Happy Holidays, from SEGA!

The SEGA Mega Sale is now on! Check our our promotional page with a full listing of discounted games.

The price drop clocks in at 40% — from 800 Wii Points down to 500 Wii Points, and lasts from December 24th until January 6th.

This is as exciting a group of Virtual Console games as I could imagine. Take a look at this quick community retrospective on the titles being offered:

Sonic The Hedgehog: Perhaps you may have heard of Sonic the Hedgehog? If you haven’t played the original in some time, it’s always awesome to revisit the game that started it all and more or less made the Genesis — and the bright graphics and exquisite level design of the original game still hold up today. Now you can snag it on the Wii for a bargain-basement price!

Sonic The Hedgehog 2: Faster, bigger and the game that introduced Super Sonic! The first time I ever collected all the Chaos Emeralds — this was before the internet told everyone what was coming in every game — I had no idea what to expect. The transformation of Sonic into Supersonic, flying around the screen in an invincible glowing-golden blur as the music sped up and the badniks withered before your awesomeness, represents, to this day, probably the best reward-to-work payoff of any video game I’ve ever played. Like seeing the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall of China, collecting all the Chaos Emeralds in Sonic 2 should be on everyone’s lifetime checklist. Also, check here for Clumsyorchid’s nostalgic retrospective on playing Sonic 2!

Sonic The Hedgehog 3: The first part of the sprawling Sonic & Knuckles adventure, Sonic 3 expanded wonderfully on the first two games, and introduced different kinds of shield spheres for increased strategy, and the graphically impressive “Blue Sphere” bonus stage which took place on a revolving 3D planetscape. In my opinion, this was also the most difficult of the original Sonic games (along with its companion game, Sonic & Knuckles), with highly imaginative and well-executed levels — a perfect challenge for old school Sonic fans!

Gunstar Heroes: Quite possibly one of the best looking games on the Genesis system, Gunstar Heroes is an exemplar of the best that 16 bits was capable of. Killer, incredibly fluid animation with creative weapons and an ultra-fast combat style make this one of the premier side-scrolling shoot-em-ups of the 1990s. Check out the piece in our own blog for more on this game!

Toe Jam & Earl: Yes! The original TJ&E is one of the most eclectic and unique titles to grace the Genesis. Featuring a well-implemented 3/4 scale view and a combination of wacky action and adventure/puzzle gameplay, ToeJam & Earl has a unique SEGA feel to it. It’s not an easy game to categorize — something like an action/adventure dungeon crawl in a funky space setting, with loads of tongue-in-cheek humor. Also worth noting — this is one of the rare games that’s worth picking up for the music alone. Most of all, we need the funk!

Puyo Puyo 2: An infectious, addictive puzzle game classic. Everything about this game, from the Columns/Tetris inspired gameplay to the animation of the little globular puzzle pieces, to the sound effects and music, is compelling and addictive. Did I say addictive? Addictive. Now at a reduced price!

Shining Force: Even with all the Sonic games on this last, this is my favorite of the bunch. It’s also one of my favorite games, period. In a fit of nostalgic love I titled my blog article on the Shining Force games “the legacy of tactical aweomeness”, after the subtitle of one of the original SF games. The strategy and squad-building in this game is dead-on perfect, and it is absolutely a spiritual ancestor to Valkyria Chronicles. I can’t say enough good things about this game: it’s one of the few games that, if you still have your Genesis, is worth the exorbitant fees people charge for the original cart. Thankfully you can pick it up now for this insanely low price, for your Nintendo Wii!

Golden Axe: The Genesis version — a truly spectacular port of one of the ultimate “must play” arcade games from my youth. The dark fantasy setting, dragon riding, and of course, gnome punting are all exquisitely done. These were some of the best graphics to show up on the Genesis — a terrific discount pickup for the Virtual Console! Check out my previous blog on the game, where I get to wax nostalgic about its many axe & gnome-related features.

Altered Beast: This side-scroller should hold a special place in the hearts of all Genesis fans for being the original game that was boxed with the system, and the game who’s dazzling 16-bit graphics and big sprites helped sell the 16-bit revolution. Read more in my original blog post on the game!

Streets Of Rage 2: Ahh. Did I say that Shining Force was my favorite game on this list? Well, I suppose it is, but it doesn’t get much better than Streets of Rage 2. There were a lot of excellent side-scrolling beat-em-up games from the 80s and 90s: Final Fight and, of course, Double Dragon come to mind, but I think I can safely say that Streets of Rage 2 was the best of the bunch. Just about everything in this game was perfect — a variety of difficulty levels made the game easy and fun or else incredibly challenging. The different fighters felt incredibly unique, and the music was some of the most awesome techno/electronic music to show up in games in the 1990s. But don’t take my word for it: Check here for Clumsyorchid’s blog, which confirms how awesome the game was. Oh, also, although it’s rarely listed as a feature for the game, it should be: In Streets of Rage 2, you can knock bad guys off of motorcycles with a jump kick. This alone is worth the price, and at a 40% discount, how can you say no?

Hunter Edition confirmed for US consumers! There, I can finally say it; the Hunter Edition which was announced fairly recently from our European friends is now 100% confirmed in the US with an added bonus – a hardcover graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics featuring the original Aliens vs Predator comic!

PlayStation 3 pictured, click in to see the images of the Xbox 360 version as well

Don’t worry, all the other goodies are still included, such as the four Multiplayer maps (before they release to the general public), a fully articulated and disturbingly creepy Facehugger model, Weyland Yutani sleeve badge, and a 3D lenticular postcard. To sweeten the deal, if you pre-order you can pick up some exclusive skins for all three species in multiplayer.

Bayonetta is nearly here and the reviews are starting to roll in! Following the recent trends of high scores after the Japanese release, Bayonetta is hitting very high marks from IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, 1up.com, Gamepro, Game Informer, and more as the day goes on. Read on for what critics have been raving about and catch the full reviews to hear the full scoop:

“Someone just put fresh batteries in Devil May Cry.”
1up.com

“From this point forward, something about stylish action games will need to change, because I have trouble imagining how a developer could use the tried-and-true formula to create anything more delightfully excessive than Bayonetta..”
Game Informer

“Bayonetta is the best action game I’ve ever played”
IGN.com

4 1/2 Stars out of 5
Gamepro.com

Don’t forget, there’s also an Official Xbox Magazine review to pick up at your preferred newstand!

There you have it, solid scores, continued amazement from the press and a game that will change the action genre forever. January 5th can’t come soon enough!

Happy Holidays from Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing — enjoy this special Christmastime trailer!

Listen up Sega Mega Fans, we have an incredible holiday deal for those of you among us with a Wii. For a limited time only grab our best selling Virtual Console titles for 40% off! That means instead of paying the usual 800 Wii Points, you’ll be able to take home some of our most cherished Sega Genesis games for the low low price of 500 Wii Points. Start saving on December 24th, but don’t wait too long – this awesome deal ends January 6th 2010. Scroll down to see the games offered at this discount!

Also, check out our promotional page for this limited-time Virtual Console sale, which includes the full list of games!

Take your pick from Sega’s holiday sample platter – double dipping is highly encouraged:

•     Sonic The Hedgehog
•     Sonic The Hedgehog 2
•     Sonic The Hedgehog 3
•     Gunstar Heroes
•     Toe Jam & Earl
•     Puyo Puyo 2
•     Shining Force
•     Golden Axe
•     Altered Beast
•     Streets Of Rage 2

Happy Holidays — the SEGA Mega Sale for PSN is on!

Every downloadable SEGA game on PSN and PSP is 40% off, from now through January 7th. This is your chance to not only snag downloadable content for all variety of flagship SEGA titles — present and past — but to load up your PSP with SEGA titles, as well.

There’s a pretty wide breadth of stuff here. On the Downloadable Content side, you can shore up your copy of Sonic Unleashed with new stages and missions — all of the various Adventure Packs for Sonic Unleashed are discounted, with tons of daytime and nighttime missions. I’m a big fan of the daytime stages, and all of the available packs feature more daytime than nighttime missions (but for Werehog fans, there’s plenty of nighttime missions as well).

Speaking of Sonic, the “very hard” missions for Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 are also discounted, so if you were ever looking for a dirt-cheap excuse to complete your Sonic collection, there you have it! But the real gem — at least in my own humble opinion — is the extra content for Valkyria Chronicles. This includes all three DLC packs, featuring bonus missions and the amazing EX mode, which has a ton of new features, weapons, and increased difficulty.

I’ve already written lots about my undying love for the tactical strategy of games like Shining Force, and Valkyria Chronicles is absolutely the spiritual successor to these games. While I can’t say enough good things about the game itself, I also am incredibly impressed with the DLC that’s come out — it’s not just an ad-hoc collection of maps or standalone missions, but several new ways to play the game that deepen and add to an already complex and emotionally engaging story.

Don’t just take my word for it though — our own honorary Gallian, Ruby Eclipse, has fought long and hard for this game as a labor of love. His message to the fans who have worked so hard to help make this great game succeed:

To arms, Gallia! In support of the season and our fans’ amazing dedication, we’d like to say thank you with a special 40% off holiday sale across all three packs of Valkyria Chronicles DLC!

See the battlefield from Selvaria’s eyes in Behind Her Blue Flame, take on challenging odds with some of Squad 7′s rising stars in Enter the Edy Detachment, or add a whole new level of difficulty – and earn new, powerful weapons – with Hard Mode EX!

Did I say PSP Games before? Oh yes! A little while back the community team here at SEGA took a look at some of the best & brightest PSP games SEGA had made, in celebration of the launch of the PSP Go. Now those titles are slashed 40%, and it’s nigh time to take a look at shoring up your collection of portable games.

I already wrote about Sonic Rivals, and now both Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2 are part of the Holiday sale. This was an awesome experience — I hadn’t actually played them until recently, and didn’t really know what to expect. I was surprised to find that these are incredibly well-crafted racing games, but with the exquisite level design that’s always been core to the best games of the Sonic series.

Aside from the great Sonic games that graced the PSP I’m thrilled to say that some of the most eclectic and unique titles ended up on that system as well. I am speaking here of the incomparable Crazy Taxi and Crush. Crazy Taxi is exactly what it sounds like, and this is a very good thing. It’s also good that it’s on a portable system, because this is one of those games where one’s body tends to move in direct proportion to the craziness of the game as you twist & turn your way through crowded city streets.

Crush, meanwhile, is  a totally unique adventure-puzzle game. I’m actually less familiar with it, but thankfully SEGA’s own community manager Clumsyorchid recently wrote this love letter to the game.

This really just scratches the surface — you can also pick up the gnarly road-battler Full Auto 2: Battlelines, the charming & addictive Super Monkey Ball Adventure, and the awesome 2D action shooter, Gunstar Heroes!

PSP:
Alien Syndrome
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Crush
Full Auto 2: Battlelines
Gunstar Heroes
Iron Man
Sega Genesis Collection
Sonic Rivals
Sonic Rivals 2
Super Monkey Ball Adventure

PSN:
Sonic Unleashed Apatos & Shamar Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Chun-nan Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Empire City & Adabat Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Holoska Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Mazuri Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Spagonia Adventure Pack
SONIC: Very Hard Shadow Missions
SONIC: Very Hard Silver Missions
SONIC: Very Hard Sonic Missions
Valkyria Chronicles Edy’s Mission “Enter the Edy Detachment”
Valkyria Chronicles Hard EX Mode
Valkyria Chronicles Selveria’s Mission “Behind Her Blue Flame”

Save mega scratch this holiday with the SEGA MEGA SALE, brought to you by our friends on the PlayStation Network. You’re bound to find the perfect match with over 23 PS3®, PSP®, and Game Add-Ons on sale for an astounding 40% off. Get your pocketbooks ready for some mega savings – the Sega Mega Sale begins December 24^th. Hurry, this limited time offer ends January 7^th.

Scroll down to check out the complete list of games that are receiving the price drop!

Here’s a complete list of titles that will be getting the discount — this is virtually everything released on PlayStation Network and available for PSP Go!

PSP Go:
Alien Syndrome
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Crush
Full Auto 2: Battlelines
Iron Man
Sega Genesis Collection
Sonic Rivals
Sonic Rivals 2
Super Monkey Ball Adventure
Football Manager 2010
SEGA Rally Revo

PSN:
Sonic Unleashed Apatos & Shamar Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Chun-nan Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Empire City & Adabat Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Holoska Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Mazuri Adventure Pack
Sonic Unleashed Spagonia Adventure Pack
Sonic 2006: Very Hard Shadow Missions
Sonic 2006: Very Hard Silver Missions
Sonic 2006: Very Hard Sonic Missions
Valkyria Chronicles Edy’s Mission “Enter the Edy Detachment”
Valkyria Chronicles Hard EX Mode
Valkyria Chronicles Selveria’s Mission “Behind Her Blue Flame”
Gunstar Heroes (PS3 only)

If you saw the pack fronts that we released yesterday morning, you probably noticed something different about the Xbox 360 pack. That’s right — Banjo-Kazooie are featured exclusively in that version of the game!

What you may not have noticed is that there are even more new characters — your avatars! This is really exciting, because Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will be the first racing game for Xbox 360 to feature fully playable avatars. Sonic, AiAi, and Ryo are all cool, but sometimes you just want to be yourself. Now, you’ll be able to pass up all your favorite characters on the racetrack as you zoom around! When you play as your avatar, you’ll be in the Avacar, which is a vehicle exclusively for avatar use. You’ll also have an avatar-exclusive All-Star Move to execute if you start slipping behind. And if that wasn’t cool enough, you’ll see your Xbox Live friends in the crowd cheering you on!

To go with this great announcement, we also have a trailer for you.

And here is the full press release.

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BANJO-KAZOOIE & PLAYABLE AVATARS CONFIRMED FOR SONIC & SEGA ALL-STARS RACING

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (December 18, 2009) – SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe Ltd., and Microsoft today announced an exciting new partnership for Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing™.  For the first time ever in a racing game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, players will be able to jump in the game as their Avatar and race against the most popular Sonic & SEGA characters.  Exclusive to Xbox 360, gamers will also be able to play as the infamous Banjo and Kazooie who make a welcome return to the console and take to the starting grid in their Bolt Bucket all-terrain vehicle!

Working closely with the Rare Studio to bring the popular characters to life, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Banjo and Kazooie taking their place alongside classic SEGA characters such as Sonic, AiAi, Amy, Knuckles and Ryo Hazuki.  While mastering the drift system to get the best out of the tracks and picking up  weapons such as Sonic speed boots and homing rockets, Banjo and his faithful sidekick Kazooie will be able to unleash their own unique All-Star move in a bid to cross the finish line in pole position. Players can take advantage of the All-Star move in the addictive 8-player online multiplayer mode as well as the single player and offline co-op modes.

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will also be the first racing game for Xbox 360 to feature fully playable Avatars.  Players can watch themselves speeding around the lush green hills of Sonic’s Seaside Hill Zone or rolling around the levels of Super Monkey Ball.   The game will allow Avatars to hop in to the All-Stars Racing “Avacar” and master stunning tracks from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA. When it looks like they are falling behind, gamers can take advantage of the Avatar All-Star move – a move exclusive to the Avacar. Recognizable faces from the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network Friends List will offer a cheering hand in the crowd.

“We’re very excited to see Banjo and Kazooie back on the screen racing against these great SEGA characters” said Shintaro Kanaoya, Head of Business Strategy and Development at Rare.  “We’re also very proud to see Xbox 360 Avatars, which were conceived of and developed at Rare, incorporated into the game and allowing players to put themselves in the driving seat.  The project has been an excellent collaboration between Rare and SEGA, and we’re looking forward to tearing around the tracks and the game’s retail release!”

Christina DeRosa, GM for Xbox LIVE Business, says “We are excited to be bringing our avatar characters to life in this title as avatar characters are rapidly becoming a huge part of gaming for Xbox 360 owners. We are especially excited to launch this activity as Banjo & Kazooie return on the scene.”

“We are so excited to feature Banjo and Kazooie in the Xbox 360 version of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing” said Sean Ratcliffe Vice-President of Marketing, SEGA of America.  “Not only are we thrilled to be able to work so closely with Microsoft and Rare, but we recognize that Banjo and Kazooie – like Sonic – are some of the video game industry’s most loved characters. Between them and the Avatars, we are really happy to offer gamers the racing game we know they have been waiting for.”

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing featuring Banjo Kazooie will be in stores Feb 2010.  For more information please visit www.sega.com/sonicracing or for press assets please visit http://segapr.segaamerica.com/.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s web site is located at www.sega.com.

About SEGA® of America Inc.:
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About Xbox 360:
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox LIVE online service. The tag line, “Jump In,” captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

Announced today, the official offerings for purchasing Napoleon: Total War are revealed! Should you prefer a retail copy or a purchase through Steam, there are some exclusive units and specialties to grab, see below for details:

The Napoleon: Total War Limited Edition

The retail exclusive collector’s version of Napoleon: Total War. This box version contains the full game and a STEAM unlock code that can be used to download two exclusive unit packs; the “Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars” Pack, and the “Elite Regiment” pack.

Steam Standard Edition

Standard Napoleon: Total War game with pre-order option to receive an additional unit, the Royal Scots Greys elite unit.

Napoleon: Total War Imperial Edition

Napoleon: Total War Imperial Edition on Steam includes the exclusive “Heroes of the Napoleonic Wars” pack, the Royal Scots Greys elite unit, and a copy of Medieval II: Total War which can be redeemed and downloaded over steam to play right away.

Be sure to pick up the pack that suits you best!

We’re releasing the pack fronts for Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing this morning. Here they are:

X360:

You can also visit the game’s page on Xbox Marketplace which has an exclusive trailer for the game featuring Banjo Kazooie!

PS3:

Wii:

DS: