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(February 26) Review:
Stellar Assault SS (Saturn)
One of the rarest games on the Saturn is also one of the more interesting.
Beginning life as a 32X title called Shadow Squadron in the west, and
Stellar Assault in
Japan
, Stellar Assault was
ported to the Saturn by a relatively unknown outfit named Sims, who went
above and beyond the norm and enhanced the game significantly. Most
significantly, the new game features a much larger polygon count which
makes for a much better looking game that plays smoother, while retaining
most of the gameplay of the original title. For those unfamiliar with the
game, Stellar Assault is a kind of hidden gem. It was very much an early
90’s phenomenon, where 3D graphics combined with shooter play mechanics
to make for an interesting hybrid. This is an elaborate polygonal shooter
in the same vein as Namco’s Starblade series. The gameplay is very much
on-rails, but you can move your reticule around to target ships and there
are a few sections where your movements can decide the next portion of the
game. Like the first edition, Stellar Assault SS features an elaborate
storyline that unfolds in a series of cut-scenes that shows the galaxy
under attack from unknown forces. The gameplay is very interesting, since
most of the piloting is automated, your focus is on shooting down the
enemy ships. They fly at you from all directions and this makes the game
more challenging than you’d expect. However, the Saturn edition allows
for multiple continues which gives you plenty of leeway. Stellar
Assault’s main claim are the elaborate environments and cool set-pieces
that make it feel like you’re piloting a star ship. While its not the
most elaborate title of its era, Stellar Assault SS proves that the Saturn
could at least keep up with the Playstation in terms of 3D horse-power, if
put in the right hands.
The
amount of effort that went into the game is quite evident and this
conversion of the Sega title is much better than the 32X version from a
technical standpoint. Its definitely impressive when you compare it to
other Saturn 3D titles but the presentation is a little disappointing in
parts. In order to squeeze in the extra polygonal animations, Stellar
Assault SS is presented in letterboxed form, which makes it slightly less
slick than the Playstation
port
of
Starblade
. Of course, by modern
standards, the large polygonal ships and objects look primitive, but they
definitely have their charms if you’re nostalgic for that era. While the
visuals are good by Saturn standards, you shouldn’t expect miracles.
However, the gameplay remains entertaining and the game represents a cool
momento of a distinct early moment in the evolution of 3D gaming
technology. Not surprisingly, this was one of the most obscure and least
distributed Saturn titles in Japan, and one of the main reasons why it
remains so valuable and rare. Its definitely one of the more expensive
titles for collectors to attain, but its definitely one of the landmark
titles on the Saturn that is worth the effort to attain from hardcore
collectors.
(February
25)
Review:
Shienryu (Saturn)
This relatively obscure vertically scrolling shooter was developed by
Wasari and released for the Saturn back in 1997. Its one of the most
traditional and standard issue-shmups we’ve played on the console, but
still offers solid gameplay mechanics and fun power-up systems. Sheinryu
is very much influenced by the classic Raiden series, which is a plus
since that title never saw the Saturn in any official form. The game
allows you to select from one of three different ships before each round,
and at each continue. As you’d expect, there’s loads of enemies to
battle and they attack at a somewhat big clip. Collecting various
power-ups adds to your firepower, but there are three basic color-coded
systems, each of which gives you a different set of weapons and super-bomb
attacks. Knowing when to use each one of these is a key part of the
strategy in Shienryu, but most players will likely stick to the lightning
bolt power-ups which have the advantage of targeting opponents directly,
instead of sweeping a section of the level with blanket shots. The
game’s level of difficulty depends in large part in what level of
difficulty you chose. At the easier levels, there’s not much resistance
but the harder stages can be quite a chore to defeat. One of the cooler
things about Shienryu’s design is to see how closely the developers came
in recreating Raiden without going too far. The small points medals and
power-up icons look very much like they did in Raiden and the game has a
very similar power-up system.
This Raiden-tribute feel extends to the visuals and graphics as well. The
levels have the same feel in terms of design, and have a very similar
approach to creating depth with a similar-looking use of deep black
shadows to give it the illusion of depth. Shienryu isn’t completely
derivative, since some of its massive bomb attacks fill the screen with
massive laser fire or explosive electric battles when detonated. Its
bosses are also much more interesting than the rather generic foes who
populated Raiden. Sheinryu is definitely a retro looking title, and its
use of a traditional sprite-based visual style makes it look almost like a
PC Engine or Mega Drive/Genesis shooter than some of its more-polished
Saturn counterparts. Its music stylings are also very old school and this
Midi-style music will probably please those who grew up on those older
consoles. However, the game does support Tate mode for full-screen
rectangular play, which is a nice modern addition. Sheinryu’s gameplay
is predictable to a large extent and its structure and mechanics are very
much in the traditional mode. For players, this makes it a good throwback
title with a simple approach that offers the genre’s traditional pick up
and play appeal. Those looking for a relatively inexpensive Saturn shooter
to add to their library will also be happy to note that this is one of the
more common titles you can find online.
(February 24) Review:
Metal Slug (Saturn)
SNK’s classic side-scrolling action platform shooter didn’t really
seem that significant when it came out for the Saturn back in 1997. Many
players probably dismissed the first installment as a cheesy Contra clone
and didn’t recognize how great the series would become. Many of these
elements that would become standards in the later editions of the series
began to make their mark. While the Neo-Geo version is/was probably the
best home edition, the Saturn’s vaunted 2D abilities made it a fairly
solid edition of the game. All of the great animation and backgrounds are
included in this edition and the sound samples are fairly straight. As in
the later games, Metal Slug allowed you to use massive fire-power to wipe
out waves of enemies, watching them fall to your firepower quickly was one
of the game’s great pleasures. From a gameplay standpoint, the controls
and visuals are nearly flawless in this conversion and its relatively
simple structure makes it an ideal pick up and play title for casual
gamers or those just looking for a quick rush. The action moves
horizontally from left to right for the most part and players will have a
lot of fun defeating each stage. The biggest challenge comes in avoiding
as many of the bullets as possible to conserve your extra lives. Metal
Slug’s trademarks are of course the Metal Slugs themselves, which are
vehicles that players can jump into and cause even more damage while
keeping their soldier somewhat protected from shots.
The level designs are quite ingenious and there are some very intense boss
battles along the way. This sustained level of chaos is what makes the
game so much fun. Once players collect enough pods and unleash additional
weapons such as laser fire and heavy machine guns only added to the
on-screen chaos, and made Metal Slug one of the best self-contained
shooters on any platform. While all of this is going on, your other task
in the game is to protect and rescue all the hostages the enemies have
taken, which gives you another play mechanic to worry about. Of course,
the main appeal of the Slug games has always been their simplicity and the
Saturn edition lives up to this ethic. Its definitely one of the most
enjoyable titles on the Saturn, and while its not technically a shooter in
the traditional sense of titles like Strikers 1945 or Battle Garegga, its
massive bullet battles and simple play mechanics put it very much in the
same style of play. For those looking at import games, Metal Slug’s
relatively low price and timeless play mechanics make it a great place for
the beginning Saturn collector to begin.
(February 23) Review:
Metal Black (Saturn)
One of the more interesting and attainable Saturn imports is this somewhat
obscure releases from Taito and published by Ving. It’s a horizontally
scrolling shooter in the vein of Gradius and features some interesting
play mechanics. Like many shooters, the power-up system is fairly robust
but Metal Black is different in that it allows you to gradually upgrade
your ship by collecting multicolored atoms that float on the screen. These
small objects are abundant and you need to collect many of them on each
level. As you grab them, your meter at the bottom of the screen fils up
which slowly builds your power. This system represents a nice change from
the shooter norm, and makes for a more challenging and strategic game in
that you have to protect your ships or else face a gradually diminishing
sense of success. The game flows fairly nicely through the first few
levels, with a slightly diminished challenge that allows you to learn its
system. Its not terribly complicated, but if you persist throughout,
you’ll find that the game gives you some fairly massive weapons. It
takes some practice to reach the higher levels and you’ll probably have
to go through a few times if you want to reach the later stages. While the
boss battles aren’t really as massive like the ones in Radiant Silvergun
or Hyper Duel, the end-level guardians you face definitely put up a fight.
The game unfolds at a decent and steady pace and allows players to
progress at a decent rate. Its not terribly difficult or overtly easy,
making it a good choice if you want to go through a relatively enjoyable
run in an hour or so and not deal with something overly complex or
difficult.
The
basic game mechanics are very straightforward and its array of enemy foes
makes for an interesting experience. Playing through the game shows it has
solid controls that make maneuvering your ship fairly easy, and since the
power-ups are mostly automated, the game allows you to concentrate on the
shooting and enemies. The game definitely has a Taito feel, which means
it’s a little stiff but very traditional in the way it moves and
animates. From a visual standpoint, the game looks fairly decent by Saturn
standards, and has some very nice looking backgrounds along with some cool
color-cycling special effects during the boss battles. The soundtrack is
also quite good with vaguely techno-esque tracks complimenting the action.
With all these elements in place, its not surprising that the game is a
solid looking and playing title that delivers an overall excellent
experience. It has fairly decent production values for the genre. Metal
Black has all the elements one would expect from a classic shooter, and
its interesting power-up mechanics means its definitely one worth
searching for. From a collector’s standpoint, the game is somewhere in
the middle of the Saturn library, meaning it can be had for a relatively
affordable price in the mid 50-60 dollar range. A lot of this is probably
due to the fact that its also available on the Tatio Legends discs, so its
accessible in emulated form on more popular systems, too. Its also notable
for inspiring several other titles, including Border Down on the
Dreamcast, so its definitely worth playing from a gaming history
standpoint.
(February
22) Review: Battle Garegga (Saturn)
While it has plenty of competition for the crown, Raizing’s classic
vertically scrolling shooter is one of the finest titles on the Saturn.
It’s another brilliant 2D shmup that delivers an exciting experience in
the mode of Batsugun and Strikers 1945. It’s a fairly traditional
release that hews to many genre conventions faithfully. This doesn’t
mean its stale or boring, but instead that the game is brilliantly
executed which makes it an enormously satisfying experience for those who
love the genre. Players begin by selecting from one of four different
ships, each one of which has a unique firing weapon and power-ups. You
move around and collect various items and upgrades as you shoot down waves
of opponents. As you collect different power-ups, you’ll add to your
power bar at the bottom of the screen, and filling it completely levels up
your ship with additional firepower. Most of the weapons are fairly
traditional by shooter standards and include standard shots and more
advanced attacks. Once you grab the secondary fire, you can aim it in
specific directions by using the shift keys, though keeping it pointing
upward is the most logical since most enemy attacks come from the top of
the screen. A variety of ships that you can choose from gives players
plenty of flexibility and allows you to choose the ship and power-up
system that best suits your play style. From a stage design standpoint,
the game offers plenty of variety in terms of enemy types and foes. Its
basic design is fairly good and the levels become progressively harder as
you go along. Enemies attack in formations that make their shots difficult
to avoid, and the screen-filling bullet waves make this a challenging
title that should test even veteran players. Battle Garegga’s boss
battles can be quite intense, and require a great deal of patience and
skill to defeat. The game’s mechanics and structure are very
traditional, but the speed of attacks and number of enemies on screen
means that the game is quite intense even at its early stages.
From a production standpoint, the game definitely looks its age, with the
slightly pixellated 2D sprites and somewhat flat menu system giving Battle
Garegga a slightly less polished look than some of the other Saturn
shooters. However, the conversion itself is quite faithful and the game
moves at a smooth frame rate throughout, with little in the way of
slowdown to impede your progress. The Saturn edition includes several
viewing options for the screen including a full screen approach with a
fixed scroll, a vertically scrolling view that moves along with your ship
and full-screen Tate mode support. This gives you plenty of options in how
you want to look at the action and the conversion also lets you set
difficulty, number of ships and continues as well. Since it was only
released in
Japan
, Battle Garegga is one
of the rarest and highly-sought after games on the Saturn and it brings a
hefty price-tag on auction sites and import shops. From a collector’s
standpoint, the game is definitely one of the best shmups on the Saturn
and definitely worth the price of admission. Battle Garegga’s solid
gameplay, challenging levels and addictive play mechanics make it a solid
addition to any Saturn import library.
(February
19) Review: Batsugun (Saturn)
Published by Banpresto, this excellent
conversion of Toaplan's 1993 vertically scrolling shooter is a superb
example of classic 2D shooting action that also serves as an impressive
prototype for the bullet hell genre that would emerge a few years later.
The Saturn edition features a faithful edition of the original game that
has held up well. It's a fairly straightforward shooter that offers few
gimmicks, and instead emphasizes solid gameplay mechanics and intense boss
battles. Players begin the game by selecting from three different ships,
each of which has a unique firing method, including standard bullets, wave
shots and electric bolts. As you play through the game, you'll collect
numerous power-ups which gradually upgrade your shots. There are several
levels of shots available and your progress is indicated at the bottom of
the screen. When your ship is destroyed, you lose a portion of your
firepower and your level goes down, but not completely. This makes things
a little easier for the beginner player. Batsugun's other main weapon are
the screen-filling bombs that clear smaller enemies or inflict significant
damage on boss opponents when used. You only have a few of these at your
disposal, so you need to use them wisely. The gameplay is quite intense,
especially once you have a few upgrades under your belt and the screen
fills with massive waves of bullets from your ship and your opponents,
which makes for some intense moments in these stages. While the gameplay
is very traditional in the shooter style, there's a lot going on
simultaneously, which makes Batsugun a great shooter that's definitely
stood the test of time.
The game's play mechanics are fairly
traditional and mix elements of Raiden and other traditional influences
that later brought us titles like Strikers 1945 and Donpachi. Its gameplay
is quite solid and its addictive play mechanics, smooth controls and
brilliant level design make Batsugun one of the most enjoyable Saturn
shmups you can find. The presentation and extras are excellent as well and
make this a superb addition to any collector's shelf. Banpresto definitely
did an excellent job bringing Batsugun to the Saturn. The edition not only
includes a very faithful adaption of the original arcade game, but also
includes a deluxe edition that features improved graphics and textures.
The differences are largely cosmetic, but make the game feel easier on the
eyes. In addition, players can choose to listen to the game's original
soundtrack or listen to remixes of the original tunes as well. Players
will also appreciate the game's different screen modes that allow you to
view the action in either standard mode or turned sideways for a full
screen vertical Tate presentation, if they have a monitor that supports
that mode. This is another rare and highly-desirable Saturn shooter and
collectors pay a decent amount of money for it. Batsugun follows the trend
of excellent 2D shooters on the console that were only released in Japan,
and while it adds a premium, it's definitely worth the asking price.
(February 18) Review: Thunder Force
Gold Pack (Saturn)
For many players, the Mega Drive/Genesis
Thunder Force titles were seminal experiences when they were released
nearly two decades ago. Tese fantastic releases were compiled for the
Saturn as a kind of prelude to Thunder Force V. The games were split into
two discs, with the first containing Thunder Force II & III while the
second included Thunder Force IV and Thunder Force AC. Playing these old
games with the perspective of age has shown that they have held up fairly
well for the most part. Obviously, these titles were superbly designed in
terms of the limitations of the Sega hardware of the time. The games
themselves are fairly interesting and challenging. For example, TFII's mix
of side-scrolling and overhead missions make it stand out from the later
titles in the series, and its visuals seem a bit sparse by today's
standards. However, it's still fun to play through the game again. Thunder
Force III is probably the one Genesis fans remember the most with its
over-the-top visuals, block rockin' soundtrack and massive enemy battles
through some really impressive game worlds. It also introduced some of the
series' trademark weapons including the Wave, Hunter and the extra Craw
mechanics, making it one of the best titles on that platform. This is
probably the one casual gamers will want to get first before they move
onto the second disc. Volume Two includes the somewhat obscure fourth
installment in the series, which is very interesting in that it introduced
many of the more modern features seen in TFV like the stage selection
screen. Thunder Force IV isn't as over-the-top crazy as TFIII, but it
still delivers a solid gameplay experience. The games are still quite
enjoyable and challenging even 20 years on. While they lack the flash of
other Saturn titles, their simplicity in presentation and design makes
them easy to get into and play.
From a technical standpoint, the
emulations on the discs are decent, but not flawless. Even though their
music soundtracks were based on the Genesis soundtrack, they're still very
good, though on the first compilation, they stream which can cause some
annoyance at points. Finally, the compilation includes Thunder Force AC,
the arcade version of the game that compiled levels and bosses from Part
II and III into a single game. Unfortunately, AC didn't really offer much
in the way of new content and lacked the visual upgrades, making it an
interesting but somewhat disappointing release. In Japan, the Saturn
seemed to attract many shooters and compilations during its lifespan and
these discs was definitely good sellers. As such, they don't command quite
the high prices of some of the other Saturn titles. You can grab the first
one relatively cheaply, but the second one seems to be less common and
commands a higher price. Aside from new CGI opening cinemas on each disc
and some bonus artwork, bonuses and content are almost nonexistent. This
is disappointing, but the games themselves have held up well over the
years, so it shouldn't be much of a problem for most players. While the
conversions on the discs aren't perfect and offer no upgrades, this pair
of Thunder Force discs still makes a decent addition to you Saturn library
and a must-own for completists.
(February 17) Review:
Blast Wind (Saturn)
Yesterday, we looked at Hyper Duel and
today we're continuing the series with a breakdown on Technosoft's other
original shooter, Blast Wind which was another Saturn exclusive that was
only released in Japan. This 1997 release is a far different shooter since
it takes place on a vertically scrolling plane takes a much more
traditional approach to the shooting genre. It has more in common with
Donpachi and Raiden than Thunder Force in its basic structure and style.
Players begin the game with a very limited range of fire-power and
gradually increase their strength by collecting power-ups and other items.
Blast Wind's structure is also much more conventional, as the stages
progress quite linearly. However, there is one big thing about the game
that makes it different. Near the beginning of each stage, players will be
able to use a switch that can be used to take a different path on the
level. There are two basic paths, one is shorter but harder while the
other makes for a longer stage with easier difficulty. The end-level boss
you face depends on which path you use. Aside from this, Blast Wind is
basically structured as you'd expect it to be. Players can collect
numerous power-ups which increase their firepower or add to their bomb
inventory. In addition, players will find points icons that give them a
score bonus, though don't add much to the battles. Blast Wind's controls
are silky smooth and allow you to maneuver through some fairly tough
sections easily once you get the patterns down. This makes for an
enjoyable game that lets you focus on the shooting action and not worry so
much about strategy and doesn't clutter the gameplay with other options.
As you'd expect from a Techosoft
release, the game features a driving techno-infused soundtrack and vivid
brightly colored visuals. The 2D sprite based shooter is largely a thing
of the past, and players who grew up in that era will have a special
appreciation for how the game looks. There are some quirks in the
presentation, such as the scores being displayed horizontally, which gives
the game a letterboxed feel that makes it feel a bit squished sideways. It
gives the game the appearance of being compressed on a standard monitor.
This approach is somewhat odd when compared to the methods other vertical
shooters use on consoles. However, these superficial complaints are
somewhat mitigated by the game's strengths. Blast Wind's gameplay is
entertaining and challenging. It offers fairly straightforward action for
the most part, but the different branches for each stage does help its
replay value somewhat. Most players should be able to breeze through it on
the easier stages which make good practice if you want to go back and try
your skills at the harder difficulty levels. It's not as hard or
challenging as Hyper Duel, but Blast Wind is a solidly entertaining
shooter that's definitely one of the high points in the Saturn library.
From a collector's standpoint, it's not nearly as rare as Hyper Duel, but
still commands a high price point. While it doesn't offer quite the same
level of quality as its more expensive cousin, Blast Wind is definitely
something worth considering and makes a nice compliment to Technosoft's
other Saturn release.
(February 16) Review: Hyper Duel
(Saturn)
We're continuing our series on classic
shooters with a look at one of the more desirable and rare Saturn titles
you can find. Released in 1996 by the
legendary software house Technosoft, Hyper Duel nearly plays like a lost
installment in their seminal Thunder Force series. It's a vertically
scrolling shooter in the classic Thunder Force mold and brings many of
their tradermarks including the circle power-up tabs, weapons and their
legendary announcer. All of which makes the game feel immediately familiar
if you've played any of the other Thunder Force titles. The game's driving
soundtrack, cool weaponry and massive bosses are par for the course but
there are a few twists in the gameplay mechanics that make this more than
a knockoff. The most important is the ability of players to switch between
standard ships and mechs, called Buster Gears. Both of these ship types
provide interesting mechanics that make things interesting. In addition to
standard shots, players can hold down a button and use charging weapons
for extra fire power that clears the screen of foes. These are limited in
duration and make the shooter much more strategic than it initially
appears. The gameplay is much harder than it looks since enemies attack
you from all directions, and its hard to avoid their fire. It's not quite
as crazy as some of the bullet hell shooters that have come out lately,
but there are still many challenging points in Hyper Duel. The stages are
well designed and offer plenty of challenging foes to defeat. As you might
expect, collecting and holding power-ups is a key element in surviving and
beating levels. This is especially true later on each stage when the
end-level boss battles can get particularly tricky, since they attack you
from all sides and can be unpredictable in their attack patterns.
The gameplay is very much in the Thunder
Force mode and this is evident throughout. However, it's the unique switch
between both mech and ship that makes the game much harder. Using the
mechs gives you a stronger but more focused fire, while the standard ship
offers less direct fire that covers a larger area. You can choose from
three different ship types as well, and each on has its own unique
firepower as well. Knowing when to use which ship and holding off on your
super fire power is a key element in this shooter strategy. It also helps
to differentiate the game from the Thunder Force series, but it definitely
has that classic Technosoft feel to it. The action is intense from
beginning to end and gives players a constant challenge. Hyper Duel's
visuals are quite impressive, even by today's standards. The traditional
2D shooter visuals are enhanced by the game's impressive engine. Using
multi-plane technology and minor scaling features to create some
impressive stages, Hyper Duel looks absolutely fantastic by Saturn
standards and is another one of the console's 2D highlights. Even though
Hyper Duel plays very similarly to the classic Thunder Force titles,
there's more than enough different here to merit a playthrough. The Saturn
edition of the game also allows you to choose from a standard mode with
the original arcade graphics and an enhanced version with improved
visuals. Its definitely worth seeking out for those who love classic
shooter titles. However, as one of the rarest and most valuable Saturn
titles out there, it's probably not something you'll be able to find that
cheaply. It was only released in Japan, and even there it came out in
limited quantities, making it doubly rare for the collector. Some of
Technosoft's other original Saturn releases such as the horizontally
scrolling Blast Wind are still pricey, but Hyper Duel is by far the harder
and more expensive title. For those with the resources, Hyper Duel is
definitely going to be a title worth owning and enjoying.
(February 15) Review: Thunder Force
V (Saturn)
Technosoft's classic shooter series
reached its apex with this release that combined the classic 2D gameplay
of the original titles with some sleek 3D effects to create what is
probably one of the most enjoyable shooters from that era. The game begins
with a menu that lets you select which stage you want to start with and
select the order of the next two levels. This is followed by a dynamic
opening sequence where players find themselves once again piloting a ship
as they battle waves of enemies. Thunder Force V follows most of the
series conventions in its' power-up system, which allows players to cycle
through weapons including the legendary wave and craw power-ups. Players
can earn these extra weapons by collecting orbs that float at them in
battle and they're automatically applied. You can stock up on as many of
these as you like, but as in the earlier games, if your ship is destroyed
when carrying one of these special weapons, you lose it. These are
enhanced by the appearance of a new weapon, the homing device called Free
Range. This allows you to set up a range where any enemies that enter it
can be automatically targeted, which is especially effective against more
powerful foes. Free range can be a little tricky to use at first, but it's
quite cool once you get the hang of it. Thunder Force V's play mechanics
are excellent and the game's smooth controls make it one of the most
enjoyable Saturn shooters.
From a visual standpoint, Thunder Force
V definitely pushed the Saturn hardware. While the action took place on a
traditional 2D plane, there were numerous 3D rendered objects onscreen
that game the game a great illusion of depth. This was especially true
with its epic boss battles where the end-level enemies filled up the
screen and gave the battles an epic feel. Technosoft went all out in the
production of the game and its special effects and silky smooth frame rate
made it feel quite impressive throughout. Adding to the game's brilliant
overall design are the elaborate cinema sequences that helped to make it
even more immersive. From a collector's standpoint, this is one of the
most desirable Saturn titles, since it was never released outside of Japan
for the console. The game came in two variations, a standard edition which
featured the game only and a "Special Pack" that also came with
a soundtrack CD. The soundtrack contained not only music from Thunder
Force V, but also included some classic tracks as well. For those who
can't or won't import the game, a port of Thunder Force V was also
released on the Playstation, though this edition is missing some of the
special effects and doesn't play as smoothly. While the PS edition is a
decent port, the Saturn edition is definitely the one you want to own,
since this is the console it was originally developed for and Sega
consoles are the spiritual home for the series.