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Backbone-developed Streets of Rage, ESWAT pitch art surfaces
Developer Backbone Entertainment planned to produce new entries in multiple classic Sega franchises, as evidenced in a gallery of images posted online by former Backbone artist Arvin Bautista. Bautista's art showcases characters from Sega's Streets of Rage beat-'em-up series, along with a mockup screenshot from a proposed remake of ESWAT, a side-scrolling action game that premiered in arcades in 1989. The games were pitched as downloadable titles for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, though neither was officially announced. It's unknown if either game is currently in development. Despite its Genesis-era popularity, the Streets of Rage series stumbled when it came time to transition to later consoles. A Dreamcast sequel was cancelled early in development, and though Crackdown 2 developer Ruffian Games pitched a downloadable Streets of Rage remake for current-gen consoles, a release never materialized. Adding to the bodycount, Bionic Commando Rearmed developer GRIN was rumored to be working on its own Streets of Rage game prior to its closure in 2009. Sega itself hasn't forgotten the series, producing last year's Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage compilation for Xbox Live Arcade as a reminder, but at this point, you'd be forgiven for thinking that these streets are cursed.
XBLA gets Genesis games ESWAT and Crack Down?
According to the UK Official Xbox Magazine, Xbox Live Arcade is set to get two more Sega Genesis games. The first, titled Crack Down (not to be confused with Real Time Worlds' Crackdown), is a top down shooter. The interesting part is that the actual game occupies only about 1/4 of the screen, with the rest filled by menus and game data. The other title, ESWAT, is more or less RoboCop, featuring police officers outfitted with death-dealing cyber suits. Interestingly, both titles were recently announced for the Wii's Virtual Console as well. No release date has been announced for either title.While we're glad to see more Genesis love on XBLA, we have to question Sega's choices. The lineup so far has been pretty solid and for the most part genuine classics, but ESWAT? Crack Down? Why not Altered Beast or Phantasy Star or Shining Force? Kid Chameleon? There are tons of classic Genesis titles Sega could be bringing to XBLA. Granted, we haven't played either ESWAT or Crack Down, but there are certainly more recognizable titles out there.[Via Xboxic. Thanks, Jonah Falcon]
VC Friday: Five for Friday
Wow! Five games on the Virtual Console this week -- you guys in Europe must be doing something right. Surely everyone can find something to their tastes among these five titles ... and we know what to recommend if you're just particularly fond of getting your ass kicked over and over again while wearing naught but undies. Crack Down -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points ESWAT: City Under Siege -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Ghouls 'n Ghosts -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Shining in the Darkness -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Sonic the Hedgehog 3 -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points
VC Tuesday: Caves and stories
This week's Japanese Virtual Console update is a little weird. It's got a Japanese-developed console adaptation of a European computer game, a 16-bit "sound novel", a Breakout clone that we have already decided is terrible, and .. well, ESWAT isn't really that weird. In fact, ESWAT is pretty cool. But the rest of them? Spelunker getting ported all over the place? Totally weird, right? Right? Spelunker (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Otogirisou (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) ESWAT (Mega Drive, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Drop Rock Hora Hora (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
