Sonic turns 20 and returns to the Macys Thanksgiving Parade

Sonic is turning 20 and for some reason that doesn’t make me feel old! SEGA is celebrating with a huge birthday blowout on Playstation Network and Xbox Live titles. Love getting a gift for someone else’s birthday! Downloadable titles and add-ons are on sale anywhere from 33-55% off. There is also a birthday bundle on Playstation Network. For $19.99 you get: Sonic the Hedgehog™ ($4.99) Sonic the Hedgehog 2™ ($4.99) Sonic the Hedgehog™ 4 Episode 1 ($14.99) Sonic Adventure™ ($9.99) Sonic Adventure™ DX Add-On ($4.99) The Xbox Live sales are: Sonic the Hedgehog: 240 Microsoft Points (40% off) Sonic the Hedgehog 2™: 240 Microsoft Points (40% off) Sonic the Hedgehog 3™: 240 Microsoft Points (40% off) Sonic the Hedgehog 4™ Episode 1: 800 Microsoft Points (33% off) Sonic & Knuckles™: 120 Microsoft Points (50% off) Sonic Adventure™ : 400 Microsoft Points (50% off) Sale goes from today through July 12th

Read more →

SEGA gives us a look at ‘Binary Domain’

SEGA’s new squad-based shooter Binary Domain is another telling of a story with a common theme — that of man vs. machine. This story trailer, released yesterday, shows how the uprising got started in Tokyo in 2080. Binary Domain is due to be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in February 2012.

Read more →

Steam adds multiple free-to-play titles

Valve Corp.’s digital distribution giant, Steam, is finally introducing a few games that you won’t have to pay for unless you’re really into that whole microtransaction thing. (However, if you didn’t grab Portal when it was free, I don’t know if we can be friends.) Several free-to-play titles, including Champions Online: Free for All and Spiral Knights, are now available as part of a listed “free-to-play” genre. There’s now a concise free-to-play FAQ available on Steam that answers every question you’d have about these games, as well. For instance, you won’t need to provide any payment upfront in order to play these games. That’s nice enough. But if there are components of the game you wish to pay for, those are easy enough to access, because your Steam Wallet now serves as the funding source for any microtransactions in-game. If you’re only playing free games, you’ll be a Limited User

Read more →

E3 Hands On: Sonic Generations and Sonic Sega Allstars Racing

A big part of the Sega booth at E3 this year was dedicated to everyone’s favorite speedy little blue hedgehog and his 20th anniversary. While there, I got to take a hands-on look at 2 new additions to the Sonic lineup that will be coming soon. The first title I got to take a look at was Sonic Generations, the latest in a classic Sonic style platformer for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo 3DS. I chose to try out the 3DS version and got to play through 2 levels in the new game. Generations is truly a “best of” collection of all of the most popular levels from the Sonic games throughout the years. You can choose to play as classic or modern Sonic, each with their own unique levels and styles of play. Even though the game has a huge nostalgia factor, someone like myself who is new

Read more →

‘Sonic Generations’ speeds to Nintendo 3DS with exclusive content

Sega announced yesterday that Sonic Generations will also be released on Nintendo 3DS, including new levels designed specifically for this handheld. “Sonic Generations for the Nintendo 3DS will combine brand new technology and twenty years of Sonic the Hedgehog videogame heritage,” said David Corless, Global Brand Director for Sonic.  “Couple this with the ability to play as both Classic and Modern Sonic and you have the perfect gaming celebration for the landmark anniversary of our much loved mascot.” The new 3DS environments will, of course, be based on levels from the Sonic series, along with an unlockable “Special Stage.” (No, I’m not exactly sure what that will involve.) Sega’s also enabled StreetPass features for this title, which should allow you to collect content and unlock more material once you pass someone else playing this. You’ll also be able to battle it out with someone else (though that would involve finding

Read more →

Review: Yakuza 4 (PS3)

There is indeed a spiritual presence from Japan that reaches out to us so strongly, so tangibly, that we will digest any scrap of its culture that we can obtain. If you have felt this, then you will adore, even love, this classic game.

Read more →

I Kinected!

So I finally got a Kinect, and as promised here’s my update (Original Article “Should I Kinect with it or not?”): At first, I was apprehensive about the Kinect.  I had my fears, my confusions, and above all the only information I had came from commercials and what I saw at PAX Prime.  The Kinect offers an array of opportunities making you the controller.  After a massive marketing campaign many of you bought and enjoyed what the Kinect had to offer. After much deliberation and a sale at Costco, I finally broke down and bought one.  I was very excited to get home but first I had to stop at another store for Dance Central. I knew that any Kinect experience would not be complete without that game.  I hurried home to get everything set up.  It didn’t take a long time to connect and the setup wasn’t as painful

Read more →

Mario and Sonic to team up again for the 2012 Olympics in London

Sega and Nintendo announced yesterday that their iconic stars Sonic and Mario will once again be joining forces on the Wii in honor of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. What is now a series will also be making a dimensional jump to the 3DS. Several new events, including some of the equestrian variety, will make their debut in the game along with more traditional Olympic sports like aquatics and table tennis. All of them (there are over 50) feature both single and multiplayer modes. The game also features “Dream” events that take place in Mario and Sonic’s worlds. The game is being developed by SEGA Japan, and SEGA will be responsible for publishing in Europe and North America while Nintendo will handle the job in Japan. The game is officially licensed with International Sports Multimedia, who handles software licensing for the International Olympic Committee. “These games bring together two

Read more →

SEGA debuts ‘Sonic Generations’ gameplay trailer

If you like a little of Column A and a little of Column B when it comes to your Sonic games, SEGA is fulfilling your wishes. In Sonic Generations, you’ll be able to play as both “Classic” and “Modern” Sonic. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense to you. Once you watch the trailer below, it’ll all become clear. (Suffice it to say that you’ll get to play as three “generations” of Sonic. So we get “Classic” and “Modern”…what’s the third one? The comic? The television show? Is it just a subset of one of the other categories? Questions that need answers.)

Read more →

Review: Hyperdimension Neptunia (PS3)

ESRB: T (for Teen) Genre: Role-playing Game Developer: Idea Factory Publisher: NIS America Release Date: February 15, 2011 PASS Editor’s Note: Despite the game’s “Teen” rating, it has some mature content that will be discussed in the review. Just when I think I’ve seen everything I can in a video game; Gamefly recently sent me Hyperdimension Neptunia instead of Bulletstorm.  This game is the perfect example of the kind of sexist drivel that gives anime style art a bad name.  The game is rated “T (for Teen)” with several content descriptors, there is bad language, sexual situations and partial nudity in the first ten minutes of the game.  It should probably have been rated “M”.  Moms beware: the cutesy packaging is deceptive. All that said, there is some professional looking artwork in Hyperdimension Neptunia.  The use of colors is eye popping and effective.  The costumes are – interesting.  But, the

Read more →