UPDATE AT 17:54
A Western release has been confirmed as Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. The game will release on PS4, Xbox One and Switch on October 29th 2019 with a PC release scheduled for “Winter” 2019. You can watch the announcement trailer above.
ORIGINAL STORY
It’s official – Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball launches in Japan on October 31st 2019 for PC, Switch and PS4, and now we have our first look at the in-game visuals thanks to 4 high quality screenshots direct from Famitsu (see above).
Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball appears to be a remake of 2006 Wii title Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, which controversially included boss battles and the ability to jump. It was also the last Super Monkey Ball title directed by series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi who has more recently found fame with the Yakuza franchise.
There is currently no word on a Western release, but this at least confirms the existence of an Asian version after it was leaked on a Taiwanese ratings board last week.
The Super Monkey Ball franchise hasn’t seen an entry since 2012’s Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz on Vita and it’s been even longer since it received a release for a home console (2010’s Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll for Wii if you’re keeping track).
Columbus Circle are back once again with a new boxed Mega Drive game and this time its the infamously cancelled Ultracore by DICE. Ultracore is also included as a bonus built-in game with Analogue’s recently released Mega SG systems, but this will be the first time the game has received a boxed pressing, alongside the (now sold out) boxed Mega Drive version that Strictly Limited Games are running.
It can be pre-ordered from Amazon Japan now for ￥9,650, about £71.82 at the current exchange rate.
The full games line-up for the PC Engine Core Grafx Mini has been revealed and there’s a surprising inclusion of 2 SEGA titles in the form of the PC Engine versions of Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier. Check out the full line-up reveal trailer below:
The PC Engine Core Grafx Mini features 24 English Turbografx-16 titles and 26 Japanese PC Engine titles. Mega-CD owners will recognise Lords of Thunder, Dungeon Explorer and Snatcher, and while Lords of Thunder and Dungeon Explorer are also available in English, Snatcher is sadly presented in its original Japanese language with no translation options being offered at this time.
The PC Engine Core Grafx Mini will launch on the 19th of March 2020. Pre-orders will go live exclusively through Amazon shortly.
The Taiwanese Rating Board have listed a new title in the Super Monkey Ball series, following on from what sounded like a new game being trademarked in Japan a couple of months ago.
The rated title’s name on the board roughly translates to “Now Taste Good! Super Monkey Ball”, which suggests this indeed the previously trademarked “Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball” (so a closer title would be along the lines of “Ripe! Super Monkey Ball”). The listing also seemingly reveals which platforms the title will be coming to – PS4, PC and Switch. We wouldn’t be surprised if SEGA followed their recent trend of adding an Xbox One version to the lineup in Western regions (as was the case with Valkyria Revolution and, bizarrely, Sonic Forces), but that’s purely speculation on our behalf.
With an actual logo and artwork included with the listing, it’s probably not too long until SEGA officially announces this title. It’s a good time to be a fan of classic SEGA IP though – this is the latest in a string of revivals including Panzer Dragoon and Streets of Rage. Here’s hoping it’s up to par. Monkey Golf Par, that is.
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.
In news that’s come almost completely out of nowhere, SEGA has announced a new game in its long-running Project DIVA rhythm game series, Project DIVA: Mega39s.
Intended to be a celebration of the series’ 10th Anniversary, it seems the game will be a scaled-down take on the PS4’s excellent Project DIVA: Future Tone, with similar graphics and 91 tracks from the series’ past. In addition, there’ll be 10 new songs, such as NayutalieN’s “Alien Alien”. The game also marks a first for the series – as it’ll be the first entry to not appear on a Playstation platform. Instead, the Nintendo Switch will play host to this entry.
Other confirmed features are over 300 costumes (modules), and the return of “Touch Mode” from Project Mirai DX for the 3DS, which allowed you to play the game with the touch screen. Additionally, Playstation fans aren’t entirely being left out – as all 10 new songs for this game will be coming to Future Tone as paid DLC.
Given how close it is to Future Tone, it’s probably not too surprising to learn that this title is being developed by SEGA’s beloved AM2 branch. Along with Future Tone, AM2 were also responsible for the Mirai series, so it’s exciting to see them working with Miku again given how good those games were.
The game is currently planned for a 2020 release in Japan. Whilst there’s no information on a Western release, it’s a fairly safe bet given even Future Tone, which was likely a licensing nightmare, managed to come over fairly soon after its Japanese release.
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.
UPDATE 24/06/19 – SEGA AGES Space Harrier will launch June 27th 2019, M2 has confirmed. Due to timezones this means it should arrive around 4pm UK time on Wednesday 26th.
SEGA has released some fresh details on what to expect from SEGA AGES: Space Harrier for Nintendo Switch, suggesting it might be the next title in the line to release.
The port includes the 3DS version’s bonus content, such as Haya-Oh from the Master System port as a secret boss fight. There’s also a new mode, in line with the other difficulty-mitigating features of other AGES releases – Koma-Inu Barrier. This gives Harrier a barrier that allows him to collide with enemies and obstacles, formed by the dogs that usually help the boss of Stage 17.
Yes, this game has puppy helpers. Yes, this is probably the best version of Space Harrier ever.
It’s been noted by some that this is actually somewhat similar to a feature in the PS2 remake of Space Harrier, so much like how 3D After Burner II had a mode styled after Climax, it’s cool to see an idea backported to the original arcade hardware.
There’s still no release date for the port, but we’ll let you know when one shows up.
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.
A brand new Mega-CD solution in the form of an FPGA-powered flash cart has appeared and it is called the MegaSD. Developed by Terraonion, this new flash cart is powerful enough to emulate actual Mega-CD hardware and plugs directly into a Mega Drive. It can even run 32X/Mega-CD titles if you have access to a 32X as well.
The MegaSD doesn’t just support variants of Mega-CD games as well. The flash cart will run Mega-CD ISOs, Mega Drive ROMs, Master System ROMs and 32X ROMs (but only with the 32X add-on). The MegaSD is widely compatible with actual Mega Drives, the Mega SG and the SEGA Nomad and also supports up to 8 save state slots. It can even emulate the FM sound unit for compatible Master System games.
During the wrap-up of Nintendo’s E3 Direct, casual mention of an Alien Isolation port to the Nintendo Switch was revealed.
While no in-game footage was shown, this port is due to release later in 2019 as a digital-only eShop title. Alien Isolation was originally developed by The Creative Assembly for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One and released in 2014 to critical acclaim. It will likely be the last Alien game developed by SEGA after they lost the rights to the franchise, which have now reverted back to 20th Century Fox and its video games division.
Click the below video to see the Alien Isolation reveal trailer:
Our first preview of the latest Sonic the Hedgehog mobile title has arrived in the form of 3 screenshots of Sonic at the Olympic Games. This mobile title is similar in scope to the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series, but minus the Mario. In the latest screens we get a look at the title screen, an in-game event and an over-world screen that showcases the Olympic village. Check it out:
Sonic at the Olympic Games will be coming to iOS and Android devices in Spring 2020.
A new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 trailer has just dropped during the latest Nintendo Direct and it confirms a November 2019 release for the Switch exclusive. Click the embed below to see Sonic, Mario and a whole host of their friends competing in various disciplines that include surfing, skateboarding and sprinting:
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is the latest in the crossover sports series and the first for Nintendo Switch. It is being developed and published in house by SEGA.
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