Tag: Sega

  • Sega Tops Metacritic While Nintendo and EA Miss Top 20 List

    Sega Tops Metacritic While Nintendo and EA Miss Top 20 List

    Key Takeaways

    1. Metacritic’s rankings for 2024 evaluate game publishers based solely on critic scores, excluding retail sales and user reviews.
    2. Fulqrum Publishing ranked 37th with 219.1 points, while Electronic Arts and Nintendo fell to 23rd and 22nd, respectively, after strong performances in previous years.
    3. Nintendo’s major titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, scored lower than usual, potentially due to a strategic wait for the upcoming Switch 2.
    4. Ubisoft improved its ranking from 23rd to 18th, and Take-Two Interactive rose significantly from 25th to 12th.
    5. The top five publishers for 2024 are Focus Entertainment, Sony, Aksys Games, Capcom, and Sega, with Sega achieving its third top ranking, aided by successful titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio.

    Metacritic has released its list showcasing the leading game publishers for titles launched in 2024. The platform applied a unique points system to evaluate the publishers, relying solely on scores from critics’ reviews. Games that were rated as “great” (scoring 90 or above with at least seven reviews) received an extra five points. Notably, retail sales and user reviews were not part of this specific ranking. The list encompasses various hardware platforms, but mobile games were left out. This marks Metacritic’s 15th annual review, featuring major players like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, who have been recognized in previous years.

    Rankings Overview

    At the forefront of the rankings (refer to the table below), Fulqrum Publishing sits in 37th place with 219.1 points. Atari is positioned at 31st, while Bandai Namco takes the 27th spot, and Konami follows in 25th place. However, two big names fell short this year. Electronic Arts landed in 23rd, and Nintendo, which had a strong performance in the past and ranked sixth last year, now finds itself in 22nd. Electronic Arts’ top-rated game this year was The Sims 4: Life & Death (PC, scored 86), but Madden NFL 25 (PS5, 70) and NHL 25 (PS5, 66) didn’t receive as much praise, with user ratings of just 3.1 and 3.0, respectively.

    Surprising Performance

    It wasn’t only Electronic Arts facing a disappointing outcome in 2024; Nintendo also experienced unexpected stagnation. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch) performed decently with a score of 88, but The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch) “only” reached 85. Typically, most Zelda titles score above 90, with Ocarina of Time (N64, 1988) achieving an impressive 99 (3DS version available on Amazon). This could be attributed to Nintendo taking a more gradual approach in 2024. The anticipated release of the Switch 2, along with its major titles this year, is expected to elevate Nintendo’s position in the next year’s rankings.

    Other Notable Changes

    Ubisoft has shown improvement, moving up from 23rd to 18th place, while former two-time champions Take-Two Interactive made significant strides from 25th to 12th. The top five publishers, ranked from lowest to highest, are Focus Entertainment, Sony, Aksys Games, Capcom, and Sega. Sega, which was ninth in the previous rankings, owes its rise to titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio (PS5, 94), Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (PS5, 87), and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5, 89). Sega has previously won in 2016 and 2021, making it the first publisher to top the rankings three times, as noted by the site.

    Metacritic

    Teaser image (edited): Metacritic & Sega

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  • Sega Removes 60+ Classic Games from Steam and Other Stores

    Sega Removes 60+ Classic Games from Steam and Other Stores

    At 11:59 p.m. PST on December 6, 2024, Sega will start taking down more than 60 classic games from major platforms like Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop. Some of the popular titles that will be removed include Sonic 3D Blast, Jet Set Radio, and Crazy Taxi.

    Impact on Availability

    Figuring out the exact number of games being removed is tricky since some are bundled in collections that differ across platforms. For more details on which games will be taken off each store, you can check Sega’s FAQ, where they made the delisting announcement. The silver lining is that if you’ve already bought these games, you’ll still be able to download and play them even after they’re gone.

    Speculations on the Reason

    Sega hasn’t provided any reasons for this delisting. On a Reddit discussion about it, many people think that Sega might be removing the original titles to make way for remakes. Although the Japanese game developer has been praised for reasonable pricing so far, fans are concerned that future remasters or collections could come with higher prices or might only be available through subscription services.

    Remake Possibilities

    One hint that new remakes could be on the way is that the Sega Ages remasters for the Nintendo Switch (currently priced at $274 on Amazon) won’t be affected by the delisting. If Sega is indeed planning new versions, it remains unclear whether they will release these games individually or as part of a larger collection.

    Industry expert Oli Welsh shared his thoughts on Polygon, suggesting that technical quality issues might play a role in this decision since many of the games being removed are older ports and emulations.

    Collector’s Market

    Collectors of physical games might actually benefit from this planned delisting. Once the digital versions are unavailable, the value of physical copies on resale platforms might spike.

    Sega’s decision to delist these games has stirred various opinions among fans and collectors alike.

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  • New Sonic Heroes Sequel Rumored for 2025 Release

    New Sonic Heroes Sequel Rumored for 2025 Release

    When Sonic Heroes launched on consoles in 2003, it revolutionized the series by adding a gameplay style based on teams. Players had the ability to switch characters quickly, merging speed, power, and flying to complete levels. The game united Sonic and his companions into groups like Team Sonic, Team Dark, and Team Rose, offering a new twist on the classic fast-paced platforming experience. Although it received mixed feedback, many fans fondly remember the direction Nintendo took with it.

    New Developments in 2024

    Now we jump to 2024, and whispers are surfacing about a possible new Sonic Heroes game in the works. A well-known leaker has mentioned that this project, which is being called "SHR," has been in development since 2023, with a possible launch scheduled for Autumn 2025. This same leaker had previously shared details about the third Sonic Movie, although their pictures were removed due to copyright issues.

    Anticipating Changes

    Though not much is confirmed yet, we can start to imagine how Sega might refresh the team mechanics for a new gaming experience. Enhanced graphics, revamped team skills, and maybe even an online multiplayer feature could be on the table, especially considering how much technology has advanced since 2003.

    It’s thrilling news for Sonic enthusiasts, but as with any rumor, it’s wise to hold off until the publisher makes an official announcement. For the time being, fans of Sonic can only speculate and dream about the potential features of this upcoming game, should it eventually be released.

    @sonicas0 on X/Twitter via r/GamingLeaksAndRumours

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  • Sonic’s Newest Adventure Released on iOS!

    Sonic’s Newest Adventure Released on iOS!

    Sega Unveils "Sonic Dream Team" Exclusively on Apple Arcade

    Sega has pleasantly surprised Sonic aficionados by unveiling "Sonic Dream Team," a distinctive 3D Sonic expedition exclusively tailored for iOS users subscribed to Apple Arcade. This release injects a fresh essence into the Sonic realm, reminiscent of renowned titles such as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Heroes.

    An Intriguing Concept and Gameplay Encounter

    Diverging from conventional franchise extensions, "Sonic Dream Team" presents a captivating paradigm in which players steer six beloved characters—Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Cream, and Rouge—through a showdown against the infamous Dr. Eggman. The core of the game orbits around The Reverie, an ancient apparatus capable of transmuting dreams into actuality. Participants traverse dreamscapes envisioned by Eggman, imbuing the gameplay with depth and thrill.

    Expansive 3D Settings and Varied Gameplay

    This game showcases a dozen novel levels entrenched within these dreamy landscapes, providing sprawling 3D settings that foster creativity and discovery. Each character boasts distinct abilities, from Tails’ flight to Knuckles’ prowess in scaling walls, offering a tapestry of gameplay encounters. Such diversity ensures that every level pulsates with freshness and poses a challenge.

    Crafted by Hardlight for Apple Arcade

    Forged by Hardlight, renowned for their contributions to titles like Two Point Hospital and other Sega productions on Apple Arcade, "Sonic Dream Team" heralds quality and ingenuity. Serving as the second Sonic installment this year, subsequent to "Sonic Superstars," the game is a complimentary treat for Apple Arcade patrons across an array of Apple gadgets, including iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Mac computers.

    A Handheld Console-Equivalent Experience

    "Sonic Dream Team" transcripts not merely a sentimental voyage for Sonic devotees but also a notable advancement in the sphere of mobile gaming. It delivers a console-grade experience on handheld apparatus, amalgamating cherished characters, inventive gameplay dynamics, and a mesmerizing narrative. This immersive escapade seamlessly blurs the boundary between reveries and actuality, captivating both Sonic enthusiasts and gamers at large.

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