Model 2 Digital Collection Review

AM2 continues their high quality digital remasters with a set based on SEGA’s revolutionary Model 2 arcade hardware. Yu Suzuki, the head of SEGA’s AM2 studio helped create the platform in the early 1990s using incredibly sophisticated military technology. This allowed for not just higher quality visuals through 3D models and textures, but more effective controls and artificial intelligence to a scale thought completely improbable for the time.

As iconic and important the hardware was to video games, each game released in this digital Model 2 collection has only ever seen improper ports due to the power of home platforms at the time being far below what the games required, such as the SEGA Saturn. This current set of releases features the legendary Virtua Fighter 2, the wacky Fighting Vipers and Sonic the Fighters, one of the most obscure Sonic the Hedgehog games of all time.

Virtua Fighter 2, Fighting Vipers, and Sonic the Fighters now available on XBLA and PSN

The first three games in SEGA’s collection of Model 2 arcade games is available now on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The three games available now are:

• Virtua Fighter 2
• Fighting Vipers
• Sonic the Fighters

Each game is developed by the iconic AM2 studio and as these titles imply, they are all in the fighting game genre. All games are hardware-perfect ports of the originals, but all include features spanning new secret characters, the ability to select updated or downgraded arcade releases, and of course online play. Unlike their original announcements, each game is priced at $5 USD (400 Microsoft Points on XBLA).

The games will also become available on the European PSN on December 5th, while Virtual-On and Virtua Striker, which are also part of this collection, will be released early next year.

Included after the break is the trailer for all of the released and upcoming games in the Model 2 collection.

Space Harrier to receive 3D update on Nintendo 3DS, Space Harrier Collection out now on Japanese PSN

Japanese video game news website Gamer has revealed that the arcade classic third-person action/shooter Space Harrier will be receiving an updated port on Nintendo’s 3DS titled 3D Space Harrier, which will be optimized for the handheld’s dual widescreen displays and will feature newly added stereoscopic 3D graphics. Developed by AM2 under the direction of legendary game designer Yu Suzuki, Space Harrier has long been held as one of the greatest and most recognizable arcade games of all of time, revolutionizing the medium as a both a technical benchmark for games at the time and defined a genre with its fun and riveting gameplay, which still attracts scores of fans to this very day. Reports say that this port is intended to be the definitive version of the game, and whilst no further details have yet been revealed, the title is expected to launch on the Nintendo eShop at some point in the near future.

In other Space Harrier news, Space Harrier II: Space Harrier Complete Collection has been released on PlayStation 3 on the Japanese PlayStation Network. This compilation — which was originally released on the PlayStation 2 as part of the SEGA AGES 2500 series — brings the arcade versions of Space Harrier and Space Harrier 3-D [not to be confused with 3D Space Harrier] (both for the Mark III system) and the Genesis/Mega Drive version of Space Harrier II together, also featuring some bonus content and extras, including official art from all of the games. There’s been no word as of yet whether or not Space Harrier II: Space Harrier Complete Collection will be released outside of Japan, but it is currently available for the price of ¥800 (roughly $10 USD).

[Source: Gamer]

Five SEGA Model 2 arcade games announced for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network

Five classic arcade titles have all been announced at the same time for the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network download platforms. They include:

-Virtua Fighter 2
-Fighting Vipers
-Sonic the Fighters
-Virtua Striker
-Cyber Troopers: Virtual-On

All five of these games were created on the revolutionary SEGA Model 2 arcade hardware that was first released to the public in 1993 with Daytona USA, which was released to both download platforms late last year. Each one of these games is also developed by SEGA AM2 with the exception of Virtual-On, which was by SEGA AM3. The only game in the lineup that is not a fighting game is Virtua Striker, which is a soccer game.

Although each release will include new features — such as online play — every game is intended to play exactly like their arcade counterpart, which is especially notable for Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers, as they have only ever been converted into similar products. Even more surprising, the highly obscure Sonic the Fighters will include Metal Sonic, Dr Robotnik and Honey the Cat (an animal version of Honey/Candy from Fighting Vipers) as playable characters that were not previously accessible without hacking.

The first three games listed will be made available for download this fall. Each will be 10 USD (800 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360), but a deal across both consoles will allow players to purchase all three titles together for 15 USD (1200 Microsoft Points). Virtua Striker and Virtual-On will be released some time next year.

Included after the break is the reveal trailer and official Japanese website.

Dead or Alive 5 out now

Dead or Alive 5, the latest release of Tecmo Koei and Team Ninja’s popular fighting game series is now available in North America at retailers on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and will be released in European, Japanese and Australian regions within the rest of the week. Additionally, both versions will be available for purchase and download on both consoles’ online marketplaces at a later date.

Akira Yuki, Sarah Bryant and Pai Chan from SEGA’s popular Virtua Fighter franchise all guest star as fully playable characters in Dead or Alive 5, the former two of which are even included in the story mode. With this, AM2 (developers of Virtua Fighter) have helped development of the title and SEGA of Europe will help promote and distribute the title in their region.

Although he is no longer with the publisher, Tomonobu Itagaki the creator of the franchise had stated in the past that Pai and Sarah were his favorite characters from the Virtua Fighter series and that he cites the franchise as direct inspiration for Dead or Alive.

Included after the break is the title’s launch trailer.

SEGA Tokyo Game Show 2012 Roundup

Compared to last year, SEGA’s showing at Tokyo Game Show (TGS for short) was hugely gimped by lack of multiplatform titles, something the publisher is greatly known for. A general shift in focus towards touch-based platforms is apparent with not just SEGA, but the entirety of the event across all publishers.

That said, SEGA has still revealed and demonstrated several titles, although as always it is unclear how many of these will receive English language releases.

After the break we have compiled a list of every title involving SEGA at the event.

SEGA Vintage Collection Vol. 3 Overview

SEGA Vintage Collection has been recently released on both XBLA and PSN – for the XBox 360 and PS3 respectfully. Known as SEGA AGES Online in Japan, it features proper emulations of SEGA classics – both console and arcade – with an abundance of features. It is developed by M2, former SNK employees responsible for SEGA’s Virtual Console offerings on Wii and many previous SEGA AGES games on PS2. Extensive emulation options, high definition artwork wallpapers, leader boards, saving, replays, achievements/trophies, new trial modes, and on-line play are all included, bringing these games back to life in a respectable, professional manner. With it being an on-going series of releases of classic games, it might be helpful to get a basic overview of what is included, how it fairs, and how others view the games released so far. Below is a compilation of this.

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Review

Date Released: June 6, 2012
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2012
Genre: 3D Fighter
Players: 1-2 Players local and online, lobbies extend this
Length: Singular fights typically a few minutes each, several types of modes alter this
Replayability: Incredible

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Introduction

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown is the 2010 3D fighting game for the arcade RingEdge hardware. Newly developed and ported by the prolific SEGA-AM2 for 2012, the latest release of the game is a downloadable Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game. More than an upgrade to 2007’s retail version of the original Virtua Fighter 5 for the same platforms, Final Showdown is arguably the deepest, most accessible fighting game available in the genre this entire console generation at a cheaper price than all competing products.

SEGA E3 2012 Roundup

SEGA had a fairly muted showing at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, but it was still rich with unique and diverse titles across every major platform, like fans of the company can always expect. SEGA also had some very unexpected surprise reveals and announcements, some received better than others.

Anarchy Reigns and Rhythm Thief are especially notable for not having a proper slot at SEGA’s booth this year. I suggested previously that these games are likely canceled in North America, but SEGA has hinted that this may not be the case.

After the break we have included each game SEGA of America focused on during the event. as well as other titles related to the company. We have read hundreds of articles and compressed it all into a basic read.

Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown now available on PSN and XBLA

Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, the latest and presumably final version of the hit arcade fighting game, is now available for download worldwide on Sony’s PlayStation Network and Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade. Final Showdown at long last brings the most advanced and feature packed iteration in the legendary Virtua Fighter series to home consoles, featuring a myriad of game modes both old and new, including arcade and versus modes, score attack, training, and brand new License Challenges, which tests players by having them compete in matches with a variety of interesting objectives and modifiers in each round. Also included are online leaderboards for all game modes and full online versus play.

The game can be purchased for $14.99 USD on PSN and 1200 Microsoft Points on XBLA. Also available at launch is a veritable treasure trove of downloadable content, consisting of nineteen item packs for each individual fighter, which can then be used to completely customize their looks and accessories. These item packs can be purchased individually for $4.99 USD on PSN or 400 Microsoft Points, or they can be purchased in bulk in one of two item collection packs costing $14.99 USD on PSN and for 1200 Microsoft Points. Please note that all of these items are purely cosmetic and in no way affect gameplay. Also, at the time of writing, Sony is running a limited time promotion which offers over a dozen games — including the base game of Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown — to all subscribers to their PlayStation Plus online service. This deal extends to both PAL and NTSC regions and is one that certainly should not be passed up.

After the break, we’ve included the E3 2012 launch trailer for Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.