Sega was founded in 1960, way before video games were what they are today. Sega started out designing and producing games for the arcade and home console market, eventually getting out of consoles, but still a big part of the industry. Between internal distribution and publishing, there are well over a hundred games under the Sega banner, maybe even a thousand, though that seems a bit much.
Forgotten Sega franchises that deserve a comeback
Sega, the company behind Sonic and Yakuza, has a treasure trove of cult classics that many fans are clamoring for their return.
Either way, good games can get lost over the decades, including shooters like Binary Domain, tactical RPGs like Valkyrie Chronicles 2and even rhythm games like Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure. Let's take a look at why these games matter and what other obscure Sega games are on the list.
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Start
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)
Astro Boy: The Omega Factor
Anime's greatest hero
Before Mega Man, there was another super-powered robot in town that was the talk of Japan: Astro Boy. The Astro boy manga and anime can be thanked for creating a boom in both mediums and spawning countless video games, Astro Boy: The Omega Factor easily be the best.
Astro Boy, the titular battle robot, is well armed for combat on the ground or in flying levels, with variety being a big reason why this game stands out. The best part is that players don't need to know anything about the source material as they can just jump into shooting other robots in one of the best looking GBA games to date.
Binary domain
Robots In Disguise
Binary domain was developed by the company Yakuza team, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, within Sega, and as good as the Yakuza games are, it's a real shame that the team wasn't given the freedom to create a sequel. It's a great idea for a cover shooter as players are sent to a district of Japan that has been taken over by androids that have gone mad and look more like robots from Terminator than friendly citizens. Blasting the legs off and watching them crawl towards the party is terrifying, but also incredibly cool.
The vibes are in full swing in this shooter, and there's also a cool gimmick involving bonding with teammates during missions to promote cooperation. There's no modern version of the game, but it's on Steam and backwards compatible at least on Xbox systems, which is better than some of those forgotten Sega classics.
Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure
Stealth The Night Away
The game is in the name Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasurebecause it is a unique stealth game that uses rhythm mechanics. It may seem like an odd combo, but it works very well for this wonderful 3DS game that remains hidden from the world right now.
As young thieves, players will go through various missions, tapping to the beat of the music with the stylus or any number of buttons. In one stage, players could sneak through a museum and hide behind furniture while avoiding guards on the hunt, and in another, players could run across rooftops to escape from a prison and avoid jazz obstacles.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan!
Yakuza goes to ancient Japan
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Developer: New Entertainment R&D Dept.
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Publisher: Sega
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Released: March 6, 2008 (Japan)
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Platform: PS3
Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!roughly translated into Like when a dragon flies!was the first Yakuza a spinoff set in the samurai era, specifically in the 1600s. They used some of the same characters from the main series, such as Kazuma Kiryu, but portrayed the historical characters as if they were playing an elaborate game.
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The combat is practically identical to the main games, just with a lot more swordplay, and it's great. The West finally got its sequel, Like a dragon: Ishin!so maybe the west can enjoy this ps3 game one day since it was never officially exported.
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Steampunk Egg-Based Moths
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is an alternate history RPG set in New York in the 1920s. This steampunk version of the city focuses on a group of female mech pilots who are trained by player Shinjiro Taiga. Tactical mech battles were only part of the game as it was also a dating sim where players had very strict time limits on how long they had to answer a question from one of the female cadets.
It's a bit of a campy and very over-the-top anime, but the characters were well written and the mech battles were engaging enough. Neither is currently available between the PS2 and Wii versions.
Sonic Rush
A forgotten portable era
The portable era Sound games are something that is completely overshadowed, which is a shame. While 3D games missed more than they hit during the GBA and DS eras, Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush games on those consoles thrived, or
Sonic Rush they made good use of the DS like you start in a loop on the bottom screen and have that loop stretch to the top screen. With tons of characters and inventive levels, it was perfect 2D Sound experience since the Sega Genesis. Like all portables Sound games, Sonic Rush remains unanswered.
Space Channel 5
You got it, Ulala
Space Channel 5 is another music rhythm game from Sega, but this one is much more classic. Ulala is an ace reporter for a galactic news channel who was also investigating an alien race trying to make the galaxy dance to the beat of their drum.
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Players would be given instructions and then have to follow them to a beat, which involved blasting beams or just copying dance moves back at the aliens to defeat them. It's goofy, over the top, and the music is excellent, especially the spine-chilling final battle. Fans know exactly why and can relate. It's now sadly a bit lost to time, along with its equally brilliant sequel.
Writing of the dead
Learning through zombies
Writing of the dead it was released first in arcades and then eventually on the Dreamcast and PC systems. It was a spinoff from House of the deadSega's classic light-on-rails series that flourished in the arcade era. Instead of shooting zombies, players had to quickly type words on the screen.
It wasn't exactly an educational game as it was still fun and bloody. It might not sound as cool as using plastic guns, but words are powerful too. Just ask the zombies. There's a modern game to try out on Steam called The Typing of the Dead: Overkillbut unfortunately it's not the original.
Valkyrie Chronicles 2
Learning the Art of War
Chronicles of Valkyrie II
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January 21, 2010
- ESRB
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T for Teens – Blood, Mild Language, Obscene Themes, Violence
When it comes to school RPGs or RPGs revolving around military academies, Persona series a Fire Emblem: Three Houses usually comes to mind. RPG fans may not know this Valkyrie Chronicles 2 also takes place within a military academy.
It's a bit lighter than the other games in the series, and the maps are a bit smaller since it was made for the PSP, but the missions are still incredibly engaging. The combination of real-time strategy and classic tactical combat is excellent, from running for cover and dodging enemy fire to aiming back at the counter. The only downside is that it's stuck on the PSP.
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