How Sega Can Save Sonic?

[Rodger]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3157060

just read this recent article from 1up about how they think Sega can grace Sonic with awesome games like when he was on Genesis. It's an interesting read, and I'm curious what everyone here makes of the article and the claims made in it.

[RedComet]

I pretty much agree with everything there. The only Sonic game I've played since the good old days (I feel old...) is Sonic Heroes. I got about 30 seconds into the first stage and I stopped. Thus I'd like to add that Sonic and co. should never, ever, EVER be given voices. Ever. I still wake up and hear Tails helium filled voice.

[David J.]

They can't. Well they can, but it involves a lot:

1. Drop all of the characters. It's about Sonic, not some random anime-inspired character When the cartoon was on, it is FACT that it lost out to Power Rangers in the ratings. Well, not only because it was complete garbage, but it was not the same. Wait, sonic has a plot now?! And no shit, I'd rather watch Power Rangers than watch that fuckstick japanimation adventure, and I did watch Power Rangers over Sonic's retarted cartoon.

2. Kill of Shadow... Metal Sonic is enough.

3. Drop the adventure shit. When I played Sonic Adventure for the first time, I about wet myself... it was fun and I had no problems with the wacky camera. But I did have a problem when the action stages ended, and the game became all slow because you had to do exploring to find the next action stage. This is Sonic, not Mario where it is OK to go slow. If I wanted the adventure stuff, I'd play Final Fantasy.

4. The game is about a fucking rodent who kicks some ass and goes at warp speed, not a dude who goes around to save some princess.

5. I can't stop swearing. Sega's fallen victim to the corporate machine... like EA. Which means they MUST pump out a new game every year/six months, or the share holders will get pissed.

[Mr Smith]

How Sega Can Save Sonic?

Saving Sonic is easy, a couple of rings or a body shield usually does the trick.

[VinnyT]

With a memory card, or battery if it's Sonic 3.

[Rodger]

heh, well who needs saving when ya have the level select code in sonic 1

I'm really curious to see how sonic and the secret rings pans out. I was excited for the game at first, lost interest, got interest back in it again, and then became weary when I read how the controls work. But hey, maybe Sega can pull it off. Not too much longer till wii owners (in the states at least) get to give it a try when it is released.

[wayne919]

putting all my hopes into sonic and the secret rings. i really hope it provides a good experience as ive been waiting for a good sonic game for what feels like ten years now

[Rusty Venture]

Sonic makes out with a human girl?

WTF kind of bestiality agenda is Sonic Team trying to push?


I can't say I find any of their points to be wrong.

Bu i 110% agree that Sonic needs to ditch the baggage of the 87 million other characters that have since been created.

[nate]

I'm really curious to see how sonic and the secret rings pans out. I was excited for the game at first, lost interest, got interest back in it again, and then became weary when I read how the controls work. But hey, maybe Sega can pull it off. Not too much longer till wii owners (in the states at least) get to give it a try when it is released.

I'm not getting my hopes up too much about Secret Rings, but the previews and beta testers seem to be giving it a resounding thumbs up. In my opinion Secret Rings is how you make Sonic relevant again, but I'm not sure if Sega can do anything right anymore.

[TheGZeus]

I think Sega needs to die once.
They're rotten and diseased. Last good sonic games were done on Nintendo portables and were outsourced.
Sega's fallen subject to enropy and must return to the earth and be reborn or have their makup be incorporated into other entities.

Well, that or they could BUY THOSE COMPANIES AND USE THE TEMPORARY LOSS TO INCREASE THEIR LONG TERM PROFITS!

[Mendicant]

WTF kind of bestiality agenda is Sonic Team trying to push?

Oh...ewww. I just had a Howard The Duck flashback.

[Rusty Venture]

All my "Howard the Duck" flashbacks involve Lea Thompson and only Lea Thompson.

[Flash1087]

Problem is, when I flashback to Howard the Duck I wind up thinking about the principal from Ferris Bueller, which then makes me think of Godzilla.

That said, I agreed with everything mentioned in the article when I read it last night. Maybe Sonic and the Secret Rings will be a step on the right track for Sega.

[Dartagnan1083]

This past generation, the only titles I really liked were Sonic Adventure (aside from Big the Cat and E102), Sonic Heroes (great after you get over the learning curve, which takes almost an hour), and Sonic Advance 3 (1&2 were so unpolished).

But yeah, since Naka became a member of Sega's board of Directors he hasn't seen any hands-on involvement in the series. Plus all the original members of Sonic Team (from the 90s) either left SEGA or went to other teams. So it's not suprising that the franchise lost it's spark.

EDIT: Just read the article.
I agree on most points.
EXCEPT for the part about speed (specifically the way they stated it).
While it is essential to the experience, it should be more than just simple stupid fun.
I say eliminate the pitfalls and create a simple-person's level when you fall to the ground.
Reward the player for using speed and reflexes to navigate levels well and find those wall running opportunities as was done in the first Sonic Adventure.

I like having to TRY in order to get through a level.
Which is part of what makes Sonic 1 and Sonic Advance 1 a bit bothersome for me (run run run and jump occasionally).
Exploration is great when done right

[108 Stars]

I think even Sonic Adventure was not a great game. It looked impressive, but gameplaywise it was boring. So I think Sega should finally bury the franchise, it just doesn´t work anymore.