The latest in the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series has received a shiny new gameplay showcase to coincide with Gamescom 2019.
The showcase demonstrates several events – however the most notable thing here is the first full showcase of the teased ‘2D’ gameplay from the reveal trailer. In this mode, the backdrop changes to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with events specifically from those Games; and both Mario and Sonic characters get retro looks to go along with it. The character roster is limited here though, to just the basics – so for Sonic fans, don’t expect new 16-bit sprites for Shadow or Silver, as only the Classic Sonic cast of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Eggman are represented (poor Amy…). There’s even a nice CRT filter to really seal the deal!
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.
SEGA have just uploaded the first in-game trailer for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD, and as you can expect it’s basically Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz in HD. That’s no bad thing because the original game was certainly a good-looking game, and with that added clarity it now looks even better. Check it out:
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD released on the 29th of October 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. A PC port will arrive later in the Winter. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is also famous for being the last Super Monkey Ball game directed by series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi who would later find fame with the Yakuza franchise.
Columns 2: The Voyage Through Time is joining the SEGA AGES for Nintendo Switch lineup in Japan this week, bringing with it a slew of bonus features.
As previously reported, extra content includes a Endless Mode, an unlockable gallery featuring the art used in the SEGA AGES series’ cameo-rich intros, netplay, and even a single-player version of the original Columns. This marks the first time Columns 2 has seen an international release, too!
SEGA AGES: Columns 2 will launch on Thursday 8th August, so about 4pm UK time on Wednesday 7th August. It’ll be 999 JPY.
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.
SEGA has confirmed that Columns 2: The Voyage Through Time will be the next game to join the SEGA AGES lineup. Notably, this is the first time the game has ever seen a release in the West – it was previously exclusive to Japanese arcades and a JP-only Saturn compilation.
The game’s standard modes, Flash Columns and Vs Columns, will have you clearing puzzle stages and battling it out for Columns supremacy with a friend, respectively. In addition, new rulesets and Netplay have been added, plus a new mode – Endless Columns, which simply challenges you to get the best score. One particularly surprising addition for this release though – Columns 1! The well-known Mega Drive version of the original game will actually be included in this release, though modified a bit – there’s no multiplayer, as it’s based on a version of Columns produced by M2 for a Japan-only Yakuza 0 PSP app. Talk about deep cuts.
One last cool tidbit is that beating Flash Columns stages in this release will actually unlock content for an in-game art gallery. Here, you can unlock the art used for the characters in the SEGA AGES intros to view at your leisure, as well as profiles for the characters.
On the whole, the beefed up content in this port has certainly put it on our radar – going off previous releases, it’ll probably be released next week in Japan. No news for the West, but again based on the other titles of late, it’ll probably be released alongside Space Harrier in the future.
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 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).
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.
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:
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.
We’ve finally got our first look at the Panzer Dragoon remake by MegaPixel Studio S.A.! This new version of the game is a Nintendo Switch exclusive with publishing duties being done by Forever Entertainment under license from SEGA. Check it out in action below:
Panzer Dragoon is a classic on-rails shooter from SEGA originally released on the SEGA Saturn in 1995.
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