Topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (WiiWare)

[BlackNMild2k1]

Who: SEGA
What: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
When: This summer on the console of your choice
Where: WiiWare/PSN/XBLA

Official Site: http://www.sega.com/sonic4/us/index.html

Details:
- Story: Picks up right after Sonic 3 & Knuckles
- Moves: Spin Dash, Power Sneakers, and Homing Attack are back
- Controls: Wii version uses motion control, PS3 version uses Sixaxis
- Resolution: Wii version runs at 480p, PS3/360 version runs at 1080p

Trailer:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/acti...o/6249444?hd=1

Interview:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/acti...&mode=previews

Screenshots:



For Additional Information and Artwork: Click Here

Original Post -----------------------------------------------------------------------


Sonic Q&A with Gamespot

GS: Why did Sega decide to bring Sonic back to 2D? Did the success of Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure play a part?

KB: Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay. Many liked the daytime stages in Unleashed, but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. Project Needlemouse is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots.

GS: What can you tell us about the game?

KB: I can tell you it’s a brand new 2D adventure coming out in 2010, it’s in HD, and to definitely stay tuned.

The HD remark makes me think I should have put this in the General Gaming section, but if SEGA doesn't release this at the same time on the Wii then they really are allergic to money and have no idea on how to make it.

[Peachylala]

Depends, how well did Sonic: Unfun sell on the 360/PS3?

And to compare, Sonic and the Black Knight?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

http://twitter.com/sonicnotforwii

[Caterkiller]

I'm am very interested! Sonic Knuckles and Tails only please! Let 2 players be playable at the same time. The second player could be on the DS as tails, and if he gets lost he can find his own way back via the DS.

What is that character? Doesnt look like Sonic to me.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Most likely Vampire Amy.

[BlackNMild2k1]

What is that character? Doesnt look like Sonic to me.

You talking about the pic in the OP?


Because it looks like Sonic to me.

[KDR_11k]

I'll file this under the Sonic circle for now. Anyone can show some old Sonicy graphics, making a GAME that's good is a completely different matter.

[EasyCure]

I never woulda guessed it was Sonic just by looking at the pic, then again I've never been a fan enough to recognize that as a logo of sorts.

[Caterkiller]

Thanks Blackbeard, I was waiting for someone to do that. I thought if someone just compared an old picture with this it would look alright.

Things that MUST be included in this game:
Momentum! There needs to be build up to get through most loops!
Badnicks! Caterkillers, Buzzbombers, anything that looks like an animal robot and lots of em!
3 playable characters. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles along with some form of co-op.
No super blast attack that lets you run through enemies like Super Sonic.
Perfect control!

What I miss?

[EasyCure]

What I miss?

Attitude 

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

It's also not a Wii game.

[EasyCure]

It's also not a Wii game.

HD Attitude?

[BlackNMild2k1]

WiiHD in 2010!!!!

[Caterkiller]

Look what IssunZX showed me!

http://www.needlemouse.com/

[Ian Sane]

I don't think bringing Sonic back into 2D is the cure to Sonic's ails.  Sonic Adventure was 3D and that game was pretty good.

Let's examine some of the really sucky things that have shown up in recent Sonic games.
- Endless amount of new characters no one likes
- Shadow the Hedgehog with a GUN!!!
- Sonic kissing a human woman

Which of these incredibly STUPID ideas required Sonic to be in 3D?  Maybe none?  You could still make a 2D Sonic game but the second you have a cartoon bat with cleavage being referred to as "sexy" in a rap in the game's background music, sorry, the suck train just pulled into town.  Sonic Adventure 2 is clearly where things started to slip and that was entirely because instead of playing Sonic levels with Sonic style gameplay you were forced to play as other stupid characters with gameplay that was completely different and not done very well.

And is moving to 2D going to fix poor level design or unresponsive controls or chuggy framerates or all other technical goofs and glitches that Sonic games have?  I think the key to fixing Sonic is to take him away from Sonic Team.  They're incompetent and they have dumb ideas.  The portable Sonic games that worked were not just 2D but also made by a different dev.

[Luigi Dude]

I honestly doubt Sonic Team will get it right since they've been saying for years now that every Sonic game will take Sonic back to his roots and each time they fail.  Of course it quite simple why, the key people who made the old Sonic games no longer work at Sega and as a result, the current Sonic Team doesn't even know how to really take Sonic back to his roots.

For anyone that doesn't know, the creation of Sonic was the result of 3 men, Naoto Oshima, Hirokazu Yasuhara, and Yuji Naka, and all three are no longer with Sega.  Even though Yuji Naka loves to take all the credit because he's an asshat hack, Yasuhara is the man that is truly responsible for Sonic's greatness.  All Yuji Naka did was program the games, while Yasuhara was the guy that designed the actual stages the Genesis Sonics.  Of course Oshima also deserves a lot of credit since while he was only the character designer for the first Genesis Sonic, he would go on to become the director and stage designer for Sonic CD.


This right here is the main reason why Mario games are still just as good while series like Sonic have fallen.  The main people who made the Mario series like Miyamoto and Tezuka are not only still working and helping out, but also growing talent like Koizumi who was in charge of Galaxy's development and played the biggest role in that game.  So even if Miyamoto or Tezuka were to leave Nintendo, Koizuma has shown with Galaxy that he has the ability to keep the series going.

Sega on the other hand has no veterans to help guide Sonic Team, and they never bothered to really grow any new talent either.

[stevey]

If my inner Sega fanboy was still alive he would say:

"YES YES YES OH GOD YESS~~~~!!!!"

too bad he's in a comma..... I rooting for you.

All I want is a New Super Mario Bros. style New Sonic. I doubt I'll get it considering that the best sonic game I've played in the last 7 years was a Homebrew SegaCD game.

[AV]

first pic:

http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs36/f/2008/258/f/1/Aquatic_Run_by_Orioto.jpg

( not really its cool wallpaper , but that would be amazing if they did )

[KDR_11k]

Yeah, the primary failing of modern Sonic is shitty level design (and I think it's a problem with modern 2D Sonics too), it doesn't matter if you've got tons of characters as long as the levels are fun, what hurt many of the new characters is that they've got retarded levels ("go fishing").

[Peachylala]

Right now, clock this game in the blue area of the Sonic Cycle. We have no idea what it looks like, hype is building, we are looking forward to it.

Even though Yuji Naka loves to take all the credit because he's an asshat hack, Yasuhara is the man that is truly responsible for Sonic's greatness.

The true fathers of Sonic are Naoto Oshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara. Yuji Naka was more like the drunk uncle that beat him.

[Caterkiller]

I have visited several message boards, and even Sonic only forums where it seemed like they used to love everything that was Sonic. But even now they are slamming the game before it is even shown slightly. You gotta wonder, do Sega employees see these message boards? You know they do, and what must they be thinking?  I am giving this game a chance (yeah I know Seret Rings was supposed to be my last straw, then I wound up getting unleashed and gave it away half way through) but I really don't expect to get blown away in any way shape or form.

Can't we all just every now and then throw the idea out there that Nintendo should somehow develop the next Sonic? If we say it enough it just might come true! Though I know nintendo could care less.

Would you let Nintendo make one Sonic game, but Sega had to make one Mario game? Thats toying with the devil now, but what would you say to that?

[that Baby guy]

I agree with you, Caterkiller, not specifically about Nintendo, but with the idea to hand Sonic away for a game or two.

Really, it's unnecessary, but it's likely one of the only ways you'd get the developer to take a look at the original Sonic games, and just those, from the Genesis/Megadrive.  Sega has mostly forgotten about them, though maybe not with this teaser and that Sonic emblem, but until now, it seems like all the Sonic devs had just had the word "speed" written on a piece of paper as their basic Sonic concept, and then just felt like following it up with whatever twist they'd throw in, regardless of original ideas.

[Peachylala]

As said, Yasuhara is no longer at Sonic Team (he left after Sonic T-Ragedy was gutted). His level designs made Sonic 2 & 3/K fun, and there were multiple paths through each level.

Yet Sega of Japan hates Sonic, and will continue to whip Sonic Team into making more Sonic games because they can for the sake of money.

Nintendo can always lure away Yasuhara to help make a Sonic game...?

[Smash_Brother]

I'm on "wait and see" status with this one as well.

[Peachylala]

I'm going to be intrigued by this game only if the Secret Rings team is developing it.

If not, forget it.