What is it? - This compilation includes three of Treasures games for the Mega Drive - Gunstar Heroes, Alien Soldier and Dynamite Headdy. All are fast paced action games with some of the most amazing uses of the Genesis hardware. Also included are Master System versions of Gunstar Heroes and Dynamite Headdy.

About the Sega Ages version - This includes the same emulator found in the Space Harrier collection, which means lots of options to tinker with. There are still issues with the sound emulation, as the music won't sound quite right if you've spent a lot of time with the original hardware, but it's definitely tolerable. Again, there are extensive galleries with pictures of all versions from all territories, including full manual scans and a lot of cool concept art for Gunstar Heroes. You can also unlock the original design document, which has all kinds of trivia. (Just beat the game, and make sure you're playing the "JAPAN" version and not the "OVERSEAS" version.) Two initially planned names included "Lunatic Gunstar" and "Blade Gunner"; the double flame weapon was initially supposed to be a dragon; and each gem was supposed to grant extra powers when collected and equipped.

Even more interesting is the Prototype version, which is kind of a secret - much like the hidden Space Harrier games, you need to get to the region selection option, highlight "Overseas" and hold right for a few seconds until it shows up. While it's basically the same, there are a ton of tiny little differences that hardcore fans can point out. There's a lot more hilarious English featured in this version ("BOSS TIME COMING SOON" and "WAITING OF THE DANGER" before fighting bosses, "LIFE OF ENEMY" instead of "BOSS ENERGY", "BREAKDOWN" instead of "BOSS DEFEATED"). There are little score items that appear while you're sliding down the pyramid in Pink's stage, and there's a strange door marked "Heaven" in one of the item rooms in Black's level (which doesn't go anywhere). The heroes also don't grab the gem when you beat a stage. Some of the sound effects and animations are different, as well as altered graphical details - the "Outrun" billboards in the fifth stage are completely different. There's also a cheat to gain 9999 health (just pause and hit X.) Alas, it stops midway through the fifth stage, since this was just supposed to be a preview copy for the press. If this wasn't enough, you can also access the Game Gear version, by highlighting the "Prototype" option and hold right for a few more seconds. Cool idea in theory, but the game's just way too action packed to work on an 8-bit system.

Gunstar Heroes Prototype

And this is just the Gunstar froth - there's plenty of other nifty stuff for Alien Soldier and Dynamite Headdy. I usually find the super plays on these collections to be useless, but it's almost required watching in the case of Alien Soldier, which gives some excellent tips on how to get through this gruelingly difficult title. This also includes both the Japanese and overseas versions of each game, so you can experience the silly Engrish in the European Alien Soldier intro, or want to experience the differences in Dynamite Headdy (the Japanese version is much easier than the American version, and there are some minor graphical and sound differences, mostly pertaining to that one cat boss that appears a few times.) Both games have art galleries (and Alien Soldier has a design document, though there aren't as many pictures as Gunstar), and the Game Gear version of Dynamite Headdy is also hidden within, and accessed like the other titles.

Worth it? - Definitely. Alien Soldier alone is worth it, as it was never released in America (at least until it hit the Wii Virtual Console), and goes for $100-$200 in the secondary market. Plus the English European version won't work properly on American consoles even with a Game Genie. Gunstar Heroes is one of the best games on the system, with a ton of bonus content, and Dynamite Headdy, while definitely the weakest of the three, is still pretty fun. Three games is pretty slim for a collection, but when the games are so awesome, and the package is so complete, it's hard to argue with.

Links:
Siliconera
Namako Team
The Games Database
Official Website

What is it? - The 3D heir to 16-bit beat-em-ups like Golden Axe and Streets of Rage. The plot - two cops infiltrate a building that's been taken over by terrorists - was so similar to the movie Die Hard that Sega simply licensed the name for American distribution, so most Westerners know this as "Die Hard Arcade". Read the full article.

About the Sega Ages version - Wow. This is how you enhance an old game. Unlike the Panzer Dragoon port, which only looks marginally better, the PS2 version of Dynamite Deka looks almost completely different. Revamped character models, completely new textures, lighting effects - although it looks much darker than the original, it's almost as good as its sequel on the Dreamcast (known simply as Dynamite Cop in Western territories.) You can play the game with the Saturn graphics if you want too. Furthermore, there's a ton of additional modes, including an Easy Mode (double life bars for your characters and weakened enemies), One Hit Kill mode, Arrest mode, and Deadline mode (you have unlimited health but are under a strict time limit.) Altered Beast mode turns the main characters into two monsters - a Wolf Man and Bird Woman - from the classic Sega arcade game. You only have one credit in this mode, and while your life is constantly draining, enemies constantly drop little life power-ups. There's a ton of different variations in these modes, including slightly different weapons (the spray can becomes an air horn, for example.)

Dynamite Deka

Easy mode allows the characters to dress up as Ax Battler and Tyris Flare from another classic Sega game, Golden Axe. The third stage boss, the huge football player dude, has been changed into Death Adder. This whole fight includes a ton of Golden Axe references - the giant fish in the aquarium has been changed into one of the monsters, and all of the furniture has been changed into statues of different Golden Axe characters. The music has even been changed into the classic first level theme. The other modes allow you to dress up in other different costumes, including characters from the young girl-oriented Sega arcade game Oshare Majou (One Shot Kill Mode) and the manga/anime Sukeban Deka (Deadline Mode). There are even small references to other Sega games like Wing War, Alien Storm and Alien Front Online. In addition to all of this, there's an art gallery and a quick Japanese commercial.

The Saturn version had included an emulation of Deep Scan, an incredibly ancient Sega game where you drop depth charges on submarines in order to earn more credits for the main game. This has been replaced with Periscope, a 3D recreation of an even older Sega coin operated game from 1968, predating most video games. You need to shoot missiles (denoted as blinking light bulbs) at battleships (which were little plastic models in the original version). It's a fascinating look at Sega's history - I'd almost buy a whole Sega Ages package filled with recreations like this.

Worth it? - Definitely. The excellent visual overhaul and extra modes make this, by far, one of the best of the Sega Ages releases. In 2012, this volume was released for the Japanese PSN under the title Dynamite Deka.

Links:
The Games Database

What is it? - On rails 3D shooter where you play as a huge flying dragon, soaring through ancient landscapes. It was a Saturn launch title, but one of the best games available at the time, if mostly for the lushly detailed world. This one, the first in the series, is a bit barebones compared to its sequels, but is still pretty fun. Read the full article.

Panzer Dragoon

About the Sega Ages version - Included is a replication using the original Saturn graphics, as well as an Arrange version. The Arrange version features slightly better texturing, smoother graphics, and some improved models, most noticeably the main dragon. They didn't really fix much though - the frame rate is still choppy, and the draw distance is still pretty short. Some of the minor effects, like the rolling ocean waves in the first stage, don't look quite right either. Plus, the original Panzer Dragoon is also available as an unlockable in Panzer Dragoon Orta for the Xbox, which also featured smoothed graphics. The PS2 port is better looking, but only barely. Like the later games, there's a Pandora's Box option that lets you tinker with various options, including the ability to play the game with American or Japanese difficulty settings (the American version is a bit harder.) Also included is a small gallery (although there are tons more stuff that unlocks when you beat it on Normal and Hard, including some preproduction documentation) and a full replay video (including one with full commentary from the original developers).

Worth it? - Just grab Panzer Dragoon Orta instead, which usually runs for about $10 in the States. It's one of the best games on the Xbox, plus it includes the original game, making it a far better deal than the Sega Ages version.

Links:
The Games Database

What is it? - Sega made Tetris games? Really? The rights for the Russian falling block puzzler went through so many different hands (Nintendo, Tengen, Spectrum Holobyte) that I had no idea Sega ever owned the rights too. Apparently they were the first ones to release the game in Japan. All of Sega's titles are featured here, including a slightly enhanced version subtitled "New Century" along with the arcade versions of Tetris and two variations, Bloxeed and Flash Point.

About the Sega Ages version - The original Tetris has a System-16 arcade version, as well as the home Mega Drive conversion, and another arcade version for the System E, which I think was based off the Master System hardware. Flash Point is similar to the Flash mode in Columns, where you're given a predetermined layout and need to eliminate a single block. (The Mega Drive version is unlockable by highlighting the "Machine Type" and holding right.) Bloxeed is another variation where the bottom grows up every few lines, and there are a variety of special power-ups obtained by destroying certain lines. (The System-16 and System C versions are unlocked the same as above.) They're alright, but have some annoying quirks - for instance, you can't rotate pieces at all if they're next to the borders. The New Century mode barely has any additions over the regular Tetris beyond fixing the rotating block issues, enhancing music and adding few different play modes. It also curious adds a monkey as the mascot. Some of the other Tetris include minor characters from other Sega games, like Flicky and Opa Opa.

Worth it? - Nah, you've played Tetris a hojillion times before. It's interesting for the trivia value but that's about it.

Links:
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