Atlus published Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth delisted from Western PSN Stores as license expires

If you haven’t bought the digital versions of Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception or Mask of Truth for either PlayStation 4 or Vita, you’re out luck. Atlus has delisted the games without warning because, according to a representative, the license ran out. The games still seem to be up on Steam, but those versions were published by DMM GAMES

While it does suck, it seems the physical versions are priced pretty fairly (Mask of Truth on Vita costs $25 bucks). To be honest both of these titles released in the West in 2017 and haven’t really heard too many people talking about them to the point of actually asking, do you think its worth it for a company like Atlus to update licenses for games that might not be selling so hot? Also shouldn’t these companies give us an advance noticed that these games will be delisted to see if any consumers want to add it to their library?

[Via Gematsu]

Taxman’s Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 Definitive Mobile Ports Finally get Decompiled by Fans Allowing Unofficial PSVita and PC ports

I will admit that I’m not really well versed on how this whole reverse engineering works, but thankfully twitter user Rubberduckycooly does and has now decompiled Christian “Taxman” Whitehead’s Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 mobile ports, which are considered by fans as the definitive versions of these titles.

You can check out Rubberduckycooly’s github page for future updates on this project.

This project would allow us to run Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 mobile ports on other platforms natively. So far we have seen people posting that its working on Windows, Mac, Linux, and the PlayStation Vita! This could also mean we can get fan ports on other hacked handhelds or consoles as well, but we shall see where the project goes. From what I understand, rubberduckycooly used the Sonic CD SDK base to get these ports on PC, Vita; so we shall see what happens in the future.

Really though, why hasn’t SEGA released these versions on all current consoles? Am I the only one that things its a waste to keep them mobile only?

Jet Set Radio composer lends talent to Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night

While some people will say that remixing a track of Persona 3 isn’t a huge deal, it is when its Hideki Naganuma who has delivered some of the best remixed soundtracks of all time. If you didn’t know Hideki Naganuma is known for composing soundtracks such as Jet Set Radio, Jet Set Radio Future, Ollie King, Sonic Rush, and more. The last time he worked within SEGA was in 2012 when he did minor work on Yakuza 5.

Seems that he is back, at least at Atlus. He has confirmed via twitter that has joined the Persona 3 Dancing Moon Night soundtrack and will be remixing “When the Moon’s Reaching out the Stars”, which you can hear above. Another company name that made the remix list is Yuu Miyake of Namco-Bandai fame, who is doing a remix of “Deep Breath Deep Breath”. But he has been on Persona soundtracks in the past. Nice to get new soundtrack featuring a track by Hideki Naganuma, even if its just a remix. Hey, maybe SEGA or Atlus will hire him more in the future. Here is hoping.

Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night hits PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, in Japan, on May 24, 2018. As far as I know there hasn’t been a Western release announced yet. Atlus plans to also release Persona 5: Dancing Star Night on the same.

Phantasy Star Online 2 shows off Virtual-On in-game crossover content

SEGA and the team behind Phantasy Star Online 2 have revealed that the game will get Virtual-On unlockable items coming this upcoming February. This update is being released to promote the upcoming A Certain Magical Virtual-On crossover game hitting Japan during the same month. The thing is, Virtual-On already had items available in the game, way back in 2014 along with Shining Force Cross Exlesia. Back then it was released to promote the digital only re-release of Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Force. It seems to be a re-release of the DLC, so if you play and missed it back in 2014! This Virtual-On DLC is pay for content…

SEGA also, according to the badly google translated description of the YouTube video, are celebrating 4.5 consecutive login-ins with SEGA ID. If you don’t know, SEGA ID is a service you have to sign up for to play Phantasy Star Online 2. I have also seen it used for some mobile games, so who knows if its just Phantasy Star Online 2 logins or if they’re counting anyone that just randomly logged into their SEGA ID account.

Yes, I know. I want Phantasy Star Online 2 in the west and no its not going to happen. Yes, it sucks. What else can we do about it besides play on the Japanese server?

 

A Certain Magical Virtual-On Demo Out Now on Japanese PSN

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If you have been excited to try the upcoming A Certain Magical Virtual-On for the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation Vita, the demo is now available. As for sizes of the demos, the PlayStation 4 comes in at 2.37 gigabytes and the PlayStation Vita version hits a much smaller 431.55 megabytes. The demo will feature all 13 playable Virtuaroids from the full game, include a tutorial and CPU battle mode. No online, of course.

SEGA is set to release A Certain Magical Virtual-On in Japan on February 15, 2018. SEGA West hasn’t announced any plans on localizing it. The last Virtual-On title to come West was Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram port on the Xbox 360 back in 2009, so its been awhile. I say make a Japanese PSN account, try the demo and if you like it, bother SEGA to release the game West.

A Certain Magical Virtual-On demo hits Japanese PSN on December 14

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SEGA has now revealed that the demo for A Certain Magical Virtual-On will hit Japanese PSN for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita (yeah, you read that right) on December 14. It was revealed by series producer Jurou Wataru via Dengeki Online.

The demo won’t feature online battles, but will have a tutorial explaining the games mechanics and CPU battles. The game will allow you to mess around with all 13 Virtuaroids that will be available in the full game. A Certain Magical Virtual-On is set to release on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on February 15, 2018 in Japan. No Western release plans have been announced yet. How many of you guys will be trying the upcoming demo?

[Via: Gematsu]

SEGA’s new A Certain Magical Virtual-On trailer shows off animated cutscenes, more gameplay

SEGA has unleashed a brand new trailer for the upcoming A Certain Magical Virtual-On, a crossover game featuring A Certain Magical Index and Virtual-On. The new trailer, which is a bit over 5 minutes in length will give you a look at the in-game characters you get to team up with, a glimpse at the in-game villain and even show you what the in-game animated cutscenes look like!

Personally, as a SEGA fan, I don’t care too much for the anime tie-in and happy that the gameplay looks likeVirtual-On with A Certain Magical Index being used to carry the story. One of the things that Virtual-On doesn’t have is good characterizations to make a story around. I’m sure the story will be silly, but hey, its Virtual-On, no whining! A Certain Magical Virtual-On hits Japan on February 15, 2018 only on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. No Western release for this title has been confirmed, as of right now.

[Via: Dengekionline]

SEGA shows off A Certain Magical Virtual-On box art

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Check out the official Japanese box art for A Certain Magical Virtual-On, an upcoming game being released on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The game features characters from the light novel franchise A Certain Magical Index and SEGA’s arcade franchiseCyber Troopers Virtual-On in a epic cross-over competitive game. 

A Certain Magical Virtual-On Japanese box art features Touma Kamijo (A Certain Magical Index) and Virtuaroid MBV-707/VSL “Temjin 707” (Virtual-On). I think the box art is just OK, nothing special and feel that the art style differences between Virtual-On and A Certain Magical Index really clash on the cover. For example Temjin 707 looks rather 3D while Touma Kamijo on the other hand is a typical anime drawing. As for the game, its set to launch on February 15, 2018 in Japan on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. SEGA West hasn’t announced a western release date as of this posting.

[Via: Gemastu]

A Certain Magical Virtual-On hits Japan on February 15

SEGA has announced during Sony’s Tokyo Game Show conference that A Certain Magcial Virtual-On will hit PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on February 15, 2017. Well, at least in Japan. A Certain Magical Virtual-On will cost 7,900 yen ($70.77 USD) on PlayStation 4 and 6,900 yen ($61.81 USD) on PlayStation Vita. The game will also have a limited edition that will cost 12,490 yen ($111.89 USD) on PlayStation 4 and 10,990 yen ($98.45 USD) on the PlayStation Vita.

What does the Limited Edition come with? The PlayStation 4 Limited Edition will be called ‘Discipline 55‘ and come with “Chronicle 20” novel (500+ pages) and “Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Official Sound Data 18” soundtrack CD. The PlayStation Vita version is being titled “A Certain Magical Archive” which comes with a Encyclopedia of Index-Librorum-Prohibitorum novel (100+ pages) and A Certain Magical Index soundtrack CD. So it seems that SEGA will make the PlayStation 4 extras Virtual-On related and the PlayStation Vita A Certain Magical Archive extras.

[Via: Gematsu]

A Certain Magical Virtual-On details its control styles, introduces characters and adds fourth weapon

A-Certain-Magical-Virtual-On_Points_SystemDegeki Online has put up a big preview for SEGA’s upcoming crossover A Certain Magical Virtual-On which confirms Kuroko Shirai and Misaki Shokuhou as new characters. It also goes into detail about the in-game system including the new ‘Transition action’ and control styles that will be introduced in this title.

Hit the jump to learn more about these new A Certain Magical Virtual-On systems.

SEGA showing off Tokyo Game Show 2017 lineup

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SEGA has launched their Tokyo Game Show 2017 website, showing off what games will be playable, only shown in video and which games will have press conferences. Not all SEGA games at Tokyo Game Show 2017 will be playable, sadly. So, lets get to it and see what we will see more of later this month.

  • Fist of the North Star – (Stage show, photo spot, trailers and gameplay videos)
  • Yakuza Kiwami 2 – (Playable, stage show, trailers, playable footage, merchandise, and photo spots)
  • A Certain Magical Virtual-On – (Playable, stage show, trailers and merchandise)
  • Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Future Tone DX – (Playable, trailers and merchandise)
  • Sonic Forces – (Playable, stage show, trailers, and merchandise)
  • Phantasy Star Online 2 – (Playable, trailers, stage show, merchandise, and photo spot)
  • Yakuza Online – (Trailers)
  • Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation – (Playable, Stage Show and Trailers)

Translation is a bit iffy, but it seems that the stage shows will be streamed online from what I gather. We shall keep you updated on that via our twitter and on this blog. We will be having a writer at Tokyo Game Show, so expect a SEGA News Bits video and write up discussing some of these playable games.

Valkyria Revolution Review – A Losing Battle (PS4)

ValkyriaRevolutionReview
The Valkyria series has had a rather shaky history. The original game in the series, Valkyria Chronicles, was released in 2008 on the PS3. The initial release on the PS3 was met with generally positive reviews, but it was lacking in terms of sales. The game was notably praised for it’s more free movement via the BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zones) system, being somewhat of a successor to the battle system in Sakura Taisen 3 and future titles. Later Valkyria Chronicles would receive better success with the later PC port in 2014, along with being successful enough to spawn two sequels on the PSP simply called Valkyria Chronicles II and Valkyria Chronicles III respectively.

But after a bit of a hiatus, the Valkyria series is back with a new installment on the Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, and Xbox One (Western exclusive), more specifically a spin-off game that shifts genres from a strategy RPG to a more traditional action RPG, while retaining some familiar Valkyria elements. Is this game a revolution like implied, or should it stay oppressed?

Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls hits PC June 12

shg3For PC gamers that have been waiting for Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls to hit PC, your wait is almost over. According to the Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls steam store page, the game is set to release on the platform on June 12. Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls on PC will be a PlayStation Vita port that promises up to 1080p graphics and other improvements over the original release.

Here is a overview of Superdimension Neptune vs Sega Hard Girls on PC:

[Source: Gematsu]