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Sonic games -- and The Notebook -- discounted on Xbox Live
The penultimate day of Microsoft's Xbox Live Countdown to New Year's promotion coincides with the December 30 "surprise" listed by Sega in its winter sale announcement. You can see where this is going -- Sega games are on sale today. Specifically, the sale covers a bunch of Sonic games ... a deal that was somehow hinted by this clue: "One Foe -- A world of good vs evil." Surprise! Microsoft is offering one-day discounts on Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, and 3, (now 200 MS Points each), Sonic & Knuckles (120 MSP), Sonic Adventure (400 MSP) and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (800 MSP). The Sonic car Avatar prop is on sale for 120 MSP. Also, The Notebook is discounted today to 380 MSP. We don't think that's part of the theme, but if you're buying all those Sonic games, you should probably go ahead and buy The Notebook to try and spot any Sonic the Hedgehog references in it. Just to be sure.
Sonic Classic Collection seemingly lacks multiplayer
If the screens above are accurate, it would appear that Sonic Classic Collection has ditched the multiplayer modes present in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3. Taken from Sega Europe's Flickr account, the screens don't display the option for multiplayer in either game, unlike the title screens on the original versions of the games. Granted, the multiplayer certainly isn't the main draw of either game, it is reasonably entertaining and would be well suited to the DS' wireless multiplayer abilities. For what it's worth, the GameStop listing for Sonic Classic Collection notes the game is a single-player game. It's not too surprising that the modes were cut, as it would require additional programming beyond simple emulation of the original games. After all, you can't plug an extra Genesis controller into your DS. Still, it would have been nice to see the multiplayer as a bonus mode outside the games. Just to be sure, we've contacted Sega for the final word on the matter. [Via Aussie Nintendo]
VC in Brief: Sonic & Knuckles (Sega Genesis)
This week's release is quite the treat. Sonic & Knuckles was a great game when it released back in the day, made even greater if you had yourself Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 -- which you probably did. Now that experience is on the Virtual Console and if, like me, you have both of those games downloaded on your Wii, you can relive the experience all over again. Or you can just watch the above episode of VC in Brief for free. Sonic & Knuckles (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
NintendoWare Weekly: Phoenix Wright, Sonic & Knuckles, Spotto!
As expected, today marks the release of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice for All on WiIWare. Capcom's lawyer-'em-up is joined by a plethora of new titles, so if you have some extra pocket change or a packed piggy bank, you'll want to head past the break and see what's available for download this week.
European Nintendo downloads: Sonic & Knuckles, Frogger Returns, Overturn
It's a return of two classic mascots on the Wii this week, sort of. A good Sonic the Hedgehog game -- and, in fact, one that is kind of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 -- is up on the Virtual Console, with Lock-On tech intact; and Konami's Frogger is doing what he does best (almost dying in traffic). And also there's a game about robots shooting each other, but that doesn't really fit into the theme. Sonic & Knuckles (Mega Drive, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Frogger Returns (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Overturn: Mecha Wars (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Electroplankton: Rec-Rec (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) Electroplankton: Lumiloop (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) Sudoku 4Pockets (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points) Let's Golf (DSiWare, 1-2 players, 800 DSi Points)
Sonic Classic Collection announced for DS
Sega will continue exsanguinating Sonic's past by re-releasing the hedgehog's first four 16-bit adventures on one DS cartridge. Launching in March 2010, Sonic Classic Collection will include Sonic the Hedgehog 1-3 and Sonic & Knuckles. The collection will have a "save anywhere" feature, along with extra video and picture content. Who's ready to buy Sonic the Hedgehog for the umpteenth time in 20 years? ... Ludwig, put your hand down!
Japanese Nintendo downloads: WiiWare ReBirth
WiiWare is officially back in Japan, with one of the most content-rich updates we'd ever seen. Just Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth would be enough to make this week remarkable, but Game Arts' Shadow Walker and Bit.Trip VOID are available as well, along with an oddity from D3!Not enough? How about four Virtual Console games, including a Sonic & Knuckles with the lock-on feature intact? Or a budget DSiWare game about blowing up asteroids to save the Earth? @SIMPLE Series Vol. 5: THE Judo (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 700 Wii Points) Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (WiiWare, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Bit.Trip: VOID (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Shadow Walker (WiiWare, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Championship Lode Runner (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Sonic & Knuckles (Mega Drive, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Face Off (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Rolling Thunder 2 (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Earth Saver (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) Puzzle Selection Monthly Crossword House vol. 6 (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points) Hills and Rivers Remain (DSiWare, 1-4 players, 800 DSi Points)
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Sonic & Knuckles
If you were a Sega Genesis gamer growing up, then this is a special week for you. This week marks the release of Sonic & Knuckles (400 / $5) on Xbox Live Arcade. Sonic & Knuckles, as you will no doubt remember, was once the most amazing piece of technology ever created. It's not quite as amazing these days, but it's still a great platformer. It still "locks on" to the first three XBLA Sonic games as well. Combine Sonic & Knuckles with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and you've got the best Sonic game ever made. Watch this week's XBLA in Brief and get a glimpse of the days when Sonic games were still good. Download the trial version of Sonic & Knuckles [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.
This Wednesday: Wallace and Gromit, Sonic and Knuckles rush XBLA
With Major Nelson taking this day of labor off, we look across the pond for word on this week's Xbox Live Arcade title. As previously noted, it appears Sonic and Knuckles will be this week's release at 400 ($5). The good word comes from European Xbox community manager "AceyBongos," which just doesn't have the same ring as "Major Nelson." Could Microsoft at least make the guy a general or captain?Update: Joining the hedgehog and the echidna will be the inventor and his faithful companion. Major Nelson brings word that the mischief of Wallace and Gromit Episode 2: The Last Resort will also be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10).Update 2: Last minute change: No Wallace and Gromit.
Sonic & Knuckles speeding into XBLA September 9
Once again, Xbox Live Arcade will be visited by a ghostly vision of Sonic the Hedgehog's good (see: not terrible) old days -- Shacknews is reporting that the Sega Vintage Collection 2 series will draw to a close on September 9 with the release of Sonic & Kunckles. As hinted at when this Sega collection was first announced, owners of the previous Sonic XBLA titles will have access to bonuses in the latest installment -- including the "Blue Sphere" mode (Sonic 1), as well as the ability to play as Knuckles in Sonic 2 and 3.We've contacted Sega to confirm the release date and get pricing details -- and also to discover whether the Wii version of the game (revealed by an ESRB listing) will be made available simultaneously.
Second batch of Sega Vintage Collection titles confirmed
Sega has announced plans to release seven more of its classic titles under the Sega Vintage Collection banner later this year, thus confirming one of Xbox Live Arcade's worst-kept secrets. Included in Sega Vintage Collection 2 are Shinobi (arcade port), Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Phantasy Star II, Sonic & Knuckles and Gunstar Heroes. Interestingly, Gunstar Heroes is the only title also announced for the PSN.According to Sega, each title will include online leaderboards, re-worked graphics (using smoothing filters, not HD upgrades) and most will feature network play (Comix Zone, Phantasy Star II and Shinobi excluded). No word on pricing or release dates but Sega plans to release the titles separately this summer, with Sonic & Knuckles appearing last. Why the delay? With Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 2 XBLA and Sonic 3 XBLA owners will be able to use the classic lock-on feature from the Genesis-era to import Knuckles into each classic adventure. Of course, if patience isn't your best quality, you could just buy Sonic's Genesis Collection now (which doesn't support lock-on).%Gallery-63190%
PEGI locks on to Sonic & Knuckles
We've been wondering how Sega would handle the weird lock-on capabilities of Sonic & Knuckles on the Virtual Console. According to the PEGI ratings board, we'll soon find out: the Genesis Sonic 3 continuation has been rated for Virtual Console release. It showed up on the ESRB months ago, but a new rating suggests forward motion, maybe.The cynical view of someone who has seen a VC game before dictates that the release will feature only the new levels available on the standalone cartridge, with no way to access the extra content made available by combining the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge with Sonics 2 and 3. But maybe Sega will surprise us![Via NeoGAF]
Sonic & Knuckles to glide to Virtual Console
The latest Virtual Console game to show up on the ESRB's ratings search page is an obvious one: Sonic & Knuckles. With Sonics 1 through 3 already available, it was only a matter of time before The Rest of Sonic 3 showed up. The ESRB rating should mean that the game will pop up on the VC soon, though it's no guarantee.How will Sonic & Knuckles' unique "lock-on" feature work on the Wii? The original cartridge featured a pass-through that allowed other Sonic games to be connected, unlocking the ability to play through those games as Knuckles. Previous ports of Sonic & Knuckles have been packaged with the other games, with the "lock-on" extras selectable from a menu. Will Sonic & Knuckles on the Virtual Console check for Sonic 2 and 3? Will you be able to play Blue Sphere? Or will it just be the main Sonic & Knuckles game? We're curious, but we aren't getting our hopes up. Just like every other time a Sonic game comes out!
