E3 2003: Sega Announces Lineup

Sega's game selection for E3 looks fantastic - including Sonic Heroes (all consoles), Billy Hatcher, Altered Beast, Headhunter 2 and Vectorman. Details and first screens inside!

Sega: Hot showing in Los Angeles from May 14th.

In the last few hours, Sega globally unveiled their lineup of games for this year's E3 expo - and they look fantastic. The big news is that Sonic Heroes is confirmed (no longer a strong rumour, but confirmed) - and that it's Sonic's first ever all-platform debut. Sonic Heroes will be released on Xbox, PS2 and GameCube - and you can't say fairer than that.

Meanwhile, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg is still cooking up a lot of excietment, with the first hi-res screens released, since the first scanned images emerged recently. This title is just on GameCube though. Finally, in addition to Vectorman and Headhunter: Redemption, both confirmed last week, Sega have made it official that Altered Beast is coming to PlayStation 2. The Sega Sports lineup includes four titles - find out about them in this article.

Sega stressed that there may be a few surprises, stating that their lineup "includes but is not limited to" these new titles. So we may yet be able to see Initial D and perhaps Sega Rally 3 on PS2. Here are all the details and images.

Sonic Heroes (PS2, GCN, Xbox): Sonic makes his historic PS2 and Xbox debut! In Sonic Heroes, Sonic embarks on his biggest adventure ever, with his trademark blazing speed and a "new gameplay twist". Sonic and his friends have evolved, adopting a configuration feature that allows gamers to control three playable characters simultaneously, using Sonic's speed, Knuckles' power, and Tails' ability to fly, to conquer massive worlds. This team-based gameplay marks the next evolution in Sonic's gaming career, taking platform gaming to a completely new level. Using the three formations and the powerful moves that each team member has, Sonic and his friends combine forces to battle the ultimate evil. This sounds awesome - and could be the multiplatform Sonic success that Sega should have done two years ago. No screens just yet... but stay tuned.

Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GCN): Naka's first all-new platform game since the Saturn era (Burning Rangers, not NiGHTS as we mistakenly reported previously!). Darkness has fallen upon a once-magical land. An evil King who seeks to rule with an everlasting night has captured the creatures that inhabit this realm. Now, a young boy must use the powers of a legendary suit to control special eggs in order to restore light to the land. Gamers will collect special eggs, use them to solve puzzles and nurture them with items found by exploring the world. Gamers will be able to hatch the eggs and discover magical creatures with a variety of skills, introducing a strategic planning element to the combat and puzzles. It's up to Billy Hatcher to return light to the land!

Headhunter: Redemption (PS2, Xbox): Headhunter: Redemption is the gripping story of Jack Wade, a veteran Headhunter keeping order in a futuristic world overrun with unchecked consumerism, vicious organized crime and mind-controlling mass media. When Jack and his protégé, the sassy, streetwise Leeza X, stumble upon an arms smuggling operation that threatens the status quo, they must work together to deliver an oblivious world from impending catastrophe, confronting their darkest fears beneath a chilling shroud of evil that blankets the city.

Vectorman (PS2): Gamers become Vectorman, a veritable walking arsenal, on an epic campaign to free his land from an oppressive robotic dictator, Volt, bent on galactic conquest. The game's dark storyline is packed with explosive combat and vast opportunities for exploration. Vectorman has all the resources he needs to take on Volt's evil minions including an arsenal of powerful weapons and upgrades. Vectorman's game design encourages players to explore the world at large and utilize any number of different combat strategies, whether they prefer the direct approach of guns-blazing action, or a more cerebral type of combat composed of sniping and full use of the environment.

Altered Beast (PS2): As a special military operative, you are sent to investigate a deadly genetic outbreak in a small West Coast town. Hunted by unspeakable horrors and haunted by your past, you soon discover that in order to overcome evil, you must become more than evil. The only thing that can save you is your darkest power, the ability to transform into a variety of powerful beasts. As you defeat wave after wave of failed genetic experiments, the line between human restraint and primal instinct will blur, until nothing is left but the savage desire to uncover the true nature of the beast. Explore your inner demons. Unleash your fury. Alter your reality. Hmmm... no screens revealed just yet.

Virtual On Marz (PS2): Mech combat meets street brawling in this lightning-fast weapon-intensive arena-based Battle Royal. As a member of "Marz," a Robotic Special Forces unit, players are thrust into the pilot's seat of a giant mech known as a Virtuaroid (VR), an immensely capable machine built specifically for combat. Through a variety of missions on various planets, players set out to defeat enemy VRs, locate new areas, attack enemy locations, defend allied bases, attack enemy convoys, and fight alongside other VRs in explosive two-on-two battles.

Sonic Pinball Party (GBA): It's time to get the party started right with Sonic Pinball Party for the Game Boy Advance, with the ultimate handheld pinball experience. This delivers fresh pinball boards filled with Sonic Team characters and a huge assortment of multiplayer party games. With Sonic Team characters from Sonic series, plus Samba de Amigo and NiGHTS, Pinball Party challenges players to shoot, tilt, and flip their way through a slew of pinball boards, lightning fast mini-games and party games.

Sonic Battle (GBA): Sonic Battle brings furious combat action to the Game Boy Advance, as Sonic and his friends set out to determine which one of them is really the best fighter! Choose from eight characters such as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Choose the arena, set the rules, customize your special attacks, and then engage in non-stop battles. Up to four friends can link their systems together using the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable for team battles, and then combine special attacks into devastating combos! If you prefer to battle solo, work through the Story Mode to develop your own AI fighting partner. Either way, "Sonic Battle" is the ultimate showdown between Sonic and his friends.

Phantasy Star Online: Episode III (GCN): Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution expands the series, offering a new style of strategic combat. Combining the "excitement of card collection" and deck settings with team-based battle tactics, PSOIII allows users to chat in the lobby about status upgrades and tactics, and then journey to the planet surface to engage in strategic combat using a turn-based Card system. The game continues the story arc of the previous PSO games, as players once again become Hunters and explore the mysteries of the planet Ragol. Featuring both online and offline play, as well as multiplayer modes, PSO Episode III adds new content and players to the ever-growing PSO community.

Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (GCN): Sonic Adventure returns with enhanced graphics and more than five hours of new gameplay for the GameCube. DX Director's Cut includes an all-new Mission Mode featuring more than 50 missions for gamers to discover. Sonic fans will be able to explore new hidden areas throughout the game - adding a whole new twist to the original.

Sega GT Online (Xbox): Bringing all the thrills of the most realistic driving game for Xbox online via Xbox Live, Sega GT Online will allow up to six gamers to put their driving skills to the ultimate test against thousands of gamers from around the country. Described as "a blend of deep simulation detail and high-octane arcade action", SGTO challenges gamers to qualify for licenses, compete in a series of increasingly competitive races and earn money to soup up their rides and buy newer, more powerful cars. Players can then fine-tune nearly every aspect of their car's performance - from the muffler and brakes to the suspension, body weight and tires, before hitting the online racing circuit.

Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (PS2): More than 500,000 beatings can't be wrong ...SEGA's best-selling fighting game gets a major graphical and gameplay upgrade in Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution. Read our full import review to find out everything you need to know, before E3. BUT! The latest word is that SOA have decided to release VF4 Evo as a "Greatest Hits" title - more of an upgrade to the first VF4 on PS2 - and that it may be available to gamers for a mere $19.99! If this is true then that's an absolute bargain, since Evolution is clearly the finest fighting game ever created - and considerably better than the original VF4.

Otogi: Myth of Demons (Xbox): Set in ancient Japan and steeped in real-life folklore and mysticism, "Otogi: Myth of Demons" is the story of Raiko, an undead warrior who must stop a ferocious demonic army that has been unleashed upon the Earth. As a long-forgotten doomsday myth materializes, Raiko must quickly master more than 30 weapons and 12 varieties of magic to dispatch endless hoards of demon warriors, massive boss characters and everything else that gets in his way.

Dororo (working title) (PS2): "Dororo" is a modern day action epic adapted from the classic manga by Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy). Like the original manga the game follows the adventures of Hyakkimaru, a samurai haunted by a shocking secret, who is on a quest to uncover his past and regain his humanity. Players can choose to battle with various weapons such as blades embedded inside Hyakkimaru's arms, a bazooka hidden inside his leg, or weapons that are found during the course of the adventure. "Dororo" delivers the ultimate Samurai fighting experience with intense 3D action from one of Japan's most famous storytellers.

Kunoichi (working title) (PS2): A rift to the demon realm has placed Tokyo in great peril. As Kunoichi, a deadly female ninja, you are charged with the task of collecting the scattered pieces of a legendary weapon while dispatching a relentless army of powerful demonic foes. Sounds quite good, actually.

Worms 3D (PS2, GCN, Xbox, PC): Worms 3D is set in a more exciting and immersive game world than ever before, with the same winning emphasis on great multiplayer action and challenging single player fun. The classic Worms game-play remains unchanged, featuring turn-based fighting and relying on the player to judge the trajectory and strength of their shots in order to inflict maximum damage on opponents, but this time in glorious 3D. Currently this title has only been announced for Europe.

Of course, we'll have the first and most detailed Sega coverage when E3 kicks off... so stay tuned to Kikizo for fanatical Sega ramblings.

Adam Doree