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

 

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!

[Download] [RSS] [iTunes] [Archive]

Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps – Part 2 features Metal Sonic versus Sonic the Hedgehog

SEGA has released the second – and FINAL – Sonic Colors Ultimate Rise of the Wisps animated web short, which promises more Metal Sonic, more Jade Ghost wisp and a resolution to the story kicked off in part 1. Instead of spoiling the plot, I’d ask you to watch the video above! Here’s hoping SEGA produces more animated web shorts to promote their upcoming Sonic games, and uses this animation style for future projects.

Pre-Order Sonic Colors Ultimate

PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch | Xbox One

Phantom Thief, Morgana, joins the Monkey Gang in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as post-launch DLC!

An announcement was made at this year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live that some of you might have never seen coming as Persona 5’s Phantom Thief, Morgana, will be joining the Monkey Gang in Super Monkey Ball as a post-launch DLC character and will feature the ability to collect treasure boxes across numerous stages. The feisty Phantom Thief will arrive on November 2nd for $4.99 USD (or equivalent) across all platforms. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X on October 5, 2021.

PRE-ORDER

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

SEGA Talk Podcast #77: Dynamite Headdy (1994)

On-stage Rampage! The curtain is raised, and the Treasure Theater Show begins. SEGA Talk returns, this time talking about Treasure Game’s cult classic title Dynamite Headdy on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive. Some say this dude has the coolest head on stage, so we will break down what makes Headdy so dynamite on this episode of SEGA TALK!

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!

Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps – Part 1 prepares fans for the upcoming Sonic Colors Ultimate

SEGA has released the first in their new web exclusive animated series Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps which promotes the upcoming Sonic Colors Ultimate. This would be the first time we hear Roger Craig Smith as Sonic since his departure and return earlier this year. Also of note, Kate Higgins returns to voice Tails having last voiced him for Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. This is likely to have some continuity between this and the upcoming remaster of the game. Also worth noting, Mike Pollock does NOT return for the short despite the character having lines. Why? Well you’ll have to watch to find out.

Pre-Order Sonic Colors Ultimate

PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch | Xbox One

The Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu from Yakuza, rolls into Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania

From the streets of Kamurocho to the slopes of Jungle Island, Kazuma Kiryu from the Yakuza series rolls into Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania! Instead of collecting bananas, Kazuma Kiryu can collect Stamina X bottles (a item he uses to recover his health gauge in the Yakuza games) as he progresses through numerous puzzling worlds. This would have to be one of the greatest SEGA crossovers so far as RGG Studio, formerly known as Amusement Vision, worked on the Super Monkey Ball series and then became CS1 R&D (RGG Studio) later to develop the Yakuza series.

Kazuma Kiryu will be free and unlockable on all platforms when Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X on October 5, 2021!

PRE-ORDER

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

 

 

First look at Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness

Vespa and Hive today released a first look preview of “Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness for mobile devices. Iconic characters from the “Shining Force” series such as Bowie, Sarah, and Max appear with a mysterious baby wrapped in a blue and red cloth, suggesting a grand story that unites the entire series as the game inherits the world view of the original, where the heroes become the “Shining Force” and win the battle against the Army of Darkness, and the story is set about 1000 years after the original game.

Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness retains the simulation RPG elements of the original series with lively graphics and turn-based gameplay. Shining Force is scheduled to launch globally in the first half of 2022.

Source: 4Gamer