TGS 2005: SDI & Quartet Sega System 16 Collection Hands-On

TOKYO-On the PlayStation 2, the Sega Ages series has manifested itself as a budget-priced line of almost universally awful polygonal remakes of Sega's classic arcade games. But at the Tokyo Game Show 2005, Sega is showing off a couple of games that appear to be taking the series back in the right direction. One of them is a duo pack of SDI and Quartet, two System 16-powered arcade games that were released in the '80s. Both games were also ported to the Sega Mark III, Japan's version of the Sega Master System. These home versions have also been included.

Unlike all the other remakes, these games appear to be emulated off the original hardware. SDI is a shooter that puts you in control of a satellite, and it almost has a Missile Command-like feel. The arcade version of the game can even be played with a USB mouse, if available. Quartet is a side-scrolling shooter for up to four players. The goal here is to make your way through each level, shooting down everything that gets in your way. Quartet II, which didn't make too many changes to the original game, is also present.

With all of the arcade options and multiple versions of each game available, this package seems like an interesting collection for fans of either game. The compilation will be released in Japan on October 27.