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Retro Review: Sonic Jam

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The SEGA Saturn was something of a black sheep in SEGA’s family of consoles. It divorced itself from many of its predecessor’s most well-known franchises, and instead focused on a slew of original IPs. Even Sonic Team would take a big break from Sonic, instead focusing on NiGHTS into Dreams and Burning Rangers, the former becoming the Saturn’s mascot. This would lead to the Saturn becoming the one and only SEGA console to not feature a wholly original Sonic platforming game. Instead, the Saturn merely saw a trio of spin offs, in the form of Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic R and the subject of today’s review, Sonic Jam. The first two were fairly mediocre spin offs created by Traveler’s Tales for the purpose of filling the cap by the canned Sonic X-Treme game. Sonic Jam was easily the best Sonic game on the Saturn, though largely because it capitalized so heavily on the past: it was a compilation of the best Sonic titles ever made.

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Shinobi for 3DS in Stores Now!

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I’ve been an advocate for this game pretty much since I played it at E3. I’ve liked what I’ve played of my two playthroughs at E3 and NYCC so much that I picked up at midnight last night alongside Halo Anniversary. Several hours in, I must only reiterate what I’ve said before: if you have any love for Shinobi or old school games in general, you must buy this. This is easily one of the best 3DS games I’ve played all year, not to mention one of the best SEGA games I’ve played. The difficulty is punishing and pure old school Shinobi at it’s finest. The controls and level design are rock solid so far, and there are plenty of references to past Shinobi games hidden throughout. Remember those killer brains from Shinobi 3’s Body Weapon level? I just got mauled by one a few minutes ago.

And remember, if you don’t buy it, we won’t get another one.

Shinobi is out in stores now. SEGAbits will be doing a few things to promote the game, so keep an eye out.

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Black Friday: Some SEGA deals you will want to take part in

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Sadly this year doesn’t have too much SEGA stuff on sale. Not neat bundles like Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo are releasing. But you can get some pretty good games for really cheap. Example:

  • Walmart is having Yakuza 4 for $9.99.
  • Gamestop is having Sonic Generations for $29.99 (including 360 & PS3 versions)
  • Target is having Sonic and the Secret of the rings for $9.99.
If you guys go on our site and don’t know about Yakuza games, picking up the 4th one for only 10 bucks is a damn steal. Get it! It has videos that catch you up. That is all the SEGA related deals I could find. If you guys find other deals leave them in the comment box or contact us. 

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Check out the first five minutes of Shinobi 3DS

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBxW6aBCuDY
If you are like me and don’t have a 3DS, yet want to see footage of Shinobi 3DS so you can mock it on online forums. Well, here is the first five minutes. Enjoy, troll safely.

In all honesty though, I think the game looks pretty decent.

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Sonic’s Road to Redemption: 2006, the Fall

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This six part series looks at the disaster that was Sonic’s 15th anniversary, and how the series slowly redeemed itself over the following five years, culminating Sonic’s next anniversary title, Sonic Generations.

It’s a little hard to believe that it’s already been five years since Sonic the Hedgehog or “Sonic 06” as it’s called by fans, made its debut. It feels like only yesterday that this infamous train wreck of a game was released and utterly destroyed what little credibility the character had left in gaming. Of course, by 2006 bad Sonic games were nothing new for anybody. Even in his halcyon days Sonic still churned out stinkers, like the infamously not 3D Sonic 3D Blast, and the utterly horrible (and largely forgotten) Sonic Jam for the Game.com. Heck, the franchise had churned out a whopper of a stinker just a year before in the form of Shadow the Hedgehog, the first Sonic game from Sonic Team to average in the 4s on Game Rankings. Even so, Sonic 2006 represented something new for the franchise: it was the first main entry considered utterly deplorable by both critics and fans alike. Sure, Sonic has had his “controversial” games. Sonic Heroes sparked some massive debates on the SEGA forums back in the day and the Sonic Adventure series had its share of dissenters in the press that grew ever more vocal as they were re-released on other platforms. None of them have received the amount of vitriol and did the same amount of damage to the franchise that Sonic 2006 was able to do with its released.

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Sonic CD Played on Tablet

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Yet more Sonic news today, here is some game play of the re-release of Sonic CD on Tablet devices, XBLA and PSN. It will feature improved physics, real HD and Tails as a playable character.

If you can find your way to a GameStop, you can test the game on tablets now.

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The Weekly Five: Sonic’s Next Adventure

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While Sonic Generations is just over a week old, fans from all corners of the interwebs have started to discuss what’s next for the hedgehog. I would say it’s a bit too soon to start speculation on the next game, but even series producer Iizuka has started hinting towards the future. So with Generations considered completed and released, let’s look towards 2012 and beyond, and just what we might expect from the next Sonic game!

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Preview: Shinobi 3D

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This was the same demo available at E3. As such, there are certain things I don’t cover in this preview. For the full picture, check out our E3 preview!

Back at E3 I previewed Shinobi 3D for the first time. I loved what I got to play, but my time with the game was limited. At last month’s New York Comic Con I was able to give the game another go, so I’d like to talk more about it.

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What’s Wrong with Binary Domain’s Box Art?

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Since the reveal of Binary Domain’s box art, I’ve been thinking about just what is it that makes it so… ineffective. I hesitate to use the word “bad”, as artistry clearly went into producing the cover. However, I think the reason for the cover’s failing is that not a lot of thought went into it. Sure they threw a lot into the scene, but perhaps they threw in too much? I’ve been working in the graphic design industry for five years now, so I thought I’d put some of my professional experience to practice and pick apart Binary Domain’s cover art problems, and perhaps find a better solution. Is it worth the time picking apart the game’s cover? Of course it is! As a new IP, the only thing the game has going for it is SEGA’s name when it comes to appearing on a shelf. First impressions are key for a new franchise, and sadly Binary Domain is not making a good first impression.

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4Kids holding Sonic comic contest with Archie

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4Kids, those people that made people angry with their localization of Sonic X, is holding a sweepstakes with the help of Archie. So what do you get?

One grand prize winner will be a character in an upcoming Sonic comic and also get a one year subscription to the comic. Twenty other people will just get the one year Sonic comic subscription.

But hey, those aren’t bad prizes. If you want to enter, click here. You have all the way until November 30th to enter. Even though it looks like it’s word wide, official rules say that it isn’t. So US only. Also you have to be 3 to 17 years old to enter. Only jail bait, sorry old men and women reading this.

[Source: TSSZ]

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Shinobi goes on sale on XBLA, will cost you 200 MS Points

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Now you can sit your kids around your Xbox 360, purchase Shinobi (arcade edition) for 200 MS Points and scare them as you scream at the television because you lost at the same part 20 times in a row. Hey, at least you didn’t spend too much money.

In all seriousness if you can’t wait for Shinobi 3DS, this sale might hold you off until the game gets released. Shinobi 3DS hits Europe on November 11th and America on the 15th.

[Source: SEGA|Blog]

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Kazuma Kiryu brings his swag to Binary Domain

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You know that Nagoshi and his newly new named Yakuza Team couldn’t make a new title without featuring their most successful hero, Kazuma Kiryu. It has been confirmed that Kazuma Kiryu will be playable in the game, but not in the single player mode. He will actually be playable online.

“Since this is from the Yakuza team, after all, we figured we’d offer this as a present and as a symbol of the spirit we’re putting into this. Some people may see him as too out-of-place in this near-future setting, but the game is set in Tokyo, after all — I don’t think it’ll feel that strange. I hope you have fun having him go crazy on people.” –Producer, Toshihiro Nagoshi 

Kazuma has two different looks, his government outfit will feature him in his white iconic suit. If you decide to play him as a rebel, you will get him shirtless with a Rambo type get up. This includes a bandanna as well.

I guess Kazuma is a better choice than something from Super Monkey Ball.

[Source: 1up]

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Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Games commercials

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGI73p5eKsM

If there is one game that gets commercial support from SEGA its Mario & Sonic games. Check out the commercial that will most likely be airing on your favorite kid station.

Check out the one with the Mario ending right here.

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Acitivison releases SEGA Toys’ Wappy Dog for American audiences

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We have posted tons of SEGA Toys that are released exclusivly in Japan. Many of them are great concepts that most of us here will never get a chance to play with. I guess Acitivison also likes some of their ideas since they are bringing over ‘Wrappy Dog’ to America. It will be a toy that interacts with a DS game.

 

“Wappy Dog is groundbreaking,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “With the arrival of Wappy, the idea that videogames are a separate experience from toys is forever changed. Now, we have a future ahead which brings together the virtual and physical world, in a fun-filled and family friendly pet pastime.”

Seems that its going up against Nintendogs, but on the original DS? Plus the $49.99 entry fee? I see this as failing. Regardless, hit the jump and see the press release.

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