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Sega Ages: Detailed refinements on Sonic The Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV (Switch)

Jonneh

Jonneh

Good Vibes Gaming
Verified
Oct 24, 2017
4,538
UK
http://archives.sega.jp/segaages/sonic/
http://archives.sega.jp/segaages/tf4/

Translated by gematsu
https://gematsu.com/2018/07/sega-ages-sonic-the-hedgehog-and-thunder-force-iv-launch-in-august

Sonic The Hedgehog
  • Original Mode: Enjoy the original Sega Genesis / Mega Drive version of Sonic the Hedgehog. Stage selection, which was a cheat code in the original version, can be turned on / off at startup. Additionally, the "Spin Dash" action added in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and "Drop Dash" action aided in Sonic Mania have also been added (which can be disabled in the game options). Also, in addition to the standard Japanese and overseas game versions, you can also choose to play the Mega Play version. Mega Play was a Sega Genesis / Mega Drive formatted for arcades to play popular Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games. The Mega Play version is a time attack game where the goal is to clear familiar stages within the time limit, allowing players to enjoy a condensed form of Sonic the Hedgehog's thrill and sense of speed through stages configured to emphasize speed.
  • Ring Keep Mode: A support mode added in 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for 3DS. Since the player will always start the stage with 10 rings, it is easy to come back from boss battles or mistakes made right after the stage begins.
  • Challenge Mode: 1) A worldwide ranking mode where players compete to clear "Green Hill Zone Act 1" with the best time. 2) A worldwide ranking mode where players compete in score attack in the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive version. Even just one mistake will end the challenge.
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Thunder Force IV
  • STYX Mode: A mode where you can play as the FIRE LEO-03 "STYX," the fighter spacecraft used by the player in Thunder Force III. While you can play using all of the weapons from Thunder Force III, will the older model spacecraft make the fight harder in Thunder Force IV? STYX Mode is unlocked by clearing Original Mode once.
  • Original Mode: Enjoy the original Sega Genesis / Mega Drive version of Thunder Force IV. You can choose between the Japanese and overseas game versions. Also, in addition to being able to increase the difficulty by configuring slowdown reduction, you can also configure whether the background music stops or continues during voice-over playback when powering up like the original version.
  • Kids Mode: A beginner mode with a lower difficulty from the original version that offers handicaps such as the player not losing their weapon upon making a mistake. This is based on the element added to the Thunder Force Gold Pack 2 version of Thunder Force IV for Sega Saturn.
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Ahem,

DROP DASH BABY
 
ReyVGM

ReyVGM

Author - NES Endings Compendium
Verified
Oct 26, 2017
5,438
And even still, there will be people complaining that the 8-10 bucks the games will cost is "too much".
 
qq more

qq more

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,781
YO DROP DASH. AWESOME.

Wonder what it'd sound like? Would it have new SFX or just reuse the existing Sonic 1 SFX?
 
LewieP

LewieP

Member
Oct 26, 2017
18,099
Why is there no widescreen support? Looks like the stealth mobile version is still the best one.
 
wiill64

wiill64

Member
Oct 30, 2017
1,592
Drop dash is a great addition to Sonic 1. I take it Tails and Knuckles aren't going to be in this version then.
 
duckroll

duckroll

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,202
Singapore
ReyVGM said:
And even still, there will be people complaining that the 8-10 bucks the games will cost is "too much".
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They are overpriced though, compared to the same type of releases by the same developers and the same publishers, the price here has increased without there being MORE value. That doesn't mean nothing is added, it means that stuff has always been added by M2 when releasing these games, but now you are paying more per game on this product line. Why does that get a free pass?
 
1upsuper

1upsuper

Member
Jan 30, 2018
5,489
I'm in day one for Thunder Force IV. Don't need Sonic 1. I trust M2 to deliver awesome ports and these are shaping up nicely. STYX mode is a cool addition.
 
Kelanflyter

Kelanflyter

Banned
Nov 9, 2017
1,730
France
1upsuper said:
I'm in day one for Thunder Force IV. Don't need Sonic 1. I trust M2 to deliver awesome ports and these are shaping up nicely. STYX mode is a cool addition.
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The problem with STYX mode is that you first have to finish Original mode.
90% of players won't do that since the game is really hard.

On Genesis when i was younger, i've only managed to finish it with the 99 life per credit cheat code, and still lost one crédit.
 
1upsuper

1upsuper

Member
Jan 30, 2018
5,489
Kelanflyter said:
The problem with STYX mode is that you first have to finish Original mode.
90% of players won't do that since the game is really hard.

On Genesis when i was younger, i've only managed to finish it with the 99 life per credit cheat code, and still lost one crédit.
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True, but frankly I'm not sure how much those 90% will care. It's a mode that really only holds much appeal if you are already really familiar with the series. I'm up for the challenge.
 
aisback

aisback

Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,741
I was hoping we would have gotten the whitehead version of games but this seems good enough
 
Yukinari

Yukinari

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
4,538
The Danger Zone
duckroll said:
They are overpriced though, compared to the same type of releases by the same developers and the same publishers, the price here has increased without there being MORE value. That doesn't mean nothing is added, it means that stuff has always been added by M2 when releasing these games, but now you are paying more per game on this product line. Why does that get a free pass?
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aisback said:
I was hoping we would have gotten the whitehead version of games but this seems good enough
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Considering you can buy genesis games on steam for a dollar each, with mods and online no less, its incredibly bad value.

And yes we should just be getting the taxman versions.

Switch owners are so hungry for classic games that Mario Bros VS is still on the top 10 sellers list.
 
duckroll

duckroll

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,202
Singapore
Kelanflyter said:
The problem with STYX mode is that you first have to finish Original mode.
90% of players won't do that since the game is really hard.

On Genesis when i was younger, i've only managed to finish it with the 99 life per credit cheat code, and still lost one crédit.
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That's eh, really not a problem. Unlocking more stuff after beating the base mode is the norm for M2 enhanced ports, and they usually offer enough toggles and options so even the worst player can "finish" the base mode.
 
LewieP

LewieP

Member
Oct 26, 2017
18,099
qq more said:
Aren't these emulation or something? I don't think they are outright rebuilt from the ground up. I could be wrong so feel free to correct me.
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Correct. Which is absurd given they have excellent rebuilt from the ground up versions of 1/2/CD right there.

M2 do excellent work with emulated retro releases, but when there is a far superior version out there I don't see why not use that.
 
Kelanflyter

Kelanflyter

Banned
Nov 9, 2017
1,730
France
duckroll said:
That's eh, really not a problem. Unlocking more stuff after beating the base mode is the norm for M2 enhanced ports, and they usually offer enough toggles and options so even the worst player can "finish" the base mode.
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It would have been better IMO to allow to unlock it even with finishing Kids Mode.
Let's see i there is really enough toggles and optons to allow large player base to unlock it, but i doubt it.

At least, save states could help.
 
Intel_89

Intel_89

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,038
Portugal
I love M2's work but even with these additions I'm probably going to wait until a bunch of these go on sale and grab a couple then.
 
Issen

Issen

Member
Nov 12, 2017
6,820
Kids Mode for Thunder Force IV is just what I needed. Yeah, I'm alright at the Batsugun/Donpachi series but god damn I suck at TFIV.

Worth it just for this addition alone IMO.
 
Ferrs

Ferrs

Avenger
Oct 26, 2017
18,829
The drop dash in Sonic 1 is cool. Now I wish Taxman added it in his versions.

The Arcade version is a neat feature as a curiosity, but its really not worth to play over the original.
 
Kelanflyter

Kelanflyter

Banned
Nov 9, 2017
1,730
France
duckroll said:
I dunno, I think most people who bother to actually play this after buying it will unlock it. The ones who buy it and don't play it obviously won't. That's thing with low price digital games. Easier to buy them than to find time to actually play each one, lol.
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No, i mean that the game is difficult enough that not all players that will play it would finish it.
So making the best bonus of this version accessible to only a % of the buyers is a mistake.
 
A Strong Latte

A Strong Latte

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,159
Thunderforce IV is a dope ass game with a lot of cheap as fuck shit in it lol. Without slowdown some of the crap in it would be unreactable
 

Deleted member 2620

User requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
4,491
Thunderforce IV is a very obvious day one. Still on the fence about Sonic.

As always, STYX mode being locked is lame.
 
fiendcode

fiendcode

Member
Oct 26, 2017
24,925
duckroll said:
They are overpriced though, compared to the same type of releases by the same developers and the same publishers, the price here has increased without there being MORE value. That doesn't mean nothing is added, it means that stuff has always been added by M2 when releasing these games, but now you are paying more per game on this product line. Why does that get a free pass?
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They're only ¥199 more than Hamster's Arcade Archives and those are basic rom dumps with just region select, online ranking and the usual basic emulator options (save states, button config, etc). Zerodiv's Psikyo shooters are the same price with less extras too.

If you want to talk about adding value M2 has for each price increased version of Sonic 1. From the ¥600 Wii VC to the ¥800 3DS 3D Remaster to the ¥999 Switch Sega Ages, each one added more options, modes, versions and even code additions to the game. This sort of falls apart in the west though ($8 Wii VC to $5.99 3D Classic), but I'm expecting Sega Ages will probably come in a little cheaper here too. Likely $7.99, so right in line with Arcade Archives, Johnny Turbo's Arcade and the Psikyo ports.
 
Anth0ny

Anth0ny

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Oct 25, 2017
47,005
M2 is great but Taxman made the definitive version of Sonic 1. Just fucking release that shit already.
 

Deleted member 34949

Account closed at user request
Banned
Nov 30, 2017
19,101
I like how they've effectively turned Thunder Force IV into the Saturn version, between Styx Mode and the slowdown removal. I'm pretty garbage at TFIV though, so I actually kinda need the slowdown, lol

Camjo-Z said:
Gosh, I really don't think I need to buy another port of Sonic 1 agai-

>drop dash

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Yeah, I wasn't going to bother since I was content enough with the 3DS and Taxman releases, but the drop dash being in means I'm pretty much obligated to get this.
 
fiendcode

fiendcode

Member
Oct 26, 2017
24,925
Anth0ny said:
M2 is great but Taxman made the definitive version of Sonic 1. Just fucking release that shit already.
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They won't, it was the same on 3DS which could've handled the Retro Engine fine according to Taxman and he was willing too. Honestly though if they wanted to release the RE Sonics in a non-competitive way they could just do a full priced collection release. Sonic 1/2/3K/CD with all 5 Mania characters and 3 dashes added to every game. And just replace the legally questionable Sonic 3 music tracks with new scene sourced stuff.

They should do this multiplatform honestly; Switch, Steam, Xbox and PS4. Doubly worthwhile since Mania 2 evidently isn't in the works.
 
OnanieBomb

OnanieBomb

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,486
I totally botched adding quotes on mobile, but thank you for the feedback on thunder forc It sounds like something I'd enjoy.
 
Opa-Pa

Opa-Pa

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,810
Originally I was only in for TF4 since lol buying Sonic 1 for the 1000th time, but drop dash... Yeah, they got me lmao.
 
yyr

yyr

Member
Nov 14, 2017
3,470
White Plains, NY
ReyVGM said:
And even still, there will be people complaining that the 8-10 bucks the games will cost is "too much".
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It is, unless M2 is handling them.

And they are.

Nobody delivers the classics better. The entire Sega 3D Classics line on 3DS was gold, and it sounds like these will be just as fantastic.

Hamster's Arcade Archives titles ARE generally overpriced at $8.
 
Mandos

Mandos

Member
Nov 27, 2017
30,951
I'm waiting for Alex kid or phantasy star out of the annnounced titles(especially if the latter has automapping)... personally more excited for the surprises from this wave.
Also wonder if we're getting weekly or biweekly double drops
 
Toa Axis

Toa Axis

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Oct 25, 2017
843
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Drop dash is gonna be a game changer. I wasn't really planning on picking this up but now I will, I think.
 
KtSlime

KtSlime

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,910
Tokyo
Yukinari said:
Considering you can buy genesis games on steam for a dollar each, with mods and online no less, its incredibly bad value.

And yes we should just be getting the taxman versions.

Switch owners are so hungry for classic games that Mario Bros VS is still on the top 10 sellers list.
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Mario Bros is a phenomenal game have I have lost way too much money to. The Switch version was worth every yen.
 
GDGF

GDGF

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Oct 26, 2017
6,323
Sounds great. I actually hope Thunderforce 2 gets re released as well. Really loved the mix of top down and side scroller in that one.
 
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