Monthly Archives

January 2014

Fan Works, Game News, Miscellaneous, Sega Retro

Monday Links: RULES OF NATURE Edition

While I usually wouldn’t link to petitions for video games on Monday Links, this one has actually been acknowledged by SEGA and has a chance of resulting in something happening, so I’ll let this one slide. If you want to let SEGA know that you want games like Bayonetta, Vanquish, Virtua Fighter 5: Final ShowdownValkyria Chronicles and other such games on PC, go support it. In other news: enough stuff happened in the past week for me to do a Monday Links. So here goes:

Retro/Bits Stuff

Sonic/SEGA Stuff

hK wG l E lm lPyerVOsfSSi Eb
Podcasts

Vidya Retro Highlights: Sonic 4 Episode II Co-op Run

YouTube: [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

Twitch: [Link] [Uncut]

Ever wondered what its like to play Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II online with a friend? Me and Guess_Who, (With GeneHF and Retro user AndrewRoks1998 also providing commentary!) play through the game despite the struggles, frustration, and desyncs that got in our way in this Vidya Retro highlight. You can watch the misadventures segmented on YouTube or on Twitch in 60 frames per second.

Fan Works, Game News, Hacking, Humor, Miscellaneous, Sega Retro

Monday Links: Apologetic Edition

The other site staff wanted me to put this video in this week’s Monday Links. Considering the content of the video, I’d like to apologize on everyone’s behalf for putting it here. I’m sorry. I’m so, so very sorry.

Retro/Bits News

  • Guess Who reviewed the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World and greatly regrets doing so [Review]
  • Missed some of our Vidya Retro streams? Catch up on some [Highlights]
  • A new version of Sonic Worlds Delta has been released for MMF2/Fusion 2.5 [The Barrel Update]
  • The fifth release of Sonic ERaZor is here [Yup, that still exists]
  • My Life with SEGA has released a sequel to The Next Level [No Limits]
  • The winner of the SEGAbits Summer of Art/Season of Colors contest has been revealed [Ryo Hazuki would want it]

Sonic/SEGA News

  • SEGA announced a new Alien game, this one being a survival horror title called Alien: Isolation [Spooky scary]
  • Rhythm Thief, a 3DS game barely anyone knew about, is now available on iOS. [MICROTRANSACTIONS YAY]

Continue Reading

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

Podcasts

Vidya Retro Highlights: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Mobile and More

If you’ve missed our live stream shows, you’ll be happy to know that we archive (most) of our videos including our first look at Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed running on iOS as led by Guess Who. We’ve also got first looks of Sonic Dash and Crazy Taxi running on Android that showcase game features and commentary from the staff at Retro.

Be sure to follow our Vidya Retro on Twitch and YouTube for more first looks and other gameplay videos.

Comics, Game News, Miscellaneous, Sega Consoles

Monday Links: Fire Alarm Edition

EG3SpnJ

Whenever the fire alarm goes off, don’t forget to take the plushies with you.

Retro/Bits News

  • In memory of Greg Martin’s passing, forum member Buyatari has scanned in line art he bought from the man himself [Get nostalgic]
  • Barry unboxes the Not Enough Rings comic book [It’s ok, it’s a parody]

Sonic/SEGA News

  • Greg Martin, illustrator of Sonic box-arts, has passed away [Rest in peace]
  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is now out on iOS and Android [With Ryo Hazuki]
  • Here are a bunch of SEGA consoles turned into moe anime girls [JAPAN IS SO WEIRD LOL]

Continue Reading

Game News

The Sonic Sketchbook: Images From the Late Greg Martin

GregMartinSonicSketch011_zps359c6a47As was reported a few days ago, artist Greg Martin passed away in May of last year, under the radar of those who obsess over the smallest details involved in the Sonic franchise. Responsible for nearly ever major Sonic the Hedgehog cover in the west through 1995, along with a slew of promotional art, his was the image of Sonic kids across the western world grew to know and love. Who didn’t have that Are You Up 2 It? poster taped to the back of their bedroom door? Who didn’t stare obsessively at ads for Sonic CD, seeing Sonic grabbing that Time Stone out of Metal Sonic’s reach, and plot for hours on end how’d they convince their parents to buy them a Sega CD?

Some time back, Sonic Retro forum member Buyatari was able to purchase a slew of line art from the man himself, and has recently scanned them for all on the Internet to see. We tip our hat to you, for without your efforts, who knows if any of these would have seen the light of day again?

Continue Reading

Game News

Greg Martin, Sonic the Hedgehog American and European box art illustrator, has passed away

gregmartin
 
Yesterday evening we learned, via the forums, that the Sonic the Hedgehog American and European box art illustrator Greg Martin had passed away in May of last year. While the news is delayed, the sadness many SEGA fans are surely feeling has not diminished. Greg Martin may not be a name fans recognize, but as soon as you see his work you’d instantly know his style. His SEGA career spanned the 90’s, with his art appearing on the covers of the SEGA Genesis Sonic the Hedgehog titles, Shining in the Darkness, Landstalker, Pac-Attack, and many more. Outside of SEGA, Greg did work for franchises including The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Batman, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Winnie the Pooh, The Jetsons, and Looney Tunes. You can see more of his work at his official website. Our thoughts are with Greg Martin’s family, he truly was a legend.

Game News

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Now Out on iOS and Android, Features Ryo Hazuki

If you’ve been following SEGA’s Twitter, you probably noticed that they were teasing that Ryo Hazuki is coming to Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. Turns out that they were actually teasing the iOS/Android version of the game.

This version contains 10 playable characters (including Ryo Hazuki), less tracks than the console/PC version and online multiplayer. Visually it’s most similar to the Vita version, with the tracks being unchanged from the original game. While the game is out now on iTunes for 5 bucks, Android users will have to wait a bit longer. But SEGA promises that the Android version will be released very soon.