Here’s a sample of the DLC’s back story, taken from SEGA’s press release.

Throughout the lands of Avelorn, the very presence of Everqueen Alarielle brings great joy and tranquillity to the Elven havens. Yet across the Great Ocean in the dark lands of Naggaroth, something wicked stirs. The Hag-Queen, Crone Hellebron, in a storm of jealous rage, leads forth a murderous army of Dark Elves, to extinguish all beauty from the world.

So it is in this time of grave peril that Alarielle will take to the battlefield, for only she can vanquish this darkness and defend Ulthuan from the depredations of the impure.

The Queen & The Crone will be the first ‘Legendary Lords’ pack released, playable in both the Eye of the Vortex and Mortal Empires campaign. It introduces new elite units, quest chains, magic items and skill trees.

The DLC is due for release on May 31, 2018 and is currently available to pre-order at a 10% discount from SEGA approved digital retailers. Further details are available here.

If you don’t know, Jet Grind Radio‘s online features allowed you to get game hints and tips, compete in online leader boards, and (excitingly) upload and download custom graffiti tags.

Yes, this means that users can once again create their own tag, using the game’s tag-editor and upload it to web. Or, if you’re terrible at art (like me), you can browse other users’ custom tags and download them, giving your graffiti a bit more flair!

But there is a downside for those in PAL regions, the game is currently not online… just yet. It’s been said that Jial is working on the PAL version, but so far the online functions have only been restored for the US version of the game, Jet Grind Radio. So owners of Jet Set Radio (the Japanese/PAL version of the game) will have to wait just a little longer for online functions to return.

You can read more on the story over at DreamcastLive.

Well, OrionSoft has launched a Kickstarter, not for a new game, but for the ‘Retro Game Designer’ – a piece of software that he has been working that will allow YOU to make your own games for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Dreamcast, Jaguar or PS1!

The good news is that, he’s promising the Retro Game Designer won’t require any coding knowledge, so anyone should be able to create their own games.

Now, admittedly, this idea isn’t totally new; there’s plenty of PC-based software out there that allows you to create your own games. But those software packages rarely allow development for console, and if they do it’s usually for modern platforms. This will be one of the few that caters for specific retro consoles.

The basic packages/tiers are aimed at people who want to dabble in game design, but not sell their wares. While the higher priced tiers (going up to 500Euros) will be for professionals and you’ll be free to sell your game made with the software.

By the looks of it, Orion is aiming to use stretch goals to help advance the creation of different game engines. He’s hoping, with full funding, to be able to include engines for: 2D Platformers, Point ‘N Click Adventures, Scrolling Shoot ‘Em Ups and RPGs.

This is definitely another Kickstarter project, I’ll be backing. If it’s successful, hopefully we’ll see plenty more games coming to the Mega Drive and Dreamcast for years to come!

Check out the Kickstarter project, here.

On day two of the event, SEGA announced that the original Valkyria Chronicles will making its way to the Switch this Fall in Japan. The game will launch via the Japanese Nintendo eShop for 1,990Yen. There’s no word yet of a Western release, but hopefully after the relative success of the PC version in the West, there could be hope for us.

On a bit of a downer, SEGA also confirmed that the Switch version of Valkyria Chronicles 4 will also be delayed from a Summer 2018 launch to a Fall launch. But that’s not too bad of a delay and, to make things a little sweeter, SEGA is giving a anyone who purchases Valkyria Chronicles 4 on Switch a discount code to buy the original Valkryia Chronicles for just 500Yen (tax excluded).

At the event, we saw a version of the console and, compared to ATGames’ recent Mega Drive Flashback HD console, it’s tiny!

But not a huge amount more is known about the system just yet, we couldn’t see any controller ports or whether it’ll use wireless controllers, or both. It’ll be awesome if they do allow for original Mega Drive/Genesis controllers, but I’ll happily take either!

The one thing we know is that the Mega Drive Mini (tentative title) is being launched this year (2018)! Watch this space!

Right now there isn’t a whole lot of information, other than Sonic, Thunder Force IV, Phantasy Star, “…and more” will be coming to the system.

But it seems this was just a little teaser announcement, as SEGA went on to reveal a Mega Drive Mini and Shenmue I & II would be coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC – which would no doubt be more exciting to a lot of SEGA Nerds out there.

Instead, SEGA has confirmed on Twitter that more information would be announced tomorrow at the ‘Classic Game Stage’:

さらなるラインナップ発表などの「SEGA AGES」追加情報は、明日4/15（日）15:40より配信予定の「クラシックゲームステージ」にて発表いたします。会場にお越しいただけない方も、YouTube LIVE／Periscopeにてご確認ください！ https://t.co/vrcALAJIvS #セガフェス #SEGAAGES

— セガ公式アカウント (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) April 14, 2018

Translation:
“Additional information such as “SEGA AGES” will be announced at the “Classic game Stage”, which will be delivered from 15:40 (Sun) tomorrow at 4/15. If you are not able to come to the venue, please check with YouTube LIVE/periscope! http://segafes.sega.jp/stage/ #セガフェス #SEGAAGES”

So stay tuned for more information on SEGA AGES on Switch!

Coming off the back of the infuriatingly mediocre The Caligula Effect on the PS Vita, Japanese developer, Furyu and SEGA/Atlus brings us The Alliance Alive for the Nintendo 3DS – a Japanese RPG with more to it than meets the eye.

It’s fair to say that I was more than surprised by what The Alliance Alive offered in terms of both story and gameplay and it’s a welcome JRPG title for gamers (like me) who don’t often enjoy turn-based titles, such as Final Fantasy or Phantasy Star.

Straight in with the adventure

Some JRPGs can spend hours just starting the game, but thankfully The Alliance Alive wastes very little time presenting the main characters, introducing you to the world and the key plot points.

There is a unique hierarchy in the world: creatures called ‘Daemons’ are the ruling species, in control of the ‘Beastfolk’, who, in turn, dominate and supress the lowly humans of the lands. This hierarchy came about after the Daemons waged war against the humans and, being a superior species, won.

After the war, the world was split into different realms, with a magical barrier called the ‘Dark Current’ preventing humans from travelling to the different lands and only Daemons, who live high above the main lands have the ability to travel between the realms.

Our main story begins approximately 1,000 years after the war, in the town of Svalna, where we are introduced to two young characters, Galil and Azura. This part of the world is constantly raining with the blue skies of previous times just stories of legend (no, seriously), it is also here that a rebellion is forming against the Beastfolk ruling the land, with Azura’s father, Wyatt, at the forefront of the uprising in the region.

After the quick introductions to the story and a handful of characters, you are thrown into the game and sent out on an adventure, in part because Azura has heard tale of a painting of the mythical blue skies being hidden away in an ‘Ancient Museum’ close to Svalna. From here the story develops and throws out some pretty decent curveballs.

Ultimately your rebellion comes down to finding out how to dissolve the magical barriers across the world, defeating some particularly tough Daemons, Beastfolk and monsters, and forming an alliance with humans from the different realms.

“While I was disappointed with Furyu’s previous title, The Caligula Effect, the game did have some cool features and I’m really happy to see the developer bringing them across to The Alliance Alive.”

More than meets the eye

The Alliance Alive intrigued and entertained me more than I expected. From screenshots it’s easy to be deceived into thinking that this is a child’s game, but it’s complex enough to hold older gamers’ interest, while not taxing enough to be confusing or long-winded. It tackles its content with a lot of humour and also focuses on some darker undertones, while character interactions and developments are more entertaining than quite a few RPGs I’ve played.

Side note: There’s a really creepy/weird bit where you go into a house and talk to some kids and they basically tell you that their dad has been physically/verbally abusive since their mum left… WTF?

While Galil and Azura are possibly seen as the main heroes of the game, you are introduced to other groups of protagonists, from very different backgrounds and have a different look on the world, who ultimately find their stories/destinies converging with that of Galil and Azura.

One of these groups features a high-ranking Daemon, Vivian, her Daemon bodyguard, Ignace, and Tiggy, a human scientist, who are all working together to solve the mystery of the barrier separating the world. It’s through this party we learn that not all Daemons are monsters who want to dominate other species, but they want peace for the world.

In another group, we have two humans, Rachel a mercenary who has been hired by Gene, another human actually working for the Daemons. Gene feels there is no need to fight their rulers and does their bidding in a hope to bridge the gaps between their races. With Gene, there’s a begrudging trustworthiness with the Beastfolk, who do the bidding of Daemons and have to show respect for this lowly human working for the higher-powered Daemons.

A final group features a member of the Beastfolk race, Barbarosa, who has pledged his allegiance to the resistance, after Wyatt saved him. Barbarosa is often seen with Renzo, another of Wyatt’s friends and someone who helps to guide Galil and Azura, as well as fighting alongside them at times.

The alliance is alive

As the story unfolds and the rebellion becomes a more crucial part of your immediate actions, you are tasked with expanding the reach of human contact throughout the realm. This involves setting up different guild buildings and recruiting new members to run each guild building.

The different guilds help you in combat in different ways, sometimes raising your defence and attack, or possibly lowering that of your enemies, or (with the Blacksmith guild) bombing your enemies from afar, doing massive damage. The more guild locations you unlock/build, the better the reach for this support is across the world map and the more likely you are to receive help in fights.

Plus, after the opening chapters in the game, you unlock various methods of transport, to help to move more quickly across the lands, or reach entirely new areas; such as a glider set of wings called an ‘Ornithopter’, an ark which lets you freely travel the seas Wind Waker-style. Or a giant rabbit that lets you hop across snowy mountains and a giant mechanical duck, which Tiggy uses as armour and allows the group to cross lava pools. There’s a couple of other methods of transport that I don’t want to fully ruin for gamers, but I can say I felt like The Alliance Alive felt like it had a small sprinkling of Skies of Arcadia and Panzer Dragoon Saga about it.

And there are certain points in the game where the player has to choose a course of action, such as getting involved in a dispute or holding back. Each choice can have different consequences later in the game, with some side characters possibly dying earlier on, or being spared to help with the rebellion at a later time. It’s not original, but a nice touch that gives players a reason to get involved with the characters’ and their plights.

Fight on

While I was disappointed with Furyu’s previous title, The Caligula Effect, the game did have some cool features and I’m really happy to see the developer bringing them across to The Alliance Alive.

The game does away with random battles, instead, as you run around the open world, you can see shadowy forms of creatures and enemies roaming the lands. This allows players to either run into the enemies and engage in combat or try to run past them. But if a creature notices you, they will take chase and should they catch up, force you into combat – but it is wholly possible to avoid most creatures.

The combat itself is a pretty traditional turn-based affair, although characters are not limited by different weapon classes. While they may have preferred methods of fighting, it’s possible for a magic-user to use and learn to fight with swords, axes, bows or spears. The more a character uses a weapon, the more special attack moves they will unlock, so it’s possible to master all weapon types, meaning that when you pick up or buy more advanced weapons later on, you can spread them across the team.

Also, as soon as a battle is finished, your characters’ health is restored – meaning you can safely explore with the knowledge that you’re unlikely to die from taking on too many fights one after the other. Of course, it’s still possible to die, and if one of your team falls unconscious during battle, their maximum health is reduced, until you are able to find an Inn or Guild and rest properly.

Cool feature, bro

Something I love is how the game gives you a ‘Final Strike’ attack when you’re losing a fight. If your team is low on health, or party members are unconscious, the remaining combatants have the opportunity to enter ‘Ignition mode’ – where they become engulfed with flames and can perform a super powerful attack, but it will destroy the weapon they are using.

This often led to some pretty exciting battles with bosses or particularly tough enemies. And while the Ignition attack would usually do enough damage to defeat your enemies, it was never guaranteed.

Another nifty feature is that you can fast forward battles – so once you line up your attacks with your party, you can see the fights speed by as attack animations are sped up. Not only that, every cut scene can be fast forwarded too – so if you really don’t want to spend several minutes reading text, then you don’t have to.

And while it does suffer from some of the limitations of the 3DS’ graphical abilities, the game looks stunning, with water-colour style artwork and each realm you visit looks equally imaginative and attractive.

One thing that struck me about The Alliance Alive is how well it keeps the gameplay flowing with the story and it rarely gets stagnant or feels like you aren’t making progress. Even though your mission sounds like it could be repetitive, the introduction of characters and the uniqueness of each new realm, means the game brings in more and more gameplay styles – keeping everything fresh and interesting.

Let down by technology

But while The Alliance Alive is a fun game, it’s not a perfect example of a JRPG. There are clear limitations from using the 3DS, such as no voice acting and characters lacking facial expressions, which is disappointing. Instead, the developers have used emotion icons to help show basic reactions during cut scenes and conversations.

Essentially, I can’t help but feel something more impressive could have been achieved on virtually any other platform.

Also, The Alliance Alive doesn’t make use of the 3DS’ 3D capabilities, except in a couple of menu screens. I spoke to SEGA about this and apparently quite a few developers are not using 3D anymore, because it gives them more power from the console when making games in 2D only. I can understand why it was done then, although one advantage of a 3DS is playing games in 3D without glasses, so it was a shame not experience the game in 3D.

But other than that, I can’t really fault the game. I can’t say it’ll set the RPG world on fire, but there’s really nothing wrong with it and everything it does right, it does really well!

Summary

There are definitely better and more epic RPGs out there, but I really enjoyed my time with The Alliance Alive and cannot really fault it in any way. Yes, it’s not perfect, but most problems come from limitations of the 3DS, and none of them hamper enjoyment or gameplay. The fact is, the more I played, the more I found myself enjoying it – as the story and characters evolved.

The story is entertaining, as are the characters and their development. More than once I found myself excited to see what was going to happen next and I loved the way the different groups of protagonists allowed you to see the world and its lore from various angles.

Also, for gamers like me, who do enjoy RPGs, but don’t have hundreds of hours to spend on games, or the patience to sit through hours of opening waffle, The Alliance Alive is brilliantly accessible and sends gamers off on their adventure early on.

My only hesitation would be for avid JRPG fans, The Alliance Alive might be a tad too ‘light’ in terms of gameplay, but ultimately, it’s a good RPG for those of who want a fun adventure on a portable device.

Pros:

+ Lovely water-colour style visuals, with really impressive scenery in areas
+ Gameplay changes and evolves with the story, keeping players engaged
+ Good story, that develops and shifts as you progress
+ Love the intertwining stories of the main protagonists

Cons:

– Suffers from console limitations
– No 3D mode? Boo!

The Untold Tales content adds 25 new quests, four new minor factions and four new heroes, while the Lost Symphony brings seven new musical scores, creating a new soundscape for your game time in the galaxy, plus it includes the ‘Harmony’ minor faction from the original Endless Space.

Both content packs are available to download now on Steam, with a 10% discount until March 19th: Click for Lost Symphony – Click for Untold Tales.

You can listen to a few samples of the Lost Symphony‘s music in the trailer above, or visit G4F Bandcamp to buy it. Plus, check out the full press release and screenshots, below!

Screenshots

Press Release

Endless Space 2 DROPS 2 SURPRISE CONTENT PACKS

Music, lore, and sales galore! Amplitude Studios has let loose dual unannounced new content packs entitled Untold Tales and Lost Symphony, alongside weeklong promotions.

Has the cold weather left you in need of a pick-me-up? We have just the thing… No, it’s not space-cocoa, it’s two surprise content packs for Endless Space 2! And what better time than the final rainy weeks of Winter to get back into the grand strategy title that puts players at the helm of their very own space opera.

And for those of you who have yet to dive into Endless Space 2, you’re in luck. To celebrate release week, Endless Space 2 will be 50% off on Steam from March 12th – March 19th.
Endless Space 2 is available on Steam!

Untold Tales
With 25 exclusive quests, 4 new Minor Factions, and 4 new Heroes there’s something for everyone in the Untold Tales. Are you into the more “down-to-earth” factions like the terraforming Sowers? Or do you fancy the community-picked gelatinous Sefaloros and their hero Ooblart Essacius? (…all hail Ooblart the galactic Jellyfish!)

Lost Symphony
Your newfound adventures deserve a new soundscape! Cruise through the outer-rims of the galaxy with 7 new musical tracks to accompany you on your quest for space domination. As a bonus, we will be including the Harmony Minor Faction, the famed conscious crystals from the original Endless Space.

Listen to the tracks on the G4F Bandcamp and check out our special visual trailer! Both content packs are available now on Steam with a 10% discount through March 19th.

Why the slight name change, you might be asking? Well, SEGA has confirmed that the game is the same PSO2 that has previously been released in Japan (and some other parts of Asia) on PC, PS Vita and PS4, but the Switch version will be running via the cloud. So rather than downloading the game to the device, you will stream it from servers.

Plus, along with the announcement (via Nintendo Direct, see video above) Switch players will also have access to exclusive Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild content, including playing as Link and, by the looks of it, Zelda too!

That’s great news for PSO fans in Japan. The bad news is that there’s still no sign of PSO2 getting a Western release… although SEGA still hasn’t said it’s not happening, just “delayed” – so we’re going to keep on hoping!

The good news is that the service is certainly not dead and SEGA is still committed to bringing its back catalogue of retro goodies to smartphones and tablets, but the team is shifting focus slightly. It looks like SEGA Forever will now concentrate more on games that are natively coded for iOS and Android, rather than emulated, as the team explained in a post on its mobile page:

“Over the past eight months we’ve been observing how SEGA fans have been playing the 18 SEGA Forever titles that have been released so far.

“While we originally intended to focus largely on emulated titles, we have observed that our native ports are the most played games (Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, Crazy Taxi, and Virtua Tennis Challenge).

“Therefore, we’ve decided to make some changes to appeal even more to the audience that is most interested in this project. While we will continue working on emulated titles – with a surprise or two that you haven’t been expecting – our plan this year is to focus on porting titles natively.

“As a result of these changes, the cadence of releases will reduce. However, the next SEGA Forever title will be rolling out soon!

“The mobile team wants to thank fans from all around the world: in only eight months SEGA Forever titles have been downloaded more than 40 million times. This is only the beginning!”

I think it’s going to be interesting to see where this will take SEGA Forever. On the one hand the idea of emulated games sounded decent enough, as it could allow SEGA to publish games relatively quickly (not needing to code them specifically for the devices), but in practice SEGA Forever’s emulation hasn’t always been well received, with several issues particularly in the early weeks/months of its launch.

So, perhaps concentrating on native ports of retro titles could be the best thing for the service. From what’s been said, it looks like we won’t be seeing any Saturn or Dreamcast titles in the near future (sadly), but I’m sure looking forward to the “surprises” mentioned above.