SEGA has a lot of exciting boxed retail releases on the way, but how about the downloadable games? I’m happy to say that there are a number of great titles heading to XBLA, PSN and mobile devices! In fact, dare I say this, as a whole I am more excited for the downloadable releases than I am the retail releases. Recently, SEGA has had a big upswing in the quality and quantity of retro rereleases. What’s more, SEGA will also be offering long awaited games via online marketplaces and are set to debut new IPs via this route. In this week’s Weekly Five we’ll be highlighting five upcoming downloadable titles that we’re excited to play!
SONIC CD
Suck it, haters. I’m totally stoked to play Sonic’s SEGA CD adventure. Extra care seems to have been put into releasing this game by utilizing a fan made engine that ran flawlessly on the iPhone. The game is to feature two methods of spin dashing: the original and the much improved Sonic 2 style. If that was not enough, the game looks to be in widescreen AND includes the original soundtrack. While I still have my fingers crossed for the US version to be optional, I’m totally cool with the JP/Euro orignal being the only option. Bonus points to SEGA for releasing the game on nearly every platform possible.
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
I might not be the greatest Virtua Fighter player, but I have all the love in the world for the series; from the blocky first release to the last retail release of Virtua Fighter 5 Online. Sadly, this version had been gathering dust on my shelf as new versions of the game received arcade releases overseas. To remedy this, SEGA has announced that this much requested update will see release in the summer of 2012! Unlike past releases, this Virtua Fighter will be a downloadable release. Collectors like myself might be sad that it did not receive a budget title disc release, but in the case of Final Showdown I’ll take whatever SEGA can offer. Who knows, perhaps a physical release was too much a gamble. If that was the case, which I’m sure it was, why not continue this trend with other risky releases? Virtual-On Force would make for a great downloadable title.
Guardian Heroes
The Saturn version of Guardian Heroes: $70-150 on ebay. The downloadable version of Guardian Heroes: $10-$15 on XBLA. Unless you are a crazy collector, the choice is clear. We here at SEGAbits have written more than enough on why we are excited for this release, but I think the number one reason to pick this up is that it is an insanely fun game sold for a fraction of the collector’s price. SEGA needs to bring us more fun games from the past that now sell for insane prices. It’s a win-win for SEGA and its fans: SEGA is guaranteed large sales as they are finally offering a low priced release, and fans can finally get their hands on a once rare title. What should SEGA offer next? How about Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga?
Wonderboy 6 aka Monster World 4
It seems we’re covering every type of rerelease in this list: arcade port, console port and in the case of Wonderboy 6 (aka Monster World 4) a localized English port. Despite being the oldest title on the list, Wonderboy 6 is very exciting thanks to it being the first official English release of the game. No longer do fans need to rely on emulators, walkthroughs and fan edited ROM files. Soon PS3 and Wii owners will be able to download this hotly anticipated game and play it as though they were back in 1994, booting up a new Japanese title tweaked for English consumption. Only downside, 360 owners are out of luck, but I guess thats the trade-off for Guardian Heroes.
Renegade Ops
Just Cause 2 has to be one of my favorite games of this generation. Sure the story stinks, but the open world, physics and the freedom of movement make it an insanely fun game to play. Avalanche Studios next project is Renegade Ops, a top down vehicular shooter which seems greatly inspired by arcade games of the past. SEGA was wise to release this game, as the developer has proven that they know how to create a fun game and this sort of title just suits SEGA’s arcade background. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try the game yet, but from what I’ve seen and from what I know about the developer, this will be an excellent release.
What downloadable SEGA titles are you excited for? Any that didn’t make the list?
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Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown > Everything else on that list.
But yeah, I’m not completely interested in Renegade Ops but the rest of the list I find to be fantastic offerings. SEGA really have picked up dramatically from where they once were to digital download, I hope that this trend is continued and not only that, is supported with both critical and financial success.
PS Please port some SEGA Ages stuff too!
Uh, the “original spindash” is from Sonic 2. In the first game, Sonic could only tuck himself into a ball after getting a running start. Sonic CD, on the other hand, is the only 16-bit Sonic game to feature the “up-dash”. Holding up on the D-Pad and pressing C made the blue dude stand in place and start moving his legs really fast. This allowed him to travel faster and reach higher places than you could with a spindash but left him vulnerable to badniks.
Wow so many
@RT: The “original spindash” refers to the one that was in the original release of Sonic CD. Press down, hold A and Sonic spins in place (no forward leaning spin with “burning rubber” effect), release and he dashes forward. This new release will, from what we’ve read, feature an option to press down and rev up a spindash a la Sonic 2. I’d assume with the forward leaning spin with “burning rubber” effect to boot.
At no point was I referring to the first Sonic game for the Genesis or the super peel out.
Guardian Heroes for PSN, Sega, pretty please?
I tried Renegade Ops at Gamescom 2011, and I can tell you that it’s a great and smooth game, full of old school arcade action, with main and side missions to play. It was a bit on the easy side, but a great game nevertheless. The physics is great, weapon upgrades are exciting, and the graphics are extremely detailed.
Daytona USA, scud race etc… All the classic arcade games please
The end of 2011 is shaping up to be a really good time to be a SEGA fan.
Amazingly, I actually really want all of them!
Monster World IV and Guardian Heroes are two of my favourite adventure style games of all time.
Virtua Fighter is a series I never miss even though I’m really bad at it lol.
Renegade Ops I was almost sold from the get go, even though I wasn’t really a big fan of Just Cause I can see what they are doing with this game is something special. Plus 4 player Co-Op over Steam? Fuck yes!
Sonic CD is the game I’m least interested in, but considering Sega have done the right thing, a quite amazing thing really and ditched Backbone and reached out to the community and got a very talented Sonic fan onboard I think this kind of move just NEEDs supporting.
So yes… Every single one.