NiGHTs Into Dreams... And Sonic Adventure 2 HD Dropping in October

I posted a story earlier this year about NiGHTS into Dreams... being announced as a HD remake being released later this year so I figured I should follow up on that because the release date has been announced! Yes, you can finally relive your fond memories of NiGHTS in glorious HD on October 2nd for the PSN and October 5th for the X-Box Live Arcade. That's less than a month away! It gives you just enough time to finish playing the recently released Jet Set Radio HD.

But wait, there's more! Sega also announced that the "HD" rerelease of Sonic Adventure 2 will also be released on the same day as NiGHTS into Dreams... So you can relive two classic Sega games on the same day! Both games are set to retail for 9.99 USD, which isn't too bad for a game you likely haven't played and one you likely enjoy enough to drop some cash on again. *But maybe not...*

As an added bonus, NiGHTS into Dreams... comes complete with everything from the rare Christmas NiGHTS expansion pack for free. That disc is pretty hard to come by these days so I'm sure a lot of Sega fans out there are pretty happy to final experience it. Sonic Adventure 2 will also have some optional DLC featuring all the battle mode features from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for the Gamecube. This DLC is 3.00 USD and includes all the battle mode stages and characters as well as Chao Karate. Why this isn't included for free, I don't know but whatever. It's there if you want it.

Both games drop on October 2nd for PSN and October 5th for X-Box Live Arcade for 9.99 USD. As far as I know, Steam versions for both games are in the works but they weren't included in the announcement. I look forward to experiencing NiGHTS for the first time. I'm still on the fence about Sonic Adventure 2, though. But hey, I figured I'd mention it.

Review - Rock Band Blitz

The rhythm gaming genre has come a long way, hasn’t it? From the early days of pressing buttons like in Parappa the Rapper, to the days of plastic instruments in Guitar Hero and Rock Band, all the way up to the most recent craze of actually, physically dancing to the music like in Just Dance and Dance Central, the rhythm/music genre is a constantly changing beast. Yet still, there’s always been one company constantly pushing that genre forward and trying to top themselves each and every time a new game is released and that company is Harmonix. 

Harmonix singled-handedly changed the entire genre several times over with each new release. Not only did they introduce the world to Guitar Hero, but they took that idea one step forward with the Rock Band games and changed the dancing sub-genre with Dance Central for use with the X-Box 360’s Kinect. Harmonix knows their music games and they want you to know it. But, with their latest release, it seems Harmonix isn’t as concerned with pushing the genre forward as it is with bringing it back to basics. Enter their newest addition to their library of music gaming epics; Rock Band Blitz. 

NiGHTS Into Dreams… HD Coming This Fall

 

Earlier this week, Sega posted a very strange image on their Facebook page which many fans recognized was from the cult Saturn hit NiGHTS Into Dreams... Nobody had any idea what it meant but there were a few ideas floating through gamers heads.

Well, today those gamers were proven right as Sega has announced NiGHTS Into Dreams... HD will be coming this fall to the X-Box Live Arcade, PSN and PC. The game is set to feature improved HD graphics, online leaderboards, achievements, as well as the ability to play the Saturn version if you so choose. Now if only they'd announce that Christmas NiGHTS will also be included, that would be awesome.

It's great to see Sega continue to rerelease HD enhanced versions of their beloved IPs. First there was Jet Set Radio and now the cult hit NiGHTS. It gives gamers like me a chance to play them for the first time and gamers like our very own NiGHTS fangirl, Jess, the ability to play them for the hundredth time in glorious HD. It also gives hope for a return of the franchises but we'll take it one day at a time.

You can take a look at the announcement trailer below and a few screenshots over at Sega's blog. No official release date has been announced yet.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 Gameplay Trailer

As I mentioned in my previous post about Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, the gameplay trailer was scheduled to be released through Gamespot today. Well, here it is.


I do think, visually, it looks better than Episode 1 but not by too much. It's certainly not on par with Generations but I never expected it to. After all, it is a downloadable title. The gameplay looks like a nice return to form and the physics look better, though one can't be sure until the game is released. I'm not sure how I feel about the team-up moves but at least they look to add a little bit of a depth and give Tails a purpose for being there other than to drown a lot. Plus, it'll probably be especially fun to use those moves in Co-Op. The stage design, while completely ripped-off from past games, is looking pretty sweet too.

I'll remain cautiously optimistic for now, mostly because of the physics. Though I do honestly believe Sega was going to listen to the fans and fix them. The engine is supposed to be from the ground up. After Sonic Generations did so much to please the fans, I'll give Sega the benefit of the doubt if only this once.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 Not Coming to WiiWare

Just a quick follow up to Don's article about the teaser trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, Sega representative Ken Balough confirmed in a recent interview that Episode 2 would not be hitting the WiiWare. I figured I'd share this as we here are pretty diehard Nintendo fanboys and chances are you are too if you're reading this. Here's what Balough had to say;

But no - the reason Episode I was on the Wii was because we wanted to bring the Sonic 4 saga to the widest possible audience. Episode II unfortunately will not be coming to the Wii - for reasons most people have probably guessed, but that doesn't mean the SEGA isn't supporting Nintendo platforms, we have a very strong partnership and will continue to do so.

While he never specifically mentions the reasoning behind this, it is quite obvious why. The WiiWare limitations are simply too strict. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 had to be dumbed down graphically and in terms of the music in order for it to even run on Wii. While most critics said the game still played almost the same, it was likely still pushing the WiiWare's limits. Since Episode 2 will likely feature more content and better graphics, it's unlikely the Wii would be able to handle it with it's given limitations. They could dumb it down but they probably don't want to have to do that and want to make an equal product all around. I don't really blame them but I do have to wonder why they would just shrug the Wii off. According to Sega's very own sales reports, Episode 1 sold the best on Wii. So again, I understand why they went this route but that doesn't mean it's necessarily a good idea business wise.

Regardless, I picked up Episode 1 on the PS3 so I'll do the same here. Also and don't quote me on this but I'm sure once the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 saga is complete, Sega will package them all together for a retail release. Maybe then the Wii will see the missing episode.