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Sega SuperStars Hands-On

We take Sega's forthcoming EyeToy extravaganza for a spin.

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TOKYO--Sega SuperStars is the upcoming EyeToy-compatible game compilation that serves up a host of different minigames, much like Sony's own EyeToy: Play. The key difference between the compilations is that all the Sega SuperStars minigames are based on key Sega franchises. We tried our hand at a few of them on a work-in-progress version of the game in Sega's booth on the Tokyo Game Show floor to find out how it's all coming together.

The version we played offered a small sampling of the minigames from the final product. Specifically, we were able to check out portions based on the Virtua Fighter, Space Channel 5, Samba de Amigo, House of the Dead, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Puyo Pop games. As you'd expect, each of these games requires you to wave your hands about to interact with onscreen graphics.

Virtua Fighter is a variation on the boxing minigame seen in EyeToy: Play. You'll take on one of the characters from Virtua Fighter in a one-on-one fight. Onscreen prompts will let you know when to throw some punches at target icons on your opponent, or block by crossing your arms.

Space Channel 5 casts you in the role of space reporter Ulala and has you outdancing the misguided Morolians by matching their movements on beat, by hitting key points around the perimeter of the screen. Samba de Amigo follows the same model, although it doesn't require you to do anything on beat. House of the Dead sends you on a mission to kill the undead and save innocent civilians. The Sonic the Hedgehog minigame has you directing the blue blur on one of his patented ring-collecting missions. Finally, the Puyo Pop game has you smacking around hordes of eyeball-bearing gelatinous blobs as they fall toward you.

The games are easy to pick up, and offer the same addictive experience as the Eye Toy: Play games, but with the obvious added bonus of virtua fighters, hot space reporters, monkeys, zombies, hedgehogs, and gelatinous blobs. The graphics are well done and look fine from a technical perspective. The art in the game covers a pretty broad spectrum of styles to match the different looks of the source material. In addition, you can expect to see some neat tech stuff on display--for example, you'll notice how your image is shown on a small television being watched by one of those chao critters during loading screens.

If the version of Sega SuperStars we played is any indication, the final game ought to have plenty of goofy appeal. While some may argue that it would be preferable to get, say, a proper new version of Nights, Space Channel 5, or Samba de Amigo, it's good to see the old gang back in any form.

Sega SuperStars is slated to ship later this year for the PlayStation 2 in the US and Japan. For more updates, be sure to check GameSpot's coverage of Tokyo Game Show 2004.

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