Sega has me confused. They do smart stuff like include the Mega Drive version in the upcoming PS: Generation 2 remake. They also go way out of their way to please old school fans of Fighting Vipers and Dragonforce by including two different modes for FV, and getting the original design team to remake Dragon Force. Now, the weird part. They're releasing Phantasy Star: Generation II on the same day as Shining Force Neo. WTF? BOth remakes of old-school Sega games. Won't one steal the other ones fire? Am I nuts? Anyways, I added this kick ass Phantasy Star Book to Japanese Gaming. My kung foo is da best!
They are remaking Dragon Force? Cool, since they can reconfigure the field map options and buttons!!! Holy Shit, I just did some research on the game, and it turns out to be a port for the PS2 with some different FMVs, but mostly original art from what I see. And guess what? Its 2d!!! Way to go SCEA, there is still a faint glimmer of hope in your 2d game policy... I bet this game wont be "rare", since Working Designs isnt making it this time 'round. I love Working Designs, I do, but I hate it when a game is out for 1-2 months and is rarer than good video game movies... :smt043
Mr. Casual Dragon Force is part of the Sega Ages 2500 series -- remakes all on the PS2, and budget titles at that. They've done some seriously ugly shit with some of the other games in the series (Alien Syndrome, Golden Axe) but I think they're actually doing something right with Dragon Force (as they did w/ Virtua Fighter 2). And yeah, I thought Figthing Viper was pants, but oh, well.
They coudln't include any of the characters from recent Virtua Fighters w/o completely fucking it up. The frames and other systems are WAY more complex than any other fighter out there... including Sega's other 3D fighters. Since VF4:FT is where Sega makes a huge chunk of change right now, I don't think they're in a hurry to piss off those fans.
I saw screenshots of Dragon Force, and if thats a BUDGET title, then hell will freeze over. I love to see 2d games done on next gen consoles. Metal slug 3 anyone? Hell, most of the Neo Geo games. It looks seriously good. I have the Saturn Version, and the battle maps look like crapola. To me, anyway. But being for PS2, I wouldnt be surprized if they gave it online capabilites. Hey Gaijin, do you know if they let you Mix n' match your army types this time around? Any new classes, too? :-D
I'm not sure. I've never played the original, and I've not read too much on it, although a reader at Japanese Gaming posted a link to a small article Anoop over at IGN wrote. Anyways, it is a budget title. Sega Ages 2500 = 2500 yen. You can bet your ass.
Gaijin thanks for those book scans, you're site is impressive as always. btw I tried registering for your forums a while back, and I never got a confirmation email. If you ever get bored one day.... :smt023
