The SEGA Lounge

We're adding a whole new dimension to our discussion of the perfect Sonic game. Yes, it's time to create the perfect 3D Sonic game using past game stages as building blocks. This week, Stuart and Lime share their games. Come back next week for the epic conclusion of this 4-part celebration of the blue blur's 35th anniversary.

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

We're back to conclude our look into what makes the perfect 2D Sonic game, this time with Stuart's picks. Stay tuned until the end as we also consider some interesting suggestions of elements we think should be incorporated into future side-scrolling Sonic games.

 

TrackerTD's Sonic Advance 3 SP romhack: https://astromuseum.org/sonicZone/sonicmods/sonicadvance3

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

What makes the perfect 2D Sonic game? We're here to answer this question as we celebrate the Blue Blur's 35th anniversary. This week, KC and Lime share their personal perfect games using the building blocks of classic Sonic zones. Come back next time for Stuart's picks.

What is YOUR perfect 2D Sonic game?

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

Surprise! The SEGA Lounge returns for the first time in 2026 for an update on all SEGA news that came out of the not-E3/Summer period. Joining KC are SkillJim, Lime Reversed and Lewis Cox of The Dreamcast Junkyard.

Relevant links:

• Sega Might Be Releasing A Low-Cost Handheld With Removable Game Carts: https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/06/rumour-sega-might-be-releasing-a-low-cost-handheld-with-removable-game-carts
• Mighty Cuphead Adventure: https://www.mightycuphead.com
• Crazy Taxi: World Tour: https://youtu.be/ePi8tDdKuWw?si=ijtzQgigKkjliI0s
• SEGA Confirms and Responds to Generative AI Content in New Crazy Taxi Game: https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/07/sega-confirms-and-responds-to-generative-ai-content-in-new-crazy-taxi-game
• Crazy Taxi: World Tour Producer Clarifies AI Use: https://gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/08/crazy-taxi-world-tour-producer-clarifies-ai-use
• VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS: https://youtu.be/e9_pg896v6s?si=vUnVTdAfFObC9uS3 | https://youtu.be/nhSCLdfE8PM?si=kI4EVYXvEspDmaNP | https://youtu.be/AyxSIdfI4fQ?si=x0mpKA0VUnGrzm9_
• STRANGER THAN HEAVEN Tupac & Cast Reveal: https://youtu.be/5jgItPVHs3I?si=GfbEEi1LVLeisNQB
• Persona 4 Revival: https://youtu.be/1osdiOAkBKc?si=aEZlzoNQxOMYnJXn | https://youtu.be/y3WDu1jC21A?si=vny8rfWFqq8AbVhr
• Persona 6 Teaser Trailer: https://youtu.be/CL-q0HgfMOY?si=k61hhUtXJM6w1wF0
• Metaphor: ReFantazio coming to Switch 2: https://youtu.be/FlccMxW_0bc?si=Kp-THfmBMN8vFHAQ
• Sonic 35th Anniversary Trailer: https://youtu.be/3RJTqRJtYlg?si=VdCZftdvV9c8uWKE
• SONIC PICO PARK: https://youtu.be/RFg-S2seDqU?si=Wa9ygugUq7Gvrht4
• The Dreamcast Junkyard's 20th Anniversary Merch: https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2026/06/dcjy-x-vgnysoft-20th-anniversary.html

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

KC, SkillJim, Lime, and Viper share their thoughts on another year that went by. Was 2025 a success for SEGA or just an average succession of events? Which games stood out the most? What do we expect from the company in 2026? Check out our answers in our season finale.

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

This week, the whole crew is here to nominate the best SEGA games of the past 25 years for a hypothetical award of Best SEGA Game of the 1/4 Century.

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

This week we're celebrating the birth of the boost mechanic in Sonic games, the blue blur's first use of the Nintendo DS' dual screens, and a pretty funky soundtrack. Sonic Rush turned 20 this year, which gave KC, Stuart, and Viper (briefly) an excuse to discuss this iconic handheld game.

 

• Sonic Rush 3D: https://sonicfangameshq.com/forums/showcase/sonic-rush-3d-sage-2024-demo.2282/
• Sonic Rush Rerun: https://gamejolt.com/games/sonicrushrerun/1030374

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

This week, KC is joined by Football Manager aficionado Ravsieg, who's put thousands of hours into the series. We briefly cover the history of Football and Championship Manager, what happened to FM25 leading to its cancellation, and how it affected the recently released FM26. Also, is FM26 REALLY that bad?

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

To mark the 25th anniversary of the original Shenmue in the West, KC shares his personal memories of the game and why it's such an amazing and unique experience even today.

Check out The Dreamcast Junkyard's DreamPod episode dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Shenmue, featuring KC and Matt Oliver of Shenmue Dojo: https://thedreamcastjunkyard.buzzsprout.com/42610/episodes/18232667-episode-147-25-years-of-shenmue

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)

It's time to once again look at another month's worth of SEGA news, including SEGA's nominations for this year's Game Awards, and new content coming to Sonic Rumble and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

 

Relevant links:

• SEGA thinks "Definitive Editions" are putting players off Day One purchases: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/with-just-17-of-segas-recent-sales-coming-from-new-titles-the-company-suggests-definitive-editions-could-be-putting-players-off-day-one-purchases
• Yakuza Kiwami & Kiwami 2 out now on Switch 2: https://youtu.be/uC3w6aRXVJI?si=psg9BPBWqmH1lBz7
• Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 digital upgrades announced: https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/yakuza-0-directors-cut-yakuza-kiwami-and-yakuza-kiwami-2-ps5-xbox-series-and-pc-digital-upgrade-offers-announced
• Persona Live 2026: Awakenings coming to Los Angeles: https://segabits.com/blog/2025/11/03/first-ever-persona-live-2026-awakenings-concert-to-debut-in-los-angeles/
• The Game Awards nominations: https://thegameawards.com
• Two Point Museum: Zooseum DLC out December 2nd: https://community.twopointcounty.com/two-point-studios/two-point-museum/blogs/102-two-point-museum-zooseum-faq
• SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 launches January 22nd, 2026: https://www.gematsu.com/2025/11/sega-football-club-champions-2026-launches-january-22-2026
• Lost Sammy game for the Nintendo 64 found and preserved: https://segabits.com/blog/2025/11/26/lost-nintendo-64-game-from-sammy-viewpoint-2064-found-and-preserved-online/#more-84878
• Lost Genesis/Mega Drive RTS from STI preserved: https://segabits.com/blog/2025/11/07/lost-genesis-mega-drive-rts-from-sega-technical-institute-dark-empires-recovered-and-preserved/
• Sonic Robo Blast 32X panel: https://youtu.be/wV7zS52GlfE?si=hF-HrSaeRR7DiH50
• New cover of "Endless Possibility" by Bowling for Soup: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/sonic-the-hedgehog-bowling-for-soup-soundtrack-1235465264/
• Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac X Sonic DLC out now: https://youtu.be/oGpcg4IhMK4?si=igPsLFQWO4Y8KdyW
• Sonic Rumble is out now: https://youtu.be/JFJ-zNihuEs?si=nqKhYSYMFiEUMtXy
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Switch 2 Edition coming December 4th: https://youtu.be/WC-0DOg4z9A?si=BWxxkSPnx8Npsmjo
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds new SEGA characters announced: https://youtu.be/B0DHucYYD0k?si=X2P8rYA5d-1Wf0Bs
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds 1.2.0 update coming December 3rd: https://x.com/RaceCrossWorlds/status/1993756644468199586
• The Dreamcast Junkyard's DreamPod Shenmue 25th anniversary special: https://www.buzzsprout.com/42610/episodes/18232667

 

Support The SEGA Lounge: https://www.thesegalounge.com/support/

 

Theme song of The SEGA Lounge by OSC. You can buy it at 'name your price' by going to https://opussciencecollective.bandcamp.com/album/megane-hatsune-miku-project-diva

Follow The SEGA Lounge on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thesegalounge.com

Find our video content on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@thesegalounge) and watch our livestreams on Twitch (https://twitch.tv/thesegalounge)