I find myself, against all odds and expectations, strangely excited for SEGA’s newly announced Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2. I remember speaking to one of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1′s producers at an event just before E3 2011 while previewing Sonic Generations and making a comparative commentary between Generations and Sonic 4. Specifically, that Sonic Generations actually felt like playing a Sonic the Hedgehog game, whereas Sonic 4 was like playing a knockoff of a Sonic the Hedgehog game. “We are trying to do something a bit different with the Sonic 4 line,” was his reply (paraphrased from memory), “so it’s going to feel different.” Read the full story

I start the console, hear the familiar cry of “SEGA!” and then bliss, as I hear an updated but still recognizable Sonic theme song. I press start, and find myself returned not just to the levels of the past, but that feeling of skill and response that I developed as a child for these games. I’m in heaven.

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Treasure is responsible for some of the greatest genre-defining ‘em-up games I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Radiant Silvergun was sublime. Ikaruga was a sweet, hellish nightmare…in a fantastic way. Before both of those classics became the classics they are, however, there was Guardian Heroes on the SEGA Saturn. Easily the most fun I had on a Saturn, and one of the best beat’em-ups I can recall playing in general, it has made its way to XBLA with some extra weight. Read the full story

I have very fond memories of Ulala and her dancing heroic antics in the original Space Channel 5. I had never, however, played Space Channel 5 Part 2, which was originally exclusive to the Dreamcast in Japan, until it was re-released on the PlayStation 2. The sequel was generally regarded as superior to its predecessor in terms of graphics, gameplay, game length, and more, but its limited release stunted its popularity and potential. Now, it makes its way to XBLA, and having taken the time to explore it, I can finally agree that it is, in fact, superior to its predecessor.

But is it superior…TO ITSELF? Read the full story

I’ve never been a big fan of fishing games. Part of that, I’m sure, is that I’ve never been a big fan of fishing in general. I find it to be extremely boring. Back in my Dreamcast days, SEGA Bass Fishing was a game I never gave any attention to, and it was definitely not one of the first that would come to mind if asked which classic Dreamcast games should be re-released on XBLA with HD updates. Read the full story

WINNER ANNOUNCED: Leon (@lmd1974) has won the copy of Rise of Nightmares! Thank you all for participating, and keep your eyes open for more contests!

…or, as it is more commonly known, Rise of Nightmares! Do you have a Kinect? Do you enjoy video games? Have you always wanted to feel the grim satisfaction of swinging a chainsaw through necrotic flesh? Until the zombie apocalypse arrives, this is the closest thing you’ve got! Read the full story

A supervillain named Inferno is threatening the world, and the United Nations wants to negotiate, against the will of General Bryant. Facing the grim reality of the cowardice of politicians, General Bryant does the only sane thing there is to do; he forms a group of operatives who will work outside of the law to take down the threat that Inferno is presenting. These uncontrolled operatives, or Renegade Ops, if you will, fall in line behind the previous General Bryant, and get to work! Read the full story

I imagine that watching me play Rise of Nightmares would not be totally dissimilar to watching me do a mixed-pace session of Tae Bo. I am fairly certain that SEGA was fully aware of this fact when developing it. As the first M rated Kinect game, I’m sure they relied on it, in fact, to help counteract the severity of the game’s violence and demeanor. That being said, Rise of Nightmares is a game of absolute potential. Does it stand tall or fall short? Read the full story

This would have gone up yesterday, for three consecutive days of Anarchy Reigns releases, but I was in the middle of a FIGHT FOR MY LIFE (disclaimer: “FIGHT FOR MY LIFE” is not intended to reflect any actual fight, be it as serious as a fight for survival or as lighthearted as a fight over Chinese or Japanese for dinner). This marks the eleventh character reveal from SEGA for Platinum Games’ Anarchy Reigns: Oinkie. Read the full story

With a new character reveal yesterday being swiftly followed by a new character reveal today, one could start hoping that we’re on a new streak of character reveals for Platinum Games’ cyborg-laden button masher, Anarchy Reigns! Today’s character reveal, the tenth so far, introduces us to Garuda. Read the full story