Author Archives: Barry

The Weekly Five: Sonic Generations Classic Callbacks

by

While Sonic Generations release is still a month away, thanks to the many screens and video clips released by SEGA, fans have been able to pick apart every pixel. Some screens feature road signs with in-jokes, while others feature references to classic Sonic stages from the Genesis/Mega Drive days. Yes, even though the game only features a handful of classic era zones, that hasn’t kept Sonic team from including callbacks to zones not featured in the game. In this week’s Weekly Five we’ll run through five of these way past cool references.

Continue Reading ➜

4 Comments

Spoiler Alert: Giga.de Shows Insane Amounts of Sonic Generations

by

Video contains a LOT of Generations footage:

While Sonic fans have been eagerly awaiting an IGN preview of Sonic Generations, only to learn that it had been pushed back due to SEGA extending the embargo, German gaming site Giga.de has gone all out with a near 30 minute video preview of Sonic Generations. Within the first minute viewers are introduced to the interactive menu, and I gotta say it looks fantastic. It actually reminds me of Kirby’s Epic Yarn in the way you traverse it. Also included are full playthroughs of many stages. So if you want to avoid spoilers, just watch the first few minutes for a taste of the menu and then click “stop”.

After the break, a list of observations. Of course, these venture into spoiler territory.

Continue Reading ➜

10 Comments

Review: Rise of Nightmares

by

Leave it to SEGA to be the first to dive in and attempt to offer something new and unique when it comes to a crazy peripheral like Microsoft’s Kinect. When the Kinect launched, SEGA released Sonic Free Riders. Free Riders was, in my opinion, an under-appreciated launch title that attempted to offer more than what other launch titles were offering. While Kinect Joy Ride and Adrenalin Misfits were pretty basic, and appealed to the family friendly party game crowd, Free Riders actually required skill and practice. The racer touted weapons that required a variety of actions to execute, different vehicles and stances and a number of hazards that again called for various actions to overcome. While not a perfect attempt, I applauded SEGA for what did work and for the boldness of attempting a Kinect title that featured so many methods of control. Now, SEGA returns to Kinect with Rise of Nightmares, a SEGA AM1 developed horror title which resembles SEGA’s famous The House of the Dead series. Like Free Riders, Rise of Nightmares puts a motion controlled spin on a well established genre (survival horror), promising a variety of weapons and actions as well as a Kinect first: body controlled free movement. Just how well did SEGA do? Read on!

Continue Reading ➜

6 Comments

The Rest of the Dreamcast Collection Finally Announced for PSN and XBLA!

by

Took them long enough, but SEGA has finally set a release date for the XBLA and PSN versions of Space Channel 5 Part 2 and SEGA Bass Fishing. Via the SEGA Blog, we now know that both titles will be released digitally on October 4th for PSN and October 5th for XBLA. Both titles, as well as Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, have been available since February via the XBOX 360 disc release of The Dreamcast Collection. I reviewed it way back in March, rating it a B-. SEGA Bass Fishing is a fun and faithful port, but without the fishing controller it isn’t a “must play” game. Space Channel 5 Part 2, however, is an A+ release in my opinion. It’s a perfect port, widescreen support is very well implemented, and the game is a fantastic sequel brimming with catchy tunes and funky dancing. If you pick up one Dreamcast Collection game, make it Space Channel 5 Part 2.

By the way, wouldn’t the week of September 9th have made for a better release date?

[Source: SEGA Blog]

5 Comments

The Weekly Five: Rise of Nightmares X The House of the Dead

by

I’d think any true blue SEGA fan has a special place in their heart for The House of the Dead franchise. Being an arcade lightgun classic, and spanning three console generations, The House of the Dead has produced a number of sequels, spin-offs and even ventured outside of the video game world by way of two horrible films. When Rise of Nightmares, SEGA’s latest Kinect title, was revealed at last year’s Tokyo Game Show, little was known of the game aside from “save your wife from an evil scientist”. Was it internally developed? Was it a House of the Dead title? We just couldn’t tell based on the short and creepy trailer. But now that time has passed, and the game is in stores, we have all the answers. In this week’s Weekly Five we’ll take a look at five reasons why I think Rise of Nightmares sits well alongside the beloved House of the Dead series, despite not carrying the series title, and why HotD fans should check the game out!

Continue Reading ➜

5 Comments

Rise of Nightmares Releases TODAY in America to Positive Reviews!

by

SEGA haters, Kinect Haters and zombie game haters please sit down and shut up. SEGA’s latest Kinect exclusive title “Rise of Nightmares” releases today and early reviews have been positive. In fact, many seem to be VERY positive. Gaming-Age.com said:

What I love most about Rise of Nightmares is that it actually works. Having finished the game I’m still very impressed with how responsive all the movement controls were, and how well they meshed together to perform a very cohesive experience.

vgrevolution.com gave the game a 7/10, however in the areas that matter for a Kinect title, those being gameplay and controls, the game rated 8/10. YouTube review channel StuffWeLike loved the game.

We here at SEGAbits promise to have our own review up soon. In the meantime, check out other reviews and if it sounds like your type of game, pick up a copy! The game releases today in America and this Friday in Europe.

4 Comments

The Weekly Five: Great American Dreamcast Ads

by

It’s Labor Day weekend here in America, and only a week until the Dreamcast’s 12th birthday! So I thought it would be fitting to present to you a weekly five that is light on the labor for me, and Dreamcast related for you. Thus, we’re talking a look at five great Dreamcast adverts that ran on American television. So let’s get started, less reading more watching!

Continue Reading ➜

11 Comments

Celebrate the Dreamcast’s 12th Birthday With Us!

by

Since 2009, It has become a yearly tradition for me to throw a Dreamcast birthday party by way of Dreamcast gaming, a live stream, chit chat, drinking and pizza. This year will be no different from last year: Starting at 11am Eastern Standard Time (5pm GMT) on Friday, September 9th, I’ll be kicking off the party at twitch.tv/dreamroom. We’ll play a ton of games, chat, reminisce and celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Dreamcast’s American launch. We’ll check out the original launch titles, play some wacky imports, go on a Dobuita shopping spree and I even have a few surprises.

So mark your calendars and keep your eyes on The Dreamcast Junkyard and SEGAbits as the big day nears!

2 Comments

The Weekly Five: Downloadable Titles to be EXCITED About

by

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!

Continue Reading ➜

9 Comments

New Generations 3DS Stage Revealed PLUS HD Birthday Picnic

by

From The Sonic Scene comes two special screens from Sonic Generations. The first, seen above, reveals a new stage for the 3DS version of the game: Sonic Adventure’s Emerald Coast! While I had thought they would have gone with a stage from Sonic Advance instead, I much prefer this. Unless, of course, this is actually Neo Green Hill from the first Sonic Advance with the whale thrown in. I’m interested to see if they copy the modern layout verbatim, or offer up something new. The second image, which can be seen after the break, might be a spoiler to some, as it appears to be from the opening cutscene. Want to see it? Continue on!

Continue Reading ➜

12 Comments

The Weekly Five: You’re a SLACKER, SEGA!

by

Obviously, I love me my SEGA. Why else would I be writing for this place? But just because I love them, doesn’t mean I can’t be a little bit peeved with them when it comes to a few things. In this week’s Weekly Five, I’ll be going down my list of areas in which SEGA is slacking.

Continue Reading ➜

13 Comments

You know me, Sonic Generations 3DS. And we’re at Mushroom Hill, you ready?

by

From SEGA Press and Sonic Stadium comes eleven new screens from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations. But wait! These aren’t the same ol’ stages that we’ve known about, this is a brand new reveal! Straight out of Sonic & Knuckles comes Mushroom Hill featuring both classic and modern gameplay, set in both the green act 1 and the autumn colored act 2. It looks like classic Sonic will be taking the green sections of the zone, while modern Sonic will be taking the orange sections. Many of the gimmicks return including bouncy shrooms (I can hear the “boing” sound now), mechanical pulleys and helicopter plants. Check out the screens after the break!

Continue Reading ➜

10 Comments

Mike Hayes: Sonic 4 Episode 1 Sold Over 1 Million, Episode 2 Info Coming Soon

by

From vg247.com comes information from SEGA CEO Mike Hayes concerning Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Remember that game? Regarding information on Episode 2:

Information on Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 will arrive “very soon,” Sega West CEO Mike Hayes has told VG247. Hayes couldn’t comment further when asked how far out “soon” was, adding that we should “look out for that one.”

My guess is once Sonic Generations arrives, after November 1st, or perhaps on September 9th? Remember, that was when the first Sonic 4 episode was announced as “Project Needlemouse”. Speaking of the first episode, Hayes shares a great bit of news for SEGA fans who like it when the company makes big money:

“It did very well and it continues to do well,” Hayes told us in a phone interview this afternoon.

“Particularly when it gets a little shot in the arm with some promotion or some price activity, sales are quite phenomenal. Its downloaded clearly over a million units, so its sold particularly well and continues to sell.”

Over a million is pretty impressive, though I have to wonder how many “copies” the game sold when it initially launched before the first sales began. Regardless, Sonic 4 Episode 1 looks like quite a financial success. Here’s hoping Episode 2 fixes the problems found in the first episode and sells another million and more!

[Source: vg247]

2 Comments