Towards the end of the Saturn’s lifespan, Working Designs did Sega fans a huge favor by releasing an outstanding compilation pack, Sega Ages. With 3 landmark AM2 titles (After Burner II, Space Harrier and OutRun) on one disc and in close-to-perfect arcade form, this is a must-own package for gamers and collectors alike. WD’s trademark deluxe packaging seals the deal and obviously, the hours of addictive and timeless gameplay makes Sega Ages the Saturn’s best domestically produced compilation.
What exactly makes a classic game a classic, then? It’s hard to define what exactly puts games in this bracket, but certain titles seem to transcend their era and breach time with their endlessly addictive play and timeless design. Nostalgia and memory also play a key role in this, as do other intangibles such as innovation, fun and a murky sense of innocence. Gamers have endless fun debating which titles actually merit this exalted status and which don’t. Then there are other titles that the majority seem to agree definitely represent a genre, a time or an innovation that makes them absolutely unforgettable for all but the most jaded and cynical gamers. There’s little argument however about the trilogy of brilliant, ground-breaking titles that Sega released in the 1986-1987 time frame Sega fans may also remember this as the first Sega golden age as this was also the same timeframe in which the company released the vastly underrated Master System, which aslo played host to impressive home translations of these three games. (In fact, Sega released an enhanced 3D version of Space Harrier using its brilliant 3D glasses in addition to the regular translation.) While the games encompass different genres, they all share in common a similar technology which was very far ahead of its time and all games share a similar technology. All three are forever linked in my mind because taken together, they created quite a sensation in arcades due to their deluxe models which really set a new standard for immersion. Graphically, the games utilized a super sophisticated sprite based technology that presented the games in a3D approach long before the advent of polygons. Their crisp, colorful visuals were quite daring for their time and blew many gamers away with their stunning innovations on many fronts. What’s surprising from the perspective of 15 years is how well the visuals stand up, as they are quite straightforward in their presentation and also quite simple but incredibly fun in the gameplay department. Its for all of these reasons that these three games are still so memorable and are still as much fun today as they were when they came out.
You can say all you want about the current state of gaming with its reliance on flashy graphics over solid gameplay and cheesy licensed titles, but one thing is certain, when you plug in a classic and the memories flood back, its a sensation like few others, especially for older gamers. Take the case of After Burner II, one of the most intense and innovative flight games ever made, and took the art and design of video games to a whole new level single handedly. After Burner II was an incredible leap forward with it’s innovative system of missiles and machine guns, speed changes and incredible spins were and incredible technical accomplishment that was incredibly sophisticated for its time yet didn’t hurt the immediacy and pick-up-and-play appeal of the gameplay. The intense shooting action and made for the perfect exercise in thumb candy as well, so in addition to flashy graphics, the main goal of solid, fun gameplay wasn’t ignored, which makes this a refreshing change of pace from too many games these days. A well balanced shooter with incredibly intense action, beautiful graphics and a difficulty level that still impresses today, After Burner is one of those rare classic titles that manages to stay as a standard long after release. With the exception of Namco’s Ace Combat, there really hasn’t been any other significant entries in the genre in quite some time. The Saturn edition of After Burner II is a beautiful arcade translation and while the controls are great with a standard controller, using the Analog controller (implemented in the Saturn version for the first time) players finally have a good sense of how incredible the game truly was in the arcades. After Burner’s excellent controls are only enhanced further if players are fortunate enough to own the rare Saturn Analog Mission Stick which very closely resembles the flight controller used on the original arcade coin-op. Another impressive aspect of the game as it appears on Sega Ages is the flawless nature of the translation, which allows for all the animations and details in the stages to appear in an uncompromised form which makes the translations released on the SMS seem anemic and weak in comparison. The sound translation in After Burner II is also superb, accurately representing the feel of the original game’s score making for an outstanding translation overall.
Space Harrier is another example of Sega AM2’s early brilliance, one of the earliest examples of the creativity and fun that Sega has become known for. While this unique first person shooter spawned several half-hearted sequels, the original title is still the most memorable in the series. With it’s out-there enemies and intensely strange otherworldly course, Space Harrier did an excellent job of putting the player in an alien world where they had to fight demons, avoid obstacles and then face some of the most impressive bosses of their time. What really made the game fun was it’s simplicity, there were no power-ups or other distractions, the emphasis was on pure skill and technique, which is why, I think, the game still holds up so well these days. While Space Harrier has a remarkably simple concept, the game’s sense of 3D space made it far more than a mindless shooter because it allowed the player an unprecedented freedom of movement and also represented quite a technical leap forward thanks to its visual intensity, speed and clarity which hadn’t even been attempted up to that point. Some may argue that the brightly colored pastel pinks and blues severely date the game visuals, but there is a consistency in the design of the levels and enemies that still holds up quite well. Still, its the enemy designs which make the game so memorable. From it’s two-headed dragon bosses, psychedelic mushrooms and cycloptic mammoths, few designs in gaming have been so unforgettable as the surrealistic images created in Space Harrier. What’s more impressive is that such a succulent course of eye candy as this was created on what is now such primitive hardware. Then there’s the unforgettable musical score, which has been faithfully reproduced here as well. Of course, the main reason the game holds up so well is its gameplay, which is endlessly challenging and addictive - the feel of the controls is just about perfect making for a simply sublime playing experience. Like all of the games on the Sega Ages disc, Space Harrier implements analog control for the first time and play is greatly enhanced because of it. The overall excellence in its balance between challenge and fun is still evident and the game holds up well due to this. While most shooters grow monotonous after a few levels, the aforementioned creativity in design really helps blunt this while motivating the player to keep going.
Long before the advent of Daytona USA and Sega Rally, 1986’s Out Run established Sega as a master of the driving genre. A technical tour de force, this was the first racing title to feature multiple branching courses, shifting track widths and hills. As the sentimental favorite for me on the compilation, the re-appearance of the original game was quite a thrill especially after suffering from some weak sequels. Does anyone else remember Turbo Out Run or Out Run 2018? No, I thought not. This translation moves a bit faster than I remembered it, thought that may be a case of playing the Master System version so much. Fortunately, the game feels quite familiar and Out Run’s timeless elegance remains undiminished by the seas of time. As one of the most addictive arcade racers of all time, the simplicity and challenge of the game are what makes it so appealing. One of the coolest aspects of the game was it’s multiple paths, which allowed for quite a variation of scenery and kept the demons of racing monotony at a safe distance. This was obviously a revolutionary approach back in 1986, and allowed the player to choose their own destiny in a way that hadn’t been attempted previously in any racer. The way the branches work makes it possible to play through the game several times and not see any of the same levels, save for the first heat. With 17 different racing segments, its difficult to complain about a lack of variety in the game. This allowed the player a great deal of freedom and also allowed the constant challenge of different obstacles to appear through the course of each race. This is one of the key elements of Out Run’s enduring appeal, along with the multiple endings which are still a rarity in racing titles, even today. Visually the game is still quite impressive and the arcade perfect translation allows all the details and splendor of the original to be seen in its full glory, with added animation and trackside details restored in this version, making for an exercise in peerless arcade fun. The controls are the same as you remember them and even though the game supports the analog controller, it seems to benefit least from it. On the bright side, Out Run soars in enjoyment when played with the arcade racer or any other decent steering wheel controller and allows the player to truly recapture the elusive arcade feel. One area that might bother some purists is the music, which has been redone by the original composer. The new contemporary techno elements and other changes might bother some, but thankfully the new remixed versions largely stay faithful to the originals, with players once again selecting from one of three ‘stations’ before each race with all your favorite Out Run songs like "Magical Sound Shower", "Splash Wave" and "Passing Breeze" making return appearances. Like the other games, Out Run is an undeniable classic which should offer players plenty of fun, challenge and enjoyment as they take a spin down Sega Memory Lane.
So overall, it goes without saying that the package is a superlative addition to any Sega fan’s library. While they bring plenty of nostalgia and golden memories of the company’s glorious past with them, all three remain solid and highly playable games that still offer plenty of fun and challenge even by today’s more sophisticated expectations and technical standards. The near-flawless translations make this the one Saturn compilation that must be owned. The fact that all three games are included on a single disc and not split in three separate volumes as was done in Japan makes this edition the most desirable. Add in the fact that Working Designs did an exemplary job of producing the game with a full color manual printed in full-color on glossy paper and this game is pretty much mandatory from a collectors’ standpoint, regardless of rarity. The deluxe packaging is appreciated because of the status of the classic games it contains means something special is definitely in order. All in all, Sega Ages is a gem of the Saturn’s releases, reminding players just how great Sega was and remains. While not the most common Saturn game, Sega Ages is well-worth seeking out if hasn’t already taken a up a permanent place in your gaming library.
