Sega’s Welcome Again to the Subsequent Degree

The Sega Scream Returns!

I can’t start to inform you how lengthy I’ve needed Sega to be greater than it’s. Subsequent to Nintendo, they’ve the most important properly of IP to dive into at any time, and by some means they’ve performed an excellent worse job than the Massive N when it comes to sustaining their numerous properties. I did a three-part Franchise Report on the corporate and their video games and I gotta say, they didn’t fare tremendous properly. A few of their manufacturers are doing higher than it appears due to the cellular market, however when it comes to making good on their console followers, Sega has been leaving so much to be desired for fairly a while now. 

That each one appears to be altering now. A couple of months again, Sega made point out that they had been taking a severe have a look at their checklist of IP in an effort to revitalize stagnant manufacturers. I personally took that with a couple of billion grains of salt as a result of, properly, Sega’s monitor document of late has been precisely what it’s. Simply have a look at Sonic. Certain, there are many Sonic video games, however the high quality ratio isn’t precisely nice. Even when the Sonic video games are good, they not often attain the heights of the Genesis period classics, which is a bummer. As a result of if Sega needed to place the effort and time into a brand new Sonic recreation that, say, Nintendo does with their Mario video games, they may very well be unimaginable. However that is neither right here nor there. 

At this 12 months’s Recreation Trailers, err, Awards present, Sega introduced that they formally had a number of new video games from dormant properties in improvement, successfully making good on their promise from a number of months again. Right here’s what we all know. 

Jet Set Radio

Initially launching on the Dreamcast, Jet Set Radio (AKA Jet Grind Radio, for some purpose) launched the world at giant to cel shaded graphics. JSR on Dreamcast was a revelation, and whereas it wasn’t fairly sufficient to stave off the upcoming juggernaut that was the PlayStation 2, it did some nice numbers on Dreamcast, and most of the people who performed it had been certainly keen on it. A lot in order that it even received a comply with up on Xbox a couple of years later. Jet Set Radio and its sequel are extraordinarily well-liked video games, and this new iteration appears to be like fairly attention-grabbing. The one characters proven within the trailer are Beat and that loopy DJ fella who yells “JET SET RADIOOOOOOOOO” whose identify I can’t bear in mind. All the things’s nonetheless fairly properly cel shaded, however the characters look like a bit extra detailed than in earlier installments. It’s laborious to say something greater than that, nevertheless it’s actually fairly good to see. 

Streets of Rage

Subsequent recreation within the trailer was Streets of Rage. Of all of the video games on this checklist, Streets of Rage is by far the one least in want of revitalization. It could have began life out because the premiere Genesis beat ’em as much as compete with the likes of Closing Struggle on Tremendous NES, nevertheless it’s already made its comeback within the type of the beautiful Streets of Rage 4, which is hardly outdated, and it’s performed wonders for the model. It’s actually among the best beat em ups ever made. However the brand new iteration doesn’t seem to have LizardCube’s involvement. In reality, it appears to be like nothing in any respect just like the gorgeously hand drawn earlier entry. This recreation is correctly 3D, which actually scares the heck out of me. I could also be unsuitable, however I am unable to shake the sensation that brawlers going 3D hasn’t precisely labored out tremendous properly up to now. I do know Closing Struggle: Streetwise wasn’t precisely well-liked. Streets of Rage 4 goes to be a heck of an act to comply with. Let’s hope whoever is behind this recreation is as much as the problem. 

Shinobi

Subsequent up is a shocking new Shinobi recreation. Shinobi is one in all Sega’s oldest names, and one that also calls for a level of respect every time a brand new entry comes into existence. Do not forget that PS2 recreation with the tremendous cool scarf? Superior. 

Anyway, If I don’t miss my guess, this one’s from our buddies at LizardCube who beforehand labored their gorgeously animated magic on Surprise Boy and Streets of Rage. Little or no was proven, however this recreation is a 2D, breathtakingly well-animated spectacle. Shinobi’s no stranger to radical reinventions, a few of which have been slightly profitable (once more, that PS2 recreation was so cool!), so I’ve received my fingers crossed this one isn’t any exception. If it performs half nearly as good because it appears to be like, we’re all in for a deal with. 

Golden Axe

Discuss a Sega franchise with a troubled historical past. This one began life within the arcades, and had a extremely nice Genesis port, however issues have been all around the map since then. The final time anybody tried to revitalize this venerable model we wound up with the abysmal Beast Rider for PS3 and Xbox 360. 

Very like Streets of Rage, Golden Axe is a beat ’em up, a style that hasn’t historically fated all that properly in 3D. Nonetheless, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned this doesn’t look tremendous cool. There’s little or no to go on, however the look is actually fairly spectacular. Of all of the video games proven within the trailer, this one regarded essentially the most fashionable. I actually hope this one pans out as a result of Golden Axe is a good idea taht has but to correctly stay as much as its potential. 

Loopy Taxi

Are The Offspring nonetheless a band? Effectively, they’d higher be as a result of to me, Loopy Taxi isn’t Loopy Taxi with out their particular model of soundtrack. 

Beginning life out as an arcade recreation, Loopy Taxi discovered large success on Dreamcast, spawning 2 sequels, one on Dreamcast and a second one on Xbox after the DC died. Loopy Taxi is such an attention-grabbing idea, nevertheless it’s additionally not a simple factor to make enjoyable for lengthy intervals of time. I’m hopeful that they’ve cracked the code although, as a result of it’s such a enjoyable recreation briefly bursts. 

And extra

These bulletins had been those proven, however Sega assures us that there’s extra on the way in which, which may be very thrilling. A brand new Area Harrier that isn’t Air Tornado? Possibly just a little little bit of Dangle-On or Fantasy Zone? An all new Alex Kidd? I’m all for it. What did you consider Sega’s announcement, and what do you hope to see from them sooner or later?