Last year’s Windows Phone Xbox Live Black Friday Week Sale wasn’t terribly exciting, but it did put three games on sale at once, a quantity only equaled in the Countdown to 2012 Sale a month later. A lot has happened between then and now, and today Microsoft has really upped the ante. The 2012 Black Friday Week Sale is live and includes a whopping six discounted Xbox Windows Phone games!

Head past the break for sale details, game impressions, and Xbox 360 Black Friday news too.

Xbox Windows Phone Sale

The following Xbox Windows Phone games are on sale from November 20-26. Note that the Windows Phone Store updates at different times for different people, so you may not see the discounted prices until later today or tomorrow.

 Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles- $1.99, down from $4.99 – Review– Store Link

Yes, Assassin’s Creed was part of last year’s Black Friday sale, but it cost $2.99 back then, so we get a better deal this time. Assassin’s Creed is a 3D platformer/action title set in the middle ages. With great graphics and full voice acting (though the acting is atrocious), it feels like a DS game squeezed into a mobile title (‘cause it is). The controls are fiddly and the platforming can be frustrating, but the story and action mostly make up for it.

Carcassonne - $1.99, down from $2.99 – Review– Store Link

Wow, Carcassonne came out less than a month ago and it’s already on sale. Carcassonne is a board game in which players take turns placing land tiles, trying to build cities, complete roads, and score the most points. The core game itself has been translated accurately to Windows Phone and can be very fun. The only problem is Carcassonne’s online mode is just about entirely broken, nullifying what could be a great selling point. Developer Exozet promises us they’re working with Microsoft to solve the server issues; let’s hope they succeed. Also, a couple of the Achievements will take over 100 hours of grinding.

Cracking Sands - $1.99, down from $2.99 – Review– Store Link

Cracking Sands has only been out for five weeks, making it not much older than Carcassonne. Cracking Sands (oy, that name) is a combat racer set in a vaguely apocalyptic setting. Impish little drivers ride around on 4-wheel ATVs and take part in a variety of races. The difficulty curve is a bit off, as are the default controls, but at least those can be fixed in the options menu. If you can handle a slightly tough racer, give it a crack... Just don’t let the sand get in your crevices!

Gravity Guy- $1.99, down from $2.99 – Review– Store Link

Gravity Guy is a super tough endless runner/platformer that mixes things up with the hero’s gravity-defying powers. Instead of directly jumping, players just tap the screen to reverse the hero’s gravity, sending him flying up to the ceiling or down to the ground. The graphics are lovely and the core gameplay proves addictive, but the game is definitely designed to make you want to buy PDLC. Even with the paid time-slowing powers, it’ll kill you over and over again without mercy. The iOS version only costs a dollar, but at least this sale brings our version a little closer to parity.

Mush - $1.99, down from $4.99 – Review– Store Link

Mush is a bright and original platformer that plays a bit differently from the norm. The titular character gains unique abilities based on his emotions. Draw a smile and becomes so elated that he floats; make him frown and he sinks way down low. By switching emotions as necessary, you’ll help Mush solve puzzles and win a game of hide-and-seek with his friends. Besides the creative emotion mechanic, Mush also boasts a beautiful and appealing art style. It’s kind of short and easy, but so pretty you likely won’t mind.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I- $1.99, down from $4.99 – Review– Store Link

Sonic CD just came out on Windows Phone, and we’re still waiting on the long-delayed Sonic 4: Episode II. Well, the first Episode isn’t as great as either of those games, but it’s still a very capable platformer. It plays much like the classic 2D Genesis games, except that this Sonic also has the modern homing attack to make killing enemies and crossing gaps easier. The touch screen controls work very well since the game only uses a single action button.

Owners of Sonic 4: Episode I will unlock four extra levels in the awesome Episode II (whenever it finally comes out), so don’t miss this one. Plus two bucks is the cheapest it’s ever been!

Xbox 360 Sale

Microsoft’s best-selling console gets a ton of discounted digital games this week, most of which are must-buys.

Daytona USA– 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

The first arcade-perfect port of SEGA’s classic racer features lots of great enhancements like online multiplayer, challenges, and even a karaoke mode. Everyone should hear (and maybe sing along to) the famous “Dayyyyyytooooonnnnna!!!!!” theme once in a while. Best of all, the Achievements are dirt easy.

Magic the Gathering 2013– 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

The latest adaptation of Wizards of the Coast’s phenomenal trading card game may not be too different from previous years, but Stainless Games always throws in a new mode or two to justify the cost. These games are endlessly replayable for card fans, including yours truly. The first DLC expansion is also on sale for half off.

Rock Band Blitz– 600 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

Harmonix’s first XBLA game combines the popular music Rock Band is known for with a fast-moving rhythm game. No, it doesn’t play anything like the main Rock Band games and doesn’t require or even support plastic instruments. But if you like music and want a fresh and challenging experience, it’s very much worth a look. Rock Band fans in particular shouldn’t miss this deal because all 25 Blitz songs export to Rock Band 3 for free! Plus most Rock Band DLC songs work in Blitz, giving this game endless potential.

SEGA Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.  – 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

Contains three classic SEGA games: Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Hang On, and Revenge of Shinobi, one of the era’s finest games.

SEGA Vintage Collection: Golden Axe – 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

Contains the arcade version of Golden Axe, plus the Genesis sequels Golden Axe 2 and III. Check out my Co-Optimus review for more details.

SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World – 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

Contains Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, and Wonder Boy IV.

SEGA Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage – 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

Contains all three Genesis Streets of Rage games. Co-Optimus review

South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge– 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

As opposed to the awesome looking South Park: The Stick of Truth RPG we saw at E3, Tenorman’s Revenge is a 4-player platformer. The initial release was criticized for some balance issues, but the developers actually rectified those with a patch shortly thereafter. South Park fans should give it a shot.

Space Channel 5 Part 2– 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

A unique rhythm game from the Sega Dreamcast, this one features peppy tunes, bizarre visuals, and even an appearance by Michael Jackson.

Spelunky– 600 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

An ultrahard platformer that took hardcore gamers by storm earlier this year. How far down the cavern can you make it? Co-Optimus review

Warp– 400 MS Points – Xbox.com Link

A puzzle game with stealth elements in which players must help an alien escape from his cruel human captors.

In case you hadn’t noticed, your friendly neighborhood Windows Phone Central gaming editor is a big fan of SEGA. While the publisher only operates at a fraction of the size it once did, it continues to produce numerous quality digital titles, plus a fair quantity of worthwhile retail releases.

Last week, we gave the Xbox Windows Phone version of Sonic CD a well-deserved glowing review. This week, we’ve got two mini reviews of SEGA’s latest Xbox 360 offerings: the retail release of Sonic & All-Stars RacingTransformed and Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl for Xbox Live Arcade. Read on to learn about one of the best kart racers ever and a collection of unique Sega Genesis classics.

Sonic & All-Stars RacingTransformed

Let’s shorten that unwieldy title to just Transformed from here on out. Transformed is the sequel to Sonic & SEGA All-Star Racing, a kart racer that critics didn’t seem to take much notice of. I don’t blame them for being wary. After all, mascot racers tend to turn out mediocre like Pac-man Kart Rally on Windows Phone. But the first All-Star Racing was actually one of the best kart racers in recent memory, and Transformed is even better.

Besides its larger scope, the main innovation Transformed offers is the ability to race across land, sea, and air. Yes, this one single game combines kart, boat, and airplane racing. Many courses feature all three styles, in fact! Driving through the large transformation circles causes your vehicle to shift forms without slowing the game’s pace. The water racing should remind players of Hydro Thunder GO, while the aerial racing really mixes things up with the added plane of movement. I found the aerial steering wonky at times, almost as if my plane was fighting wind resistance. Still, the variety of racing styles across a single track consistently thrills.

Beyond the fresh gameplay, much of this sequel’s appeal stems from its copious fan service. First, the characters. 10 are unlocked from the beginning, including several from the Sonic and Super MonkeyBall series, Crazy Taxi, Space Channel 5, Jet Set Radio, and even Disney’s Wreck It Ralph film. By playing the World Tour Mode, you can unlock racers from Golden Axe, Shinobi, NiGHTS, Skies of Arkadia, and many other titles. It’s truly an amazing lineup. Each character has his or her own unique vehicle, All-Star transformation (a powered up form), and voice samples, too.

No less impressive than the characters are the many tracks based around all those games. Remember how Crimson Dragon: Side Story is basically an unofficial sequel to Panzer Dragoon? Well, Transformed has a lovely Panzer Dragoon stage, complete with distinctive dragon flying around. The Skies of Arkadia stage also looks quite stunning with its gigantic airships and caverns to race through. Let’s hope the rumors of an XBLA rerelease of that awesome RPG prove true. Naturally, each level plays music from its respective game – one of the Sonic tracks even plays a new instrumental mix of ‘Sonic – You Can Do Anything,’ the Japanese title track from Sonic CD.

Transformed has three single player modes, World Tour being the meatiest. Players will select events from a map, unlocking new events and pathways and they progress. On top of traditional races, you’ll encounter battle races in which you have to knock out other opponents, and various themed challenges. Early on, a Drift Challenge threatened to halt my progress. Nowhere in the game does it teach you to drift, as this sequel seems to assume we’ve all played the first game.

That’s pretty much my only complaint; the difficulty skews towards experienced players instead of normal ones. Make more than a single mistake and you’re almost guaranteed to lose a race. Did developer Sumo Digital forget that a huge part of Sonic’s fan base are kids? Still, if an event  proves too challenging (as a couple of them have for me), you can always drop the difficulty down to Easy for that event. You won’t earn as many stars for it (necessary to unlock characters and events), but at least you can keep on racing.

While the single player portion of Transformed provides plenty of hours of fun (plus frustration if you go for the Expert Achievements), the multiplayer should also give the game ample replay value. We had a blast with four-player split-screen, which sacrifices a bit of visual detail but none of the excitement. The online multiplayer will put your Xbox Live Gold subscription to good use too.

All told, Sonic & All-Stars RacingTransformed is easily one of the best kart racers of all time. The huge selection of characters and tracks will wow anyone who’s ever played a SEGA game, and educate the folks who haven’t. And every racing fan should appreciate the variety that land, air, and sea racing brings to the kart racing formula. If not for the sometimes annoying level of single-player challenge, Transformed would simply be the best kart racer ever. Still, at a retail price of $39.99, it remains a must-buy for anyone who cares for racing or SEGA in general.

Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl

The ToeJam & Earl series is fondly remembered by people who played the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Sadly, the series remains largely forgotten by everyone else, despite ToeJam & Earl III appearing exclusively on the original Xbox. The cause may stem from SEGA not actually owning the characters, which belong to one of the series’ two creators, Greg Johnson. Thankfully he worked out a deal with SEGA, who have just released this collection of the two Genesis games.

In the first ToeJam & Earl, the two alien protagonists have crash landed on Earth, damaging their spaceship in the process. Their goal is to find all 10 parts needed to repair it by scouring 25 bizarre levels. These levels can be randomly generated or fixed, depending on the players’ preference. Each level appears as a series of islands that float above the previous one; fall and you’ll end up on the level below. Just like the world we live in, right?

Along the way, ToeJam and pal will discover numerous presents strewn across each map. These may contain helpful items like flight-giving wings, rocket shoes, a ducky float, and various edible delights. Or they could have poisonous food and items that actually kill you. The catch is, you won’t know until you’ve used an item for the first time or paid the walking carrot man (?!) to identify it.

After that, the descriptions for subsequent presents of the same type appears in your inventory. Thus, experimentation plays a large role on top of the game’s heavy exploration. These elements are borrowed from the Rogue-like genre, though thankfully ToeJam & Earl is much easier (but still challenging).

As if the unique gameplay and bizarre sense of humor didn’t help it stand out enough, ToeJam & Earl also packs a revolutionary feature for its time period: dynamic split-screen. When both players are in the same general area, the game appears as full screen. But walk away from each other and it switches to a horizontal split-screen display on the fly. It would’ve been nice for the switching to take place a bit faster in this rerelease, but it’s still an excellent feature regardless.

ToeJam & Earl 2: Panic on Funkotron takes place on the hip-hoppin’ aliens’ home planet. Dozens of pesky humans have stowed away on TJ & E’s ship, and now they’re bothering the locals to no end. It’s up to our funky heroes to bag them all and ship them home. A weird (and slightly mundane) plot, but what else would we expect from this silly series?

The sequel mixes things up more than usual by switching genres. Instead of a Rogue-like, it’s a platformer. TJ & E can no longer split up; they are confined to a single screen. The contents of presents they find are still sort of randomized, but they’ll always be good, and they come in a much smaller variety. Basically, everything that made the first game special other than the humor and musical references has been excised.

That said, ToeJam & Earl 2 is not a bad game. You get to run through its 17 levels solo or in co-op, hunting down obnoxious earthlings and trapping them in jars like they deserve. The characters are large and detailed (though lacking in animation frames), and the backgrounds boast plenty of sweet parallax scrolling. The controls and movement feel a bit off, like most American platformers from the time period, but they get the job done.

Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl has some nice extras you wouldn’t find in the original cartridges. These include beautiful 3D menus that recreate the Sega Genesis and several objects from the games, graphical options and filters, new widescreen borders, the ability to play the American or European ROMs, and more. The best additions are undoubtedly online multiplayer and save states. Unfortunately, only the first player gets Achievements, whether playing online or offline. But if you enjoyed the original games or just want a quirky game to play, this collection (especially the first game) is well worth the asking price.

Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl costs 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and you can find it here at Xbox.com.

More to come

Sonic the Fighters

SEGA fans have three more XBLA games to look forward to tomorrow! On Wednesday the 28^th, Fighting Vipers, Sonic the Fighters, and Virtua Fighter 2 all launch at 400 MS Points ($5) apiece. We hope to have impressions of these classic arcade fighting games soon!

We’re not sure how Nokia does it (well, we guess money) but they’ve once again managed to give Lumia users something for nothing again. Sega’s Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition, or just SMB2:SE for you shorthand types, is now live in the Nokia Collection and is completely free.

Now the big difference here is this is a non-Xbox Live branded version. That’s good news and bad news as it means you can’t grab those precious Achievements if that’s your thing. Luckily for us, it’s not (though our games guru Paul is surely in another camp). The good news, as we’ve outlined before in our ongoing Xbox games critique is this game can potentially be updated now more frequently.

SMB2:SE is a significant bump in quality over the original Super Monkey Ball though some may find the controls a bit challenging and the graphics a bit dated. The Xbox version does garner 4 out of 5 stars, which is actually pretty decent though.

The game’s conceit is simple: roll a monkey around in a clear ball through mazes while picking up bananas. Makes total sense to us. You even get to choose your chimp for that custom feel. As a nice throwback to arcade games of past, SMB2:SE does work well on mobile as a good time waster with fun and challenging levels. Plus it’s kind of adorable and so darn chipper it’s hard not to like it.

You can pick up SMB2:SE for free here in the Nokia Collection. For those with non-Lumias, you can pick up the SMB2:SE for $2.99 with a free trial (and Xbox status) here in the Store. Thanks, Er. Akshat for the tip!

Earlier today we discovered that a non-Xbox version of SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball 2 has become available for free to Nokia handset owners. Distributing an ‘indie’ version of an already existent Xbox game is pretty much without precedent. Sure, Angry Birds Space and Star Wars for Windows Phone 7 don’t have Xbox Live features like their Windows Phone 8 brothers, but those are at least completely different versions of the same games. The free version of Super Monkey Ball 2 has simply had its Xbox Live features stripped.

It looks like free games from SEGA for Nokia users may be a trend, because a second game has just showed up as part of the Nokia Collection. SEGA’s phenomenal Sonic CD is now available for free for Nokia owners, once again without the Xbox Live features of the general version. (Somebody forgot to remove the Xbox banner from the game's Live tile though.) The lack of Achievements might just kill much of the replay value of this particular game but people who just want to experience the game will still have loads of fun.

Blast (processing) from the past

Sonic CD is a remake of the classic 16-bit Sega CD game. It plays much like other Sega Genesis Sonic games, though the focus on exploration has increased thanks to much larger levels and new gameplay mechanics.

Sonic’s nemesis Dr. Eggman has traveled back in time to change the history of Little Planet and gain its power. Sonic must jump back and forth between past, present, and future versions of seven different zones, destroying Eggman’s robot teleporters and eventually doing battle with a robotic version of himself: metal Sonic.

The Windows Phone version of Sonic CD features a ton of improvements over the classic game, including true widescreen visuals, two selectable soundtracks, and the newly-playable sidekick Tails. All told, we consider this one of the very best games of 2012. Check out our full review for lots more details.

Work for that download

Like the free version of Super Monkey Ball 2, it might take a little work to actually procure the non-Xbox Sonic CD. The difficult downloads seem to be a result of general Windows Phone Store errors, so things could improve in a few days’ time.

When trying to install on my phone, I kept getting region errors. Oddly, turning on cellular data made those errors stop. Even after initiating the download process, the download might halt and fail a few times. Just keep resuming it over and over until it decides to be nice and finish.

Nokia owners, follow this link for use the QR code below to grab the free game. If you’d rather have the Xbox Live version, it’s worth every bit of the $4.99 price. All Windows Phone users can get the Xbox Sonic CD right here from the Windows Phone Store.

But what does it all mean?

Xbox version at left; Nokia version at right

We already know that Nokia and Electronic Arts/Chillingo have a strategic partnership. So far, they’ve produced numerous exclusive Xbox Windows Phone games for Lumia owners. The first of those exclusives – Mirror’s Edge just became available to all Windows Phone users today.

These strange free versions of Super Monkey Ball and Sonic CD seem to indicate a new agreement between Nokia and SEGA. The lack of Xbox Live status could be a restriction imposed because both games have already seen general release. We’re investigating with Nokia and will let you know whatever details we dig up.

Thanks to Rajkumar Nagarajan for the tip!

As deal-savvy gamers might have noticed by now, the Xbox Windows Phone Deal of the Week is now technically a part of Microsoft’s Red Stripe Deals, which roll out every Thursday. Basically three Windows Phone apps or games go on Thor’s Day, one of which will be an Xbox Live title. Well, a rose by another name smells just as sweet, and we’ll continue reporting on the Xbox sale game prior to Thursday as we’ve always done.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk games! The last two Xbox Deal games had both been on sale before returning to Deal of the Week status. This Thursday, a quality game goes on sale for the first time ever: Sonic CD from SEGA! Okay, technically there was that weird glitch in which Nokia gave out a non-Xbox Live version of Sonic CD for a short time last year, but that doesn’t count. Sonic CD will soon be available at a discount for everybody – with sparkly Xbox Live Achievements intact.

Rolling around at the speed of sound

Sonic CD is a remake of the classic 16-bit Sega CD game. It plays much like other Sega Genesis Sonic games, though the focus on exploration has increased thanks to much larger levels and new gameplay mechanics. Sonic can now travel forward and backward in time by touching special sign posts and then reaching super high speeds. Doing so takes him to unique versions of each level, with altered layouts, graphics, and music. It’s a unique and fun spin on the classic series.

The story comes to life via fully animated cartoon segments at the beginning and end of the game. Sonic’s nemesis Dr. Eggman has traveled back in time to change the history of the mysterious Little Planet and gain its power.

Sonic can take on the game’s seven zones by simply heading for the goal posts and beating all the bosses, but that’s like playing only half the game. To fully restore Little Planet and get the happy ending, the blue blur will need to travel into the past version of each zone in order to destroy Eggman’s robot teleporters and holograms. Eventually he’ll also do battle with fan-favorite enemy Metal Sonic.

The Windows Phone version of Sonic CD features a ton of improvements over the classic game, including true widescreen visuals, two selectable soundtracks, and the newly-playable sidekick Tails. All told, we consider this one of the very best games of 2012. Check out our full review for lots more details, and don’t forget to use our exclusive Achievement Guide when you play.

Bargain price

Sonic CD regularly sells for $4.99, the same price as the XBLA version. Considering the scope of the game, five bucks isn’t bad. But less is better! Starting Thursday, April 18^thSonic CD goes on sale for just $1.99. If you’ve been craving a serious platformer on the go, don’t miss it.

Sonic CD runs great on Windows Phone 7 and 8 and is a 163 MB download. Once the sale starts, grab it here at the Windows Phone Store.

When Microsoft launched the Xbox One in November of last year, the company didn't have the supply to meet worldwide demand. So while the console debuted in the US, UK, and several more countries initially, several other markets have had to wait for the system. One country without the Xbox One is Japan, a very tough market for Microsoft to crack.

The Xbox One will finally launch in Japan this September. Once that happens, we'll start to see some Japan-exclusive games for the system. Several of those will be text-heavy visual novels (a form of adventure game) that only fluent Japanese speakers can enjoy. But a much more import-friendly game was announced this week: Puyo Puyo Tetris from Sega! If Ubisoft's Tetris Ultimate looks too dry for you, prepare for a splash of color and whimsy when Puyo Puyo Tetris graces the Japanese Xbox One in December.

Puyo meets Tetris

Puyo Puyo Tetris is a cross-over between Sega's Puyo Puyo series and Tetris. Puyo Puyo, also known as Puyo Pop, is a falling-block puzzle game in which players match groups of colored blobs called Puyos. The Puyo Puyo series originated in 1991, where it gained a loyal following in Japan.

Only a few Puyo Puyo games have been released in the west, sometimes with the original characters changed to capitalize on existing brands – namely Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine for Sega Genesis and Kirby's Avalanche for Super Nintendo. A few legitimate Puyo games made it to America too, most recently Puyo Pop Fever for Gamecube and Nintendo DS.

But how do you mix a game about forming chain reactions of blobs with the original falling block game Tetris? Puyo Puyo Tetris combines the two series in a variety of different ways. For one, you can play normal Tetris or normal Puyo Puyo without breaking away from those games' rules.

But that's not all! Another game mode has players switch between the two games at set intervals, sort of like Hot Potato. There is even a mode in which Tetris and Puyo pieces fall onto the same playing field. In that mode, the Tetris pieces can squish the Puyo blobs.

Being aimed at the Japanese market, Puyo Puyo Tetris features an extensive story mode in which humanoid Tetris blocks (?!?!) travel to the Puyo Puyo planet and meet the characters who live there. It's wacky and told through Japanese text, but not something you will have to understand to enjoy the game.

More excitingly, Puyo Puyo Tetris will feature local and online multiplayer modes for up to four players. Besides the game types described earlier, you'll have the option of playing Puyo Puyo against opponents as they play Tetris, and vice versa. All of the mixing, matching, and mashing-up should make for a much more fun and varied multiplayer experience than Tetris traditionally offers.

Puyo Puyo Tetris launched on Playstation 3, Vita, Wii U, and 3DS in Japan earlier this year. The Xbox One version will come with all of the DLC released for those versions built-in. Xbox One games are region free, so puzzle fans outside of Japan will have the option to import Puyo Puyo Tetris. If you're interested, you can preorder the game from online retailer Play Asia for $53.99.

More regional exclusives to come

Will Xbox One games made for specific markets like Puyo Puyo Tetris become a trend? Yes, to an extent. As I mentioned earlier, the visual novel genre is big in Japan but would never fly at retail in the US. The Xbox One itself is not likely to catch on with Japanese gamers. But niche-focused developers will likely publish an array of cheap-to-develop visual novels for the Xbox One, as they did for the Xbox 360. The first of those will be Chaos;Child from 5pb, best known in the west as the developer of Phantom Breaker Battlegrounds for XBLA.

Meanwhile, China can look forward to its own lineup of exclusive games when the Xbox One launches there later this year. One of those, Neverwinter (pictured above), will actually receive a worldwide release in 2015. But the truly China-centric games (think boring historical epics) will likely stay within that country.

I can see the same happening with the Indian market – Bollywood-style games don't have much of an audience outside of their native land. But again, thanks to Microsoft's wise decision not to restrict Xbox One software to specific regions, anyone in the US, Europe, and beyond who wants to play a specific country's games can always choose to import those titles.

via: TrueAchievements

Last month, our own John Callaham posted his ten most anticipated Xbox One games for the fall and Holiday seasons. On that list was a little game called Alien: Isolation from SEGA and The Creative Assembly. You might see the name "Alien" and dismiss the game as another uninspired licensed game, but you'd be wrong to do so. Alien: Isolation looks like it will be not only the best-ever adaptation of the Alien universe, but also a standout horror game.

This week Alien: Isolation has gone gold, which means that the game is complete and ready to be pressed to disc. To celebrate, SEGA has released the first in a new series of trailers. Give it a watch and read our full preview to learn just how horrifying Isolation will be when it arrives on Xbox One, Xbox 360, and other platforms next month.

Beware the alien

Alien: Isolation is closely inspired by the original Ridley Scott Alien film – you know, back when Ridley made coherent films with believable characters. I think his later films have been affected by his years-long war against Samus Aran, but that's another story. Point is, this game stars only one alien instead of a bunch like all of the sequel films and previous game adaptations.

Players will take on the role of original Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley's daughter Amanda as she investigates the disappearance of her mother. Ripley's daughrer was mentioned in a deleted scene from Aliens, which James Cameron later reintegrated in the film's Director's Cut. Unfortunately for Amanda, the space station she is sent to investigate has already become infested by a deadly alien xenomorph.

Past Alien(s) games have featured the series' signature xenomorphs, but never the original film's tone. Alien: Isolation isn't a run-and-fun shooter. In fact, shooting the alien to death won't be an option. Instead, Amanda will have to avoid it at all costs if she hopes to survive.

The lone, undeterrable alien will hunt the protagonist and her fellow NPCs by sight, sound, and smell. Amanda will have to crouch, hide, and sneak around through the space station. She can even hold her breath when the alien gets too close. If she runs, she'll just make noise for the alien to hear. Likewise, her flashlight and motion tracker can alert the alien, and will have to be used sparingly.

The game will feature more signature Alien touches such as an android crewmate. Just like Ash, the android from the first movie, the android in Isolation will behave a little off and strangely. He won't go dropping black goo in anybody's eye for practically no reason, but he'll still be quirky and possibly dangerous. Who knows, Amanda might even have to deal with the android and alien at the same time.

It will take not only stealth, but also plenty of scavenging for resources, crafting, and improvisation to make it through Alien: Isolation in one piece. Even if the gun you scavenge can't kill the alien, it might distract it long enough to escape.

Revisit some old (and mostly departed) friends by preordering

Preorder to receive the bonus "Crew Expendable" mission, which takes place during the original Alien film and reunites the film's cast for the first time – including Sigourney Weaver. If you preorder from GameStop (or GAME in the UK), you'll also get the "Last Survivor" mission which focuses solely on Sigourney's character as she attempts to reach the escape shuttle at the end of the first Alien.

Both bonus missions will be released as paid DLC down the line, but dedicated Alien fans who preorder won't have to wait… or pay extra.

Alien: Isolation looks to be an extremely atmospheric (and scary) game. We'll find out for ourselves soon! The game comes to Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and 4, and PC on Tuesday, October 7.

• Alien: Isolation – Xbox One – $59.99 – Amazon Link
• Alien: Isolation – Xbox 360 – $49.99 – Amazon Link

Next month will be a landmark time for horror games. Sega and the Creative Assembly have Alien: Isolation, a game inspired by the first Alien film, on the way on October 7. Just one week later, Bethesda and Tango Software will unleashed The Evil Within, the long-awaited return to horror from Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. Both games are due out on Xbox One and 360, so our last-gen brothers need not miss out on the scares.

With both games drawing near, the publishers are keeping them in the spotlight with new information and trailers. Alien: Isolation will be getting post-launch DLC for six months in the form of challenging new Survivor mode missions, we recently found out. As for The Evil Within, I recently had the opportunity to play the game and experience its disturbing atmosphere. Continue reading for detailed impressions and a look at both games' new trailers!

Fight for survival in Alien: Isolation

When we last previewed Alien: Isolation, I focused on the game's story mode and preorder bonus missions. In the main story, players will control Amanda Ripley, daughter of the protagonist of all four Aliens films, Ellen Ripley. The preorder missions (also available to buy post-release) will actually allow you to play as Ellen Ripley during and after the events of the first film.

Isolation also includes a non-story mode called Survivor. In this mode, players will take on timed challenge levels. The goal is to reach the end and survive against deadly foes like an android gone haywire and the Alien itself. These missions add a sense of urgency to the game, since you can't sit still and hide for too long. They even get a little competitive thanks to leaderboard support.

The game will ship with a single Survivor mission to whet player appetites. After release, Sega plans to release five additional Survivor add-on packs as paid DLC. Each one will include three maps, a new playable character, and a challenging mix of new maps and game modes.

The first of the Survivor packs launches on October 28, three weeks after the game's release. The four following DLC packs will arrive over the next six months (the last one in March 2015). Players can also purchase a Season Pass to get all five packs at a twenty-five percent discount.

Alien: Isolation will be an extremely atmospheric (and scary) game. It comes to Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and 4, and PC on Tuesday, October 7.

• Alien: Isolation – Xbox One – $59.99 – Amazon Link
• Alien: Isolation – Xbox 360 – $49.99 – Amazon Link

Investigate the horrors of The Evil Within

In The Evil Within, you'll play as veteran police detective Sebastian Castellanos (voiced by Anson Mount). Sebastian and other members of the police force arrive at an asylum where a gruesome mass murder has taken place. Before long the culprit, a dark and haggard figure named Ruvik (voiced by Jackie Earle Haley) shows up and attacks the officers. Ruvik is seemingly invincible…

In the demo I played, Sebastian finds himself walking through a forest. The visuals for this segment are grainy and murky, making for a very unsettling trip. Soon our protagonist arrives at a giant flower, which starts to glow… And suddenly Ruvik is there, staggering towards Sebastian with a knife. It looks like he's done for, until the ghostly forest disappears and the hero finds himself in front of a dilapidated mansion. It feels like the hero recognizes this place.

Upon entering the mansion, you'll find yourself in a foyer surrounded by two staircases and numerous doors on the first and second floor. It certainly reminds of the original Resident Evil mansion. Back behind the two staircases is a vault door covered by a mysterious machine. The machine looks like a brain with three electrodes sticking into it. What the…?

Fighting for your life

As Sebastian explores the mansion, Ruvik will materialize out of the ether at random times. You cant hope to fight him, so all you can do is either run like crazy or hide. The ability to hide under beds and in closets is cool, but in the preview build Sebastian constantly makes this heavy breathing sound as he hides. It sounds like he's hyperventilating! Hopefully that sound will have been dialed down in the final version that ships next month.

Anyway, those moments with Ruvik are tense and frightening. You might already be engaged with another monster or two when he appears, forcing a quick change of plans. Of course, the repeated appearance of an invincible protagonist is also kind of Resident Evil-like. The third Resident Evil featured such a monster, called the Nemesis. Ruvik looks more like a deranged homeless man than a big monster, but he'll stalk you throughout The Evil Within all the same.

Navigating the mansion hallways feels a lot better than the older Resident Evil games, of course, since Evil Within uses modern controls. You'll have to collect items and solve puzzles, just as you'd expect from this sort of game. You'll also encounter frightening enemies like a crying woman with a horribly mutilated face. A few pistol shots will free her from her anguish. In a unique touch, all enemies in The Evil Within must be set on fire after you knock them out. Toss a match and they'll go up in flames, never to rise again.

Mansion of horrors

As Sebastian passes through one particular hallway, he'll suddenly find himself pulled by an unknown force. The wall opens up to reveal a huge meat grinder, ready to shred him to bits. The first time I encountered this scene, I didn't react quickly enough and met my end. The next time, I spotted a blinking red light above the machinery. Quickly shoot it with the pistol to destroy the machine and escape unharmed.

The hero eventually discovers a tiny lab no bigger than a closet. That wouldn't be so bad, if not for the thing sitting on the table: a bisected human head. One half of the head is untouched and alive, while the other has been cut away to reveal the brain and viscera inside. A voice recording starts to describe grizzly experiments performed on unfortunate individuals like the one on the table.

Soon it becomes apparent that you'll have to engage in just such an experiment by attaching an electrical probe to the inside of the undead head. It will take some prodding (resulting in freakish sounds from the victim) to find just the right part of the brain.

Once you attach it successfully, a switch will go off in the nearby machinery. A red fluid starts to flow from the machine… and directly into one of the three valves on the door in the foyer. Sebastian will have to find the machines that unlock the other two valves and the horrors that await behind the vault door.

The Evil to come

Like Alien: Isolation, The Evil Within will offer a season pass. It will include three DLC packs for $19.99. The first focuses on the hulking monster "The Keeper," with the second and third featuring Juli Kidman, Sebastian's partner from the main game. If they're anything like the demo I played, they will offer a creepy and action-packed good time.

The Evil Within arrives on Xbox One and 360, Playstation 3 and 4, and PC on Tuesday, October 14. Preorder from Amazon to receive the "Fighting Chance pack," containing several useful weapons and items.

• The Evil Within – Xbox One – $59.99 – Amazon Link
• The Evil Within – Xbox 360 – $59.99 – Amazon Link

Sega is in the mood for war and has unleashed a package of games on Steam, which the publisher is allowing consumers to download for free. The games total just over $30, and include the likes of Golden Axe and Jet Set Radio. While this is an enticing promotion (and one we simply cannot recommend enough - free stuff!), it's worth noting that we're looking at a limited time offer, so be sure to add the games to your library before the promotion inevitably ends.

To gain access to the bundle of titles, simply check out a single listing and hit "Install" (under the purchase box). This will then add all five games to your Steam library. The promotion, Make War Not Love, sees Sega getting fans involved in titles like Dawn of War 2 and Total War Attila to tally up wins and possibly even unlock additional free DLC for their respective game.

You have until February 20 to take advantage of this promotion. Hit the link below to learn more and grab your free games.

Grab your free games bundle now on Steam!

Source: Polygon

SEGA is to release a new title in the Total War franchise called Battles: Kingdom. It's a persistent, living world set in the real-time strategy genre. You'll be tasked with transforming your land into a powerful kingdom, going head to head against AI or other players. The game has been in open beta for little under a year now and has been met by mixed reviews throughout development.

Don't mistake this entry in the franchise as a Total War game for mobile and PC. It's not. What Battles: Kingdom is – however – is another attempt to tame the free-to-play beast with in-app purchases and time-restricted gameplay. It's therefore not for everyone. You'll be able to see for yourself on March 24 when the game rolls out on iOS, Android, OS X and Windows.

Sega has launched the Mega Drive Classics Hub on Steam. The hub is a 3D environment designed to mimic the bedroom of a '90s gamer, with a Mega Drive (Genesis) connected to a CRT TV, shelf full of games for the console, as well as Sega posters on the (virtual) walls and dynamic time-of-day conditions.

If you own any of the Mega Drive games on Steam, you will be able to access the hub for free. Here's a list of all the games that you can pick up:

• Golden Axe
• Altered Beast
• Comix Zone
• Ecco the Dolphin
• Gain Ground
• Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
• Vectorman
• Crack Down
• Space Harrier II
• Ecco Jr.
• Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
• Bonanza Bros.
• Super Thunder Blade
• Kid Chameleon
• Ristar
• Galaxy Force II
• Columns
• Eternal Champions
• Fatal Labyrinth
• Bio-Hazard Battle
• Columns III
• Sword of Vermilion
• Virtua Fighter 2
• Ecco: The Tides of Time
• Alien Storm
• Decap Attack
• Flicky
• ESWAT: City Under Siege
• Golden Axe II
• Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
• Shadow Dancer
• Shining Force
• Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
• Streets of Rage 2
• Alien Soldier
• Light Crusader
• Gunstar Heroes
• Streets of Rage
• Shining Force II
• Shining in the Darkness
• Beyond Oasis
• Dynamite Headdy
• Golden Axe III
• Phantasy Star II
• Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic 3 and Knuckles
• Sonic 3D Blast
• Sonic Spinball
• Toejam and Earl
• Toejam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron
• Streets of Rage 3
• Revenge of the Shinobi
• Vectorman 2
• Wonder Boy in Monster World

If you're not seeing the Mega Drive Classics Hub just yet, we suggest waiting a while. The update is just starting to roll out.

See at Steam

Sega has acquired France-based PC and Xbox One developer Amplitude Studios, best know for its turn-based 4x space strategy game Endless Space.

Formed in 2011 by a number of former Ubisoft employees, Amplitude Studios self-published its first game, Endless Space, in 2012. It has since sold over 1 million copies, with the developer releasing a number of post-launch DLC packs for the game. In 2014, it released a fantasy-based 4x strategy game, Endless Legends, along with Dungeon of the Endless, a roguelike sci-fi game that was later released for the Xbox One in 2016. The developer is currently working on Endless Space 2 for release later in 2016.

In a post on Amplitude's community site Games2Gether.com, the studio talked about why it decided to be acquired by Sega:

What we want to do is to focus on making games; that is why we created Amplitude. But with the pressure on sales and marketing we found that more and more time was dedicated to everything else – everything that we didn't have the size and scale to deal with. So we decided to look for the best partner we could to protect us from these distractions so that game development did not become a chore, but remained a passion. Therefore, we have decided to join forces with SEGA – yes, that SEGA! We want the only question that keeps us up at night to be, "How do I make better games?" Partnering with SEGA will bring us to a whole new level.

The specific financial terms of this deal were not disclosed. Sega already owns two strategy game studios. One is The Creative Assembly, home of the Total War franchise and developers of the upcoming Halo Wars 2 RTS game from Microsoft. The other is Relic Entertainment, the makers of the Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War series. It's currently working on Dawn of War 3.

SEGA of Europe's Football Manager series is a popular PC game that simulates the management aspects of soccer. Now SEGA and developer Playsport Games are preparing to launch Motorsport Manager, which puts players in charge of a racing team. We've managed a few races and interviewed the developers to bring you this detailed preview!

The road to PC

Motorsport Manager started its life two years ago as a premium mobile title. Playsport's first and only game to date, it caught on well enough that SEGA of Europe signed on as publisher of the upcoming PC version. The new Motorsport Manager is the game the studio always wanted to make. It incorporates player feedback from the mobile version while greatly surpassing it in scale and production values.

Although Motorsport Manager comes from a different developer than Football Manager, the latter still played a mentoring role in Motorsport Manager's development. Sports Interactive offered advice on a variety of subjects, including weather implementation, driver names, and databases. Football Manager is essentially the leader in sports management games, and both studios want Motorsport Manager to live up to that reputation as well.

Managing a team of racers

The premise of Motorsport Manager is simple: you manage all aspects of a motorsport racing team, including developing cars, hiring drivers and mechanics, signing sponsorship deals, and building facilities. Your team will then travel around the world and compete in a variety of races and championships.

Career Mode is the meat of the game. After creating a character, players will select a Championship to enter. Each of the three Championships: European, Asia-Pacific, and World Motorsport Championship consists of sixteen total races. The greater the skill level of the Championship, the more prize money for the winners.

Motorsport manager consists of three basic phases:

1. Hiring drivers and engineers
2. Building the car and design centers
3. Winning the race

Players make mostly long-term decisions outside of the race. From the main menu, you can view a number of elements such as:

• Drivers: Check the status of your primary drivers
• Chairman: This is your boss. If he becomes too unhappy, you could be fired and lose the game.
• Stats: View Sponsors, championship standings, and finances
• Race Calendar: View details on the upcoming series of races.
• Rule changes: Team Managers can vote on rule changes for the next year. They can also vote for specific track layouts to be used that better suit their cars' abilities.
• Car: View car stats, design parts, fit the parts when ready, and improve existing parts.

By checking the race calendar, players can figure out which stats are most important for the next race and then develop parts to help with that stat (such as Top Speed). Your engineering team's knowledge base determines which parts can be developed. The team can only develop one part at a time. You have the option of bending the rules when equipping parts, but this carries a risk of getting caught and punished.

Managers also have to check email between races. There you'll receive interview requests from the media, scouting reports, communications from your chairman, driver requests, and more. Should you accept interview requests, your answers will impact driver morale.

Headquarters and sponsors

Every team needs its own racing headquarters. The team you select determines the size and development of your starting headquarters. As you progress through the game, you'll buy and upgrade more buildings. Some will generate revenue, whereas others provide access to new parts and staff.

Some of the headquarters buildings you can buy include: Scouting Facility, Factory, Design Centre, Ride Handling Development, Staff Housing, Telemetry Centre, Test Track, Brakes Research Facility, Road Car Factory, and even a Theme Park. That last one is an extravagance that will earn money for the team over time.

Building upgrades don't pay for themselves. Everything has an effect on the team's finances. To bring in more money, players must sign sponsorship deals. The current fixed rate sponsors contribute money regularly. Race Bonus Sponsors are fickler. They request performance targets like reaching a specific position in the race. Hit the goal and you'll earn a payout.

Sponsor decals will appear on your car. They can also be turned off to improve performance (of the game, not the car). And speaking of performance, Motorsport Manager runs extremely well on my four-year-old gaming notebook. The zoomed out view certainly helps keep hardware requirements down.

The racing team

Your racing team consists of two primary drivers, though you can also have additional drivers in reserve. These drivers can develop rivalries between each other. Player decisions affect the drivers' morale. High morale helps them race better, whereas low morale can lead a driver to quit and find another team. Each driver has unique traits that affect performance, like Smart, Smooth Braker, Wilts at Home, Likes Changeable Conditions, and Old (or as we like to think of it, experienced).

Drivers also develop relationships with their mechanics. The longer a driver works with a mechanic, the more their chemistry grows. This can unlock stat bonuses for the racer. Mechanics sit on the pit wall during races and build a relationship with the drivers. Sometimes you might poach a mechanic from a rival team if you hired one of their drivers, just to capitalize on their existing chemistry.

The final members of your team are designers. These engineers bring their own knowledge that will affect the direction of your team's parts development. They can help improve a car's weaknesses and further boost its strengths.

Players hire racers, mechanics, and designers through the Scouting menu. It displays a variety of information about prospective employees, including nationality, age, current employer (if any), and more.

Taking age into consideration is important because performance begins to decline in old age. It happens to the best of us! And with drivers, personality matters too. Some only want to win championships, get paid the most, be the number one driver on the team, etc. You'll want to hire people who are a good fit for your team.

Race day

Proper preparations make a big difference towards winning a race. Each circuit has its own characteristics like lots of corners or high top speed that will impact cars' performance. Weather affects things too, whether the location is known for its wetness or dryness. The team manager needs to look ahead and then research parts and outfit cars accordingly.

Once a race approaches, players have the chance to set up their cars, run a practice race, and tweak setup again before the real race. Your mechanic's suggestions start out broad and become more specific after the drivers complete their practice race.

After the race begins, you'll watch your pair of drivers do their best to win the race. You can jump back and forth between them at any time, or follow opponents instead. Each driver has its own AI and will try to find the best racing line rather than following predetermined paths.

Even though you don't directly control your drivers, your orders and decisions still have a major impact on the outcome of the race. You have several choices of driving style and engine modes that affect the driver's performance on the track. Faster styles and modes consume more fuel. Running out of fuel is a major concern, so you'll have to tweak these settings up and down as the race progresses.

Cars also experience wear and tear on tires and others parts that will slow them down as the race goes on. At that point, managers can order a pit stop and select which parts to swap out or repair. Each repair and change adds to the pit time, so making too many repairs or pit stops will endanger your driver's position in the race.

Racing season begins soon

Motorsport Manager is due out on Steam sometime in September. The preview version of the game is already quite polished, though I did encounter a few issues like typos and a strange lack of menu music. A game with so many menus needs some peppy audio, not eerie silence. Hopefully some tuneage will be added before release.

Playsport plans to support the game after release with updates and downloadable content. DLC will mostly consist of Challenges, special conditions that encourage players to approach the game differently. Steam Workshop will be supported as well, so players can create and share mods. This creates the potential for new types of vehicles and races. The developers suggested that someone could even make a Mad Max-themed mod someday!

However the final game turns out, it will be interesting to see how fans of racing games embrace this managerial take on the genre. Are you guys excited about the chance to run your own racing team?

Preorder on Steam

Sega recently revealed the Skaven, vile rat-men, as the fourth playable race in upcoming PC strategy game Total War: Warhammer II.

We got to play the first hour of the Skaven campaign and speak to the developers to learn what these vicious rodents bring to Total War!

Preorder on AmazonPreorder on Steam

Scourge of the Skaven

Total War: Warhammer II is the latest entry in the popular Total War franchise, a series of real-time strategy games featuring large-scale battles. Taking place within the Warhammer fantasy universe, the new game's story centers around a Great Vortex that holds unlimited magical power. All of the game's playable races want control of that vortex, including the Skaven.

As a Skaven warlord, your goal is not only to capture the Great Vortex but also to advance your status and surpass your rival rat-men. The Skaven campaign begins just as the high elves have launched a full-scale invasion of the Southlands region near your territory. They will be your primary opponents early in the campaign, though lizardmen and other factions enter the fray before too long.

One of Total War: Warhammer II's big improvements is the optional campaign tutorial. When enabled, an NPC narrator who is loyal to your cause will walk you through the opening moments and new features of the campaign. This is invaluable for learning to play, as Total War games can be huge and daunting for newcomers. With the narrator's help, I was able to win battles, siege cities, and upgrade my settlements like a pro (only with lots more fumbling).

Sending the rats into battle

Your Skaven warlord starts out owning a single settlement on the sequel's new continent and the pesky high elves close at hand. Moving your lord across the map towards the enemy commander, you'll soon get your first taste of battle. The starting clash involves four regiments of units on each side, but your army will grow exponentially as you requisition new units between turns. After a cinematic in which your rat lord can barely wait to crush his opponents, the melee begins.

The Skaven army consists of multiple varieties of deadly ratmen. The lower cost types fight with shields and swords or spears. You'll also begin with ranged units who use slings to toss projectiles. Later in the fight, a group of rat ogres (who are a major threat in Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide) arrive and join your army as well. These hulking brutes pack a serious punch at close range, throwing foes around like rag dolls.

The game also uses the rat ogres as an opportunity to teach cover mechanics. You'll be instructed to send your rat ogres into a nearby forest, sneaking them up on an unsuspecting ranged unit of high elves. Ranged units don't stand a chance against the rat ogres, as long as you can get them there safely.

Another unique option the Skaven have in battle is summoning groups of units from their subterranean lairs. These units can be summoned anywhere, even right in front of or behind enemy troops. The actual rat-men you summon from underground are weak units, little more than cannon fodder. But they provide a valuable distraction as the enemy is forced to deal with a new threat on the fly. Skaven players have a limited number of summons per battle, with a cooldown timer between each one. Using them correctly can make a big difference in your quest to dominate the Great Vortex.

Rat-men victorious

After winning battles, Skaven players have the choice of what to do with the captives they take. You can sell them off for gold, which is needed to recruit new units and upgrade buildings in your cities. Enslaving the captives is also an option, sending them back to your cities and boosting your leadership stat.

But there is another option perfectly fitting the vile race of rat-men. You can just eat captives for food, which helps replenish your own units. Food is the Skaven's unique resource. They're fast-moving creatures with a high metabolism, so you'll often need to consider food costs when recruiting, sieging, and making other large-scale endeavors.

Other races and features

While I spent my recent playtime exclusively in the Skaven campaign, Sega did share some cool new tidbits about the other races and gameplay features we'll experience in Total War: Warhammer II.

Dark Elves: One of the coolest features of this faction is the floating city they can build. This huge structure has all the features of a regular occupiable city, but it can travel anywhere in the ocean. If the city is within bombardment range when you go into battle, it can fire three types of bombardment attacks during the fight (each with a cooldown). These start out weak but increase in strength as you enhance structures within the city.

High elves: In contrast to their darker brothers, the high elves are a highly political race. Influence is their unique faction resource. Throughout the high elves campaign, players will have opportunities to make political decisions that cause them to earn different amounts of influence. One way to spend this influence is by whispering in the ears of your neighbors and sowing dissent between rival factions. Should you inspire two enemies to go to war, you'll have an easier time taking over their territories.

Geomantic web: ancient ley lines of power that run beneath the world. Over time, players can build structures that improve their faction's connection to these lines. Doing so will enhance your command over the provinces you control.

Blessed units: As you play the campaign, special events can pop up that provide blessed units as a reward. Complete the task and you get a supply of special units to summon during battle. Blessed units function similarly to Regiments of Renown, special units with enhanced stats and additional abilities. Whereas you get Regiments of Renown by achieving a sufficiently high level with a lord under your command, you'll gain blessed units exclusively through event rewards.

The war is almost upon us

Although I also played Total War: Warhammer II at E3 in June, my introduction to the Skaven campaign was the first extended play session I've had with a Total War game. With the slick tutorial and loads of compelling features, this looks like a game that even a relative real-time strategy novice like myself can get into. The Warhammer universe and those abominable rat-men add an extra layer of appeal as well.

Total War: Warhammer II is due out on Steam on September 28. Players who preorder the sequel for $59.99 or buy during the first week of release will receive the Norsca DLC completely free, both in the original Total War: Warhammer and the new game.

SEGA will also sell a $149.99 physical Deluxe Serpent God Edition exclusively through its website that contains a puzzle sphere, art book, metal case, and more. The Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III Collector's Edition was incredible, so collectors will probably enjoy this Deluxe Serpent God Edition as well.

Preorder Total War: Warhammer II on AmazonPreorder Total War: Warhammer II on Steam

Disclosure: Travel to the Total War: Warhammer II preview event was provided by Sega.

Every year a lot of bizarre games launch on PC but some of them are stranger than others.

Today, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a revolutionary new treatment for "Light-Headedness" in their new game called Two Point Hospital. Light-Headedness isn't just a fuzzy feeling in your head, it's actually a lightbulb growing on top of your shoulders. Luckily, Two Point Hospital has you covered because they can fix it. Sega says that Two Point Hospital is coming to Steam in late 2018.

Two Point Hospital isn't just about treating lightbulbs, it involves managing a hospital and taking care of patients with bizarre ailments. The game, from the creators of Theme Hospital, is set to be a return to one of gaming's most loved simulator genres. Two Point Hospital draws on the experience of some the gaming industry's most experienced and successful developers who, between them, have worked on titles like Black and White, Fable, and Theme Park.

Management simulators are an incredibly popular genre and it's very rare to come across one that involves a hospital. Hopefully the unique nature of the game will appeal to consumers. John Clark, Sega Europe's Executive Vice President of Publishing, issued the following statement to the press alongside Two Point Hospital's reveal.

We're delighted to finally announce the fruits of our partnership with Two Point Studios and reveal Two Point Hospital to the world. We're committed to finding and working with the best new studios, ones that fit with Sega's ethos to deliver new IP with strong franchise potential. Two Point Studios' vision for Two Point Hospital and their ambitions for it fit perfectly with that notion and we look forward to releasing their game later this year.

Hopefully the game will live up to expectations. From what we've seen so far, Two Point Hospital's focus on humor is the right approach to tackling a hospital environment. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project in the coming months.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious Theme Hospital successor called Two Point Hospital.

Recently, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious Theme Hospital successor called Two Point Hospital. While the announcement trailer was quirky and featured a fictitious disease known as "Light-Headedness," it didn't showcase gameplay or other mechanics. Luckily, the publisher released a somewhat normal trailer today.

The video gives players an in-depth look at the development process and inspirations behind the game. While a lot of different elements go into making such a title, offering a hilarious and entertaining experience is at the heart of it. Aside from coding, coming up with fictitious diseases and "medical devices" to cure them seem like it was a major creative challenge. More importantly though, there's also proper gameplay footage in the trailer this time around.

Two Point Hospital isn't just about treating lightbulbs, it involves managing a hospital and taking care of patients with bizarre ailments. The game, from the creators of Theme Hospital, is set to be a return to one of gaming's most loved simulator genres. Two Point Hospital draws on the experience of some the gaming industry's most experienced and successful developers who, between them, have worked on titles like Black and White, Fable, and Theme Park.

Sega says that Two Point Hospital is coming to PC in late 2018. Hopefully the game will live up to expectations. From what we've seen so far, Two Point Hospital's focus on humor is the right approach to tackling a hospital environment. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project in the coming weeks.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

A few weeks ago, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious hospital simulator called Two Point Hospital.

Recently, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious Theme Hospital successor called Two Point Hospital. While the announcement trailer was quirky and featured a fictitious disease known as "Light-Headedness," it didn't showcase gameplay or other mechanics. Luckily, PC Gamer Weekender 2018 gave us an in-depth look at the gameplay.

Two Point Hospital isn't just about treating lightbulbs, it involves managing a hospital and taking care of patients with bizarre ailments. The game, from the creators of Theme Hospital, is set to be a return to one of gaming's most loved simulator genres. Two Point Hospital draws on the experience of some the gaming industry's most experienced and successful developers who, between them, have worked on titles like Black and White, Fable, and Theme Park.

The hospital environment is quite chaotic and the gameplay captures that. Not only do you have to manage patients receiving treatments, but factors like wait times and how other people will be affected by an out-of-control situation must be considered.

Sega says that Two Point Hospital is coming to PC in late 2018. Hopefully the game will live up to expectations. From what we've seen so far, Two Point Hospital's focus on humor is the right approach to tackling a hospital environment. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project in the coming months.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Sonia Mania should be getting an Xbox One X upgrade soon, but that's not all.

Sonic Mania is an excellent game which manages to capture the nostalgia of past entries in the franchise. However, many gamers expressed some concern with the title for its lack of Xbox One X support. Even though Sonia Mania features pixelated visuals, they can appear rather blurry on a 4K display because a 1080p image is being stretched out. Despite its smooth gameplay, experiencing this presentation is a less than ideal experience.

Luckily, it seems like that's about to change soon. Today, Sonic Mania Plus was announced for Xbox One and other platforms. While specific details about the Xbox One X upgrade weren't covered, the Xbox One box clearly displays a "4K Ultra HD" logo and the "Xbox One X Enhanced" designation. Unless the box art represents an error, it means that the game will be enhanced for Microsoft's newest console. However, it's unclear if 4K, in this case, means native 4K, dynamic scaling, or checkerboard rendering. We've reached out to Sega for comment and shall let you know as soon as we hear more.

Sonic Mania goes packaged with Sonic Mania Plus! Mighty and Ray join as playable characters, new Encore mode, 4P Competition mode, Holographic packaging, 32-page art book, and more. Summer 2018. pic.twitter.com/4U74kJ7xuG

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) March 16, 2018

Players have been asking for an Xbox One X upgrade for this game for a while now and it's great to see the publisher finally listened to the request. The game already runs at native 4K 60 FPS on PlayStation 4 Pro so Xbox One X owners should expect similar results due to the 1.8 teraflops advantage Microsoft's system has over the competition. The wait for the upgrade hopefully won't be that long because Sonic Mania Plus is expected to release this summer. However, that's not all. The official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account teased another announcement tied to racing today.

The post on Twitter just says "Top Secret" and features clips of cars and a logo with the letter "R" at the beginning. Many gamers on Facebook and Twitter believe this to be a new entry in the acclaimed Sonic Racing franchise. The lettering is quite similar to past Sonic Racing games, so that's why many individuals arrived at this conclusion. However, we can't confirm this until Sega officially unveils a new game in the series in the coming days.

[ TOP SECRET ] pic.twitter.com/OVQ6n77Rh4

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) March 16, 2018

In our review of Sonic Mania, we said that it "looks and feels just like a long-lost sequel to Sonic 3 & Knuckles, with lots of huge and varied levels to explore, multiple playable characters with unique abilities, and spectacular boss battles." If you haven't played it yet, be sure to check it out at retailers for $19.99.

See at AmazonSee at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

A Shenmue collection is coming to modern systems soon.

Today at Sega Fes 2018, the publisher announced that a rerelease of Shenmue and Shenmue II should launch in 2018 for Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. The updated version will get physical and digital editions known as "Shenmue I & II".

Updated March 14, 2018: From the newly-released trailer, it seems as though the game has received a resolution upgrade but the textures and other mechanics remain the same. The collection is expected to cost $29.99.

Players take a thrilling voyage across faithful recreations of Hong Kong and Japan in a tale of revenge and mystery. Both of the titles are regarded as cult classics, and Shenmue II is one of the most requested games for Xbox One backward compatibility even to this day.

Keep in mind that Shenmue I & II isn't a complete remaster. The visuals will mostly be the same. The game features scalable resolution, choice of modern or classic controls, PC graphics options, an updated user interface, and the option to select original Japanese or English voiceovers.

Shenmue I & II comes with original features like the captivating jujitsu combat, investigative gameplay, role-playing elements, and odd mini-games. The title is set in a real-time open world that that includes proper day-and-night cycles and weather changes.

According to Sega, the Shenmue franchise has established a passionate following and is revered as one of gaming's greatest series of all time. These revolutionary masterpieces deliver a gripping story of retribution as Ryo Hazuki sets out to avenge his father's death and attempts to unravel the secrets behind a mysterious artifact known as the "Dragon Mirror".

It'll be interesting to play these games again on modern machines to see if they hold up after all these years. What was considered revolutionary years ago might not be good enough today. Luckily, Shenmue III is expected to launch on PC in 2018 so the franchise may get another chance if the rerelease doesn't live up to expectations.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

A few weeks ago, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious hospital simulator called Two Point Hospital.

Recently, Sega and Two Point Studios announced a hilarious Theme Hospital successor called Two Point Hospital. While the announcement trailer was quirky and featured a fictitious disease known as "Light-Headedness", it didn't showcase how characters reacted to one another. Today, Lead Designer Ben Huskins and Lead Animator Chris Knott talked us through the little nuances of character interaction in the game that will bring players' hospitals to life.

Two Point Hospital isn't just about treating lightbulbs, it involves managing a hospital and taking care of patients with bizarre ailments. The game, from the creators of Theme Hospital, is set to be a return to one of gaming's most loved simulator genres. Two Point Hospital draws on the experience of some the gaming industry's most experienced and successful developers who, between them, have worked on titles like Black and White, Fable, and Theme Park.

The hospital environment is quite chaotic and the gameplay captures that. Not only do you have to manage patients receiving treatments, but factors like wait times and how other people will be affected by an out-of-control situation must be considered.

Sega says that Two Point Hospital is coming to PC in late 2018. Hopefully the game will live up to expectations. From what we've seen so far, Two Point Hospital's focus on humor is the right approach to tackling a hospital environment. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more about the project in the coming weeks.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!