New Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Membership lets you play N64 and SEGA Genesis games


Nintendo has just announced the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Membership plan, which will hike the price on their base online price but you get Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis titles. The new membership plan is set to launch in late October. No pricing yet.

The SEGA Genesis will launch with the following games:

Nintendo Japan lists Bayonetta 3 for 2022 release

Amiibos allow you to instantly unlock costumes in Switch Bayonetta
Bayonetta 3 was announced way back in 2017, its been awhile! Hard to believe how long the games been in development without a single in-game screenshot shared by Platinum Games or Nintendo, but it seems that might change and soon. According to Nintendo Japan’s release schedule, Bayonetta is scheduled for release in 2022 along with Splatoon 3 and Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.

It will be interesting to see what happens considering we haven’t seen anything yet. Do you think Bayonetta 3 will come out next year?

SEGA’s New RPG Being Teased for TGS 2021 Is a Smartphone Game


We got the news the other day that SEGA had planned on announcing a new RPG during Tokyo Game Show 2021 livestream. Of course, the internet went ablaze with them listing older RPGs they’d like to see revived, some even said they’d be open to a new franchise while many long term SEGA veterans wisely gave up early suggesting it was a mobile game. Guess what? The vets are right, SEGA has opened and teased the game via their Twitter account. The game also got a brand new teaser website as well.

A rough google translation makes it seem that the game’s tag line will be something along the lines of: “Not a straight road, let’s make a one-time trip”. The teaser on the other hand confirms, within its Japanese text that its a mobile game plus shows off some really incredible artwork.

The one complaint I see from mobile fans is that SEGA shut down the Sakura Wars mobile a game within 6 months of launching, now the company is asking gamers to trust that this new RPG will last longer? I guess we shall see, full information will be coming out on the first of October.

SEGA Talk Podcast #79: Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

We are going for a ride on this episode of SEGA Talk, as we dive deep into Marvel’s relationship with Capcom, talk about the insane 56 player roster, discuss the critically panned soundtrack, and talk #freeMVC2!

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

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – 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!

SEGA plans to announce a new JRPG during TGS 2021


It seems that SEGA is continuing its trend of making more JRPG games, as its teased during its SEGA Atlus Channel presentation describing it as “Sega’s new RPG”. This new teased JRPG will be fully unveiled on the upcoming Sega Atlus TGS 2021 stream taking place on October 1, 2021 at 10pm JST.

SEGA actually has a pretty rich catalogue of JRPG franchises dating back to the 80s, but it seems that they are going to be adding a brand new franchise to the catalogue. What do you guys want to see from this title?

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Arcade and SEGA Dreamcast classic Capcom’s Power Stone releasing to vinyl and audio cassette

Thanks to Ship to Shore Media, the SEGA Dreamcast classic Power Stone will be seeing a soundtrack release to vinyl and audio cassette! More casual fans might mistake this CAPCOM fighter for a SEGA title, mainly because it was exclusive to the Dreamcast for many years before seeing a PSP release and ran on SEGA’s Naomi arcade board. While this is not the rerelease fans have long been requesting, it is awesome to see the memorable soundtrack coming to two popular vintage formats!

After the break, check out the full description as well as some product images. Pre-order a copy for yourself at Ship to Shore.

Unboxing: Sonic Colors Ultimate Japanese 30th Anniversary Pack

Sonic Colors Ultimate has rolled out to (almost) all territories, and most physical editions include some goodies. American and European fans received a Baby Sonic keychain, a cross promotion for the Sonic movie. Japanese fans, meanwhile, received an awesome 30th Anniversary Pack which evokes the 10th Birthday Pack as both contain a coin, CD and book.

In the case of the 30th Anniversary, SEGA included a classy gold coin, a CD of unique tracks including music from cutscenes, YouTube animations and past album-exclusive remixes. The book, meanwhile, is a cool look back on a year and a half of art created for the Japanese Sonic Twitter account. The art includes full commentary from the artists, sketches and easter eggs.

Overall, an awesome package and you can see it for yourself in the above video!

The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: Dreamcast Birthday Party, American Style!

This will be our 99th Swingin’ Report Show, taking place on the 22nd anniversary of 9/9/99 and it’s at 9PM central. That’s a lot of 9’s! So to ruin it all, we plan to share our 10 (NOT 9) favorite things from the Dreamcast launch AND we plan to take your comments live as well as from our Patreon feed.

Joining us will be SEGAbits community member ElkPlaysandPaints!

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, join in the conversation, get Q&A priority, become a guest on the show and more!

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SEGA Talk Podcast #78: Xbox & SEGA Retrospective

On this episode we have a unique SEGA Talk experience. Instead of talking about a SEGA game or SEGA console, we’re taking a look at SEGA’s third party relationship with the original Xbox! We discuss the development of the console, exclusive SEGA games PLUS we reveal exclusive notes from an early 2001 meeting between SEGA of America and Microsoft which would go on to shape Xbox Live as we know it today. Members of our Patreon can read the notes in full!

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

[iTunes – Stitcher – YouTube – 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!

Lost Judgment DLC announced; featuring Extension Packs and Story DLC, The Kaito Files

It’s finally September and Lost Judgment, the sequel to Judgment, is around the corner. For those who purchase digital deluxe & ultimate editions of the game will be treated with tons of extra content. The contents will include:

Digital Deluxe – Detective Essentials Pack & School Stories Expansion Pack which will include extra detective dogs, Master System games, additional girlfriend, battle Super Shin Amon and more.

Digital Ultimate – The Kaito Files which will feature 10 hours of story content and the chance to play as Kaito.

Get Early Access from September 21st by pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe and Digital Ultimate Editions now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. Standard editions of Lost Judgment will be released on September 24th.

Pre-Order

Playstation 5 | Playstation 4 | Xbox Series X|S | Xbox One

 

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Jet Set Radio’s Art Director Ryuta Ueda Working at SEGA Again!


SEGA’s Ryuta Ueda left SEGA back in 2014, we even did a post. Back then he worked at SEGA for 19 years being the chief ard designer for Jet Set Radio, doing enemy art for Panzer Dragoon Orta and also directing the first two Yakuza games on PlayStation 2! At the time, he left the company to work at Yahoo, but according to Ueda’s Facebook page, he has been back at SEGA since May of this year:

“I have decided to resign from Yahoo Japan and return to my old company, Sega. I am very grateful for the many people I met and the many lessons I learned through various projects at Yahoo!

From now on, I will focus on making games again. Not only do I feel the excitement of making things, but I am also smiling a little at the thought of seeing old friends and meeting new people. I would like to fully demonstrate what I have cultivated through experience.

PS: I’m going to try to update my Facebook page a bit more. Oh, and if you are going to ask what I’m making, I can’t answer that.

What is Ryuta Ueda working on now? I guess we don’t know, maybe he will rejoin Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios on upcoming projects? As of right now, that remains a mystery!

Monster Rancher’s Suezo rolls into Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as DLC!

SEGA has announced another newcomer entering the Super Monkey Ball World. The magical worlds of Monster Rancher and Super Monkey Ball collide as Suezo rolls into Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania! Collect CDs as Suezo as you blast through multiple puzzling worlds.

Suezo will be a post-launch DLC character, launching October 19th for $4.99 will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X when Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches on October 5th, 2021.

PRE-ORDER

Steam | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

Hello Kitty joins the gang in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as DLC!

An unexpected guest character has entered the world of Super Monkey Ball as pop culture icon, Hello Kitty will be joining the cast in Banana Mania as DLC for $4.99. While playing as Hello Kitty, you will be able to collect apples around each level as you progress.

The Hello Kitty DLC will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X when Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches on October 5th, 2021.

PRE-ORDER

Steam | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

Sonic Colors: Ultimate Review – Reach for the Stars in HD (PlayStation 4)

For a thorough review of Sonic Colors, check out our write-up of the original Wii release from 2010. Much of our original reviewer’s thoughts reflect my own. The review you are about to read is from a review copy provided by SEGA.

For over ten years, the Wii exclusive Sonic Colors remained exclusively on the console. When you take in the Sonic “main series” games, Colors was an anomaly amongst a library of titles that often saw re-releases, remasters and compilations. Even the derided Wii U exclusive Sonic Lost World saw a PC release! So, FINALLY, after over ten years the critically acclaimed and fan favorite 3D Sonic game Sonic Colors sees a remaster with upgraded visuals, music and a few new surprises. But does Ultimate live up to its name? Of course it does. It’s great. What, you expected me to say otherwise?

The SEGAbits Swingin’ Report Show LIVE: Video Game Music with Special Guest Ap0c

Our next LIVE show is planned for Thursday, August 26th at 9PM central / 7PM pacific / 10PM eastern. Steve ‘ap0c’ Lakawicz will be on as guest to talk about video game music, how it’s made for both retro and modern consoles, how one makes a career out of composing game music and the state of video game music in 2021.

Steve is a classically trained musician with a Master’s degree in Music Performance, specializing in orchestral tuba. He has toured with brass quintets and performed with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and lately has taken an interest into crafting and emulating authentic chiptunes. Most recently he has composed music for Brock Crocodile. You can listen to his music here: https://soundcloud.com/ap0c

Support us on Patreon! Get early access, join in the conversation, get Q&A priority, become a guest on the show and more!

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