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Sonic Boom reaches Wii U, 3DS in November
Sonic the Hedgehog will grace the Wii U and 3DS with his newly-lanky, traumatic dimensions in mid-November, according to Sega. First up is Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, a 3DS game crafted by Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time developer Sanzaru Games, which is slated to appear on November 11. Then, a week later, Big Red Button Entertainment will debut the Wii U-exclusive Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. Collectively dubbed the "Sonic Boom initiative," these two games will tell complementary tales that are linked in the surprisingly extensive Sonic the Hedgehog canon. While you won't need to play both games to receive a full story, those who fall hopelessly in love with this most recent incarnation of 1992's favorite spiny rodent can also look forward to comic books and an animated series to quell their thirst for hedgehog hijinks. [Image: Sega]
Sega grants 3DS, Wii U Sonic Boom games their own subtitles
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal are the new titles Sega's attached to the next adventures of its spunky anthropomorphic mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog. As we mentioned a few months back, these two games are something akin to spin-offs of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog animated series. At the very least, they share the Sonic Boom name, as well as its overarching universe and its aesthetic style. According to Sega, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (a Wii U game in development at Big Red Button), will feature a detailed world and offer players a modern, action-adventure gaming experience. Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (the 3DS iteration being crafted by Sanzaru Games), on the other hand, will lean more toward platforming, like classic Sonic games. Both Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal are currently slated to debut in November. More information on both games should be available at E3, where Sega claims each will be available for attendees to play. [Image: Sega]
He may have a new look, but Sonic is still the goddamn Batman
Sonic Boom may be bringing a be-scarfed new art direction to the series (is it more of a snood?), but the eagle-eared will have noticed some things are still the same. Sure enough, Sega confirmed Roger Craig Smith, AKA Ezio Auditore, Chris Redfield, and Batman from Arkham Origins, resumes his tenure as Sonic in the upcoming animated series and games. Most of the main cast is made up of returning voices, including Mike Pollock who's coming up to ten years as the voice of Doctor Eggman/Robotnik. The one newbie is established anime voice actress Colleen O'Shaughnessey, who takes over from Kate Higgins as Tails. As for the games themselves, the Wii U Sonic Boom is in development at Big Red Button, and it's a debut game for the studio founded by former Naughty Dog art director Bob Rafei. It features Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters in a 3D game that has more of an action-adventure look about it than recent series entries, and includes open combat arenas to bruise your Knuckles in. We don't know too much about the 3DS Boom yet, except that it's in the hands of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time studio Sanzaru Games. Both versions are due alongside the new animated series later this year. [Image: Sega]
Sonic Boom comes to Wii U and 3DS from western studios
Let the Sonic Cycle begin anew! Sega announced a whole new Sonic the Hedgehog franchise at a New York City event on Thursday: Sonic Boom. That's the name of the new CG animated series debuting later this year alongside tie-in Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games, as an entirely new franchise. As Sega of America marketing chief Marcella Churchill stressed during her introduction, the "modern Sonic" character that's starred in the series since Sonic Adventure won't be going anywhere. Aside from subtle cosmetic changes to the principal characters and play style, a teaser shown at the event for Sonic Boom hewed close to the mold of all three-dimensional Sonic games. The most significant change is who is developing them.
ESRB rates 'Sly Collection' for Vita
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has issued an "E" classification to the PlayStation Vita version of The Sly Collection, which is interesting since that game hasn't been announced for that platform – insert dramatic musical sting here.As is typically the case with these sorts of ESRB leaks, the rating summary gives very little pertinent information beyond the fact that the port exists, and that one of the games briefly shows a barrel marked "ale." We've reached out to Sony for more information and will update with any official word we receive. In the meantime, we're going to follow the ESRB's lead and see if anything in our fridge is also marked "ale."
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time animated prequel steals our hearts
This animated prequel for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time brings players up to speed on the mishaps of Sly and the gang. The game is coming to PS3 and Vita February 5, and a demo is available now for PS Plus members.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time pre-orders for $40, includes bonus
It looks like Sly Cooper will be sneaking in well below the usual $60 retail price for PS3 games. The listings on Walmart, Amazon and GameStop all currently have Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time available for pre-order at $40. Not quite a five-finger discount, but certainly better than nothing.Both Amazon and GameStop's pre-orders also include some in-game bonuses, notably new skins for Sly's para glider and a playable Seal Team Murray. It's also probably worth reiterating that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time features Cross-Buy, meaning those who pick up the PS3 version get the Vita version for free.[Thanks, Michael!]
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time sneaks to Europe March 27
We knew that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time would launch February 5 on PS3 and Vita in North America, but even Sly Cooper can't be in two places at once. We can now expect his arrival across the pond on March 27, according to the PlayStation Blog.To top it off, we have a nifty new story trailer for the game, which is great. Suspiciously great. %Gallery-155701%
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time nabs PS3 loot with Vita augmented reality
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time features Vita/PS3 cross-functionality, with the handheld's augmented reality used to spot treasures on the console's screen. It's always nice to see the PS3 and Vita buddy up.
Sly Cooper and gang play dress-up through time
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time's latest trailer has the thievius raccoonus putting on the best outfit for the job. Pirate garb, Robin Hood-esque green tunics, every infiltration has the right look. The adventure begins February 5, 2013, simultaneously on Vita and PS3.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time hits PS3, PS Vita and PSN on Feb. 5
Nothing is quite as adept at stealing your precious free time like video games. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is making a grab for your life minutes when it launches on February 5, simultaneously on the PS Vita and PS3.Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will also be available as a PSN download on February 5 – purchasing the PS3 version through retailers or PSN will automatically give you the PS Vita version free, and both are cross-play compatible, the PlayStation Blog reports.Our brothers and sisters across the pond will need to wait a little longer for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. It will launch in Europe sometime in March across both PS3 and PS Vita, and the PSN version will also be available there day-and-date with the boxed retail versions. Ain't technology grand?
See Sly Cooper run, jump and climb on PS Vita
The thing about being a raccoon thief is that you need to be nimble. Who wants to lug a PS3 up on the roof when they've forgotten which zip line leads to the eastern window of the jewel room? Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time on the PS Vita is necessary for these situations.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time snatches a spot on Vita
Having made a lifelong profession out of pocketing items of high value, Sly Cooper should feel right at home on the PlayStation Vita. Sony and developer Sanzaru Games, which updated and packaged Sly's PS2 adventures in an HD trilogy collection, have announced that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will also launch on Vita, day-and-date with the PlayStation 3 version.In addition to being portable and cross-save compatible with the PS3 version, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will offer a few augmentations specific to the Vita hardware. When Sly dons an archer's outfit, for instance, his arrows can be steered into their targets – and connect Sly to those areas via a rope bridge – by tilting the Vita. (Sixaxis? What's that?)Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is due on both PS3 and Vita sometime in Fall 2012. When questioned, a Sanzaru representative told Joystiq that it had not yet been decided whether purchasing one version would grant you complimentary access to the other.%Gallery-155701%
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time stealing shelf space at retail this fall
Hey, you! With the sticky fingers! A new raccoon-based simulator to help enhance your craft is coming, and you'll want to pay attention. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time has been given the less ambiguous release window of "this fall" on PlayStation 3.Though the game is developed by Sanzaru Games and not the franchise's creators at Sucker Punch Productions, it's not in unfamiliar hands. Sly Cooper's HD debut, which brought the trio of PS2 originals to the PS3, was developed by Sanzaru, and they did a mighty fine job with it.The fourth installment in Sly's universe gives players control of his family tree, throwing players in multiple locales, including ancient Japan. But wait, you ask as you Google the same information as us, weren't raccoons only introduced to Japan in the 1960s? Clearly the game is not as realistic as we thought. But the animals talk, so that makes it slightly more realistic.Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time also features collectible costumes, granting the bandit bold new powers, as well as a continuation of the franchise's open-world design philosophy, according to the PlayStation Blog.We sure hope Bentley, the wheelchair-bound turtle, isn't jumping through time for this adventure. We're not sure how accessible ancient temples are.%Gallery-130811%
The Sly Collection breaks into PSN on Nov. 29
The Sly Collection, a high-definition bundle of the raccoon's most daring heists, will be available though PSN on November 29. Sanzaru Games president Glen Egan made the announcement deep down in the comments of a PS Blog post about the upcoming Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. The digitally distributed version appears to include everything that was in the retail title, with support for Trophies and stereoscopic 3D. Launched as a retail pack last year, the collection can be purchased as a bundle on PSN for $29.99, or as individual games for $9.99 each. The HD collection is currently available on Amazon for $19.99. [Thanks, Colin.]
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time adds Rioichi the ninja master to the cast
By now, your parents have likely sat you down and given you "The Talk." If not, ask them to do that now. We'll wait. Okay, all caught up? Reproduction is a part of life, even a part of cartoon life. Sly Cooper had to come from a mommy and daddy, right? Today, the PlayStation Blog revealed one of Sly's ancestors, Rioichi, as a playable character in next year's Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. He's not the only ancestor you'll gain access to throughout the game, with each episode adding a unique character with their own abilities. Riochi is the creator of the Ninja Spire Jump, a key maneuver in Sly's arsenal. He was first introduced in the original Sly Cooper game, having come up with the technique while sneaking into Feudal-era castles.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time officially revealed, coming 2012 to PS3
We all knew it was coming, we just didn't know when. But as his name infers, Sly Cooper has snuck back out of the shadows for a new game, heading to the PlayStation 3 in 2012 as Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. Unlike previous Sly games, Sucker Punch will be sitting this one out, with Sly Cooper Collection devs Sanzaru Games taking the helm. The previously teased fourth game in the Sly series got a swanky teaser during Sony's E3 2011 presser, showing off a slinky animal jumping all over the place. We're told he's a lizard named Dmitri, but we get the feeling that the raconteur raccoon will make an appearance at some point. Update: We've added the E3 trailer after the break.
Sly Trilogy gets its trilogy of PAL release dates
The Sly Cooper Collection is a compilation of three separate games, so it's only fitting that the PS3 disc follow the standard of three separate release dates for PAL regions, where it's called The Sly Trilogy. The ported rodent caper collection will arrive first in PAL territories other than the UK and Australia on December 1. Its release in Australia will follow on Dec. 2, and then it comes to the UK and Ireland on Dec. 3. If that's too long to wait, you could either import it from the US right now -- or, you know, break out your copies of the PS2 versions.
The Sly Collection drops into retail November 9
The Sly Collection will be available for five-finger discount beginning November 9. If you're in the mood to actually pay for the thievius raccoonus bundle, which includes Sly Cooper, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, that'll cost you $40. The bundle will also include four new minigames for use with the PlayStation Move controller (or DualShock controller), each focusing on Sly, Bentley, Murray or Carmelita. According to Glen Egan of Sanzaru Games, which handled the port of the PS2 classics, each minigame captures "an aspect of the character and presents it in a way that's great fun to play." Beyond all that, the games are presented in widescreen with stereoscopic threeeeeeeee-deeeeeeee. We would have typed "3D" there, but then it just looks like our keyboard broke. See: 3333333333333-DDDDDDDDDDDD.
The Sly Collection launching at $40 this fall
Sony has priced the upcoming The Sly Collection at $39.99, identical to the price point given to Sony's previous HD remake release, God of War Collection. As previously reported, the collection features remastered, high-definition versions of all three PS2 Sly Cooper titles, along with 3D support, Trophies and a couple of PlayStation Move minigames. Even without all the newfangled technological additions, you're getting three well-received games for $40. That's a pretty good deal. Maybe even a steal. %Gallery-95931%
