Slope’s Game Room: SEGA The Complete History, Vol. 1 Blu-Ray Review - A Fascinating Deep-Dive For All (2024)

SEGA: The Complete History Vol. 1 compiles together ten of the best documentaries based on SEGA’s most iconic franchises to date.

Originally created on the YouTube channel Slope’s Game Room, these ten short films showcase the creation of arcade classics such as Daytona USA, OutRun, Super Hang-on, House of The Dead, After Burner and Space Harrier. Alongside these are nostalgic home console franchises such as Streets of Rage and Altered Beast. Then of course you have the obscure titles such as Congo Bongo and SEAMAN… And why not?

With over 30 million views on YouTube, Slope’s Game Room documentaries have been studied and referenced for the creation of future games in their respective IP’s, and for the first time ever are now released on Blu-ray with updated gameplay and editing.

For thoughts on Slope’s Game Room – SEGA: The Complete History, Vol. 1, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/tgmHjkh1298?si=RFS93gGKdmBL2Gq9&t=859]

Video Quality

SEGA: The Complete History, Vol. 1 comes to Blu-Ray from ETR Media with a terrific high-definition master which presents the material to the full extent of its limitations. This release features 10 short films and bonus features that total over five hours of material. Even with so much material packed on a single disc, the quality remains remarkably high throughout. While it is true these videos have been available on YouTube for years, they have now been updated with better-quality gameplay and editing. In terms of content we never expected to see on Blu-Ray, this ranks very highly, but we could not be more thrilled to be able to own this on our shelves.

This material consists of a mixture of newer talking head bits with DJ Slope along with older gameplay footage, marketing clips, and pictures to help round out the history of each title. The new segments look impeccably sharp and clear with natural skin tones and some detailed facial features. The gameplay footage may be technically dated in terms of graphics, but the material looks fantastic with a crisp image and sumptuous colors. Any older footage seems to be derived from the most stable origins possible. The encoding does not feature much in the way of compression artifacts or digital nuisances of the sort. While this may not be the first title you expect to receive a high-definition physical media release, these short films look terrific on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray disc does not go all out with lossless audio, but it does feature a very good Dolby Digital 2.0 track that delivers all of the sonic information quite capably. This is primarily a voiceover showcase with some gaming sounds accompanying the gameplay footage. Dialogue is the focus up front as you get this carefully prepared presentation relayed in a controlled environment. All competing elements come through with a pleasing fidelity. Without a surround sound presentation, the material is not so immersive, but it is understandable given its origins. There were no unwanted digital anomalies or other issues spotted. This track gets the job done with no complaints. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

• Intros: Each video is given a brief intro from host DJ Slope who gives some background on the video you are about to watch and even some guidance on which order to watch certain entries.

• • Outrun (1:02)

• • Congo Bongo (1:22)

• • Altered Beast (1:10)

• • Daytona USA (0:57)

• • House of the Dead (1:04)

• • Super Hang On (1:09)

• • Seaman (1:28)

• • Streets of Rage (2:16)

• • Space Harrier (1:00)

• • After Burner (1:16)

• Audio Commentaries: Each video is given a solo commentary track from DJ Slope along with a guest commentary track in which the host is joined by another YouTube favorite to give greater context to the video you are watching and further nerd out on why they love these games.

• • Outrun

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Nostalgia Nerd

• • Congo Bongo

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Blast Processing

• • Altered Beast

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with King Monkey

• • Daytona USA

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Mike Tucker

• • House of the Dead

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Oliver Harper

• • Super Hang On

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Kim Justice

• • Seaman

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Jimmy Happa

• • Streets of Rage

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Ashens

• • Space Harrier

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Quang from Asobi Tech

• • After Burner

• • • Solo Commentary (Daniel Ibbertson AKA DJ Slope)

• • • Guest Commentary – DJ Slope with Mr. Thunderwing

• The SEGA Game They Didn’t Want You To Buy: A 13-minute video on localization within different regions of gaming, the strange history of The Ooze and more.

• 4 Terrible and Forgotten SEGA Comics: A 15-minute video that rediscovers four misguided marketing attempts in the early days of SEGA’s history.

• Sonic Team’s Forgotten Love Simulator: A 14-minute video on one of the most bizarre games you will ever hear about.

• SEGA x Bandai – The Merger That Almost Happened: A nearly six-minute video that shows the history behind an epic partnership that very nearly happened.

• SEGA’s Forgotten Rollercoaster: A 15-minute video on the failed theme park attraction that rocked at least a few worlds.

• Streets Of Rage – The Complete History (2014 Edition): An option to watch the 20-minute original version of the Streets of Rage complete history mentioned in the intro of the main video that was completed in the early days of the channel.

• Easter Eggs: Be sure to play around with pressing the directional arrow buttons when hovering over certain listings to get extra content such as videos on the SEGA Super Circuit.

Final Thoughts

SEGA: The Complete History, Vol. 1 is a dream release we did not even think to dream. These films have everything we could possibly want; we love the attention to detail the good folks at Slope’s Game Room pay to make their videos comprehensive as well as supremely entertaining. You do not have to be a video game fan to appreciate the weird and wild behind-the-scenes histories of these individual franchises, as the world is rich with misguided notions and unexpected developments. Yet, if you are a video game fan, you will find yourself in heaven as you learn so much about something you thought you already knew from top to bottom. ETR Media has released a Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation and some can’t-miss special features. Highly Recommended

Slope’s Game Room – SEGA: The Complete History, Vol. 1 is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: ETR Media & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.