Sakura Wars (2019) is just a few weeks away from release. Check out the latest trailer featuring the demon conflicts and enemies that the Imperial Combat Revue will have to face in order to protect Tokyo from harm. Pre-order your copy today! Hit the jump to read the description from the press and enemy bios after the break.
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Retro-Bit revealed a new design for their upcoming wireless Dreamcast controller, and on this SEGA News Bits we react to the proposed plans and share our thoughts on the old design versus the new design.
If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.
If you’ve been around our blog for awhile, you know we are all huge Phantasy Star Online fans, we even gushed about our history with the game on our SEGA Talk episode. While the original Phantasy Star Online got a ton of ports including PC, GameCube and Xbox, it has been quite forgotten more recently. While SEGA focuses on Phantasy Star Online 2, it seems a lot of fans still thirst for the original game.
Above is a concept pitch created by Phantasy Star Online fan Alex The Actualizer, which includes the image renders below. I do find myself thinking that SEGA is missing a huge opportunity to re-release a classic game like this, especially since the Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst version never got a console release. Not to mention that since the Nintendo Switch has a GameCube controller adapter, we can use our big Gamecube/Keyboard hybrid monster!
See the image above? One of the first times I saw the image was this weekend when longtime SEGAbits contributor SEGA Uranus posted it on our discord with a this link: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/04/12/xbox-XO_world-live
As you can see, if you go to the link it takes you to a 404 page, me thinking this might have been a leak, I went to Twitter by posting the image looking for more information. My thinking was that SEGA had exclusives promised for the upcoming Microsoft Xbox Series X platform that is coming out this fall, but I quickly noticed people pushing the narrative that ‘SEGA is being bought by Microsoft!’.
After this I decided it was time to do a reverse image search for this image and it only got one hit at the time. 4chan’s /v/ section and even in the thread, no one actually saw the Xbox ‘link’ working. This is obviously a well devised 4chan prank, so please ignore it when you browse online and don’t be shy by linking people spreading this false rumor to this article. I mean, do you really want to see a American company to buy SEGA-Sammy?
The SEGA Dreamcast controller is, well, a bit cheap feeling. Even when it came out it was one of the biggest complaints from SEGA fans upgrading from the SEGA Saturn. It looks like Retro Bit, who are re-releasing retro SEGA console controllers knows this and are now teasing their upcoming SEGA Dreamcast Retro Bit controllers.
“We bring you the #SEGA #Dreamcast controller with features made just for you!
Wired & Wireless options will have you making a tough decision, but with a 6-button layout, redesigned Dpad, & new analog stick, you won’t regret either choice.” – Retro Bit via Twitter
According to the post, the new Dreamcast controllers are coming sometime in late 2020.
SEGA has uploaded another exclusive character design work by Japan’s finest manga and anime designers in the industry, Shigenori Soejima (Persona series), Noizi Ito (Haruhi Suzumiya), and Ken Sugimori (Pokemon) by showing off the characters you will encounter during the adventure segments of Sakura Wars.
Sakura Wars (2019) will take center stage on April 28th for Playstation 4.
While news of a late April release date have been floating around for the upcoming Streets of Rage 4, the developer has said they cannot confirm this date. However what they can confirm is an amazing addition to the game: Retro stuff! Streets of Rage 4 will feature unlockable playable pixel art characters from the previous games in the franchise, complete with their sound effects, movesets and special moves. Combined with the game’s current roster, this brings the game up to 17 playable characters.
But wait, there’s more! The game will also include the soundtracks to Streets of Rage and Streets of Rage 2, which players can switch to and listen to as they brawl in the streets. These new elements are an awesome inclusion, and really elevates the game in my mind.
Streets of Rage 4 will be available soon for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
SEGA has uploaded an exclusive speak peek at three of Japan’s greatest anime/manga character designers in the industry, Horiguchi, BUNBUN, and Shimada, work on the upcoming Sakura Wars (2019) game for Playstation 4.
The video showcases sketches of the three Combat Revues that the New Flower Division will be up against in the Combat Revue World Games which consist of Shanghai, London, and Berlin Divisions. Sakura Wars (2019) will take center stage on April 28th for Playstation 4.
SEGA’s official retro channel, SEGA Forever, will be celebrating SEGA’s rich history, the company’s 60th anniversary, and all their retro-related releases with shared artwork, history, and many more to come.
What would you like to see them post on their social channels? Let us know in the comments below, I personally would like to see concept art of SEGA’s classic arcade titles and more interviews with developers.
Paramount Pictures released a first look clip at one of Sonic The Hedgehog‘s Movie Digital & Blu-ray bonus features, Around the World in 80 Seconds, where we see our blue hero speed around the entire globe while touring all the best landmarks he explains about through doodle drawings! Sonic the Hedgehog will be releasing digital on March 31st while the home release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD will release May 19th.
Next month, the animated sequel to Sakura Wars (2019), Sakura Wars the Animation, will be joining Funimation’s Spring 2020 Line Up for viewers to watch the anime though subtitles while airing simultaneous in Japan on April 3rd.
Taking place after the events of Sakura Wars (2019), New Flower Division team is transferred to Europe by Seijuro Kamiyama, and Sakura Amamiya was appointed Deputy Commander. Kamiyama returns home temporarily to the Flower Division who all struggle every day, but there is an unknown girl beside named Clara, who is the only survivor of the Moscow group that was destroyed after a major accident . Sakura welcomes Clara, who was commissioned by Kamiyama and transferred to the Flower Division. Meanwhile, a group that claims to be “Moscow Assault Force” suddenly appears in the Imperial City.
Based on the video game franchise, Sakura Wars the Animation arrives this spring from studio SANZIGEN and director Manabu Ono (Sword Art Online: Alicization). The series stars Ayane Sakura (My Hero Academia) as Sakura, Ayaka Fukuhara (Captain Tsubasa) as Anastasia, Maaya Uchida (GOBLIN SLAYER) as Hatsuho and Youhei Azakami (The Seven Deadly Sins) as Seijuro.
The combat trailer for Sakura Wars (2019) is here! Showcasing the battle segments that the player will be facing after exploring around during Adventure Mode and building strong relationships with their teammates. Here is a description of the combat feature, courtesy of SEGA Press:
“Almost immediately after being appointed captain of the Flower Division, your boss, Sumire Kanzaki, announces Tokyo’s sworn protectors are at risk of being disbanded. You and your squad have one chance to prove yourselves and save the legacy of the Flower Division – by winning the Combat Revue World Games. The Games are an intense, dynamic tournament where combat revues from around the world compete in elaborate stage performances and battle with their giant mecha. They were established with the hope it would foster a spirit of unity between the different revues while also enhancing their public profile, allowing these heroes to take the spotlight and display their combat prowess to the populace.”
The Flower Division can expect to face particularly fierce opposition from the combat revues of Shanghai, London, and Berlin. The rules are simple, though the path forward is anything but:
Every match is a three-on-three team battle spread across three rounds.
You’ll select two squad members who will fight alongside you.
Each team scores points by defeating targets located around the tournament arena.
These points contribute to a tug-of-war-like gauge. Win by overpowering your opponent in that gauge or by scoring the most points overall at the end of the match.
Sakura Wars (2019) take center stage on Playstation 4 for April 28th and is now available for pre-order. Check out screenshots of the battle segments after the jump.
SEGA has teamed up with Crunchyroll to give an exclusive speak peek at Tite Kubo’s, the main character designer for the manga series BLEACH, character designs for the upcoming Sakura Wars (2019) game for Playstation 4.
The video showcases sketches the new Flower Division character designs by the famous manga creator with many detailed expressions shown for each character. Sakura Wars (2019) will take center stage on April 28th for Playstation 4.