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:
UPDATE: The Western titles have now been confirmed.
The next batch of games available on the Mega Drive Mini have been announced, and are as follows:
JAPAN:
Ghouls n Ghosts
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Golden Axe
Revenge of Shinobi
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
The Story of Thor (Beyond Oasis)
Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
Party Quiz Mega Q
Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen
AMERICA/EUROPE:
Mega Man®: The Wily Wars
Street Fighter II’®: Special Champion Edition
Sonic Spinball
Phantasy Star IV
Beyond Oasis
Ghouls ‘N Ghosts®
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Golden Axe
Vectorman
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Something cool to note: the last 4 games on this list supported 4 players via a Multitap on the original Mega Drive. They actually retain this functionality on the Mini – you can use a USB Hub to connect more controllers!
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 US branch of SEGA have unveiled a new survey which asks fans to determine the next steps for the Sonic The Hedgehog, Yakuza, Valkyria Chronicles and Phantasy Star franchises.
The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and every entry enters you into a prize draw to win up to $500 in gift certificates. You can complete the survey and enter the prize draw by clicking here.
If you’re a SEGA fan based in the US with a passion for any of the franchises listed, this is an important opportunity to share your love for them and get SEGA to act on that passion. SEGA have been making big steps in terms of quality in recent years and that’s been down to a renewed focus on their legacy franchises. If you want to see the company do more with Super Monkey Ball, Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi, Jet Set Radio, Phantasy Star, Sakura Wars, Altered Beast, Virtua Fighter, Streets of Rage, Puyo Puyo, Shenmue, Golden Axe, House of the Dead, Virtua Tennis and Crazy Taxi then this is the way to let them know.
A port of the original Phantasy Star is now available to play on Nintendo Switch. Ported by M2, this new port of the Master System classic includes a new map display and an Ages Mode which tasks you with surviving some really challenging dungeons. Check out the launch trailer below:
SEGA Ages Phantasy Star is available to buy on the Nintendo Switch eShop for £5.99. Is is the first title in the legendary RPG franchise and originally launched in 1987.
The Western release date for the SEGA Ages port of Phantasy Star has finally been set. Western Switch owners will get to play the game on December 13th 2018. US pricing has been set at $7.99.
The SEGA Ages port of Phantasy Star includes some new features like a dungeon map display, a bestiary, an equipment list and support for both original audio and the FM Sound Unit audio. Development, as always, has been lead by M2.
The Nintendo Switch port of the SEGA Master System’s Phantasy Star, part of the SEGA AGES line, will be dropping in September. In addition, the extra features available in the port have now been detailed.
For Japanese users, the game includes a hiragana script option, as was present in the SEGA Saturn’s version of the game. There will also be a low-difficulty mode included for new players – it’s unclear right now if this will factor in the previous collection’s reward toggles, but it’s a safe bet based on previous interviews. Also included is a picture book of the various monsters in the game, which seems to be filled out similarly to a Pokedex, and a list of items and armour is also available for easy reference as to what they actually do.
One of the biggest extra features however, is the addition of a new map function. Previously, dungeons weren’t mapped out meaning you’d have to actually draw a physical map to keep track of where you were. Now the game can keep track for you, should you so desire – another helpful feature to ease in new players.
Finally, the game features both the FM and PSG soundtracks, and a music player so you can listen to the tracks at your discretion.
Overall this is shaping up to be a very nice package, which is to be expected from M2. Unfortunately it’s not yet clear when exactly the first two games in the line, Sonic the Hedgehog and Thunder Force IV, are set to launch; both games are due some time this month. We’ll keep an eye out for concrete release information.
This information comes from the official SEGA AGES site, which has received a bit of an overhaul. Several screenshots are also available on the site, but we’ve popped them below for convenience.
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.
Tags: m2, nintendo switch, phantasy star, sega ages Posted in News | Comments Off on SEGA AGES: Phantasy Star Launches in September for Nintendo Switch, New Features Detailed
After being teased just a few days ago, SEGA has now announced Idola: Phantasy Star Saga, a new RPG title in the Phantasy Star series. The game is exclusive to iOS and Android devices, and will launch this year in Japan.
The game sees the resurrection of the amusingly-named “Dark Farce”, in a world ravaged by huge monsters named Idola. You’ll be using a “command-based battle system”, which SEGA intend to detail more in the future. Also confirmed are a slew of characters, including the main heroine Stella – fully translated bios for these characters can be found on Gematsu.
The team behind the game includes veterans of the Valkyria series, as well as Sakura Wars and of course Phantasy Star itself. There’s (unsurprisingly) no word on an English release, but we’ll keep an eye out in case one gets announced.
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 launched a countdown site, teasing the reveal of a new entry in the Phantasy Star RPG franchise. However, it’s for smartphones. Take that as you will.
Currently, there’s no real details on what the game itself entails – whether it’ll be taking after the stylings of the original series, or the more modern Online universe for instance. Saying that, the artwork definitely has us expecting something more akin to the former, and it may well be that it combines the two – it’s a 30th Anniversary celebration, after all.
The game will be announced on July 24th at 4am UK time.
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.
Tags: android, ios, phantasy star, rpg, Smartphones Posted in News | Comments Off on Phantasy Star 30th Anniversary RPG for Smartphones Teased, Countdown Site Opened
Some more details have come to light since the announcement, mostly courtesy of Sam Mullen, producer at Atlus USA. Most notable of these is the confirmation that the set will include more than just Mega Drive titles – arcade games will be included too. In addition, Mullen confirmed that “every game will have something new.”
Finally, it’s been revealed by Thunder Force IV’s presence at SEGA Fes itself that it includes “Styx Mode”, previously exclusive to the Saturn’s Thunder Force Gold Pack 2. This mode allows you to play as the Thunder Force 3 ship.
More info on the new AGES series will be released at tomorrow’s “Classic Game Stage” event, as part of SEGA Fes. We’ll bring you any new announcements that come from it.
ORIGINAL POST
M2 are back and are leading development of up to 15 new SEGA ports of classic titles for the Nintendo Switch.
The new SEGA Ages collection will feature ports of Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star and Thunder Force IV which is currently playable on the show floor at SEGA Fes 2018. It is likely that Thunder Force IV will end up being the first title in the series to launch, but there is currently no news on a release date.
Now here’s a game I never expected to see on Western shores!
SEGA America have committed to bringing 7th Dragon III Code: VFD to America. SEGA have never brought any 7th Dragon games to the West previously so this is quite a shock.
Developed by imageepoch, the games are produced by Rieko Kodama of Phantasy Star fame. The soundtracks are also produced by legendary SEGA composer Yuzo Koshiro. Take a look at the announcement trailer below:
7th Dragon III Code: VFD will lauch for 3DS in America this summer. There is currently no word on a European release.
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