Jeremy Parish

Segaiden 64: Thunder Blade & Blade Eagle 3-D (Patreon)

Published:

2024-08-07 12:03:09

Imported:

2026-06

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Content

First, let me offer an apology to everyone who is here for exclusive bonus content—I've been remiss on those uploads the past few weeks. Life has been hectic to say the least, and I've been struggling just to get these weekly videos completed in time. Once I make it to the other side of Long Island Retro Expo this coming weekend (assuming the incoming hurricane doesn't keep me grounded, given that the storm center is scheduled to arrive here about five hours before my flight on Friday), I will get things back on track! And then some!

Also, I will say that anyone who subscribes to a "physical book" tier through next spring beginning this month will be very, very rewarded for their support. More news on that later this month.

As for this episode: You'd better believe I fudged chronology in order to bring these two games together. They're both called "Blade"! But even more than that, both share a common goal of trying to create a cool 3-D experience that doesn't quite pan out. The underlying theme of this episode is that Sega really can't achieve its ambitious arcade-to-home pipeline on this hardware anymore. Seems bad! Are Sega's console dreams doomed?! Oh no!!

Files

Previews only

I studied the ’Blades: Thunder Blade & Blade Eagle 3-D | Segaiden 064

This episode brings us two brave attempts by the Master System development cadre to create visually spectacular gaming experiences despite the fact that the console just didn't have enough juice under the hood to realize those aspirations. Sega promised arcade-quality experiences at home, but the gulf between their arcade tech and the Master System's aging architecture has really begun to make itself felt at this point. To their credit, the unnamed and uncredited programmers and designers laboring to create the Master System library give it their best shot here! They change up some fundamental elements of Thunder Blade to better fit the console space, adding new patterns and behaviors for enemies while redefining the basic scroll behavior of the action. I don't know that those revisions work, but you can at least respect the effort. And Blade Eagle 3-D... well, it's a 3-D game. But did it NEED to be 3-D? Out of all the 3-D "SuperScope" games, this one probably could have used a hidden 2-D mode most of all... but it lacks one. As the Roblox kids say, oof. Production notes: Why watch when you can read? All 420 full-color pages of SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I are now in print at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books). You can also grab the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works as well. Look for NES Works Gaiden Vol. I and Master System Works Vol. I in 2024-25. Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Master System footage captured from U.S. carts running through a cart adapter on Japanese Master System hardware and MiSTer (thanks to MiSTerAddOns). Video upscaled to 4K with RetroTink 4K. RGB cables courtesy of StoneAgeGamer.com and Allie Bellrose.