#sega
#sega
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Relentless in artistic and storytelling ambition, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim still comes off as lacking in confidence. It takes plenty of risks, and in presentation at least marches forward with a swagger that makes it clear Vanillaware knew how many people they could bring in purely on the promise of their incredible 2D artwork and its time-travel, mech centric premise, myself included. Yet by the time the credits roll on the game 13 Sentinels’ big ideas and ambitious remixes of the adventure game formula feel more like distractions than essential components of its storytelling.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
It’s hard not to feel underwhelmed by Thunder Force AC. Based on the arcade version of Thunder Force 3, and releasing after the much flashier SEGA AGES release of Thunder Force 4, AC can’t help but feel less polished, and incomplete. Despite its significance in preserving a rare arcade game, the changes made for the game don’t always result in a better game than the console title it’s based on, just a different one.
Unlike other titles like Columns II or Tant-R, the original console version isn’t included either, which is a shame, given that its previous AGES release on the 3DS never made it out of Japan. Together Thunder Force 3 and AC could have felt like a complete package, giving players a chance to not only play a hard to find arcade title, but directly compare it to its console counterpart. Without it, Thunder Force AC feels slim alongside the other AGES titles.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
I wanted to like Persona 5. I really did. The bold colors and lines of its master thief aesthetic and its themes of rebellion made a fantastic impression, with plenty of creative scenarios to infiltrate. It felt like a fresh take on the Persona series that brought a lot of much needed change. But 50 hours later I found myself slogging through yet another dungeon that took too long, wishing for the end but knowing I wasn’t even halfway through.
So when Persona 5 Royal came out I thought “what the hell” and decided to take another shot at this 100+ hour RPG to see if I’d like it any better this time around. Not the smartest idea, I know.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
With the newfound popularity of the Yakuza saga and the next gen remakes of the early games, it’s a great time to get into the series. And with the release of the Yakuza Remastered Collection the previously PS3 only games–Yakuza 3, 4 and 5–have made it onto modern platforms, making it easy to play the whole series on a single console.
For those used to the slick presentation of the recent entries this might be a jarring contrast. Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, while being simultaneously released on the PS3 and PS4 came out well after some of the entries in this collection, and boast much slicker interfaces and quality of life changes. Alongside the harsher edges brought on by the high resolution treatment, it makes these earlier games look quaint by comparison.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Releasing alongside Puyo Puyo 2, Sonic 2 provides an interesting contrast within the SEGA AGES Switch lineup. Unlike Puyo Puyo 2, which has rarely been accessible outside of Japan, Sonic 2 is a game that’s been ported to nearly every generation of hardware following the Genesis, even having a separate release on the Switch as part of the SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection. Some of these previous releases are arguably superior, such as the mobile ports which rebuild the game from scratch for modern systems, with widescreen support, higher framerates and added content.
Instead of shooting for the definitive release like Puyo Puyo 2, the AGES version of Sonic 2 positions itself as an alternative way to play the original, adding new modes and options to change how you approach the original. All the previous modes from the 3D Archives release are here, alongside the addition of 100 Ring Challenge, Super Sonic mode and the addition of Sonic Mania’s Drop Dash.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
“Learning Puyo Puyo” is one of those intangible goals I always come back to, in the same way I tell myself that I’m going to get good at fighting games, or learn Japanese. SEGA’s been making that goal a little easier lately, localizing new entries like Puyo Puyo Tetris, Champions and now returning with an official English release of the highly regarded Puyo Puyo 2, two and half decades later. The AGES release is a port of the arcade game, specifically worth noting as it’s talked about in the same way as SEGA Tetris or The Grand Master in terms of the specific feel and details serious players prefer.
The package feels as celebratory as its history might suggest, with developer M2 adding several special features to make it the definitive edition. But there’s one standout feature that changed my approach to Puyo entirely: the ability to rewind moves.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Releasing at the peak of the considered, slow paced cover shooter, Vanquish felt like a game from the future. Despite a short run time that repeated several tricks, Vanquish’s attempt to subvert genre conventions with high speed moves gave in an edge people still praise today. But what felt futuristic now feels out of time. Ten years is a long time to reappraise a work and its flaws have only become more apparent with time. Vanquish remains enjoyable, but almost in spite of the game presented to you.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
The act of playing Shinobi is a performance. Each attempt is practice for the choreography. Every shuriken in the right place, every jump predetermined and every kill premeditated. The instant you throw a shuriken you know the fate of you and your enemy. Either they’re dead in the next second or–as is more often the case–you are.
