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Game News

E3 2014: Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS) Trailer


As part of E3 2014, Nintendo put up a new trailer for the 3DS’ Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal. Developed by Sanzaru Games, the game more than enough resembles a passing glance to other Sonic handheld titles, namely anything DIMPS developed from Sonic Rush to Sonic Generations (3DS). The game differs from its Wii U counterpart in that it’s an entirely different adventure where the new villain Lyric has kidnapped Amy. Filling her place in the team is series newcomer Not-MarineSticks.
The design of the game is much closer to an exploration style (think a Metroidvania, but not so complex) where using Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Sticks can unlock new areas to explore. The energy whips also prominently feature as a means of combat or progressing through the stage. The game is set to hit this November.

Game News, Merchandise

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Soundtrack Available on iTunes and AmazonMP3

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SEGA and Sumo Digital have answered the demand for an official release of the soundtrack for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. While it has featured a physical release in Japan on two CDs, you can buy each CD digitally through your choice of Apple’s iTunes store or on AmazonMP3. Each CD is available for $9.99 USD, (Or $9.49 on Amazon at the time of this writing,) and£7.99 GBP, or you can purchase tracks individually.

  • iTunes (Disc 1) [US] [UK] (Disc 2) [US] [UK]
  • Amazon Mp3 (Disc 1) [US] [UK] (Disc 2) [US] [UK]

For someone like me that’s been listening to this soundtrack in the most cumbersome way possible, (Try hooking up your phone to your car stereo and hoping all four G’s of your data connection can play songs off of YouTube and not stop to buffer every so often,) this could not have come at a better time for me.

Thanks to Sumo Digital’s Steve Lycett and Retro Staff Member GerbilSoft for providing links to the soundtrack. If you’d like a complete listing of the songs, head over to VGMDB.

Game News, Reviews

Sonic Lost World (3DS): The Retro Review

soniclostworld_3dsGod, where do I even begin?

Sonic Lost World for the 3DS is the latest in a recent trend of handheld Sonic games – while there was a long string of completely original Sonic titles, from many of the Game Gear titles all the way to the Advance and Rush series, the last couple have instead been downscaled versions of their console counterparts: Colors, Generations, and now Lost World. Why this is the case, I don’t know, because it will invariably result in comparing these games to their consistently better big brothers, and in every case they fall short, including this one. Which is tremendously worrisome, considering the Wii U version of the game didn’t exactly set a high bar to begin with. Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Impress Watch: Sega M2/CS3 interview on porting Sonic to the 3DS

s00It’s pretty rare that we get to see Sega developers geek out and go into wonderful detail about the development process behind their games, so it’s always special when we see something published like Impress Watch‘s interview with M2 president Naoki Horii and Sega CS3 producer Yosuke Okunari about bringing the classic Mega Drive version of Sonic the Hedgehog to the Nintendo 3DS. Translated by Sega and published by Siliconera, the two men describe the technical challenges of emulating the Mega Drive on the 3DS, how they had to rewrite large portions of code in ARM assembly to optimize performance, how they designed a fictional hardware variation of the Mega Drive to support stereoscopic 3D, and even how they dug into the vaults and consulted Sonic Jam source code for assistance porting the Spin Dash to the original game. Be sure to check out the full interview at the source link below; it’s an excellent read if you’re interested in a detailed look at the programming and design work that goes into a project like this.

Source: Siliconera

Game News

Updated: E3 2013: Sonic Lost Worlds Assets and Release Date

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Update: We asked Sega community manager Kellie Parker to clarify on the release date, she has confirmed the date is currently set for Holiday 2013 as Gonintendo’s article is incorrect. In addition, Sega has released a trailer for the Nintendo 3DS version which can be seen here.

Sega has brought the E3 asset dump truck to bring you more information on Sonic Lost World including a release date set for October 13th. In addition, you get to know the names of the Deadly Six: Zavok, Zazz, Zeena, Zik, Zomom and Zor.

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Overview

When the Deadly Six threaten to destroy his world, Sonic’s new moves and power-ups are the only way to defeat them before it’s too late!

In his latest plot to defeat Sonic and rule the world, Dr. Eggman has harnessed the power of six menacing creatures known as the Deadly Six.  However, when the Deadly Six rise up against their new master, Sonic must unite with his arch nemesis Eggman and explore the mystical Lost Hex in order to take them on head-to-head.  Use Sonic’s amazing new moves and incredible Color Powers to speed across a variety of unique terrains, racing inside, outside and upside down in every level.

Key Features

  • Sonic moves like never before. Vault over obstacles, free run up and along walls, and sky dive between islands at lightning speed. Plus the Spin Dash is back!
  • Execute new and improved Color Powers. Sonic can now fly through the air, tear up levels and explode into enemies. He’s more powerful than ever!
  • Speed through a variety of exhilarating levels.  Explore massive mind-bending courses, vast underground tunnels and colossal structures in the sky as you run inside, outside and upside down.
  • Save the world one fight at a time.  Take on each of the devious Deadly Six in dynamic boss battles which test all of Sonic’s moves and power-ups.
  • Race friends in high speed multiplayer races.  Take them down across a range of ultra-competitive levels and modes – it’s the ultimate supersonic showdown!

Wii U Exclusive Features

  • Wield the Wii U™ GamePad to execute exclusive Color Powers – tilt, touch, aim and more.
  • Someone wants to watch TV? No problem!  Play the full game using only the GamePad screen.
  • Share and charge up items by sending them into the Miiverse™ to share with players around the world.
  • Play together.  Have a friend pilot radio controlled gadgets to help Sonic by destroying enemies and obstacles.
  • Race against a friend as you play on the GamePad screen and they play on the TV.

3DS Exclusive Features

  • The first handheld Sonic game ever to feature fully realized Nintendo 3D levels.
  • Unleash Color Powers exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version.
  • Exclusive Special Stages!  Tilt using the Motion Sensor to navigate hair-raising levels and obtain the elusive Chaos Emeralds.
  • Create and customize radio controlled gadgets to help Sonic.
  • Race against friends locally through ad-hoc and online through network play.

PLUS: Share your gadgets between the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions.

You’ll find the rest of the E3 assets after the jump including the trailer.

 [Source: Nintendo Press, Gonintendo] Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Australia Hints SEGA 3D Classics Heading Westward

Earlier this month, Japansonic1title saw the arrival of SEGA’s first set of 3DS Classic remakes of four key titles from their Mega Drive and arcade library. Sonic The Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Super Hang-On, and Space Harrier all received a 3D-depth face lift and plenty of other features, but SEGA remained quiet as to if these titles would make their way to western 3DS systems.

Enter the Australian Classifications Board, which posted up ratings results for 3DS versions of Sonic and Altered Beast. In the past, every time the ACB has released ratings for games, the titles sooner or later swept across other regions, so the fact SEGA’s 3DS Classics library is likely going global shouldn’t surprise anyone.

It’s not quite the Christian “Taxman” Whitehead and Head Cannon release of Sonic 1 that iOS and Android platforms saw, but it’s still a Sonic 1 for those that want yet another copy of the game.

[Via Joystiq]

Game News, Uncategorized

More Game Gear Sonic Games Headed to 3DS Virtual Console

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Nintendo has also unveiled additional information regarding Game Gear games appearing on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console during their previous Nintendo Direct. While they have mentioned of releasing at least four more titles previously, although the last time they said those games would appear soon was…a year ago. Nintendo has announced that they will be releasing them soon, again, as well as reveal more Game Gear titles which includes additional Sonic games as well as Tails’ second (and last?) game and even Dr. Robotnik’s own “game.”

There are more non-Sonic games appearing including Columns, Defenders of Oasis and Shining Force II: The Sword of Hajya. The full list can also be seen on our sister site, SEGAbits.

[Source: Nintendo Online Press Room, SEGAbits]

Game News

Sonic 1 Launching On 3DS As A 3D Classic

3Dsonic1Another year, another insatiable urge for Sega to release a brand new iteration of Sonic 1. Launching May 15 in Japan, Sonic 1 joins Super Hang-On and Space Harrier as the first three 3D Classic Mega Drive remakes for the Nintendo 3DS. This is to commemorate the Mega Drive’s 25th Anniversary in Japan.

While this isn’t particularly thrilling news, and especially on the toes that Christian “The Taxman” Whitehead is at work on a Sonic 1 remake for Sega along with the Sonic Scene enigmatic man known as Stealth, the game will follow the line of other 3D Classic series titles on the 3DS that uses the system’s 3D features to add depth to the the game’s background. Continue Reading

Game News

All-Star Racing Transformed 3DS Crosses Finish Line This February

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Well after the races are finished and the trophies have been awarded, the 3DS version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed finally reaches the checkered flag come Feb. 8 in Europe, just over a week after the PC version hits Steam in the U.S. and Europe.

Russian site Sonic-Scene spotted the confirming evidence on Sega-Press, showing that the mythical 3DS version hasn’t been shot down quite yet. At the very least, those tired of Mario Kart 7 can have something to look forward to.

Not much more to say about this one, as even images of the game from Sega have been scarce. No word on a U.S. release date.

Game News

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Has More Than Just Cars

The original Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing was a bit of a surprise, we hadn’t seen Sonic in a racing game with cars since the Sonic Drift games. It was also a pretty good game that received lots of praise from fans, so it makes sense that the spin-off title is getting a sequel. Like the title implies, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed has vehicles that transform. During a race the vehicle changes into either a car, boat or plane whenever the track needs it to, making it more similar to Diddy Kong Racing than Mario Kart, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.

A trailer showcases this along with better graphics and a stage based on Panzer Dragoon, another stage based on Super Monkey Ball is shown in the screenshots. As for new characters, there’s Vyse from Skies of Arcadia and Gilius Thunderhead from Golden Axe (who was going to be in the first game but got scrapped) joining the roster, with more newcomers to be announced. Scripted events change the course every lap, which you could compare to Motorstorm Apocalypse, though much more colourful. The game’s soundtrack won’t just consist of old tracks, as they are remixed with composer Richard Jacques doing  some contributions. There’ll also be a story mode and the annoying commentator is no longer present.

IGN has a preview up with more details along with a video with some of the folks at Sumo Digital talking about the game with more gameplay being shown. The game will be coming to Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation Vita, Nintendo 3DS and PC Digital Download later this year. Screenshots can be found after the jump.

[Via IGN and Sonic Stadium] Continue Reading