Zillion: The Complete Series anime now available on blu-ray and DVD

Back in July 2018 we shared the exciting news that the Zillion anime was receiving a blu-ray, DVD and digital release in the west. Westerners know Zillion best from the SEGA Master System games, as well as the five episodes of the anime and OVA Zillion: Burning Night which received dubbed VHS releases in the early 90s, as well as a short run of comics from the publisher Eternity. The series is loaded with Master System references and cameos from our favorite sentient space ship Opa Opa.

Now you can own the complete series of 31 episodes plus the OVA movie Zillion: Burning Night in a box set containing 4 blu-rays, 5 DVDs and a digital download code. As of this article, the set is 40% off on Amazon, which you can order here.

I’ll admit, this release passed us by as the set has been out since October 2018, but better late then never!

Attention SEGA Master System fans: Funimation licenses 1987 anime Zillion – home video release coming in October

Good news, Master System fans! Funimation has licensed the 80s anime Zillion! Zillion is a 1987 sci-fi anime from Tatsunoku Productions than ran for 31 episodes. It centers around White Knight J.J. and his fellow White Knights Apple and Champ as they defend the earth colony Maris from the evil Nozas, an alien race intent on wiping humans off the face of the planet. The White Knights battle the forces of evil with their signature weapon, the Zillion Weapon System, a Master System light gun (complete with the cord) capable of destroying the Nozas, who are otherwise invulnerable to human weaponry.

Atlus sets live stream to reveal Persona 5 The Animation details on December 24

Atlus is set to share new information about their upcoming Persona 5 The Animation via a live stream on December 24 at 20:00 JST. Atlus Japan is naming the live stream “Super Secret Information Reveal! Broadcast Special” which will air on live TV in Japan via Abema TV’s New Anime Channel as well as YouTube Live.

The Persona 5 The Animation reveal stream will also feature Persona 5 talent like Jun Fukuyama (voice of protagonist), Aoi Yuuki (Futaba Sakura), and Souichirou Hoshi (Goro Akechi). A lot of Persona fans love these animation entries because it adds new stories and backstories to characters found in the main games. We shall see what Atlus has to reveal by the end of the month.

Persona 5 recently won RPG of the year by the Video Game Awards earlier this month. You can pick up Persona 5 on both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. If you haven’t read our review, we highly recommend the game.

[Via: Gematsu]

Initial D Arcade Stage Zero shows off Toyota AE86 gameplay

SEGA has posted a new Initial D Arcade Stage Zero trailer showing off gameplay using the iconic Toyota AE86 car. The cool thing about the Initial D Arcade Stage Zero gameplay trailer is that they also show the player shifting, pumping the gas, slamming the breaks, and turning the steering wheel as you see how it effects the game. The trailer is also pretty long, showing a full race including a in-game track that features some very Japanese ‘Engrish’ vocals. Outside of that, Initial D Arcade Stage Zero is sporting some non-spectacular graphics, but I don’t think that’s the selling point with this game. Did I mention that the drifting looks fun? Because it does.

This isn’t the only trailer Initial D Arcade Stage Zero got, SEGA Japan released two at the same time. The second trailer is rather shorter clocking in at just under a minute and a half. This Initial D Arcade Stage Zero trailer highlights its versus mode, car customization, arcade cabinet, gear shift, and much more. For fans of the series, this game is exclusive to arcades with no plans of it coming to consoles. Yeah, its a bit sad. If you wanna see the second trailer hit the jump.

SEGA announces A Certain Magical Index / Virtual-On crossover game

SEGA has announced A Certain Magical Index / Virtual-On crossover game, which is coming in 2018 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The game is being based on the 2016 light novel ‘Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On’  which was a novel having both franchises crossing over and was created to celebrate Virtual-On‘s 20th Anniversary.  It seems that SEGA loved the idea so much, that they needed to create a full blown game based on the light novel. We don’t know if the actual game will use the light novel’s story, which seems to be highly possible.

Here is the summary for the ‘Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On, which seems to be pretty basic in terms of story.  As for what the game will be and how it will play, SEGA has been conservative on those details. If this is just a Virtual-On game with A Certain Magical Index characters playing as the Virtuaroids, I’ll be OK with that. The last Virtual-On game released was ‘Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force‘ back in 2010 on Xbox 360. You can watch the A Certain Magical Index / Virtual-On crossover game trailer above.

What are your thoughts on A Certain Magical Index / Virtual-On crossover game? Do you like the idea of SEGA using in-house properties to relaunch franchises?

Sonic X The Complete Season 3 DVD now available to pre-order

SonicX_Coll2S3

Sonic X The Complete Season 3 is now available to pre-order on Amazon. Earlier this year, video distribution company Discotek Media announced that they had acquired the rights to release the complete English dub of Sonic X and the Japanese dub of SEGA Hard Girls to North America. While Sonic X complete seasons 1 and 2 is available to pre-order and due out November 8th, season 3 was announced to release a month later on December 6th. Described as “Collection 2 – The Metarex Saga”, the release contains episodes 53 through 78 and will complete Discotek Media’s releases of the series.

Prior to Discotek Media’s acquisition, the series had been released on a variety of DVDs including single disc releases containing three episodes and saga releases. These releases have since gone out of print and many are quite expensive, making it difficult for fans to complete the series. Discotek Media’s release is by far the most simple that Sonic X has received in America with only two collections.

SEGA News Bits: Sonic X & SEGA Hard Girls Blu-Ray & DVD Releases Discussion

If you have been waiting the Sonic X and SEGA Hard Girls blu-ray and DVD releases, you might not have to wait too long since they are coming by the end of the year. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we discuss the upcoming Sonic X and SEGA Hard Girls releases, talk about physical media and what you need to know about these newer releases. Is anyone here going to pick up the Sonic X DVDs or the SEGA Hard Girls Blurays?

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments, make sure to share the videos with like minded folks and hit that subscribe button. Thanks for the support!

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Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls English Trailer Released

Did you know that Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is a thing? I know, weird right? If you didn’t know Sega Hard Girls is a anime TV show that references lots of SEGA history including games and consoles (the characters are named after SEGA consoles). Which is sorta the same conscept behind Superdimension Neptune games thus we have Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls!

 Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is set to hit the PlayStation Vita this fall and being published by Idea Factory International and being developed by Compile Heart.

[Source: Gematsu]

Celebrating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 25th anniversary with 25 great underrated moments

sonic 25 headerSEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise turns 25 today, and while we’ve celebrated franchise milestone years in the past, there is something really special about this one. A quarter of a century is a long time, and it is a testament to SEGA’s perseverance and the devotion of the Sonic fanbase that the franchise is still going strong. Sonic Lost World and the Sonic Boom franchise – particularly the games – are often pinpointed as the franchise’s recent weak points and signs that the franchise as a whole needs to be put down or at the very least take a long break. While I am not here to debate the merits of Sonic Lost World and Sonic Boom, I will say that to end a series or take a long break because of either is both incredibly shortsighted and far too extreme a reaction. I would also argue that Sonic is about much more than just the main series games, as fans like to label the major titles, and that there has always been great Sonic things happening even during the franchise’s darkest years.

In celebration of 25 years of Sonic the Hedgehog, join me in looking back year-by-year as I shine the light on great moments in Sonic history that more people need to be talking about.

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Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition to add Netoge no Yome’s Ako and Lucian via DLC

DBFCI_03-07-16_003Seems that SEGA will be supporting Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition via paid DLC as they have just announced Netoge no Yome‘s Ako (voiced by Rina Hidaka) and Lucian (voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga) as playable characters. If you didn’t know, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition hasn’t been released in the US, we got the previous title just known as Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax. Yes, it was a poor decision in SEGA’s part for not waiting for this updated re-release, which seems at this point to be the definitive version.

Both characters are from ‘Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta?‘ (translates to: “And you thought there is  never a girl online?”) which is a comedic manga where a naive protagonist proposes to a female character in an online game, only to find out that its actually a guy. Being traumatized by the experience, he vows to never trust females online again, until a female proposes to him…

No release date for the characters has been announced, but they will be playable at this year’s Dengeki Game Festival in Japan. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition is out now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in Japan.

[Via: Gematsu]

Sentai Filmworks bringing Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation to North America

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While it’s not the video game, some form of Phantasy Star Online 2 will be making its way to North America thanks to anime licensing company Sentai Filmworks which has picked up the distribution rights for “Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation” in North America. In a press release dated today, Sentai Filmworks revealed that the anime series will be a part of their winter 2016 anime season lineup. Sentai Filmworks releases anime on both traditional and digital media platforms, so expect “Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation” to be released on one of or both of those formats, and based on Sentai Filmworks’ past releases a home video release is possible.

After the break, read the full press release.

SEGA details ‘tour mode’ for Miracle Girls Festival rhythm game

Do you like your rhythm games with a hint of moe? Is the numerous Hatsune Miku games just not cute enough for you? Don’t worry because SEGA has Miracle Girls Festival coming out this winter in Japan exclusively to Playstation Vita.

SEGA has detailed one of the game’s main features, “Tour Mode” which will let you become a concert director while picking from over six different location venues throughout the nation (I assume nation = Japan).  You’ll preform the sets, try to get a quota of audiences to fill seats and all that jazz.

You’ll earn ‘Miracle Coins’ by playing through songs and the number of coins you receive depends on how well you do. You use said currency to unlock new songs. If you want a list of songs that will be included in the full game, hit the jump. Personally these games aren’t my style, but if you like them then this one looks… cute?

[Via: Gematsu]

Phantasy Star Online 2 Anime revolves around gamers playing the game

SEGA not only revealed that Phantasy Star Online 2 was coming to Playstation 4, but they gave us a teaser for their upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation aka the anime based around gamers that play the online RPG.

Animenewsnetwork translated the text in the trailer:

Text: With over 3.5 million user IDs
Text: Japan’s largest online RPG
Text: Phantasy Star Online 2
Text: Is finally green-lit for its anticipated
Text: TV anime adaptation!!

Text: Shouta Aoi as Itsuki Tachibana
Text: Ayaka Suwa as Rina Izumi
Text: M.A.O as Aika Suzuki

Text: Broadcast premiere slated for 2016 on TBS, BS-TBS, and other stations!

The premise of the show is that it follows the lives of players of Phantasy Star Online 2 ‘who may be near you’, taking place on Earth in the near future. Seems that someone at SEGA was inspired by Sword Art Online. The anime will hit Japanese TV stations sometime in 2016, will you watch it?

SEGA officially confirms Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax hits America and Europe on October 6th

Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Day Bonus Soundtrack
SEGA has finally confirmed that Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax will launch for Playstation 3 and PS Vita on October 6 in North America, South America and Europe. We made a post in June stating it was suppose to come out on August 25th, a date given to us by a Gamestop listing, but that date turned out to be wrong.

North and South America will have ‘special launch edition’ version of the game that will include a bonus soundtrack CD that includes tracks from SEGA composers like Teruhiko Nakagawa, Naofumi Hataya, Kenichi Tokoi, and Jun Senoue. This will only be available to pre-orders and day one copies.

[Via: Gematsu]

SEGA announces Phantasy Star Online 2 anime TV show

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During a event in Okinaway on Sunday, SEGA announced that its 2012 Free-To-Play online RPG Phantasy Star Online 2 will be getting a television anime adaption. The anime, being called Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation, will have a completely new storyline and take place on Earth in the near future.

During the event SEGA also revealed that Phantasy Star Online 2 has had over 3.5 million registered users. Sadly the only thing we know is that it will be coming out sometime in 2016. Now if we can get a release of the game over here in America and Europe, that’d be great!

[Source:Famitsu]