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ESRB rates Sonic Adventure (and DX) for Xbox 360, PS3
Dreamcast classic Sonic Adventure and its "director's cut" edition, Sonic Adventure DX, have been rated for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 by the ESRB. Sonic Adventure was recently classified by the Korean ratings board, and briefly appeared in January in tandem with an "extend package," purportedly seen on the Xbox marketplace. Sonic's companion on the great Sega ratings board journey, Crazy Taxi, has apparently not yet been re-classified for current consoles by the ESRB. We've followed up with Sega for details on both titles, but with E3 next week, the publisher likely wants it to be a "reveal" for the show. Start practicing your "we had no idea" face for the surprise next week.
Sega to reveal Natal, Move projects at E3 suited for 'PS2 type' audience
Last September, Sega promised to clue the world into its plans for Project Natal and PlayStation Move in early 2010. Actually, back then, we were still calling it the PlayStation Motion Controller. Oh, so young and naive! Now that we and Sega are both a few months older and wiser, the latter's plans have been pushed back a bit -- in a recent interview with IndustryGamers, Sega West president Mike Hayes explained that the company's Natal and Move plans would be revealed at E3 2010. Though we haven't heard much about Sega's feelings on the upcoming wave of new motion control technology, Hayes explained the company is excited about "the fact that Move and Natal will bring in more of what I'd call the PS2 type of consumer for those platforms, which then suits very much the IP that Sega has." We've hypothesized that the PS2 IP he's referring to is the already motion-infused Sega Super Stars (pictured above) -- in our heart of hearts, though, we're secretly hoping for a motion-controlled Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future.
Leaked Sonic 4 mine cart footage is all yours
Adding to last week's leaked footage of Sonic 4's Splash Hill Zone is a new clip (embedded after the break) from the downloadable game's Lost Labyrinth Zone. There's more to be seen at the source, but we singled out one clip in particular because it served as the best evidence that Sonic 4 really is drawing a lot of inspiration from the 16-bit era -- after all, how else would you explain a mine cart level? (In case you'd forgotten, they were outlawed by a U.N. resolution passed in 1998.) So hey, if some random people on the internet can get their hands on Sonic 4, it shouldn't be too long before we can, too. Right? [Thanks RPK!]
New Sonic 4 screens capture sundown in Splash Hill Zone
Click to enlarge Feeling blue today? Maybe it's because you sensed that Sega was going to make your eyes tear up (in a good way) with these razor-sharp new Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 screenshots. Or maybe you're just down in the dumps; in which case, we're sorry to hear it -- and we really hope these screens cheer you up. The new images feature the already revealed Splash Hill Zone, this time with Sonic racing through it at sunset. Of course, without any more information, we don't know if this is a later act in the stage, or if the time of day will change dynamically mid-level. We can tell you that we think the lighting looks great, even if Sonic's true blue coloring appears to be unaffected by it (probably due to a clause in his contract). Check out the full set of screens in the high-res gallery below. %Gallery-89026%
Sega confirms Sonic 4 developed by Sonic Team and Dimps
Sonic may not team up with other playable characters in his upcoming downloadable adventure, but Sonic Team and Dimps are combining forces to develop Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. Sega today confirmed to Joystiq that the two developers are working together on the title, plainly stating, "Sonic 4 Episode I is being developed by Sonic Team in cooperation with Dimps." The question as to who is actually making the title for Sega was raised when Xbox.com listed Dimps as sole developer on the game's XBLA info page. This isn't the first time that Dimps has partnered with a well-known team to develop a game based on a classic franchise -- it worked with Capcom to create Street Fighter IV -- nor is it a stranger to the Sonic universe, having worked on the Sonic Advance series for GBA, Sonic Rush and its sequel for DS and level design for the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed. [Thanks to Justin for the original tip!]
Rumor: Sonic 4 screens and footage leaked
If this is really leaked off-screen footage and screenshots of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 sent in to 1UP, we're surprised to say that it really, for real looks like a Sonic game. Despite a lazy jump animation, it actually looks like something that could satisfy those of us desperate for a genuine Sonic experience. Therefore, we predict either that this stuff is an elaborate fake, or that, after the first level, Robotnik freezes Sonic solid and you spend the rest of the game as Amy Rose dragging Sonic in a little red wagon. Those are the only ways we can reconcile what we see and what we know about Sonic games. Visible in both the video and the screens is a menu that reveals stages called the Splash Hill Zone, the Casino Street Zone, and the Mad Gear Zone (which probably isn't a Final Fight crossover), as well as a Sonic 1-style Special Stage. Check out the video after the break and face the terrifying proposition that you may become interested in a Sonic game. Frustratingly, this footage is as wobbly as all furtive "leaked" off-screen game footage is -- despite the fact that the person shooting it clearly had enough control to turn on the system and start the game on demand, suggesting that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment video opportunity. Maybe the shaky-cam effect makes it look more like what people expect of a leak.
Sega might not be done with Sonic the Werehog
Sega, whose business is as much about publishing games as it is about punishing Sonic fans without mercy, has revealed in an interview with Videogamer that the future could feature more of Sonic being a Werehog. In discussing the possibility of Sonic's alter-ego emerging from his permanent residence in the clearance bin at your local Wal*Mart, Sega's Ketsui Tatano doesn't think "producing the Werehog was a mistake per se," but he does admit there "were a lot of things we could have done better if we had more time and resources." Then, he delivers this dark omen, saying that should Sega pursue a Sonic Unleashed 2, seeing the Werehog again is "a possibility." Oh yeah? Well, we can tell you where he won't be, should that dark future come to fruition: spinning inside of our console's disc drive.
New trailer for Sonic and the Black Knight (and Blaze the Cat)
Because you, the fans, demanded it, Sega is indeed including some of Sonic's pals in Sonic and the Black Knight. Clearly the best part of any Sonic game is the supporting cast. The latest trailer features an epic battle between Sonic and the fan-favorite Blaze the Cat, one of the more complex, multifaceted characters in the Sonic canon. In this game, Blaze plays the part of Percival, one of the Knights of the Round Table. She also fights with Sonic for some reason.The good news is that once you defeat her in the game's story mode, you can unlock Blaze, so you won't have to play through the whole Sonic game as Sonic. Whew.%Gallery-33434%
Joystiq hands-on: Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)
Sonic continues his gimmicky journey into the current generation this March with Sonic and the Black Knight, the second in the "Sonic Storybook" series of games. In this series Sonic is pasted into a classic storybook environment -- Arabian Nights in Sonic and the Secret Rings and the Arthurian legends in Black Knight. "Pasted into" is definitely the right phrase, too. At times it's not clear why this is a Sonic game at all.In case you haven't heard, Sonic now has a sword. Those spines on his back? Pretty pointless. Swinging that sword requires you to shake the Wiimote, which we're sure you're already aware, gets pretty tired after a while. Despite that, Black Knight isn't a terrible game. It's definitely an improvement over Secret Rings, though you'd expect that considering the two and a half year gap between the titles.The horizontal Wiimote-only control system of Secret Rings has been replaced with the far superior Wiimote + Nunchuck system. As a result Sonic is no longer on rails and you can move him forwards and backwards as you please, though the levels have remained largely linear, with the exception of some arena-style duels. There are plenty of levels to explore, with incentives to go back to each of them and complete specific tasks and collect more followers.
The early years of Phantasy Star Zero
Here's something: early on in its development, Phantasy Star Zero bore more than a passing resemblance to the original Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast.Unseen64 has assembled a collection of work-in-progress Zero screens and concept art, and the similarities are striking: according to these, Sega was also planning to include the opening Forest stage that featured in Phantasy Star Online, right down to the awesome dragon boss! Unseen64 says neither are featured in the final game (sadly, we have yet to play Zero ourselves, so we'll take their word for it).Other changes from the initial build include noticeably different character design, changes in the way items and currency are distributed (to make sure the game ran smoothly and looked as pretty as this), and a selection of monsters that missed the cut.%Gallery-31775%[Thanks, Joe!]
Near-simultaneous worldwide release for Sonic and the Black Knight
Some happy news to start the weekend on: Sega's Japanese arm just announced that Sonic and the Black Knight would launch on March 10 in all territories apart from Japan, which will be getting the title on March 12. Then, on or around March 17, we can all start telling ourselves that Sonic's next game will see his return to form (we kid, please don't hurt us).Incidentally, should the planned release date hold, it will mean less than five months have passed between the release of Black Knight and Sonic's previous game, a prolific turnaround. Sega also sent out four new shots -- these are now ensconced in our gallery, and looking pretty fine!%Gallery-33434%
Sonic, the Black Knight, and the Stereotypical Sonic Music
For some reason, somebody at Sega got the idea that Sonic games needed to have ridiculous cheese-rock soundtracks. Come to think of it, discussion of a lot of aspects of 3D Sonic games would start with "For some reason ... " They're fairly enjoyable in a hilarious sort of way, but they always catch us off guard when we first hear them. This new Japanese trailer for Sonic and the Black Knight contains one of the finest examples of outrageous Sonic music yet!Speaking of recent Sonic tropes, is that ... another human(ish) love interest? That ... could be a problem. We must say that, at this point, the game parts of the game look pretty cool -- if you're going to give Sonic a sword, that's exactly the way to do it! If you'd like to see more, check the link for a few new screens! We remain skeptical -- there are certain warning signs about this game, like the presence of Sonic the Hedgehog.%Gallery-33434%
Sonic and the Black Knight's Wi-Fi modes explained
This pretty sweet Sonic and the Black Knight boxart emerged last month, inadvertently revealing that Sega had a whole new "Storybook Series" planned for Sonic. It also sported the Nintendo Wi-Fi logo, but the exact nature of the game's online mode wasn't clear -- until now.For those of you hoping for online sword duels: sorry, that's not happening. Siliconera's Spencer discovered a listing for the game on the site of Japanese retailer Rakuten which revealed Wi-Fi play would consist of trading items (Black Knight has 200+ items for you to hunt down) and ... some kind of ranking system. As it stands, you'll have to wait a bit longer for your chance to impale fellow Wii owners on the pointy end of Excalibur.%Gallery-33434%[Via Siliconera]
Try out Sega's Wii line-up early
If you're in the New York area between February 6 - 8, we are now officially jealous of you, for something other than the fact that you live in New York. Sega USA's blog informs us that House of the Dead: Overkill, Sonic and the Black Knight, MadWorld, and The Conduit will all be playable at the 2009 New York Comic-Con, which in our opinion makes the $30 fee for a Friday or Sunday ticket (or even the $40 for a Saturday pass) totally palatable. Alternatively, if you fancy being the jerk who hogs the Wii booths for a full three days, you can pony up $50 for the entire event.%Gallery-22964%[Via IGN]
DS Daily: Phantasy Starting too late?
Sega has finally announced Phantasy Star Zero for North American and European release (press release at the "source" link, new screens in the gallery), putting to an end our (mild) fears that the multiplayer action RPG would never leave Japan. But the press release specifies "Winter 2009" -- with a promise of more info in "the coming months" that suggests that they don't mean the winter 2009 we're currently in the middle of, but the next one. As in, almost a whole year away.Our immediate reaction was "nooooooo," but then we realized that there are just way too many DS games coming out in 2009 -- especially in the first half -- and maybe it's a good thing that we don't have to try to crowd Phantasy Star Zero in with all that stuff. It'll probably get crowded with a lot of future stuff, but we don't know that right now.What's your take? Too far away or helpful for your monthly time/money budgeting? Does PS0 say "holiday lineup" to you?%Gallery-31775%
Phantasy Star Zero confirmed for North America
If this rough shot of the most recent copy of Nintendo Power is to be believed, Phantasy Star Zero will hit North American shelves this fall. A reader sent the photo in to our friends at GoNintendo, and posters at NeoGAF also report the Nintendo Power cover. Word of mouth on the game has been incredibly positive, so we would be excited even if we weren't talking about Phantasy Star Zero. But we are, so that means we're over the moon. Are you as excited as we are? If not, maybe you should check out a trailer.Oh, and we should also mention that Sega just sent us a press release confirming the game will release in Europe.%Gallery-31775%Read -- GoNintendoRead -- NeoGAF
Rumor: NiGHTS was once a 360/PS3 game
Okay, this is all pretty tenuous, but super interesting: apparently, a Sega of Europe employee kept a blog last year in which he revealed some stuff about NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams that he shouldn't have, well before the game's release. The posts have since been removed, but the Wayback Machine allows us to have a look back!According to the blog post, Journey of Dreams was originally developed as an Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 title, and was hastily shunted to the Wii when the platform's success became obvious -- despite protests from director Takashi Iizuka. The 360 version was at least far enough along to be playable! The quick change in plans meant that NiGHTS' development time was effectively shortened. If you didn't like the game, you have something on which to blame the problems!Also interesting, if this blog post is really as vintage as it looks (we don't discount some kind of Internet trickery): the blogger dropped a pretty big hint about a future Sega game, saying that Sonic Team should be freed from Sonic games, "... before they release another Sonic game with a transforming Evil 'Night' Sonic who looks like a werewolf and can stretch his arms out Dhalsim-style. It will happen, mark my words."%Gallery-4673%[Via tssznews, via NeoGAF]
Sonic and the Black Knight boxart suggests more storybook games
Without making a big deal about it, Sega quietly began a new spinoff franchise with Sonic and the Secret Rings. The first Sonic Wii game put Sega's mascot into an Arabian Nights-influenced world. The followup, Sonic and the Black Knight, was announced as the second entry in the "Storybook Series." New North American boxart for Black Knight found on Amazon shows that Sega has now decided to officially identify the game (and thus Secret Rings, retroactively) as a Storybook Series entry, right there in the corner of the label. And, really, the only reason to do that now is to set it up as an ongoing series. That means more Wii Sonic games in different worlds taken from classic stories. Hopefully for Sega, this initiative will work out better than Nintendo's Education Series.%Gallery-33434%[Via GoNintendo]
Gaming to Go: Sonic Rush
This is the other occasion where you're allowed to roll your eyes and say "Well, duh." A Sonic the Hedgehog game being featured for its emphasis on speed? Yeah, it's not a revolutionary concept, but it's still not quite the immediate conclusion one might have drawn some ten or fifteen years back. Where the much-maligned hedgehog used to be known for ultrafast platforming, recent entries in the series have introduced all kinds of kooky new gameplay elements, often stealing the spotlight from eye-melting rollercoasters and placing it firmly on beloved new characters like Big the Cat. Sonic Rush, however, is a throwback to the olden days, when a typical Sonic level had twists, turns, and strategically-placed spikes after every freaking loop. That's the precise formula the series built its name on, and it's this exact same formula that makes Sonic Rush such a thrill ride to play. It's pretty possible to blaze through some of these levels in under three minutes, especially early on in the game, making it a title pretty well-suited for this week's edition of Gaming to Go. Thinking of giving Sonic another chance? Click that big button down there and see for yourself if it's worth bringing this hedgehog along on your daily commute. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-39875%
Zero Punctuation takes on Sonic Unleashed
In this week's Zero Punctuation, imperator of ire and maharajah of moodiness Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw has taken time out to sling a few quick-witted barbs at Sonic Unleashed.True to form, Yahtzee quickly sets about smacking Unleashed down a peg or ten; in fact, this could be one of the angriest pieces we've seen from Croshaw in some time. It didn't totally agree with our own mainly scathing review, either: for one, he seems to prefer the Werehog Wolfhog stages (madness, we say, but horses for courses, and all that), and for two, we actually quite liked the day stages, whereas Yahtzee is revulsed.%Gallery-19031%
