This year marks the 30th anniversary of SEGA Corporation as the company has started out as both arcade and consumer businesses. To celebrate their years of service, Famitsu mangazine managed to speak with Sega’s third CS Research and Development producer, Yosuke Okunari about his work.
“For Sonic from the Sega Genesis, not only did we make it into 3D, but we also added the Spin Dash, which I believe made it easier to play. For 3D Galaxy Force II, the 3D added more depth to the screen, making it less common to get lost on the route. The things staff members wanted to express in the past but couldn’t, are now possible with today’s technology. And we’d like to share that joy. For our next lineup, it will depend on all of your voices, so please continue to support us.” ~ Okunari
Yosuke Okunari has worked on many projects at SEGA Corporation from SEGA AGES 2500 PS2 line up to 3D Reproduction Project for the Nintendo 3DS system in order to bring back titles we all know and love in a brand new way for both old and new players which you can see here.
Famitsu interviewed Okunari-san on how he started on the remakes such as Dragon Force, Virtua Fighter 2, and the recent 3DS remakes. At the end of the interview, he states that the next line up depends on what the fans want. I would love to see Fighters Megamix remade the same way NiGHTS into Dreams and Dynamite Deka was developed with a Saturn Mode or even an actual The House of the Dead arcade port with new modes. What SEGA titles would you guys would like to see remade?
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Whisper it, but…Shenmue.
I’d love to see Sega “remake” FERRARI F355 CHALLENGE, except, perhaps, update the car to the current FERRARI F458 ITALIA CHALLENGE, though I still like the F355 just fine and would happily buy a “remake” featuring the original car. Or even go full-MAGNUM retro, FERRARI 308 CHALLENGE.
Dunno if Sega could afford the Ferrari license anymore, though they did do that XBox Live Arcade version of OUT RUN 2 a few years back. Needless to say, I also want OUT RUN 3, just that’s the extreme arcade end of the realism spectrum whilst F355 CHALLENGE at least attempted to simulate real Ferrari handling (living up to the “Challenge” part of the title).
Here are my top 5 Sega games/Series I would like to see Remade or Re-released:
1.Sakura Taisen – I’m still a huge fan of this series even if the original games are still exclusive to Japan, and us Americans only got Sakura Taisen 5 which I found was good but it didn’t compare to the originals. I’d release HD remaster 4 of the original games and include trophys/achievements in them and if you’re feeling generous include the side games like Hanagumi Columns 1 and 2 for the puzzle fans and I suppose included the original remake of Sakura Taisen 1.
2.Skies of Arcadia – YES!! PLEASE!!! This was a damn good game that I think if not a sequel deserves a release or a remake. I’m sure plently of us hardcore skies fans would definitely have a great time playing this masterpiece again while going crazy to get any trophys/achievements the remade could have.
3.Shenmue – Seriously how long is Ryo going to be stuck in that cave since Shenmue 2? I’m no fool, I know the chances of us getting a sequel is very low, but the very least Sega can do is gives us remakes of Shenmue 1 and 2 so they try to go back into the groove there and hopefully it does well enough that we can finally get our continuation. I say remake instead of re-release because honestly….As good a game Shenmue was at the time, it’s definitely showing it’s age and it needs to be upgraded more than re-released.
4.Streets of Rage – We already had plenty of re-releases. So now we just need a remake of the game. I’m pretty sure this one would be easy to pull off.
5.Evolution – Who remembers this dreamcast classic? How is it this game series only managed to get one sequel? Granted it wasn’t great it was still pretty fun, and I would love a re-release or a remake of this.
I second your picks, especially Sakura Taisen. After playing the second game, I knew this series needed to be released here. Even in ’96 it would have appealed to Americans in some form or another. It would have been better to have had Sakura Taisen translated in the first place than to sit through another Dark Age of Sonic.
Ah yes I forgot to mention:
Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Editions: Release that. It shouldn’t be too hard seeing as how we already have the original Yakuza 1 and 2 games for the PS2 complete right?
I hope Dragon Force gets done. I love that game.
Sakura Taisen and Skies of Arcadia.
ALSO… bringing Sega’s CURRENT titles to West would be nice (I’m looking at you, Yakuza and Valkyria Chronicles) but… well… maybe we’re not loud enough hehe! ¯\(°_o)/¯
Shenmue 3 and 1 & 2 in hd.
Shenmue 1&2 in Hd, Zombie Revenge, Confidential Mission, Headhunter
most importantly is Shenmue and Shenmue 2 in Hd. It’s a long time coming and games have gotten very dry and bitter. Shenmue should be done before anything else. It’s time Sega actually listen and act appropriately to its hardcore IP. It’s the killer app as once stated. Time for a Shenmue regeneration.
i agree whit dingo evolution will be really amazing to see a sequel or a remake or a pc release
I don’t think the Shenmue games need to be “remade”, just rereleased to HD consoles. To fully remake either Shenmue would cost way too much. At most, I’d want widescreen and Japanese/English options.
Sakura Taisen. So Long My Love was a truly excellent game for PS2 and Wii. I think bringing the first 4 games from the series will definitely give Sakura Taisen the love and respect it deserves.
Wow, nice to see some people who would like to see more Sakura Taisen.
Virtua Cop Trilogy is another game I had in mind with both the Model 2 games and the third game.
Shenmue I-II HD. That wouldn’t cost that much as to make Shenmue III. And, it will prove the *TRUE* selling power of Shenmue …if, very hopefully, SEGA’s marketing team will treat this franchise very carefully and explain it well to the gaming audience (in a few words, what they didn’t do back then for Shenmue, if they really care and believe in it, then they should it now).
If you wish, check my blog spot for more statements about “What SEGA Should Do About Shenmue “: http://bigdipperinterart.blogspot.gr/2013/09/what-sega-should-do-about-shenmue.html
Virtual On with online Vs for 3DS. That would be awesome.
Oh, and remakes of Phantasy star for the 3DS too. The classic saga, I mean.
So many games I’d love to see remade. Have to join in on Shenmue I and II as well as Fighters Megamix. Also my favorite Sega games just happen to be racing ones. That means Scud Race and Daytona 2 absolutely need ports. They were nearly ported to Dreamcast but were scrapped. Licensing issues would probably prevent Scud Race from seeing the light of day, but Daytona 2 is totally doable. I’d also love to see Sega Rally 1 or 2, but since they got console releases I can wait.
—Sakura Wars.
—Shenmue 1+2.
—Skies of Arcadia.
In about that order. Please, Sega. Still haven’t played either of the Shenmue games yet, and have only played the fifth Sakura Wars title.
Both Sonic Adventures reimagined with updated graphics, new voice acting, new levels .
Skies of Arcadia reimagined with new graphics, voice acting.
Shinobi II & III reimagined in HD
Streets of Rage 1,2,3 HD, Online modes
Golden Axe 1,2,3 HD online modes
Both Shenmues reimagined in HD
Shining Force 3
and Panzer Dragoon now I’m done.
Jambo Safari + Emergency Call Ambulance + Brave Fire Fighters please.
If they actually stuck to the rhetoric about the fans decide what happens, we’d have Shenmue I and Shenmue II on XBLA and PSN by now. It was the most requested game whenever they asked the community at SEGA.com.
If SEGA actually stuck to the rhetoric they spit out in interviews, we’d have Shenmue I and Shenmue II already on XBLA and PSN (are those platforms even still current? I don’t follow games much anymore… :/). Whenever they initially asked what the fans wanted over at SEGA.com, Shenmue overwhelmingly won.
Wheres Bug!, Clockwork Knight and Astal? They were Sega Saturn’s triple threat.
and rerelease Jet Set Radio Future like you did with Jet Set Radio okay I’m done
A new generation of Monster Land games would be awesome. 🙂
Panzer Dragoon series.
I’d like to see a PC release of Sonic Unleashed. Maybe with all the DLC levels included. And while they’re at it, they should port Unleashed to the Vita.
What purpose would it serve to rehash and rerelease even more Sonic games, especially current gen games?
Panzer Dragoon with Zwei and Orta all in one in HD. Put it on PSN, XBLA and Steam.
Oh, and Sakura Wars being rereleased on PC.
Clockwork Knight!
It’s the game that made many kids happy in the 90’s and also one of the best platformers of all time.
Please. Please. Please!!!