Sega's 3D Ages series for Europe

Fans of Sega's back catalogue can now look forward to the company's 3D Ages games - revised PS2 versions of old arcade and Master System titles with updated and occasionally even 3D visuals - being released in Europe.

Publisher Conspiracy Games has apparently thrashed out a four-year deal with Sega and series developer 3D Ages to release 14 of the updated titles in Europe and North America, five of which are set for Q1 2004: Fantasy Zone, Golden Axe, Monaco GP, Phantasy Star and Space Harrier.

Although we don't know how much the games will cost exactly, they were all sold for 3,000 yen (€23) or thereabouts in Japan (for example, the forthcoming Japanese Ages release of Virtua Racing will go for 2,500 yen (€19) when it is released in February), and European pricing is expected to reflect that.

Other games in the Sega Ages series include Streets of Rage, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star: End of the Millennium, Gain Ground, Bonanza Bros., Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Last Bronx and the aforementioned Virtua Racing. According to Slashdot, Columns and Puzzle&Action are both also listed on the Japanese 3D Ages site.

Although avid Space Harrier fan Phil Campbell picked apart the Ages remake in a recent reader review, for a rounded opinion on the five titles coming to the USA next year, we're going to have to delegate to 1UP, who offer an excellent rundown here.

Expect to hear more on each of them as we steam towards that first slice of the new year...