SEGA classics 'wise fwom the gwave' on XBLA

Mike Bantick
Thursday, 11 June 2009 18:58

Your IT - Entertainment

Altered Beast is one of six classic SEGA Mega-Drive (Genesis) games released on Xbox Live Arcade.

Whilst they do not feature spruced up 21st century versions, these newly released SEGA titles blow the dust off the nostalgic parts of the gaming brain.

Originally released on the SEGA Mega-Drive home console, each game will set Xbox LIVE members back 400 Microsoft points.

The games include:

Shinobi
As the ninja Shinobi™ (Joe Musashi) you must stop the criminal organization known as Zeed, who have kidnapped the children of the Oboro clan. Test your ninja skills through five missions of increasing difficulty, and make your way to Zeed's headquarters to free all the hostages. The Ring of Five, the leaders of Zeed, are determined to stop you as you face off against one of them at the end of each stage.
 
Sonic 3
Sonic and Tails are back for another adventure in Sonic The Hedgehog 3™as they again battle the evil Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik), who is desperately trying to collect all the Chaos Emeralds in order to rebuild his Death Egg. Our heroes must find the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, but winning the race won't be easy. A new adversary, Knuckles the Echidna, has arrived on the scene and will do whatever he can to keep Sonic and Tails from reaching their goal. Grab all the golden rings, find various bonus zones, and overcome Knuckles and Dr. Eggman as you rocket through the third chapter in Sonic's adventures.

Gun Star Heroes
The Gunstar 9 planet was peaceful for many years until the vicious dictator Colonel Red kidnapped the Gunstar twins' older brother, and used mind control to make him his slave. Now, face many different enemies and bosses inGunstar Heroes™, as you battle to stop the dictator from unleashing "Golden Silver the Destructor" with apocalyptic consequences!

Also making an appearance on arcade are Phantasy Star II,  Comix Zone and the one I have been playing Altered Beast.

Whilst the premise of being brought back from the dead by the (speech impeded) Greek god Zeus is strange enough as it is, it get’s even odder as the buff protagonist(s) battle undead, bouncy two headed boar things, flying gargoyles, bouncy frog like bean-bags as well as the occasionally balding (uncle Fester look-alike) bosses.

Being able to endlessly continue games is a (pardon the pun) god-send, as you will die often battling your memory of the different levels and the tough controls.

SEGA have been criticized for the fact that all the games above can be purchased (along with a heap more) in the well priced Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection.  SEGA responded with the comment: 

"Not all people want to buy titles bundled together so we went ahead and released some of our favorite classics so that people who want to enjoy those individual titles can," said the SEGA representative. "If players really want a collection of their favorite titles, SUGC is a great way to get all of them together. We are all about choice”