Author Archives: FlareHabanero

SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Review – Mini Console, Mega Heart

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Well it’s the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Genesis (aka the Mega Drive). The SEGA Genesis for decades now has been fondly looked back due to it’s strong kit and solid lineup of games, which is reflected in it being SEGA’s best selling console of all time. While it did eventually stutter late into it’s life, ironically from SEGA themselves trying to expand on the console with peripherals like the SEGA CD and SEGA 32X, those that remember the system back in the day remember SEGA’s aggressive push to outsmart their main competition Nintendo. This resulted in quite a number of notable titles being developed over the years, both from SEGA themselves with their arcade ports and original titles, to other third parties contributing to the system like Compile, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Konami, and Namco.

Now 30 years later due to the “mini console” fad, SEGA is now pumping out a huge love letter in a tiny package, simply called the SEGA Genesis Mini. Will this small machine bring out that nostalgic heart tug, or is it more like an embarrassing memory from ages ago?

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TGS 2019: SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R releasing on September 26th in Japan, SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC coming soon

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SEGA has revealed several pieces of new information regarding to their SEGA AGES lineup at Tokyo Game Show. The first bit of news is that the previously announced SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R finally has a release date, being slated for a September 26th release in Japan for the Nintendo Switch. This version of Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R coming packed with the original arcade game with all 20 minigames intact, the inclusion of the Mega Drive version that includes additional modes like an RPG mode and a Competition mode, plus online multiplayer.

The second bit of news is that SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC will be the next title in the SEGA AGES series. Thunder Force AC basically being an arcade version of Thunder Force III, with some levels being changed from the original release and naturally having limited continues. However the most notable addition to this version is the option to play as Fire LEO-04 “Rynex”, the ship from Thunder Force IV, complete with all of the same weapons from that game. No definitive release date has been revealed as of this writing.

[Source: SEGA TGS Live Stream]

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Terry Bogard coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on November 2019

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It has been confirmed in the latest Nintendo Direct that “The Legendary Hungry Wolf” from SNK’s Fatal Fury and King of Fighters Terry Bogard will be coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! He will be apart of Challenger Pack 4, which will include content from the Fatal Fury series such a Terry himself as a new fighter, a new stage, and music. Not much has been revealed about how Terry will play or what the other content exactly is, but more information will be promised at a later date. Terry Bogard is currently slated for a November 2019 release date.

In addition, Nintendo has confirmed that there will be more DLC goodness in the future, with more fighters joining the ring beyond the initial 5. Maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll see more SEGA and SEGA affiliated goodness crop up in the future!

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Rumor: Nintendo website hints at possible SNK character appearing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is pretty much a video game celebration at this point, going above and beyond expectations to create the best crossover possible. But it seems like another major player may have been accidentally confirmed by Nintendo themselves. The website mentions “SNK Corporation” while describing what the Challenger Pack 4 DLC contains in the copyright section. Nothing specific has been leaked about what the SNK content is, however it does confirm that it will contain a new fighter, stage, and music, like the other Challenger Packs.

SNK is in particular known for IPs like King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, and in the context of SEGA has done collaborative work for the Dreamcast and Neo Geo Pocket, even borrowing some of SEGA IPs like Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Puyo in the meanwhile. Considering the popularity of the King of Fighters series in particular, there’s a strong chance that the fighter might be Terry Bogard, the protagonist of the Fatal Fury series and a recurring fighter in the King of Fighters series. Maybe even someone from Metal Slug like Marco or Tarma. Either way, we’ll have to wait for official confirmation from Nintendo/SNK themselves. Until then, maybe boot up your Dreamcast to play some Capcom vs. SNK.

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Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix coming to western territories in 2020

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Previously, SEGA announced a new game in the Project DIVA series of video games called Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega 39’s for the Nintendo Switch. Now SEGA has confirmed the game will be coming to western territories, with a title change to Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix. The game is currently slated for a February 20th 2020 release date in Japan, while everywhere else it’s a tentative 2020 release date.

Like previous installments in the Project DIVA series, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix will feature over 100 songs, with at least 10 being brand new for this installment. In addition, players will able to collect over 300 different modules (costumes), a brand new mode exclusive to this installment, and an updated artstyle that puts more of an emphasis on cel-shading.

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SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R coming soon, more information revealed

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Another SEGA AGES title is coming soon to your Nintendo Switch, this time being the frantic minigame collection Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R. Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R is the second game in the Puzzle & Action series of games, featuring the thieves/detectives Robo and Mobo from Bonanza Bros., this time wearing knight costumes and participating in a stage play. Similar to it’s predecessor Puzzle & Action Tant-R, the player is tasked with beating a series of minigames, for a total of 4 rounds. There are 20 minigames in total, ranging from sharping pencils, hitting baseballs, guiding trains, stacking pots, stabbing dumplings, and more.

SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R includes the arcade version, but also incorporates a “Mega Drive mode” that includes all of the modes included from the Mega Drive version. The most notable addition is the RPG mode, where players are tasked with trying to rescue the princess by collecting the Philosopher’s Stones. In addition, there will also be a Competition Mode and Free Mode. In Competition Mode, up to 4 players participate on a square board in the style of sugoroku (a Japanese board game comparable to backgammon), while in Free Mode up to 4 players compete to see who reaches the specified point threshold first. SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R will also come with online play, allowing players around the globe to participate in the original arcade game.

SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R is priced at ¥925 (roughly $8.70), though with no definitive release date.

[Source: Official Website]

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SEGA and Amplitude Studios unveils HUMANKIND, a game about building humanity’s civilization

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The mysterious “HUMANKIND” has finally been properly unveiled, after several days of SEGA’s official Twitter account teasing the announcement. HUMANKIND is a brand new strategy/god game developed by Amplitude Studios and published by SEGA. Comparable to games such as the Populous or Civilization, you’re tasked with trying to evolve the human race from the stone age to the modern age, while also boasting about the freedom to choose how you evolve humanity. The wording also implies that there will be multiplayer elements, allowing players to pit against each other. The official website promises the following:

  • One Million Civilizations: Create your own civilization by combining 60 historical cultures from the Bronze to the Modern Age. Each culture brings its special gameplay layer, leading to near-endless outcomes.
  • In The Eyes of Posterity:  Every great deed you accomplish, every moral choice you make, every battle won will build your fame. The player with the most fame will win the game.
  • More Than History, It Is Your Story: Face real historical events, lead renown figures, and make scientific breakthroughs. Discover the natural wonders of the world or build the remarkable creations of humankind.
  • A Tactical World: Show off your tactical skills by mastering terrain elevation with city-building and tactical battles. Call upon your allies to transform a battle into an eight-player world war!

HUMANKIND is currently slated for a TBA 2020 release date, with the game planned for a release on Steam.

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SEGA/Atlus Tokyo Game Show 2019 website opens, reveals initial lineup of titles

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The annual event Tokyo Game Show is only a month away, and as usual SEGA and Atlus are planning to attend the 2019 event. Now SEGA has released their official website detailing what they are planning. The website at the moment is missing details, such as their lineup of merchandising and their stage schedule, but it does confirm the following titles will appear:

  • Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
  • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games The Official Video Game
  • Project Sakura Wars
  • Persona 5 The Royal

Note that this isn’t the full lineup, as SEGA/Atlus is likely going to announce more titles these upcoming days and during the show. Tokyo Game Show 2019 is planned for September 12th to September 15th at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

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SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo and Space Harrier releasing on August 22nd in western territories

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Two more SEGA AGES titles are coming overseas later this month on August 22nd, Puyo Puyo and Space Harrier! Both titles will be released in both North America and Europe for the pricing of $7.99 and equivalent. As usual with these SEGA AGES titles, both Puyo Puyo and Space Harrier will come with additional features. SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo will come packed with the addition of counter-clockwise rotation and double rotation similar to later games, along with the rare English arcade version and online play. SEGA AGES Space Harrier meanwhile includes the features from the SEGA 3D version, including 16:9 support and Haya-Oh as the final boss, along with a new Komainu Barrier Attack mode where the titular Komainu protect Harrier from everything except enemy fire. This is on top of the usual settings ranging from different picture options to the ability to map your controller buttons.

Puyo Puyo in particular is significant, since this is the first time the original arcade game has been released in western territories since 1992 (or 2003 if you count that weird N-Gage version). Sorry, no mean bean machines this time!

[Source: Official Website, Twitter]

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SEGA AGES Columns II releasing on August 8th in Japan

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SEGA AGES Columns II The Voyage Through Time has finally got a release date. This game will release on the Nintendo Switch eShop on August 8th, on the Japanese store. As usual it will be priced at
¥925 (roughly $8.70), and will come with an assortment of different features.

For a quick recap, SEGA AGES Columns II will come with the original arcade game, which comes with the two modes Flash Columns and Vs. Columns. Flash Columns tasks you with clearing out a specific flashing gem with the difficulty gradually increasing with each stage, while Vs. Columns allows two players to face off against each other. On top of that, there will be other options available, such as the ability to choose between random graphic changes or a static layout based on the first Columns, a Face-to-Face mode where the 2nd player’s board is flipped 180 degrees for tabletop mode, the option to disable the skulls that force your board to be pushed up when cleared, the first Columns included as a bonus game, and a Jewelry Box section for completionists that has an assortment of bonus unlockables obtainable by playing through the game’s stages.

[Source: Official Website]

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SEGA AGES Columns II coming soon, more details revealed

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More SEGA AGES news has cropped up, as this month Columns II The Voyage Through Time is the next game that’s going to be released. Originally released in 1990 for arcades, Columns II features a similar premise to the original Columns, as you are tasked with clearing out gems horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and avoiding the top of the screen. You have two modes, Flash Columns where you’re tasked with clearing a specific flashing gem while avoiding crossing the top, and Vs. Columns which allows two players to fight against each other. The main gimmick is the “time travel”, where each stage changes the graphics to different time periods, such as ancient Greece, prehistoric times, and the far future, hence the subtitle.

SEGA AGES Columns II adds several new features. The first is online play, where up to two players can compete against each other over the internet, along with the leaderboards typical of these SEGA AGES releases. There are also a number of quality of life options available, such as a stage selection that allows you to go up to stage 70, the option to disable the skulls that push up your playing field when cleared, the option to play a “face-to-face mode” where the second player’s field is flipped over to 180 degree, and the option to have the backgrounds and gems either random or default to the Columns I board. Additionally, the first Columns will also be included as a bonus game, serving as a traditional Endless mode. Finally, for completionists out there, there will be a “Jewelry Box” feature that unlocks illustrations of the various characters you see in the SEGA AGES intros, along with a brief description of who they are.

SEGA AGES Columns II is currently slated for a ¥925 (roughly $8.60) price point, but with no definitive release date yet.

[Source: Official Website]

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New Aleste game “Aleste Branch” announced, being developed by M2

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Those that are a big fans of shmups and SEGA consoles, you might be familiar with the Aleste series by Compile, such as with the Master System version of Aleste or MUSHA on the SEGA Genesis. Well good news, because the developers at M2 are planning on reviving the series, under the title Aleste Branch. Not much has been revealed, but what is confirmed is that similar to past games, you’ll be controlling a female pilot named Eleanor Wiesen, and a teaser of what the game’s space ship will look like. According to Famitsu, the character designs are being handled by artist Eiji Komato.

Though not much information has been revealed, it’s promised that more information will be revealed by September 7th, while the appearance of the full ship will be revealed on July 28th at Wonder Festival 2019.

[Source: M2, Famitsu]

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SEGA games Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone coming to the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine Mini

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While SEGA has been busy prepping for the launch of the Mega Drive Mini, it seems they aren’t done quite yet with the mini console craze. The TurboGrafx-16 Mini (aka the PC Engine Mini) by Konami announced back in E3 has revealed 24 TurboGrafx-16 and and 26 PC Engine titles, effectively mixing both American and Japanese libraries into separate categories. Notably for SEGA fans, the TurboGrafx-16 Mini will be packaged with the TurboGrafx-16 versions of Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone, both originally developed by NEC. Space Harrier will be categorized under the TurboGrafx-16 section, while Fantasy Zone will be categorized under the PC Engine section.

The TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine Mini is currently slated for a March 19th, 2020 release date globally, so if you’re interested in trying out this mini console, pick one up next year!

[Souce: Official TurboGrafx-16 Website]

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Rumor: “Tasty Good! Super Monkey Ball” rated in China/Taiwan for PS4, Switch, and PC

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The rumors of a new Super Monkey Ball continue to come in. Two months ago, SEGA of Japan trademarked “Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball”, Tabegoro roughly translating to “Good to eat”, “tastes good”, etc., though for the sake of this article it will be unofficially called “Tasty Good!”.

Now more fuel in the fire has been added, as the official Chinese/Taiwan ratings board Game Software Rating Regulations has seemingly revealed more information about this supposed game via the official Chinese title “現嚐好滋味！超級猴子球”. It will be developed and published in house by SEGA itself, not outsourced similar to other revivals in recent years, and it’s planned for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, with an icon seemingly displaying the title also in the documents. No other information about what exactly Tasty Good! Super Monkey Ball is, such as whether it’s a sort of remake or an original game, has been revealed at this time. Guess we must wait until SEGA officially announces the game to know more.

[Source: Game Software Rating Regulations]

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SEGA AGES Space Harrier releasing on June 27th in Japan

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SEGA of Japan has finally revealed when SEGA AGES Space Harrier will release. The game is slated for a June 27th release date in Japan, for the price of ¥925 (roughly $8.50) on the Nintendo Switch eShop. As a refresher, SEGA AGES Space Harrier will feature most of the content from the 3DS version, including having 16:9 aspect ratio support and the inclusion of the Master System exclusive final boss Haya-Oh. But it will also have new features on top of that, including a new Komainu Barrier Attack mode where Komainu will protect Harrier from most obstacles, a special border meant to emulate the environment of an arcade, and the ability to hold the Joy-Cons sideways to mimic the arcade button layout of the original machine.

On top of SEGA AGES Space Harrier, remember that SEGA AGES Virtua Racing and SEGA AGES Wonder Boy in Monster Land are also planned to release on the same day for international fans, so when you get the chance try to get all three titles!

[Source: Official Website]

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