SEGA Forever Is Basically Old SEGA Games On Your Phone, For Free

Remember that Sony executive who came out and questioned why people would want to play old games? Fortunately, SEGA has a completely different view on retro gaming.

Announced this morning, SEGA Forever is basically a compilation of iconic SEGA games from the old SEGA console days. Every game will be released for free on Android and iOS with saves, offline play, leaderboards and bluetooth controller support if you’d prefer a more authentic experience.

Five games have been released under the initiative so far: Comix Zone, the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star II, Altered Beast and Kid Chameleon. The website notes that Virtua Tennis – or what looks like Virtua Tennis, at any rate – will be “coming soon”. But with the entirety of the Master System, Mega Drive and Dreamcast era to pick from, there should be plenty more games available.

The games will have ads and in-app purchases, of course, but you can play the game for eternity with cloud save support without paying a cent. If you want to remove the ads and get local save support, it’ll cost you $2.99 per game. (It’s worth noting that you’ll have to watch an ad every time you want to save, if you go the free-to-play route as well.) I’ve only fired up Sonic and Kid Chameleon so far, but both games handle well with touch controls. And having to deal with an ad here and there isn’t a bad tradeoff for not having to muck around with emulators.

The games are available on iTunes and Google Play right now, with new additions added every fortnight. What SEGA classics would you want to see next? I’m keen on another Virtua Tennis, but Out Run would be neat. Hell, I’d take the original Phantasy Star Online, if that’s not impossible.


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