an all night arcade in Tokyo while I was waiting for the trains to start running again. I don’t think I’d play the game without the cabinet though.
@nessisonett Putting on a VR headset and playing a virtual reality version of a jet-fighter game while inside a cabinet like that would be mind-boggling.
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