Segaiden

This debut episode is a little of both, intersecting with one of SEGA's most important creations ever and developer M2's attempt to pay it tribute with a new remaster for Nintendo Switch. OOPS! Housekeeping notes on things I misremembered or misspoke on: SEGA Ages for Saturn also included arcade games; some of the tragic 3D Ages games did come to the U.S. in a heartwrenching compilation for PS2; and M2 became involved in the SEGA 3D Ages 2500 line with Vol. 20, not Vol. 2. D'oh.

SEGA Ages on Switch proves its mettle with its second debut title, a conversion of the crown jewel of SEGA's recently acquired Technosoft catalog. It's Thunder Force IV, or as people without the good sense to talk to a copy editor before reprogramming complex title graphics know it, Lightening Force. Wonky name aside, it's pretty great.