SEGADriven is a SEGA news and information source that focuses on SEGA's console history, retro games and new software hitting the shelves. We want to share a love of great, quirky, clever and down-right fun games - something that SEGA have always specialised in. See below for the latest news, reviews and features added to the website.
Back in October 2017, Jon Burton of Traveller’s Tales fame revealed that he was in the possession of a cassette containing the demo versions of Jun Senoue’s Sonic 3D Blast soundtrack. Well fast-forward 2 years and Burton has started to upload these demos to his YouTube channel, GameHut. You can listen to 3 of the tracks from the cassette via the embed below:
This is a fascinating piece of history that showcases how Jun Senoue wrote his music in 1996. The demos are arranged very simplistically on synthesisers before being re-arranged for use on the Mega Drive’s Yamaha YM2612 sound chip. The full tracklisting for the demo cassette is listed below. Hopefully Burton continues to share more of the music from the cassette:
A1 Opening (Short Ver.)
A2 Opening (Long Ver.)
A3 Power Up
A4 Green Alley Zone Act.1
A5 Casino Night Zone Act.1
A6 Boss (Minor Key)
B1 Boss (Major Key)
B2 Special Stage
B3 Bonus Stage (Miles)
B4 Bonus Stage (Knuckles)
SEGA has released a new “Special Announcement” trailer for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. It confirms the monkeys will have alternate costumes in the game, including some referencing other games in the series, such as Baby’s Secret Agent costume from Super Monkey Ball 3D for the 3DS.
But the real special announcement here is the confirmation of one of the worst kept secrets in recent SEGA memory – Sonic the Hedgehog has been added to the game as an unlockable character, in his Classic design! This was actually leaked three times, first through achievements that referred to him and then through a datamine of the recently released Japanese demo, and finally just earlier today through a leaked trailer. However we now have official confirmation, and our first look at him in action! There’s no word on how to unlock him in the game as of yet, but given this is Monkey Ball we can’t imagine it’ll be a walk in the park.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD launches October 29th for Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and Xbox One, with a PC port coming later in Winter.
Currently working on a Switch remake of Panzer Dragoon, Forever Entertainment have now confirmed they will be developing remakes of the original 2 The House of the Dead titles.
No platforms have been specified at this time, but given that the Panzer Dragoon remake is coming to Switch, it’s a safe bet that the Switch will be one of the platforms that Forever Entertainment will be targeting.
It’ll be interesting to see how Forever Entertainment develop a modern on-rails shooter as it is not a genre that has seen much of a resurgence this generation. We’re only speculating but perhaps they will incorporate gyroscopic controls or VR support.
Hopefully it isn’t too long before we get to see Forever Entertainment’s efforts. The company have stated that it would be wise to follow their official channels if you’re interested in any of their SEGA remake projects.
It’s time for a new independent Mega Drive development! This time we have Demons of Asteborg; an action title from Neofid Technology based in Manosque, France.
Demons of Asteborg is a game very much in the Ghouls ‘n Ghosts/Volgarr the Viking mold. The game is due to be released on Steam, Nintendo Switch and most importantly, the SEGA Mega Drive in August 2020. However, it requires £30,892 of funding to be made a reality, and that’s where Kickstarter comes into play.
If this all sounds interesting to you, you can pledge towards the game’s development and receive the game for whatever format you desire as either a physical product or a digital download. There are many tiers to choose from to suit as many people as possible so click here to check out the Demons of Asteborg Kickstarter page and see what takes your fancy.
The new iOS subscription service Apple Arcade is available now and with it comes the launch of 2 new SEGA titles, Sonic Racing and ChuChu Rocket! Universe.
Developed by Hardlight, Sonic Racing is a paired down version of Team Sonic Racing with more of a single player focus. ChuChu Rocket! Universe is definitely the more interesting of the bunch as it’s the first ever sequel to ChuChu Rocket! which originally released for Dreamcast back in November 1999. You can see what both games look like in action via the embed below:
Along with Apple Arcade comes the launch of iOS 13 which allows for controller support with bluetooth devices like the PS4 and Xbox One controllers. It’s certainly a more comfortable option for those who prefer buttons to touch and gyro controls.
Apple Arcade costs £4.99 a month but during the launch window you can try the first month for free. It works on all modern iOS devices.
The next Total War game takes the strategy action to Greece for Troy: A Total War Saga. While there isn’t any in-engine footage to showcase at this time, a lovely pre-rendered cinematic has landed on the Total War YouTube channel which gives you a taste for the game’s setting. Check it out below:
We love a bit of weird SEGA trivia here at SEGADriven, and this certainly fits that bill!
Very recently, a cuddly soft toy called “Cheerful Usa-Chan” was released in Japan. It seems like it’s a spin-off from another popular product, IWAYA’s “Cheerful Kuma-chan”, and the idea is that it’ll sing kids a lullaby to help them sleep. Which is all well and good, but has absolutely nothing to do with SEGA. Or does it?
Turns out one of the songs included with Cheerful Usa-Chan is none other than a brand new arrangement of “Dreams Dreams”, the main theme of SEGA Saturn cult hit NiGHTS into Dreams! Specifically, it’s a new spin on “Dreams Dreams in Silent Memory”. Composer Tomoko Sasaki goes into detail about the surprising inclusion on her blog – from the sounds of things, she asked SEGA for permission to use the track and they granted it, so you can officially have your kids put to bed by a stuffed rabbit singing old SEGA music at them. The rabbit’s singing for the track is even provided by Sasaki herself! For those unaware, her resume includes Ristar and Burning Rangers, and later on tracks for Namco’s “The iDOLM@STER” series. She even voiced the Chao in Sonic Adventure!
Fortunately Twitter user @mid0_ring0 already got their hands on the plush, and being a NiGHTS fan they’ve provided a video of the new arrangement, after the jump:
A new Japan-only compilation of early Virtual-On titles is coming to PS4 on November 27th 2019 as Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995-2001. This collection will be a download-only affair and include the following titles:
SEGA Japan are working with TANITA to bring this collection to PS4 alongside a new twin-stick controller for Virtual-On purists. This twin-stick controller was funded by Kickstarter back in January 2019.
Want to see what games are going to be making an appearance at this year’s Sonic Amateur Games Expo? Well wonder no more because the first game trailer is here:
This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the more SEGA-centric games featured include:
Sonic Liquid Survival
Sonic Island: Lost Paradise
Shadow’s Ladder
Sonic All Mix Plus
Sonic & Knuckles: Key Hunters
Sonic: An Untold Darkness
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic 3 A.I.R.
Sonic and the Mayhem Master
Sonic Smackdown
Sonic.exe: The Assault
Sonic Journey
Sonic the Hedgehog RPG
Sonic & Knuckles: Newtrogic Panic
Phantom Gear
Sonic Explorers
The Sonic Amateur Games Expo will run from September 27th to October 4th at www.sagexpo.org.
A new anime series based on Shin Sakura Wars is due to start airing in Japan in 2020. Titled Shin Sakura Wars The Animation, the show will be directed by Manabu Ono of Sword Art Online: Alicization fame and animated by studio Sanzigen. The show features your standard modern anime blend of 3D and 2D animation. You can check out the first trailer by clicking the embed below:
Sakura Wars is a series that’s no stranger to anime. A series produced by studio Madhouse ran for 25 episodes back in 2000.
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