A fresh batch of SEGA Ages titles have been revealed for Nintendo Switch at SEGA Fes. There’s a heavy focus on SEGA’s arcade history with these announcements – 5 of the 6 titles are all arcade ports.
The revealed games are:
– Shinobi (arcade)
– Puzzle & Action Ichidant-R (arcade)
– G-LOC Air Battle (arcade)
– Herzog Zwei (Mega Drive)
– Fantasy Zone (arcade)
– Wonder Boy in Monster Land (arcade)
Herzog Zwei is an interesting inclusion as it marks another instance of SEGA drawing on Technosoft’s library of games, which SEGA acquired in 2016.
There is currently no word on release dates for any of these titles. We are still expecting SEGA Ages ports of Sonic 2, Puyo Puyo 2, Virtua Racing, Thunder Force AC, Columns 2 and Space Harrier. These will likely release before the newly announced titles.
A new Sakura Wars title is in development for PS4. Temporarily called Project Sakura Wars, this title will also receive a Western release – quite a rarity for the Sakura Wars series. This new title also features character designs by Tite Kubo of Bleach fame.
Sakura Wars is a series of strategic mech combat games that feature a heavy dating simulation element. This new title is the first entry in the series since 2005’s Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love for PS2 and Wii.
For the first time since 2012’s London 2012 video game, SEGA are developing the official tie-in video game for the Olympic Games. Simply titled Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game, this new title will launch for Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and PS4 in Summer 2019. It features a whole host of disciplines to compete in that include swimming, football, BMX, hurdles and hammer throwing. You can check out the reveal trailer below:
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game was revealed at this year’s SEGA Fes event. The official website for the game can be viewed by clicking here.
A new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games title has been revealed for Nintendo Switch at SEGA Fes. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will launch Winter 2019 for Switch, but an arcade version will also launch in early 2020. This will be the 6th entry in the series and the first since 2016’s Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for Wii U and 3DS.
It has also been revealed that a Sonic-only mobile title is in development. Simply called Sonic at the Olympic Games, this title will launch for Android and iOS devices at some point in 2020.
You can check out the announcement trailer and a gallery of screenshots by clicking below:
UPDATE 13:23: Details of the European Mega Drive Mini have come to light. An official website is now available to view. The European version includes 3 button controllers instead of 6 button controllers. The games line-up also includes some differences. The current EU line-up includes Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania: The New Generation, Space Harrier II, Shining Force, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, ToeJam & Earl, Comix Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast and Gunstar Heroes. There is only the 2 controller option for Europe and the whole package costs £69.99/€79.99.
The SEGA Mega Drive Mini will launch worldwide on September 19th 2019 in all regions. The news came from SEGA Fes that the mini console will launch with 40 games and come in 2 variants: a $60 option with a single 6 button controller, and a $80 option with 2 controllers. Controllers are connected via USB and are the same dimensions as an original 6 button Mega Drive controller.
The only games revealed to be on the system at this time are from the Japanese version. These will likely differ on the US and European Mega Drive Minis. The only titles announced for the Japanese Mega Drive Mini at this time are:
– Sonic the Hedgehog 2
– Comix Zone
– Gunstar Heroes
– Space Harrier II
– Puyo Puyo 2
– Castlevania Bloodlines
– Powerball
– Rent-a-Hero
– Madou Monogatari Ichi
As is fairly standard with mini consoles, the Mega Drive Mini will feature a “save anywhere” feature and it has also been revealed that the menu music has been composed by Yuzo Koshiro of Streets of Rage fame.
A new Streets of Rage 4 gameplay trailer has just gone live. Take a look at Alex and Blaze in action, performing some air juggle combos (a first for the series) on some familiar faces by clicking the embed below:
Streets of Rage 4 is being developed by Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games and being published by Dotemu in collaboration with SEGA. There is currently no word on a release date or even what systems the game will launch on at this time.
A new Sonic racing game by Hardlight has been unveiled during the Apple Arcade reveal.
Simply called Sonic Racing, this new title will be launched exclusively on the Apple Arcade service, which allows users to pay a subscription fee and play up to 100 games on any Apple device.
There is currently very little in the way of in-game assets related to the Sonic Racing title. A brief section of the Sonic Generations introduction sequence was shown in the below Apple Arcade preview video, and an image on the Apple Arcade website that seems to suggest Sonic Racing will follow the vehicular racing style of Sumo Digital’s Sonic and SEGA racing titles. A closer look at the in-game visuals has been showcased via an image on the official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account (see below):
Apple Arcade launches on all Apple devices in Autumn 2019.
After a hefty delay, SEGA has confirmed the Nintendo Switch port of Puyo Puyo’s original arcade version, part of M2’s SEGA AGES series, will launch on March 28th in Japan.
As well as including the original Japanese arcade version of the game, for the first time ever the AGES release will include the English localisation of the title, previously speculated to be a bootleg. It’s… an interesting take on the game, to say the least. Above all else, the game also supports online play, so you can have those Mean Bean Machine matches with foes half the world away!
There’s no word on a Western release date yet but fortunately SEGA’s Western divisions are catching up, as both Gain Ground and Alex Kidd in Miracle World, the most recent games in the AGES series, will be released over here on the same day Puyo hits Japan, March 28th.
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
The Nintendo Switch ports of Gain Ground and Alex Kidd in Miracle World, part of M2’s SEGA AGES line, are finally hitting the West in just under a week’s time, March 28th.
Previously Gain Ground was scheduled alongside Puyo Puyo for a February release, but Puyo was then delayed (including in Japan, where it is still listed as ‘TBA’) and things went quiet. So to make up for it, SEGA’s releasing both Gain Ground and Alex Kidd at the same time for the West.
The ports come with a slew of new features, such as a ‘full team’ mode in Gain Ground that gives you all characters from the start, and a rewind function in Alex Kidd, as well as much more besides that. It’s great to see SEGA’s western releases of these titles catching up in one fell swoop, and we recommending giving them a shot!
When Tracker isn’t playing SEGA games, he’s talking about SEGA games. Or drawing about SEGA games. Or all of the above. You can also catch him over on Twitter.
It has been revealed that Ichiban Kasuga of Ryu Ga Gotoku Online fame is going to be the star of the next PS4 Yakuza title. This new Yakuza game is currently untitled and there’s no word on a release date at this time.
In addition, a new casting call has been put out for actresses to play Kasuga’s love interest. The chosen actress will appear in the game and promotional material, but also receive a 1 million yen prize. Applications can be completed on this website.
If you’re unfamiliar with Ichiban Kasuga, that’ll be because the game he features in is currently Japan-only. Ryu Ga Gotoku Online is a free-to-play Yakuza spin-off that stars both Kiryu Kazama and Ichiban Kasuga. It is currently available in Japan for PC, iOS and Android devices. There is no word on a Western release at this time.
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