Well, it came out toward the latter part of the Genesis’s lifespan and the Saturn did not yet have a proper Sonic game to merit pouring the resources into a Ristar title.
Yeah, I know of Ristar because of Mega Collection and using Action Replay to have it unlocked. Its a good game, though never fully played through it. Ristar also made an appearance in Death Egg in Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing, and as the flagman at the start line/finish line in Sonic & All-Star Racing Transformed. Just unfortunate about being there at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did also get a smartphone release as part of SEGA Forever for the Google Play Store, and also assuming App Store for iOS too. It's also on Mega Drive Classics/Genesis Classics for Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Steam.
With all the retro revival titles that came out for XBLA, PSN, Wiiware and app stores in the early 2010's, I'm very surprised Ristar wasn't one of them. They made an HD Rocket Knight game back then. Anything was possible.
If I remember correctly, Ristar's creators were working on sketches for a sequel almost immediately after the game launched, but the higher-ups quickly cancelled the project on Its early stages in favour of redirecting efforts and resources to other games in the Saturn like Nights or the cancelled Sonic X-treme
Im literally obsessed with ristar on a gaming sense and artistic sense, when i saw the trailer that revealed sega was reviving a bunch of their old IP's and ristar wasnt there i literally went apeshit
When i was a kid i used to play this game non-stop using an emulator called Gens (around 2003/2004) with my sister. Hearing these soundtracks (especially the level transition and the ending ones) is always an extraordinarily nostalgic feeling for me! This game is just pure magic,and I'm so glad i was not the only one who found it's soundtracks exceptional!
I do think another neat thing to mention is that Japan System House, the developers who made the game gear port of Ristar, actually got to make a decent part of the game entirely original, which is why the second world is pirate themed with a completely different boss unlike anything in the Genesis version same goes for the second to last world. Both the Game Gear and Genesis teams worked fairly closely with one another and shared prototypes during development. Something like this is incredibly sweet, usually most handheld porting teams wouldn't have too much passion and just mostly downscale the original Genesis version and the main developers wouldn't notice their work since they would have already moved on due to the porting work being done well after the original game, but here it worked out really well.
Fun Fact: Ristar 2 Was About Half Way Finished On The Game Gear But Was Cancelled Due To The Game Gear’s Commercial Failure And The Game Not Selling Well
@@ScatterbrainPete The game originally had a sequel but was cancelled. “The game was going to get a sequel with extra playable characters that would use different body parts, but it was cancelled due to the game not selling many copies, mainly due to the game being released when the Genesis was about to be discontinued and the Saturn was being released in the west.” It’s From The Epic Games Wiki Epic Games Wiki
The Ristar and Kirby comparison is interesting because when you think about it, Ristar did Milky Way Wishes before Kirby Super Star even came out, there more than regional differences they share in common, they both sort of have child-like personalities but know they must save their galaxy or home planet from evil and when to get serious😠
Yeah, someone else in the comments brought up that Ristar could've been "Sega's Kirby," and when I stop to think about it, it does make a whole lot of sense.
Yeah they're both star childs who fought against two evil royal members (Dedede is moreso redeemed but still the guy stole all of the food in Dream Land)
ring rink is probably my favorite video game song of all time. the soundtrack in general is just incredible, honestly better than any classic sonic game. and I absolutely love classic sonic music.
Excellent analysis! Ristar is one of my favourite games on the Mega Drive alongside Dynamite Headdy! It's nice to see people celebrating the existance of this gem of a game! :D
I love Ristar with my heart, it might be my favorite Genesis game or at least top 3 With the recent revivals of Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Shinobbi, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage which made me all really happy, the series I most wait to get a new game are Billy Hatcher, NiGHTS into Dreams and Ristar, I love those series a whole lot, I'm someone who loves a good chunk of SEGA IPs, but besides Sonic those 3 might be on my top 5, NiGHTS 3, Ristar 2 and Billy Hatcher 2 are something I really wish they'll do in this new era
I am amazed that people are still doing Ristar reviews today! I am glad to see fans are still talking about it. This is my favourite platforming games, I played it first when I was around nine years old and I loved this game ever since. Only managed to beat it after I was twelve. Part of me wants to see a sequel, but I fear Sega is not cut for this, they had too many wrong decisions that I just fear they will ruin this gem with an awful game that has none of the charm of the original. Maybe I am too cynical, I really want to see more of this unique world and of this amazing character.
Ristar was one of the first video games I ever played, back when I was about 4 years old in 1996. Such a beautiful game, it should have been Sega's Kirby I prefer the Japanese version, I like the Star Goddess and that he smiles during regular levels instead of scowling
Quite the good review. Didn't know about the noticeable changes between region version tho! A real shame it came out right when the 5th gen consoles hit the store shelves.
3:34 Some real Freedom Planet vibes there, as Lilac the Dragon's trademark move is her flying around like that. Freedom Planet being a fangame that went commercial, and having a ton of Sonic ism's (and apparently some Ristar ism's too). As for the music, a LOT of Sonic romhacks borrow music from Ristar. Almost every romhack is bound to have at least 1 music from this game (if not just have 80% of their music from Ristar xD). That "Come on!" from the stage clear jingle is pretty cute 😃
Yeah, regardless of what my personal preference may be, I try to go with the "official" pronunciations as much as possible for the sake of objectivity. My opinions are one thing, but when it comes to being informative, I think it's important to do that kind of research. (Which means, yes, Tee-dus it is.)
Something that might work as a way to get more out of the character if SEGA doesn't have faith in a standalone game's ability to sell would be to do a crossover with Sonic. Think something like Sonic Generations, but with all original stages and instead of Classic Sonic you get Ristar stages. The game would almost certainly sell well due to the Sonic IP and would be a chance for SEGA to test out the public opinion on Ristar as a character and gameplay style while simultaneously paying homage to their own company history. This would also be kind of perfect, as it would be a coming together of the original gameplay concept for Sonic and what he's turned into since.
Bro i absoloutely love ristar, its a shame it wasn't able to become a fully fledged franchise or at least get a sequel of some kind, this game had so much potential ngl :(
I think it's unlikely since Evening Star went off to make their own original game with Penny's Big Breakaway, but it's something I'd love to see anyways if it were possible.
Loved this game, I have no idea how it never came back.
Well, it came out toward the latter part of the Genesis’s lifespan and the Saturn did not yet have a proper Sonic game to merit pouring the resources into a Ristar title.
@@ArkVogel yea but ya know, it was on Sonic Mega Collection, so it could have found a home on the gamecube or something.
Yeah, I know of Ristar because of Mega Collection and using Action Replay to have it unlocked. Its a good game, though never fully played through it. Ristar also made an appearance in Death Egg in Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing, and as the flagman at the start line/finish line in Sonic & All-Star Racing Transformed. Just unfortunate about being there at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did also get a smartphone release as part of SEGA Forever for the Google Play Store, and also assuming App Store for iOS too. It's also on Mega Drive Classics/Genesis Classics for Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Steam.
With all the retro revival titles that came out for XBLA, PSN, Wiiware and app stores in the early 2010's, I'm very surprised Ristar wasn't one of them. They made an HD Rocket Knight game back then. Anything was possible.
did you try out the game gear version? is also amazing!
If I remember correctly, Ristar's creators were working on sketches for a sequel almost immediately after the game launched, but the higher-ups quickly cancelled the project on Its early stages in favour of redirecting efforts and resources to other games in the Saturn like Nights or the cancelled Sonic X-treme
Im literally obsessed with ristar on a gaming sense and artistic sense, when i saw the trailer that revealed sega was reviving a bunch of their old IP's and ristar wasnt there i literally went apeshit
Ristar MUST have a sequel
I've been planning to make one, so you might be in luck!
When i was a kid i used to play this game non-stop using an emulator called Gens (around 2003/2004) with my sister.
Hearing these soundtracks (especially the level transition and the ending ones) is always an extraordinarily nostalgic feeling for me!
This game is just pure magic,and I'm so glad i was not the only one who found it's soundtracks exceptional!
Ristar deserves to have a comeback. He’s just so cute & adorable.❤️😍🥰
This guy s literally the most underrated game ever
I do think another neat thing to mention is that Japan System House, the developers who made the game gear port of Ristar, actually got to make a decent part of the game entirely original, which is why the second world is pirate themed with a completely different boss unlike anything in the Genesis version same goes for the second to last world.
Both the Game Gear and Genesis teams worked fairly closely with one another and shared prototypes during development. Something like this is incredibly sweet, usually most handheld porting teams wouldn't have too much passion and just mostly downscale the original Genesis version and the main developers wouldn't notice their work since they would have already moved on due to the porting work being done well after the original game, but here it worked out really well.
That is all really interesting. I regret not looking deeper into the Game Gear version, I've always been curious about it.
Ristar needs the sonic mania treatment
Fun Fact: Ristar 2 Was About Half Way Finished On The Game Gear But Was Cancelled Due To The Game Gear’s Commercial Failure And The Game Not Selling Well
[citation needed]?
Yeah there's no evidence for that.
@@ScatterbrainPete The game originally had a sequel but was cancelled.
“The game was going to get a sequel with extra playable characters that would use different body parts, but it was cancelled due to the game not selling many copies, mainly due to the game being released when the Genesis was about to be discontinued and the Saturn was being released in the west.”
It’s From The Epic Games Wiki
Epic Games Wiki
The Ristar and Kirby comparison is interesting because when you think about it, Ristar did Milky Way Wishes before Kirby Super Star even came out, there more than regional differences they share in common, they both sort of have child-like personalities but know they must save their galaxy or home planet from evil and when to get serious😠
Yeah, someone else in the comments brought up that Ristar could've been "Sega's Kirby," and when I stop to think about it, it does make a whole lot of sense.
Yeah they're both star childs who fought against two evil royal members (Dedede is moreso redeemed but still the guy stole all of the food in Dream Land)
@@WhatchaLookinAt-l4wi think saying Zero is much better
ring rink is probably my favorite video game song of all time. the soundtrack in general is just incredible, honestly better than any classic sonic game. and I absolutely love classic sonic music.
Excellent analysis! Ristar is one of my favourite games on the Mega Drive alongside Dynamite Headdy! It's nice to see people celebrating the existance of this gem of a game! :D
I love Ristar with my heart, it might be my favorite Genesis game or at least top 3
With the recent revivals of Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Shinobbi, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage which made me all really happy, the series I most wait to get a new game are Billy Hatcher, NiGHTS into Dreams and Ristar, I love those series a whole lot, I'm someone who loves a good chunk of SEGA IPs, but besides Sonic those 3 might be on my top 5, NiGHTS 3, Ristar 2 and Billy Hatcher 2 are something I really wish they'll do in this new era
Since mentioned Dynamite Headdy would you ever do a video of that game as well soon?
Such a underrated game
yo i was always so confused about his disappearance, i used to love this guy
this was such a cool surprise in sonic mega collection
3:33-3:38 Sega would eventually do something similar to this concept in Sonic Rush for the Nintendo DS in 2005 as a way to access "Bonus" stages.
Loved this game. Glad it was one of the many inspirations for Spark the electric jester.
Nice video! Well thought out.
I am amazed that people are still doing Ristar reviews today! I am glad to see fans are still talking about it.
This is my favourite platforming games, I played it first when I was around nine years old and I loved this game ever since. Only managed to beat it after I was twelve.
Part of me wants to see a sequel, but I fear Sega is not cut for this, they had too many wrong decisions that I just fear they will ruin this gem with an awful game that has none of the charm of the original. Maybe I am too cynical, I really want to see more of this unique world and of this amazing character.
Ristar was one of the first video games I ever played, back when I was about 4 years old in 1996. Such a beautiful game, it should have been Sega's Kirby
I prefer the Japanese version, I like the Star Goddess and that he smiles during regular levels instead of scowling
Quite the good review. Didn't know about the noticeable changes between region version tho!
A real shame it came out right when the 5th gen consoles hit the store shelves.
3:34 Some real Freedom Planet vibes there, as Lilac the Dragon's trademark move is her flying around like that. Freedom Planet being a fangame that went commercial, and having a ton of Sonic ism's (and apparently some Ristar ism's too).
As for the music, a LOT of Sonic romhacks borrow music from Ristar. Almost every romhack is bound to have at least 1 music from this game (if not just have 80% of their music from Ristar xD).
That "Come on!" from the stage clear jingle is pretty cute 😃
Ristar wins because he is so cute and adorable
We did get Sonic Unleashed’s Werehog which was cool like Ristar
I definitely plan to talk about Sonic Unleashed!
Dying for a new Ristar remake or new game! Would love Tee Lopes on the soundtrack and the team behind Streets of Rage 4 on it!
man, this video is very well done! highly underrated, both the game and the channel
I remember 100% completing this game for the first time on Xbox 360.
Rizz-star vs. Rye-star? Oh dear God, it's the Tee-dus vs. Tye-dus vs. Meg Ryan debate all over again! XD
Yeah, regardless of what my personal preference may be, I try to go with the "official" pronunciations as much as possible for the sake of objectivity. My opinions are one thing, but when it comes to being informative, I think it's important to do that kind of research.
(Which means, yes, Tee-dus it is.)
Something that might work as a way to get more out of the character if SEGA doesn't have faith in a standalone game's ability to sell would be to do a crossover with Sonic. Think something like Sonic Generations, but with all original stages and instead of Classic Sonic you get Ristar stages. The game would almost certainly sell well due to the Sonic IP and would be a chance for SEGA to test out the public opinion on Ristar as a character and gameplay style while simultaneously paying homage to their own company history. This would also be kind of perfect, as it would be a coming together of the original gameplay concept for Sonic and what he's turned into since.
Bro i absoloutely love ristar, its a shame it wasn't able to become a fully fledged franchise or at least get a sequel of some kind, this game had so much potential ngl :(
SEGA makes all sorts of fun secondary mascots only to manage them poorly. Darn.
I know, right? Nights was one of their biggest games of the Saturn era, and it only ever got one half-assed sequel like ten years later.
@@GamingintheAM0801let’s not mention Billy Hatcher lol
Yup! Vector man is another . Like damn I love those games.
You should talk about Dynamite Headdy!
RISTAR MY BABY!!!
Something I noticed is that ristars art takes a lot from its older cousin space harrier.
SEGA PLEASE BRING THIS GAME BACK
bro we *need* sega to remember sonic isn’t the only character they own smh.
ristar deserves at the very least a remake.
Sega needs to bring this back especially since they’re rebooting several older franchises….
I love this game
Any chance the Sonuc Mania team would be up for making a Ristar 2 in a 16-bit $tyle again?
If anyone would be, it'd be them.
I think it's unlikely since Evening Star went off to make their own original game with Penny's Big Breakaway, but it's something I'd love to see anyways if it were possible.
A Ristar sequel with Mania's graphics would be amazing
14:14 you said what i was gonna say
Hey i have a question. What's the music being played during the "Sega in 1995" section of the video?
"Crying World" from the Ristar soundtrack. It's the theme from Planet Automaton, if I'm not mistaken.
We should have gotten a 32x or Saturn Ristar game wtf Sega
They should’ve never changed the Japanese Ending!
if sega can make a remake of Alex Kidd, they can make a sequel to aristarchus AND FINISH IT (i'm looking at you, game gear?)
I always cringe when I hear RyeStar, instead of WristStar or ReeStar. Now if we can settle the hydrawcity debate!
I'm on team Hydro City, myself.