Monday 26 November 2007

Sega ages 2500 Vol. 26: Dynamite Deka


I guess by now you all already noticed that I'm totally addicted to the Sega Ages 2500 games (BTW, notice how "ages" is "sega" spelled backwards...), specially when it comes to Saturn ports or better, remakes. This is the case with Dynamite Deka, known as Die Hard Arcade outside Japan due to the similarities between the game and the movie. Here's an awesome review I found on the internets:

"Wow. This is how you enhance an old game. Unlike the Panzer Dragoon port, which only looks marginally better, the PS2 version of Dynamite Deka looks almost completely different. Revamped character models, completely new textures, lighting effects - although it looks much darker than the original, it's almost as good as its sequel on the Dreamcast (known simply as Dynamite Cop in Western territories.) You can play the game with the Saturn graphics if you want too. Furthermore, there's a ton of additional modes, including an Easy Mode (double life bars for your characters and weakened enemies), One Hit Kill mode, Arrest mode, and Deadline mode (you have unlimited health but are under a strict time limit.) Altered Beast mode turns the main characters into two monsters - a Wolf Man and Bird Woman - from the classic Sega arcade game. You only have one credit in this mode, and while your life is constantly draining, enemies constantly drop little life power-ups. There's a ton of different variations in these modes, including slightly different weapons (the spray can becomes an air horn, for example.)


Easy mode allows the characters to dress up as Ax Battler and Tyris Flare from another classic Sega game, Golden Axe. The third stage boss, the huge football player dude, has been changed into Death Adder. This whole fight includes a ton of Golden Axe references - the giant fish in the aquarium has been changed into one of the monsters, and all of the furniture has been changed into statues of different Golden Axe characters. The music has even been changed into the classic first level theme. The other modes allow you to dress up in other different costumes, including characters from the young girl-oriented Sega arcade game Oshare Majou (One Shot Kill Mode) and the manga/anime Sukeban Deka (Deadline Mode). There are even small references to other Sega games like Wing War, Alien Storm and Alien Front Online. In addition to all of this, there's an art gallery and a quick Japanese commercial.

The Saturn version had included an emulation of Deep Scan, an incredibly ancient Sega game where you drop depth charges on submarines in order to earn more credits for the main game. This has been replaced with Periscope, a 3D recreation of an even older Sega coin operated game from 1968, predating most video games. You need to shoot missiles (denoted as blinking light bulbs) at battleships (which were little plastic models in the original version ) It's a fascinating look at Sega's history - I'd almost buy a whole Sega Ages package filled with recreations like this."

Here's some comparison screenshots for those that never played the Saturn version:


Looks good, doesn't it? =)

8 comments:

javihyev said...

i have this.
its beautiful.
and violent.


also, another sega ages that i have and enjoy is last bronx. though i think its a straight port.

also fighting vipers.

NebachadnezzaR said...

Last Bronx has some extra options and, of course, nicer graphics, but other than that it's indeed a straight port (a good one, nonetheless).

fatherkrishna said...

another most excellent find Nebacha! I have the original and it's an awesome game!

This leads me to the pressing need to get my Japanese/American PS2 ass into gear!

Thanks for the kind email BTW, sorry I didn't reply I was too busy organising Mrs. K's surprise 40th birthday party (jeez what a trauma!!!)

I really want this game now and Sega Rally 2006...

why can't things be as simple as they are on the Dreamcast?

NebachadnezzaR said...

I forget to mention that, but this post is actually dedicated to you, since I remembered your enthusiastic review of Die Hard Arcade.

Glad to hear about the mail, I was starting to think that you may had missed it.

Indeed, this would be a better world without region locks and copy protections, but hey, al least the PS2 is fairly easy to mod.

fatherkrishna said...

A post dedicated to me? *Blushes* I'm touched! *FK wells up, tears forming in his eyes...* God I love you Nebacha! Sniff! *Pours Nebacha a large pint of cider and hands him a cigar...*

Do you know? It's a pretty fantastic place we've created here isn't it? And it's nearly our birthday isn't it?

Should we throw a party? Invite all our contributors and blogging buddies? I think we should...

What do you reckon? Do you think... *whispers* Do you think Segata will come down from heaven to join us? LOL! :)

NebachadnezzaR said...

Brilliant idea!

Let's throw a party...Sega style!

I'm not sure Segata will appear in person, but I'm sure he'll at least send a postcard. :D

Animated AF said...

Now if only all these PS2 remakes would make the big prices of the original Saturn versions drop a bit so I could grab those..
Seriously, at this rate the Saturn will have no exclusives left =(

fatherkrishna said...

Gagaman(n)! How wonderful to have you here again! Are you coming to the birthday party?

I know what you mean about the exclusives... I have mixed feelings about the re-releases...

On the one hand my hope was that after playing NiGHTS on the Wii, some people would be investing in Saturns so they could experience the original... thus it's status in the gaming world would rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes...

On the ohter hand, I'm glad to know more people will experience the game and I look forward to the polished graphics. The ones of Die Hard look rather fabulous as nebacha pointed out...