There was also a time when Dragon Ball Z: Budokai was the only anime fighting game we had in North America. You remember it – that chunky PS2 game with the taunt button and the airborne battles. It got mixed reviews, but sold well enough to justify several sequels, including the reincarnated Burst Limit on next-gen consoles.

And now, because developer Dimps has moved onto bigger and better things Sonic Unleashed Wii level designing, they’ve decided to come back with a last hurrah – Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World.

A pastiche of all the Budokai games (even the the PSP Shin Budokai titles), Infinite World features the best of the combat features and the frenetic fighting style the series is famous for. So finally we get the aura dash and the doge and weave all in the same game – plus the capsule system has returned, so you can customize your characters’ move set. They even got the original Japanese voice actors and the second-gen dub voice actors to reprise their roles. Thought I don’t know how happy I am about that – I liked the first generation of dubbers, when Piccolo sounded like a chain smoker and Frieza didn’t have laryngitis.

In addition to versus mode, the story mode (called Dragon Mission) also features minigames that play more like platformers . I got to watch Goku tear down Snake Way towards King Kai’s mini-planet, trying to pick up power-ups without falling off into hell home for infinite losers. There are also race-attack and time-attack levels and a button-mashing exercise in the hyperbolic time chamber.

Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World has over 40 characters (not counting evolved forms) and will the plot of the anime from Raditz’s arrival through the animated abortion that is GT.

Seriously, how many of you have seen the anime? I’m pretty sure that’s why Dimps went all-out with story cutscenes – they’re assuming the core audience is too jacked up on everyone’s favorite orange-clad ninja to even know who Vegeta is.

The game’s out this November. Here, have some screenshots:

Well, it wasn't that we were necessarily hiding that fact, but it's that we didn't really view them as an external developer in the traditional sense. Takashi Nishiyama, the guy who started Dimps and still runs the studio, used to work at Capcom years ago, and he was actually one of the developers on the original Street Fighter. After he did that game, he left Capcom and set up that studio. He still totally has Capcom blood in him, though, and we still view him as one of the team. The same goes for some of the others there.

In fact, Nishiyama was one of the guys who helped make the Street Fighter 4 project happen. So the way it works is that we handle all of the art, characters, and game design within Capcom, and they handle the programming and balancing. But it really is a true Capcom game through and through, no matter how you look at it.

...Street Fighter is entirely our property, so we have all the say and can control its quality. It's all in our and their hands to make a really great game. It really does feel like we're working with people from within the family — again, a lot of these guys used to work at Capcom — and it doesn't hurt that they're only a quick 20 minute train ride away.

Yeah, the Capcom and Dimps offices are fairly close, so that takes care of those concerns. They're both in the same city, no biggie. Though, we've heard chatter that producer Ono is not — rumor has it that he's based at Capcom's Tokyo branch office and not in Osaka, where the game's being developed by Dimps. If that's true, why? (Know: However the hell Capcom made SFIV, it did a solid job — the arcade version is great.)

Street Fighter 4 Producer Talks Wii, Dimps, and Sheng Long [1up]

Sonic's Birthday [Sega Nerds]

What's more, we don't know which platforms the game will be on. Looking at Capcom's recent M.O., we're guessing Xbox 360/PC/PS3. And since it's a Street Fighter game, it should pop up in Japanese arcades. So, let's cut the gibble-gabble. What do you think of the first released screenshot?
SFIV Unveiled [1Up]

Despite my misguided and wishful thinking that Sonic Rush Adventure would introduce new gameplay mechanics or shift to the newest generation of consoles, the game is indeed a relatively straight sequel to the Dimps developed 2D platformer, featuring speedy, Genesis-era sidescrolling action with 3D boss battles.

This time Sonic takes to the high seas, looking to score some pirate booty and take out robotic bad guy "Captain Whisker." Scary! Yes, you'll also get to take Sonic out for a few jet ski races, just like you always wanted.

Okay, Sega, now is it time to give Sonic a much needed rest and invigorate the series with some new ideas? Maybe? Please?!

Press release in 2D after the jump. Michael McWhertor

SEGA ANNOUNCES SONIC RUSH ADVENTURE FOR THE NINTENDO DS

Sequel to Critically-Acclaimed Sonic Rush is now in Development

LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO (April 16, 2007) - SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America Inc. today announced the development of Sonic Rush Adventure for the Nintendo DS system. Sonic Rush Adventure will seamlessly utilise both screens of the Nintendo DS to navigate the high seas in search of pirate treasure, delivering Sonic's classic high-speed 2D gameplay in the ultimate Sonic handheld experience. Developed by SEGA Studios, Sonic Rush Adventure for the Nintendo DS will be available in Autumn 2007.

Sonic returns to the Nintendo DS in an all-new frantic adventure complete with dizzying dives, near vertical curves and brain twisting loops. Sonic Rush Adventure will retain the DS action that fans loved so much from Sonic Rush , as well as providing a new high seas adventure where Sonic clashes with ruthless pirates. Players will set off from Windmill Village as Sonic and blast their way through seven action-packed and widely diverse levels. Sonic Rush Adventure will make full use of the DS Download Play feature and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which enables gamers to compete with friends in wireless racing and mission-based battles.

Guide Sonic through numerous action stages in the fast and furious single player mode, whilst collecting valuable items and materials that enable Sonic and Tails to track down the villainous pirates. With a fleet of up to five ships, including a submarine, water bike and hovercraft, Sonic Rush Adventure uses the Touch Screen technology in exciting new ways. Use the Nintendo DS Stylus to help control vessels as they race across the ocean gathering rings, performing tricks, and torching pirate boats, whilst engaging in fierce ship-to-ship battles. At the end of each level, epic 3D boss battles spanning both screens will test gamers skills to result in an ultimate showdown with the evil boss character, Captain Whisker.

Sonic Rush Adventure allows players to bounce, fly, swing, ride and run through grand environments of lush forests, an ominous ghost ship, snow covered mountains, pirate villages and a vast underwater sea cave. Along the way there will be a variety of enemy characters to battle against including robots, skeleton warriors, pterodactyls, and a robotic triceratops.

For more information on Sonic Rush Adventure and other titles from SEGA, please visit www.sega-europe.com. For assets, please visit the SEGA Press site at www.sega-press.com

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About SEGA Europe, Ltd.
SEGA Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe's Web Site is located at www.sega-europe.com.
About SEGA of America Inc.

SEGA of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web Site is located at www.sega.com.

NINTENDO DS IS A TRADEMARK OF NINTENDO.

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