SEGA AGES Columns II and Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R releasing on October 17th in western territories

Two more titles from the SEGA AGES series are coming to western territories, which are Columns II and Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R. These two titles are actually relatively significant compared to past SEGA AGES releases, as they’ve previously never got a release in North America and most of Europe, or even that many re-releases in general. Both are scheduled to drop on the eShop on the Nintendo Switch for both North America and Europe on October 17th for $7.99 and equivalent.

Columns II takes the familiar gem dropping premise of the first game, and mixes it up with a new stage based structure. Now players are tasked with trying to clear out specific flashing gems by digging through a premade board, while trying to endure the board gradually being pushed up due to randomly spawning skulls. While Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R is a series of minigames, where up to two players are tasked with clearing over 20 different nutty minigames within 4 rounds. These SEGA AGES releases also include additional features, such as SEGA AGES Columns II giving you the option to disable the skulls and comes with the first Columns game as a bonus, while SEGA AGES Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R comes with the Mega Drive version included as a bonus and the ability to play against players with online play.

[Source: Twitter]

SEGA News Bits: Shenmue III Trial Reaction & Impressions

We’ve finally played Shenmue III, thanks to the recently released Kickstarter backer trial version, and on this SEGA News Bits we’re going to share our thoughts on it! How does it play? Are the graphics up to modern standards? What are turtle races all about? Watch and find out!

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Playing the Shenmue III Backer Trial Demo

Decided to do a walk through of the Shenmue III trial demo, showing off what you can do within the demo and giving some commentary. I have to say, this demo totally FEELS like Shenmue and I feel like that’s a good thing.

Atlus shows 11 minutes of Persona 5 Royal’s prologue gameplay

Atlus has streamed the first 11 minutes of Persona 5 Royal‘s gameplay during the latest “Let’s Players Gathering! Persona 5 Royal Newcomer Preparation Special” broadcast. Yeah, that’s a mouthful.

While its been awhile since I played Persona 5, the game obviously didn’t feature new character Kasumi Yoshizawa, which is now present in the prologue gameplay. Its odd that they had her appear so early, so we’ll see how they weave her into the game’s story.

Persona 5 Royal is set to release in Japan on October 31, exclusive on the PlayStation 4 and is heading West sometime in Spring 2020. The gameplay starts at 1:52:39 to 2:03:50, if it doesn’t autoplay at the start.

[Via: Gematsu]

Bandai releasing a build your own SEGA Saturn model kit


If you are into modeling kits, you might want to keep your eyes open for the newly announced SEGA Saturn kit. Bandai also announced a PlayStation one, which you can see in the gallery, these where shown at the All Japan 2019 Model Hobby Show. They are set to release sometime in March 2020.

These 2/line models are part of the ‘Best Hit Chronicle’ line. The model being used here is the SEGA Saturn HST-3200 and the PlayStation is SCPH-1000. Each kit will come with a console and one controller, which even includes the inter workings. Of course these aren’t functional, just for modeling. Each unit will cost you ¥2,500 (~$23).


[Source: Siliconera]

Tembo the Badass Elephant is free for Xbox One ‘Games with Gold’ in October

If you happen to have an Xbox One with Xbox Gold memebership, don’t forget to pick up the mostly overlooked Game Freak & SEGA platformer Tembo the Badass Elephant, as its being given away for October.

What other games are coming?

Tembo the Badass Elephant ($14.99 ERP): Available October 1 to 31 on Xbox One
Friday the 13th: The Game ($19.99 ERP): Available October 16 to November 15 on Xbox One
Disney Bolt ($9.99 ERP): Available October 1 to 15 on Xbox One & Xbox 360
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge ($29.99 ERP): Available October 16 to 31 on Xbox One & Xbox 360

If you haven’t seen it, I did a Tembo the Badass Elephant review when the game came out.

SEGA News Bits: House of the Dead 1 & 2 Remakes Coming in 2020

Forever Entertainment, a polish publisher behind the Panzer Dragoon remakes has now teased that they are working on House of the Dead 1 & 2 remakes with MegaPixel Studio. On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we discuss all the information we know and even discuss how Forever Entertainment’s Panzer Dragoon remake demo has been received by fans.

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

SEGA Talk Podcast #26: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (1990)

On this SEGA Talk, we celebrate the launch of the SEGA Genesis Mini by covering a very important game included on the plug and play console: Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. We discuss our memories of the game, the development process the many sequels and the recent remake!

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, tell us what games to cover, and have your SEGA memories played at the end and more!

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – Play Music – RSS – Download]

If you want to give us feedback, suggest a topic for the next podcast or want to ask a question for us to answer on the next episode you can add  them as a comment below or send theme directly to our email. Make sure you use subject line ‘SEGA Talk’ and as always, thanks for listening!

Forever Entertainment plans to remake The House of the Dead 1 & 2 to modern consoles for 2020

Forever Entertainment, the Polish publisher that has collaborated with SEGA with rebooting other classic titles such as Panzer Dragoon, will be remaking The House of the Dead 1 & 2 with MegaPixel Studio as the developer for the games and will be true to the original games’ storyline with some graphical differences and tweaked game play to bring them to modern day gaming.

The House of the Dead 1 & 2 Remake is targeting a release window of 2020 with no console announcement just yet. Since the House of the Dead games are rail shooters, where players are AMS agents destroying abominable creatures in their path, it may have a release on the Nintendo Switch.

What are your initial thoughts on The House of the Dead 1 & 2 being remade from the ground up? Would you have also like to see the games ported to modern consoles in it’s original format by SEGA & M2? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Source:[VideoGamer.com]

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Impressions

SEGA News Bits is back, and we’re discussing the SEGA Genesis and Mega Drive Mini consoles! We discuss how the console went from AtGames to M2, the various first and third party accessories and SEGA’s promotion of the console.

If you want to support this type of content, you can check out our Patreon!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a thumbs up so it shows up on more like-minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that YouTube algorithm is.

Opinion: SEGA fans will look back on September 2019 very fondly

Sometimes you just have to take a moment to appreciate those special moments in fandom. For me, as a longtime SEGA fan, they come infrequently but when they hit they REALLY hit. Standout moments for me include getting my SEGA Genesis bundled with Sonic the Hedgehog during Christmas 1991, buying my Dreamcast with my own money in November 1999, visiting SEGA of America’s (now old) offices in July 2013, interviewing Tom Kalinske and Al Nilsen in 2014 and attending Sonic’s 25th anniversary party in San Diego where I met many members of the fan community for the first time in person. I now can easily say that September 2019 is joining those special SEGA moments.

Shenmue III Backer Trial Version releasing this weekend

A Kickstarter update from YS Net has revealed that Kickstarter backers who supported the Backer Trial Version tier will be receiving their PC download codes very soon, this coming weekend to be exact! The trial will come in the form of an Epic Games Store download code, and the trail will be a day in Bailu Village. Players will experience storyline elements, battling, mini games and more. The trial ends when you either defeat a key character in battle or when the in-game time reaches 9 PM. I wonder if Ine-san calls you long distance to scold you?

Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash coming out this Autumn


Sony just had their PlayStation State of Play where they showed some of their upcoming PlayStation 4 titles. One of the games shown in their VR highlight reel was Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash which they finally revealed is coming out in the upcoming months!

Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash will not only come out on PlayStation VR, but also on PC for the HTC Vive in Japanese and English this fall. Are you gonna plug back in?

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD achievements reveal Sonic the Hedgehog as hidden character

The Xbox One achievements for the upcoming HD remaster of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz have leaked, and within them is the revelation that Sonic the Hedgehog will be an unlockable character in the game. The achievement “Way Past Cool” states: “Clear a stage as Sonic the Hedgehog”, all but confirming his inclusion. Also revealed within the achievements are character costumes for the monkeys, but what these exactly are have yet to be revealed.

The game will release October 29th digitally and physically, with a $39.99 price point.

Pre-order Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD
PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch | Xbox One

[Source: Exophase]

SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Mini Review – Mini Console, Mega Heart


Well it’s the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Genesis (aka the Mega Drive). The SEGA Genesis for decades now has been fondly looked back due to it’s strong kit and solid lineup of games, which is reflected in it being SEGA’s best selling console of all time. While it did eventually stutter late into it’s life, ironically from SEGA themselves trying to expand on the console with peripherals like the SEGA CD and SEGA 32X, those that remember the system back in the day remember SEGA’s aggressive push to outsmart their main competition Nintendo. This resulted in quite a number of notable titles being developed over the years, both from SEGA themselves with their arcade ports and original titles, to other third parties contributing to the system like Compile, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Konami, and Namco.

Now 30 years later due to the “mini console” fad, SEGA is now pumping out a huge love letter in a tiny package, simply called the SEGA Genesis Mini. Will this small machine bring out that nostalgic heart tug, or is it more like an embarrassing memory from ages ago?