A brand new Mega Drive & Mark III edition of Picross S for the Nintendo Switch has been revealed by the game’s developer Jupiter in a recent BitSummit video. This new version of the game features puzzles based on characters from various retro SEGA properties, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd, Phantasy Star and more.
The game will contain 4 modes: Picross, Mega Picross, Colour Picross and Clip Picross. The game is due to release worldwide this Autumn 2020 as a digital eShop title. You can watch the reveal trailer below:
2 new hardware features are now available to read in our Hardware section. A detailed system synopsis and multiple high quality images of both the SEGA Genesis Nomad and the Pioneer LaserActive with its Mega Drive Control Pack have now been added to the website. Click below to go to each system’s individual page. Once you’ve done reading about those systems, why not browse the entire Hardware section and learn even more about the multitude of SEGA systems available and unavailable?
Columbus Circle are back once again with a new Mega Drive game, but this time we have something really special. The publisher is producing a brand new port of Mad Stalker: Full Metal Forth for the Mega Drive. This title has never been released on the Mega Drive before and was originally released for Sharp X68000 computers. The game is supposedly one of the biggest influences on the development of Guardian Heroes. You can watch the reveal trailer below:
Mad Stalker: Full Metal Forth will release on the Mega Drive on the 17th of September 2020 and can be pre-ordered now from Amazon Japan. It is priced at 6,578 yen, which currently converts to £48.68 in British sterling. Columbus Circle have previously been responsible for re-releases of Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer and the release of 16-Bit Rhythm Land and Ultracore.
Data Discs return with 2 Mega Drive vinyl soundtrack releases in the form of Treasure’s rock-hard run’n’gun, Alien Soldier and SEGA’s sci-fi beat-em-up, Alien Storm.
Alien Soldier comes as a double LP release in 3 colour variants and includes a fold-out poster and 3 bonus postcards featuring artwork from the game. The Alien Storm release also comes in 3 colour variants with a lithographic artwork print and an embossed cover. Alien Soldier will retail for £25.99 while Alien Storm will retail for £20.99. Both records go on sale this Saturday 13th of June 2020.
More SEGA hardware has now been added to our hardware section with detailed articles on every entry, alongside specifications and high quality images. See below for the full list of additions and direct links to each entry:
The Japanese SEGA Ages website has been updated to reveal that the next SEGA Ages port for Nintendo Switch will be Thunder Force AC. If you’re unfamiliar with the title then Thunder Force AC is the arcade version of Technosoft’s Thunder Force III. The Thunder Force series is a collection of fantastic shoot-em-ups and Thunder Force AC marks the first time the series switched to a solely horizontal scrolling presentation that was carried through to the series’ end with Thunder Force VI in 2008.
Thunder Force AC will launch in Japan on the Nintendo Switch very soon for 999 yen via the Nintendo eShop. This new port promises a low difficulty ‘Kids Mode’, online rankings and graphical filters that mimic the game’s arcade cabinet. The port also features the new stages that were added to the console’s Mega Drive port. Development duties are once again handled by M2.
We’re coming up to a fair number of expos and conferences for the world of video games, including PAX and GDC 2020; and one announcement that hardcore SEGA fans might appreciate may have been let slip by GDC’s exhibitor list.
First noticed by Sonic Paradise’s AshTheDragon on Twitter, the list includes an entry for “Wonder Boy Universe: Asha in Monster World”. For those unaware, Asha is the protagonist of Monster World IV for the SEGA Mega Drive, widely considered to be not only the best title in the series but perhaps one of the best games on the entire system. At one point Japan exclusive, it was later translated by M2 for numerous platforms, including the recent Mega Drive Mini.
The plot thickens further though, as the lovely folks at HardcoreGaming101 actually chimed in to say they’d heard rumblings of this project – and suggest it will be a 3D remake of the original Mega Drive title. They do note that they weren’t aware of Artdink’s involvement, so it’s possible we could be looking at a situation in which Artdink are simply supporting another studio’s development. HG101 are generally a reliable bunch, but as with any rumour, take this specifically with a grain of salt.
Whatever the case we’re very excited to see what this is, and with GDC taking place next month, hopefully there won’t be too long to wait.
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 Madō Monogatari series has long been a Japanese exclusive franchise, but that changes today as the Mega Drive remake of the first 3 games is now available in English for the very first time.
Western gamers will recognise the characters of Madō Monogatari from their later appearances in the Puyo Puyo franchise, but they actually debuted here. The action of Madō Monogatari is largely a traditional JRPG which is why an English language patch is so essential to play it. With this patch the game becomes Sorcery Saga I in English.
Once again those wonderful people at Hidden Palace have uncovered a truly fascinating piece of Mega Drive history and archived it for future generations. This time we have an unreleased port of Super Star Wars to the Mega Drive by SEGA Interactive, more famously known for Greendog. This prototype dates back to January 1993, and despite some mention in magazines from the time, this port has never been seen until now. Check it out in action below:
If you’d like to try this prototype yourself you can download it from the game’s entry at Hidden Palace. The ROM will work in an emulator or on actual hardware with use of a flash cart. A huge thanks to all involved for making this available to the public. Want more news on Star Wars? Check out sites like The Direct for the latest.
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