SEGA’s Radiant Silvergun Stalled, but Will Rail On Soon on the Nintendo Switch

One Sega Saturn’s most popular game is Radiant Silvergun, and it’s been reimagined for the Nintendo Switch!

Radiant SilvergunOne of the best SEGA Saturn games of yesteryears was Radiant Silvergun, and it’s been updated for the Nintendo Switch! Fans of this Japanese shooter also have a chance to try this game out at the 2022 Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall Happinet Booth: Hall 3-N03 this weekend, when the event is open to the public.

This update is currently available in certain territories, and it should re-emerge in the North American eStore when a few nagging bugs get squashed. That is, Nintendolife reported this release was pulled hours after for undisclosed reasons, and they suspect it was due to sync issues. (Sept 21 update: turns out the problem was with the game rating, and it’s back at the eShop).

Once issues are resolved, players can start blasting away in this shoot ’em up. Players start with three primary weapons–a forward blaster, homing missiles and a spreader–and can upgrade them they have to face waves of different enemies. Advancing isn’t easy, as each foe has its own unique strategy, and players have to adapt.

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Is Sonic the Hedgehog Two or Three Times the Coming Thing?

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie PosterIn the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedster lost his world to a war between different animal tribes. The first film revealed how his owl guardian sent him off to another planet to stay safe, like Superman. The humans he’s met–Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter)–became his surrogate parents.

Sonic doesn’t have the chops for super heroics in the introduction. It’s easy to tell he (fondly voiced by Ben Schwartz) takes after the heroes from the comic books he reads, like the aforementioned crusader and The Flash from the DC universe. Alternatively, he’s even like Quicksilver in 20th Century Studios’ X-Men (prequel) cinematic universe. The visual reminders are needed since not everyone will remember the visual direction and story arc the first film sets up. This sequel takes place a few months after.

Commander Walters (Tom Butler) is back and the reason behind one of the subplots. All the key supporting characters return as they play a role in either Sonic’s well being or wanting to study his power.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Early Access & Final Trailer

Ticket Sales begin in Canada March 21st.

Out of all the movies coming in April, the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog is perhaps the most exciting. Paramount Pictures is accelerating plans by offering to fans Early Access screenings in select cities, and if its playing at a theatre near you, run, don’t walk to it. There’s plenty to get excited for in the final trailer drop for this film, and we’ll see Jim Carrey in all his early glory as Doctor Robotnik, and a teamup with Knuckles, the rival to the blue speedster.

For listings on which cities will offer Weds screenings, please visit the official website

Trailer

A Day at the Races with Sonic the Hedgehog

Image result for sonic hedgehog poster movieBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

As Sonic the Hedgehog stays ahead in dominating the box office, this movie has everything video game aficionados of the Sega game expects to see. There are fun moments of him jumping around, dodging drones, and saving his friends all while searching for mystic rings that can help him teleport to new worlds. This real world setting may well hint at the next game–should look like if developers want to create Sonic Maximum 3D Overdrive.

The blue speedster is a kid who wants real friendships. When he’s a unique creature others want to exploit, to know who are his allies and enemies requires him to stay ahead of the game. The plot focuses on how to build trust, and that’s terrific. It’s a film meant for kids to enjoy and also take home to cuddle. On Earth, Sonic eventually comes to believe small-town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) and his veterinarian wife, Maddie (Tika Sumpter) can help him.

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Re-imagining the Retro for VR gaming

VR gaming is here to stay, and it’s not likely to go away. Now if only developers can reimiagine some of the old games for this style of play!

doomvfrBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Videogamers can belong to one camp or many. I love the idea of what virtual reality can bring to the electronic world of gaming. I have played enough demos and product to know what I like. This medium is absolutely perfect for simulators and first person shooters. VR gaming is here to stay, and it’s not likely to go away.

At the same time, I miss the simplicity of the older games found at arcades from the late 70’s to 90’s. I played many translations of these games on the PC or gamer consoles. While the low resolution and technology from a decade ago were not able of making VR come alive, the devices we have now are more than capable! Not every game needs photo-realism. To play these products will offer some exercise to those rarely flexed biceps and triceps. Before chiropractors can cry foul, I suggest all games have a fixed time limit so physical injury can not result.

My imagination is running wild at the idea of fine-tuning fond retro classics for VR gamers to marvel at. A few titles have been redesigned and instead of paddles or trackballs, players can use either motion controllers (like Sony Playstation’s Move) or a traditional gamepad. I still wonder if the original mold can be used though.

Some of the titles I like to see get re-imagined are grouped together than given its own entry.  I offer my thoughts on how each of them can work with either Mobile VR or standalone (Oculus, PlayStation VR or HTV Vive). While the former can fully render the classics in their original form, the latter is more about redesigning the game for a modern gamer to enjoy.

VR gaming

Tempest (Atari 1981)

Instead of a PS4 style of controller, to have this game played with motion sensors tracking hand motions will definitely tire many players out. To play it on a traditional controller will be easier, and the main reason why I feel this game deserves this VR treatment is in the fact it was designed with 3D in mind. A modernized version is in the works. Sadly, no word is said if this update will be designed for VR.

In what makes the experience special is when the geometric play field zooms in carrying the player’s ship (named The Claw) to the next level! To watch this pull you in like the wormhole sequence in Stargate SG-1 (or film) will have me at least squealing in delight like Starbuck launching out of the Battlestar Galactica!

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