Does Sega actually know what they're doing anymore?

[abeaver]

I figured most people would. I don't know, I guess it has to do with how I play Sonic games. I haven't played the 3D levels yet, but if they're anything like Unleashed I probably won't like them either. I liked the level structure of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 had. When I played those, I felt like I had a lot of freedom with how I approached the levels. Take Final Rush in 2 for example. There are tons of places where you can perform shortcuts. I played Unleashed and it just felt like I was running down a race track, completely linear with no exploration or shortcuts. Yet people thought that game and Colors were pretty good, and I can understand that. I just don't understand why they would include a genesis era Sonic that doesn't behave like a Genesis era Sonic.

[elmagicochrisg]

I vote for this as thread title of the year... lol

[AznKhmerBoi]

Sega lost it when they canned the Dreamcast and brought forth sega franchise to other consoles.

Seems like they lack ambition because its not their console their trying to keep afloat, instead the ps3, xbox, & pc. They are only worried about making marginal profit than a killing and keeping their hardware alive when they were doing hardware.

[elmagicochrisg]

Sega lost it when they canned the Dreamcast and brought forth sega franchise to other consoles.

Seems like they lack ambition because its not their console their trying to keep afloat, instead the ps3, xbox, & pc

Exactly this...

Sammy buying Sega didn't help either...

[noiseredux]

Sega lost it when they canned the Dreamcast and brought forth sega franchise to other consoles.

I don't know... they had a hand in Hyperdimension Neptunia. And then there's HOTD Overkill. There's plenty of great post-DC Sega games if you ask me. Sure it would be nice to re-write history and see those titles on DC, but I wouldn't pretend Sega completely lost it either.

[dunpeal2064]

Bernie Stolar kinda stained sega of america beyond cleaning.

[Gunstar Green]

I just got Aliens: Infestation though I commend WayForward for this game more-so than Sega. It's a little rough around the edges but honestly a fantastic Metroid style adventure. I feel like I've discovered a 16-bit hidden gem which was the intention of the developers. I don't think I've ever played a 2D game that felt this tense, the only thing that comes close is the SA-X segments in Metroid Fusion. It's actually funner to play with the motion tracker turned off since it kind of kills the tension at times. My main complaint is they should've made the xenomorphs appear more randomly and made them a little more ferocious. It's not Metroid and it doesn't compare to the DS Castlevania games but it's definitely the next best thing. If you go into this game with a retro mindset you're going to love it.

I like the "lives" system where you rescue marines as well. I really get upset when one of my favorite marines is killed off and I usually end up resetting the game to save them. They all have different back-stories and personalities so you feel horrible having to sacrifice one during a difficult boss fight sometimes. It's a really cool mechanic. Also you can see the story in 19 different ways assuming you can stay alive the whole game. I can see myself playing through this one quite a few times to get to know the different marines.

Not bad for a game that started life as what could have just been a dumbed down portable 2D port of the upcoming Colonial Marines. It's not just good for a licensed game, it's a good game.

Anyway Sega is very uneven, many of their best games lately including this one are handled by outside developers and published by Sega. I absolutely adored Platinum Games Infinite Space and I usually hate RPGs.

I'm actually looking forward to Sonic Generations especially since it's going to be released on PC. I haven't really had any excitement for the Sonic games since Adventure 2 excepting the DS titles which I enjoyed so up until now I've avoided the "Sonic Cycle." I'm also looking forward to and hoping that Phantasy Star Online 2 will be released in the US. I'm a huge fan of the first game and still play it today on a private server.

I also feel Sega's always been strongest in the arcade. It's their roots and the style of game they've always been best at making (See HOTD Overkill). These days arcade ports aren't as common as they used to be and the arcade at home brand that Sega used to push doesn't really work now, especially since arcades themselves are barely surviving.

While I think Sega's glory days are long gone they have impressed me as a publisher just as much as they've disappointed me. I feel like they're sitting on a lot of great intellectual property that they could do amazing things with if they wanted even if they handed it out to other developers instead of making the games themselves.

My ultimate feeling is Sega isn't done yet, but they're not a name I trust as much as I used to.

[d123456]

I don't think they have for a while now, but that don't mean they aren't still my favorite.

Agreed
No other brand holds so many cool arcade games, most have never been ported. A few have been ported 29 times.
They are clueless idiots. How can a company with so much talent do so little?
Where the hell is my dreamcast2?

[bacardipr05]

I agree Stolar killed Sega. You guys forget that although remnants of the company exist this isnt the same SEGA from from the 90's up to early 2000's. They dont have the creativity they once had most of their in house teams has been shuffled around or cut altogether. Also Sammy controls Sega and has input on what they can and cant get done. Most of the games they release they just publish so it's not coming straight from Sega.

[sheath]

Even if Sega could get back all of the talent they had in the 90s it wouldn't benefit them. All companies want today is to get their game in the top ten sales for at least four weeks. Games like that are not new games like Sega used to make, they are sequels with subtitles and familiar gameplay.

Sega is a husk of a company with a great name because that is what the markets have demanded.