Takashi Iizuka, the current head of Sonic Team has revealed that Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 will launch in 2012. A specific date was not given.
In regards to the 2 year delay between episodes, Iizuka has said that “It was always the plan.” He continues, “We knew about the anniversary year, and Generations was planned way in advance. It was always our plan to release Episode 2 after Generations.”
Iizuka has also confirmed that a 3rd episode is currently not on the table. “We can’t say if there’s going to be Episode 3 or not.”
Exciting news! Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, the arcade-only update to Virtua Fighter 5 is finally getting a home console release!
The game will release on X-Box Live Arcade and Playstation Network instead of receiving a boxed release like the original. They are set for a Summer 2012 launch.
New features include:
– An overhaul of the game’s mechanics, balance and animations
– A new one-on-one online battle mode and a new single-player mode
– New arenas (including those with fences and walls that are different for every round)
– Customisable character items
– Two new characters: Taka-Arashi and Jean Kujo.
– Simplified controls for new players
EDIT – Full press release courtesy of SEGA:
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO— 23rd August 2011—SEGA® of Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that Virtua Fighter™ 5, the latest title in its celebrated fighting franchise, will see a grand update and expansion released as a standalone title for both Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.and PlayStation® Network. The new game, entitled Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, will contain a full overhaul of Virtua Fighter 5’s mechanics, balance and animations, along with new game modes, new dynamic fighting arenas, a massive collection of customisable character items and two all-new characters added to the roster. Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown is expected to be available in Summer 2012.
“Virtua Fighter 5 has always been an authentic arcade fighter, even when played from the comfort of a home console. And, like any proper arcade dynasty, we’ve continued to support, expand and tweak the game in the years since its release,” said Haruki Satomi, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA of America and SEGA Europe. “With Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, we get to bring the ultimate expression of competitive one-on-one gaming to console players in one perfect package.”
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown contains the definitive version of VF5, refined over the years since its original arcade debut. The new release also adds an extensive list of features never before seen on consoles. VF5FS will include:
• The Perfect Fighting Experience: Virtua Fighter 5’s signature style of hand-to-hand combat, with revised mechanics, balance, timing and more, along with simplified controls for new players while retaining the depth that veterans demand
• Dynamic and Interactive Arenas: Fighting areas in new shapes and sizes, including arenas with fences and walls that are different for every round – take unexpected advantage of fighters’ new wall-based moves, or break through the fences with special attacks
• A Mode for Every Fight: Dominate the leaderboards with Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown’s extremely responsive one-on-one online battle system, widely praised for having little latency, or take on an army of opponents yourself in a new single-player mode
• Customized Combatants: Enter the ring with one of 19 playable characters, including fan favorite Taka-Arashi from Virtua Fighter 3 and an all-new character, Jean Kujo, and customize them with unique costume and character items
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More leaked Sonic Generations animations! This time around it’s Classic Sonic that gets the spotlight (although there are some more Modern animations at the beginning). Check it out:
Eurogamer have published an exclusive preview of Rise of Nightmares; the new Kinect horror title from AM1. That’s right, the team responsible for House of the Dead!
Some interesting things we have learned:
1) The game is NOT on-rails, this is a free-roaming, first-person action game
2) There is light-platforming and it’s NOT rubbish
3) A handy “I’m stuck” function has been added. Raise your hand to progress out of your predicament
4) Points of interest are highlighted with an icon which can be selected and jumped straight to
I’ve been unhealthily addicted to Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 this weekend. This is clearly a bad thing as the game is probably the worst in Sonic history. It’s even worse that I’m beginning to learn what bugs the game and compensate for it, making it look like there’s very little wrong with it when I’m playing. SEGA should have got me to market it.
Then I remembered a little fan game project a came across a little while back on the Sonic Retro forums. This is a 2D recreation of Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 and it’s scarily accurate. Check out some gameplay below:
If anyone wants to give this a go then the Wave Ocean demo is here and a Kingdom Valley demo is here. They’re both 1 stage demos, but if you’re a sucker for punishment (like me) then you may want to check them out.
Controls: Space to jump, C to bounce/light-dash/grind switch, arrows for movement.
IGN and Gamespot have uploaded some hands on video previews of Renegade Ops; the new top-down tactical shooter from SEGA. The game will release in September this year for PSN, XBLA and Steam and we’re getting more and more excited about it:
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