Tainted Report

SEGA is one of those developers that seems to be doing well, but hasn't really done anything memorable as of late. Yeah, Sonic games are stilling coming out by the dozen, and they are probably selling well. But for the most part, I haven't been seeing a lot of quality from SEGA, at least not for a long time.

But SEGA seems to be shaping up, producing a Sonic game that isn't atrocious (BLASPHEMY!) and also presenting three Wii titles that are shaping up to be high caliber titles. And what's even more exciting is that none of these games are aimed at the casual market.

The first of the three to be released is House of the Dead: Overkill. Under new development, the latest in the long running HotD is shaping up to be a fun shooter with tight controls and an awesome style. IGN game them game an 8.3, citing some framerate drops as the main concern. If you like the arcade versions of HotD, then this game won't disappoint when it is released on February 10.

Next game on the list is Madworld, the incredibly stylistic brawler from Platinum Games. Probably the most enticing aspect of this game is the awesome visuals, utilizing a black and white cell-shaded look that packs a lot of punch. This game definitely deserves its M rating, with buckets of crimson red blood spattering the black and white walls and characters. This game is set to ship in March, so be on the look out for this title.

Last but not least is The Conduit, the ambitious effort from High Voltage software that's had everyone hooked since it was first shown. The game was actually in jeopardy of not getting released not too long ago, because the game lacked a publisher. However, SEGA snatched the game up, which is probably a great move financially considering the massive hype surrounding this game. The game features crisp graphics, insane levels of customizability, and promise of superb online, it's no wonder that this game is so hyped up. With a tentative release date of June, we still have a while to wait for this knock out title.

So, SEGA definitely seems to be shaping up, at least on the Wii. All three of these titles are shaping up to be high quality games, and all three appeal to the hardcore fanbase of the Wii that has been left out to dry as of late. Hopefully these games can live up to the massive hype surrounding them, or else SEGA will remain the lackluster publisher that it has become.