All posts tagged: Sega

Brief Guide to SEGA RPGs

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

  With the latest entry in SEGA’s much beloved Valkyria franchise (video games, anime, manga, music, you name it) recently hitting stores titled Valkyria Revolution, on the Xbox One, PS4, and even Vita, now is as good time as any to really appreciate the deep and rich catalog of RPGs released under the SEGA flag. SEGA may not be the king of video games as it once was in an era gone by, but over the course of its 30+ year existence it has created some of the finest role playing adventures that deserve the same acclaim as any of the best role playing epics by Nintendo and Square-Enix. So here’s a quick and dirty overview of RPG franchises and games by SEGA that are worth any role player’s time. Valkyria First Game: Valkyria Chronicles (2008 / PS3) Most Recent Game: Valkyria Revoluion (2017 / PS4, Xbox One, Vita) Best Game: Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (2016 / PS4)   Shining Force First Game: Shining Force (1993 / Mega Drive) Most Recent Game: Shining Force Feather (2009 / DS) …

Look Alike: Sonic the Hedgehog OVA retrospective

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Between 1994’s excellent Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the SEGA Mega Drive and 1998’s Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast (which marked the Blue Blur’s resurgence in glorious 128 bit 3D), the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise was basically stuck in purgatory for nearly 5 years. The SEGA Saturn almost had a major Sonic title in the infamous Sonic Xtreme, which went through a literal development hell before it got cancelled. The lore on Sonic Xtreme would need its own article honestly. Originally planned for 1996, the cancellation of the title left SEGA and developer Sonic Team literally scrambling. So to fill the years between 1994 and 1998, SEGA gave Sonic fans a series of… consolation prizes if you will. There was Project Sonic on the Saturn comprising of three games: Sonic 3D Flickies’ Island, Sonic R, and finally Sonic Jam. The topic of Project Sonic would need its own article, but let me enlighten you with this in the meantime: you know the developer that makes all those LEGO video games year after year? That very same …

Rumour: Shenmue HD Re-Release Possibly On The Way

Published by Jake McGlone

There are some undeniable facts in this world. You can never have too much of a good thing, nobody actually knows what they’re doing when checking for an avocados ripeness, and when a game garners over 6 million dollars, there is going to be some residual interest. This was the case at E3 2015 when the creator of Shenmue, Yu Suzuki, stole the limelight at the Sony press conference by announcing a Kickstarter for Shenmue 3, in an attempt to spark interest amongst developers and fans alike. Fast forward to today where that spark is now a full fledged forest fire. However, in lieu of thousands of trees being destroyed, there is just a developer chomping at the bits to get behind this momentum. That developer is Sega Europe and it has been revealed that they have registered, at the very least, three domain names related to Shenmue. These include: the vanilla sounding shenmueremastered.com, the 100% NOT a typo shemnuegame.com, and the main character of this article shenmuehd.com. Whilst it is not unheard of for a developer to register domains …

Import Duty: Waku Waku 7 (SEGA Saturn)

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

In an era where Capcom and SNK reigned supreme with 2D fighting games, other developers wanted to have a go at creating something different, but more often than not ended up making something that was kinda like Street Fighter or kinda like The King of Fighters. Among the wealth of fighters that were gracing different platforms and consoles, there was a little game called Waku Waku 7. Back then, it was hard to take Waku Waku 7 seriously as it would be the type of game you’d try once for curiosity’s sake. I had always seen this game around, it got a little bit of exposure thanks to it being a NeoGeo powered title, and back then you couldn’t go wrong with the crisp,detailed 2D that NeoGeo could produce. At most, Waku Waku 7 was a silly looking fighter with not much to offer in terms of roster or content, but years and decades down the road I wish I hadn’t taken games like it for granted. Look at the 2D fighting landscape of 2016, …

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir – Review (PS3)

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is the latest by Vanillaware for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The title is billed as a remaster of the original Odin Sphere which was released for the PlayStation 2 back in 2007 (2008 in PAL territories). To call Odin Sphere Leifthrasir a mere HD remaster of a nearly 9 year old game  is putting it very,very loosely, and it is in fact is a huge disservice to what the game really is. Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is more than just a HD update to suit modern TV resolutions, more than just being the very best version of Odin Sphere (dare I say, perfection), and is more than just an expanded and enhanced re-release. Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is truly a whole new game altogether. In fact, I feel they could have gotten away with calling it Odin Sphere 2 and no one would have argued otherwise. Whether you’re a fan of the original or a sceptical newcomer who is tired of seeing sloppy HD remasters, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir proves to be a truly a one of a kind experience that even …

Import Duty: Princess Crown (SEGA Saturn)

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Vanillaware may have left their mark on the industry with Odin Sphere back in 2007, and once more with Odin Sphere Leifthrasir in 2016, but their first dance happened way back in 1997 when they were an internal studio within Atlus. Princess Crown was technically the debut game of the Atlus team that would eventually become Vanillaware and achieve great success. Princess Crown, however, was more than just their first creation as it even laid the groundwork to the Odin Sphere we all know and love. Princess Crown was released for the SEGA Saturn in Japan back in 1997 and was unfortunately not localised or released anywhere else. It would later receive a port on the PlayStation Portable in 2011 but unfortunately even that never left Japan. Still, if you were looking for a way to try the game then the region-free PSP version is probably the most accessible. Although, as a SEGA Saturn game Princess Crown was a special gem. Right from the opening moments, Princess Crown will feel very familiar to anyone who has …

Take A Look At The Cancelled ‘Akira’ Game for Sega Genesis

Published by Luke Halliday

Ever wondered if there was a planned Sega Genesis video game adaptation of iconic anime film Akira that never quite made it to shelves? Well if you were one of those who did wonder something so obscure yet specific, then you are in luck because footage has leaked of a cancelled Akira game for the Sega Genesis. The footage that has made its way online comes from a grainy recording of gameplay dating back to 1994’s Consumer Electronics Show event (CES). While the footage showcases the Sega Genesis version of Akira, there was also plans for a Super Nintendo and Game Gear version as well. Unfortunately all plans were cancelled after several development staff left the project leaving it to be neglected and ultimately cancelled indefinitely. Have a gander at the Sega Genesis version in the video below. The game looks like it involved a lot of motorcycle riding and not a lot else but hey it was an Akira game! Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Source: Hardcore Gaming …

Import Duty- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Blue Destiny (SEGA Saturn)

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Gundam isn’t a Japanese niche, it’s huge all over the world with the same acclaim and widespread recognition as something like Dragon Ball Z. Whether it’s the anime, manga, or the huge selection of figurines and model kits that get their own dedicated section at Hobby stores, Gundam is a well-known commodity no matter where you are. That being said, fans outside Japan tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to video game adaptations. Over the past few decades, and even now, most of the good Gundam video games almost never leave Japan. We’ve seen a few games show up in local shops over the years, in particular the very undesirable Dynasty Warriors: Gundam spin-off/crossover series. Also at this point, a Dynasty Warriors re-skin is quite possibly the laziest way to make a video game, not to mention that playing as a mech in a Dynasty Warrios game doesn’t even remotely feel like controlling a mech. In fact, Luke Halliday has been trying to give away his copy of Dynasty Warrios: …

Project X Zone 2: Brave New World Hits Australia And New Zealand February 2016

Published by Frank Inglese

Yeah, it’s fine knowing that a game like Project X Zone 2 exists, but what’s better is knowing exactly when you’ll be able to get your hands on it and experience it for yourself. For a while now, us living outside of Japan have had the privilege of being able to witness this upcoming crossover title from afar; watching Japanese trailers, seeing Japanese screenshots, etc. Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia have decided that Aussie (and Kiwi) fans of the new game and it’s wonderfully-developed predecessor deserve to know exactly when they’ll be able to see this game on local shelves. Unfortunately it’s still a while away…but at least we know when to expect it.  Mark it on your calendars, people! The 19th of February, 2016! That’s the official release date for Project X Zone 2: Brave New World across Australia and New Zealand on the Nintendo 3DS, and the day you’ll be ringing your boss pretending to be sick so that you can get the day all to yourself. Sure, you have plenty of time to play …

The Past And The Future Collide – Sega Announces Yakuza: Kiwami and Yakuza 6

Published by Frank Inglese

What could possibly be better than the announcement of a brand-new Yakuza game? How about a complete remake of the original Yakuza game set to be released on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4? Yeah, today is a pretty good day for those of you out there who are fans of the action series. Sega announced today, at the Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia Press Conference, two new titles both of which belong to the long line of Yakuza video games which dates back to 2005 with the release of the very first title in the series. The first is Yakuza 6 which, as you already know, is the latest in the line of numerical Yakuza games which will, once again, follow the crime-riddled story of Kazuma Kiryu. The other announcement, a game titled Yakuza: Kiwami, is the complete remake of the very first Yakuza video game, giving a brand-new definition to the phrase “HD Remake“. While not much is known about Yakuza 6, including overall story and when the game is set to be …

Sega’s Promotional Character Segata Sanshiro Revealed For Project X Zone 2 

Published by Frank Inglese

Here’s a real Japanese pop culture knowledge test, one that I failed, and one that I think will put a smile on your face regardless of whether or not you’re aware of this particular character. In Japan, from 1997 to 1998, there was this television marketing gimmick organised by Sega to advertise their powerful new product of the time; the Sega Saturn. Like many advertising campaigns throughout history, this particular Sega Saturn line of comedic commercials featured a legendary, fictional, Judo master that went by the name Segata Sanshiro who, for that two year period, was essentially the face of the Sega Saturn. This hard-core fighter would travel the land, literally punishing those who would not play the Sega Saturn, as if it was by law. This video game vigilante was seen as one hell of force to be reckoned with, and seemingly the perfect promotional character for the Sega Saturn; a system that, apparently, demanded to be enjoyed. It’s now 2015, and there’s a video game sequel on the way called Project X Zone …

Shenmue III Breaks the Internet and Sets Kickstarter Record, It’s Happening Folks

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Nearly 15 years after the cliffhanger finale of Shenmue II on the Dreamcast (and later Xbox), the fabled sequel that’s been rumored to appear at every E3 conference in the last 15 years is now actually a thing. Shenmue III did show up at E3 this time… there will never be a Dreamcast 2 but there sure as hell is a Shenmue 3 now. Shenmue was never the biggest commercial success during its own time, which is why any chance of the series continuing was pretty much gone because the powers to be simply never saw any money in it. In fact the first two games had production costs so high that sales could barely break even to cover it. If anything Shenmue was ahead of its time, too ambitious and far ahead for gamers to really appreciate it for what it was. That being said, the right time and place for the franchise is quite simply right here and right now. Series creator and industry legend, Yu Suzuki, took the stage at the Sony E3 …

Clash of Characters – Project X Zone 2 Adds Some New Faces

Published by Kane Bugeja

In the ever so popular realm of cross over titles, Project X Zone 2 has recently made it known that a few newbies will be joining the worl blending fray. Well, they’re not newbies per se, in fact they’ve been around for quite some time…just not in the X Zone world. But now they are. Thus, with little to no further ado, I shall list these characters below. SEGA Sakura Wars Sakura Shingujio Gemini Sunrise Streets of Rage Axel Stone CAPCOM Street Fighter Ryu Ken Masters Ace Attorney Phoenix Right Maya Fey Bandai Namco God Eater Ciel Alencon Nana Kazuki Summon Night Aty So there you have it, some new allies to help you fight evil come 2015 (the as of now vague release date for the game). In the mean time, why not enjoy some scenic shots of the nifty locales you are sure to visit on your series hopping quest. Can you guess where they’re from? -30-

First Batch Of Screenshots Released For Project X Zone 2

Published by Frank Inglese

People love crossover titles. This is something I’ve always believed. The fact that Project X Zone is getting a sequel is just another sign that my belief is one that is more concrete than many others. There’s no one on the face of the Earth that doesn’t enjoy a bit of cross series, cross platform, cross generation battling, and anyone that days they don’t like that is a damn liar! Excuse my little rant, I get very passionate when it comes to games like this. Monolith Soft, the company behind the development of the game, have today released the very first batch of screenshots from the upcoming crossover sequel. Looking similar to the original game but sporting some nice new differences, Project X Zone 2: Brave New World looks like it’s going to feature a bunch of new characters from video games not featured at all in the first game. The most noticeable is Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima from Sega’s Yakuza series. Alongside the new characters there are some old favorites like Megaman X, …

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Is Coming To The West!

Published by Frank Inglese

Have you heard of this game, reader?! Surely you have! It’s this amazing crossover fighting game that brings together characters from a whole bunch of different Light Novels, some of which have been adapted into Anime series and others of which have never been released outside of Japan. That doesn’t seem to matter though because Sega has announced that it will definitely be coming to the West sometime this year for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita! You’ll be able to throw  down with characters like Kuroyukihime (Accel World), Kirito (Sword Art Online) and Rentaro (Black Bullet), but I’ll say without a shadow of a doubt that the character I’ll be playing as the most will absolutely be Shizuo from the very popular series “Durarara!!” which has just begun its second season. Though i have no idea who a great deal of these characters are, it doesn’t really matter! “Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax” is both a fighting game and a crossover title so, as long-time readers will know, that’s all I need to be …

Yakuza 0 – Kamurocho/Soutenbori Gameplay Footage Released

Published by Frank Inglese

Sega have today hosted a small raw streaming event wherein which some lucky personalities got a chance to check out the upcoming video game “Yakuza 0”, to be released on the PlayStation 3 and 4, first hand. This new title, serving as a prequel to the entire “Yakuza” series”, will follow a young Kazuma Kiryu and Majima Goro as they go from being petty criminals to becoming two of the most revered Yakuza in fictional history. With updated graphics and a tweaked combat system, “Yakuza 0” is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated games that Western audiences may never get their hands on. Yeah…not many fans of the series out there believe that “Yakuza 0” will be getting a release outside of Japan but I’d like to stay hopeful. Though this was a live stream by Sega meaning many missed out on what went on, they’ve gone ahead and posted it online so that the entire world can get a glimpse of what the upcoming game has to offer. This gameplay footage basically takes …

Yakuza 0 – Coming To Japan March Of Next Year

Published by Frank Inglese

You read the title. You all know what the deal is. ‘Yakuza 0’, the upcoming ‘Yakuza’ video game series prequel, was announced this morning through a special Sega broadcast to be hitting the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan next March on the 12th. I must stress that this was just announced for Japan because, as of right now, we really have no idea whether or not this game will be making its way to local shores, but we’re all hoping it does because there’s no series like the ‘Yakuza’ series. This new game is set to feature updated graphics, a new combat system and a look back at some of our favorite characters’ past lives. Hopefully we’ll be getting news of a Western release sometime very soon but right now you’ll just have to be happy knowing that, one day, the game will be released SOMEWHERE in the world. When that news breaks, you better believe we’ll have it here on the site! -30-

Yakuza 0 – Money, Women, Power Trailer

Published by Frank Inglese

It’s not quite a quote from Al Pacino’s ‘Scarface’ but it’s close enough for me to draw a connection. Sega have today updated the official ‘Yakuza 0’ website to now feature a brand-new trailer that will take audiences on a wild seven minute ride through what is looking to be one of the greatest brawler titles of the new generation. The trailer titled ‘Money, Women, Power’ will show you, well…money, women and power. ‘Yakuza 0’ tells the story of a young Kazuma Kiryu as well as a just-as-young Majima Goro, both of which we’ve seen countless times throughout the series. The game, which is set for an exclusive Sony release (PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4), takes place in 1988 and will tell the story of how these two young men came to be. This new trailer takes viewers through each of the most important aspects of the new games and showcases some of the updated gameplay mechanics as well as just how damn good the graphics are looking. Unfortunately it is in full Japanese with …

Yakuza 0 – Introduction and Story Trailers Released

Published by Frank Inglese

Sega have gone and done the world of video games another huge solid today by releasing two brand-new trailers for their upcoming prequel title ‘Yakuza 0’, the first ‘Yakuza’ game to explain the origins of two of the series’ most pivotal characters; Kazuma Kiryu and Majima Goro. ‘Yakuza 0’ is set in 1988 and will tell the story of how these two young men came to be. It will take place in the well-known city of Kamurocho as well as Soutenbori, both of which are known for their high rate of Yakuza activity. Alongside the release of the two trailers – one titled ‘Introduction’ and the other titled’ Story’ – Sega also discussed the power of money in the latest addition of the highly popular series. It has been said that currency will be just as crucial as combat and that players must make some thoughtful decisions on how they will be using their in-game cash. Be it property investments or helping to run your very own business, money is most certainly power in ‘Yakuza …

Yakuza 0 Lands Its First Trailer And Is Set To Hit Japan In Spring 2015

Published by Frank Inglese

Go back in time to see the making of a true warrior with Sega’s newly-announced ‘Yakuza 0’ which is set to hit the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan next Spring. Sony Computer Entertainment held a press conference today wherein which they announced a whole bunch of new information on some of their upcoming games alongside some accompanying trailers. ‘Yakuza 0’ got some first class treatment at the conference with Sega releasing its very first trailer which not only takes viewers through the game’s story but its more detailed elements. ‘Yakuza 0′; the franchise prequel tells the story of a young Kazuma Kiryu as well as a just-as-young Majima Goro, both of which we’ve seen countless times throughout the series. The game takes place in 1988 and will tell the story of how these two young men came to be. It will take place in the well-known city of Kamurocho as well as Soutenbori, both of which are known for their high rate of Yakuza activity. TGS (Tokyo Game Show) is only just around …

Yakuza 0 – Get To Know The Young Kazuma Kiryu With The Video Game Prequel

Published by Frank Inglese

Warriors are not born, warriors are made. Men do not just ‘become’ Yakuza, it’s a life one must be conditioned for, it is not something that you can simply fall into. Sega’s ‘Yakuza’ video game series is much beloved, as fans we’ve followed the life of Kazuma Kiryu through the ups and downs. We’ve seen the animal inside of him but, in saying that, we’ve also seen the love he can provide. What we’ve yet to see is how he became the Kazuma Kiryu that we now know…until now. Barely a week ago, Sega announced their next big video game ‘Yakuza 0’; a prequel to the franchise that tells the story of a young Kazuma Kiryu as well as a just-as-young Majima Goro, both of which we’ve seen countless times throughout the series. The game, which is set for an exclusive Sony release (PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4), takes place in 1988 and will tell the story of how these two young men came to be. It will take place in the well-known city of …