Tag: Sega - Page 27
Video Thirty Glorious Minutes Of Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict
Yet another excellent but untranslated Sega RPG hits Japan
The last Game Gear Shining Force game, Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict takes place in between the mainline Genesis / Mega Drive titles Shining Force I and II and — as you'd expect — features many, many, fan-pleasing plot threads, characters and general references to the events in...
Weirdness Alex Kidd Infiltrates The Legend Of Zelda, With Disastrous Results
Crossover chaos
Before Sonic the Hedgehog sped onto the scene, Alex Kidd was Sega's undisputed mascot, appearing in a host of Master System adventures — as well as a single 16-bit outing — and attempting to challenge Nintendo's Mario in the sphere of platforming goodness. Since being ousted by the blue hedgehog, Alex Kidd has wandered in the...
Remake Request Shining The Holy Ark
Why Sega's Saturn dungeon crawler would be perfect for a 3DS remaster
While Shining Force continues to entertain players in some form or another with its own brand of deep tactical gameplay, it's worth remembering that the Shining line of games didn't begin life on a grid-based battlefield. The first instalment — Shining in the Darkness — was a...
First Impressions 3D After Burner II
GET READY!
Japanese code-shop M2’s range of Sega 3D Classics consistently puts everyone else’s retro remaster efforts in the shade, and the time we've spent with the Japanese version of 3D After Burner II yet again shows that the studio simply cannot be beaten when it comes to getting an arcade-accurate port running smoothly on the relatively...
Matters Of Import Conflict Is Always On The Cards In Sega's Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Like Magic the Gathering and Dynasty Warriors after a stint in a blender
Sangokushi Taisen is a long-running and popular series in Japanese arcades, its initially strange mix of collectable trading cards and real-time strategy turning out to not only be incredibly good fun but also commercially successful; it has spawning multiple sequels,...
News Shenmue's Ryo Hazuki Is Speeding Towards Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
"I see"
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was one of the true gems of the Wii U's early software line-up, and until Mario Kart 8 crosses the finish line and hits store shelves it remains one of the console's best racers. After a leaked reveal on Yogscast a short time ago, Sega has been tweeting various images over the fes
Review 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (3DS eShop)
Much more than an Average Joe
In many ways, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master represents Sega at its very best. It boasts lush visuals, excellent music and a surprisingly versatile lead character, all wrapped up in a game which practically screams action and excitement. Launched at a time when the Mega Drive was really beginning to hit its...
Weirdness Show Your Loved One You Care This Christmas With Phantasy Star
Tyler "Christmas Sega Kid" Esposito provides some sound advice
Tyler Esposito — the lucky scamp you saw in that heart-warming compilation of Sega-released Christmas footage — is of course all grown up now, but that doesn't mean he has lost his adoration for the Japanese video game veteran. Esposito dropped us a line to let us know about another...
Review 3D Ecco The Dolphin (3DS eShop)
A bit grim beneath the surface
Ecco the Dolphin has always been something of an oddity. At the time of release, the Mega Drive / Genesis platform was defined by its solid arcade ports and action-packed titles such as Golden Axe and Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, so when a dolphin-based adventure came along it was a totally original concept for players to take...
Review 3D Streets of Rage (3DS eShop)
Street smart
When Nintendo secured the domestic conversion of Capcom's Final Fight for its newly-launched SNES console way back at the dawn of the '90s, it left many Sega fans utterly distraught. Cody, Haggar and Guy's coin-op escapade was the hottest ticket in arcades at a time when the side-scrolling fighter was very much the genre of choice...
Feature 10 Sega Titles We'd Like To See Reborn As 3D Classics
M2, please take note
Sega's range of 3D Classics has finally hit the west, and with the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Harrier, Super Hang-On and Galaxy Force II already thrilling 3DS owners, this fine selection of reheated vintage legends proves beyond all doubt that good, old-fashioned gamepl
Matters Of Import Shining Force Feather
We take a look at Sega's Japan-only DS strategy RPG
Sega's Shining Force series is still well thought of, even if the PS2 instalments arguably got off on the wrong foot by drastically rewriting series canon and deviating from the strategic gameplay found in older titles. Evidently someone was buying these games anyway, as after four entries on the...
News This Video Brings Back Festive Sega Memories of the '90s
When new games dominated letters to Santa
We suspect many know what we mean when referencing "the Nintendo 64 kids", a short video that showed the excitement that a new games console could prompt on Christmas Day. Naturally a games console is for life — or at least a generation — and there are plenty of Holiday seasons when games for our...
Review 3D Galaxy Force II (3DS eShop)
A sense of Super Scale
Galaxy Force II has something of a bad reputation with many players, purely because the domestic ports of the game which followed the arcade release way back in 1988 were, by and large, abysmal. Many fans base their opinion of this on-rails space shooter on the Mega Drive / Genesis version, which was downright unplayable...
News 3D After Burner II Is Jetting Towards The Japanese 3DS eShop
Missiles locked on
Take a moment to reflect on the gaming days of yesteryear, and no doubt there’ll be some fond memories of Sega’s jet fighter classic, After Burner. Originally released in 1987 — and following on from Sega’s equally successful arcade racer Out Run in 1986 — After Burner placed the player in the seat of an F-14 Tomcat...
Video Learn Some Sega History in Just One Minute
Right up to the Genesis / Mega Drive era
After the VGX shenanigans absorbed far too lengthy a period of our lives this weekend, perhaps a snappier, more to-the-point video is needed. This will work nicely, in that case, as it's a history of Sega's early days in just over a minute. While we've had plenty of opportunity to learn about Nintendo's...
News M2 Developed a "Virtual" Sega Console for 3D Sonic the Hedgehog
We want a "GigaDrive"
Just last week we shared details from an interview with M2 President Naoki Horii and SEGA CS3 Yosuke Okunari that revealed some of the challenges in producing 3D Space Harrier, making it clear that producing a 3D remaster of the arcade classic wasn't a simple process. With 3D Sonic the Hedgehog arriving in Europe and North...
News SEGA Working on Second Round of 3D Classics
May come worldwide if the first set sells well
This week saw the arrival of the first two titles in SEGA's range of 3D re-releases on the 3DS eShop, with 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On. There are another six games coming in the next three weeks to give retro SEGA fans — and perhaps those trying them for the first time — a taste of...
Sega went and got itself some RPGs
Fans of popular Atlus games like Shin Megami Tensei IV and Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan can start to turn that sigh of defeat into a sigh of relief. In mid-September, SEGA Sammy Holdings obtained Atlus's parent company, Index Corporation, after Index was forced to declare bankruptcy — an event that...
News Mega Drive: Collected Works To Include Input From Creators Of Ecco, Comix Zone And Vectorman
US developers on-board for the definitive history of Sega's 16-bitter
We recently reported on the Kickstarter campaign for Sega Mega Drive / Genesis: Collected Works, and are happy to report that the project has already passed its initial funding goal of £30,000. However, Read-Only Memory founder Darren Wall has gotten in
News Publisher Read-Only Memory Is Creating The Ultimate Retrospective On Sega's Mega Drive
Or the Genesis, if you're American
We recently investigated Read-Only Memory's excellent Sensible Software 1986–1999, a book which uncovers the history of one of Britain's most iconic games studios. Now, the publisher is back with another Kickstarter campaign, and this time it's Sega's legendary 16-bit console which is the main focus.
Review Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (Wii U)
Back on the slopes and going nowhere fast
Unless you’re an enthusiast or currently living in Sochi (that’s in Russia, by the way), there’s a good chance you aren't aware that the Winter Olympics are almost upon us. Yes, it’s time for all your favourite winter sports to hit the screens again; sports such as skiing, skiing off a cliff,...
News SEGA Confirms Western Release Dates and Details of 3D Classics Range
Rejoice, retro fans!
We've been aware of the 3D range of retro remakes from SEGA for a good while, splashing the cash on our Japanese unit while waiting for their eventual localisation. Of course, that's not an option for everyone, so the pleasing news is that SEGA has now confirmed release details for both Europe and North America, with a total of...
News Sega's Most Successful Console Is 25 Years Old Today
Happy birthday, Mega Drive
A quarter of the century ago, Sega released its most successful console. The Mega Drive hit Japanese retailers on October 29th, 1988 and would go on to sell an estimated 40 million units globally. Known in North America as the Genesis, the system was the first to genuinely challenge the supremacy of Nintendo's NES, and the...
News Sega Genesis Owners Very Nearly Missed Out On Treasure's Gunstar Heroes
Sega of America almost passed on the legendary run-and-gun title
Localising Japanese games for western release is a costly process, and even today we still see a lot of titles remaining Japan exclusives and therefore tantalisingly out of reach. Back in the '90s it was very much the same deal, with many amazing 16-bit games failing to make the jump...
News SEGA's Retro Remakes Down to Fans for "Next Lineup"
Europe and North America still awaits retro 3D series on the eShop
While now a software developer and publisher with other major interests in entertainment such as Pachinko machines in Japan, for some SEGA will always be the hardware and arcade company that brought joy to their early gaming years. It's a strong legacy, and the company often shows a...
Feature A Supersonic History of Sonic Cartoons
I’m waaaaiiiiting...
For anyone growing up in the early nineties, there was one gaming rivalry that dwarfed all others – Nintendo vs SEGA. While the feud gave us classic moments such as “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” and the infamous Genesis ‘blast processing’, this gaming cold war would split playgrounds and even families over who...
Video You've Got To Be Quick To Catch This Sonic Lost World Footage
The Blue Blur doesn't hang around
Today sees the release of Sonic Lost World, and if you've already checked out our review of the Wii U version you may be keen to see the title in motion before making a purchase. Rest easy — we can fix that for you. Below you'll see three of the game's levels in motion, hopefully giving you a pretty decent...
Review Sonic Lost World (Wii U)
Sonic gets lost in his own world
It's tough being Sonic. Every new release starring the mascot comes with a significant weight of expectancy, and the evolution from his 16-bit 2D heights to a current-day franchise hasn't always been straight-forward or successful. His home console exploits have been showing positive trends, however, with Sonic...
Smaller screens, bigger problems
Due to the disparity between technical capabilities, it's tough for a dual Wii U / 3DS release to hold up on the portable device that's captivated tens of millions of gamers. So let's just toss that comparison aside and acknowledge that much of the 3DS iteration of Sonic Lost World is following the same principles...
Feature Last Night A Hedgehog Saved My Life
Damien McFerran recalls his once ardent love for Sega's Sonic
This week sees the launch of Sonic Lost World on Wii U and 3DS. Two of the most anticipated Sonic games in years, these new instalments have been subject to the usual level of hype which seems to surround any new adventure starring Sega's popular mascot. I've been swept up in this...
News Mario & Sonic At Sochi 2014 Winter Games Confirmed For November 8th Release In Europe
New modes detailed, too
Nintendo has today confirmed that Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games will launch in Europe on November 8th — the same as the North American release date that was previously revealed and then denied back in September. The game will feature 12 event based on real-life Winter Olympic sports, with another 8...
Interview SEGA On Bringing Sonic Lost World to Wii U and 3DS
Takashi Iizuka tells us about the ambition of Sonic's latest adventure
Gone are the days when Sonic and Mario were in bitter opposition, smack-talking each other in adverts and fighting for the affections of millions of gamers. Now we have cross-overs and Nintendo-system exclusives, with Sonic Lost World arriving on the Wii U and 3DS to continue the...
News Sonic Lost World Producer Admits "There Was a Struggle in 3D Sonic Games"
Takashi Iizuka tells us about moving forward on Wii U and 3DS
With its arrival in Europe this week, SEGA fans are no doubt gearing up to put Sonic Lost World through its paces, either on Wii U or 3DS. The blue blur still has a number of highly dedicated fans, and one guaranteed way to pick a fight online is to make a generic comment along the lines...
News "Small" Number Of Staff Laid Off At Sega Of America
Exact number unknown
It has been confirmed that Sega of America has laid off a number of its staff. VentureBeat has reported that the number of employees affected is "small", but the exact figure is currently unknown. A spokesperson for Sega said: As the gaming industry continues to evolve, companies must adapt and adjust in order to compete and...
News Extra Pre-Order DLC Available for Sonic Lost World on Wii U
Bonuses for UK and North America
Is Sonic Lost World’s Deadly Six Edition not quite enough incentive for you to plunk down for a pre-order, or are you just always on the lookout for more stuff? Depending on where you go, you can get some extra in-game goodies on top of the extra NiGHTS-inspired play. For UK consumers, ShopTo is offering codes
News Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games May Not Be Competing on 8th November After All
Nintendo says the eShop notification was an error
Earlier this week it appeared the upcoming Wii U title Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games was given a release date, as a notification on the system in North America stated it would be sliding in on 8th November. However, in a dramatic twist it seems this was in fact an error as...
News SEGA Unleashes a Plethora of Sonic Lost World Screens
And yes, that includes 3DS screens
With its release now roughly a month away, SEGA is ramping up the presence of the upcoming Sonic Lost World on Wii U and 3DS. This week we've already learned more about the design ideas for Sonic's parkour moves, and even the eShop file sizes; SEGA's now followed up wit
News SEGA: Sonic Titles Perform "Really, Really Well on Nintendo Platforms"
The design philosophy behind parkour controls is explained
Amidst a sizeable contingent of first party software this Holiday season, the arrival of Sonic Lost World on the Wii U and 3DS is certainly a cause for some third-party optimism. Our own first impressions were full of praise, and we're hopeful that the final product will deliver on the...
News Atlus Reaches Out to Fans Regarding Acquisition by Sega
“Sega understands our drive to achieve quality”
With news that Sega Sammy has acquired Atlus’s parent company, Index still being freshly digested by many, Atlus President and CEO Naota Hiraoka has released a statement addressed to the company’s fans and customers. Hiraoka gives a brief recap of Index’s troubles and how Atlus will continue...
News Sega Sammy Acquires Atlus Parent Company Index For 14 Billion Yen
Reports suggest purchase will take place in November
UPDATE: It's now been confirmed that SEGA — or rather a part of the company called Sega Dream Corporation — has indeed bought Atlus. It's anticipated that the deal will be wrapped up by 1st November, and the following was in the press release. The Company believes that transfer of Index's...
Video 3D Streets Of Rage's "One Punch" Mode Is Surprisingly Entertaining
Perfect for newbies, too
3D Streets of Rage has just hit the Japanese 3DS eShop — where it's known by the Japanese title of 3D Bare Knuckle — and it features a mode where your character can kill enemies with a single punch. While this makes the game incredibly easy, it doesn't remove any of the enjoyment — in fact, it's surprisingly addictive...
News Check out SEGA Australia's Impressive Golden Axe Remake
Unfortunately, it and the studio got the chop
Wii U owners could have potentially been enjoying a glorious remake of arcade hack 'n' slash classic Golden Axe had SEGA Studios Australia got its own way. A recently released video shows a pre-alpha prototype of the game, which the studio had been working on at one point. Surprisingly realised for a...
Weirdness SEGA Employee Has a Bad Day, Says Bayonetta 1 & 2 Are Almost "Exactly the Same"
Probably not the official company line
Update: A SEGA of America employee has now reportedly taken to NeoGaf with a one-line statement back-tracking on the SEGA customer services rep reported below. The information provided is not accurate and we apologize for any confusion. Bayonetta 2 is an entirely new game. Of course, everyone already knew...
News 3D Streets Of Rage Will Come With One Hit Deathblow Mode
Bare Knuckle becomes Fist of the North Star?
Sega's 3D Classics range — which has so far only seen the light of day in Japan but is due to hit the west soon — is a selection of the company's past titles adapted for the 3DS console's auto-stereoscopic display. In the games released so far, Sega has made other enhancements — such as extra game...
News SEGA Reportedly Interested in Acquiring Atlus' Parent Company
Around 20 companies are looking to bid
In June Atlus' Parent Company, Index Holdings announced it had unfortunately fallen into some financial difficulties and entered what is known as "civil rehabilitation proceedings" in Japan - essentially bankruptcy - in order to resolve its debt problems. The company reportedly stated it would be willing to...
News SEGA Reveals Jump in Profits in Q2 Results
Boxed sales witness a slowdown, while digital performs well
SEGA has released its financial results for the second quarter of 2013, revealing a massive 408 percent leap in profits. The company recorded a 12.9 billion yen ($131.8 million/ £87 million/ €99.4 million ) profit between 1st April and 30th June, compared to the 2.5 billion yen ($25.8...
News SEGA Is Hoping To Win Back Platforming Fans With Sonic Lost World
Less speed, more platforming
Back in May this year, Nintendo announced a worldwide partnership with SEGA, along with a brand new Sonic the Hedgehog title coming exclusively to the Wii U and 3DS: Sonic Lost World. In the August issue of Official Nintendo Magazine, head
News Sonic Lost World Has a Casino Stage, And it Looks Kind of Fun
Addicted to the slots
Sonic Lost World is a title that's starting to shape up rather nicely, particularly with plenty of footage and images emerging for the Wii U version; while Sonic fans have every right to be cautious of the blue blur in a 3D game, early impressions have generally been positive. The title has been on show at Comic-Con in San...
News Nintendo Direct Mini Reveals SEGA 3D Classics on the Way to Europe
North America too!
Update: As spotted by gonintendo, SEGA has now confirmed in its blog that these titles are "coming soon" to both Europe and North America, after the titles were originally confirmed in the European Nintendo Direct. Original Article: We reported back in May this year
