3D Power Drift standalone Nintendo eShop release to feature a SEGA all-stars bonus mode

3dclassicspower

Okay, this is amazing. Remember when SEGA released the SEGA 3D Classics Collection (Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 2 in Japan) and it featured some new games including the arcade Power Drift? Well, SEGA is planning on releasing a standalone Nintendo eShop release and as an added incentive the game features a new special mode! As detailed on the official Japanese product page is a special mode that is earned upon completing the game once. One element of this mode replaces course music with medleys from other SEGA arcade classics. The course and medley breakdown is as follows:

  • Course A: Space Harrier medley
  • Course B: OutRun medley
  • Course C: Fantasy Zone medley
  • Course D: Thunder Blade medley
  • E courses: AfterBurner medley

The other element of this special mode is really cool. Each Power Drift driver is replaced by an all-star cast of characters from past SEGA 3D Classics, effectively making it a super scaler SEGA All-Stars Racing game! The roster is as follows: Harrier, Binsbein (3D Space Harrier), Nameless Beast Warrior (3D Altered Beast), Flagman (3D OutRun), Joe Musashi (3D The Revenge of Shinobi Ⅱ), Dralinflore (3D Fantasy Zone), Axel, Blaze, Adam (3D Bare Knuckle), Mr. Hang-On (3D Super Hang-On), Galaxy Lady (3D Galaxy Force), and Alex Kidd (who did not appear in a 3D Classics title yet, but has made cameos in many credit sequences in the series).

This mode is exclusive to the Japanese Nintendo eShop release of 3D Power Drift. More information on this awesome bonus as we hear it, and here’s hoping we get a localization with this new mode! After the break, check out a full gallery of the roster.

SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE compilation announced for Nintendo 3DS

CrGIESkUIAEN-M8

It has just been announced that SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE, a physical collection of SEGA 3D Classics will be coming to Japan. In the West, we only got SEGA 3D Archives 2 as SEGA 3D Classics Collection earlier this year.

Games confirmed in SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE:

  • After Burner II
  • Super Hang-On
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  • Gunstar Heroes 
  • More to come

According to SEGA’s questionnaire that Japanese fans filled out lots of people want to see titles like Wing War, Gain Ground, Outrunners, and Virtua Racing to join the SEGA 3D Classics line-up. Famitsu didn’t reveal which was the number one requested game, you will have to wait for September 15 to find out since that’s when their magazine comes out. But let me spoil it for you, I bet you it was Virtua Fighter. SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE could get new timed exclusive titles, just like the last volume had Puyo Puyo 2 and Drift Stage as timed exclusives. SEGA 3D Archives 3 FINAL STAGE is set to hit Japan on December 22, 2016. No idea if SEGA West will plan on bringing it over.

[Source: Famitsu]

Select SEGA 3D Classics get 50% off sale on North American eShop

SEGA3DCLassicsSaleIf you have been waiting to catch up on SEGA 3D Classics re-releases, this might be your time since the following nine titles will be discounted on the North American eShop!

These are the following SEGA 3D Classics titles that are on sale for $3 bucks each which means they are 50% off (worth every dollar, penny and even dime):

  • 3D After Burner II
  • 3D Ecco the Dolphin
  • 3D Gunstar Heroes
  • 3D Out Run
  • 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
  • 3D Space Harrier
  • 3D Streets of Rage
  • 3D Streets of Rage 2
  • 3D Super Hang-On

While I recommend readers get every single title they don’t have but if you can only get one title out of all of these PICK UP 3D OUT RUN! If driving cars isn’t your thing, get the Streets of Rage titles and celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary with your boys. The sale ends on August 29 at 8:59 AM PT/ 11:59 AM ET. What SEGA 3D Classics are you picking up? 

[Via NintendoEverything]

SEGA 3D Classics is 30% off on Amazon

sega3dclassicscollectionDidn’t pick up SEGA 3D Classics when it came out a few months ago? Shame on you! But its OK, you can now make it up to us by picking up SEGA 3D Classics for only $21.97 on Amazon (does have Prime shipping). That is pretty damn cheap way of playing classics like Power Drift, Puyo Puyo 2, Fantasy Zone II, and many more on the go. I do know that first print copies came with awesome SEGA stickers, don’t know if that is still the case but most likely it does.

You can buy a copy here. 

If you already have SEGA 3D Classics, good, now you can get a copy for your Nintendo heathen friends. So what do you guys think of the game going on sale out of nowhere? Good price?

SEGA 3D Classics get discounted on the American eShop

SEGA3DClassicsGunstarShinobiOutrunNine of SEGA’s fantastic SEGA 3D Classics remake/re-releases are getting a discount on the North American eShop. If you haven’t picked up some of these titles I totally think its the time to get on it. If I had to recommend one of the following nine titles, I would totally recommend 3D Out Run. Read my review on that title here.

The following games are being discounted (from $5.99 to $3.99):

  • 3D Super Hang-On
  • 3D Space Harrier
  • 3D Ecco the Dolphin
  • 3D Streets of Rage
  • 3D Streets of Rage 2
  • 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
  • 3D After Burner II
  • 3D Out Run
  • 3D Gunstar Heroes

Which SEGA 3D Classics do you own and which SEGA 3D Classics are you looking into purchasing in this sale? Let us know in the comments below.

[Via: Go Nintendo]

M2 wants to release Alien Syndrome as a ‘SEGA 3D Classic’

aliensyndrome-wallpaperIn the latest M2 interview with Yosuke Okunari, Kagasei Shimomura and Naoki Horii, which is posted over at the SEGA blog, the team talks about testing the 3D features with games like Alien Syndrome on the Nintendo 3DS.

KS: So rewinding a little bit, before we settled on Power Drift, we had a couple of titles to choose from for this. We talked about Alien Syndrome, Golden Axe, Turbo Out Run, and even Columns.

NH: (looks at the lineup list) These are pretty bold choices.
– I’d like to see Alien Syndrome someday. Stereoscopic 3D would be really effective in that game.

NH: Oh that game is amazing. We did a little test on it to see how it would turn out and it was great. Although, doing every single stage would be quite an effort.

You can read the full interview here. Its a great interview, they talk about the hardships they encountered while trying to bring Power Drift and Puyo Puyo 2 to the 3DS. You know what we say, more SEGA 3D Classics, the better.

[Via: NintendoLife]

SEGA 3D Classics Collection to include cool SEGA decals for your Nintendo 3DS

unnamed

When SEGA of America announced the SEGA 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS, we lamented that it didn’t include a cool pack-in like a poster. While it’s not a poster, today SEGA has announced that every physical launch edition of the game will include a sweet silver decal sticker sheet featuring classic SEGA logos and images to use to decorate your 3DS (or anything else). Knowing my collector’s mentality, I’ll never use the stickers and just stare longingly at them.

After the break, read SEGA’s full breakdown of the decals and don’t forget to pre-order SEGA 3D Classics Collection which releases in stores and digitally exclusively in the Americas for $29.99/CA$44.99 on April 26, 2016.

Metacritic ranks SEGA as their #1 publisher of 2015

SEGAMetacriticPublisher2015While SEGA didn’t release a lot of games during their 2015 year, the critics seemed to like the games they did release. From their SEGA 3D Classics to niche Japanese titles like Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX.  Metacritic ranks SEGA as their #1 publisher of 2015, beating the likes of companies like Sony Computer Entertainment, TellTale Games and yeah, even Nintendo. It seems that people already are calling this unfair due to most of the titles being re-releases, but their really good and add new content. I suggest people having issues with this to ask Metacritic to change the rules. When was the last time you could say ‘Metacritic ranks SEGA #1’?

Here are the list of publishers and how they ranked:

  1. SEGA – 77.1%
  2. Telltale Games – 74.6%
  3. Sony – 74.4%
  4. Activision Blizzard – 72%
  5. Devolver Digital – 73.5%
  6. Nintendo – 71.7%
  7. EA – 71.9%
  8. Bandai Namco – 69.5%
  9. Ubisoft – 69.9%

Seems that SEGA’s new stradegy of releasing fewer titles but making sure the titles that are released are of ‘good to great’ quality might be the solution to rebuilding their brand. This year we have (in the west) games like Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, Yakuza 0 (maybe), 7th Dragon III: Code VFC, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, Total War: Warhammer, SEGA 3D Classics Collection, and even that rumored Sonic 25th Anniversary game. If all goes as planned, SEGA might top the list again. Metacritic ranks SEGA #1, how do you feel about this?

3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 releasing October 8th to the Nintendo eShop

Screen Shot 2015-09-28 at 3.19.40 PM

3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was supposed to release at the end of September for the Nintendo 3DS, but when last week came and went we here at SEGAbits grew curious as to what happened to the game’s expected release date.

An hour after we tweeted the question of when the game will be releasing out to the official Sonic the Hedgehog account, SEGA made a tweet announcing that the game would release on October 8th. Coincidence? Probably, but we’d like to think we lit a fire under SEGA for the answer. So expect the last of SEGA 3D Classics wave 2 to release in just 10 days, and in the meantime why not grab the first Sonic game from wave 1 to brush up on your classic Sonic skills?

3D Power Drift and 3D Puyo Puyo 2 gameplay footage shown off

SEGA Japan  announced that they are releasing a second boxed version for their SEGA Reprint Archives, which gathers up SEGA 3D Classics digital releases into a physical format. While the first release was only made up of already released digitally titles, this second one has a few new titles that have not yet been digitally released. The two biggest titles are 3D Power Drift and 3D Puyo Puyo 2! During their Tokyo Game Show presentation, SEGA showed off gameplay footage of both these titles which you can see above.

3D Power Drift is actually running in widescreen, not every SEGA 3D Classic is released with native widescreen support (See their Genesis/Mega Drive releases), so its nice that they put in the extra effort. Seems that Puyo Puyo 2 will keep its original aspect ratio, from the footage being shown. Though, I guess if I had to choose one of the two games to get widescreen support it would be Power Drift. I’m pretty excited for these two titles to hit the US eShop at the very least, though also getting a physical release would also be nice.

[Via: Nintendo Everything]

Trailer releases for SEGA Reprint Archives 2 collection, featuring 3D Power Drift and Puyo Puyo 2

The trailer for Japan’s upcoming packaged release of SEGA 3D Classics has landed, featuring footage from 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, 3D Galaxy Force II, 3D Thunder Blade, 3D Altered Beast, and 3D Fantasy Zone II, as well as new 3D Classics titles 3D Puyo Puyo 2, 3D Power Drift, and 3D Maze Walker. From what the trailer shows, 3D Power Drift has been made to fill the full screen, while 3D Maze Walker and 3D Puyo Puyo 2 retain their original framing. No word yet on if these three titles will make their way to the West. Currently, 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is due for a September release in the Americas and Europe.

New SEGA 3D Classics announced; including Power Drift and Puyo Puyo 2

sega-reprint-archives-2

My life has been made. SEGA has officially announced new SEGA 3D Classics; 3D Power Drift, 3D Puyo Puyo Puyo 2, 3D Maze Walker, and 3D Fantasy Zone II!

The full version of the teaser art we posted yesterday has been released (isn’t Arle adorable?), showing that the new physical SEGA Reprint Archives 2 collection will feature Power Drift and Puyo Puyo Tsu, with the bonus games this time around being Maze Walker and Fantasy Zone II; the Master System versions! Whether these games are to be released internationally is unknown, but honestly by this point I think we’ll be seeing at least Puyo and Power Drift on the western eShop soon.

More information on the new physical collection was released yesterday, but it’s damn cool to see not one but four new games for the collection!

I’m pretty ecstatic right now, but let us know what you think in the comments!

SEGA 3D Reprint Archives 2 announced, with more boxart by Ken Sugimori and a new 3D Classic teased

2ab39944-099e-407f-c0d7-82d1e0c6283e

Well, this came out of nowhere! SEGA 3D Reprint Archives 2 is officially a thing, in Japan at least.

For those unaware, a while back SEGA released a few of M2’s amazing 3DS remakes of various SEGA games in a physical collection. Now Japan’s getting another one of these packs, but it looks to be something special; notice the mosaic. There’s clearly another character there, and it seems to be hinting at a new 3D Classic. I think the best guess I can muster is that it’s Gillius Thunderhead of Golden Axe riding a Chickenleg, but we’ll have to wait and see!

Currently confirmed for the collection are Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Fantasy Zone II W, Thunder Blade, and Galaxy Force II, all in their remastered 3D Classics state. Various bonuses are also slated to be included; for reference, the previous physical release contained an improved version of Space Harrier’s 3DS port, as well as ports of Space Harrier 3D and OutRun 3D from the SEGA Master System; all of which we haven’t gotten over here on the eShop.

The new collection’s also rocking some amazing cover art by Pokemon legend Ken Sugimori once again; it’s surreal seeing someone well-known as a Nintendo and Pokemon artist drawing Sonic!

As mentioned, there’s no word of this coming here; and given the fact the last collection didn’t release here it’s really unlikely this will (unless SEGA decide Sonic gives it selling power…).

We’ll keep an eye out for any further news on this, including that mystery game and any new bonus features.

Review: 3D Gunstar Heroes (Nintendo 3DS)

3DGunstarheroes
Gunstar Heroes
is another SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive classic that found massive success and introduced most SEGA fans to Treasure games. The studio was made up of ex-Konami employees and this anime style run and gun shooter really shows that you can make a Japanese looking game work for a Western audience . While the game is fine and dandy on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, how is the Nintendo 3DS version? Well, let’s find out.

Review: 3D Streets of Rage 2 (Nintendo 3DS)

3DStreetsOfRageReview
If you owned a SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive in the early 90’s, you are well aware of what Streets of Rage series was all about, its SEGA’s answer to (the then) Nintendo console exclusive franchise Final Fight (though it did get a SEGA CD entry). Its been well over a decade since the franchise debuted on SEGA’s 16-bit hardware, which is quite a long time.

Now as an adult can the game bring back those nostalgic memories that shaped my gaming habits or is Streets of Rage 2 just one of those games that I liked as a kid but aged badly? Or even worse, a bad port? Let’s find out