Retro Exploration: Dreamcast Games Reveal A Few Hidden Surprises (Part 1)…

While doing a bit of computer maintenance today, I decided on a whim to dink around with a few Dreamcast games by popping them in my PC and seeing if there were any hidden art or music files. I’d been curious about this for a while, as a few years back I wrote an article about Redbook audio tracks on CD games for Digital Press and was thinking about doing some sort of update. Back when the Dreamcast was released in the US, I popped a few discs into my PC at the time and found only text files with copyright info and occasionally, a game credits listing, and after a few of the same bunches of nothing, I retired the idea.

Flash forward to earlier today and I’m looking on my Japanese copy of D2 for cool stuff, only to find nothing except the usual three files. Then, I grabbed my copy of Seventh Cross and “bingo!* omake surprises galore, all some interesting (and intentionally amusing in a few cases) CG artwork that was removed from the US version, Seventh Cross Evolution. Below are the images from the hidden gallery (the second image gallery file on the disc features some of the same images, but in a higher resolution). I went through a bunch of other DC games as well, but I’ll run those images starting sometime next week… or sooner, if I knock out enough reformatting work to take a break.

Oh, I actually DID find some cool D2 stuff on an import disc or two, but not where I thought it would be. More on that in a bit…

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2009 Done, Two More Years To Go…

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Well, alright. I just noticed that I’d fixed the final 2009 post a few posts ago and am already into early 2010. Nice. The early part of 2010 will be pretty easy going, as I was a bit ill for a good chunk of the first half of the year and didn’t post much. A bit of game therapy and other actual medical assistance later, i was back in action, as you’ll see by the increased post count. The late 2010 to 2011 posts will be the hardest to restore, as most of them will need to be retrieved and reformatted from the older blog as opposed to some of the simpler editing I had to do with some of the older posts. Oh well. Onward and upward!

Gallery: Phantom Breaker

With 2D fighting games on somewhat of a roll these days, it’s nice to see yet another developer enter the fray with a sweet-looking console title. Set to be published in North America this February by 7sixty Games, Phantom Breaker is an Xbox 360 exclusive from developer 5bp that, according to the press release, “takes its cue from classic 2D brawlers, offering a host of spectacular special moves, high-impact combos and a counter system that’s easy to pick up but takes a lifetime to master…” I’m pretty awful at fighting games compared to the top masters out there, but I do love excellent sprite-based artwork like the stuff found in the game trailer and screens below.

 

 

Also, for the collectors out there, the game will be available in a Special Edition that includes a mini strategy guide, desk calendar featuring characters from the game and two double-sided posters. Amazon has this listed at $39.99 (which is a steal for a nice set like that), so make sure to pre-order this pack if this looks like something you’ll be down with. Check out the game’s Facebook page and sign up if you like what you see – 14 pretty cool screenshots await below the jump…

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Update: Winding Down 2009…

If things go well, folks – I’ll be done with reformatting all the 2009 posts this weekend. I’ll update you as soon as that’s done, pop the cork on a bottle of something (probably Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider) and then get to work on the 2010 posts. Eek.

Well, all this necessary insanity is for a good reason, that’s for sure… I just wish it weren’t so tedious…