A Photon Blast from the past, as the Dreamcast classic – the first online RPG for consoles, no less – recieves an update for the DS.

Anyone who owned a Dreamcast back in the day probably remembers the original Phantasy Star Online. How much you enjoyed it, on the other hand, depends entirely on when you started playing it: if you got into it right at the start, you probably have fond memories of it, teaming up with friends and tearing up the bosses. If you played it after the first few months, however, you probably had your character erased by means of one of the myriad glitches that existed at the time. The series has received a few more iterations over the years, most recently with the Universe line of games, but now it’s time to go back to basics with Phantasy Star 0.

Let’s get one thing straight here: yes, there is a single-player mode, but really, it’s more of a basic training/level grinding mode. The storyline, however, changes depending on what race you are, which is a very nice touch. The three races available will be familiar to anyone with any knowledge of the series: Humans are average in just about every way; CASTs are the classic tanks, strong, but unable to use Techniques, this game’s version of magic; and Newmen are fast and tend to excel at using Techniques, ranking the best mage class in the game amongst their numbers.

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People standing around screaming while lit up like a Christmas tree?  Either it’s the latest anime-based RPG from Sega, or someone needs an ambulance ASAP…

I can probably gauge your interest in this game with a simple question: do you watch Bleach?  If the answer is yes, then… well, you’ve probably already gone out and bought this game, or at least made up your mind about it.  In which case, this review is probably not for you.  Go back to arguing the superiority of Rukia over Orihime or something.  For the rest of you, who can’t tell a Zanpakuto from an Espada, allow me to enlighten you on exactly what the hell you’re looking at here.

Bleach, for the uninitiated, is one of the most popular series in Japan.  How popular?  The 43 volumes of the ongoing manga have, to date, shifted over 50 million copies  in the last 9 years.  Since its release, it’s spawned a long-running TV show (over 260 episodes at time of writing), several movies, enough merchandise and games to sink a decent-sized island and even a worryingly popular series of rock musicals.  The series itself focuses on a young man called Ichigo, who can see spirits.  One night, he encounters a girl, Rukia, who he discovers is a Soul Reaper, a member of a group charged with helping the souls of the dead pass on.  When he accidentally steals her powers, he finds himself charged with taking on her duties, rescuing spirits in danger from Hollows, evil spirits that eat souls.  Of course, this isn’t Ichigo’s story.  The game starts with a pair of twins being rescued from a rampaging Hollow.  They are taken in by Soul Society, the group in charge of the Soul Reapers, and taught their ways.  After fighting off an Arrancar (an especially powerful Hollow that has taken human form), the pair find themselves placed into suspended animation.  When they reawaken, it’s in the present day, and they swiftly find themselves embroiled in the current war against former ally Capten Aizen.

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Take the proven success of family racing games, and add famous Sega characters including Sonic into the mix, and what do you get? The fast-paced frenzy that is Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing. It’s pretty hard to see how this could not be a highly enjoyable offering for family members young and old, and as far as I can see, it’s a roaring success.

Instantly, the graphics are impressive, featuring the classic combination of bright colours and adding the more modern touch of sharp lines and impressive scenery. It appears to be an instant winner in the looks department anyway! As you will see as you progress in the game, the courses are visually very pleasing, and there have been no corners cut on the detailed scenery, and you could almost be forgiven for not concentrating on the driving for peering at the surroundings.  Of course, the music has to match up to this first impression, and it does. It’s “bop your head” type music that continues throughout, and some levels even have recognisable tracks from previous Sega titles.

Getting into the game, you are greeted with the menu options that you would pretty much expect from a racing game such as this: Single Player, Splitscreen (Multiplayer), Nintendo WFC (for playing online), Shopping, Options and License.  The basic layout of the game involves you picking a Sega star driver (or a Mii) and a track on which to battle against other Sega stars. Whether you choose to do that alone, or against others in your living room or online, is entirely up to you, but I would say that playing alone is slightly less fun than playing against other real people.

Single player offers the chance to take part in either a single race, or a Grand Prix of four races on courses of a similar category. There is also the option to take part in Time Trials to better your score and learn the courses, or complete the Missions.  The Missions will provide hours of unpredictable fun as well as giving you a competitive feeling of wanting to better your scores. This is probably the most addictive part of the game, and it triumphs in every way.

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Sega has undoubtedly created some of the most memorable characters of modern gaming, so there is no shortage of options for games in terms of lovable and familiar faces. Team that fact together with a tried and tested racing format, it’s hard to see how Sega could go wrong with the offering, and to cut to the chase, it hasn’t disappointed.

First impressions of Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing are very positive indeed, with the bright, striking graphics immediately grabbing your attention. The video played at the beginning of the game is a real nostalgia trip, with familiar Sonic style graphics and scenery greeting you, along with the well animated vehicles in which the characters are seated. It really is an instant delight. There is no denying that Sega have pulled out all the stops to keep anyone who knows classic Sonic titles happy, as well as please the younger generation.

So, how do the opening game titles flow into the actual bulk of the game? Very well actually. The menus are pleasant and clear and the navigation is simple. There is no need for the stylus (although you can use it to activate collected items if you wish) but you can use it on the menus if you find it easier, or more varied. So after you create your very own driving licence, you’re ready to race.

I want to get on to the gameplay and such, but first there’s one important feature to mention. As you race, you collect “Sega Miles” which vary depending on the length of the races and the mode you play. These miles can then be used to purchase new courses, characters and music tracks in the “Shopping” mode. This is a great alternative to being forced to unlock tracks and drivers only by winning races. It allows for more varied gameplay very early on in the process, meaning that getting bored after owning the game for a short amount of time is practically impossible!

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Command your military unit and hone your strategic skills in MILITARY MADNESS NECTARIS® on WiiWare this week.

Available to download on DSiWare is the fabulously colourful Pop Island, where players will need to run, jump and spin their way around the island to collect the priceless flags, Simply Mahjong and Simply Sudoku, giving players hours of puzzling fun, and 4 TRAVELLERS™ – Play Spanish, a nifty game to have players speaking Spanish in no time. This week’s quintuple of DSiWare is completed by the card based role-playing game Elemental Masters® inviting you to a quest in the mystical lands of Elendior.

And that’s not all! Finally, it is Hanabi season again, with Virtual Console bringing you games released for the very first time in their original format in Europe. Play IRONCLAD, the classic NEOGEO side-scroller with a unique gameplay twist: You will not only take control of a mighty warship, but also command a tactical combat drone – the eponymous Iron Clad, allowing for strategies never seen before in a shoot ‘em up. Another Hanabi gem is the NES version of a classic series, Lode Runner®. You will now be able to enjoy the first Lode Runner game to ever grace a Nintendo game system. Though originally released in 1984, this version offers an astonishingly easy-to-use level editor, and a two player mode to go hunt for gold nuggets with a friend in every puzzling stage.

Follow the jump for more details of each of this week’s releases..

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Hanabi Festival, Nintendo’s celebration of Virtual Console gaming, returns starting on 12^th March – with an all-star line-up of classics never before seen in Europe.

Named after the infamous Japanese fireworks festivals, this year’s Hanabi Festival will light up your Wii with an explosive array of games.

Hanabi Festival is a feast of gaming fun and this March there is something for everyone to get their teeth stuck into…… featuring the action adventure epic CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD (Turbografx)

Previously available only in Japan on the PC Engine system, CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD is the legendary and beautifully rendered tenth instalment of the famous Castlevania series.

We will continue in the following weeks with more classics appearing in Europe for the first time, including the action-packed fantasy, Milon’s Secret Castle (NES), IRONCLAD (NEOGEO) and Lode Runner® (NES).

Virtual Console is available via the Wii Shop Channel, by connecting your Wii to the internet.  It brings you classic games from a range of consoles, many of which have never been available before outside of Japan or North America.

As the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop are continually updated with exciting and refreshing games and applications, make sure you keep checking the Nintendo Channel, Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop for all the latest news and releases on already available and upcoming Virtual Console, WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare titles.

Be sure to also check out Nintendo of Europe’s WiiWare portal, which functions as the main hub for the latest WiiWare news and game sites, while at the same time providing the perfect entry point for newcomers to the service. Weekly and all-time Top 10 lists show which WiiWare titles the UK Club Nintendo members are currently downloading most, and which are the most popular of all time.

The portal also provides step-by-step tutorials explaining how to connect the Wii console to the Internet and how to download WiiWare games, as well as a video showing how to use Nintendo Points. Visit www.wiiware.co.uk for all the details. Downloaded games can be saved to Wii’s internal memory or SD card and added to the console’s Wii Menu or SD Card Menu for anytime easy access.

Press Release [Nintendo]

Ubisoft have sent us an updated copy of their release schedule for Q1 2010, so we thought we’d share it with you!

There are a few titles to get excited about here; with Red Steel 2’s release towards the end of this month and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands sometime in May it looks like might be the start of a profitable year for the French video games publishers and developers.

Ubisoft Release Schedule – Q1 2010

It’s time for our look at the official sales charts for week 9 of this year, thanks to our friends at ELSPA.

This week New Super Mario Bros. Wii is still holding on to the top spot of the Nintendo Wii Charts, marking it’s 16th week in the top 30. On the DS, Sonic & Sega All-stars Racing has leaped from last week’s position of 8th straight to the top of the chart. Who’d have thought the once-rivals Mario and Sonic would be sharing the top spots on a Nintendo platform!

Find the full top 30 charts for both platforms after the jump..

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Nintendo fans can trip out to an onslaught of beats and colours with BIT.TRIP VOID and save the world from virus-infected robots in Mega Man™ 10 all available to download on WiiWare this week.

On DSiWare the legendary lost project “Dark Void” by Capcom is back after 20 years, returning as Dark Void™ Zero, while players can also enjoy an interactive storybook in Flips: The Bubonic Builders.

Globulos Party is perfect for players who have some time on their hands; offering over 15 hours of fun game play and 20 games to stimulate and challenge.

For anyone wanting to give their language skills a boost, New English Training: Learn with Tempo – Advanced Edition is the perfect way to improve your command of English.

Those with itchy trigger fingers will find their pinball technique tested to the limit, as well as needing to dust off their knowledge of Greek mythology to help them succeed in Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon™.

The final offering from DSiWare this week offers a treat for football fans as Real Football 2010 returns for another exciting season.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Virtual Console’s offering has a blast from the past with an 80’s fuelled, action-packed arcade game where players will be able to live out their ace fighter pilot fantasies in Zaxxon™.

Find out more about this week’s releases after the jump..

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