Skies of Arcadia

Developer Retrospective: A look back at the games of SEGA’s Overworks

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Last week when we kicked off Overworks and WOW Entertainment month, we took a look back at how SEGA organized their many internal development teams over the years. Among those teams were Overworks and WOW Entertainment, two separate teams that released games from 2000 through to 2004 when they were merged and became SEGA WOW. This week, we will be taking a look back at the games released by Overworks. While the Overworks softography is small, especially compared to giants like SEGA AM2, in the span of four years Overworks released some truly classic titles.

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Classic SEGA Ads: Take a peek above deck at these Japanese Skies of Arcadia commercials

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When it comes to Japanese games being localized for the West, I tend to like it when they stick as closely to the original release as possible. I like to hear the original Japanese dialogue, have the names of characters and locations retained, see the original cover art used, and I hate it when they change the game’s title (hey, I just noticed that Jet Grind Radio broke all of these rules!). Skies of Arcadia, however, is a rare exception. When it was revealed in the pages of The Official Sega Dreamcast Magazine that Eternal Arcadia was to be retitled Skies of Arcadia, I was not only okay with this, I actually much preferred it.

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SEGA Tunes: Skies of Arcadia’s OST will make you feel adventurous

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Skies of Arcadia is a special game that had just the right amount of charm to win me over. Skies of Arcadia is just one of those games where you really like the bright colorful world and cheery character personalities, despite its random battle encounters and parts in the game that lead to frustration. Not only that, the game had an epic soundtrack that gives you a sense of adventure. Listen to the main theme above and tell me this doesn’t make you want to go exploring some caverns or travel in exotic locations?

This week on Tuesday Tunes we will be listening to some of my personal favorite tracks in Skies of Arcadia. Hit the jump and set your volume to an appropriate volume.

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What today’s Japanese RPGs can learn from SEGA’s Skies of Arcadia

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If there’s one type of game that has struggled to find its footing in the modern era, it’s been the Japanese RPG. Looking at a console generation that has seen a major RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy struggle to achieve a Western release, and one where the once-mighty RPG giant Square-Enix has become more known for Tomb Raider than for their RPG output, it’s without a doubt been an interesting ride for the genre.

In recent years it’s been the games that have deviated most from the typical format, such as the Persona series and Dark Souls, that have garnered the most mainstream appeal outside of your usual Final Fantasy releases. As the seventh console generation wound to a close, however, we’ve also seen the smallest signs of a shift back. With more traditional Japanese RPGs like the 3DS’ Bravely Default being warmly received worldwide, it’s shown that developers can look to the past to find inspiration for the future.

And if they look back at Skies of Arcadia, there’s plenty they can learn from the Dreamcast’s biggest traditional RPG.

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First 4 Figure’s Skies of Arcadia statue available to pre-order at 12% discount

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Its no secret that First 4 Figures aren’t cheap and saving any type of cash on these expensive but well crafted figures is a nice relief to one’s wallet. Well, the online shop where I pre-order my comicbooks also does pre-orders for figures, statues and all that jazz; including the First 4 Figure’s Vyse statue.

If you pre-order through DCBS, you just need to pay the shipping (which is like 6 dollars within the United States) on top of their 30% discounted price of $175.96. That may seem like a lot, but consider that the figure is 17 inches tall and originally costs $199.99 on First 4 Figure’s website, that’s a nice discount.

 

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SEGA All-Stars “Skies of Arcadia” Vyse statue now available to pre-order from First 4 Figures

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First 4 Figures, creators of the Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA All-Stars lines of collector’s statues, are at it again as pre-orders for their beautiful Skies of Arcadia Vyse statue are now open! Sculpted to 1/6 scale, Vyse himself measures approximately 11″ tall. In total, from the base to the tip of the pirates flag, the statue measures 17″ tall. As expected from First 4 Figures, there are two versions. The standard edition is limited to 1,000 pieces and is priced at $199.99, the exclusive version is limited to 425 and is priced at $219.99 and features a switch-out right arm holding the Pirate’s Cutlass. Both statues are expected to release Q4 2014.

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SEGA Tunes All Stars: Vyse’s Theme

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With All Stars just a week away, now seems like the perfect time to start posting Tuesday Tunes again, focusing tunes for the characters and tracks featured in the game.

Skies of Arcadia is an upbeat game that eschews the usual heavy drama common in Japanese RPGs for optimism and a thrill for adventure. Embodying this is Vyse, a young idealistic air pirate who wants explore the world and do things no one else has ever done before. The above track is the perfect theme for the character, embodying Vyse’s energy and optimism.

I’ve got Fina’s character theme below the fold for another dose of Skies of Arcadia auditory glory!

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SEGA Five: A Salute to the SEGA All-Stars Part 1

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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is only a month away! In anticipation of the game’s release, we here at SEGAbits want to highlight the many All-Stars appearing in SEGA’s racing title. To do this, we’re kicking off a four week salute to the characters appearing in the game. Each week will focus on five SEGA All-Stars. We’ll share why we think these characters are important to SEGA’s history, and why we’re looking forward to racing as them. Let’s kick off part one with the first five, can you guess who they are?

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SEGA re-trademarks Skies of Arcadia

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No idea if this will mean that the game is coming to digital services, but seeing how we are getting NiGHTS into Dreams and Jet Set Radio, I wouldn’t be shocked if this is announced soon.

It could also mean that SEGA hates us and loves to tease us.

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SEGA Teases Next Dreamcast Collection Titles

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SEGA’s Ben Harbone is teasing Dreamcast fans, but it’s a good kind of teasing. In a video interview with Gamesreactor, Harbone hints at Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia being the next Dreamcast titles to hit download services. Said Harbone, “Those are a couple of our most requested games. I can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but we may be working on them.” Don’t let us down SEGA, both of those titles would sell like hotcakes, and I’d love to see them sell so well that we get a sequel for either one!

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SEGA Tunes: Skies of Arcadia’s Opening Theme

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When I was taking Appreciation for Music a few years ago, and was asked to send in a modern day example of an orchestration, Skies of Arcadia’s opening theme was the first thing to come to mind. There’s a reason for that. It’s a sweeping, epic track that moves quickly and perfectly exemplifies everything Skies of Arcadia is in a single track. Epic one moment, adventurous the next and a little romantic after that, this song covers a lot of ground in less than two minutes. The use of horns, flutes, and percussion make for a very flavorful song that not only perfectly shows off a beautiful RPG, but also stands on its own as one of SEGA’s best pieces of orchestration ever. I only wish it were a little longer so I could enjoy it a little more, but for the time it does take up, it is an absolute joy to listen to, and the perfect way to introduce one of best JRPGs ever made.

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SEGA Sequel Saturdays: Skies of Arcadia

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For Episode 23, I thought I’d go back to in-house SEGA: a fan favorite, and one of the many greats to come from the Dreamcast era. Of course, you can see from the picture that I’ve picked Skies of Arcadia. As an RPG it was, in many ways, as traditional as they get. It had turn-based combat, it had a lack of voice overs, it had chirpy characters, and it had a bright and colorful world much more reminiscent of Japanese RPGs out of the old days than the much darker turn they took with the likes of Final Fantasy VI and VII. That said, Skies of Arcadia also took place in a world in the sky, a truly incredible setting which remains one of the most impressive worlds created for a Japanese RPG that I’ve ever experienced.

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