Sega

Hey guys, we’re bringing you a new feature that’s simple and helpful in nature, the XBLAFans Monthly Roundup! This as well as other features will be seen a lot more should all things go accordingly, and we’ll even have some new ones on the way, so stay tuned because there’s a lot of awesome in the works here at XBLAFans.

If it wasn’t obvious by the title, this post will be your one-stop-shop to anything that happened this month with links to all our posts and excerpts where applicable. That means news, reviews, guides, features, interviews, podcasts, and even a recount of releases and sales data. Hit the jump for so many links you’ll never not know something about XBLA current events again! Read More

So many of us still mourn the delisting of Marble Blast Ultra. It was one of the classic greats of Xbox Live Arcade, and still has no equal in its genre. Those who missed out may never know the joy of the marble genre. There’s something about feeling the weight of the marble in your thumbstick while trying to navigate stupidly hard (read: extremely hard) levels.

The Super Monkey Ball series is a different spin on the same idea. Instead of controlling the marble (in this case a monkey inside a clear ball) players have control of the game world. The left thumbstick tilts the world in a given direction, then gravity does the rest. Super Monkey Ball Deluxe added several fun minigames such as soccer and bowling. Super Monkey Ball Arcade would take all of those ideas and…well, roll with them.

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Culture is everywhere, it’s in the government propaganda, in the abrasive security details, in the greyness and ubiquity of society… oh, wait, no it’s not. That is, until DJ Professor K and Jet Set Radio bring back the funk in a rude way. Strap on your roller blades and attack Japan, strike back at the oppressive government, fight the monotony, tag over the propaganda and bring back freedom and love to society in Jet Set Radio Future.

That is, if you have the original Xbox. In fact, if you do, you probably have this game or did at one point (maybe you got it combined with Sega GT 2002) as it was one of its very early releases and to this day one of the most unique. Players take on the streets of Japan with their crew of oppression-fighting freestyle rollerbladers, defeating area security, tagging the town, and dissolving violent gangs from the dark corners of Japan in an effort to bring back the freedom of expression. With plenty of different levels, challenges, hidden collectibles and a decent multiplayer Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF) was a robust title considering its rather niche gameplay style.

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Guardian Heroes was developed by Treasure and published by Sega. It was released October 12, 2011 for 800 MSP. A copy was provided for review purposes.

It’s safe to assume most people who play XBLA games probably have never owned a Sega Saturn, and that’s just sad. It had a great array of titles in the 90’s from Burning Rangers to NIGHTS. Sega has been re-releasing some of its classic Saturn titles this year, like Treasure’s Radiant Silvergun, often with remixed graphics and online multiplayer. Now there’s one more Treasure game to add to the list: Guardian Heroes.

Guardian Heroes is a classic beat-em ‘up, but it had more depth than any regular brawler when it was originally released. Some might say you can see a lot of GH-inspired gameplay in The Behemoth’s Castle Crashers. Does this game live up to its retro accolade or was it better off staying in the past?

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YouTube user Eufo recently posted a video from his/her Xbox 360 devkit entitled Trucs A Venir (Things to Come). In it we see a glimpse of two pieces of …
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Daytona USA was developed and published by Sega. It was released October 26, 2011 and retails for 800 MSP. A copy of the game was provided for review purposes.

Daytona USA is perhaps the most famous arcade racing game ever. Much of its fame is due to the massive eight and even sixteen player arcade setups featuring chairs, force feedback steering wheels, shifters, and foot pedals. The experience of playing with a group of your friends was an undeniably fun event. Sega is a modern master of not only creating fun games but also completely immersive experiences that seamlessly integrate physical and electronic media into one. Released back in 1993 we are almost 20 years removed from its beginnings. Though the graphics are laughable by today’s standards the game hasn’t lost any of its fun and atmosphere. The only question is whether or not Daytona USA can be a worthwhile experience outside of an arcade setting.

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Sega is giving Sonic fans reason to rejoice this week, announcing that Sonic CD will not just be a straight port of the classic game to new platforms. Sonic’s …
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Sega has released the second trailer for its upcoming conversion of Sonic CD which is currently scheduled to hit XBLA later this year. While many of the games in …
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In an interview with Japanese website GAME Watch, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa, developer Hiroto Matsuura and Sega producer Yosuke Okunari  have revealed that the inspiration for the XBLA remake of Guardian Heroes was actually formed from the desire to develop a sequel to the game. Given that Guardian Heroes was originally released on the Sega Saturn back in 1996, during the planning stages it was felt a sequel might not do so well as newer gamers would not be familiar with the original material. “If we develop a sequel, I want more people to know the original Guardian Heroes” explains Maegawa. In the end it was decided that a port of the original was the way forward.

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Sega Bass Fishing was developed and published by Sega. It was released October 5, 2011 and retails for 800 MSP.

Sega Bass Fishing was originally an arcade game that was then brought over to the Dreamcast. What we get now on XBLA is an almost exact replica of the Dreamcast version sans the fishing controller. Sega Bass Fishing is an arcade style fishing game. It mixes serious fishing technique and approaches with arcade style speed and action. Far from being a simulation (10 to 20 pound largemouth bass are commonplace here) it still manages to feel like authentic fishing. This old-school game is sure to be a favorite amongst old fans but still has the goods to entertain a new audience.

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