Here we go, a slightly belated developer special but this time it's time to look at the desert island gems of...
Now, many of AM2's hits spawned or were part of franchises so this instalment of the thread is a highlights reel of the titles AM2 produced that didn't become franchises within their own right.
Entry 01 - Dynamite Dux
Other Formats: Multiple
Released back in 1988, Bin and Pin are tasked with travelling six worlds to save their owner Lucy through real world locations. Using just two buttons for character actions the player can throw a punch to attack in straight or diagonal directions. The characters proved to be inspirations for Bean the Dynamite who later appeared in the Sonic the Fighters and Fighter Megamix games.
Entry 02 - Power Drift
Other Formats: Multiple
This kart racer delivered a similar moulded race experience as several other Sega titles but the key visual difference was the way in which tracks snaked in a roller coaster manner. Most home versions of the game were cut down in some manner except the Saturn and Dreamcast versions that still contain the arcades tilting action.
Entry 03 - Burning Rival
Other Formats: None
AM2#s first fighting game and produced by Yu Suzuki, this was an attempt to cash in on the craze created by Street Fighter II. The game offers the usual method of control and one v one fighting with a focus on close combat.
Entry 04 - Scud Race
Other Formats: None
The arcade racer Dreamcast owners hoped in vain for. AM2's shiny looking arcade racer was the first to use Model 3 and featured four courses. The games DC release was abandoned though the courses from the game exist in some form in a version of Outrun 2 on Xbox. An update was produced by the Model 3 emulator is the only way to play this game in the homes.
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Entry 05 - F355 Challenge
Other Formats: Dreamcast and Playstation 2
This arcade racing sim was a stand out in arcades thanks to its triple screen display and its attempt to bring a simulation experience to arcades. The game offered just one car and aimed to be as realistic a recreation as possible with the current tech. The game was very well received in terms of critical reception but the nature of a limited content simulation stopped the games commercial success in the homes.
Entry 06 - Outtrigger
Other Formats: Dreamcast
Crossing third person with first person action, Outtrigger offered a choice of four players along with a limited set of weaponry in a stage set combat game. The Dreamcast port would increase player support for up to six players.
Entry 07 - Beach Spikers
Other Formats: Gamecube
Building on the foundation of the Virtua sports series, Beach Spikers had players charge their moves in a game of volleyball. Two on two, players could work through Arcade or World Tour modes in the home version and unlock teams and new characters including Ulala from Space Channel 5.
Entry 08 - Border Break
Other Formats: Playstation 4
AM2 moved on to the RingEdge board for this third person mech game that focused on robot battles across networked machines. Teams battle one another to destroy the opposing teams reactor core. Players could communicate with each other via a touch panel and the machine supported data cards to remember your progress.
Entry 09 - Virtua Quest
Other Formats: Gamecube and Playstation 2
This was not the Virtua Fighter RPG fans had imagined since Shenmue first entered development. Instead this was a kids friendly action RPG with players taking on the role of a child in a virtual world trying to hunt data chips that sometimes held data and moves tied to well known Virtua Fighter characters.
Share your thoughts and memories of AM2 as well as its one off titles
Now, many of AM2's hits spawned or were part of franchises so this instalment of the thread is a highlights reel of the titles AM2 produced that didn't become franchises within their own right.
Entry 01 - Dynamite Dux
Other Formats: Multiple
Released back in 1988, Bin and Pin are tasked with travelling six worlds to save their owner Lucy through real world locations. Using just two buttons for character actions the player can throw a punch to attack in straight or diagonal directions. The characters proved to be inspirations for Bean the Dynamite who later appeared in the Sonic the Fighters and Fighter Megamix games.
Entry 02 - Power Drift
Other Formats: Multiple
This kart racer delivered a similar moulded race experience as several other Sega titles but the key visual difference was the way in which tracks snaked in a roller coaster manner. Most home versions of the game were cut down in some manner except the Saturn and Dreamcast versions that still contain the arcades tilting action.
Entry 03 - Burning Rival
Other Formats: None
AM2#s first fighting game and produced by Yu Suzuki, this was an attempt to cash in on the craze created by Street Fighter II. The game offers the usual method of control and one v one fighting with a focus on close combat.
Entry 04 - Scud Race
Other Formats: None
The arcade racer Dreamcast owners hoped in vain for. AM2's shiny looking arcade racer was the first to use Model 3 and featured four courses. The games DC release was abandoned though the courses from the game exist in some form in a version of Outrun 2 on Xbox. An update was produced by the Model 3 emulator is the only way to play this game in the homes.
Entry 05 - F355 Challenge
Other Formats: Dreamcast and Playstation 2
This arcade racing sim was a stand out in arcades thanks to its triple screen display and its attempt to bring a simulation experience to arcades. The game offered just one car and aimed to be as realistic a recreation as possible with the current tech. The game was very well received in terms of critical reception but the nature of a limited content simulation stopped the games commercial success in the homes.
Entry 06 - Outtrigger
Other Formats: Dreamcast
Crossing third person with first person action, Outtrigger offered a choice of four players along with a limited set of weaponry in a stage set combat game. The Dreamcast port would increase player support for up to six players.
Entry 07 - Beach Spikers
Other Formats: Gamecube
Building on the foundation of the Virtua sports series, Beach Spikers had players charge their moves in a game of volleyball. Two on two, players could work through Arcade or World Tour modes in the home version and unlock teams and new characters including Ulala from Space Channel 5.
Entry 08 - Border Break
Other Formats: Playstation 4
AM2 moved on to the RingEdge board for this third person mech game that focused on robot battles across networked machines. Teams battle one another to destroy the opposing teams reactor core. Players could communicate with each other via a touch panel and the machine supported data cards to remember your progress.
Entry 09 - Virtua Quest
Other Formats: Gamecube and Playstation 2
This was not the Virtua Fighter RPG fans had imagined since Shenmue first entered development. Instead this was a kids friendly action RPG with players taking on the role of a child in a virtual world trying to hunt data chips that sometimes held data and moves tied to well known Virtua Fighter characters.
Share your thoughts and memories of AM2 as well as its one off titles
Not so much love for AM2's offerings
Comment