Author Archives: Barry

The Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Premium Pack!

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I’m eight months late to the party, but who cares. I’m the first to feature it at SEGAbits!

While SEGA’s Sakura Taisen franchise is insanely popular in Japan, having a number of main series games and spin-offs spanning the Saturn era through to the Dreamcast and Playstation 2, it has had little presence in English speaking regions. The fifth game in the series, Sakura Taisen V: Farewell, My Love, hit the Japanese PS2 in 2005. It wasn’t until 5 years later that the game received a very unexpected English language version. The PS2 received a handsome special edition box (America only from what I can tell) while the Wii received a standard version (which hit both America and Europe). While the game released back in March, it wasn’t until this weekend that I got around to picking up a copy for $30 at GameStop, marked down $10.

So what does this awesome box contain? Let’s take a look!

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Review: Sonic Free Riders

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As the last of his games hit shelves, so ends a big year for Sonic. 2010 brought with it some hotly anticipated Sonic titles: The SEGA Superstars returned for All-Star Racing, 2D Sonic returned to consoles and 3D Sonic has cleaned up his act. Meanwhile, off in the corner sat Sonic Free Riders.

Free Riders, the third game in the Sonic Riders series, made ripples (not waves) in the SEGA community when it was announced to be a launch title for Microsoft’s Kinect. The series itself had earned little respect in the past, and coupled with a new piece of hardware, enthusiasm for the game was mixed. But now the Kinect is here, the game is out. No more speculating, it’s reviewin’ time!

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Sonic Adventure Vanquish Remix

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Earlier this week I picked up Vanquish in Kmart’s awesome sale, and I am totally in love with the game. The opening cinematic is crazy, brutal, epic and reminded me of another great SEGA game. So, using the powers of YouTube and iMovie I’ve mashed up two intros into one. Take note that this may be a tiny spoiler to those who haven’t seen the first few minutes of Vanquish and the game is rated M for Muthaf*ckin’ Mayhem. Enjoy!

If you haven’t picked up this modern day classic yet, do so now! The sale is still going on, though the game is out of stock online. So run to your local Kmart and get the game.

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Sonic Colors Cutscene Featuring the NEW Voices

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Courtesy of Sonic Wrecks, Sonic Stadium and Sonic Retro comes the first publicly shown video of a Sonic Colors cutscene complete with dialogue! Personally, I think it’s an all around improvement over the past couple of games. Definitely beats out Heroes and ’06, and is a bit better than Unleashed despite the lack of HD visuals. Tails sounds like a boy once again, and Sonic is… different. But not worse! I’ll have to see more of the game before making a concrete decision. Bonus points for Sonic performing the Moonwalk.

[Source: Sonic Wrecks YouTube account]

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New Free Riders trailer has a hint of Metal

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With the release of Sonic Free Riders only a few weeks away, it’s about time that SEGA showed off a bit more of the game. The latest trailer, seen above, features some new tracks, voice acting and best of all a certain metallic hedgehog.

[source: SEGA Blog]

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Next XBLA/PSN Dreamcast ports revealed!

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by Gagaman(n) of The Dreamcast Junkyard

They are Sega Bass Fishing and Space Channel 5 Part 2. JeuxVideo24 have screenshots of how they will look on the new consoles in 720p and widescreen.

Space Channel 5 Part 2 is an interesting choice. before you ask where part 1 is, I believe they’ve picked this one simply because it’s easier to port. Part 1 one used pre-rendered video backgrounds (as opposed to in-game graphics like in Part 2) so not only would they need to re-render those videos in HD, they would either have to stretch them or force the game to be 4:3 (like the Sonic Adventure port was). Maybe this is why they have skipped to Part 2. To be fair though Part 2 is a much rarer game, especially on Dreamcast on which it would cost you a small fortune, especially if you went after the special edition box set.

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[sources: The Dreamcast Junkyard and jeuxvideo24]

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Sonic Topps Trading Cards: The Best and the Weirdest Stickers

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Back in 1993 when Sonic ruled the merchandising world, a major trading card company called Topps joined in the fun and released a sixty-six card set of Sonic cards. While I only just recently picked up a complete set off eBay, I remember vividly buying as many packs as I could when the cards released. Sadly, I was only able to obtain half the set and since then the little case holding the cards was lost in the shuffle of growing up. However the cards do still exist somewhere in my parents house, perhaps in the same box that contains my Sonic 1 and 2 strategy guides and official Sonic Archie comics art. But enough crying about my misplaced SEGA treasures, lets take a look at the cards!

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Sonic 4 getting iPhone Game Center support

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Despite only being a few days old, the iPhone version of Sonic 4 has already been confirmed to be receiving a free software update within the next week or so. SEGA’s Ken Balough has stated via the SEGA forums that the free update will give Sonic 4 Game Center support! Game Center is Apple’s version of XBOX Live, giving games the ability to have achievements, leaderboards and online multiplayer play (Sonic 4 will not have that last feature, as it is a one player game).  This will come as good news to iPhone owners, as it gives Sonic 4 more replayability outside of the score attack and time attack modes. This also shows that SEGA is committed to updating the game, so perhaps retina display support is in the game’s future?

[Source: SEGA Blogs]

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Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 – Episode 1 (iPhone)

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After a staggering two years of waiting, 2D Sonic gameplay has finally returned to the handheld world! What? Oh, you’re probably used to the usual Sonic 4 article intro recounting the 16 year wait fans had to endure before seeing the return of a 2D Sonic to home consoles. Well, such is not the case with Sonic in the portable world. Ever since 2D Sonic left Angel Island, he had found a new home on handheld gaming devices. Between 1994 and 2010, Sonic fans have been treated to more than ten 2D adventures. It is probably due to this fact that the iPhone version of Sonic 4 hasn’t been receiving the same level of enthusiasm and attention as its big brother console versions have.

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Chu Chu Rocket hitting the iPhone in late October

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Forgive me for not thinking of a cat and mouse pun for the headline. Via SEGA’s e-newsletter comes an official word on when we can expect the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to get Chu Chu fever: late October! Considering the iDevice’s are getting Sonic 4 next week, October will be a big month for SEGA on the App Store. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but $7.99 to $9.99 seem to be the magic numbers for other new App Store releases from SEGA.

[Source: SEGA Pass]

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Sonic Free Riders release date announced, website launches

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As if we didn’t know already, SEGA has officially announced that Sonic Free Riders will release on November 4th (US) and November 10th (Europe) for the launch of the 360’s Kinect. SEGA has also launched the official English language website which includes a bit of new art, several locked sections and a unique navigation method in which you can use a web cam to navigate the site. I tried it at work and I looked like a fool, but it worked rather well.

[Source: SEGA’s Tweet]

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New Sonic Colors trailer shows the Eggmagineers accomplishments

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The latest Sonic Colors trailer has arrived, and unlike previous released videos of the game, this one shows off a bit of the in-game cutscenes! If the opening map is anything to go by, it looks like each stage will be receiving a trailer which will also highlight Wisp powers. Tropical Resort is still looking to be an excellent first stage, and the drill power-up looks like a lot of fun. Like NiGHTS meets Mr. Driller. What do the fellow “bitters”* think of the latest trailer?

* I realize “bitters” is a terrible name for SEGAbits members, but I have yet to hear a better alternative.

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Sonic 4 hits the Casino Street – Trailer & Screens

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The latest reworked stage from Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been revealed thanks to a video and written preview from the folks at Joystiq! Just as Lost Labyrinth replaced the much maligned mine cart, Casino Street has been confirmed to have replaced the itty bitty act 2 pinball machine with a much sweeter card focused stage. Sonic is shown to use cards as platforms, as a way to win an extra life and as a fast moving platform. Way past cool! In fact, the final moment of the trailer was the first true instance in which Sonic 4 made me say “wow!” aloud. I was pro-Sonic 4 before, but now I think I have been welcomed to the next level.

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