SEGA VS Fighting Games - "Better run home to mama now!"

[Mystic Monkey]

I assume Virtua Fighter's story mode will be like Street Fighter VI's.
We have a story mode and arcade mode.
Story mode will feature us as a customizable player avatar exploring 3D environments, such as Yakuza's Kamurochō (which is a realistic recreation of Tokyo's Kabukicho district) and then we met all of the Virtua Fighter characters in the story.
They could be our opponents or our teacher or both in the story mode.
We'll know their back story or motivation during our conservations with them.
For each character story, we have to play the arcade mode.

Yeah,  Iwould like that. Though I imagine instead of a custom character, we'll play as various fighters and learn of their stories as wel progess and fight other fighters.

They shared the name "SEGA AGES" but the game list are different.
For example ...
Switch has Herzog Zwei, Shinobi, and Alex Kidd but PS2 version doesn't.
PS2 has Last Bronx, Gunstar Heroes, and Panzer Dragoon but Switch version doesn't.



PS2 SEGA AGES was a joint venture between Sega and D3Publisher while Switch SEGA AGES was a joint venture between Sega and M2, continuing their 3D SEGA series colaboration on 3DS.



It might be a spin-off but ironically it's a game in Virtua Fighter franchise that has most story in the game, lol, at least until the new Virtua Fighter arrived later.

I could still try to get these games individually on the emulators. But as for version-exclusives, such as Switch-version of Phantasy Star, can't do anything about that.
Well, I can, but there's the matter of playing the emulators without Joycons or even finding the Sega Ages exclusives.

Times like this, I wish Sega or PSCrew remake the Phantasy Star Trilogy in style of Final Fantasy III and IV 3D remakes.

[Berto]

Yeah,  Iwould like that. Though I imagine instead of a custom character, we'll play as various fighters and learn of their stories as wel progess and fight other fighters.

I hope the two fighting style (classic and modern) are also in story mode too.
It's definitely in the arcade mode but no information whether it will be in story mode too.

I could still try to get these games individually on the emulators. But as for version-exclusives, such as Switch-version of Phantasy Star, can't do anything about that.
Well, I can, but there's the matter of playing the emulators without Joycons or even finding the Sega Ages exclusives.

Hopefully they will come to Steam later though I doubt it will happen. SEGA still prefer putting the classic games inside Yakuza games (and they're even working with M2 for that).

Times like this, I wish Sega or PSCrew remake the Phantasy Star Trilogy in style of Final Fantasy III and IV 3D remakes.

You meant Phantasy Star Tetralogy?
Well, Phantasy Star III and IV might not be a problem, but you got to ask Yuji Naka for the Phantasy Star I and II, hahaha.



Just kidding, I'm sure SEGA has already secured the copyright and could the make the remake without asking him.
It's just may be they just want to focus on the Online 2 New Genesis spin-off first.

[Mystic Monkey]

I hope the two fighting style (classic and modern) are also in story mode too.
It's definitely in the arcade mode but no information whether it will be in story mode too.

I imagine classic will be an option for arcade mode while modern would be for both arcade and story mode.
Let's see how it goes, I still think it's early days for nVFp.

Hopefully they will come to Steam later though I doubt it will happen. SEGA still prefer putting the classic games inside Yakuza games (and they're even working with M2 for that).

Yeah,  Idon't like Sega's decision in removing Classic to Dreamcast games from Steam and putting them into Yakuza games.

You meant Phantasy Star Tetralogy?
Well, Phantasy Star III and IV might not be a problem, but you got to ask Yuji Naka for the Phantasy Star I and II, hahaha.



Just kidding, I'm sure SEGA has already secured the copyright and could the make the remake without asking him.
It's just may be they just want to focus on the Online 2 New Genesis spin-off first.

I never properly played Phantasy Star I-IV before. Just saying, it would be nice if they had done it up a bit more than the Generations games and not make it look like it was made on RPGMaker.

If you ever played the 3D remakes of Final Fantasy III and IV, you'll get a rough idea what I have in mind.

[Berto]

I imagine classic will be an option for arcade mode while modern would be for both arcade and story mode.
Let's see how it goes, I still think it's early days for nVFp.

Yeah, still too early.
Not even a release year has been announced.

Yeah,  Idon't like Sega's decision in removing Classic to Dreamcast games from Steam and putting them into Yakuza games.

If I could play them right from the start menu in the Yakuza games without having to go throught the hassle, it could temp me to buy them, but that's not the case.

I never properly played Phantasy Star I-IV before. Just saying, it would be nice if they had done it up a bit more than the Generations games and not make it look like it was made on RPGMaker.

There's a reason why it was called SEGA AGES 2500 in PS2.
Because they're sold at a cheap price, which is 2500 Yen.
And since they're cheap, the budget to remake the game wasn't that much too.

If you ever played the 3D remakes of Final Fantasy III and IV, you'll get a rough idea what I have in mind.

Actually I'm one of the few who didn't like Final Fantasy remakes (except FFVII).
For me, thiose games loses their charm when they went to 3D and new music.
I'm not saying they're bad, I just didn't find the change's interesting to play them over again.

I didn't like the Generation remakes of Phantasy Star I and II in PS2 too.
They changed the art styles too much I can't stand it.
Especially the main character Rolf from Phantasy Star II.
He went from this ...









into this ...







It's like I'm looking into two different characters.

[Mystic Monkey]

Yeah, still too early.
Not even a release year has been announced.

I just hope the end results won't be disappointing. Like, when you have high hopes for a game, and it turns out "meh".

If I could play them right from the start menu in the Yakuza games without having to go throught the hassle, it could temp me to buy them, but that's not the case.

Here's to hoping Sega will return "Sega MD/Gen Classics", or at least a replacement for it.

There's a reason why it was called SEGA AGES 2500 in PS2.
Because they're sold at a cheap price, which is 2500 Yen.
And since they're cheap, the budget to remake the game wasn't that much too.







Actually I'm one of the few who didn't like Final Fantasy remakes (except FFVII).
For me, thiose games loses their charm when they went to 3D and new music.
I'm not saying they're bad, I just didn't find the change's interesting to play them over again.

I didn't like the Generation remakes of Phantasy Star I and II in PS2 too.
They changed the art styles too much I can't stand it.
Especially the main character Rolf from Phantasy Star II.
He went from this ...









into this ...







It's like I'm looking into two different characters.

So what versions of the Phantasy Star Tetralogy games would you recommend for me?

[Berto]

So what versions of the Phantasy Star Tetralogy games would you recommend for me?

Phantasy Star 1 - Nintendo Switch's SEGA AGES version
Phantasy Star 2 - SEGA Genesis Mini 2's easy mode version or Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/924/
Phantasy Star 3 - Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/6779/
Phantasy Star 4 - Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7113/

[Berto]

Famitsu Sales: December 15, 2025 – December 21, 2025

1. [SW2] Mario Kart World (Nintendo, 06/05/25) – 115,729 (2,573,736)
2. [NSW] Pokemon Legends: Z-A (The Pokemon Company, 10/16/25) – 72,820 (1,470,354)
3. [SW2] Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (The Pokemon Company, 10/16/25) – 54,096 (957,286)
...
18. [NSW] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (Aniplex, 08/01/25) – 7,387 (166,272)
...
29. [SW2] Tamagotchi Plaza – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Bandai Namco, 06/26/25) – 4,168 (80,733)
30. [NSW] Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Nintendo, 03/25/22) – 3,851 (1,249,092)

Note: Asia and Western version of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 were published by SEGA.

Article: https://www.gematsu.com/2025/12/famitsu-sales-12-15-25-12-21-25

[Mystic Monkey]

Phantasy Star 1 - Nintendo Switch's SEGA AGES version
Phantasy Star 2 - SEGA Genesis Mini 2's easy mode version or Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/924/
Phantasy Star 3 - Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/6779/
Phantasy Star 4 - Original ROM with this patch: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7113/

Well, getting a Switch emulator is no problem. Yuzu I can get my hands on.
But... the developers behind Yuzu were sued by Nintendo for $2.4mil. Not only that but romsfun.com which I believe is a legit and safe site for emulators and roms, they can provide Switch emulators but don't have Switch roms. So getting the Switch version of Phantasy Star will either be difficult or a no-go. (As well as Let's Go Eevee and Shield. )

Other than that, I don't want any of Nintendo's ninjas after me.

[Berto]

Well, getting a Switch emulator is no problem. Yuzu I can get my hands on.
But... the developers behind Yuzu were sued by Nintendo for $2.4mil. Not only that but romsfun.com which I believe is a legit and safe site for emulators and roms, they can provide Switch emulators but don't have Switch roms. So getting the Switch version of Phantasy Star will either be difficult or a no-go. (As well as Let's Go Eevee and Shield. )

Other than that, I don't want any of Nintendo's ninjas after me.

It's still one of the four games.
You can always play the other three   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
if you're really interested in what's SEGA best RPG feels like back then, that is.

The story might be connected but you don't need to play the prequel to play any game in it.
The main characters are different each so you can start with any games in the tetralogy.
Many fans started with the last one, Phantasy Star IV, afteralll since it's the easiest among the four.

[Berto]

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage - Homestay Akira Combo Selection | Akira Yuki Beginner Guides

Homestay Akira Combo Selection | Akira Yuki Beginner Guide :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivMUZneH9Q

Homestay Akira Combo Selection | Akira Yuki Intermediate Guide :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivMUZneH9Q

Homestay Akira Combo Selection | Akira Yuki Advanced Guide :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxSBuvdz7uI

[Mystic Monkey]

It's still one of the four games.
You can always play the other three   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
if you're really interested in what's SEGA best RPG feels like back then, that is.

The story might be connected but you don't need to play the prequel to play any game in it.
The main characters are different each so you can start with any games in the tetralogy.
Many fans started with the last one, Phantasy Star IV, afteralll since it's the easiest among the four.

I get it. Like how Final Fantasy games can be played in any order, given they don't share continuity. Just have core RPG elements in common such as potions, chocobo, class-types and a few monsters.

[Berto]

I get it. Like how Final Fantasy games can be played in any order, given they don't share continuity. Just have core RPG elements in common such as potions, chocobo, class-types and a few monsters.

Yes. Rappy is kinda like Chocobo of Phantasy Star, but we couldn't ride them of course.
Plus they aren't as cute as right now in the Phantasy Star IV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR0yGAuk9oM

Still Phantasy Star series is know for its pioneering science-fantasy setting which combines elements of magic with advanced technology (e.g., robots, laser guns, spaceships) in a consistent, overarching universe.
This was really a significant departure from the prevalent medieval fantasy settings of other early console RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.



But of course right now Final Fantasy series' already moving on to science-fantasy setting too following Phantasy Star series and more successful at it. Just like Tekken series who's more popular than its pioneer, Virtua Fighter.

[Mystic Monkey]

Yes. Rappy is kinda like Chocobo of Phantasy Star, but we couldn't ride them of course.
Plus they aren't as cute as right now in the Phantasy Star IV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR0yGAuk9oM

Still Phantasy Star series is know for its pioneering science-fantasy setting which combines elements of magic with advanced technology (e.g., robots, laser guns, spaceships) in a consistent, overarching universe.
This was really a significant departure from the prevalent medieval fantasy settings of other early console RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.



But of course right now Final Fantasy series' already moving on to science-fantasy setting too following Phantasy Star series and more successful at it. Just like Tekken series who's more popular than its pioneer, Virtua Fighter.

I believe Phantasy Star was Sega's "answer" to Final Fantasy at the time. Perhaps renaming Fantasy to "Phantasy" to further differate it. But Sega knew that if they made it a high fantasy game, not only would it be rather generic, but no too different or identifiable from Final Fantasy... That and Shining series was Sega's high fantasy RPG series at the time a swell. So Sega decided it to be a space fantasy series instead, where sci-fi replaces magic, but still has same function.

At least that's what I figure. And it certainly paid off with Phantasy Star Online brining the series to MMORPG.