The release of Space Harrier Complete Collection marked a change in direction for Sega’s Ages 2500 series of retro rereleases for PS2. The series moved from often halfhearted 3D remakes and sometimes-clumsy ports (with some admitted gems here and there to a comprehensive effort at preserving classic Sega releases in the best state possible. Developers of the original versions of games like Space Harrier and Quartet were brought in to help ensure accuracy in each conversion. I can’t think of a better example of the turnaround Sega has accomplished with its series than this package.
Overseen by Treasure president Masato Maegawa, Sega Ages Vol. 25: Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box is a compilation of the three Genesis/Megadrive games Treasure are best known for, and is just about as comprehensive in its treatment of the games as it could possibly be. Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, and Alien Soldier are each presented in near-perfect emulation along with a host of supplementary materials.
For what hopefully represents the last of my experimental purchases for a long, long while to come, I picked up a copy of Sega’s rather obscure PS2 slash-em-up Blood Will Tell. duckroll ordered a copy during Play-Asia’s February sale, and delivered me enough good impressions about it that I decided to try it out. I’d ignored the game since its announcement circa E3 2004, having passed it off as “just another slashing game.” Upon trying the game, I find that my early snap judgment was…not too far off, really.