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Sonic Dream Team Announced, Launches December 5th Exclusively for Apple Arcade

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

The latest Sonic the Hedgehog game has been announced – a 3D platformer from SEGA’s UK-based Hardlight team, who’s previous works include Sonic Forces Speed Battle and Chu Chu Rocket Universe.

A plot summary comes the game’s official website:

In this all-new Sonic adventure, the evil Dr. Eggman has discovered The Reverie – an ancient device with the power to manifest dreams in the real world. Navigate twisted dreamscapes, rescue your friends, and put a stop to Dr. Eggman’s nightmarish dreams of world domination!

As you can see from the trailer, Sonic won’t be alone – with Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream and Rouge all tagging along. The game will include 12 levels across 4 worlds.

The game will be launching exclusively for Apple’s Apple Arcade service. This means it’ll be free of microtransactions and the like, and will be playable across basically any Apple device with a screen – including the iPhone, iPad, iMac, and Apple TV. There is no word on whether this exclusitivity is timed, however – and Chu Chu Rocket Universe, which was also an Apple Arcade title, was simply delisted a long while ago and hasn’t resurfaced since. Hopefully, Dream Team won’t suffer a similar fate in the long run.

Screenshots (via SEGA PR) can be found after the jump. Additional screenshots can also be found on the website. (more…)

Sonic Frontiers – PC Review

Sunday, November 20th, 2022

The release of a new Sonic game has become a somewhat sad affair over the course of the last decade, right after it seemed like he was finding his footing with games like Sonic Colours and Sonic Generations. So after nearly two full run-throughs of the game, it brings me great joy to say that Sonic Frontiers is the best Modern Sonic title released in the past 10 years. In fact, there’s elements of it I think I enjoy more than Generations! It’s also, however, a game with no shortage of issues; in ways that often feel much like ‘first game syndrome’ for the ‘open-zone’ concept that Takashi Iizuka believes could form the future of Sonic games.

Read our full written review, and watch our in-depth video review, by clicking here.

New Sonic Frontiers Trailer Explores Combat and Upgrades | Video Spotlight

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

SEGA has released a new trailer for the upcoming Sonic Frontiers, launching next month. This time, we get a look at the various ways Sonic will be able to sock it to his foes.

The trailer notes that as well as the typical Sonic fare, such as homing attacks, drop dashing and the stomp, Sonic’s combat has been massively expanded with a skill tree system implemented. We also get a glimpse at how this stuff’s upgraded – Skill Tokens from defeating enemies (giving incentive to actually go after them instead of waltzing by as you might be tempted to), and Seeds of Power and Defense from completing other tasks. We also get to see the Cyloop yet again, with emphasis put onto how it can be used in combat – and the Phantom Rush, a powered-up state where afterimages of Sonic fly around the enemies, laying on the hurt. It actually reminds us of the Sonic OVA a bit!

Finally, we get a look at the cosmetics included with the game’s digital deluxe edition – some very brown shoes and gloves. We’re personally not too sure the fashion justifies the Digital Deluxe approach we’ve called out in the past (nor the included bonus items, which just seem to be a means to… play less game?), but at the very least there’s no early access included this time – presumably they’ve learned their lesson on that detail after Colours Ultimate.

Sonic Frontiers launches November 8th.

New Sonic Content Coming to Fall Guys, Including Costumes and ‘Bean Hill Zone’ Event Stage

Tuesday, August 9th, 2022

The previously released Sonic and Knuckles costumes are returning to Fall Guys this week, and they’ve got company. The recently gone Free-to-Play take on the Takeshi’s Castle format is getting a slew of new content themed around SEGA’s spiky blue mascot, including costumes of Tails, Dr. Eggman and Super Sonic. A new event will also be added to the game, tasking you with collecting rings in… Bean Hill Zone. Now that’s a pun we can get behind.

There’ll also be other goodies up for grabs, such as nameplates and accessories. The Sonic-themed fesitivites won’t last forever though, as the event only runs from August 11th to August 15th; so you’ll have to be quick to score everything, which we suppose is pretty fitting.

We’ve also got some key art to celebrate the event from Epic Games’ PR, which you can check out after the jump. (more…)

Sonic Frontiers’ Cyberspace Levels Revealed, Alongside New Character “Sage”

Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

As part of the latest Nintendo Direct, SEGA has revealed our first look at Sonic Frontiers’ linear ‘cyberspace’ levels.

Via SEGA PR:

Entrances to Cyber Space made by the ancient civilization of Starfall Islands can be found all throughout the map. Sonic fans will solve puzzles and complete challenges to earn Portal Gears to unlock these entrances access Cyber Space levels featuring the traditional, fast-paced, speed running action platforming. They’ll need to complete the challenges in each Cyber Space level to receive Vault Keys to progress further in the game.

To the joy of probably very few people, one of the cyberspace levels has Sonic revisiting Green Hill Zone for the umpteenth time. Thankfully the other cyberspace level shown seems a lot less derivative, showing a suspended highway branching off in a multitude of directions. (more…)

“Sonic Origins: Speed Strats” Gameplay Trailer Released | Video Spotlight

Thursday, June 16th, 2022

The first episode of “Sonic Origins: Speed Strats” has been released, a new series of trailers that offers a deeper look into the upcoming Sonic compilation coming to modern platforms.

This edition includes a look at the various modes and options on offer across the entire package, as detailed below (via SEGA PR)

Classic Mode – For a trip down memory lane, Classic Mode features the original game presentation in 4×3 with remastered visuals, finite lives and game overs. Classic Mode is available for all four titles and is unlocked from the start.

Anniversary Mode – If you are looking for something new, Anniversary Mode features a full 16×9 screen display and an infinite number of lives to keep the fun going without any game overs. Anniversary Mode is available for all four titles and is unlocked from the start.

Story Mode – Combines all four games into one adventure. Start with Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and end with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles.

Animations / Cutscenes – Sonic Origins includes all-new animated opening and ending cutscenes for each game, connecting all of Sonic’s classic adventures.

Boss Rush Mode – Battle Dr. Eggman, Metal Sonic and other challenging foes in Boss Rush Mode.

Mission Mode – Take on various missions in all four games. The better you perform the higher your rank will be.

Mirror Mode – Once unlocked, experience classic levels in a brand new way – backwards.

Coins – Enjoy new rewards by collecting coins in Anniversary Mode or completing missions in Mission Mode. If players fail a special stage in Anniversary Mode, coins can be used to retry the stage instantly. Coins can also be used to redeem content in the museum.

Museum – Check out a ton of exciting music, concept art, videos and never-before-seen content found in the Premium Collection Vault.

Notable points in the trailer include a look at a new intro for Tails in Sonic 3 & Knuckles (we actually see him land the plane this time!), and re-iterating that Sonic CD will retains its original intro and outro cutscenes, fully remastered – in addition to the brand new cutscenes made for the game’s Story Mode.

As a cool aside, this trailer was produced by Strategy Guide PR, and as a result the narration was provided by Evan from our friends over at TailsChannel. It’s nice to see SEGA finding ways to bring fans into the fold, especially given the remasters in Origins started out as a simple pitch from a fan that then exploded into something more as the years went by.

Sonic Origins launches June 23rd on PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix + Now Available on Steam

Thursday, May 26th, 2022

After a SteamDB listing showed up for it just the other day, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix + has shown up on Steam… and it’s out now! Coming in at £34.39… for the sake of Japanese puns.

A port of the Nintendo Switch port of Future Tone (wrap your head around that one), this updated version includes the much requested option to turn off Mega Mix’s toon shader, meaning you can enjoy visuals that are accurate to the arcade version.

Also available is a £49.99 VIP Edition, that includes 72 extra songs and unlocks all of the game’s many, many customisation items instantly as a time saver.

It’s an extremely welcome surprise, and it’s great to have the Project DIVA series make its PC debut; let alone with perhaps the most comprehensive game in the series.

You can get the game on Steam here. 

Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles & Sonic CD to be Delisted on Digital Platforms

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

Out with the old, in with the new is very much the latest piece of news from SEGA’s PR team, as the company has announced that the standalone digital releases of the Classic Sonic games included in Sonic Origins will be delisted. That’s Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD.

There’s no mention of specific platforms, but it’s safe to say this probably applies mostly to Steam (the only platform that currently offers all four of the titles standalone). That being said, the press release does note that the versions of Sonic 1 and 2 released for the SEGA AGES line on Nintendo Switch will survive the purge, as will the available titles on the Nintendo Switch Online Mega Drive app.

It’s perhaps to be expected, but still quite a shame. In particular the Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD releases offered legal means to use fan projects such as Sonic 3 A.I.R. and the Sonic CD decompliation project. It’s also somewhat odd as the versions of Sonic 1, 2 and 3&K on digital platforms aren’t even the souped-up Retro Engine versions offered by Origins. That is, unless this purge includes the mobile releases… which would be confusing seeing as Origins isn’t coming to that platform.

On the whole it’s a bit of a rubbish situation for preservation as delistings always are, but from a business standpoint was probably to be expected. We’ll forgive them if they relist After Burner Climax on consoles somehow. Maybe.

SEGA and Medal Dash Announce “Sonic Challenge”, A Virtual Run With New Merchandise Up For Grabs

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

SEGA has announced a collaboration with virtual marathon company Medal Dash; they’ll be putting on a Sonic-themed ‘virtual run’.

The idea is simple: run or walk 5K, 10K or 13.1 miles by the end of 2022, and you’ll get Sonic merch. That said, this is a paid event with limited slots, so it’s not just freebies. Sign-ups start at $34.95, and the swag on offer includes a die-cast medal, a running bib and some shirts.

It’s certainly a fitting way to leverage the Sonic brand, even if our aging brains can’t quite wrap our head around the entire ‘virtual run’ concept. The website does mention participants across the world, so it would seem this is open to UK residents too.

The official website is available here.

Lost Judgment DLC Announced, Including Additional Master System Games and Playable Kaito

Friday, September 3rd, 2021

RGG Studio has revealed the release schedule for the upcoming Lost Judgment’s DLC content, spreading out into Spring 2022.

At launch, the Detective Essentials pack will be released. As well as an extra boss fight, more girls for Yagami to woo, and some content for side-activities such as skateboarding and drone racing, you’ll also get access to additional Master System titles to play ingame. You’ll get Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa Opa, SDI, Alien Syndrome and… Darius II! It’s good to see SEGA’s love-in with Taito’s shooter series continuing.

On October 26th, the School Stories pack will add new outfits, new battles with Yagami’s allies in sparring settings, and the ability to take a new fighting style to the streets.

Finally and most significantly, Spring 2022 will see the launch of a new campaign starring the ever-lovable Kaito, Yagami’s best friend. This mode is estimated to clock in at 10 hours of additional story content.

Digital Deluxe Edition owners will get the first two packs as they release, while Digital Ultimate Edition owners will get all three.

Lost Judgment launches on September 24th for Playstation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series. Digital Deluxe buyers will get access to the game on September 20th.

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