Sadly, for many companies that's too much to ask for. Even for Nintendo (in case you didn't know, the Wii Virtual Console games were literally just ROMs their employees downloaded from the internet. I kid you not, Eurogamer was able to prove it.)
I know M2 done the emulation for the SEGA entries back then (even if they weren't 100% accurate yet). I forget though, how much were the Wii Virtual Console games, especially keeping in mind you could use Sonic Mega Collection for the Gamecube on the Wii?
Off the top of my head, NES games were $5, Genesis and SNES were $8, and N64 was $10. Foreign games (like SMB2 JP and Pulseman) were usually $1 more.
I mean I know generally the bigger the package the more discounts they make, but the point here is that the bulk of the extra cost for SEGA AGES games shouldn't be for decent emulation, that's paying extra just for the game to work properly. The games are about twice as expensive as the Taxman ports, and bulk up to about 4 of them being the cost of Megadrive Classics' 30+ games on the same console. The fact Megadrive Classics is shoddy isn't a good argument for the price boost since Classics still costs the price of a supposed quality compilation, that only tells us that Classics is a rip off. The other bells and whistles the AGES releases have need to amount to that extra price. I get emulation makes the package approach different, but even with M2's demonstrated capacity I think they could have offered more. Let's say Sonic 1 had bugfixed Spin/Drop Dash, a full Time Attack mode with every stage and some of their later instalments' extras like Rumble feature. I would consider that a solid enough package even relative to the Taxman version, if still questionable against the lower price of the latter. Puyo Puyo Tsu has a similar issue right now, it is already represented on the Switch, and while it is a different port, it has about as many if not more extras, including similar online play. The pricing is more complicated since it is part of an ongoing online package, but again, it comes with a huge amount of other NES/SNES titles. What compels online Switch gamers to buy the SEGA AGES version when they can just play it through the standard deal that gives them tons of other titles on top?
In terms of value proposition the problem with the M2 releases versus the various Genesis collections over the years is simply that for most people, the emulation in those collections is good enough for the price. You can get really high-quality emulations of Sonic 1 and 2 for $8 a piece, or you can spend $20 for the Switch version of Genesis Collection and get those two games along with like 40 others. The extra features M2 includes with their Sonic games are neat but pale in comparison to the Taxman releases, and the average consumer just isn't going to care. I've heard the Sega Ages releases aren't doing as well as Sega hoped and I totally understand why, their approach to retro releases is completely scattershot. IMO they should take after what Konami and Capcom are doing and do a Sonic-specific collection. Taxman versions of Sonic 1, 2 and CD (assuming 3 doesn't make the cut yet again) along with whatever else they feel like throwing in there. Spinball, the Game Gear games, 3D Blast, R, Fighters, Mean Bean Machine, anything that would fall under the classic Sonic banner. However I'm guessing they don't feel the Genesis collections would sell nearly as well without Sonic fronting them, and are probably concerned selling the Sonic stuff separately would make the Genesis collections redundant for most people in terms of what they'd want out of it.
From what I know the AGES releases are doing okay in the West (especially Europe) but not in Japan, with M2 planning to appeal to that market more in the future (something I'm not sure about if it means alienating the region that is actually giving them profit). Again on paper AGES packages aren't bad, just they come at a bit too hefty a price compared to other releases and don't capitalise enough on their bells and whistles to make them standout against them. I admit, I'd be intrigued if M2 compiled some of them into a compilation like their DS titles, supposedly with the discount pricing, and all these challenge modes stacked up into a reasonably large mission mode akin to NES Remix. That could actually be a decent package.
I don't think porting iOS/Anroid games is in M2's wheelhouse - as far as I'm aware anyway. In any case, the Whitehead versions of Sonic 1 and 2 are kind of outside the scope of Sega Ages' mission statement, and ROM hacking all of those features into an emulated Sonic 2 seems like it would take a lot more time/money than most Sega Ages releases. The Sega Ages titles cost a tad more than I would like (when they're on sale, that's the sweet spot), but the difference in value here is more to do with Sega Genesis Classics being an absolute bargain. Has there ever been a more jam-packed game compilation? I think it's about time for a new Sonic compilation, especially with the 30th anniversary around the corner. This would be the best venue for the Whitehead versions of Sonic 1, 2 and CD. There are a bunch of rarities they could include: SegaSonic the Hedgehog (arcade) Chaotix Sonic Eraser The MASTER SYSTEM versions of Sonic 1, 2 and Chaos. (And to a lesser extent Spinball, Mean Bean Machine and Sonic Blast, maybe.) The SATURN version of Sonic 3D Sonic Pocket Adventure Sonic Shuffle The DREAMCAST versions of Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 At this point in time, even a collection of the GBA games (Sonic Advance 1, 2, 3, Battle, Pinball Party) would be new to a lot of people. Obviously, some of these would be easier to emulate than others, but there's more than enough content to fill out a Sonic compilation and still keep it fresh. Especially if they add an art gallery, like Sonic Jam and Mega Man Legacy Collection.
I'd say it's a 50/50. There are definitely some things that seem too elaborate for M2's emulation process, but others seem probable, and there do seem other bells and whistles of their own that they could balance it out against if they really developed and capitalised on them enough. The challenge modes prove they could in theory make a Time Attack mode, hell that's what Sonic 1 has, just they only bothered to program it for one act. Meanwhile other AGES instalments have online multiplayer, something that could have been a cool extra for Sonic 2's VS mode, while a lot of their interface enhancements could likely have gone into polishing the split screen compression (I mean Sonic Mega Collection proved that was possible on Gamecube emulation). Tails' flight is likely a more complex one, but I would have appreciated them at least TRYING to implement it like they did the Spin Dash and Drop Dash. All that stuff put together with what is currently on the table (eg. Knuckles, Drop Dash, rumble feature) and you have a solid enhanced version of Sonic 2. As I said before, I think there is enough variation in the AGES gallery that they could have made an impressive package for Sonic 1. Sonic 2 admittedly would be a harder act to follow, but that was Taxman's most lavish port by far, with a beta level resurrected and all sorts of other unexpected extras. Truth be told though, M2 would likely be better not just rereleasing the same old games already available in the first place. More releases of more obscure SEGA titles or some of their early 3D games would definitely be worth that extra penny.
https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1232618.html Lengthy interview on this release (in Japanese). A couple of tidbits: Rieko Kodama says that she helped with Casino Night's background, but most of it didn't make it into the final release, and was redrawn by Yasushi Yamaguchi. They talk about other Sonic games, including SegaSonic - the Sega Ages line-up had already been decided before the surprise return of Ray and Mighty in Sonic Mania Plus.
Every time they revisit the Game Gear library and pass over the Master System versions of 1, 2 and Chaos a part of me dies inside. GG Sonic 2 is borderline unplayable. They clearly remember those versions exist though, seeing as how they re-released them on the Wii Virtual Console. Spinball and Mean Bean Machine would be made redundant by their Genesis versions, imo. Everything else you mentioned would be awesome, though I'd expect Sega to cut things off before Adventure. I would love a GBA collection down the line, I'm even a little disappointed those didn't get re-released on the Wii U (Sega didn't seem to want to bother with their Virtual Console).
I'm never really bothered they pass over MS Sonic Chaos. Unlike 1&2, it was made for Game Gear in mind. MS version also has the lesser of the two Gigapolis BGM. Plus, there's the ugly DiC Sonic title screen. I'll defend the GG Mean Bean, on account it has the nifty "puzzle" mode not found in the MD version. GG Spinball is just plain trash. However, I could actually complete that version somehow and not the MD one. (I'm also kinda a sucker for its overly arppegiated music)
https://www.eurogamer.net/amp/2017-01-18-did-nintendo-download-a-mario-rom-and-sell-it-back-to-us. The guy who developed iNES says the VC ROM is a 1:1 match of pirated versions.
Puzzle Mode/Nazo Puyo is one of the main reasons I was legit disappointed AGES didn't add any of the extra modes from the console versions of Puyo Puyo. As for the MS vs GG, I do have a soft spot for them, though I agree that I prefer the higher res gameplay of the MS versions in spite of the occasional cosmetic downgrade. Hell I'd love if done Triple Trouble but found a way to upgrade the resolution to MS width like some emulators can. Actually one thing I'd love them to revive if they did 8 bit Sonics; the artificial 2 player mode Mega Collection and SADX's emulator had. Having it set up more elaborately like they do some of their challenge modes and you could add a pretty valid form of multiplayer (if a non interactive one) for Chaos or Triple Trouble. They actually released all three Sonic Advance games on the Wii U but for whatever reason only in Japan.
Isn't that the case for every company that has commercially released an NES ROM? Not just Nintendo. It's my understanding most forms of NES emulation are dependent on iNES. I haven't checked the ROMs in Animal Crossing or Konami's Castlevania & Contra collection, to name some that were several years before VC.
I don't see why this is a bad thing. Why reinvent the wheel and rip fresh copies when the pirated versions work just fine. You're paying for the convenience to play them legally on your console.
If anyone with a JP Nintendo account wishes to take the plunge and report back to the rest of us, AGES Sonic 2 is available on the JP eShop right now for ¥999.
Someone on Twitter got a hold of this and posted some things about the game: The Drop Dash is in, but it only applies to Sonic in 1P mode. It's disabled in 2P mode. Tails still can't fly and he can't use the drop dash, so he's still useless The Time Attack mode is yet again only one level, Emerald Hill Zone Act 1 The mid-air speed cap still exists for Sonic and Tails but not for Knuckles, as rather than port Knuckles over to the original they just put both ROMs in the same game They didn't bring back the Mega Play Arcade mode, I guess Knuckles in Sonic 2 counts as this game's bonus feature New Game + Super Sonic mode is back Ring Challenge is back They at least fixed the bug where if you activated Super Sonic after hitting a sign post you could potentially soft lock the game They added Rumble support for some reason There's a CRT filter 2P aspect ratio exists in all it's scummy original glory The Mystic Cave spike pit is back in all its glory So ya... it's the original Sonic 2 on the Switch with the Drop Dash.
Well, that's disappointing. I mean, still better than nothing, but I don't think it's enough to justify a purchase if you've got another version or Sega Genesis Classics.
