SEGA FES 2018: Valkyria Chronicles 1 coming to Nintendo Switch, Valkyria Chronicles 4 for Switch delayed in Japan

More news has come out of SEGA FES 2018, this time relating to the Valkyria Chronicles franchise. It was announced that the original Valkyria Chronicles, which has already released to the PC and PS4 as a remastered rerelease of the PS3 original, would be releasing to Nintendo Switch for ¥1,990. At the moment, the release is only confirmed for Japan this fall through the eShop. No word on a physical or western release.

SEGA also revealed that Valkyria Chronicles 4 has been delayed in Japan to fall 2018. The game was originally planned for the platform in the summer. As an apology to fans, SEGA is offering coupons to Japanese customers who are buying the fourth game that reduces the price of the remaster of the first game to ¥500. No word on if this will affect the western release, but given the west is getting Valkyria Chronicles 4 in the fall already, it is not likely.

Now how about console ports of the second and third games SEGA? 🙂

[Source: RPG Site]

SEGA FES 2018: New SEGA Ages for Nintendo Switch games and extra features announced

We learned of SEGA AGES, the new M2 retro SEGA game porting project for Nintendo Switch, on Friday night from the opening presentation at SEGA FES. As the event went on, more details were revealed during the SEGA AGES panel. Twitter user @gosokkyu shared updates from the panel, which revealed new details. Sonic the Hedgehog will include the rare Mega-Play arcade version (an example of how the game differs is that the Mega-Play replaces all the extra life monitors). Thunder Force IV will include Styx Mode (the Thunder Force III ship from the Saturn port) and online leaderboards. Phantasy Star will have all the features from the PS2 SEGA AGES Collection version, including options like walk speed, difficulty settings, FM/PSG toggle and more.

Two more games were revealed: Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Gain Ground! Gain Ground will be the arcade version. You can visit the official SEGA AGES website and the collection will debut this summer for Nintendo Switch.

SEGA News Bits: Shenmue 1 & 2 HD Announcement Reaction

SEGA Fes 2018 answered the prayers of many SEGA fans by revealing that at long last Shenmue and Shenmue II would be receiving HD ports to PS4, Xbox One and PC. On this SEGA News Bits, we take a look at the road to Shenmue HD, what new features the games will have and more!

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SEGA News Bits: SEGA Mega Drive Mini & SEGA AGES for Nintendo Switch Reaction

SEGA Fes 2018 had four big reveals, and on this SEGA News Bits we take a look at the first two of them. First up is SEGA AGES, M2’s answer to a 3D Classics lineup for the Nintendo Switch. Next we look at the AtGames Mega Drive Mini, a new plug and play from AtGames which is SEGA’s answer to the SNES Classic.

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SEGA FES 2018: SEGA AGES coming to the Nintendo Switch this summer!

Whilst we’re reporting this one last, SEGA started off SEGA FES by announcing SEGA AGES for the Nintendo Switch and to be released this summer in Japan. Details are still being updated as this is a relatively new story but we can see from the image shared that SEGA will be bringing Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star and for the frst time Thunder Force IV back too modern consoles.

SEGA FES 2018: SEGA working on Project Shin Sakura Taisen

Topping off the events announcement, SEGA CEO Haruki Satomi announced that the company has began work on a new Sakura Taisen project, still named Shin Sakura Taisen. I was predicting that the possibility of Sakura Taisen being revived ever since it placed first in the survey that had SEGA ask fans what series they’d like revived. Look at the past list, with Virtual On having a game released recently and Shenmue getting ports announced, perhaps this means a future Jet Set Radio and Virtua Fighter game might be on the cards? As this is a breaking story, please bare with us as we update it with further details.

SEGA FES 2018: SEGA Genesis Mini announced at SEGA FES [UPDATED]

Another breaking news from SEGA FES is the SEGA Genesis Mini, though no price or release date has been announced but SEGA is hoping to get feedback from fans at the event what games they would like on the console. As this is a breaking story, please bare with us as we update it with further details.

Update: AtGames will be handling production of the SEGA Mega Drive Mini, with updated technology. The plug and play will release to the west as well.

SEGA FES 2018: Shenmue 1 & 2 Remasters announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC [UPDATED]

Just now Shenmue 1 & 2 has been announced for remaster on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Details are just breaking now so bare with us as we update this story but looks like the much requested port is finally a dream come true for long term fans!

The Steam page has launched, which reveals the game will have an updated user interface, a choice of modern or classic controls and Japanese and English audio (this will be the first time Shenmue I will be playable in Japanese in the west). The game is set to release in 2018.

SEGA News Bits: IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #2 Discussion

Another week in April means another issue of IDW Sonic the Hedgehog! On this SEGA News Bits George grills Barry on the second issue which features the return of Amy Rose. How is her characterization? How is this issue’s artist? Who is behind all the rogue badniks? We discuss these points and more!

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Stories of the Dragon: The Legend of Kazuma Kiryu live action series releases to promote Yakuza 6

This is a surprise! SEGA of America has released a trio of live action short films to promote the upcoming Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Initially I thought these were created for the Japanese release and were localized, but they appear to be brand new (the english speaking actors tipped me off, which to be honest is kind of jarring given the games are subtitled). The short films were created in collaboration with Liquid Advertising and director Christopher Ewing and were shot in Tokyo, Japan. The shorts focus on three people whose lives were changed by Kazuma Kiryu.

Each short is based on in-game substories, including “The Bouncer” and “Prodigal Son” from Yakuza Kiwami, and “Another Haruka” from Yakuza 5. Check all three out after the break! Don’t forget, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases April 17!

IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #1 sells out

IDW and SEGA have announced that the first issue of the new Sonic the Hedgehog comics series has sold out! Joe Hughes, editor of Sonic the Hedgehog, stated “We know fans have been waiting a long time for this launch, and we couldn’t be happier with their response to the first issue. This first issue was the start of a four-week event that kicked off the beginning of a new era for Sonic comics. The new series will feature new adventures with characters new and old and I cannot wait for fans to see what’s in store.”

Second printings have already begun, with more issue #1’s expected to hit shops on May 2, 2018. You can see the cover for the second printing above. Congrats to the IDW Sonic team! Don’t forget, issue 2 released yesterday and issues 3 and 4 release in the following two weeks and then the series switches to monthly.

What is the most underrated SEGA Dreamcast game?

Now that the console turns 20 years old over in Japan, the SEGA Dreamcast library has been dived into for over two decades, having people find buried treasure throughout the consoles library. But it still remains that a lot of hardcore users all have one or two titles that only they appreciate and no one talks about really.

So the question for this post is, in your humble opinion, what is the most underrated SEGA Dreamcast game? Of course this can have many answers and some of the choices will be personal. I could go on in this post talking about underrated games like Napple Tale, MDK 2, Super Magnetic Neo, Toy Commander, Cannon Spike, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The Last Blade 2, Tech Romancer, Elemental Gimmick Gear, SegaGaGa, Record of the Lodoss War, Cosmic Smash, Seaman, and many more. But I want to hear your underrated Dreamcast titles and why you consider them underrated!

Sonic Generations and Panzer Dragoon Orta to join Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Program


Xbox One continues to expand its Xbox and Xbox 360 backwards compatible titles, this month they will add Sonic Generations and Panzer Dragoon Orta (best looking Xbox title)! Both are great games and glad they get to be played on new consoles.

Sonic Generations is out today and even playable in 4K if you have one of those fancy Xbox One Xs. As for Panzer Dragoon Orta, that one launches on April 17th! There are still plenty of great SEGA Xbox and Xbox 360 games that need to hit the Xbox One, including Jet Set Radio Future!

[Via: Sega Driven]

SEGA ask fans to vote on if they want Sonic, Yakuza or Virtua Fighter cameo outfits for Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night & Persona 5: Dancing Star Night

Seeing that Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night release next month over in the land of the rising son, its weird that SEGA will finally make a poll asking fans what franchise should get cross over outfits for these Persona Dance games. I will assume that SEGA already approved the outfits a long time ago and this is just a way to get fans excited.

Here is the official SEGA Japanese twitter poll:

SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara wants to bring the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback to Japan

SEGA is not returning to the hardware market. I repeat, SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

In a Yahoo! Japan news article, SEGA Games COO Kenji Matsubara said that SEGA is planning to import and sell the AtGames SEGA Genesis Flashback in Japan. SEGA Genesis Flashback is licensed by SEGA and outsourced to Taiwan based AtGames to produce. The SEGA Genesis Flashback was released last year and was criticized for inferior audio and video quality. The reasoning for importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback was due to increased demand in Japan for machines like the NES and SNES Classic.

Did I mention SEGA is not returning to the hardware market? Importing the SEGA Genesis Flashback and rebranding it is a quick, easy and cheap way for SEGA of Japan to bring the Mega Drive to Japan again. SEGA are not developing a new machine, they are not rereleasing any other classic consoles, and it is not SEGA’s current mission to return to the console market. SEGA is not returning to the hardware market.

Thumbs up to SEGA Driven for properly reporting on this story, and shame on any sites that misrepresent the original story.

[Source: Yahoo! Japan]