SEGAbits Round Table: Our Favorite SEGA & Atlus Games of 2016

2016roundtable

Another year is about to close for SEGAbits. Many anniversaries for SEGA franchises happened this year, with SEGA themselves capitalizing on certain ones like Sonic the Hedgehog and Puyo Puyo. On top of this, naturally there were several announcements and game releases from both SEGA and Atlus. Some of which were what we expected, and then there was some that caught people off guard, like the return of the fan favorite Daytona USA. But are you curious as to what some of the writer’s own favorite titles are for 2016? Here at SEGAbits we decided to ask this question to the writers for a year-end round table!

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

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)

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.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse launch trailer arrives

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.

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

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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SEGA News Bits: Deep Silver to bring SEGA and Atlus titles to Europe

In this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry discuss the recent announcement that publisher Deep Silver has teamed with SEGA of America and Atlus USA to release Atlus and select SEGA titles to Europe. That’s right! While SEGA Europe lets great games slip through the cracks, these two American companies are picking up the slack (“Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” anyone?) .

Europeans can expect Atlus’ Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse as well as SEGA’s 7th Dragon III Code: VFD in both physical and packaged releases thanks to a deal made with Deep Silver, and that is just the beginning. More games are to come! Listen to our thoughts on what this means for SEGA Europe and why SEGA of America and Atlus USA had to do what they did in our latest News Bits.

If you enjoyed this episode of the SEGA News Bits, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and never miss an episode!

Publisher Deep Silver to bring Atlus and select SEGA games to Europe [Updated with press release]

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Moments ago it was tweeted out by Deep Silver, the video game publishing division of German multinational corporation Koch Media, that they will be bringing Atlus USA and select SEGA titles to Europe. This will include Atlus titles Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. No further details are known as of now, but we are hoping a press release hits soon. This is both great news and bad news for European SEGA fans. It’s great that more games from SEGA and Atlus will be releasing to Europe, but it is bad news as it is a major sign that SEGA Europe – a publisher in their own right – are so disinterested in their own titles that they must rely on an external publisher to bring them over.

No word on what these select SEGA titles would include, but I would wager they’d be the more niche and/or Japanese titles like Hatsune Miku and 7th Dragon III: Code VFD. This is just my guess however, as we do not an any confirmation of what SEGA titles to expect as of yet.

Updates as the story unfolds after the break.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse coming to the Americas summer 2016

Atlus USA has just announced that Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final in Japan) will be releasing to the Americas this summer. The game is said to overlap with the original SMTIV, with the game’s story focusing on a Hunter cadet who gets killed by one of the demons wreaking havoc on post-apocalyptic Tokyo. Thankfully, the fallen Hunter is resurrected by the mysterious god Dagda and is set on a path that walks the line between good and evil. The game is set to hit Nintendo 3DS systems physically and digitally for $49.99/CA$64.99.

Check out the trailer above, and after the break check out the Atlus press release and some screenshots.