Maybe you’ve noticed that I’m so completely thrilled by being able to play the English translated Phantasy Star Generation 1 for the Playstation 2. If you have noticed, you’d be right.
I’ve been so happy to finally play this game that I jumped online and bought a copy of Sega Ages 2500 Phantasy Star Complete Collection. It’s a compilation of Phantasy Star I, II, III and IV as they were on the Genesis/Mega Drive, in Japanese and for the Playstation 2. I wont be playing this disc on my PS2 but I will enjoying having it in my collection.
My Playstation 2 Phantasy Star Collection
I doubt we’ll ever see a remakes like Phantasy Star G1 and G2 for Phantasy Star 3 and 4 but I’ll keep hoping. I waited 15 years for the remake (even though I didn’t know it was coming) and another 10 years for the English translation and I’ll eagerly wait for the Sega Ages 2500 Phantasy Star Generation 3 and 4.
This new addition cost me $50 with shipping. Which is why I haven’t picked it up until now. I needed the extra excitement before I was willing to spend so much.
Update: If you look in the comments below you’ll notice that justinwl informed me that this Japanese Phantasy Star collection actually contains the English versions of Phantasy Star 1-4. You’ll still need a Japanese PS2 or a modded PS2 in order to be able to play this disc but having the English included is a huge plus.
The makers of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game Pier Solar (created in 2008) are currently busy working on their next Genesis title. At the moment its working title is Project Y.
Project Y is still a long way off but it is exciting to know that games are still coming out for the Genesis/Mega Drive.
We don’t yet know what this new post-apocalyptic world will look like but here’s a small glimpse of what’s to come for this beat’em-up, shooter, RPG:
You look’in at me?
The following have less polish but that’s ok. I really do enjoy seeing the evolution of a game. It’s great that the Watermelon Team is willing to share these early stages of their game with us.
Project Y Concept Character
Project Y Concept Character
Prepare to be Man Handled!
More details about Watermelon Team’s Project Y can be found on their site. Be sure to check it out and join their forums. They are great at taking feed-back from fans.
So I’m all out of money and currently have no new additions for the collection. However, over the summer I have really added a lot to the collection and it does look significantly different since my June 2011 picture that I previously had on my Images page.
Updated Sega Collection
This picture is very similar to the image I posted when I received my 20th Anniversary Sonic from some close friends but I stepped back at bit so you can see more of my gaming room. When I bought the extra shelf and new TV stand I didn’t consider how much space I have. The arm chair is nearly wedged in between the right shelf and the couch but everything fits well enough for now.
In real life the white wall behind the collection doesn’t looks so stark against the dark furniture. It really does feel more snug and cozy in person. 🙂
I still have to finish the my TV stand by installing two more shelves and putting the back on. I think it will look much neater whenever I finally get to it. I should also clean up the misc stuff under the shelves.
A little more of my humble Man Cave… ok… Boy Cave.
Stepping a little further back you can see a wee bit more of my game room. I was really into collecting Sideshow Collectibles figures until they just got too expensive. So I’m learning to be content with the ones I have. I will still buy new ones if I can find them for under $100, but that’s not going to happen often. I have another cabinet with more along another wall.
I also picked up a RetroDuo Famiclone which you can see just to the right of the TV. It’s not perfect but it plays most NES and SNES carts well enough.
I’ve updated my Archive page with a history/timeline of the collection. With any luck there will be many more update to come 😀
I’ve never purchased a video game sound track before but I did not hesitate when it came to the Pier Solar Original Sound track (OST).
About a year ago when I discovered that an entirely new game had been created for the Mega Drive/Genesis on December 24, 2008 I was completly shocked and excited. I was too late to buy Pier Solar directly from the WaterMelon Team but I worked hard (a.k.a. threw $100 at the problem) and bought my postarity edition of Pier Solar on ebay.
Had this game came out when the Genesis was current it would have been one of it’s tripple A titles. It’s that good. And when the WaterMelon Team released the less pretty reprint editin I bought the game again. It’s that good 🙂
Even now the Pier Solar hype has not died down for me. So much so that I wanted the OST to compliment my Peir Solor collection.
See how pretty it looks and sounds:
Pier Solar OST
Pier Solar Collection Front
Pier Solar Collection Back
The Pier Solar OST is still available for sale from the WaterMelon Team and for anyone who has only the reprint edition of Pier Solar this OST will have extra value for you. It includes the enhanced sound track which when used in the Sega CD and in conjunction with the cart augments the games sound and music. I’ve read that this feature is a first for a Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge.
Yes, you can download the enhanced sound track and burn it to CD yourself but I’m really enjoying this very nicely polished version.
Here are a few additional details about the Pier Solar OST:
The Definitive Original Soundtrack – everything a fan could dream of! In a stunning packaging with four BUNG-FULL discs, that can be played in any CD player, computer or even your Mega-CD/Sega CD.
Discs 1 & 2 contain the game’s original Mega-CD/Sega CD tracks. Disc 3 contains remixes by famous artists, rare unused tracks & alternates. Disc 4 is our famous Enhanced Soundtrack Disc, the Mega-CD/Sega CD disc to be played with any Pier Solar cartridge!
Also included is the full FM soundtrack in .VGM digital format, for your computer or smartphone.
I had Dick Tracy from when it was current and it has surprised me twice now. When I first got it I was pretty sure it would be lame. Thinking back I can’t remember why I chose to get it? A gift maybe?… But what I do remember is enjoying this game.
The game is similar to Shinobi in that you walk from left to right, jump, duck, and shoot or punch. But what brings it above mediocre and into the realm of good games is the Tommy Gun and how it works. On some levels there are basically to plains. In the foreground where you are you can punch enemies or shoot them with your pistol. Enemies appearing in the background get cleaned up with the Tommy Gun. When you’re firing the Tommy Gun you slide the bullet spray across anyone you want to take out and it really works. It’s easy to do and really feels like your firing a fully automatic weapon. Switching back and forth between enemies in different locations creates a great dynamic to the game and helps keep things interesting.
My second Dick Tracy surprise was this game still holds up. The mechanics and feel still really work. And it’s not an expensive game 🙂
This Dick Tracy of mine got the Sharpie marker treatment in a few spots along the bottom of the cover sleeve. It was very easy to clean up but because of this I’d say it’s in good condition instead of excellent condition.
ZOOM! is an ok puzzle game. It’s no Poyu Poyu but if the puzzle genre is your thing it’s worth a look. ZOOM! has a small crack in the case but it’s still in very good condition.
The Kick Boxing… maybe that should be “Kick Boxing” or “The Kick Boxer”? 🙂 Well, we know where they’re going with this one and it seems like an OK game. The graphics are actually pretty good and it feels like this game was taken pretty seriously. It’s definitely not a button masher. Although I wasn’t very good it feels like there are some real solid game mechanics at here. Even though I didn’t notice right away once I did I found it weird that there was no music during game play. But the sound effects are really good for a 16-bit game. This one is in excellent condition.
Minato No Trazia is yet another RPG that I wont be able to play but I still enjoy getting RPG’s into the collection. The video clip below isn’t going to show much… I thought youtube had everything? I might have to get into recording my own stuff. Minato No Trazia has a very small crack in the case but it’s still in very good condition.
Super Daisenryaku. The best thing I can say is it was cheap and in excellent shape. It’s a tactical combat game that’s here to be a back drop for the games I actually like. Maybe it’s a good game but I’ll never know. Only those gifted with the Japanese language could say.
It is in excellent condition and has two unique manuals.
Dick Tracy
ZOOM!
The Kick Boxing
Minato No Trazia
Super Daisenryaku
So again, nothing super exciting but some good with some filler.
Dick Tracy – $12.00
ZOOM! – $5.00
The Kick Boxing – $5.00
Minato No Trazia – $10.00
Super Daisenryaku – $3.00
Plus $15.00 for shipping. Which is less than $10 per game.
For a long time I’ve been curious about Runark. I didn’t know about it when the it was new I only started to get familiar with it during my Internet hunting. On occasion I would see it and it was always pretty expensive. When I youtubed it I thought it look pretty good. I wasn’t able to get a great deal on it but I bought it anyways. It has great artwork and it’s in excellent condition.
Runark is Streets of Rages meets Indiana Jones. Except you’re not digging up ancient treasure or bringing a beat down to the criminal underworld you’re rescuing animals from evil poachers.
Ok, good enough… Plot was never a real concern for the 8bit and 16bit era.
There is a lot of variety to this game. Four Heroes to chose from, all sorts of in game weapons including plenty of items in the levels to interact with. It’s not as good as Street of Rage or Golden Axe and Runark is not afraid to re-use sprites but it’s still a really good game. This one surprised me.
Star Cruiser sucks but it’s in excellent condition and it will help fill up the shelves up.
Wrestleball looks like it could be ok but I doubt I’ll ever give it a real shot. It’s here to fill up the selves. It’s in excellent condition.
Speed Ball 2 is pretty close to the same game as Wrestleball but the graphics do seem to be a bit better. Again it’s in excellent condition and it will do it’s part too.
Runark
Star Cruiser
Wrestleball
Speed Ball 2
As always I’m pretty happy with cheap games that are in great shape even if the game itself isn’t that hot. And thank goodness the one expensive game is actually a good one.
My Playstation 2 Phantasy Star Collection
Retro Megabit 