# Sega Ages

Sega Ages is a series of video game ports, remakes, and compilations published by Sega. It consists of Sega arcade games and home console games, typically those for the Sega Genesis and Master System. The series was launched on the Sega Saturn in 1996. Entries were published for the PlayStation 2 as Sega Ages 2500, a reference to its ¥2500 price point. The series later came to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as Sega Ages Online, and finally to the Nintendo Switch as simply Sega Ages. The name Sega Ages is a palindrome, with "Ages" being "Sega" backwards — this was previously used by Sega in European marketing strategies from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The Sega Saturn and PlayStation 2 releases usually feature a singular game alongside extras such as remakes or developer info, and sold at a low price point. Most of these releases were exclusive to Japan. Three games in the Sega Saturn series - Space Harrier, Out Run and After Burner II - were selected for Sega Ages Volume 1, released in Europe in 1996 and in North America in 1997. Several games in the PlayStation 2 series were released in Europe and North America as part of the Sega Classics Collection compilation in 2005. The PlayStation 2 series was initially developed by 3D Ages, a collaborative effort between Sega and D3 Publisher, but Sega would soon develop the games in-house following the departure of D3 Publisher from the project.

## Games
### Sega Ages (Sega Saturn)

The first Sega Ages series was released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn in Japan and concluded in 1998. Although the majority of the titles in this series remained exclusive to Japan, three games from the line - Out Run, Space Harrier and After Burner II, would be compiled into the video game compilation Sega Ages Volume 1, released in Europe in 1996 by Sega itself and Sega Ages released in North America in 1997 by Working Designs under their Spaz imprint. Despite the title, no additional volumes would be released in these territories. Due to development technicalities at Working Designs, they had to make a sacrifice to Out Run by removing the original arcade music from the disc so that all three games could fit. The game would still contain the arrangement version of the music. Reasons for the removal are explained in the developer / translator notes at the back of the manual.
| Title | Release date | Included games |
| Vol. 1 Syukudai ga Tant-R | JP: May 24, 1996 | Puzzle & Action: Tant-R, Quiz Syukudai wo Wasuremashita |
| Vol. 2 Space Harrier$^†$ | JP: August 9, 1996 | Space Harrier |
| Vol. 3 Out Run$^†$ | JP: September 20, 1996 | Out Run |
| Vol. 4 After Burner II$^†$ | JP: September 27, 1996 | After Burner II |
| Vol. 5 Rouka ni Ichidant-R | JP: December 27, 1996 | Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R, Quiz Rouka ni Tattenasai! |
| Vol. 6 Fantasy Zone | JP: February 21, 1997 | Fantasy Zone |
| Vol. 7 Memorial Selection Vol. 1 | JP: February 28, 1997 | Head-On, Pengo, Flicky, Up'n Down |
| Vol. 8 Columns Arcade Collection | JP: October 30, 1997 | Columns, Columns II: The Voyage Through Time, Stack Columns, Columns '97 |
| Vol. 9 Memorial Selection Vol. 2 | JP: November 27, 1997 | Samurai, Monaco GP, Star Jacker, Sindbad Mystery, Ninja Princess |
| Vol. 10 Power Drift | JP: February 26, 1998 | Power Drift |
| Vol. 11 Phantasy Star Collection | JP: April 2, 1998 | Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star IV |
| Vol. 12 Galaxy Force II | JP: July 2, 1998 | Galaxy Force II |
| Vol. 13 I Love Mickey Mouse: Fushigi no Oshiro Daibouken/I Love Donald Duck: Guruzia Ou no Hihou | JP: October 15, 1998 | Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, QuackShot |
$^†$ = Released in North America as part of Sega Ages and Europe as part of Sega Ages Volume 1.

### Sega Ages 2500 (PlayStation 2)

The second series was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and concluding in 2008, known as the Sega Ages 2500 series - this title comes from the ¥2500 price point the game had. The series was created from Sega's interest in the success of D3 Publisher's Simple budget-title video game series, which features low-budget games at a low price point. This interest would lead to Sega and D3 Publisher forming a new subsidiary company in 2003, known as 3D Ages (スリーディー・エイジス/3Dエイジス, Surīdī Eijisu), with the sole reason to create games under the Sega Ages 2500 series. Later in 2004, D3 Publisher would leave the project and give Sega complete control of the company.
The main focus of the series was to remake older Sega video games with 3D visuals, alongside improved sound and gameplay. Following the departure of D3 Publisher, the series would soon shift into featuring compilations of other Sega video games alongside remakes of these games. The series officially concluded in 2008 after 33 entries, although several other Sega Ages 2500 games, featuring games such as Streets of Rage and Alex Kidd, were planned for release. 3D Ages was disbanded in late 2005 and absorbed into Sega.
Due to complications with Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sega was disallowed from releasing the games individually outside Japan. Instead, nine of the games in the Sega Ages 2500 series would be compiled into the Sega Classics Collection compilation for the PlayStation 2, released in North America by Sega in 2005 and in Europe by Conspiracy Entertainment in 2006.
| Title | Release date | Included games |
| Vol. 1: Phantasy Star Generation: 1 | JP: August 28, 2003 | Remake of Phantasy Star |
| Vol. 2: Monaco GP$^†$ | JP: August 28, 2003 | Remake of Monaco GP |
| Vol. 3: Fantasy Zone$^†$ | JP: August 28, 2003 | Remake of Fantasy Zone |
| Vol. 4: Space Harrier$^†$ | JP: September 25, 2003 | Remake of Space Harrier |
| Vol. 5: Golden Axe$^†$ | JP: September 25, 2003 | Remake of Golden Axe |
| Vol. 6: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros.$^†$ | JP: August 28, 2003 | Remakes of Bonanza Bros. and Puzzle & Action: Tant-R |
| Vol. 7: Columns$^†$ | JP: January 25, 2004 | Remake of Columns, built on the engine of Columns '97, with a Vs CPU mode similar to the single-player mode of Columns III. |
| Vol. 8: Virtual Racing FlatOut$^†$ | JP: February 26, 2004 | Remake of Virtua Racing |
| Vol. 9: Gain Ground | JP: February 26, 2004 | Remake of Gain Ground |
| Vol. 10: After Burner II | JP: March 25, 2004 | Remake of After Burner II |
| Vol. 11: Hokuto no Ken | JP: March 25, 2004 | Remake of Hokuto no Ken |
| Vol. 12: Puyo Puyo Tsuu Perfect Set | JP: May 24, 2004 | Puyo Puyo 2 |
| Vol. 13: Out Run$^†$ | JP: May 27, 2004 | Remake of Out Run |
| Vol. 14: Alien Syndrome$^†$ | JP: July 9, 2004 | Remake of Alien Syndrome |
| Vol. 15: DecAthlete Collection | JP: July 9, 2004 | DecAthlete, Winter Heat, Virtua Athlete |
| Vol. 16: Virtua Fighter 2 | JP: October 14, 2004 | Virtua Fighter 2 |
| Vol. 17: Phantasy Star Generation: 2 | JP: March 24, 2005 | Remake of Phantasy Star II |
| Vol. 18: Dragon Force | JP: August 18, 2005 | Remake of Dragon Force |
| Vol. 19: Fighting Vipers | JP: August 28, 2005 | Fighting Vipers |
| Vol. 20: Space Harrier Complete Collection | JP: October 27, 2005 | Space Harrier, Space Harrier (SMS), Space Harrier (GG), Space Harrier 3D, Space Harrier II, Sega Mark III error screen demo |
| Vol. 21: SDI & Quartet: Sega System 16 Collection | JP: October 27, 2005 | SDI, Quartet |
| Vol. 22: Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen | JP: February 23, 2006 | Remake of Advanced Daisenryaku |
| Vol. 23: Sega Memorial Selection | JP: December 22, 2006 | Head-On, Tranquilizer Gun, Borderline, Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, remakes of said games |
| Vol. 24: Last Bronx - Tokyo Bangaichi | JP: December 29, 2006 | Last Bronx |
| Vol. 25: Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box | JP: February 23, 2006 | Gunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes (GG), Gunstar Heroes (prototype version), Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy (SMS), Dynamite Headdy (GG) |
| Vol. 26: Dynamite Deka | JP: April 27, 2007 | Remake of Dynamite Deka |
| Vol. 27: Panzer Dragoon | JP: April 27, 2007 | Panzer Dragoon, remake of Panzer Dragoon |
| Vol. 28: Tetris Collection | JP: June 28, 2007 | Tetris (Sega), Bloxeed, Flashpoint, Tetris New Century, Flashpoint (prototype) |
| Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection | JP: August 3, 2007 | Wonder Boy (ARC, SMS, SG-1000, GG), Wonder Boy in Monster Land (ARC, SMS), Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (ARC, SG), Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (GG, SMS), Monster World III (SG, SMS), Monster World IV |
| Vol. 30: Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition | JP: August 26, 2007 | Galaxy Force II, Galaxy Force II (SMS), Galaxy Force II (SG), Galaxy Force Neo Classic |
| Vol. 31: Cyber Troopers Virtual On | JP: October 25, 2007 | Remake of Cyber Troopers: Virtual On |
| Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection | JP: March 27, 2008 | Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star Text Adventures |
| Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection | JP: September 11, 2008 | Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa, Fantasy Zone: The Maze, Super Fantasy Zone, Fantasy Zone II DX, Fantasy Zone Neo Classic, Galactic Protector, Fantasy Zone Gear |
$^†$ = Released in North America and Europe as part of Sega Classics Collection. Alien Syndrome was removed from the European release to lower the game's rating.

### Sega Ages Online / Sega Vintage Collection (Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3)

The third series was released for the Xbox 360 that was both introduced and concluded in 2012. This series consisted of releases from the Sega Vintage Collection series, originally released in North America and Europe, from 2007 to 2009, as well as re-releases of games from the Sega Ages 2500 series - the latter games were only released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and had the Sega Ages 2500 name stripped from the title. The games were developed by M2 as opposed to being made in-house by Sega. Ten releases were made in total, making it the shortest of the Sega Ages series. Certain collections were released as a bundle for the Xbox 360 Versions while the PlayStation 3 Versions were stand alone titles for the 2012 titles.
| Title | Release date | Platform | Included games | Notes |
| Sega Classics Collection | WW: May 23, 2012 | Xbox 360 | Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Revenge of Shinobi, Super Hang-On | Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co. |
| Monster World Collection | WW: May 23, 2012 | Xbox 360 | Wonder Boy in Monster World, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Monster World IV | Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World. |
| Golden Axe Collection | WW: May 30, 2012 | Xbox 360 | Golden Axe, Golden Axe II, Golden Axe III | Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe. |
| Bare Knuckle Collection | WW: May 30, 2012 | Xbox 360 | Streets of Rage, Streets of Rage 2, Streets of Rage 3 | Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage. |
| Dragon Force | JP: July 25, 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Remake of Dragon Force | |
| Dynamite Deka | JP: August 22, 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Remake of Dynamite Deka | |
| Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box | JP: September 19, 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Gunstar Heroes, Gunstar Heroes (GG), Gunstar Heroes (prototype version), Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy (SMS), Dynamite Headdy (GG) | |
| Sega Memorial Selection | JP: October 17, 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Head-On, Tranquilizer Gun, Borderline, Congo Bongo, Doki Doki Penguin Land, remakes of said games | |
| ToeJam & Earl Collection | WW: November 7, 2012 | Xbox 360 | ToeJam & Earl, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron | Released in North America and Europe as Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl. |
| Phantasy Star Complete Collection | JP: December 19, 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Phantasy Star IV, Phantasy Star Text Adventures | |

### Sega Ages (Nintendo Switch)

The fourth Sega Ages series was released for the Nintendo Switch in September 2018, available through the Nintendo eShop storefront. This series was developed by M2, with lead producer Rieko Kodama from Sega. Although Sega said that games from the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast would be made available later on, the series concluded in Japan in August 2020 and concluded elsewhere in the following month without these, although Sega stated their intention to continue re-releasing older titles in other ways.
| Title | Original system | Japanese release | Worldwide release |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Sega Genesis/Arcade (Mega Play) | September 20, 2018 | September 20, 2018 |
| Thunder Force IV | Sega Genesis | September 20, 2018 | September 20, 2018 |
| Phantasy Star | Master System | October 31, 2018 | December 13, 2018 |
| Out Run | Arcade (OutRun) | November 29, 2018 | January 10, 2019 |
| Gain Ground | Arcade (System 24) | December 27, 2018 | March 28, 2019 |
| Alex Kidd in Miracle World | Master System | February 21, 2019 | March 28, 2019 |
| Puyo Puyo | Arcade (System C-2) | March 28, 2019 | August 22, 2019 |
| Virtua Racing | Arcade (Model 1) | April 25, 2019 | June 27, 2019 |
| Wonder Boy in Monster Land | Arcade (System 2) | May 30, 2019 | June 27, 2019 |
| Space Harrier | Arcade (Space Harrier) | June 27, 2019 | August 22, 2019 |
| Columns II (Columns is also included) | Columns II: Arcade (System C) Columns: Sega Genesis | August 8, 2019 | October 17, 2019 |
| Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R | Arcade (System C-2)/Sega Genesis | September 26, 2019 | October 17, 2019 |
| Shinobi | Arcade (System 16) | October 31, 2019 | January 23, 2020 |
| Fantasy Zone | Arcade (System 16A) | November 28, 2019 | January 23, 2020 |
| Puyo Puyo 2 | Arcade (System C-2) | January 16, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Knuckles in Sonic 2 is also included) | Sega Genesis | February 13, 2020 | February 20, 2020 |
| G-LOC: Air Battle | Arcade (Y Board) | March 26, 2020 | April 30, 2020 |
| Thunder Force AC | Arcade (System C-2) | May 14, 2020 | May 28, 2020 |
| Herzog Zwei | Sega Genesis | August 27, 2020 | September 24, 2020 |

## Reception

The first Sega Ages volume was a best-seller in the United Kingdom. Next Generation rated it three stars out of five, and considered it better than the Namco Museum series. GamePro gave it a negative review, saying that the three games in the collection "were never all that good to begin with", believing that the collection should have added other Sega games. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly unanimously contended that the three included games were outstanding and praised their arcade-perfect recreations, though they felt the collection should have included more games and historical info, as other retro compilations of the time did. They gave it a 6.5 out of 10. Sega Saturn Magazine gave it a 91%, likewise praising the three included games and the quality of the conversions. Though they criticized that After Burner and Space Harrier were somewhat wasted since they had already received excellent ports for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega 32X, they felt the compilation was worth getting for Out Run alone.