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3D After Burner 2 locked-on to hit 3DS eshop next week
Sega's next wave of 3D-enhanced Classics looks set to begin January 15 with After Burner 2, going by new eShop listings. Nintendo's storefronts in North America and Europe have the arcade air fighter down for that date, though Sega's yet to make any announcements. We've reached out to the publisher to confirm the ETA for some top-gunning action. According to its eShop description After Burner 2 includes 23 stages and comes with a selection of "real arcade cabinets," new difficulty settings, new graphical options, and the standard Classics addition of stereoscopic 3D. Also, if you beat all 23 stages you unlock an extra mode that features "even more gameplay enhancements."
OutRun spotted on the grid for Sega's 3D Classics
A passing breeze running through your finely coiffed hair, the magical sound shower of waves splashing against the coast, and your best girl (who's totally not hanging around with you just so she can ride in your Ferrari) in the passenger seat. That's what fans of classic racer OutRun can look forward to in 3D, after the game's logo appeared alongside Sega's line of existing 3DS games on the 3D Classics website. Going by the announcement on 4Gamer there's no word on a release date or price for Japan, or whether or not it and the recently announced Fantasy Zone are coming to the West. Sega did ferry over eight 3D classics last year, including Space Harrier, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Hang-On. [Image: 4Gamer]
Sega: No plans to re-release Virtual-On, Virtua Striker outside Japan
The re-releases of Cyber Trooper Virtual-On and Virtua Striker are restricted to Japan, Sega announced today. The Sega AM2 duo are coming to Japan's PSN and XBLA on February 13, but unlike Sonic the Fighters, Virtua Fighter 2, and Fighting Vipers, the three games they were originally teased alongside, Japan is as far as they'll go.That's sad news for fans of soccer and/or giant robots (which surely includes everyone), but you can still enjoy the Sega AM2 fighters on XBLA and PSN for 400 MSP/$4.99.
European PSN releases for April 22
There's a whole gang of playable content to get excited about in this week's European PSN update, such as Lead and Gold, After Burner Climax, the Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demo and UNO on the PSP. However, we'd make a strong case that the highlight of this most recent batch of additions isn't playable at all. We're speaking, of course, of the Sonic The Hedgehog comic from Archie Comics. Think we're joking? Look, right there, on the cover: "The World's Most Way Past Cool Comic!" How can you say no to that? Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
After Burner Climax comes with Avatar Awards
It's a proven fact that absolutely everyone likes Avatar Awards. Unlike the goodies in the Avatar Marketplace, Avatar Awards are free and, in many cases, provide a highly visible way to show off your gaming prowess. Several titles have offered Avatar Awards thus far -- including Left 4 Dead 2, 'Splosion Man, Halo Waypoint -- and now we have one more to add to the list: After Burner Climax. The game packs two Avatar Awards. The first is a T-shirt, awarded simply for unlocking all the game's EX options, which Sega notes "anybody" should be able to do with continued play. The second, the sweet pilot's helmet you see above, is a little trickier to unlock and requires players to complete their medal collections in the score attack mode, which "takes some serious skill," according to Sega. Unfortunately, it looks like Sega missed a golden opportunity here. Where's our remote control jet?
XBLA in Brief: Puzzle Chronicles, After Burner Climax
We've got two wildly disparate games on Xbox Live Arcade this week. For the puzzle game / RPG hybrid fans, there's Puzzle Chronicles, essentially a different take on Puzzle Quest (which makes sense, as both were developed by Infinite Interactive). If you're more of an action bent, then After Burner Climax will be right up your alley. So, what's it going to be, saving the kingdom one rotating gem at a time or blasting bogeys from the sky? Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either 800 ($10) title deserves a spot on your radar. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly. Xbox.com: Add Puzzle Chronicles trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add After Burner Climax trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue
This Wednesday: After Burner Climax and Puzzle Chronicles on XBLA
After last week's one-two punch of Final Fight: Double Impact (you bought it, right?), another arcade gem will take off on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday in the form of After Burner Climax. It's a port of the 2006 arcade game, which itself is a revival of the classic, late-80s arcade series. Konami's Puzzle Chronicles also arrives on XBLA this week. Lest you've forgotten, this is "that game that looks like a sideways version of Puzzle Quest." If it's anywhere near as good as Puzzle Quest, we'll take it. Both games will be available for 800 ($10) apiece. [Via Major Nelson] Source - Xbox.com -- Puzzle Chronicles Source - Xbox.com -- After Burner Climax
After Burner Climax takes off April 21 on XBLA; April 22 on PSN
Not many of us have the good fortune of taking a soak in a hot tub time machine and waking up in 1986, the year the fighter jet pilot officially became the raddest job on the planet. Fewer still know the whereabouts of a decent arcade that has an After Burner Climax cabinet, the 2006 revival of Sega's classic air combat franchise. Thankfully, in less than a month, all of us can experience the glory of stopping a nuclear inferno from within the cockpit. Sega of America has dated the Xbox Live Arcade release of After Burner Climax for April 21, followed by an April 22 release on PSN. [Update: Sega Europe Ltd. has confirmed the same release dates for Europe.] The publisher did not announce a price for the downloadable title, but the Japanese version was previously priced at the $10 equivalent. %Gallery-84185%
After Burner: Climax looks like Aurora-ing good time
It remains to be seen just how well After Burner: Climax will translate from its arcade greatness over to a downloadable form on consoles, but at least it still looks purty. And we mean everything about it, from the clean and simple Sega UI, to the well-designed dynamic lighting on the planes and explosions, all the way out to the great-looking vistas that catch your eye just as you fire up the 'burners and race for the horizon ... What? Oh, sorry, we got a little carried away in the Climax there. To see what we mean, lock your targeting reticule onto four new screens from the official Sega America blog in the gallery below. %Gallery-84185%
Sega finally shows Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
As the AOU 2010 expo gets underway at Tokyo's Makuhari Messe (also home to the annual Tokyo Game Show), Sega is showing its latest coin-op iteration of Virtua Fighter, called Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown. (Or: Virtua Fighter 5 Probably Not Really the Final Showdown Because the Game is Still Super Popular -- but we can understand why Sega went with the more pared-down title.) So far, only a highly stylized teaser trailer for the (for now) arcade-only title has been released, along with a page on the official Japanese Virtua Fighter site that mentions (via machine translation) additional costumes, more character customization items and new moves. Of course, it's been almost three years since the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the Lindbergh-powered quarter-muncher hit the US, so we're not exactly holding out hope for this one popping up on store shelves in the States. But, hey, there's always PSN and XBLA. [Thanks, Harlock!]
ESRB: After Burner Climax is a go for US and Europe
We have mixed feelings about utilizing the ESRB as a source for upcoming US releases. On the one hand, we're thankful that their rating practically assures that Sega's After Burner Climax will be coming to the US on Xbox Live and PSN (it was previously only announced for Japan). On the other, they always manage to make games sound so boring, and this is a game that includes both the words "Burner" and "Climax" in its title. Here, see it in action if you don't believe us. Listen to this: "Most of the jets-even the missiles/gunfire-appear somewhat fantastical." And yes, those italics are theirs. The only cool word in the whole thing is "fantastical" and even that's softened by a "somewhat." But don't worry, ESRB, we've taken the liberty of awesoming-up your listing. [Update: Just because MrXile asked: Yes, it's coming to Europe.]
After Burner Climax XBLA screens soar into view [update]
Though we've yet to hear official word from Sega on whether After Burner Climax is jetting to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, Gameswire has obtained "by hook or by crook" a plethora of gorgeous screens -- 26, to be exact -- which it reports as coming from the XBLA version. Late last year, the flight action was rated by both the Australian and Korean boards, with classification applied for by Sony. While you peruse these shots, we'll keep bugging Sega about some proper details. Update: Sega of Japan has confirmed (via 1UP) After Burner Climax's release this spring for ¥900 ($10) on PS3 and 800 (also, $10) for Xbox 360. We're still following up with Sega of America for confirmation of a North American release. [Via Kotaku]
After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN
Though it might lose some of its magic without the full chair-and-tinted-window-equipped arcade cabinet, we're still pretty pumped about the possibility of getting our hands on a port of Sega's classic flight combat sim, After Burner. According to the OFLC and the Korean Game Rating Board, it's only a matter of time before our wish is fulfilled -- GamerBytes recently noticed that both groups have rated Sega's After Burner Climax for home console distribution. According to the Korean board, the rating was applied for by Sony, leading some to believe the title's planned launch platform is the PSN. However, considering the multi-platform release of Outrun Online Arcade, we wouldn't be surprised if Sega decided to share the aerial dogfighting love with the 360 as well. We've contacted the hedgehog-loving developer to find out exactly what its plans are for the title.
Daytona USA returns to arcades in high-def as 'Sega Racing Classic'
In recent weeks, what appeared to be a promotional flyer for a new Sega AM2 arcade game, Sega Racing Classic, has been making the rounds. Its inclusion of imagery closely matching that of Daytona USA lead many to believe there might finally be a new sequel to the, er, racing classic. As it turns out, coin-op industry site Highway Games has obtained an official rundown on the game, and it's ... an HD remake of the original Daytona USA, sans the name.According to the site -- which also has pictures of the sit-down cabinet -- Sega Racing Classic is "a revamped version of Sega's smash hit Daytona USA, featuring the original tracks and heart pumping action with all new high definition graphics." Specifically, the machine sports a 32" widescreen LCD display and the game runs at 1280x720 (720p) resolution. As suggested by the aforementioned flyer, SRC is powered by Sega's latest arcade hardware, Ringwide.Since Sega no longer has the rights to the "Daytona" name, it's likely that the game's title won't be the only change. There's the little issue of the attract sequence music, with its enchanting repetition of the word "Daytona" along with the lyrics "let's fly away." Still, whatever the name, Sega's classic racer in HD is a welcome surprise. We imagine some of you have already started online petitions to bring the game to PSN and XBLA before even finishing this post.[Via Arcade Heroes]
