E3 2006: Sonic's Rebirth?

[Melf]

Also in the news: It wouldn't be E3 without a Sonic-related announcement from Sega. This year, the company has revealed that not one, but three titles are in the works for all next gen consoles and the PSP. While one is a Wii exclusive, the other, aptly titled Sonic The Hedgehog, suggests something of a new beginning for the struggling franchise. Could this be the 3D Sonic game we've all been waiting for? We take a look at what's been shown in our analysis of the latest trailer in the second of our Genesis-related E3 bonus articles Sonic's Rebirth (http://www.sega-16.com/forum/../E3%202006-%20Sonics%20Rebirth.htm)? Check it out and then pray like the rest of us.

[j_factor]

The more I hear about the 360/PS3 Sonic, the less I like it.

That Wii one does sound interesting though.

[Obviously]

I was hyped about the PS3/360 Sonic for a while then like j_factor I also started getting information about it. I'm hoping the same doesn't happen with the Wii title.

I really hate the look of the more photo-realistic human characters next to the cartoony Sonic characters. I don't know what Sega is trying to prove but they need to stick to a single art style or make two different games.

The thing I'm most afraid of is if all of Sega's talent is focused on making the PS3/X-Box game then what will the quality of "Wild Fire" be? The movie that was shown didn't impress me very much and the control scheme sounds strange to me. Not to mention I was hoping Sega was finally planning on tossing out all the characters, but that bastard Shadow had to pop up and ruin everything for me.

According to an interview Wild Fire is still possibly a little early in the development process so unfortunately we won't here much about that for a while.

I was really hoping that Sega had plans to give us a direct sequel to Sonic Rush. Maybe they still will after the PSP Sonic is released.

[kevinski]

I'm getting tired of Sonic, period. I don't understand why Sonic Team feels this need to have these epic storylines. Furthermore, as was mentioned before, the life-like human characters just look out of place here. I almost feel as though Sonic is nothing more than Sonic Team's personal sandbox, only they're not experimenting in the proper fashion.

I find it most unnecessary that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are using the Havoc engine, which features realistic physics that just do not belong in a Sonic game. Wow, so a wall crumbles realistically whenever you hit a nearby enemy. Who cares?

Although I'm a huge Sega fan, I absolutely hate what Sonic has become. What ever happened to the Sonic who persuaded me to buy a Sega Genesis back in the day?

[GeckoYamori]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVf3v2rvy_8&search=sonic%20360

Yep, you can abandon all hope for the new Sonic game now. The lame Adventure transformation is complete.

[Elusive]

I'm getting tired of Sonic, period. I don't understand why Sonic Team feels this need to have these epic storylines. Furthermore, as was mentioned before, the life-like human characters just look out of place here. I almost feel as though Sonic is nothing more than Sonic Team's personal sandbox, only they're not experimenting in the proper fashion.

I find it most unnecessary that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are using the Havoc engine, which features realistic physics that just do not belong in a Sonic game. Wow, so a wall crumbles realistically whenever you hit a nearby enemy. Who cares?

Although I'm a huge Sega fan, I absolutely hate what Sonic has become. What ever happened to the Sonic who persuaded me to buy a Sega Genesis back in the day?

I can't understand how having a plot automatically makes a Sonic game terrible. Would Half-Life 2 be regarded so highly if all its plot elements were removed? No, of course not, it'd be a mindless run-shoot DooM clone. Surely having at least some semblence of a narrative behind the action can only add to the gameplay experience.

I can't believe you're whining about the engine being used. If it adds to the gameplay in a tangible way - using rocks from a rockpile to crush robots in the pre-E3 tech demo, for example - then what's the problem? What's wrong with adding to the spindash/homing attack method?

Oh, wait. Sonic games are all about blazing through levels. In fact, here's my idea to remain faithful to what the REAL Sonic fans want. Let's remove all the obstacles in the levels and just make thirteen levels as a tube. Here's a diagram:

(START) =============== (FINISH)

See, the mechanic here is you hold Forward to run through the levels at Sonic speeds! Yaaaay! This is what a proper Sonic game should be like, screw that crap like plot and level design it's all about speed baby

I feel sorry for Sonic Team. I really do. They just can't win. They try something new like this, whoops it's not like Sonic 2 - ANGRY INTERNET FANS. They create a game like Sonic 2 in 3D - say, Sonic Heroes - it's short and tacky and there's repetitive gameplay just like Sonic 2- ANGRY INTERNET FANS.

To answer your final question: Sonic has evolved beyond a 512KB game, released 15 years ago. What's stopping you from accepting that what you played years ago was fun, but the new games can be fun too.

[/ramble]

[Joe Redifer]

If it were fun I don't think there would be complaints. Like I've said before, I enjoyed the original Sonic Adventure. Every Sonic game has had a plot/narrative, but what I think Kevinski is saying is that we don't need epic/super-dramatic plots in a game that is based on a cartoony character. Can you imagine Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck all bad-ass and trying to save the world without any funny parts whatsoever? The new Sonic stories almost seem like a similar comparison. It's as if Sonic is taking himself way too seriously. This isn't drama 101/doom and gloom, it's supposed to be a lighthearted adventure. Sonic Team is spending more time trying to make sure Sonic appeals to todays teens instead of just making the game fun.

I don't understand the Sonic Heroes/Sonic 2 comparison. 2D or 3D they do not play similarly. Personally I don't give a rat's ass what engine they use. Why even mention it? All that matters is how it plays. Oh wait, they are trying to appeal to today's teens who play games like Havoc. The next Sonic will use the GTA4 engine. Like Castlevania, I don't think Sonic does too well in 3D. It seems like you are willing to accept any direction the series goes in, though.

PS - Sonic 2 was NOT my favorite.

[kevinski]

I can't believe you're whining about the engine being used. If it adds to the gameplay in a tangible way - using rocks from a rockpile to crush robots in the pre-E3 tech demo, for example - then what's the problem? What's wrong with adding to the spindash/homing attack method?

This isn't Half-Life 2, and Sonic isn't about crushing enemies by pushing rocks down onto them. Sonic is about speed, whether anyone (even Sonic Team) realizes this or not. Look at the character's name; if the focus of the series isn't supposed to be on speed, they should create a new franchise to reflect that.

Oh, wait. Sonic games are all about blazing through levels. In fact, here's my idea to remain faithful to what the REAL Sonic fans want. Let's remove all the obstacles in the levels and just make thirteen levels as a tube.

Funny, I don't recall the first Sonic game for Genesis being anything like that. Now, I certainly realize that the first game wasn't all about speed, but I feel that it had an excellent mix of traditional platforming and the occasional tube section.

I feel sorry for Sonic Team. I really do. They just can't win. They try something new like this, whoops it's not like Sonic 2 - ANGRY INTERNET FANS. They create a game like Sonic 2 in 3D - say, Sonic Heroes - it's short and tacky and there's repetitive gameplay just like Sonic 2- ANGRY INTERNET FANS.

I never liked Sonic 2, so this isn't even relevant. In fact, I'd prefer that they use the original Sonic the Hedgehog on Genesis as a model to determine how a 3D installment should play in terms of pacing.

What's stopping you from accepting that what you played years ago was fun, but the new games can be fun too.

Really? From what I've played, as well as from what I've read, I don't believe that the vast majority of gamers consider the more recent Sonic games to be all that fun.

This isn't drama 101/doom and gloom, it's supposed to be a lighthearted adventure. Sonic Team is spending more time trying to make sure Sonic appeals to todays teens instead of just making the game fun.

Exactly. Just stick with the basic save-the-animals plot and cut the rest of the crap.

PS - Sonic 2 was NOT my favorite.

Sonic 2 was my least favorite of the Genesis installments.

[Obviously]

The first Sonic Adventure had my favorite plot of the Sonic-games-with-plot. Sure it was serious and save-the-world but it was still light hearted and in the Spirit of the Sonic Universe. The others have been a little more serious and not as interesting.

[Drixxel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVf3v2rvy_8&search=sonic%20360

Yep, you can abandon all hope for the new Sonic game now. The lame Adventure transformation is complete.

Looks fun, but.. not too much like Sonic. Sure, there's cleary a good sense of speed, but that vid really suggests it's just another 3D action platformer taking itself too seriously.

The Wii Sonic, even if structured similarly to the recent batch of 3D Sonics, will at least feel like something new. I hope for the best.

EDIT: ...it just occured to me that to call the 3D Sonics "not Sonic enough" is becoming more and more trivial.. the franchise has spent nearly half of its life lodged in the often mediocre 3D waters. The GBA Sonics existed as a constant reminder of the good ol' days, mind you, but maybe it's time to accept that this is what Sonic now is. Oh well.

[David J.]

If it had none of this adventure sheit then I'd buy it, but nope.

I like 3D Sonic, but when it doesn't have that adventure crap.