3DS

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice releases today in North America

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SEGA’s Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice releases today for the Nintendo 3DS in North America, and will release a few days from now on September 30th in Europe. The game is available both digitally on the Nintendo eShop and physically with a special Launch Edition for the Americas which includes a collector’s box and a DVD of select Sonic Boom TV show episodes featuring Metal Sonic and Shadow. While reviews have started to trickle in, expect a SEGAbits review early next week and possibly a SEGA News Bits episode between then and now. I can say that after playing the game for an hour, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is an improvement on Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal. Many issues I had with the original game have been addressed, and aspects that I enjoyed have been given more focus. Even as I write this, I’m itching to go back and play some more, which is a good sign.

After the break, check out the full press release from SEGA!

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Platinum Games teases Bayonetta Amiibo

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Have you ever wanted a Bayonetta amiibo figure? Well, Platinum Games just teased a Bayonetta amiibo they have been working on for Bayonetta 2’s second year anniversary. This also goes with the fact that Bayonetta was also featured in Super Smash Bros Wii U & 3DS. According to Bayonetta 2 director Yusuke Hashimoto, the above picture is all they can show us due to the team still working on getting her just right.

“I’m afraid that this little taste is all I can give you right now, since we’re still working hard to get her just right. But I assure you that we’re going to capture everything you know and love about Bayonetta – every detail down to the exact sizes of her glasses and eyes – and bring you an amiibo that’ll meet your every expectation.” – Yusuke Hashimoto (Director Bayonetta 2)

What do you think about the Bayonetta amiibo and is this a character you would like to add to your growing collection? Let us know in the comments below. Bayonetta 2 came out in Japan on September 20, 2014, while everyone outside of Japan got it towards the end of October 2014. All I can say is, my body is ready for Bayonetta 3 (too soon?).

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You can find two instances of Japanese text in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

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shin megami tensei iv: apocalypse japanese text

Oh no! Word has gotten out that there exists an instance in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse where you can run into the original, untouched Japanese text. The situation can occur during a late game battle only where a dialogue choice is given and if your partner is knocked out when that comes up. The chances of both requirements being met for this to occur are pretty slim, so it appears Atlus testers did not catch the text before the game was manufactured.

Atlus USA has been quick to apologize for the untranslated text and found one additional spot upon a thorough search. Of course, some people will use any opportunity to complain, and at least one GameFAQs poster has.

In a forum post titled “The game costs an extra $10 and it has no quality checking (MAJOR SPOILERS),” he posts a picture of the Japanese dialogue and berates Atlus. “Good job, Atlus. You couldn’t even bother to make sure that everything was translated.”

Usually I scoff at anyone who insists that gamers are entitled, but in this instance I think it applies well. There are huge projects exponentially larger than Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse with crazy budgets that ship with absolutely game-breaking or more horrendous bugs all of the time. This falls under a fairly benign issue that can easily be overcome by using a web search to find out what the correct English text should be.

Atlus has pledged to look into a possibility of correcting the errors somehow, whether it be possibly patching the game, changing the eShop version, or adjusting future shipments of the game in some manner. It’s also possible Nintendo will make doing any of these things nearly impossible due to their archaic systems, so I wouldn’t hold your breath for it.

I do have an easy solution to this problem in the meantime. If you don’t suck, you’ll never encounter it.

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Review: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (3DS)

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shin megami tensei iv: apocalypse review

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is not quite a sequel, side story, or even an expansion to the well-received Shin Megami Tensei IV.

If you took the movie Die Hard and filmed a What If ending showcasing what could happen if Reginald VelJohnson’s character Sgt. Al Powell had infiltrated the Nakatomi Plaza instead of waiting on the sidelines, then you would find yourself in a similar situation. Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse uses this What If scenario to fine-tune the gameplay from its predecessors and treat players to a very satisfying RPG for the Nintendo 3DS.

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Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse launch trailer arrives

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All hell, heaven, and everything in between breaks loose in this Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse launch trailer. It does contain minor plot spoilers, mostly from the first 30 to 60 minutes of gameplay.

Last week, Atlus dropped a fairly humorous skit about their team picking a new name for the game that was known as Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final in Japan. It’s even more amusing after you begin playing the game and get the rest of the jokes. I think this could be the start of something awesome if they continue making interesting videos like this.

Are you looking forward to Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse? Our review of the game goes live in just a few days. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse releases in the Americas next Tuesday, September 20th.

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Deals: Steel Empire 3DS port discounted to $9.99 on eShop

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If you’re looking for something to pick up and play this weekend, then might I recommend the Steel Empire 3DS port? It normally runs for $29.99 on the Nintendo eShop, but is currently going for just $9.99.

Those unfamiliar with the relatively obscure horizontal shooter might find its steampunk aesthetic pleasing. You can choose to fight with either a plane or a blimp, but of course you’re going to pick the blimp nearly every time.

The Sega Genesis shooter was originally created by HOT-B, with the 3DS remake being developed by Mebuis. The 3DS version received fairly good reviews from respectable outlets. So if horizontal shooters are your thing, there’s no reason not to give it a shot.

We’d like to start posting about Sega deals more often again, so if you spot a sale going on, please let us know!

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SEGA News Bits: SEGA 3D Fukkoku Archives 3 Announced Reaction

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If you missed the news, SEGA has announced SEGA 3D Fukkoku Archives 3, which is best known in the west as SEGA 3D Classics Collection. This is the third volume released in Japan, while we only got one in the West. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we discuss all the confirmed games for the SEGA 3D Fukkoku Archives 3, what hasn’t been announced and what Japanese fans wanted to see. This is a pretty exciting collection of games, so let us know in the comments what you want to see added and how SEGA could bring it west!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments, make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube to get more.

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Atlus to hold Etrian Odyssey V panel

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An Etrian Odyssey V discussion panel will be held in Japan on September 30th, 2016. It will be at the Shinjuku Loft Plus One venue in Tokyo, Japan at 8:30PM.

Panel hosts will include long-time Etrian Odyssey panel leaders Yoshihisa Kawahara and Ayumi Murase (both voice actors in EO V), as well as composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The announcement page for the event states that the show will discuss the Etrian Odyssey series and potentially include spoilers for the fifth entry, which released in Japan on August 4th.

Pre-sale tickets will be 2,000 yen, while tickets on the day of the panel will run 2,500 yen. Food and drink are included for free along with admission price. The show is restricted to persons 18 and older only, so expect a good drink selection.

You can buy tickets in advance over here starting on September 10th if you are interested in attending.

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SEGA releases extended Puyo Puyo Chronicles trailer

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SEGA has shown off a new extended trailer for Puyo Puyo Chronicles showing off more footage of the upcoming Nintendo 3DS Action Puzzle RPG title that is set to release before the end of the year in Japan. Let me just say that Puyo Puyo Chronicles is looking like the best game in the series and just in time for the franchise’s 25th Anniversary.

While Puyo Puyo Chronicles is set to hit Japan on December 8 of this year, SEGA West hasn’t announced plans on bringing the title over. If you wanna help sway their opinion, go on social media and use the tag #PuyoChroniclesForTheWest, also don’t be scared of letting SEGA know directly.

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SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE getting 3D Turbo Outrun

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TurboOutrunThe best things about these SEGA 3D Archives/SEGA 3D Classics Collections is that they always announce a few new digital titles to make fans want to purchase the physical copy of the game. If you didn’t know, SEGA announced SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE with five returning SEGA 3D Classics titles, but also teased a fan poll on what Japanese fans wanted in the collection. While they didn’t show what came in at number one, it is now been revealed to be Turbo Outrun!

Not only that, Turbo Outrun will also be a timed exclusive game for the physical release of SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE which is set to have 9 total titles in the collection. That means that there are still three more titles to announce before SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE releases on December 22, 2016 for 4,990 yen (about $48 USD), SEGA is also planning a SEGA 3D Archives triple pack for 8,990 yen (about $86 USD). Of course SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE hasn’t been confirmed for a western release but I hear Turbo Outrun wants to make America great again.

[Source: Siliconera]

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SEGA shows off Tokyo Game Show 2016 confirmed lineup

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TGS2016LineUpFans of SEGA of Japan games should be looking forward to Tokyo Game Show 2016, sadly if you are looking for new games you will have to wait till the event starts on September 15, 2016. But SEGA has confirmed what games (plot spoiler: there aren’t many) are going to be at the event and what type of content to expect from those games. You can check out SEGA’s Tokyo Game Show 2016 website they just put up.

  • Puyo Puyo Chronicle (Nintendo 3DS) – Will get playable demo, new trailer, stage event, and merchandise
  • Valkyria: Azure Revolution (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita) – Playable demo, new trailer, stage show, and merchandise
  • Yakuza 6 (PlayStation 4) – Playable demo, new trailer, theater show, stage show, and merchandise

It is quite obvious that SEGA is putting the most effort into promoting Yakuza 6, which is the highest budget game being created by SEGA Japan, but what is weird is that they haven’t confirmed what they are doing for Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live, Sonic Mania or Sonic Project 2017. Is SEGA not going to show these titles? Not to mention the confirmed titles are all games coming out in the next few months, wonder if SEGA Japan will show off any titles for later in 2017…

Again this is just a list for now as Atlus has only shown off Persona 5 as a confirmed title. Persona 5 will get a playable demo, new trailer, studio broadcast, stage show, and merchandise. Tokyo Game Show 2016 runs from September 15 through September 18, 2016, we will have full coverage of the event. Stay tune!

[Via: Siliconera]

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse to hit Europe this Winter

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7th_Dragon_III_Code_VFD_Screenshot_09If you remember back in July SEGA announced a European publishing partnership with Deep Silver, which has now confirmed that Europeans will be getting their JRPG fix this winter since both Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse and 7th Dragon III Code: VFD games will be released in the region before the end of the year. Both titles are obviously exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. Sadly Deep Silver didn’t reveal the exact date, only that they will be released in Europe before the end of 2016.

If you are thinking of picking up 7th Dragon III Code: VFD, you should check out our review on the game. Long story short, if you like JRPGs then its something to keep on your radar. While 7th Dragon III Code: VFD has already been out in America since July 12, 2016, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse won’t release over here until the September 20; so at least one title isn’t much of a wait, all things considering. We will keep you updated on any more information regarding European releases of SEGA and Atlus games, so stay tuned in.

[Source: Nintendo Life]

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Watch Puyo Puyo Chronicle’s First Gameplay Footage

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SEGA has streamed about 7 minutes of Puyo Puyo Chronicle gameplay showing off its action puzzle RPG elements that has gotten me so excited to play it. The stream was part of their ‘Sega-Nama’ live streaming show hosted by Toshihiro Nagoshi. If you missed it we posted about Puyo Puyo Chronicle‘s the announcement, first trailer and even had a whole SEGA News Bits episode talking about the game.

Puyo Puyo Chronicle will be heading exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS and will release in Japan on December 8, 2016 for 5,490 yen ($54.77 USD) which is actually a bit less than a full price Nintendo 3DS game in Japan. No Western release has been announced thus far, but you never know. We did get 7th Dragon III Code VFD. 

[Source: Gematsu]

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SEGA News Bits: Puyo Puyo Chronicle Announced for 3DS Reaction

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On this episode of SEGA News Bits, we react to Puyo Puyo Chronicle being announced for the franchise’s 25th Anniversary. We talk about the franchise’s weird localization issues, Puyo Puyo titles to have made it west and why Puyo Puyo Chronicle should come out outside of Japan. If you missed the famitsu scans showing off Puyo Puyo Chronicle’s in-games graphics I suggest you give them a look see right here.

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments, make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube where we post multiple episodes per week. Thanks for watching.

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