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Steam adds Genesis Classics Collection 5: Beyond Oasis, Phantasy Star 2 and more
The fifth Genesis Classics Collection is now available on Steam, perfect for PC players who want to relive the glory of their Sega-oriented youths. The same goes for Nintendo-aligned Console War veterans, who now, wise beyond their years, look to experience what life was like on the other side of the trenches.The Genesis Classics Collection 5 boasts 10 games for $7.99, or $2.99 a piece if you'd rather go a la carte. Amongst the recommissioned relics from yesteryear are Phantasy Stars II through IV, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Vectorman 2, and Beyond Oasis. Jump past the break for the full list, which also includes Dynamite Headdy, one of the best, weirdest games ever made for Sega's classic warhorse.
The VC Advantage: Phantasy Star Tree
Of the main Phantasy Star games, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom is the most maligned. The presentation was scaled back after Phantasy Star II, the characters walk agonizingly slowly, and the story has only a tenuous connection to previous games. But Phantasy Star III's main gimmick is interesting enough to make the game worth talking about: at two points during the game, your hero will be given the option to marry one of two different women. The next chapter then starts with that couple's grown offspring as the new hero. It's a really clever mechanic that results in an assortment of generic anime heroes. The endings are completely different for every path, and each character experiences changes in the storyline.
VC Tuesday: Phantasy Detective Club
It's a rather small week on the Japanese Virtual Console, and one that means virtually nothing to gamers outside of Japan. Usually, Japan's releases allow us a look ahead at what's coming for us. This week's two releases just aren't useful for that purpose.There's extremely little chance of any of Nintendo's Famicom Tantei Club (Famicom Detective Club) games being released outside Japan, which is unfortunate, because we'd love to play these Nintendo-developed text adventures. The one released today is a Super Famicom remake of the second Famicom Disk System game, whose subtitle translates to "The Girl Standing in the Back." Phantasy Star III is already out in the U.S. and Europe. The most interesting thing there is why Sega chose to release it elsewhere before Japan. That's pretty rare! Famicom Tantei Club II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points)
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 4/21/08
Well folks, we're back with video commentary and ready to give you the lowdown on this week's Virtual Console releases. This week will go down in history for us, as it shows the release of one of the best NES games ever here in the United States. So what are you waiting for? Hit up the video above, then cruise past the break for the rest.
VC Monday Madness: River City Ransom and some other game
So, uh, we all know what today is, right? It's a day that will go down in history for us, the fine men and women behind Wii Fanboy, because a game of epic proportions is hitting the Virtual Console later today (12pm ET): River City Ransom, There's also some other game but we haven't even bothered to, well ... care about it. Dude, River City Ransom! River City Ransom (NES,1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Phantasy Star III Generations of Doom (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) As usual, be sure to stop back later for our video commentary on this week's Virtual Console releases. Until then, chill out at Merv Burger and enjoy one of their free smiles.
Phantasy Star III pays a River City Ransom on Virtual Console
That landfill of crappy Virtual Console titles has just been given a swift kick-punch of revitalization. Not only that, but we've got a second helping of Phantasy Star for you to digest. River City Ransom (NES,1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Save your girlfriend from such heinous foes as "The Generic Dudes" and "The Frat Guys." This beat-em-up was obviously ahead of its time in poignant social commentary and butt-kicking awesomeness. Phantasy Star III Generations of Doom (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Having already given us Phantasy Star II, Sega decided to move forward and continue the series, while still forgetting to back up and bring the original Phantasy Star to Virtual Console. It's pretty much exactly like River City Ransom in that way that it's nothing like RCR. Videos of the titles after the break.
April VC releases for Japan: Dracula X leads an awesome month
It's finally happening. When Hudson announced Turbografx-16 support on the Virtual Console, we thought "Oh, great, maybe we'll be able to get Dracula X!" Then when they revealed that CD-ROM titles would start coming out, we got really excited about being one step closer to Dracula X. Next month in Japan, Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo will be released on the Virtual Console for 800 points. As if Hudson hadn't already won at being awesome today.Other than the amazing Dracula X, there's actually a lot of really great stuff coming out in April. It has actually renewed our faith in the Virtual Console, which is why we're starting to think we're being fooled by a tragic April Fool's Day joke on Nintendo's part. Metal Slug and The Legend of Valkyrie are standouts, as is the incredibly vintage RPG Bokosuka Wars, if only because it reminds us of this shirt. Famicom: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Sky Kid Volguard II Bokosuka Wars Super Famicom: Famicom Detective Club Part II Heracles no Eikou IV Master System: Wonder Boy Mega Drive: Musha Aleste Phantasy Star III Phelios N64: Kirby 64 PC Engine: Riot Zone Legend of Valkyrie Dracula X: Rondo of Blood Digital Champion: Battle Boxer Monster Lair Neo Geo: Metal Slug
The Virtual Console soon to be full of Phantasy Stars
According to the USK (the German ratings board), three new Mega Drive games will be available on that country's Virtual Console soon (and therefore the rest of Europe's, and therefore everywhere soon afterward): Gleylancer, Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom, and Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium. Gleylancer is notable for being another Japan-only game, and the Phantasy Stars are notable for being great RPGs (yes, even III). IV is regarded as the best in a series of already-wonderful games.This should come as no surprise, really, because the major deciding factor for VC availability of any Genesis/Mega Drive game is "Is it on the Sega Genesis Collection disc?" as both Phantasy Star 3 and 4 are. We go on and on about that disc, but it continues to be relevant! We'd never begrudge Sega for making these great games available in as many formats as possible, though.
