Sega

02.04.12

Someone tell me -- why is Virtua Tennis so addictive?  Is it the simplistic gameplay that actually makes tennis fun instead of a chore?  (You guys at Top Spin listening?)  Is it the beautiful visuals?  Maybe it's the mini-games where you get to sink plastic pirate ships with tennis balls?  Or maybe it's a combination of all these things.  Sega easily realizes this, which explains why they're bringing the series to the portable front with the release of Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour on PlayStation Vita later this month.  Just when we were starting to get productive in the office again...

02.01.12

Consoles and PC's have had a slow month interms of new AAA quality games arriving for your respected platform. While January got off to a slow start, it quickly recovered to bring us high quality tittles through digital distribution. Plenty of great downloadable arcade tittles were made available through XBLA, PSN and Steam, giving us many hidden gems on the digital marketplace. Let's look back at the games we reviewed over the past month.  

01.05.12

The PlayStation 3 -- with its Move peripheral -- seems to be the new home for great arcade shooters, as indicated by such releases as Time Crisis: Razing Storm (with three arcade games in one) and House of the Dead Overkill: Extended Cut.  It doesn't look like they'll be changing course in 2012, as Sega has just announced two of its more popular arcade shooting games coming to PlayStation Network over the next few months.

01.01.12

Sonic the Hedgehog has had a splendid 2011.  There, we said it.  But he really has.  Between Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing for mobile platforms, the awesome Sonic Generations and the surprising return of Sonic CD in downloadable format, Sega really brought him back to, ahem, speed.  And he's not slowing down in 2012, as the company has announced the follow-up to his original Sonic the Hedgehog 4 adventure.

12.22.11

 

To be quite honest, Sonic CD didn’t get a fair shake when it came out for the Sega CD nearly 20 years ago.  The platform itself was questionable between the stupid-ass games that came out for it, and a few hardcore fans were miffed that the excellent Japanese soundtrack was replaced by mostly bland rock tunes.  But leave it to Sega to validate its long-forgotten classic by giving it the widespread release it deserves across multiple platforms.  Along with Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, the game has also found a home on iOS devices – and, hold your horses, it’s good.

12.13.11

Sega surprised a lot of folks when it brought back its sleeper hit Sonic the Hedgehog CD (also known as just Sonic CD, duh) for digital release, unveiling it a few months back at the Penny Arcade Expo and reintroducing the world to a long-lost favorite.  But now it's shocked us again, as it's JUST announced that the game will be out in time for the holidays.  And it's throwing in some extra stuff as well -- including a VERY reasonable price.

11.22.11

On October 22nd some of the biggest names in skateboarding history converged in California to compete in the first-ever Sonic Generations of Skate.  Now their exploits will air on Fox Sports Network on Black Friday, November 25th. In celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th Anniversary and the release of Sonic Generations, the one-hour special features top professional skateboarders from three generations such as Steve Caballero, Sandra Dias, Pierre Luc Gagnon (PLG), Tony Hawk and Andy Macdonald.  Skaters from each generation battle it out in teams over four events; performing various tricks, jumps and team routines.  Watch as one team is crowned the first Sonic Generations of Skate winner and receives their trophy from the legendary video game icon Sonic the Hedgehog. Check out the video below to see the action.

10.26.11

Sega's House of the Dead series has been haunting us for years, getting its start as a popular arcade shooter and eventually making its way to the home market with a number of sequels.  However, it fell just short of its true potential, mainly due to the fact that the storyline was average at best, even with the unpredictable bosses and the over-the-top fourth arcade game.  But all that has changed thanks to the approach of House of the Dead: Overkill, the Wii shooter that's getting a re-release on PlayStation 3 this week, in a new Extended Cut.

10.23.11

OK, for the most part, Sonic the Hedgehog games for this generation have sucked.  While Sonic Colors wasn't half bad, the other games, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Unleashed, left a bad taste in our mouths.  Even the promising 2-D Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 couldn't turn the tide in his favor.  But now it looks like that will all wash away next week when Sonic Generations releases.  Sega and Sonic Team are relying on the classic flavor of the series, while still making the gameplay fans can easily relate to.

10.23.11

SEGA of America has big plans for one of the big games of 2012. The game maker is offering pre-order incentives for its much anticipated third-person, squad shooter Binary Domain.  Everyone who pre-orders Binary Domain at GameStop will receive the “Multiplayer Pack,” featuring an exclusive multiplayer map, a new playable class as well as exclusive weapons.

10.20.11

In celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th Anniversary and his upcoming videogame, Sonic Generations, Sega has teamed up with action sports event producer ASA Entertainment for Sonic Generations of Skate. The event will feature three generations of professional skaters competing throughout the Sonic-themed day. On Saturday, October 22, Sonic and skateboarding fans will descend on Venice Beach, California (on the basketball courts near Muscle Beach), the iconic location where performance skateboarding planted its roots. Viewers at home will also be able to catch all the action on Fox Sports Network on Friday, November 25th.

10.15.11

If there's one thing Sega is no stranger to, it's revisiting classic licenses in a whole new light.  These next few weeks alone, we'll be seeing revamped versions of House of the Dead and Sonic the Hedgehog, in ways that both fans and newcomers can appreciate.  And later this month also marks the return of an arcade racing pioneer -- Daytona USA.

10.11.11

Sega's attempts to bring back Sonic the Hedgehog in a whole new light have been bungled at best.  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 was all right, but a bit too short considering its $15 price tag and large amount of hype.  The original Sonic the Hedgehog rebirth was unquestionably bad, due to poor platforming segments and a rather questionable relationship with a human girl.  And Sonic Unleashed didn't do the brand any favors, thanks to an annoying new character and Sonic's poor Were-hog stages.  But now, this year, it looks like Sega's finally getting it right, simply by going back to basics.

09.12.11

It was inevitable.  After all, Sega has released a Super Monkey Ball game for every platform under the sun, introducing players to cool ball-rolling techniques, a number of unique mazes, and great modes such as Monkey Billiards.  (Because every system needs a variation of Monkey Billiards.)  Now, just months after releasing a version for 3DS, Sega is rolling forward with a Super Monkey Ball game for Sony's upcoming handheld, the PS Vita.