Yakuza: of the End release date hits TBA status

[…Hm…yeah, I can understand why this might be an issue]

In a move that’s not all that surprising given the devastating earthquakes in Japan, SEGA has decided to move Yakuza: Of the End from its March 17th Japanese release date. No new date was given.

This is not a first for SEGA, who cancelled Propeller Arena’s release back on the Dreamcast due to the September 11th terrorist attacks. That game never saw release, a fate that hopefully won’t be shared by Yakuza: of the End.

Last year’s entry in the Yakuza series, Yakuza 4, a game which doesn’t involve a zombie apocalypse, will be releasing this week as planned in Western territories.

[Source: Andriasang]

GDC 2011: Yu Suzuki Career Retrospective


Are you a fan of Yu Suzuki? Of course you are! Well this video is for you.

This is the GDC career retrospective of Yu Suzuki and it’s translated into English. Full of great information regarding Suzuki’s long career with Sega and the ground breaking, revolutionary games he has created over the years including OutRun, Virtua Fighter and Shenmue amongst others.

I’m sure you’ll agree, this man is a legend.

Shogun 2 Multiplayer Walkthrough Part 1

Here is a fantastic trailer showing off the new multiplayer features of Shogun 2 in full detail. Learn how to play the new MMO-like persistent world game, join clans and customize your general. The game looks truly awesome.

Game Informer: Sonic Reborn fake review

The latest Game Informer (issue: 216) has a parody section called “Game Infarcer” that features great news like “Japanese Developers won’t shut up about how much Japanese development sucks” and how Activision shuts down every studio.

Yes, its not to be taken seriously. I thought some of you guys would enjoy the fake review of ‘Sonic Reborn’ which of course is a fake game.

Goro Majima’s story in Yakuza of the End…

It seems that poor Majima will be playing the ‘bitten hero’ in the latest Yakuza installment. After his eyes start to turn red, he starts to worry about himself becoming one of the undead. He tells Kazuma and Misuzu Asaki that he can no longer travel with the pair due to being bitten.

He then takes refuge with Daigo Dojima in a shopping mall in Kamuroco Hills. It’s a zombie game, of course there will be a mall somewhere! They then get rescued by homeless people (bum power) and run into the Florist of Sai. Where his journey takes him you will have to play the game to find out.

Also, this is how I also hold my shotgun for press renders.

[Source: AndriaSang]

SEGA Sequels: Disappointing SEGA Sequels

Last week, SEGA Sequel Saturdays took a look at 5 of my favorite SEGA Sequels and why they managed to overcome my usual “sequel hatred” to become games that I really enjoyed. This week, it only seemed natural to look at the other side of that; to write about 5 of my least-favorite sequels and why I feel they failed to deliver. So, without further ado, let’s jump into episode 8!

(As always, feel free to throw in your own two cents via the comments section.)

Greg Miller/IGN’s Yakuza 4 Review – My Thoughts

Usually at Segabits we would stay clear of critic bashing but I really feel this needs to be said.

This is of course in regards to the review score Greg Miller of IGN has just given Yakuza 4 (6.5/10).

Just about everyone who has played the Japanese version of the game, be it the Japanese people I’ve spoken to about it or the Westerners who have imported the game, seem to all agree that Yakuza 4 is one of the best games in the series yet.  On the other side of the coin, it’s generally agreed by most fans that Yakuza 3 was the weakest installment in the series so far with a very slow start with its baby sitting children and rather monotonous fetch quests making up the first quarter of the game.

However not Greg Miller it seems, who, throughout his review, speaks about how much he enjoyed Yakuza 3’s story and, even more jarring, how Yakuza 4 has a weak story which seems to contradict what every other Yakuza fan has said.

Hit the jump for MORE!

5 SEGA Games Only on XBOX

Before I kick off  “The Weekly Five”, I want to say that my thoughts and support go out to our friends in Japan and other countries who were affected by the recent natural disasters. While they might be half a world away, there are still ways to help. Seek out charities or check out relief organizations like the Red Cross to donate. Every little bit helps.

When it came time for me to transition from the sixth to the seventh and current generation of consoles, I made up a list of pluses and minuses. PS3 offered blu-ray, 360 offered a strong achievement and avatar system. PS3 lacked PS2 backwards compatibility (with one exception), 360 lacked Yakuza. In the end, the 360 won out, mainly due to price but also due to the fact that the console could play a number of original XBOX games. I gained shelf space AND could still play JSRF and Panzer Dragoon Orta. Despite this, some XBOX exclusives were left in the dust when it came to 360 backwards compatibility, either due to technical reasons or lack of interest on Microsoft’s part. Today we’re looking at five of the SEGA games only found and only playable on the original XBOX. These cannot be played on a 360, thus excluding Panzer Dragoon Orta and JSRF. You dig?

Total War Shogun 2 and Team Fortress 2 Cross Over Announced!

Here is a crazy cross over I never saw happening! Sega have announced a Shogun 2 and Team Fortress 2 cross over to promote the release of Shogun 2 on steam.

This cross over comes in the form of eight in-game items for Valve’s online FPS, Team Fortress 2.

The items will be made available as an exclusive pre-purchase bonus for Steam gamers and also as a separate TF2 item pack. If you’ve already pre-purchased Total War: Shogun 2 on Steam or you do so before release and own TF2, you’ll automatically gain access to these unique items.

Hit the jump for the press release and screens of said items.

Yakuza 4 – Locations trailer


The new trailer above lets you check out some of the locations in the upcoming Yakuza 4. If you played the past 3 titles released in the West, you should know what to expect.

“Red lights at night, Yakuza delight”

Yakuza of the End could hit the West with different name

[Yakuza: Goro Majima the fantastic]

Of course SEGA can say yes or no on any future Yakuza games being brought over, what with Yakuza 4 coming out very soon. But the guys from Siliconera had a great interview about what it takes to bring Yakuza games to the West. When asked if SEGA would bring over a spin off like Kenzan:

“In terms of the older games, I can really speak to that at the moment. Because currently from the Yakuza franchise we have Black Panther, Kenzan, and now we have Of the End. Which all intents and purposes is a working title for the West, we don’t know what it’s going to be called. I think the possibility is there. We haven’t closed the door on any of those titles. We’re always looking at what might be the next title that will be appropriate for the Western market.” – Yas Noguchi, Senior Producer Yakuza 4

Sounds like ‘Yakuza of the End’ is leaning more towards a yes, since they are already saying it’s a code name in the West or is this just me wanting a game badly?

Read the rest of the great interview over here.

Valkyria Chronicles 3 anime coming out next month

SEGA has revealed that you will be able to rent the first part (of two) of the Valkyria Chronicles OVA, called “Senjo no Valkyria 3 Tagatame no Juusou” on April 15th through May 12th via PSN & Sony’s Qriocity video on demand service. The first part clocks in at 30 minutes, will cost you ¥500 (about $6 USD) in HD and ¥400 (about $5 USD)  in SD.

For those of you that do download the film via the services above, you will get a code to unlock “Innen no Taiketsu,” a free mission in Valkyria Chronicles 3. This mission is a what “if” mission, where Kurt and the Nameless have to work the Squad 7.

As for retail, there will be a Blu-Ray and DVD version of the first part of the OVA released on June 29. There will be a limited edition and standard.

Hori and SEGA making an expensive Hatsune Miku PS3 controller


Last time SEGA and Hori teamed up to bring you a super expensive Virtua On controller, now they are teaming up again. This time to make a Miku Project Diva Dreamy Theater 2nd controller.

The controller has big buttons that light up, and measures 690x430x70mm. It’s also customizable; the display top can be swapped out for your own design. The controller is priced at ¥29,939 (about $361).

Hori is only going to start production on the controller if they get enough pre-orders, since it’s an expensive product. The pre-orders stop on March 22nd, so if you want one, order here.

[Source: AndriaSang]

Classic SEGA Mega Drive dynamic theme is awesome


This theme above was released in the European PSN store update and it’s awesome! It seems that it’s only for PSN+ users, America might get it later. I personally will be rocking this one.

That is basically a SEGA fan’s bedroom in the early 90’s.

Japan: Super Monkey Ball 3D fails to chart

Though the majority of the 3DS’ launch titles continue to have a presence on the weekly Top 20, SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball 3D, which released in Japan post-launch on March 3rd, failed to make the charts.

In other words, it failed to sell 6,527 copies in its first 3 days on the market, likely not a great sign. Maybe it’s time to try a new franchise, SEGA?

Super Monkey Ball 3D is notable in that it takes a stripped down approach to its multiplayer, removing an entire list of fan favorites in favor of just a racing and fighting mode.

Hit the break for the full sales chart, which covers 2/28-3/6.

[Source: IGN]