The console wars were still raging when I was in high school, and while I was on team GameCube, a good friend of mine was on team Xbox. Maybe not firmly tea?m Xbox, as he wasn’t as close-minded as I was. He loved the short-lived Dreamcast and even managed to introduce me to some PS2 titles that stuck with me. However, his enthusiasm for Microsoft’s first foray into the console market has left me with a lasting affection towards the massive brick of hardware.

With just short of 1000 games, it had a larger library than Nintendo’s GameCube, but a much smaller one than the PS2. It sold an estimated 24 million, which gave it a small lead over the Gamecube’s estimated 22 milli??on. Most importantly, it solidified Microsoft as a big player in the console market that endures to this day.

Today, I mostly know it as the era’s console with the? best third-party ports. If a game was released on the three major consoles of the generation, you can bet that the best version was on Xbox. However, while that’s a terrific strength to have, the console’s beefy hardware attracted a large number of exclusive titles. Selecting from such a large pool was no easy task, and for all those that I name below, I’ve left out some other?? great titles.

13. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X (2001)

Around 2000 was the height of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series�popularity. Activision was capitalizing on Neversoft’s golden goose, so the tendrils were being spread in all directions to every platform. 2001 was the same year that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was being released�on the PS2 and GameCube (and PS1) but the Xbox wouldn’t get it until the next year. Perhaps to keep early Xbox adopters hungry, they released the exclusive Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X.

2X was a compilation of the first two games in the series with updated graphics. While you can tell it’s built on the bones of the PS1 classics, it managed to look pretty good. Better yet, it had all the levels of the first two games and allowed you to use the added arsenal of moves introduced in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in the first game. On top of that, there wer??e additional levels.

The existence of 2X made 2012’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD all the more disappointing since that game didn’t have all the levels, nor did it have the music. 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a much better effort but still lacked 2X’s five exclusive levels. This means that 2X still stands out all these decades later.

12. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)

I love The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind so much that the only reason it isn’t higher on the list is because the PC version is so much better. No??netheless, fitting the game on the OG Xbox was a big task, and Bethesda did a great job.

Morrowind was where the lore of The Elder Scrolls series really got its depth. A lot of things that were introduced in previous games were defined in greater detail here. So much so, that later gam??es in the series have continued to coast by on what was written here without adding all that much of their own.

It also has the best, most unconventional story in the series. You play as a nameless prisoner who was hand-selected by the Emperor ?to fit the description of a historical figure in Morrowind’s history. However, by following the prophecy, it becomes likely that you actually are that person, the resurrected Nerevar. It’s an alien and unconventional game that has you gaining loyalty from political groups and other factions as you try and defeat an existential threat to the world.

11. Out Run 2006: Coast 2 Coast (2006)

I love Sega’s 1986 classic Out Run so damned much. Seeing it move from its pseudo 3D raster driven graphics to polygonal 3D filled me with doubt. How cou?ld you possibly live up to the original without just t?urning it into another generic racing game?

As it turns out, you do it by not changing much at all. 2003’s Out Run 2 basically just used 3D graphics to depict the same basic gameplay as its 2D predecessor. You drive non-stop across a branching map, trying to reach the finish line before you can be defeated by the timer. Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is an expanded version of that game, including a new map, new mod??es, and new everything else. It’s a terrific version of an already great game and one of the best driving titles on the system.

10. Godzilla: Save the Earth (2004)

Okay, I know a lot of people aren’t going to agree with me here, but I was a huge fan of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee on GameCube. However, it was really easy to burn through every scrap of content in that game during a short rental period. Godzilla: Save the Earth is the seque??l to that, only it brings with it more content, more kaiju, and mo?re fun.

Yes, I’ll admit that it’s a dumb game about giant monsters throwing skyscrapers at each other, but just saying that out loud reminds me of how awesome that is. Godzilla has had it pretty rough when it comes to video games, but Pipeworks Studios did the license proud. It’s clear that their titles were Godzilla fans trying to make ??their dream game, and I happen to share in that dream.

9. Jet Set Radio Future (2002)

The biggest win for Microsoft’s Xbox was probably the failure of Sega’s Dreamcast. While Sega went multiplatform after pulling out of the console market, they seemed to favor the Xbox, perhaps feeling soured from their rivalries with Nintendo and Sony. If the Dreamcast’s lifespan was cut short, its library lived on through the Xbox. Games like Crazy Taxi, Panzer Dragoon, and Shenmue all found their way to Microsoft’s console.

2002’s Jet Set Radio Future is a good example of this, being a sequel to 2000’s Jet Grind Radio. Well, technically, it’s not a sequel, instead existing in its own timeline. It could be called a do-over, as it carries over a similar plot, the same characters, and the same fast and addicting gameplay. The biggest difference is that Jet Set Radio Future has a m?ore open structure and drops the time limit of the original.

It didn’t sell well, unfortunately, which might be why we haven’t received a sequel to thi??s day. It hasn’t even been ported, meaning the only way to really play it today is on the original console. Playing it now gives a real “they don’t make ‘em like this anymore�vibe.

8. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell is a series about a grumbly man who sasses his way through terrorists. Or around terrorists, I guess. It’s a stealth game. Although the series was multi-platform, the PS2 and Gamecube always wound up with oddly stripped-down versions. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is the best the series ever got while potentially being the worst? on the less powerful consoles.

While Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory largely stuc??k to the classic formula in single-player, it threw in a terrific co-op mode and an asymmetrical ?competitive mode when asymmetrical multi-player was still an extreme rarity. Both of these multi-player splinters were terrific, while the main campaign is the height of the series.

After things transitioned to the next generation, Splinter Cell kind of lost its way. Things became progressively more and more ridiculous, and for some ?people, that’s probably the way they prefer it. For me, on the other hand, I like my stealth shadowy and my narratives forgettable.

7. Breakdown (2004)

Breakdown feels like a celebration of the first-person perspective. It’s clear that the developers of Namco wanted ??to take the immersive and much-beloved camera angle and push it to its limits. You never left the protagonist’s eyeballs. When a friend of mine first told me about it in high school, he excitedly ??described the protagonist eating a hamburger, and while that sounds ridiculous, it really is awesome.

Japanese first-person shooters are a bit of a rarity, even today. Breakdown feels like the?? perfect embodiment of ??what you get when you combine the genre with the inventiveness of Japanese games in the early-�0s. There’s a lot of jank, and the story is very bizarre, but its approach makes it stand out despite those issues. While first-person shooters were becoming progressively more interchangeable, its immersion-first approach keeps it feeling fresh.

6. Psychonauts (2005)

Psychonauts has far outlived the console it launched on, to the point where it’s difficult to remember that the Xbox was its primary platform. It did launch on PS2 and PC, but those almost seem like afterthoughts. Regardless, Psychonauts was something of a financial disappointment at a time when new IPs were struggling to be recognized. Despite that, word-of-mouth from its avid fanbase granted it a cult following. Over 15 years later, we’d finally get Psychonauts 2.

The original is still worth playing however. Featuring surprisingly deep characters, an excellent soundtrack, and solid platforming. It’s packed with great and memorable moments that will drill into your grey matter an?d live there.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)

Personally, I played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on PC, but it came out a few months earlier on Xbox. Since I missed out on a lot of CRPGs of the era, KotOR was a pretty enlightening experience for me. The companion system was engrossing, and the dark/light-side alignment was an interesting twi??st that made the experie?nce very personal. Then, of course, there was HK-47, a robot so twisted and evil that I feel rather jealous.

It was followed up by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords by Obsidian Entertainment, which had higher highs and lower lows. The absolute nadir of these lows was the fact that it was clearly unfinished. So while there’s lots of fun to be had through most of the game, and some of the twists that it pulls are extremely meaningful, the whole thing starts to vibrate harder and harder until the end, to the point where it essentially shakes itself apart. So for those reasons, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is here instead.

4. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

This is here mostly due to peer pressure. I’m not in love with the Halo games in general. Every year or so I’ll boot one up to play through, and reconfirm my apathy toward the series. However! I recognize its impact. I was around when it dropped, and it was the biggest, latest thing. It was such a huge success that it became?? one of the most often imitated formulas, and for a good reason. Its combat was truly revolutionary, tying in a small degree of strategy as you identified priority targets and took them out with a range of weapons.

My lack of enthusiasm for Halo today might be because the game's best features and story beats have been replicated to the point of becoming stale. That's not really the game's fault, though, and back in the day, it?? was a mainstay multiplayer title for my group of high school friends. We even got eight players together on two connected Xboxes for a few nights. Good times.

3. Ninja Gaiden Black (2005)

2004’s Ninja Gaiden is a title that I feel was significantly over-hyped at the time of release while simultaneously holding the opinion that it’s a fantastic game. An Xbox exclusive at the time, Tecmo and Microsoft pushed hard with marketing, and a lot of people around me ate it up. It was the Demon’s Souls of?? the time; it was so difficult that completing it meant you were just so skillful and cool.

It was so built up as this transcendenta??l experience that nothing could realistically live up to the hype. And it didn’t. But I still love it.

It was followed up a year later with Ninja Gaiden Black, which compiled in the two DLC packs that were released for the original title, added missions, and rejiggered other parts of it. It was sort of a definitive edition, and that was only solidified when Ninja Gaiden Sigma was released on the PS3 and was considered to be a prettier version of the game, but otherwise flaccid in comparison. Even today, Ninja Gaiden Black is considered by many to be the best version? of the stellar title. I ca??n't disagree.

2. Steel Battalion (2002)

“It’s not the game that matters, it’s the controller,�is something I don’t think anyone has ever said. However, in the case of Steel Battalion, that would probably be accurate. Steel Battalion is designed around a cont?roller with 44 inputs. This includes three p?edals, two joysticks, a dial, some toggles, and a whole lot of buttons.

There is a game involved here, but I’m not sure how one is supposed to play it with such an assertively arousing controller. Steel Battalion itself is constructed around hardware outside and in. A lot of effort has gone into making its mechs feel like steel coffins with an almost retro-futuristic, cyberpunk feel. There's enough depth to all the systems to necessitate a good read??-through of its extensive manual.

However �and this is one thing you need to know going in �it is absolutely brutal. There’s an eject button on the controller, and it’s more than just for show. If your mech starts giving out on you, you’ll need to press that button to preserve your life. Going down with your tin can means Steel Battalion is going to erase your progress and force you to start over. Even if you do manage to eject, you’ll need to pay for that military hardware you let go up in flames, and if you don’t have the cash to cover it, Steel Battalion will blatantly tell you how much you suck and delete your save. Considering that it can be quite a feat? to topple even the fourth level, that eject button will get a ?workout. At least you'll get your money's worth out of that controller.

1. Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)

If there’s one game that made me particularly jealous of Xbox gamers in the day, and one that I’m begging for a port or remaster of today, it’s Burnout 3: Takedown. I was a huge fan of the wreck-'em-up racers Burnout and Burnout 2 on GameCube. Then EA would get their green-stained hands on Criterion, and suddenly the GameCube got kicked to the curb. PS2 got it, but my little lunchbox was ignored. That sucks, because Burnout 3: Takedown is easily the best in the series.

It took eve??rything that was good about the first two games (the crashes) and made them better. Suddenly, bumping and grinding felt more impactful, and the game was more chaotic. You were not only rewarded for skillful driving, but aggressive combat. Somehow, Criterion was able to harness the chaos and create mechanical systems that enhance it. A world tour framework brought all the various modes together in?? one career. It is, to this day, one of my favorite racing games.

Burnout 3 would be followed up with Burnout Revenge on the platform. However, I feel like the “traffic checking�mechanic (allowing you to knock cars traveling in the same direction out of the way) cheapened the thrills of dodging through traffic. Burnout 3, on the other hand, is racing perfection.

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Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah Nahhh.

For many moons now, Sega has been laying hints at its upcoming "Super Game" project, a closely-held in-house concept that, while expected to be one of the company's most ambitious ideas to date, has raised eyebrows with its possible connections to the blockchain/NFT market �controversial technology that Sega has made no bones about eyeing up.

The latest news on Super Game comes via a new 'insider' report from Bloomberg, which states that Sega has already begun development on big-budget reboots of two of its most popular and beloved franchises from the early '00s: Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio. Bloomberg cites that both of the punk rock Dreamcast classics have been officially greenlit for the reboot treatment. Production on Crazy Taxi is allegedly already underway, with Sega aiming to ??launc?h the new game around 2025.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fpQ1ouNUpQ

While the return of these two lines would generally be greeted with dizzying excitement, fans are instead acting toward the news with trepidation. And with good cause. According to Bloomberg's sources, Sega is eyeing a "Fortnite-style" service model for both titles, offering the two high-speed arcade titl?es as free-to-play games, and littering them with crossover content, microtransactions, multiplayer emphasis, limited-time events, and, presumably, the possible inclusion of blockchain/NFT elements.

Sega's Super Game initiative hopes to see the legendary developer release a line of new, big-budget, multi-platform, AAA titles worldwide �which in and of itself is a fantastic idea, especially given the brilliant catalog of IP on which Sega can draw upon. But, as with so many wonderful-sounding opportunities, the devil's in the details. It must be clearly iterated that none of the above news has been officially clarified by Sega, but if Super Ga??me simply translates to "Multiple Games as a Service titles with added NFT implementat??ion," then you can keep it, brother.

Sega reboots Crazy Taxi/Jet Set Radio to chase For??tnite riches [Bloomberg]

//www.tikt??ok.com/@destructoid/video/7091385498643565829?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=705278816?4067706373

The post Sega ‘Super Game’ project includes ‘Crazy Taxi & Jet Set Radio reboot’, but the devil’s in the details appeared first on Destructoid.

Promoted from our Community Blogs

_{[Destructoid user Ninjaspeed is here to remind you just how fantastic some of the soundtracks for Sega games are and make a case for a rhythm-based Sega All-Stars revival. They definitely sold me on the concept.}

_{I hate karaoke in real life, but if you don't absolutely adore Yakuza 0's wonderfully over-the-top karaoke minigame, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you will probably never truly be capable of experiencing love. It's amazing, and the absurdity of seeing a dangerous killing machine let loose and bust out the trusty old air guitar after a few drinks is something legitimately special.}

_{If Sega could tighten up the actual gameplay into a full-fledged rhythm game starring Sonic and the cast from the many other delightful games published under its name, while still opting for the fun visual delivery in Yakuza, we could absolutely be looking at a total banger. - Kevin]}

In 2012, I was beyond hyped for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. The tracks, characters, and game mechanics looked amazing. I had a blast playing it, and I wasn't sure how the developers at Sumo Digital could surpass the quality of this game in a future installment. I suppose Sega felt the same way, since the Sega All-Stars series has been on hiatus ever since.

The Sega All-Stars series has always felt like a celebration of Sega throughout each installment. Whether it's the mini-game focused Sega Superstars, the sports based Sega Superstars Tennis, or the racing entries of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, I love seeing this colorful cast of character??s together.

In the wake of returning IP in recent years, such as Streets of Rage and Sakura Wars, it would be fantastic to see the Sega All-Stars series come back as well (among many others). However, I'm not sure if Sega wants to continue the racing titles following the release of 2019's Team Sonic Racing. Outside of returning to the mini-game or sports format of the past, I thought music would be a great way to bring back the All-Stars games. The announcement of Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Rhythm simply solidified those thoughts.

An aspect of Sega games that is well-known and beloved is their music, right down to the "SEGA!" chant. Sega simply makes magic when it comes to their music. Whether it's Virtua Tennis, Super Monkey Ball, Comix Zone, Shinobi, or Afterburner, the composers always know how to elicit emotions in the player. In celebration of Sega's 60th anniversary, I'm going to go throu??gh the music of a few Sega series to accentuate the concept (of love).

The Jet Set Radio series oozes with style, and the music is a huge part of its identity. While the games feature licensed music, the original funky beats come courtesy of Hideki Naganuma with additional tracks from Richard Jacques and Tomonori Sawada. They created all kinds of tunes including Jet Set Radio's "Let Mom Sleep," "Funky Radio" and "Electric Toothbrush" as well as Jet Set Radio Future's "Concept of Love."

Streets of Rage has an absolutely fantastic selection of music, thanks in large part to Yuko Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima. From Streets of Rage's "Opening Stage" and "Boss Music" to Streets of Rage 2's "Go Straight" and Streets of Rage 4's "Call the Cops," I would love to hear Streets of Rage's trademark electronic dance music i??n a rhythm game.

The Nights series is full of wonderful heartwarming tunes from the composers Naofumi Hataya, Tomoko Sasaki, and Fumie Kumatani. Nights into Dreams' "Paternal Horn" and "NIGHTS and Reala" bring the dream and nightmare worlds to life. Nights: Journey of Dreams' "Cruising Together" and "Wizeman Theme" easily recapture that magic.

Outrun is one of Sega's most beloved arcade games and composer Hiroshi Kawaguchi provided the soundtrack for a breezy drive. Some of the jams in the series include Outrun 2's "Splash Wave," "Risky Ride," "Shiny World," and "Night Flight."

Space Channel 5's jazzy energetic beats were brought to us by Naofumi Hataya, Kenichi Tokoi, Tomoya Ohtani, and Mariko Namba. Songs include Space Channel 5's "Evila: Attack of the Perfect Reporter," "Coco Tapioka The Huge Dancer," "Space Ship: Strut," and "Morolian! Monroe!: Rapid Geminis in the Monitor." For a se?ries with a heavy focus on rhythm, the composers went above and beyond to deliver a memorable selection of tunes.

The music in each Sonic the Hedgehog game is a significant highlight too. The music in this series is so beloved, there's no way I can properly showcase it all. Instead, I'll select a few songs from three eras following Sonic Generations'&?nbsp;naming convention. These eras will include the Genesis era (1991 - 1997), the Dreamcast era (1998 - 2005), and the Modern era (2006 - present). Please note, I will be excluding som??e obvious choices like "Green Hill Zone."

Genesis Era:

• Sonic the Hedgehog's "Spring Yard"
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2's "Chemical Plant"
• Sonic CD's "Quartz Quadrant"
• Sonic CD's "Stardust Speedway (Good Future)"

Dreamcast Era:

• Sonic Adventure's "Speed Highway"
• Sonic Advance 2's "Music Plant"
• Sonic Heroes' "Ocean Palace"
• Sonic Rush's "Back 2 Back"

Modern Era:

• Sonic Unleashed's "Arid Sands (Night)"
• Sonic Colors' "Sweet Mountain"
• Sonic Lost World's "Silent Forest"
• Sonic Mania's "Press Garden (Act 2)"

Composers such as Jun Senoue (member of the band Crush 40), Masafumi Ogata, Tomoya Ohtani, and Tee Lopes have been involved in bringing the music of the Sonic series to life. The series' original iconic soundtrack was brought to us ?by Masato Nakamura, who composed the first two Genesis games.

I'd also like to mention a few other games. Burning Rangers is beloved for its late 90's jams like "I Just Smile" and "We Are Burning Rangers." Golden Axe is full of heroic fantasy music such as "Turtle Village" and "Fiend's Path." Skies of Arcadia is a cult classic with sweeping epics and intense songs such as "Vyse's Theme" and "Boss Theme." Finally, just imagine Yakuza songs like "Friday Night" and "Fatal Conflict" in a rhythm game!

I would expect the majority of playable characters from the previous entries to return, but in addition to them, I'd like to see other characters from games like Bayonetta, Persona, and Valkyria Chronicles make the cut this time. Heck, throw in Segata Sanshiro as well!

The gameplay could be similar in style to other Sega rhythm games like Samba de Amigo or Atlus' Persona dancing games. Additional challenges and multiplayer could make this a popular party game as well. While I recognize a game like this could be a licensing nightmare for all the songs from different games, I'd like to think they could pull it off, especially considering all the music in the previous Sega All-Stars games.

It's hard to imagine it's been almost a decade since Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed released! That game had compelling repla??y value, really tight gameplay and (of course) an excellent soundtrack of remixed songs. I really hope the series returns in some form for the next generation of consoles. For now, all I can say is happy 60th anniv?ersary Sega! Thanks for the great gaming memories and amazing soundtracks that went along with them.

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Understand...understand...the concept of love

I still hear Hideki Naganuma jams randomly in my head to this day. While the first Jet Set Radio was an absolute classic, I can't tell you how many hours I spent playing Jet Set Radio Future. I have that entire game memorized.

Hideki Naganuma would go on to score and work on several more marquee Sega games before leaving the publisher in 2008 (but still occasionally freelancing for the House that Sonic Built). But as it turns out, he had big plans to make his mark on Nin??tendo: plans that didn't pan out.

Amid recent calls on Twitter that Naganuma should have worked on the Splatoon soundtrack (which takes many cues from the composer), the man himself addressed the situation fairly?? plainly, stating: "To tell the truth, I tried to be an employee of Nintendo twice in the past, after I left Sega. But I didn't pass. They said that there's no position that I can display my ability to the full. That's the reason why Splatoon didn't need my music, lol."

Could you imagine that team-up? Still, Naganuma seems to be leading his best life if his lively Twitter account is any indication, and is working on a Jet Set Radio-like game at this very moment.

Hideki Naganuma [Twitter] Thanks, Frank!

The post Absolute legend and Jet Set Radio composer Hideki Naganuma muses on how he ‘tried to be an employee of Nintendo twice’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Team Reptile is picking up Sega's slack and Naganuma is along for the ride

If that?? straight-the-point headline didn't draw you in enough to watch the trailer, let me lay it out.

Lethal League developer Team Reptile is tapping into the style and sound of Jet Set Radio with its next game, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and?? it looks convincing in all the ways it needs to l??ook convincing.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is a gr?affiti-tagging adventure about sliding, grinding, and air-dashing to reach the perfect spots. The trailer is short, but ther??e's a lot of detail packed into those 14 seconds.

"With my life being about dancing, graffiti, design, and games, it really was inevitable for me to make this game," said director Dion Koster. As the studio puts it, you'll "start your own cypher and da??nce, paint, trick, face off with the cops, and?? stake your claim to the extrusions and cavities of a sprawling metropolis in an alternate future set to the musical brainwaves of Hideki Naganuma."

The got him! Th??ey really got him. Check the requirements:

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is coming to Steam, but ?"not this yea??r, it's unlucky." 2021 it is.

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Five years away from retirement

I remember the console wars of the early '90s quite well. Those commercials and the ads in magazines, all trying to convince the youths of the world that either Sega or Nintendo was better than its competitor. We were a Nintendo household right up until the release of the PlayStation. None of my friends owned a Sega Genesis. In fact, for many years, my only interaction with the brand was through Madden Tournaments at the local Boys & Girls Club and a friend of mine who had the old Sega Master System. We played a lot of Thunder Blade on that thing.

For me, the distant relationship I had with Sega ended when I got a Dreamcast an??d fell head over heels for it. It was a shor??t-lived romance but it did convince me to go back and see all the Sega games I'd missed over the years. And wouldn't you know, Sega seemed happy to fulfill that desire by releasing compilations of its Genesis titles on every console released after the Dreamcast died.

Looking back at the history of Sega games is appropriate today as June 3 is the 60th anniversary of the founding of the company. Its first successful game was the arcade hit Periscope. Its first console was the SG-1000, a name you could only get away with in the '80s. Tod?ay, it reigns as one of the most popular game developers out of Japan, and with its acquisition of Atlus in 2013, it owns one of the biggest JRPG franchi??ses in the world.

I love the year or so I spent with my Dreamcast, but honestly, my favorite games Sega put out came long after that console was put out to pasture. So to mark this 60th anniversary for one of gaming's most prolific publishers, I asked Destructoid? contributors to share their favorite Sega games.

CJ Andriessen - The House of the Dead: Overkill

Two-thousand and nine was a great year to be a Wii owner. This is particularly true if you were into Rated-M-for-Mature video games. It was the year that brought us Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, Dead Space Extraction, MadWorld (another Sega-published title), and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. All are wonderful titles, but the one I'll remember long after those others fade from my dwindling memory is the one w?ith a whole bunch of "fucks" in its script.

The House of the Dead: Overkill was the first HotD game I ever played. I wasn't much of a shooter fan at arcades, but once I saw that trailer above, I knew I had to have it. So I bought a couple gun controller accessories, and when it launched in February of that year, I became addicted. Easily the most over-the-top game I'd played to that point in my life, Overkill established my deep appreciation for on-rails shooters by combining the genre with my then-still-new passion for grindhouse films. It was kismet, ?this game, and it became the title of choice whenever I had a group of friends over.

It's a raunchy, incredibly inappropriate game, with one of the most spectacularly sickening final boss battles I've ever seen. Honestly, owning the game felt like having a dirty little secret, and there is no other game that's made me feel that way. And that means something coming from me because I've reviewed Gun Gal, Senran Kagura, and Omega Labyrinth.

Jonathan Holmes - Panzer Dragoon Saga

Speaking of secrets, I've spent most of my adult life feeling relatively alone with the knowledge that Panzer Dragoon Saga is one of the greatest games of all time, and I'm relieved to have an opportunity to release some of that tension here in this post. One of the last domestic retail releases for the Sega Saturn, this third entry in the Panzer Dragoon series is a landmark achievement in fusing the 3D shmup action with traditional turn-based RPG mechanics. I've got a list of Sega games with cult-followings that I love to tears (Rez, Jet Set Radio, Rub Rabbits, Burning Rangers, MadWorld, Shenmue, and Billy Hatcher to name a few) and out of them all, Saga is the onl?y one that's still poised to find mainstream success.

The only real ding against it is its length -- about 20 hours for completionists -- which is on the low-side for the genre. Other than that, everything about the game is ready to please the crowds. It's classy in that Studio Ghibli/Team Ico sort of way, packed with smart, strategic battles to keep you engaged as passively gawk at the enigmatic wonders all around you. I'm absolutely certain that the game would make ten times what it did originally if it were re-released today, with or without a visual touch up. The only reason it hasn't yet is that porting Saturn games to modern hardware is notoriously difficult. Though, with the runaway success of the Panzer Dragoon Remake, more games built in that engine are all but inevitable. Digging into Sega's ??best saga may be something we can all do again soon enough. 

Adzuken - Out Run

In all my years of visiting arcades, I have never once encountered an Out Run cabinet. My first introduction to the game was through collecting. I’d picked up a Sega Master System, and while its version of Out Run is inferior to many of the other ports, it was enough to whet my appetite for more. I’m grateful then that it’s now widely available in various formats, from a mini-game in Yakuza 0 to?? enhanced releases in the Sega Ages collection.

Out Run is unique for its time in that it’s a game about driving. Not necessarily racing, though you’re constantly under pressure from a strict time limit, but rather just the thrill of being behind the wheel of a Ferrari Testarossa Spider and cruising through the European countryside. Its branching courses ensure that each replay is unique and worth seeing. Its soundtrack was a fantastic mix of different styles, and let you pick which of its tunes you wanted to drive to. To this day, Splash Wave has a habit of sneaking back into my ea?rs without warning.

My favorite game that I’m bad at,? I’ve only ever seen the ending when the difficulty is tweaked down. Yet, I still play it frequently because, even th??ough it has seen sequels and been imitated many times, it has never been outdone. Hopefully one day I’ll have a chance to sit behind the wheel of an actual cabinet.

Anthony Marzano - Crazy Taxi

Hey hey hey, it’s time to? have some cRAYzy nostalgia? Are you ready? Well?? here...we...gooooooooooooooooooo.

Picture this: it’s a warm summer day in the early ‘00s at the Jersey Shore. To escape the dread of swimming in the same water where sharks live, a young Marzano wanders into an arcade and sees a Crazy Taxi cabinet, the sounds of skate punk permeating through my young wannabe punk ears. I drop the quarters in and strap in for the ri??de...unlike a single one of my fares.

Of course, because it was an arcade game, I was destined to lose and then spend all of the money I had saved up from working trying to beat my previous best score. I dropped a good 30 bucks into t??he machine over the course of the next two days, all the while slowly getting? better at it. Despite being just a tad too young for the arcade explosion, I still managed to eke out one happy memory of spending more money than I should have on an arcade game.

It’s an oddly simple taxi game, but similar to how Hotline Miami is such a basic concept but executed with flawless style, the overall package was superb. I really couldn’t explain it even back then, but I was enthralled. I still can’t explain my love of it. It just clicked in my brain and I loved it. Maybe it’s because when you grow up in a sheltered home as I did, you need to find small, acceptable ways to rebel. I would never be allowed to listen to Bad Religion openly, but since it wa??s in a video game soundtrack it was acce?ptable.

Years later I am still trying to chase that dragon of my original arcade experience. My GTA V custom soundtrack is filled with almost all of the songs from the original arcade release. The Offspring’s Ixnay on the Hombre remains one of my all-time favorite albums. Hell, I even got The Simpsons rip-off (which apparently got sued for similarities), but nothing has ever come c?lose to scratching? the itch that I’ve had ever since my summer vacation.

_{[Image credit: Boss Fight Database]}

Jordan Devore - Yakuza 0

For years, anything and everything to do with the Yakuza series went in one ear and out the other. I couldn't get a good read on it – what these games were really like to play from top to bottom, why fans raved, and how to break in as a newcomer – so I ended up staying out. You know those games/movies/shows you just haven't got to yet (and never will)? At a certain point, you?? shut your brain off. You gloss over them anytime they're brought up. It's easier. Simpler! Besides, you ha??ve other stuff to check out.

That pattern went on for way too long, but things changed with Yakuza 0.

Fans said the prequel was an easy in, and they were right. Everything clicked for me. I've never ignored a game series for so long only to become utterly entranced when I finally took a chance o?n it.

The dangerous but cozy streets of Kamurocho. The "just one more chapter"-inducing twists. The balance between over-the-top video game cheese and somber, emotionally resonant moments. The wild mini-games, activities, and side stories. The surprising payoffs. The arcade brawler spirit. The larger-than-life personalities. The passion. Majima's unforgettable intro. There's so much to latch onto.

I adore Yakuza 0 and the decade-long journey it'll take me to finish the entire current series. Sega has no shortage of all-time greats to pluck from and praise, and Yakuza is up there with the best of 'em.

Josh Tolentino - Sakura Wars

Growing up in the SNES era, I was the resident "Nintendo Kid," and it wouldn't be until long past the Saturn and even the Dreamcast that I latched onto Sega as a maker of "things I like." That said, I probably wouldn't be the same person I am today without Sakura Wars. The desire to play Sega's 1995 hybrid of anime-?girl adventure and steampunk turn-based tactical play inspired me to take up learning Japanese as a hobby, a skill that continues to help me today both in and out of gaming??.

That's why it's gratifying to see it return in good form as, uh...Sakura Wars, though in an era lo??ng past the time when?? Sega was known for hardware.

Patrick Hancock - Jet Set Radio

Not many people know this, but before I wrote for Destructoid proper, I wrote a community blog about why Jet Grind (Set) Radio was the best game of all time. It's still here, but it looks like it got chopped in half by time because I definitely wrote more than that and made more custom Destructoid sprays. Anyway, I love this g??ame.

The thing I love most about the rollerblading, spray painting, anti-establishment Dreamcast title is its attitude. It's as if someone combined the two beloved N.W.A. songs, Express Yourself and F*ck Tha Police into one video game. And I'll be honest -- it hasn't aged super well. Playing it now, even the remake, is an exercise in frustration as the controls seem to fight you at every turn. But damn, no other game makes me feel so cool. 

The music is what really sends everything home. Just boot up the official soundtrack one day and feel the attitude pumping through your speakers. Hideki Naganuma, who is a delight to follow on Twitter by the way, absolutely crushed it. The combination of hip hop and funk is pure delight. No game has ever come close to mimicking what Jet Set Radio and its sequel have obtained, though many have tried. I urge everyone to give it a go someday if you haven't because it's?? tr?uly a unique experience.

Chris Moyse - Virtua Fighter

Sega are an embedded part of my childhood, responsible for hours upon hours of entertainment both in the arcades and on home consoles. As such, it's difficult to pick a single title or franchise from its enormous catalogue of classics. But when push comes to shove - or perhaps Giant Swing - I gotta go with the awesome Virtua Fighter.

Over the course of two decades and five mainline releases, Sega AM2 constructed a masterful, pure hand-to-hand experience with Virtua Fighter. While not quite as lore-filled, stylish, or even as flashy as its closest rival, Tekken, Virtua Fighter delivers tough, hard-hitting, and supremely satisfying fighting action, while truly embracing its mixed-martial-arts ethos of "What discipline do you bring to the ring?"

With simple stages and just three buttons, Virtua Fighter delivers a complex and deep but extremely accessible combat experience, easy to learn, hard to master. Each sequel sees the franchise fine-tune its sublime gameplay while filling out the roster with vibrant personalities and bone-busting techniques. This culminated with the 2006 release of Virtua Fighter 5, one of the best pure fighting games ever made.

Today, the fanbase constantly clamour for a new Virtua Fighter sequel, meeting each and every Sega announcement with bated breath. As the years roll by and the developer continues with its tired "We haven't forgotten about VF" shtick, you can't help but lose h??ope. But you have to keep those fires burning. It's simply too good a franchise to stay down for the count.

*****

Th??ose are our favorites. Now it's your turn. Let us know your top Sega titles in the comm??ents below.

The post Sega is turning 60 so let’s name our favorite Sega games appeared first on Destructoid.

Strong competitor for 2017's worst name

I tend to avoid direct comparisons when analyzing a video game, but the fact that Hover: Revolt of Gamers proudly exclaims its relationship with Jet Set Radio, it becomes inevitable. It plays on the nostalgia heartstrings pretty hard, even getting composer Hideki Naganuma to contri?bute a coup??le of tracks.  

Jet Set Radio is my favorite game of all time, so I jumped headfirst into Hover (I am never using that full title ever again) with a giant grin on my face, excited for what awaited me. After all, JSR is quite old and the controls don't hold up as well as I'd like, so there's lots of room for impr??ovement. While the controls are definitely better here, I can't say the same for everything else.

Hover: Revolt of Gamers (Linux, Mac, Windows [reviewed])
Developer: Midgar Studio, Fusty Game
Publisher: PLAYDIUS Ent., Plug in Digital, The Sidekicks
Released: May 31, 2017
MSRP: $19.99

The core movement mechanics of Hover feel great. It’s ?exciting to grind and wall-ride around the environment while taking in the visuals and looking for quicker or more exciting routes. When everything clicks, oh boy does it look great. Flipping and grinding all over the place is stylish and exhilarating, as it is often done way above the ground due to the vertical nature of the maps. That being said, it’s not all peaches and roses.

I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve mashed jump in an attempt to get up to a ledge or over a vertical obstacle. The character will auto-latch to ledges, and occasionally a ledge is just out of jump height range, so the process usually becomes an attempt to jump into the wall, wall-jump, and hope that the physics works out such that the character g??rabs the ledge. Other times, the geography and geometry of the world just don't work out well. There have been a few instances of being “in the zone,” only to jump and trick directly into a random low-hanging wall or bar that kills everything.

Luckily, a key feature of Hover is its ability to rewind and “undo” mistakes. This is very handy during races or just standard navigation when a wrong jump or unexpected geometry gets in the way and causes a huge fall down to the bottom of the map. The rewind function allows players to reverse time for up to about eight seconds and course-correct big mistakes. This is?? a great? quality-of-life feature to have, although it forces the player to drop what they're holding, so it’s useless in certain situations and modes.

The tutorial does a decent job of introducing the movement mechanics but leaves a lot to be desired overall. A handful of mechanics are not even remotely explained in the tutorial, leaving players with a lot of confusion and frustration when missions ask something of the player previously unexplained by the game itself. On top of all this, the player must complete the tutorial every time a new character is created?. While I understand this concept canonically (players are freshly created clones), it is an absolutely frustrating practice. There is at least a way to skip most of it, but it's completely hidden and if they didn't add an achievement mentioning it, I would have never known.

It’s because of the solid gameplay mechanics that the racing missions are so much of a success. They take the playe??r around to places they may not have been or explored quite yet, and the checkpoints direct the player into specific paths, purposefully showing off one route or another. Eventually, you’ll find yourself thinking “Oh, I’ve been here before! I can head this way to get to where I need to go” because of a previous race.

Unfortunately, the other mission types aren’t as exciting. The biggest mission type outside of races is Gameball. A ball drops in the center of the arena, and each player must defend their goal while simultaneously trying to score on the opponent’??s goal. In theory, players are using their movement skills and abilities to outmaneuver their opponent(s) and throw the ball into the goal. In my experience, when playing against AI or other humans, everything just takes way too long and nothing feels particularly strategic. These missions are mandatory to progress, but if the character you play as isn’t specialized in throwing or other stats related to the game type, it can become a cho?re. The developer has commented that the intention is to create a character that does specialize in th??i?s area, but doing so begins to feel monotonous.

Unlocking characters involves completing their string of missions; the missions for a particular character ?are usually the same type. I get that they have their own specialties, but doing these missions in order starts to feel like a huge drag, especially if the mission type isn’t particularly interesting. I prayed to any and all gods that would listen that each Gameball mission would be my last for the character unlock. Some missions have just about no direction and feel aimless an?d vague, resulting in frustration.

The game’s direction as a whole often feels aimless. There is a core set of missions to follow to advance the plot, but it’s easy to get lost and/or distracted by the plethora of other missions available. The plot isn’t set up strongly, and it more or less feels as if the player is just dumped into a random world filled with tons of me??aningless missions. Again, the strength of the core gameplay and interesting visuals do a lot to alleviate the otherwise poor design, but it’s hard not to stare at the proverbial man behind the curtain and feel disappointed. It doesn't help that bugs have erased and halted my progress more than once.

Creating characters is an interesting experience. At first, players can only choose a generic hooded person who has no personality at all. As mentioned, it’s possible to unlock more by completing a string of missions from the NPC. These characters come with specialties, usually related to their mission type. Players can customize height and colors to make them unique, and as they level, they can add modifiers that adjust the way they play. Leveling up unlocks new “slots” that can have modifier chips added to them, adjusting percentages a??nd numbers in various areas. These modifier chips are unlocked by completing missions and searching the environment. For example, players may want to specialize in jump height, adding small and large modifier chips into as many slots as possible.

There are definitely improvements to the Jet Set Radio formula here. As I mentioned, the controls work great, though the mission content is often la?cking. You can spray-paint, but it amounts to clicking the mouse a lot over the ar?ea to paint -- no more mini-game. The style is there, but a bit faded compared to its inspiration. The anti-authoritarian vibe is also present, but it feels very forced due to the poor writing and general lack of plot emphasis. The couple of music tracks created by Naganuma are, of course, amazing, but it's not enough to carry the weight of the entire game on its back.

Hover ends up as a game that's a blast to maneuver around and explore but becomes at odds with its own design. There are a lot of peculiar decisions that make everything much more frustrating than it needs to be. Hover is something I desperately wan?ted to fall in love with, and although I’m happy to have been acquainted with it, we’ll be headed our separ??ate ways moving forward.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hover: Revolt of Gamers appeared first on Destructoid.

Get up to Get Down!

It has been quite some time since we last reported on Hover: Revolt of Gamers. While I somewhat remember the announcement of the Jet Set Radio inspired indie game, I didn't realize ??it had been available on Early Access ?for almost two years. It looks like development is wrapping up as developers Midgar Studio and Fusty Game have announced it will be leaving Early Access on Steam May 31.

If you? know nothing of the game (like me), then let this nice bullet pointed list fill you in on the features:

• An Amazing City: Hover City is a huge futuristic city full of colors. Its buildings offer breathtaking vertical playgrounds.
• Total Freedom: Explore the open-world city from its skyline to the underground while doing “parkour”, tricks and high-speed races.
• Build Your Team: Unlock 9 playable characters and improve their skills to create the perfect team.
• Various Gameplay: The core action is based on nervous races and amazing tricks, but the game also offers many alternative ways to play from stealth missions to sport matches with friends.
• Choose Your Experience: Instantly switch from single player to multiplayer, whenever you want. Play in first or third-person, or activate the auto camera that mixes both and offers a dynamic experience.
• Create Your Own Challenges: Without leaving the game, use a very simple editor to create your own challenges playable in solo or multiplayer.

There is no mention of the release dates for the console ports, but I would assume those will be landing this year as well. Some new screenshots will have to tide you over, for the time being. The game is ??currently priced at $19.99 and isn't set to increase, so don't worry about rushing to get some pre-order deal.

The post Hover: Revolt of Gamers is launching on May 31 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you own the 360 version, obvs

 Jet Set Radio is available on Xbox One now via 36??0 backward compat??ibility.

The Dreamcast classic came to the Xbox 360 in 2012, offering a HD remake of the cult favourite, rollerblading tag-'em-up.

The other two ??games joining the backwards compatible catalogue are MX vs. ATV Reflex and Texas Hold ‘Em, a 2007 poker game made by Gearbox So???????????????????????????ftware (I know, right?).

Can’t keep up with what’s what in terms of backward compatibility? It’s okay - we have you covered, cariad.

Which favourite of yours is still missing from the backwards compatibility list? (Portal 2, Portal 2, Portal 2...)

The post You can play Jet Set Radio now via backward compati??bil?ity appeared first on Destructoid.

Sega classics reimagined

Nothing like a jolt of awes??ome art to wake you up on a sleep?y Friday.

Art dealer Cook & Becker has teamed up with Sega for a series of poster-sized prints based on some of our old favorites from Jet Set Radio to Phantasy Star. The idea was to create tribute pieces that "would capture the feeling of those games," said Cook & Becker's Maarten Brands. The art was "officially licensed and made in conjunction and with direction of the rights holders and people on?? the original teams if they were still there."

Click away!

• Phantasy Star by Kilian Eng
• Golden Axe by Gerald Parel
• Streets of Rage by Julien Renoult
• Jet Set Radio by Roman van der Haven
• Shinobi by Emmanuel Malin

The series will pick up again this summer with a fresh batch of ?artists and prints.

Top artists draw their favorite classic SEGA game [Cook & Becker via Super Punch]

The post This Jet Set Radio print is unreal appeared first on Destructoid.

Working on a Wii U version stretch goal

I don't back a Kickstarter unless I'm incredibly passionate about the project, and Hover: Revolt of Gamers is one of those projects. It seems a lot ??of people agree, as it just passed its whopping $80,000 stretch go??al against a total goal of $38,000, which means that the game will now feature a city map that's twice as large as intended.

The ne??xt stop is $100,000, which will fund a Wii U version of the game. Another goal is $125,000, which will add a hoverboard to the game as well as the "swing hook," which basically lets you act out your wildest Spider-Man fantasies.

Hover: Revolt of Gamers [Kickstarter]

The post Hov?er: Revolt of Gamers will now be twice as large appeared first on Destructoid.

Gimme

I generally don't like to hype up games that I can't play in their final form (especially Kickstarters), but every so often something catches my eye that makes me perk up a bit. Such is the Kickstarter for Hover, a game billed as a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio and Mirror's Edge. Yeah, I'm so in.

As we speak, the crowd effort has netted over $10,000 of its modest $38,000 goal, and it looks like its well on its way to getting? funded, and then some. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one for sure.

Hover: Revolt of Gamers [Kickstarter]

The post Hover: Revolt Of Gamers launches Kickstarter for Jet Set spir??itual sucessor appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming to Steam, at some point

The melding of those two beloved properties was enough for me to get interested in Hover: Revolt of Games, and then its developers went and cited The Fifth Element as yet another inspiration. For as much junk as there is on Steam Greenlight, it's amazing what you can find.

The story sounds suitably goofy, but that's part of the charm here. You pl?ay as the memb??er of a "Gamer Team from another world" who must recruit new members by performing tricks around town and eventually overthrow the government. Sure, whatever gets us out there.

I'm really liking how Hover looks from a first-person perspective, but there's also the option to play from a th??ird-person view, if that's more comfortable. Super cool. This has been approved for release on Steam by way of Greenlight already, so no need to v?ote.

The post Mirror’s Edge meets Jet Set Radio in Hover appeared first on Destructoid.

Plus see what else is new on the PlayStation Store

Oh yes, it's finally here. Jet Set Radio is now available for free to all of you PlayStation Plus subscribers. The beloved Dreamcast classic is $9.99 otherwise, and you can read our review to see? if the re-release still holds up to this day.

So what else is up with the PlayStation Store? Well Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition, Dynasty Warriors 8, Shaun White Skateboarding, Time and Eternity, and Turbo: Super Stunt Squad are available to download in full. PlayStation Network wise, there's Alien Spidy, Mamorokun Curse!, R.I.P.D., and Voodoo Chronicles: The First Sign out this week.

PlayStation Vita owners can nab Doodle God, and Kung Fu Rabbit, and Capcom Vs. SNK 2 is now available as well in the PlayStation 2 Classics?? category?.

Lots to choose from! What are you going to get?

PlaySta??tion Plu?s Update: Jet Set Radio Free for Members [PlayStation Blog]

The post Jet S??et Radio now free to PlayStation Plus members appeared first on Destructoid.

Soundtracks you should be listening to!

We're back with another round of Note Worthy! Featured are a number of releases that we've talked about in the past, including the Bar Oasis Official Bootleg, Code of Princess, Final Fantasy Tribute -Thanks-, and Rockman EXE Transmission, along with heavy-hitters like Call of Duty: Black Ops II and ZUNTATA's 25th anniversary album.

As always, we've done our best to bring you samples from our Destructoid SoundCloud as well as from the albums' official websites and even YouTube when possib??le. Dig in and let us know which albums are your ??favorite this month.

Bar Oasis Official Bootleg
Release Date: September 2012
Price: Free
Availability: Bar Oasis Facebook Fan Page (promotion over)
Artist(s): Nauts

We covered Bar Oasis 2 in Note Worthy 005. It offered some great pop, jazz, and electronic music from Korean composer Nauts for the bartending/relationship simulation title Bar Oasis. We loved the music and recently caught wind of the Bar Oasis Official Bootleg being offered to fans who interact on the Bar Oasis fan page on Facebook.

The album contains ten tracks, with seven alternate mixes coming from Bar Oasis 1 and 2, and three new remixes for this release. The seven remasters take the best of the first two soundtracks and add some reverb, making them much more wide and open. There's also a "bar version" of the lovely vocal theme from Bar Oasis 2 that sounds like it was recorded live in a bar.

The three new remixes start with "Brazilian (Alt Ver. Feat.SPIKE)," featuring some great acoustic guitar work as opposed to the original's more electronic sound. The melancholy "Fill in This Black" from the original Bar Oasis gets a more upbeat take in "Fill in This Black (Delinquent REMIX Feat.EQP)," giving it some snappy percussion and a nice swing. Finally, "To the Oasis" is a beautiful solo piano record??ing combining the vocal theme, "OASIS," with the main title theme.

This is more great stuff from Korean composer Nauts, although the promotion to obtain the release has ended. We'll keep an ear out for where to find it again, but in the meantime, enjoy a streaming sample of "To the Oasis" that we've been able to host.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Soundtrack
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Price: $11.99
Availability: iTunes
Artist(s): Jack Wall, various others

I've never played a Call of Duty game, but I am glad I got to see my brother-in-law play some Black Ops II over the Thanksgiving break. Even without seeing the gameplay, Jack Wall's cool electronic, orchestral, and ethnic world music fusion would have been amazing, b??ut in the context of all the cool futuristic gear and varied locales of the game, the soundtrack is even better.

The digital album features 49 tracks that come close to the 150-minute mark. There's a lot of music to enjoy, including everything from tense combat and cool espionage cues to more ambient exploration themes. It's all great, and what I love most is that you'll be listening to something out o?f the African desert at one moment then from the deep jungle during the next??. It makes for a varied and entertaining listening experience even without playing the game.

I love the moody main theme, "Theme from Call of Duty Black ?Ops II," which is actually composed by Trent Reznor. Before you balk, there are no cheesy vocals, which was a wise decision -- it'?s perfect. "DeFalco's Theme" is easily my favorite with its flanged synths and guitar, creating a dark and ominous atmosphere, and the desert-themed "Farid" gets some serious badassness going with its hip percussion paired with ethnic guitar playing. You even get some Mozart in here which will hopefully introduce the kiddies out there to REAL music.

In all, this has to be my favorite Jack Wall score to date. It's fantas?tic, and you need to check it out wh??ether you play the game or not.

CODE OF PRINCESS SOUND & VISUAL BOOK
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Price: Not for Sale
Availability: Pre-order bonus
Artist(s): ACE

Code of Princess had me really excited at E3 2012, making my list for top soundtracks from the event. With music composed b ACE, a two-member group that worked extensively on the Xenoblade soundtrack, I had some high expectations.

This eight-track sampler comes with pre-order versions of the game along with accompanying artwork. After a bombastic and triumphant main theme, the album visits a number of character themes including the upbeat and vibrant "Holy Princess (Solange's Theme)" and the stereotypical desert-tinged "There's Nothing I Can't Steal (Ali's Theme)," which is actually quite good and sounds like something out of Wild Arms. The beautiful yet uns?ettling "Queen Distiny (Distiny's Theme)," which makes use of bell tones and choir, and the sleek Asian-flavored "Shooting Star Tsukikage (Tsukikage's Theme)" round out the character theme selections.

From there, we get the playful and catchy "Band of Thieves" with a fun trump??et melody, the soothing "Calm Day," and? the rockin' battle theme, "Turn It Up!"

The selections here are great, although hardcore fans will want to seek out the full two-disc soundtrack release from Japan. It's unfortunately sold out and ??out of print as far as I?? can tell, so this sampler may be the best option if you can still find one given the pre-order period is over.

COZMO ~ZUNTATA 25th Anniversary~ [Limited Edition]
Release Date: October 31, 2012
Price: 5,040 Yen ($61)
Availability: CD Japan
Artist(s): ZUNTATA

ZUNTATA may not be a household name, but it really should be. Alongside the important internal sound teams of the day, including Falcom's JDK Band and Konami's Kukeiha Club, Taito's ZUNTATA group got its start over 25 years ago, responsible for titles in the Ray, Darius, BUST-A-MOVE, and Space Invaders franchises, among many others.

This album celebrates 25 years of history with a special collection of music (two discs for the regular edition, four for the limited edition). The first disc features 12 original tracks composed by ZUNTATA members past and present with the theme "Cosmos" in mind. This is, of course, right up the alley of many of these composers, as Taito has been heavy on the shmup genre. I love the silly spoken intro and smooth electronic elements in "Candy Bomb" by Ray series composer TAMAYO, as well as the abstract "World collapse" by Darius Burst's Shohei Tsuchiya.

The second disc acts as a "best of" collection, which is great for the uninitiated as it introduces the listener to the diverse offerings ZUNTATA has made over the years. There are too many cool tracks to mention individually, but I do have a soft spot for the track from Raystorm, "Intolerance," as it ??is really one of the coolest boss th?emes ever.

The third disc, exclusive to the limited edition, contains rare, remixed, and unreleased tracks. There are tons of great material from Dariusburst, some cool Japanese-flavored material from The Legend of Kage, some rock from Pierrot World, and a lost ten-minute remix from the Raystorm Nue Tanz Mix album, which is really a cool treat given my love for that game in particular. The fourth disc feature??s live talk with ZUNTATA composers in Japanese from a recen??t USTREAM event.

And t??here you have it. The bonus discs are worth the small bump in price, and long-time ZUNTATA fans will certainly want to jump on this along with those who want to learn more about ZUNTATA's history. The packaging is quite nice with tons of commentary from the composers (again, in Japanese)??.

FINAL FANTASY TRIBUTE ~ THANKS ~
Release Date: December 5, 2012
Price: 2,857 Yen ($34)
Availability: CD Japan
Artist(s): Various Artists

We posted about this two-disc collection of Final Fantasy arrangements some time ago, and now it's finally here. This album falls into the middling SQ remix album series; in fact, four of the tracks here are actually from previous SQ album, which is somewhat of a bummer.

The album sports tons of medleys covering everything from the original Final Fantasy through XIII. For the most part I remained unimpressed, especially with the grating bagpipes in one track, the minimalist whistle arrangement of "Battle on the Big Bridge," and the lisp-y version of "Melodies of Life" that would have otherwise been a beautiful track. While these are annoying, others are simply unremarkable, including an arrangement of my favorite track from Final Fantasy VII, "Lifestream" (although the artist gets major kud??os for picking this trac??k).

As for what they've done right, there are some great Celtic arrangements to be heard, including a lovely version of the town theme from Final Fantasy III along with a rockin' take on "Crystal Tower" and a dubstep "Forbidden Land." The dance-infused versions of "A Fleeting Dream" and "At Zanarkand" from Final Fantasy X are also nice, as are a grungy medley of battle themes from across the series and a trippy "Man with the Machine Gun" that transitions into a cool space funk version of the battle theme from Final Fantasy VII.

My favorites are a dreamy medley of town themes from Final Fantasy I-III, a laid-back and moody rock medley from Final Fantasy VI, and a swingin' piano and guitar track from the original Final Fantasy, all which are amazing.

The album sports some great artwork, including sprite versions of more modern Final Fantasy characters, and first press editions come with a nice plastic sleeve. CD Japan is also offering fans the option to purchase the disc along with the customer bonus disc found ??exclusively at Village/Vanguard stores in Japan, although it will set you back $60 total.

Overall, this is a somewhat hit-or-miss collection of tracks, not unlike past SQ albums.

[Sound Samples]

Initium Squared
Release Date: September 17, 2012
Price: $5
Availability: Bandcamp
Artist(s): Alexander Brandon

This is an interesting release. I've been a big fan of Alexander Brandon since his days in the demoscene, where he was known as Siren, quickly becoming one of the most popular artists at a very young age. Since then, he's found his way into games, having works on titles including Unreal and Deus Ex, as well as d?el??ving into sound design and voice recording.

Initium Squared is actually an interactive audio demo from his sound studio, Funky Rusti??????????????????????????c. As you explore the pretty-looking fantasy world, you hear Brandon's music, sound design, and vocal work on display. The soundtrack is being sold separately on Bandcamp, and it encompasses a lot of different styles, as you'd expect from a demo.

You have bumpin' electronic with a tinge of dubstep in "Kusanagi's Parkour," which keeps the wub wub at a minimum and is actually quite tasteful, while cinematic orchestral is explored in "Dragon Chase," gritty rock in? "Filled with Fire," ambient electronic/fantasy fusion in "Palatial Caverns," and cool and contemplativ??e in "Resolution Part 1." My two favorites, however, are the acoustic guitar-laden "Is Nothing Sacred" with its desperate melody and the scintillating "Citadel Undulation" which features a blaring synth melody.

All of this is great, although short at 15 minutes in total. But if you're a fan of Alexander Brandon and want a taste of just ??a few of the styles he's capable of, check it out. Check out the interactive demo as well -- it looks beautiful.

Jet Set Radio Original Soundtrack
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Price: $15.64
Availability: Sumthing Else Music Works
Artist(s): Hideki Naganuma, Richard Jacques, Toronto

Jet Set Radio is a much-beloved game that maybe hasn't aged so well. Still, the funky hip hop beats and chopped-up voc??al snippets still make for a unique and fun listening experience.

This album combines tracks form the original Jet Set Radio as well as Jet Set Radio Future to celebrate the recent digital release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3?. The bad part is that neither soundtrack is presented in? its entirety, making this more of a "best of" compilation of sorts.

It all begins with the irreverent and playful "Let Mom Sleep," working in a series of sound effects and a British woman saying, "Would you stop playing with that radio of yours? I'm trying to get to sleep." It's quirky but strangely memorable. The super smooth "Sweet Soul Brother" is one of my favorites, while the bouncy "Rock It On" introduces CURSE WORDS. The ominous electro-choral track, "Grace and Glory" stands ??out for its weirdness, as do the digit?ized vocals in "Teknopathetic." The disco "Sneakman" is another favorite, and British composer Richard Jacques even gets in on the action with "Everybody Jump Around," that fits right in with Hideki Naganuma's work.

In all, this is a great album for the uninitiated and for those who are having trouble tracking down the individual Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future albums released in the early 2000s.

Re:Birth II / Romancing SaGa Battle Arrange
Release Date: August 29, 2012
Price: 3,000 Yen ($36)
Availability: CD Japan
Artist(s): Kenji Ito

How many times can I listen to this album before writing about it? This is what I thought to myself on the fifth listen-through. As the title suggests, this album takes battle themes from the Romancing SaGa franchise and gives them the li??ve rock treatment.

The problem is that most of these games were never released in the United States, so I never had the chance to take them in one by one. As a collection, they come off as a bunch of cool rock arrangements of tracks that were already cool and rock in style to begin with. With this live performa??nce upgrade, you'll probably like the album if you liked the original source material.

There are good moments found across the album, including the playful "Magical Tank Battle," the dirty jazz "Occult Castle Battle," and the epic "Four Demon Nobles Battle Medley" from Romancing SaGa 3, as well as the desperate "Believing My Justice" and "Decisive Battle! Saruin" from Minstrel Song. The contemplative closer, "Seven Heroes Battle," is also a nice touch. Bu??t the problem remain??s that among the great guitar solos and great technical rock, I haven't really walked away with anything from this album in terms of a memorable melody, even after repeat listens.

Still, Romancing SaGa fans will definitely want this. Just because I never latched on to the Romancing SaGa ser??ies doesn't mean there aren't fans out there who haven??'t. This album is for them.

[Sound Samples]

ROCKMAN EXE TRANSMISSION SOUND TRACK
Release Date: November 2, 2012
Price: 2,625 Yen ($32)
Availability: CD Japan
Artist(s): Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, Yousuke Yasui

[Update: CD Japan has si??nce started stocking this item as a regular item, and no longer requires the 2,000 Yen sp?ecial order fee. Thanks for pointing this out, Don!] 

This is really awesome. Rockman EXE Transmission (Network Transmission outside of Japan) never received a proper soundtrack release, which was a huge shame given the amazing talent behind its soundtrack. Fortunately, SuperSweep has come to the rescue with this alb?um at long last, and it? will blow your mind.

SuperSweep is the master at electronic music, and they don't disappoint here. But don't believe for a moment that the rock-oriented stuff you've come to love from Mega Man isn't here either. There's a nice blend of rock, electronic, and pop to enjoy, all of which are wonderfully composed. I would say that there are times that it feels like you're listening the?? a shmup soundtrack (SuperS?weep is famous for this style), but it's so good that you probably won't mind.

To zip through a ??few of my favorites, the juicy synth pop "Peaceful Event," the super upbeat and futuristic "Densan Area," and the playful space adventure "Waterworks Cyberspace" should?? all catch your attention.

The real highlights, however, are the rockin' "Internet on Fire" with amazing guitar shredding and an instantly catchy melody, the heavy and foreboding "Zero Account" with its pressurizing bassline, and my absolute favorite, "Zero Gravity Area." The latter brings a funky edge to Mega Man that I never knew he needed, working in dreamy synth lines, snappy percussion,? killer sweeps, and a melody that's been stuck in my head for over a week.

Unfortunately, the album's only available through SuperSweep's store, but CD Japan is doing a special order because they know this will be a popular item. The cost of that service, however, i??s 2,000 Yen on top of the item price, so it's quite hefty but worth it for true fans.

[Hear "Zero Gravity Zone" in Sound Card 011]

ZONE OF THE ENDERS ReMIX SELECTION
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Price: Not for Sale
Availability: Limited Edition bonus
Artist(s): Various Artists

So this is complicated. To celebrate the Zone of the Enders HD Collection re??lease, Konami put together a remix album containing 13 songs, which was sold separately. Then they packed in a disc with the LE version of the game containing exclusiv?e arrangements not found on the remix album. The North American version, however, received a different pack-in containing eight of the 13 remixes from the standalone album.

Confused yet?

I've been playing through some Zone of the Enders now that the HD Collection is out. I can't say the music is overly memorable, but it certainly is great for setting up the futuristic world of the game. Therefore, the remixes here are fairly mood-setting more than anything else. This is stuff for the dance floor with a few exceptions. Fans will appreciate the Gradius boss theme cameo in "Leo! Leo! (Smooth Remix)," the great melodic moments in "Compression Space (Evocation Mix)," and the tumultuous "Chaotic Fight (Firework DJs R??emix)."

My favorite, however, is the trance remix of the vocal theme, "Beyond the Bounds (Eshericks Remix)." There's a nice blend of strings and electronic elements along with exotic female vocals and warm English vocals. Maybe some will think it's cheesy, but I ??think it's the highlight of the disc.

So check out the HD Collection, and if you want an aw??esome package, pick up the LE and get this soundtrack disc along with other goodies. The box itself is quite impressive a?s well.

The post Note Worthy 010: Black Ops II, Final Fantasy, Mega M?an appeared first on Destructoid.

Literally everybody's Super Sonic racing

Sonic Universe #45 hits newsstands tomorrow, but non-subscribers can steal a peek at some fresh pages in the gallery below. This is the Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed adaptation issue that was first revealed right here on Dtoid an?d which features cameos from several Sega star?s as well as NASCAR's Danica Patrick.

AiAi from Super Monkey Ball, Beat from Jet Set Radio, and Vyse from Skies of Arcadia all gather 'round for some wholesome fun and friendly competition. Naturally, Dr. Eggman has to storm in and be a big tool because reasons.

None of this is canon, of course, but it may be your only chance to catch these legendary Sega icons in comic book form. Especially Vyse -- Skies of Arcadia fans never seem to catch a break.

The post Racing is transformed in Sonic Universe #45 appeared first on Destructoid.

But try telling that to the game when you need a little more time

A whole bunch of games dropped on us today, but there was an absence. Sega sent out a press release today stating that the PS Vita port of Jet Set Radio has been delayed. The publisher gave no specifics as to when the title would see release, stating t?hat the delay was due to "necessary development optimizations."

Hey, if Sega is going to hold back a game because they don't think it's ready for prime time yet, I'm not going to c??omplain about it. Plenty of other stuff to be played this week and the last thing anyone wants is to be disappointed by a shoddy release of a game they previously loved.

The post Sega delays PS Vita release of Jet Set Radio appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh, the late 90s/early 2000s. In-line skating, graffiti, techno-infused Japanese pop, and the Sega Dreamcast ruled my life, in and out of gaming. It was a better time, a simpler time. However, nostalgia can be a funny thing. What was a fond, fun memory once before may not hold up as well almost 12 years later. For example, I was never good at in-line skating, and I'm still pretty terrib?le at it?? now.

The same can be said for a lot of things. Is the new HD re-release of Jet Set Radio one of those?

Jet Set Radio (PC, PlayStation Network, PlayStation Vita, Xbox Live Arcade [reviewed])
Developer: Smilebit
Publisher: Sega
Released: September 11, 2012 (PS+) / September 18, 2012 (PSN) / September 19, 2012 (PC, XBLA) / October 16, 2012 (Vita)
MSRP: $9.99 (PC, PSN, Vita) ??/ 800 Mi??crosoft Points (XBLA)

The concept of Jet Set Radio is fairly simple: s??treet gangs tag neighborhoods and speed about the city on hi-tech in-line skates while avoiding the police and rival gang members. Tagging is done with directional motions on the analog stick, and tricks are performed alm?ost automatically as you grind on ?rails, wallride, and fl?ip about after jumping. The who??le experience is offset by the game's striking cel-shaded visuals and diverse soundtrack of J-pop, techno, and hip hop tracks.

On the plus side, the HD visual upgrade is fantastic. The cel-shaded graphics popped back in the day, but the widescreen presentation and updated resolution really help this title shine. When compared to the original, this new version just seems so much brighter. The dark outlines give everything a graffiti quality, not just the art you're so intent on tagging onto walls and the occasional person. The HD coat of paint works well, and series fans will be thrilled ?to know that, except for two tracks, all the songs from every regional version of the game are included -- to be honest, I don't even remember which ones didn't make the cut).

However, when it comes to the gameplay, you'll find not much has changed. This is not necessarily a good thing. While the techniques are simplistic in their execution -- your skates magnetically attach to any grindable object -- you'll find yourself fighting wi??th the camera and clunky movement controls, just as you did with the original. The skaters all perform like bricks on wheels -- not much tight handling -- while the tagging motions are hit or miss in their responsiveness.

Tagging is often an analog stick quick time event, and time management in choosing your tagging areas is key, as after a certain number of targets are tagged, stronger police forces are unleashed. The analog controls are actually not as responsive as one would want, which is made all the more difficult when trying to tag while being bombarded by tear gas and gunfire.

These were the same issues I had with the original when it was released on Dreamcast, and I was hoping there would be some improved controls in this HD release, as there were in the pseudo-sequel Jet Set Radio Future. While minor camera control is now mapped to the right anal??og stick, there are still prevalent clipping issues, and the presentation tends to block visuals at the most inopportune times.?? As the? game cuts away to watch the cops frustratingly stomp their feet as you make a daring leap away, you remain in motion, so by the time the view cuts back to you, you have to quickly orientate your character so you don't fall or get caught just as you escape. This is only exacerbated by the lengthy fall or trip animations as you helplessly tumble from heights.

It pains me to say it, but I may have been a little blinded by nostalgia on this. I played the original a bit again before playing the new version for review, and while the updated visuals were a stunning improvement, the fact that not much else was expanded u??pon is a bit upsetting.

Jet Set Radio is still a fun title, but also a frustrating one. If you've never played the game before, you may be left wondering what all the hype was about. It may be a good game, but if it had been released for the first time today, many would see it as unfinished.

The post Review: Jet Set Radio appeared first on Destructoid.

Happy Friday, wonderbuns! Max and I totally hosted a live Destructoid Show? today but forgot to post about it here beforehand and now EVERYTHING SUCKS. You'll watch the recorded episode though, right? To make me feel better? Just.. say yes.

On today's show, we highlight some of Dishonored's creative kills, deliver the not-so-sad news of BioShock Infinite's multiplayer cancellation, host a Dead or Alive 5 bikini fashion show (seriously), and give a leaked peek at the Kinext, which is what we're now calling the Kinect 2. Also, AC3 for PC, Hell Yeah!, and Jet Set Radio just got release dates and prices, and oh yeah - Max is angry about birds or something.

The post The DTOID ?Show: Boobs, Birds, and BioShock Infinite! appeared first on Destructoid.

Sega has announced the pricing for the upcoming return of fan-favorite Jet Set Radio. Too bad we gave it away in the headline!

Xbox Live and PC gamers can buy Jet Set Radio on September 19 for 800 Microsoft Points (Xbox Live Arcade??) or?? $9.99 (Steam).

For PS3, you PlayStation Plus members out there will get the game a week early, on Sepember 11, for the same price. Non-Plus members can download it on September 18. Finally, Vita owners wil??l also see the game (shown above, and it looks so good) for the same price, though they'll have to wait until October 16. 

The post Jet Set Radio to co??st only $9.99, coming this September appeared first on Destructoid.

Alongside the Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Vita, and PC versions of Jet Set Radio due out later this summer, the beloved Dreamcast game will also be making an appearance on Android, iPhone, and iPad. I don't know that a??????????????????????????nyone was even really asking for those last three, but sure, why not?

Beyond the screenshots in the gallery below, we know that the mobile versions will support the social platform OpenFeint, Retina displays (that's going to look i??ncredible), and the option to create in-game graffiti using photos taken with your device's camera.

I'd be interested to see how Jet Set Radio plays without a dedicated controller.

The post Jet Se???t Radio will also see iOS and Android releases appeared first on Destructoid.

I just played Jet Grind Radio for the first time last year, so the memories are still fresh. Sega had the Vita version of the Jet Set Radio remaster on hand at its booth, so I gave it a spin to see what has changed and what has stay????ed the same.

Straight up, this is Jet Set Radio Director's Cut, featurin?g all the levels and music from the various versions of the Dreamcast original. Other than that, it looks just like you remember it, only sharper and in widescreen. The Vita version will also feature touch controls in some capacity, though those haven't been implemented yet. One new addition is camera control mapped to the second stick, which ??ought to please some fans.

Really, though, it's the same game from before. If you loved it then, you'll love it now. For new players, skating around can be a bit stiff at first, a??nd it's difficult to build a good head of momentum. But even if the skating and graffiti-tagging gameplay isn't you?r cup of java, you'll definitely fall in love with the incredible music.

The post E3: Jet Set Radio on Vita is Dreamcast-alicious appeared first on Destructoid.

Hey guys, if you missed today's LIVE LIVE LIVE Destructoid Show, here it is. Tara's out -- I hon??estly have no idea where she went -- but Anthony Carboni wa??s good enough to fill in.

The big news today: Indie Game The Movie coming to home video and stuff, horseback combat in Skyrim, a new Zone Of The Enders title in the works, Deadlight looks great, Jet Set Radio coming to Vita, Crimson Dragon looking familiar, and 38 Studios is in a nasty situation.

Also, here's a Harry Potter For Kinect. Guess what it's about.

The post The DTOID Show: 38 Layoffs, Zone Of The Enders, & Horses appeared first on Destructoid.

SEGA has announced that Jet Set Radio is heading to the PlayStation Vita, joining the previously announced PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 versions. Now you can be a disgusting vandal anywhere you go!

As seems to be mandatory, the Vita version will feature new controls to "enhance" the experience. The touchscreen will allegedly make spraying graffiti feel more "natural" while the system's built-in camera will also find some use. SEGA promises that the portable choice "loses nothing in the way of content or experience in comparison with its console and ?PC brethren."

I dig this whole idea that the Vita can be a viable platform for new games alongsi??de console releases, while not having to sacrifice any of the content. So long as they don't go overboard with the touch stuff. It's pretty exciting stuff.

At?? least when it comes to cel-shad??ed stuff, anyway!

The post Jet Set Radio is coming to PlayStation Vita appeared first on Destructoid.

The teaser didn't show diddly squat, and the subsequent screenshot dump was alright, but nothing compares to seeing the game in motion. A few days ago, SEGA uploaded the official trailer for the Jet Set Radio HD re-release, and yep, it looks Dreamcast-y, ??alright.

I guess that's okay. It doesn't look any different save for some added sharpness, but I guess that's all people really wanted out of it anyway. I guess I'm not as excited because I played the original game for the first time last year. I have the disc in t??he other room, where I can play it whenever I want. But good on those of you who haven't tried it out before.

So much is said about?? the admittedly stellar soundtrack, but for some reason, the only song that keeps running through my head is...

Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches I slam in the back of my Dragulaaaaaa!

Jet Set Radio Trailer [YouTube]

The post Jet Set Radioooooooo! A proper trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

Earlier Sega teased, but now it's official: Jet Set Radio will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Windows PC digital download later this summer. This cel-shaded, stylish Dreamcast classic will get an HD upgrade for this re-release, and these f??ew new screenshots will give you some idea of w??hat the game will look like. 

In related news, Sega will be hosting a contest that will let fans take a shot at designing 18 new pieces of graffiti art, all of which will be placed in the game. The prize pack includes two copies of the game, a JSR hoodie, a JRS beverage shaker, and a sound system. That's a nice prize bundle, but I'd think that having your art in such a great game would be a bigger deal. You'll find the rules and submission guidelines on Sega's contest page.

The post Jet Set Radio to tag XBLA and PSN this summer appeared first on Destructoid.

Hey gang! In case ya missed it, The Destructoid ??Show was LIVE on Friday afternoon. Here's a?? recording of it.

We talked about how Killzone 3's multiplayer is going free-to-play, how BioWare wants UK residents to petition their government to acknow??ledge the existence of e?xtraterrestrials, and also, buy Mass Effect 3. Also, we discuss the fate of those Mass Effect 3 weather balloons. Max Payne 3 has new screenshots and "Madonna hands," Jet Set Radio is coming to XBLA and PSN, and Medal of Honor: Warfighter is coming out this fall. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City has a brand new ??violent trailer and ??a PC release date.

PS, today is TARA LONG'S BIRTHDAY so if you don't watch?? this, she will cry, and that's a real crappy birthday present because TEARS don't come with ??a GIFT RECEIPT.

The post The DTOID Show: ME3, Max Payne 3, Raccoons & Balloons appeared first on Destructoid.

YES! Are you set to jet? 

I knew you still loved me, Sega.

The post Guess Who’s Back? appeared first on Destructoid.